The Author's POV

'He's changed a lot since the last time I saw him.'

Donna quietly thought to herself as her gaze fixed on Ren who was seated a few tables ahead of her.

Even she felt pressured at the time he revealed his strength in front of everyone.

The power he displayed...

It was frightening.

'I knew he was talented, but I didn't think it was to this point.'

One could not come close to describing the rate of his progress. It was simply, frightening. To the point where both Monica and Kevin were left behind.

She was more shocked to find that not much time had elapsed since she had taught him at the Lock.

About six years.

In about that period of time, he had transformed from a typical ranking student to someone whose strength had surpassed hers.

'How monstrous.'

She mumbled to herself once more.

In the past, she thought that Monica was the most talented human she knew, but it was clear to her that there was someone else that was above her.

It was none other than Ren.

'His strength isn't the only thing that changed about him, his demenour also seemed to have changed.'

When Donna looked at him more closely, she saw that he was different from how he had been in the past.

Around him, there was a somewhat melancholy vibe. One that left Donna feeling uneasy. It was sufficient to make her face turn grave.

'...Just what happened during the few years that I haven't seen him?'

He wasn't exactly cheerful, but he sure as heck wasn't like how he was now.

It kind of worried her a little.

'I should probably talk to him after this is over.'

Thus, she made her mind up to talk to him after the meeting was over. It had been a couple of years since they had come to contact with each other, might as well catch up a little.

***

Bang—!

My fist smashed against the side of the bathroom wall, and fine miniature crevices extended all the way toward the ceiling of the bathroom.

The meeting had ended a couple of minutes ago. As expected, Octavious ranked first, and Maximus who was previously ranked third was now ranked second.

But that wasn't what resulted in my rage.

"Rank 18? Seriously?! ...After all that hard work?"

I gritted my teeth as a burst of rage erupted from deep within my body.

I was upset with my slow improvement rather than my poor ranking. I had been working hard for the past two years. Really hard.

During that period, I went through a phase of relative strength increase, helped by the air's increasing mana density and the merging with the strength of my former self.

My efforts paid off, and I was able to advance to level in just two years. I was just a little shy of reaching rank.

But...

"Too slow!"

I muttered through my clenched teeth.

Two years.

That was how much time I had left before my other self would take over or the curse that was in me would activate.

Two fucking years. That was how long I had to live.

The rate at which I was progressing was slow. Too fucking slow.

"...I miscalculated."

my strength on a whim. Rather, I did it with a

to

month, and I would only have a chance to influence the situation and participate

started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it was

end, I only ended up ranking 18th, which was far beneath

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another

running down my nose. I saw a noticeable

'Blood...'

spasmed a little and my vision blurred. This

"Not again..."

head and stared at my

"Fuck."

mouth while

I raised my head to

"What's wrong, nervous?"

ears picked up a recognizable

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

calm myself down and washed my face with

came as a result of his personality merging with

to be increasingly difficult for

going to

my face while water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror,

Our eyes met.

you still hung up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years

closed the valve without saying anything. Only then did I open

give you my body

"Oh?"

eyebrows of

years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of your body and

"Right..."

of the

Cra..crack…

to form on

sure that I was the one behind it? It could just

words, my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly staring at the

became icier as I drew nearer to the

that I wouldn't know this was something you

sink as I

have not been

it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I

the events that transpired

to prevent such a situation from

is no way you could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably something you wanted to

you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you

not have known that this was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew

memories stopped playing,

raised my head to glare at

have set your targets on Smallsnake in particular,

saying anything, he just looked at

a little bit before he opened his mouth

his death. In a

heart tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that I was

not be able to completely anticipate what will happen, major factors like that are indeed something that can be predicted, and from there, changing little things to make them go your way isn't exactly too hard. Why do you think

exactly why

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

for you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still.

Bam—!

mirror with all my force. The glass shattered

reflection in the mirror

the room

have time for