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."

meeting and exposed my strength on a whim. Rather, I

important to me for a

and I would only have

started, however, I had severely underestimated just

which was far beneath the rank

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another

nose. I saw a noticeable red stain

'Blood...'

arm spasmed a little and my vision

"Not again..."

head and stared at my

"Fuck."

left my mouth while more blood

arm, I raised my head to stare at

"What's wrong, nervous?"

up a recognizable

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

to calm myself down and washed my

outburst came as a result

difficult

not going

toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror,

Our eyes met.

years have already

without saying anything. Only then did I open my mouth

give you my body

"Oh?"

of my

few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of your body and do it myself. You've lost no matter what

"Right..."

side of the

Cra..crack…

form on the

what makes you so sure that I was the one behind it? It could just be you blaming

words, my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly staring

voice became icier as I drew nearer to the

in his death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I may be stupid at times,

grip on the sink as I recalled the events of two years

He may have not been a clone, but he wasn't exactly

destroyed the core. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been able to delay

the events that transpired

to prevent such a situation

overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably something

concerned for my safety because you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you

known that this was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had enough

said after his memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't planning to end the

head to glare at

targets on Smallsnake in particular, but

saying anything, he just looked

bit before he opened his

and avoided his death. In a way, you can say that I did plan for

tightened when

'I knew it.'

use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that I was

there, changing little things to make them go your way isn't exactly too hard. Why do you think you were able to see the memories for as long as you did? ...and why do you

why I did

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. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake had to perish in order to

Bam—!

the mirror with all my force. The glass shattered and

reflection in

the room my breath felt

have time