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 did it with a goal

today was important to me

was set to expire the following month, and I would only have a chance to influence the

by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it was to

which was far beneath the rank I wanted

Bang—!

"Damn it."

into another fit of

I felt a wet sensation running down my nose. I saw a noticeable red stain

'Blood...'

a little and my vision blurred. This lasted for a good

"Not again..."

head and stared

"Fuck."

silently left my mouth while more blood dropped down

I raised my head to stare

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable voice as my reflection

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

to calm myself down and washed my face

came as a result of his personality

starting to be increasingly difficult for

not going to say

water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror, or to be

Our eyes met.

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

valve without saying anything. Only then did I open my

to give you my body after what you've

"Oh?"

of my reflection

put an end to things even if I don't take control of your body and do it myself.

"Right..."

the sink with all my

Cra..crack…

form on

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

his words, my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring at

became icier as I drew

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

on the sink as I recalled the events of two years

He may have not been a clone,

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 him...Enough to buy Smallsnake some time, had you lent me

that

things I could've done to prevent such a

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 had something planned and that something was Smallsnake's

but I sure as

memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't

head to glare

in particular, but without a doubt, you wanted someone involved to

saying anything, he

a little bit before he opened his

his death. In

tightened when

'I knew it.'

it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence

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 you were able to see the memories for as long as you did? ...and why

you know exactly why I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

there was simply no way for you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would

Bam—!

the mirror with all my force. The glass shattered and shards fell

reflection in the

room my

don't have time for