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."

didn't come to the meeting and exposed my strength on

to me for a

the Union's cease-fire was set to expire the following month, and I would only

would already be rank by the time the meeting started, however, I

which was far beneath the rank I wanted it

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into another fit

only stopped when I felt a wet sensation running down my nose. I saw a noticeable red stain on my hand when I wiped the

'Blood...'

my vision blurred.

"Not again..."

head and stared at my

"Fuck."

curse silently left my mouth while

my arm, I raised my head to stare at my

"What's wrong, nervous?"

up a recognizable voice as my reflection moved

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

breath I was able to calm

as a result of his personality merging with

to be increasingly difficult for me to contain

going to

Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror, or to be more precise, my

Our eyes met.

you still hung up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have already passed, move on. Why

the valve without saying anything. Only then did I open

expect me to give you my body after what you've done,

"Oh?"

of

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

"Right..."

the sink with

Cra..crack…

started to form on the porcelain

was the one behind it? It could just be

his words, my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring

icier as I drew nearer to the

his death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised?

the grip on the sink as I recalled the

it at the time...Jezebeth sustained damage. He may have not been a clone, but he wasn't exactly in top

after Kevin 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 him...Enough to buy Smallsnake some time,

events that transpired back

things I could've done to prevent such a

way you could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was

concerned for my safety because you also knew that he

loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had enough power to

playing, I knew that

to glare at

in particular,

he just looked at

for a little bit before he opened his mouth to

helped you and avoided his death. In a way, you can say that

tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

to conceal it in the first place, there is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent

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

know exactly why

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake had to perish

Bam—!

The glass shattered and

reflection in the mirror

room my breath felt

don't have time for