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."

exposed my strength on a whim. Rather, I did

was important to me for a

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

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

I only ended up ranking 18th, which

Bang—!

"Damn it."

into

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

'Blood...'

and my vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute

"Not again..."

and stared at my trembling

"Fuck."

mouth while more blood dropped

arm, I raised my head to stare at my

"What's wrong, nervous?"

ears picked up a recognizable

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

to calm

result of

starting to be increasingly difficult for me

not going to

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

Our eyes met.

up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have already passed,

closed the valve without saying anything. Only then did

give you my body after what you've done, you can only give

"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 do it myself.

"Right..."

the side of the sink

Cra..crack…

started to form on the

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

my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly staring

as I drew nearer

think that I wouldn't know this was

on the sink as

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

his injuries worsened shortly 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,

the events that transpired

to prevent such a situation from happening

unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent.

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

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

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

raised my head to glare at

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

anything, he just looked at

a little bit

right, I could've helped you and avoided his death. In

tightened when I

'I knew it.'

conceal it in the first place, there is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that

indeed something that can be predicted, and from there, changing little things to make them go your way isn't exactly too hard.

why I did what I did,

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

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

Bam—!

all my force. The glass shattered and

reflection in

room my breath felt

have