A greedy little bastard

It was a completely different matter altogether.

This could very well be a very good thing and a very bad thing.

This was because, on one hand, I could test out my limits by going against myself. But on the other hand, I had some secrets and abilities I didn't want people to know. And the thing wouldn't know I wanted to keep them that way.

So, it very well might just blurt them out openly.

'Can he copy the suit of armour?' I asked impatiently.

[Hmph! What do you take me for? Some kind of joke? Do you really think that thing could turn into me or use any of my abilities? We are the progenitors of magic. WE made that thing indirectly when we spread magic in all directions. It has a limit to what it can do.

So, although it can copy all of your magic and physical strength, your visual prowess and abilities such as fire, seeing into the future and healing are all exclusive to you. Especially the devour ability. So no, that little copycat is of no worry.

But I do suggest for our own secrecy to directly destroy it within the least amount of time. we don't need others having a good grasp of our full strength. So even though our core secrets are safe, people can still create countermeasures once they have a grasp of your strength and capabilities.

And that doesn't help us in the least.] Drak explained seriously.

I was much more relieved once I heard his words. It seemed I was underestimating Drak and overestimating the capabilities of this doppelganger thing. But I still had to destroy it as quickly as possible.

Once I had cleared my head of all my doubts, I refocused on the small statue that was explaining the history of this specific creature.

Apparently, this one came here willingly. It was a battle maniac with high intelligence. It appeared in the body of the headmaster at the time which was how he was able to contact the actual headmaster.

I honestly wondered why I had to always be around such battle freaks. It was exhausting.

Once the brief explanation was in order, that statue pushed the shabby wooden door open with a creak to reveal the dark and damp stadium within.

As soon as we stepped in, all the torches adorning the walls lit up simultaneously. And in the middle, on the grassy field, I stood. But it wasn't me, since I had just walked in, it couldn't be me.

"So, this is the power of the doppelganger huh?" I mumbled with a small smile creeping onto my lips.

The groups sat down by the steps as usual as I made my way over to the field with much interest. The barrier has erected the instant I stepped onto the grassy terrain.

As I stood opposite myself I couldn't help but walk closer. The creature didn't react and kept the same smile on its face.

I circled around it looking. I even looked under the shirt to verify something.

And I was right. He didn't have the tattoos. Well, it was more precise to say they were there, but they weren't the same. They didn't move at all, and they didn't carry the faint yet terrifying aura of Drak and Achlys on it. it felt more like a cheap knockoff. It seems that Drak was right, this thing couldn't actually copy me completely.

I then cupped my chin with my hand as I stared at my own face.

"I do have to say, I'm quite the handsome fella aren't it?" I said with a chuckle.

"Your narcissism is impressive. But warranted, you are indeed a very good looking human according to your species standards. You are also the strongest human I have ever met in my long life." It revealed with my smile on its lips.

I couldn't help but nod again, "and a charming smile to boot. Oh, by the way, how long is your long life exactly?" I asked curiously after revelling in my own looks for long enough. It's important to love yourself before you can love others right?

"Several thousand years." It explained.

I was surprised by its answer, "damn, that's one heck of a long time. how did you pull that off?" I asked.

"Well, I take some of the lifeforce from the people I copy. It helps me completely assimilate myself as them." Its words made me squint slightly. I released an invisible wave of magical energy past its body before recalling It again.

It was a search spell I had created on a whim when I couldn't be fucked looking for the salt in my hotel kitchen.

I didn't realise it until a few days later with the help of Drak that I could search for anything I set my mind to with a radius of 20 kilometres. This also included scanning a person to search for something. And right now, I was searching for my own unique aura.

And I felt it instantly. I could see the smile on my clone's face get a bit wider as if it knew what I was doing.

"I see, you got my increased magical sensitivity, right?" I asked without any surprise.

The clone nodded, "I do have to say, this is insane. You are one in a billion. This is some monstrous talent." It said truthfully.

I couldn't help but nod, I did have some very high magic sensitivity.

'How many years of my life did he steal?' I asked in my mind.

[One year's worth of life force. Quite powerful. He seems to want to syphon more from you though. but he can't. I just stopped him from doing so. Greedy fellow honestly.] Drak responded with a chuckle. A hint of anger in his tone.

I could tell by the fallen expression on my clone's face that Drak's words were accurate.

"Quite the greedy one aren't you buddy?"