In the dark world of the mirrors, it felt nice. Like I was covered in comfortable, warm wet towels. But not long after, I came to reality and was next to the black egg demon.

Without hesitation, I swung my sword at its leg.

Clang!... Metal rang, and my sword snapped in half. "Shit!"

How?! His limbs were supposed to be weak!

Whatever else came to mind stopped, a fist was heading toward my face.

The average human reaction was around 0.20 seconds, for someone who awakened Ord it would be around 0.10 seconds. Warriors had half that, around 0.05 seconds. In my Perfect Me state, my reaction time would be close to zero. My special ability used all my knowledge to make the perfect move. Since I saw from a third point of view, Perfect Me used that knowledge to perfection.

A split-second difference in reaction time wasn’t something big. That is what most people would think. But in a battle that small difference felt like an eternity.

Perfect Me was an ability created with the thought in mind that I would one day not have to use it. Since I would grow, gain experience, and fight as well as I would in that state.

No, the difference was too big!

By the time the fist was already in front of my face, I had leaned back an inch. Nowhere near enough to dodge. It hadn’t even been half a second!

If the attack landed, I knew I was a dead man. But there was nothing I could do about it. With Perfect Me activated, I might have had a chance. Sadly, abilities like that have very powerful restrictions.

But despite all that, I wasn’t scared. Because deep down I knew, there was a monstrous genius on my side.

A mirror manifested in front of me, like a shield. The demon immediately stopped the attack and backed off when he saw the mirror form. "You won't get me a second time with tricks like that, brats."

I jumped back and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Sei.”

He nodded. We both knew that if the demon hadn’t been so cautious, I would have died. The mirror Sei created wasn’t within a two-meter distance, so it wasn't an Absorption Mirror.

Oh shit! I almost died!

The realization of how close I was to death finally dawned in me.

Holy shit, I only survived because of a bluff!

Cold sweat dampened my clothes, making them stick uncomfortably to my body.

“Your ability is versatile,” I complimented Sei.

A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. Sei wasn’t that aloof logical exorcist that he would become. He should be tired by now. Just how tired? I don't know for sure.

“I don’t know if you’re brave or stupid doing something like that. I already told you that I hadn’t tested if my ability could transport living beings.” He shook his head.

I knew his ability better than him due to the manga. I wasn't too worried about it. Unlike others, due to his backstory, Sei's special ability was set in stone. “Since the demon spider was able to teleport through. I thought it could be used as a teleportation tool.”

“Demons are monsters, formed from filth and destruction. I wouldn’t consider them living creatures,” he stated. There was a cold gaze in his eyes.

That was a sad outlook he had on life. Considering he was a half-demon himself.

***

Sei felt like a mountain was on his shoulders. His eyes were heavy, and he couldn’t concentrate.

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‘Am I going to pass out?’ He thought. Trying to keep his eyes open. He knew that if he closed his eyes, he would die here. ‘I can’t die yet. I still haven’t killed her!’

Every time he was about to pass out. An image of a woman smiling at him appeared in his mind. She had a gentle look on her face. Sei hated himself for even thinking of her at a moment like this!

No, he must concentrate!

Sei used all the willpower he had left and gathered his Ord once more. This would likely be the last mirror he would create today. How should he let Kon know that?

Before today, Kon was at most a face in the background. Sei never paid attention to him. No one did. He always stood next to the more eye-catching Bets. Still, he had to put his hopes on Kon. There was no other choice.

From what he had shown so far, Kon seemed competent. There was no reason to not trust him. “Hey-”

“Don’t create a mirror,” Kon interrupted. There was a knowing look in his eyes.

Did he already know that Sei was lacking Ord? No, that would be impossible. Unless he knew the exact restrictions on his ability. Then calculated the cost, whilst at the same time knowing how much Ord he has when at full capacity.

That was impossible! No person would be able to come to a conclusion like that out of nowhere. Maybe Kon’s ability had something to do with mind reading? It wouldn’t be too far from Master affinity.

They say that back in the day when demons were still a secret to the public. Masters could use weak hypnosis to make civilians forget. Though nowadays, such a skill is useless. But it did serve as the basis which human controlling abilities derived from.

Sei contemplated using the same trick he did with the spider demon. But it wouldn’t work against this one as it had bug-like wings on its back. Also, he didn’t have the Ord to do that again.

“Do you have a plan?” Sei asked.

“Swamp, think about that and go fight the demon,” Kon said. He didn’t explain the plan out loud. The demon would hear them if he did.

Sei didn’t quite understand what he meant, but Kon nudged him forward without a care in the world. “You’re smart. Way smarter than me. So I’m sure you will figure something out.”

The demon charged at them, and just like when he had thrown his knives, Kon didn’t let Sei overthink. He was a very pushy person!

Swamp, what did that mean? Sei couldn’t come up with anything. What do swamps even have? People just get stuck in the muddy waters and die in quicksand there.

It was then that an idea hit Sei like a lightning bolt. That was it!

As the demon rushed at them, Sei smiled and pointed his hand at the creature. The closer the demon, the more excited it seemed to get.

But once the demon was within his range, and was about to take another step. As the creature was about to touch him, a mirror formed below its feet and the creature sank. Its lower body entered the mirror world, while the upper body was still out.

“You bastard!” The demon grabbed the edges of the mirror. Stopping it from falling into the mirror world.

Sei cursed under his breath. If only he had enough Ord to have made the mirror bigger!

The demon spread its wings and was about to fly. Sei tried crushing the mirror or forcefully closing it.

But it was to no avail. His ability didn’t have any direct attack powers.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

For the first time in his life, Sei felt inadequate. Was this it? Was this all he would ever amount to?!

As thoughts of self-doubt started conquering his spirit, the demon’s shadow moved. The shadows twisted and formed a wolf's head. The shadowy beast bit down on the demon’s left wing, chewing, and destroying it.

“You two annoying weaklings! Die!” Yelled out the demon, as he slammed to the ground. It ripped off one of its own arms. Throwing it to the ground, causing a purple smoke bomb to bust out.

Sei knew he was too weak to dodge fast enough. But he felt someone grab him by the back of his shirt and pull him away. It was Kon, and he had a frown on his face.

“Noooooo! Don’t die on me! Please!” Agon’s agonizing screams pierced through. Sadly, he and his friend were poisoned. Sei knew they would likely die soon.

Kon pulled Sei away from the poisonous cloud that was about to engulf him.

Agon dropped to the ground, dead after extending all his energy on that last agonizing scream.

“Hehehe seems like things are finally going my way,” the demon chuckled.

“Not for long,” Kon muttered under his breath.

Sei was curious about what he meant by that. But his curiosity didn’t last long.

A dark purple evil energy settled around. It was such evil energy that it seemed like it would destroy the world.

Crawling, poisonous, twisted, it was something that didn't belong in this world. the sound of a thousand snakes hissing rang out. Bringing a chill down the spine of anyone who heard them. It felt as if the God of Poison and Snakes had descended.

What was this?

For the first time in his life, Sei felt absolute terror.