The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

After confirming that all of his lost skin had been restored, Desmond sensed a movement from within his body. He closed his eyes to focus on the sensation, and it felt as if a serpent was coiling around him.

The uncomfortable feeling of the snake slithering across almost every part of his body made him uneasy. Thankfully, the little bird that had taken refuge in his crotch remained unharmed.

"Phew," Desmond let out a sigh of relief as he felt the presence of the snake dissipate within his body. "Being a loner has its advantages, but it's a shame not being able to experience the pleasures of a woman." Although he wasn't driven by typical teenage desires, he still longed to experience what he considered to be ideal.

Clink * * clink *

Desmond opened his eyes after the snake disappeared, but he initially failed to notice that natural energy was subtly being drawn towards him.

Only when he saw the expanding natural energy converging towards him did he realize the state of his body. The natural energies enveloped his feet, causing them to sink into the soft ground as if into a plush blanket.

"It's not over yet," Desmond muttered as he observed the immense natural energy heading towards his face. A moment later, he felt an enormous surge of life energy entering his body, equivalent to that which could sustain a hundred individuals at once.

This life energy brought a profound sense of warmth, surpassing what he had experienced during meditation. It was akin to the feeling of being embraced by Leona, albeit not exactly the same.

As the life energy coursed through Desmond's body, his consciousness gradually began to fade. He felt weak and drowsy, ultimately succumbing to the sensation and closing his eyes.

* Thump *

This time, when Desmond fell to the ground, his new skin was unaccustomed to the impact, causing him to wince repeatedly on the floor. He opened his eyes and found himself in an empty room he had encountered before.

"Damn it! My time is limited, and this test only leads me in circles," Desmond exclaimed in frustration. * Swoosh * A cold breeze suddenly swept in, causing his body to react. He lifted his head and spotted the same black dragon standing in the same spot, observing him.

"WHAT? YOU WANT TO FIGHT AGAIN?!" Desmond shouted at the black dragon. After his outburst, Desmond felt overwhelming exhaustion seeping into his body, affecting his consciousness.

Desmond was taken aback by the shocking sight unfolding before him. The black dragon was slowly engulfed by a dark light, which covered only half of its body, leaving the upper portion still visible.

"Pfft," Desmond burst into laughter. "Are you trying to imitate a transformer right now?" His laughter grew louder, and the exhaustion and emotions that had previously weighed on him dissipated, leaving him feeling relaxed.

But the dragon's next action caused Desmond's laughter to freeze.

This time, a white light emerged, encompassing the upper portion of the black dragon's body. When viewed from the outside, the dragon's body resembled the size of a ship, now cloaked in opposing elements.

The elements of darkness and light enshrouded the giant black dragon, forming a colossal egg-like structure. Resembling the yin and yang symbol, the egg's shape wasn't as perfectly curved, with only a line separating each element.

* Crack * * Crack *

Hearing the sound, Desmond took a hundred steps back. The scenes he had witnessed, both now and before, seemed to intertwine in his mind, suggesting a looping concept.

Narrowing his eyes and clenching his fists, Desmond realized that only in this realm did he have both hands intact.

* Boom *

Just as Desmond expected the shards of the egg to come crashing towards him, they froze in midair, leaving him dumbfounded.

* Swoosh * * Swoosh *

The egg shards returned to their original positions and gradually transformed into a black, liquid-like substance.

* Step * * Step *

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps emanated from the direction of the egg shards. Desmond focused his gaze, and as soon as he saw the source of the sound, he was left speechless.

"Hehehe." The voice sounded gentle, yet carried a youthful tone. Moreover, it felt incredibly familiar to Desmond.

Previously, Desmond had been fixated on the suspended egg shards that had reassembled and transformed into a sticky black liquid, causing him to overlook the creature formed from the egg.

...

Desmond cautiously approached the creature and...

* Slap *

He slapped the creature, but to no effect. Instead, scales suddenly appeared on the creature's face, prompting it to say, "Hehehe."

Hearing the echoing laughter reverberating in the air, Desmond felt a surge of annoyance that coursed through his veins. The sound seemed to drill into his mind, amplifying his frustration. His clenched fist trembled with a mixture of anger and anticipation, itching to strike the creature standing before him once again. However, as his gaze shifted downwards, his eyes widened in astonishment.

Desmond's hand, once poised to deliver another blow, revealed a disconcerting sight. Numerous wounds adorned his palm, a testament to the forceful impact of his previous slaps against the creature's scaly exterior. The skin on his hands had turned a fiery shade of red, throbbing with an uncomfortable pulsation.

"What the hell are you?" Desmond growled, his voice laced with both curiosity and contempt. Standing before him was a distorted reflection of himself, an embodiment of the darkest corners of his soul.

Already flustered by the discovery of dragons capable of transforming into fearsome beasts and even mimicking the colossal might of Godzilla, Desmond now found himself face-to-face with a dragon that could assume his very likeness. It was an unnerving revelation that sent a surge of indignation coursing through his veins.

Had his magical abilities not been suppressed, Desmond would have unleashed a torrent of aggression upon the creature without hesitation or restraint.

"Hehe, I am you, and you are me," Desmond II taunted, his voice dripping with a malevolent amusement. In that moment, the viscous black liquid that had lazily sprawled across the floor abruptly surged towards Desmond II's form, as if drawn by an invisible force.

"Stop... STOP..." Desmond's instinctual reaction compelled him to seize hold of Desmond II's body, a reflex born from an overwhelming repulsion toward the notion of anything invading his being. The abrupt interruption of the fluid's movement caused Desmond II to regard his original self with curiosity, prompting him to halt the liquid's progress.

Realizing his impulsive action, Desmond released his grip abruptly, recoiling as if burned by the idea of something infiltrating his physical vessel. While repulsion had been his initial instinct, he quickly recognized that the body before him was not his own.

"I suppose you thought that was your body," Desmond II jeered, a malicious smirk curving his lips with a hint of sadistic pleasure.

Embarrassment surged within Desmond, though he managed to maintain a stoic facade. "No, I merely wished to ascertain its authenticity," he retorted, his voice laced with a defensive tone. "I have no intention of wresting it away from you."

Desmond II offered no immediate response, instead summoning the inky fluids back into his own form. "Well, if you've come this far, I have no doubt you'll eventually succumb to my influence," he declared, his voice tinged with a menacing undertone.

Desmond locked eyes with his doppelgänger, sensing an intense anger that smoldered beneath the surface. In addition to the disconcerting smile that played upon Desmond II's lips, an unmistakable aura of malevolence and icy detachment emanated from his very being.

"Perhaps," Desmond replied cautiously, his tone evasive. "Perhaps not. While I yearn for power, I refuse to embrace wickedness without just cause."

Survival was his sole objective in this bewildering world. Every action he had taken thus far, even the manipulation of the elf, served a purpose. It was a far cry from the demons who heedlessly acted upon their tumultuous emotions, unrestrained and devoid of reason.

Desmond justified the killings of humans as a cautious measure, undertaken to prevent the leakage of information regarding his extraordinary powers. He took solace in the fact that the royal investigation team had yet to uncover his involvement in the gruesome massacre.

"Every creature has its principles," Desmond mused, his gaze fixated on the blank expanse of the consciousness realm. "Even a lion has a reason to hunt a deer. They do it to ensure their survival."

The absence of clouds or scenery added to the peculiar atmosphere, leaving Desmond II to simply smile in response to his musings. "I know. So, remain steadfast in your principles," he cryptically advised.

Desmond felt a stirring of emotions at his own words. Turning around, he noticed that his other self now sported prominent horns and a tail, the physical manifestation of his transformed state.

"Wait... am I going to become like this?" Desmond narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing his own body. The tail seemed seamlessly integrated, while the horn appeared far from ornamental.

Desmond II offered no verbal response but instead reached out, taking hold of Desmond's hand and closing his eyes.

Desmond blinked, a strange sensation coursing through his being. "Is this energy?" he pondered aloud, feeling a warm embrace reminiscent of his meditative experiences.

"No, it's different," he realized, furrowing his brow. The warmth intensified, eventually morphing into an almost scorching heat that merged with his own energy.

Despite the discomfort, Desmond closed his eyes, surrendering himself to the flow of unfamiliar sensations.

After several minutes, the energy ceased its surging flow. Desmond opened his eyes, finding himself back in reality, his mind buzzing with newfound understanding.

"I comprehend now," he murmured softly, his thoughts drifting momentarily. "Farewell. May our paths never cross again." Although their encounter had been brief, the exchange with his alter ego had etched an indelible mark upon him.

Simultaneously, a notification from the System chimed, and a translucent screen materialized before him. "Finally, it's concluded," Desmond muttered to himself.

[System: Congratulations to the host on successfully passing the Engraved stage of the Dragon Slayer quest. To progress to the Dragonized stage, dragon blood and gifted potions are required.]