The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

"Young master, are you all right?" A towering silhouette, reminiscent of a majestic mountain, obstructed Desmond's view of the sky, breaking his reverie.

Desmond turned his gaze and beheld the imposing figure. A woman stood before him, her hair cascading down her back, elongated ears peeking out from beneath. Her emerald eyes met his, conveying a mixture of affection and concern, tinged with an underlying unease.

"I'm fine, Shelty," Desmond replied, his voice lacking any inflection. The aroma of the maid's cream-colored hair wafted towards him, the fragrance mingling with the air as her loose strands cascaded around her, an artful rope braid crowning her locks.

Relief washed over Shelty's features, evident in the sigh that escaped her lips. Extending her hand, she assisted Desmond in rising to his feet, their shared journey leading them back to where Leona and Bastian awaited.

"I have brought the young master, my lady," Shelty announced, her voice laced with respect as she lowered her head. Her demeanor caught the attention of Desmond's family members.

"No need for such formality; after all, we're family now," Leona remarked, casting a glance at her son. Her fingers gently cupped Desmond's cheeks, her eyes roving over every inch of his form.

"Mother... I've told you, I'm fine," Desmond said, gently removing his mother's hand before settling into a nearby chair, close to his father. Rest was what he sought now, a respite from the ordeal.

"Of course," Leona replied, concern etched across her features. Settling back into her seat, she took a sip of her wine. "My son, do you truly wish to continue with this?," she inquired calmly.

Desmond, his head reclined against the chair, immediately glanced at his mother upon hearing the question. "Absolutely, mother. You've warned me of the dangers, and that's precisely why I must proceed," Desmond responded, exuding optimism and confidence.

Leona opened her mouth to reply but found herself at a loss for words, eventually sighing in resignation. "Your mindset is commendable. I merely wished to remind you not to overexert yourself," she said, her gaze fixed upon her son, worry evident in her eyes.

"Honey, let our son make his choice. He's a grown man now," Bastian interjected, unable to contain himself any longer as he addressed his wife's tendency to be overly protective.

"And consider what your mother has said. Her trait has its consequences, as you well know," Bastian added nonchalantly, though his eyes spoke volumes.

Desmond caught sight of his father's gaze and memories flooded back, reminding him of the past when he dared to challenge his mother, only to bear the brunt of her debuffs, inflicted solely for his audacity in "challenging" her.

"It doesn't matter; I simply want to test my limits," Desmond replied, his confidence unwavering as he took a sip from the glass of wine that Shelty, ever attentive, had poured for him.

Having savored the taste of the wine, Desmond rose from his seat, determination etched across his face. "Let's go," he declared, leading the way towards the expansive meadow. Leona caught her husband's eye and nodded, before finally following their son's resolute footsteps.

In the midst of the meadow, Leona gazed at her son, her expression serious. "I hope you won't come to regret this, my son," she spoke earnestly, her words laden with concern.

Upon his mother's utterance, Desmond felt a palpable release of pressure emanating from her, directed towards him.

[Host Strength has been reduced by -2.00]

[Host Agility has been reduced by -2.00]

[Host Stamina has been reduced by -2.00]

This is it—the sensation I've been anticipating.

An invisible force seemed to tug at Desmond, forcibly draining the vitality and vigor from his body, leaving him with a faint throbbing in his temples.

Checking his status, Desmond sought confirmation of the changes.

[Scanning Host Body...]

[Scan Complete!]

[

-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 10 years

Race: Half-Human (50%)

Class: 1st Swordsman / 0th Dragonslayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 30.25 / 37.16

Strength: 26.00 (28.00)

Agility: 19.00 (21.00)

Stamina: 5.43 (7.43)

Dragon Essence: 0

]

It's only a slight reduction, but this pressure also brings a sense of opportunity.

Besides, he had only recently concluded a sparring session with his father, and his energy had yet to fully recover.

Outwardly, Desmond appeared elated by this pressure, even sporting a smirk, which only deepened Leona's concern, sensing that something might be amiss with her son.

[System Detects Host Exhibiting Abnormal Condition from Another Trait!]

[Applying Trait Effect...]

[Trait bonus applied]

[Host Strength has been temporarily increased by 20%]

[Host Agility has been temporarily increased by 20%]

[Host Stamina has been temporarily increased by 20%]

Leona, who had been fretting over her son, stood rooted to the spot, her eyes widening in astonishment. The energy surrounding Desmond gradually coalesced, flowing into his body.

"Interesting..." Leona observed, her worries dissipating as a sense of delight washed over her. Not only had her son endured the pressure she had exerted upon him, but he had also kept his word.

Desmond, who had initially carried the aura of a wild beast, now bore the appearance of an ordinary, unarmed individual, his transformation imperceptible.

"Even after absorbing such a substantial amount of energy, his aura and presence remain unchanged," Leona mused, her lips involuntarily curling into a satisfied smile at her son's accomplishment.

"That's my son!" Leona exclaimed, casting a mocking glance at her husband, as if to say, "See what our son is capable of?"

"I see, so the brat was hiding his strength all along," Bastian remarked, a malevolent chuckle escaping his lips. "I should have unleashed all my power earlier." Regret washed over him for not thoroughly thrashing Desmond.

Meanwhile, Desmond had successfully absorbed the surrounding natural energy. With the system's assistance, the process had been swift, but he had desired to test the limits of his energy absorption capabilities.

"I feel as though I could forgo sleep for weeks," Desmond mused, realizing that his mother had treated him with kindness by allowing him to experiment.

"Advance Spell: Dimension!"

Observing her son's completion of the technique, Leona swiftly chanted an incantation, preparing herself for the forthcoming battle.

The world around them transformed into shades of black and white, with only Bastian remaining seated on the floor, watching the ensuing confrontation unfold from a distance.

Familiar with this spell, Desmond had encountered it upon his arrival in the kingdom alongside his parents.

"Custom Spell: Light Distortion!"

Without delay, Desmond activated his spell, causing his body to emit a gentle glow. However, his excitement was swiftly replaced by bafflement as a sudden notification appeared before his eyes.

[ERROR | Reason: The conditions for casting the spell are not met]

"What?!" For the first time, Desmond received an error message from the system. His gaze shifted towards the sky, revealing an endless expanse of darkness.

Ah, so that's the reason. In this dimension, the light emitted by either the sun or the moon is automatically obstructed, rendering the spell ineffective.

Although he had anticipated this obstacle, what puzzled him was the source of light within this dimension in the absence of the sun or moon.

Despite the lack of celestial illumination, Desmond could still perceive his surroundings with clarity within this dimensional realm. The external scenery grew dim and translucent, while the floor beneath his feet remained white, and the ceiling above was an inky abyss.

"Are you frightened, my son?" Leona's expression morphed from concern to a slight frown as she observed Desmond's sudden shock and panic, which contrasted starkly with his previous confidence and joy.

Unaware of Desmond's failed spell activation, Leona couldn't perceive his custom spell, as it originated from a system foreign to this world.

This time, it was Desmond who felt a surge of shock. He glanced at his mother, noticing the confusion mixed with a hint of disappointment in her gaze.

Taking a deep breath, Desmond composed himself once more. "It's nothing," he assured her, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his own face. He extended his arms before him, gathering natural energy in his hands, determined to make the best of the situation.

Leona observed her son's sudden shift in emotions, and her confusion deepened. She watched as he stretched out his arms, witnessing the energy amassing in his hands. "Oh my God," she whispered in astonishment, captivated by the display.

Meanwhile, in the southern part of the city, a horse-drawn carriage patiently awaited before a grand gate.

Two women stood at the gate, their gazes fixed on the man standing before them. "Goodbye, Father..." the younger woman uttered, tears streaming down her face as she embraced the middle-aged man before her.

"Hush... hush... don't cry, my little knight," the middle-aged man consoled, lowering his head to embrace his daughter, gently caressing her head.

After a few moments, he released his embrace and locked eyes with her. "Listen, Diana, once you're at the academy, remember that all men are weak! You must be strong enough to surpass them. If you stumble, do not hesitate or feel ashamed to seek your father's aid," he advised his daughter with utmost seriousness.

"Come now, my love. No one would dare challenge you if our daughter mentions your name," the older woman chimed in, standing beside her daughter.

She then took hold of her daughter's hand. "Let us go, Diana. We mustn't be late," she urged gently.

Diana, still gazing at her father, slowly approached her mother. "Yes, Mother," she replied, her voice quivering with emotion.

"Tsk, tsk," Clementine sighed disapprovingly at the sight of her tearful daughter. She shook her head, then knelt down, tenderly wiping away Diana's tears. "Crying excessively will only wither your face and make you age prematurely," she cautioned with a hint of playfulness in her tone.