The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

The woman instinctively took a step back, her legs trembling as she tried to stabilize herself on the unforgiving ground. Her gaze lifted, and a shiver ran down her spine as she beheld the colossal creature towering before her, its immense form reaching a staggering height of three meters.

Its two expansive wings stretched out, filling the room with a sense of impending doom, while its elongated body resembled that of a lion, adorned with a luxurious coat of fine yellow fur.

*ROAR!*

The thunderous roar erupted from the creature's monstrous maw, its wide and razor-sharp beak gaping open menacingly. With a swift and aggressive motion, one of its forelegs, resembling the talons of an eagle, lashed out, attempting to strike the woman with its immense force.

"A Gryphon..." she muttered, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos unfolding around her. Her gaze shifted between the creature's struggling form and the menacing claw that hovered menacingly in front of her, threatening to crush her existence.

Seizing the opportunity presented by the confined space, the woman realized that a mere step backward would grant her the advantage she desperately sought. With a determined resolve, she retreated, narrowly evading the colossal claw that soared through the air, only to collide with the solid walls of the room.

*CRASH!*

The impact reverberated through the chamber, dislodging stones that cascaded to the ground in a cacophony of destruction. The trembling vibrations rattled the very foundation of the room, a testament to the immense power at play.

A sardonic snort escaped the woman's lips as she observed the chaos caused by the Gryphon's futile attempts to unleash its wrath upon her. "Huh, what a shame," she sneered, her voice tinged with arrogance. "A shapeshifter will never possess the same raw power as a true beast."

Her taunting words were followed by a sudden surge of aggression. Swift as a gust of wind, she launched herself forward, her lithe figure defying gravity as she skillfully stepped on the walls adjacent to her. Each footfall propelled her higher and higher, granting her an ethereal, almost weightless quality.

In the midst of her aerial ascent, the woman locked eyes with the creature before her, witnessing a reflection of malevolence and a burning desire for revenge. Unfazed, she met its gaze with an unyielding smile, her grip tightening around her broomstick weapon.

*SWOOSH!*

As if responding to her command, the various blades adorning her broomstick weapon dislodged and descended upon the enormous creature beneath her. Undeterred by the rain of deadly projectiles, the woman plunged forward fearlessly, her audacity defying any concerns of self-inflicted wounds.

The events unfolded with such swiftness that the Gryphon found itself momentarily defenseless, its immense frame frozen in shock. Yet, the creature's reaction was as swift as the woman's assault, managing to deflect several blades that had embedded themselves in one of its wing bones.

Realizing the dire situation, the Gryphon opened its monstrous beak, a desperate attempt to engulf the woman before it, who fearlessly dove into its gaping maw. However, its anticipation met a disheartening reality. Contrary to its expectations, the woman laughed with a hint of derision, effortlessly maneuvering against the forceful currents within the creature's mouth.

In a swift motion, she extracted one of the airborne blades and ruthlessly stabbed the Gryphon's eye once more.

A pained groan erupted from the depths of the Gryphon's being, and the open maw allowed several blades to pierce its body, causing untold agony and distress.

*ROAR!*

The excruciating pain coursed through the Gryphon's body, eliciting a desperate attempt to retreat. In its agony, the trembling creature inadvertently caused a shower of dust to descend from the room's ceiling, while the very walls behind it appeared fragile, as though on the verge of collapsing.

Yet, the woman refused to grant the Gryphon a moment of respite. Seizing a nearby blade that had become lodged near its neck, she aimed to drive it deeper, to sever the creature's neck entirely.

*GASP!*

However, the claw that had been embedded in the wall suddenly jerked into motion, triggering the crumbling of several sections of the already weakened structure. Swiftly and relentlessly, the claw advanced, closing in on the woman suspended in mid-air.

Caught off guard by the sudden assault, her attention solely focused on the blade near the Gryphon's neck, panic tinged her expression. Defenseless and suspended in the air, she grappled with the unexpected turn of events, only to find herself ensnared within the grasp of the gargantuan claw.

As the unforgiving grip tightened, tiny nails pierced her body, leaving trails of both blood and marred beauty across her once-flawless face.

The crushing force of the claw constricted her, constricting her ability to draw breath. She strained to move her head, stealing a glance at the looming figure of the Gryphon. However, all that met her gaze was an abyss of darkness, accompanied by a fetid stench that pervaded the air.

Frowning, not out of fear, but rather due to her misjudgment of the sheer power possessed by the shapeshifter, even if it were only half that of a genuine Gryphon, she realized the undeniable truth of her current predicament. Defeat had claimed her, relegating her to the role of vanquished prey, silenced and unable to retaliate.

As her impending demise drew near, the woman experienced neither fear nor anger. Annoyance welled within her instead, vexed that she would no longer have the chance to sever the Gryphon's neck and fulfill her duty to her employer.

Oxygen deprivation took its toll, causing her skin to take on a sickly green hue, while the pain inflicted by those few tiny nails crept closer to vital organs within her body.

On the opposing end, the Gryphon endured the torment caused by the embedded swords, relishing the pain as a twisted form of pleasure. Upon gazing upon the pitiful sight of the woman before it, a sinister grin adorned the creature's beak, as if reveling in the imminent prospect of swallowing the clever and nimble woman, a victim of her own misjudgment and folly.

Just as the Gryphon prepared to engulf the woman's diminutive frame, a colossal hand firmly seized its beak, forcing it to recoil and wrenching its claw apart.

*GROAN...*

This time, the Gryphon emitted a sound laced with seething anger. It believed that the hand that intervened was none other than the woman's desperate attempt to resist and break free from its grasp. However, to its astonishment, an unseen force, dark and frigid yet agonizing, ensnared not just its beak but every inch of its being.

"Enough." A commanding voice resonated, causing the Gryphon to freeze in place, its defiance quelled.

On the other hand, upon hearing this voice, the woman's expression regained its composure. A sense of relief washed over her, grateful that, thanks to this intervention, she remained alive to see another day. She noticed the tightening grip of the Gryphon's claw loosening, freeing her body to slide down and return to solid ground.

"Boss." Once her feet touched the floor, the woman promptly dropped to her knees, her gaze fixed upon the empty space before her, which seemed to hold an unseen presence.

Simultaneously, a shadow abruptly peeled away from the Gryphon's form, coalescing into the shape of a human. Taking a human form, the shadow descended, melding seamlessly with the room. The figure that materialized stood at a height of approximately two meters, dwarfed in comparison to the towering Gryphon.

Adorning his left eye was a tattoo, while his shoulder-length straight hair, dark and purple, appeared as if it were crafted from the remnants of that very shadow.

Though physically smaller than the Gryphon, the mere sight of this man instilled a deep-rooted fear within the creature's heart. Tremors coursed through its massive form, bowing before the enigmatic figure.

The boss cast his gaze downward, surveying the sorry state of his subordinate, who knelt before him, suppressing the flow of blood from her stomach. Her clothing bore the punctures inflicted by the Gryphon's claw.

"You may retire and rest, Brice," the boss commanded, his voice laced with a hint of magic. A shadow materialized from his form, extending toward his subordinate and enveloping her within its embrace.

Embraced by the consuming darkness, Brice exhibited no sign of panic. Instead, she welcomed the solace bestowed upon her with gratitude, unreservedly accepting its embrace.

*CRACK!*

As if a fragile eggshell had shattered, the shadow surrounding Brice disintegrated, revealing her restored form, devoid of any scars or injuries, her body restored to a state of pristine health.

"Yes, boss. Thank you." Joy radiated from Brice's eyes as she acknowledged the miraculous healing bestowed upon her. With a purposeful stride, she retreated behind her boss, dissolving into the ever-present darkness that enveloped him.

But before fading completely from view, she cast a parting glance, mocking the Gryphon that now lowered its head in submission before her indomitable boss.