The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Seizing the opportunity, the aberrant beast swiftly flexed its two wings, unfurling them with a powerful motion. The wings beat against the air, propelling the creature upward, soaring higher until it reached a height of approximately 10 meters above the ground.

* Swoosh! *

Witnessing this abnormal display of movement, the Desert Lizadars stood in perplexed silence, unable to comprehend the intentions of the beast. Their eyes remained fixed, locked onto the spectacle unfolding before them.

Yet, as soon as the aberrant creature took to the air, a realization struck the Desert Lizadars: this beast was retreating like a coward. Filled with a mixture of fear, anger, and envy over its unique abilities, the lizards responded by expelling flames that erupted from their gaping maws.

* Swoosh! * * Crackle! *

Several sparks soared skyward, their fiery trails forming sharp arcs. Unlike fireballs, these projectiles possessed remarkable speed, carrying the scorching essence of burning infernos.

Even against the opposing wind, the gusts only served to stoke the spitting flames, causing them to grow larger instead of dwindling. The fiery spittle swelled, now akin in size to a standard fireball, though slightly more substantial.

Within this onslaught, a mesmerizing display of sparkling fireworks danced amidst the incendiary saliva, intensifying the deadly nature of the assault. It was not just one Desert Lizard spewing forth these projectiles but a collective of five, launching their fiery ammunition simultaneously.

Observing this imminent danger, the aberrant beast trembled with fear, its wings extending even wider, causing its silhouette to loom larger while the approaching pack of Desert Lizadars seemed to shrink.

However, amidst this flurry, a single salvo of spit managed to close in on the beast's body.

* Swoosh! * * Clap! *

With agility honed through instinct, the aberrant creature evaded the lethal projectile by contorting its hind legs and leaning forward as if lying in the air, narrowly evading the saliva's scorching path.

Having eluded the first fiery assault, four more blazing projectiles followed suit, hurtling towards their target in unison. In response, the aberrant beast twisted its body, and its previously sleek feathers abruptly bristled.

* Smack! * * Spark! *

One of the fire spits struck the now-swollen feathers, immediately igniting them. The beast let out a pained groan, yet despite the searing agony, it mustered the strength to maneuver its body, executing a graceful aerial spin.

* Swoosh! *

Another fiery projectile hurtled towards the creature, but through its skillful rotation, it managed to deftly dodge the incoming attack.

Gathering its wits, the aberrant beast gazed ahead, realizing only two fire spits remained. In that moment, it spread its two arms wide, and instantaneously, the black feathers that had been puffed up returned to their normal state, the sparks of fire extinguishing in tandem.

Beneath the surface layer of its body, a sudden transformation took place. The black hairs that once adorned its skin were swiftly replaced by the emergence of serpent-like scales, akin to those found on the Desert Lizards. This occurrence was not unusual, as it was a part of their innate abilities.

These newly formed scales appeared incredibly resilient and robust. As the remnants of the fire spits collided with them, a mere spark ignited before the projectiles dissipated into the air, unable to breach the formidable armor.

However, the aftermath of the assault left the scales that were struck by the fire spits in a reddish hue, twitching with an almost molten appearance. Witnessing this, the aberrant beast scratched the affected scales forcefully, causing a distinct sound to reverberate.

* Pop! *

A vibrant green liquid seeped from the scales, revealing the presence of black hairs underneath. The inky fur then began to cover the areas where the scales had been damaged, assimilating seamlessly.

With deliberate care, the beast repeated this process across its body, allowing a few black hairs to sprout in various regions. The current state of its physique bore a patchwork of scales and emerging fur, a testament to the toll of the encounter.

As it glanced downward, the aberrant beast noticed that some of the Desert Lizards now possessed reddened bellies, a clear indication that fire spits were in the process of forming on their own bodies.

* Crack! * * Swoosh! *

Without wasting another moment, the aberrant beast swiftly unfurled its two wings and propelled itself through the air, seeking to distance itself as far as possible from the Desert Lizards. From a distance, it observed that the pursuers had ceased their chase, allowing a momentary reprieve. It then turned its attention inward, assessing the state of its own body.

Fresh wounds marred its lower body, evidence of the skirmish, while several of its wing bones smoldered, on the verge of fracturing. Additionally, the membrane near the body segment displayed several small punctures, inflicted by the bites of the Desert Lizards.

The wing structure it possessed resembled that of a wyvern, with a hand-like formation comprising elongated fingers that resembled skeletal bones. Each finger bore a membrane, akin to the feathers found on an eagle, essential for flight. However, this time, some of the wing bones had been singed, causing the membranes between the fingers to constrict, hindering its flight speed.

* Groan... *

Surveying the aftermath of the battle, a realization dawned upon the beast, accompanied by a surge of sudden pain that elicited a miserable groan. It turned its gaze away and discovered that it had distanced itself considerably from the vicinity of the Desert Lizards.

Casting its eyes downward, a plateau came into view, seemingly offering a safe haven. Prior to landing, the aberrant beast circled the airspace once more, ensuring that no other creatures resembling the Desert Lizards lurked in the area.

Satisfied with its assessment of safety, it landed with a deliberate grace and swiftly began to dig a hole, burying itself within the earth's embrace.

Returning to the scene within Desmond's horse-drawn carriage, the atmosphere was lively in the front group, where mercenaries from the esteemed Steel Legion and Corps of Teleknights rode together, engaged in conversations and banter with their fellow comrades.

Among them, the Steel Legion mercenaries stood out as a bustling and animated bunch, their all-female composition providing an endless well of discussion topics. In contrast, Ray, the leader of the Corps of Teleknights, maintained a vigilant watch over their surroundings, a serious demeanor etched upon his features.

Ray couldn't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction and discomfort with the carefree nature of the Steel Legion mercenaries. Their relaxed attitude grated on his nerves, but he was determined not to let his emotions sway him.

His professionalism and composure remained intact, although he couldn't help directing his disapproving gaze toward the leader of the Steel Legion, Veronica, who rode alongside him.

Veronica, perceptive to Ray's expressions, couldn't resist her curiosity and spoke up. "Is this your first time receiving an escort mission?" Her voice carried a hint of intrigue.

"Hmph," Ray snorted dismissively. Observing Veronica's seemingly carefree and nonchalant attitude toward the mission only further fueled his judgmental assessment.

Veronica shook her head slightly, understanding the weight of her responsibilities as the leader of the Steel Legion. To effectively anticipate any unforeseen events, she positioned herself at the forefront of the group. Despite the briefing she had provided to her fellow mercenaries, Veronica recognized that mercenaries were not akin to guards or soldiers.

They strived to complete their missions with utmost dedication, hoping to live to see another day.

Even though the rewards they received often fell short of the efforts exerted, they had little choice but to accept the assignments and fulfill them unless their lives were truly at stake. It was an inherent part of their existence, a reality they had come to accept.