The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Hooh? It has been quite some time since I last saw this intriguing notification. A transparent screen materialized, hanging weightlessly in mid-air right before his astonished face. Despite the surprise etched on his features, his mind remained tranquil, betraying no signs of panic. It seemed this occurrence was not entirely unfamiliar to him.

"Hmm, a fitting name... something that evokes both the essence of blood and the surge of energy," Desmond contemplated silently, his hand gently caressing his lower chin. Memories of the past flooded his thoughts, where this very notification had surfaced during his initial demonstrations and practice of his father's swordsmanship skills.

The description of the notification remained unchanged, and the timing of its appearance aligned precisely with the sensations coursing through his body.

Recalling this detail also brought awareness to his current physical state. His neck constricted, constricting his breath, leaving him feeling as though he were tethered like a dog, every part of his body limp—joints, muscles, all devoid of vitality.

Yet, even amid this pain, his mind refused to relinquish its creative spark. At long last, he conceived a name befitting his newfound skill: Blood Control. It may sound unassuming, lacking in grandiosity, but that simplicity appealed to Desmond, a smile of satisfaction playing across his face.

[Skill 'Blood Control' has been successfully added.]

[Retrieving information about skills...]

[Name: Blood Control

Description: Harnessing half of the host's energy, this skill suppresses blood flow, muscles, bones, joints, and even obscures aura or other aberrant effects, rendering them seemingly ephemeral. Furthermore, it grants the ability to conceal the host's true race.

Consumed: Energy, Agility, and Strength: 1.00 per minute]

"I see... I see," Desmond mumbled, nodding repeatedly, utterly astounded by this sudden revelation. He continued, "Remarkable! Although it may be a simplified or more accessible rendition of a custom spell, its effectiveness remains extraordinary."

However, as his gaze shifted towards the consumed energy, he couldn't help but feel a pang of concern tighten his heart.

Checking his status, another translucent screen materialized alongside the skill display. Desmond paid no heed to the skill description, instead directing his eyes to meticulously peruse his overall statistics.

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 10 years

Race: Human (100%)

Class: 1st Swordsman / 0th Dragonslayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 17.48 / 40.97

Strength: 28.24 (25.24)

Agility: 20.99 (17.99)

Stamina: 8.43

Dragon Essence: 0]

"Huff, fortunately, this isn't a permanent effect," he sighed, relief washing over him upon this realization.

Yet, his discerning eyes soon caught another concern—his energy, agility, and strength dwindling significantly before his gaze.

Desmond's mouth twitched involuntarily, a sign that more than three minutes had passed. He refocused his gaze, determined to clear the transparent screen that obstructed his view. In doing so, he directed his attention to Laura, still leaning against his chest, and furrowed his brow.

"Laura," Desmond spoke, his voice strained as he attempted to push her body with the remnants of his strength. However, to his surprise, her body yielded without any resistance.

* Swoosh *

Realizing that something was amiss, Desmond swiftly caught Laura's head before it could collide with the floor. "That was close. It's dangerous," he murmured, concern etched in his features. Narrowing his eyes, he observed Laura's pallid face, noting her feeble breaths. Furthermore, he observed a discernible decrease in the energy she possessed.

"What? Has a soldier dared to intrude without permission?" He seethed with fury at the thought, his mind teeming with anger. Yet, as quickly as the anger welled up, his demeanor shifted to one of chilling coldness, his expression turning steely.

Casting his gaze around the room, he was astonished to find everything still neatly arranged, the room's door standing firm without any signs of forced entry. This puzzled him, but he redirected his attention to Laura, whose energy continued to wane gradually.

"Hmm, peculiar. But I must address my own predicament first," Desmond mused, brushing off Laura's condition for the time being. Gently placing her on the floor, he cautiously approached the dragon necklace, which lay a short distance away from him.

As Desmond moved, a wave of pain surged through his body, eliciting a groan. Resolute, he endured the torment, feeling as if thousands of needles stabbed his flesh, his hand finally managing to reclaim the necklace.

* Clap *

With the necklace securely back around his neck, Desmond swiftly deactivated the skill, causing the pain to gradually recede. "Much better," he acknowledged with relief. Glancing at his status, he noticed his agility and strength gradually returning to their peak.

Turning his attention back to Laura, who remained unconscious on the floor, Desmond, being of shorter stature than her, carefully lifted her into his arms and gently placed her on the bed.

"Heavy," Desmond muttered, clicking his tongue in mild frustration. Although Laura had made significant contributions to his cause, Desmond was not a heartless master who discarded individuals when they were no longer of use. He treated his subordinates fairly, but he harbored no mercy for traitors. Memories of his past resurfaced, evoking a murderous aura in his eyes. "I just remembered...

there's no way that thief was an ordinary thief."

Carrying a gun and luring him into the narrow alley—it was a regrettable decision. If only his phone hadn't been stolen, perhaps he could have cleared his mind in that crucial moment and still be alive today.

"There is no medicine for regret," Desmond sighed wryly, a bitter smile gracing his lips. And as for why he continued to pursue the thief, even though he could easily afford another phone, he cursed his own forgetfulness. "Damn it, I can't recall the name of the novel," he berated himself inwardly for his momentary lapse.

After a brief pause, Desmond pushed aside his grudge and once again centered his thoughts on Laura. "If it wasn't an intruder, then..." He approached the water container that Laura had used to clean his body. Holding the container, he touched the spilled water, his senses keen. "Indeed, there is a trace of energy flow in this container. However, it shouldn't have depleted her energy significantly."

Drawing a conclusion, he turned his attention back to Laura, fixing his gaze upon her.

System scan initiated.

[Scanning the target...]

[Scan Complete!]

[-Status-

Name: Laura

Gender: Female

Age: 19 years

Race: Human

Class: 1st Witch

Occupation: Maid at Desmond's Family

Unique Energy: -10.20 / 36.35

Strength: 7.35 (1.00)

Agility: 8.35 (0.35)

Stamina: 0.00 / 7.35]

[System Conclusion: The target is in critical condition. The system cannot find helpful information for the host to take further action.]

"Wahh," Desmond gasped, momentarily taken aback. Not only was Laura's energy in the negative, but her stamina and other attributes had also experienced a drastic reduction.

Despite the peculiar state Laura was in, Desmond managed to maintain his composure, which facilitated clear thinking. Observing his own condition, he already understood the cause. "Long-distance communication," Desmond muttered with a complex expression.

It was the first time Desmond had encountered negative stats, and neither he nor the system knew the implications of this negative energy. Logically, if a person's energy is depleted, they won't be able to chant spells and would need to meditate to replenish their energy reserves. Even if they attempted to force it, the spells and chants would prove ineffective.

These were basic facts Desmond had gleaned from books in his home library, but Laura's case posed a different challenge. "Only the academies and royal libraries hold detailed information on this matter," Desmond pondered aloud. He continued, "She's a complicated woman, always dropping hints. Why didn't she mention this earlier?" Unbeknownst to him, Laura had offered a faint smile before.

As Desmond beheld Laura's pale countenance, he spoke with determination, "However, there must be a logical solution to this." Glancing at his own status, he pointed his hand toward Laura. "This is why I can't fully rely on AI."