The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Desmond slowly turned his head, his gaze focused on the sudden appearance of transparent screens shimmering before him, each displaying the repeated message in a cascade of luminous text: [Mass of Unique Energy Found!]

Under the ethereal glow of the moonlight, its radiance casting an otherworldly sheen upon the scene, Desmond's hands moved with nimble precision. He delicately extracted the inner organs of the fallen beasts scattered along the road, a macabre ballet unfolding under the night sky.

A pungent mix of metallic scents and decay filled the air, carried on a subtle breeze that whispered through the surrounding trees. Desmond's senses heightened, his keen awareness soaking in the atmospheric details as he meticulously gathered the organs, one by one.

As if observing a mesmerizing spectacle, any unsuspecting onlookers would have mistaken this eerie phenomenon as a natural occurrence. The energy emanating from each lifeless carcass appeared to converge towards a singular focal point, an enigmatic force drawing them together.

The once dirty and foul-smelling road underwent a remarkable transformation, its soiled surface cleansing itself before Desmond's eyes.

Meanwhile, amidst the silence of the night and the absence of passers-by, Desmond continued his harvesting, his purpose undeterred. The organs became mere objects to him, like stones plucked from a riverbed, while he patiently awaited the intricate process of energy absorption.

Eyes brimming with anticipation and a spark of excitement, Desmond repeated the same actions over and over, engrossed in his work. However, his movements abruptly ceased when his gaze fixated on a hovering notification that materialized before him.

[Energy Absorption Complete!]

Normally, such a proclamation would have filled him with delight, compelling him to swiftly inspect his updated status. Yet, a shadow of concern darkened Desmond's countenance as he read the subsequent message.

[Warning! The system has detected an energy attempting to impede the host's growth...]

Desmond's heart sank at the realization. The system, acting autonomously, would ruthlessly eradicate any foreign energy that dared infiltrate his body. But this time, the gravity of the situation hit him harder than ever before, and a sense of foreboding settled upon him.

His brows furrowed, Desmond's unwavering focus remained fixed on the slowly ascending percentage, inching ever closer to the fateful 100.

[ERROR || The suppressed energy proves formidable, successfully stifling the host's growth...]

[Initiating steps to secure host energy vessel... 0%]

Accompanied by the final notification from the system, a surge of pain erupted within Desmond's body, ripping through his muscles and coursing through his veins. The agony was reminiscent of his previous encounters with the Blood Control skill, and yet, it was still an unyielding torment, refusing to be fully subdued by his supposed pain resistance.

"Aargh!" Desmond groaned in anguish, his eyes betraying a mix of disbelief and despair. The system had failed for the first time, succumbing to the strength of the foreign energy suppressing his growth.

As the excruciating pain intensified, it consumed his entire being, rendering him a vessel of suffering. The moonlight, once a shroud enveloping his form, began to flicker intermittently, as if its luminous veil wished to unveil the truth concealed within Desmond's grip on the inner organs of the fallen beasts.

Desmond's attention was momentarily diverted from his surroundings until he caught sight of his own reflection in the pristine, clean cobblestone street. Gritting his teeth, his instincts took over as his body swiftly darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a collision.

*CRASH*

Ignoring the object he unintentionally demolished, Desmond clicked his tongue in annoyance and continued his rapid escape. His feet carried him with an agile swiftness, the sound of his hurried footsteps echoing through the night.

Finding refuge behind the shadowed facade of a villager's house, Desmond stole a quick glance to the side. The street revealed a shattered half-foot-high stone wall, as if it had been pierced by an indomitable force. For someone with the strength of a first-class swordsman, reducing a solid rock to rubble was a trivial feat.

Fortunately, the wreckage lay far enough from the vigilant guards stationed at the entrance gate. Desmond observed their brief moment of suspicion before they returned to their duties, oblivious to the disturbance. Meanwhile, Desmond's body was now fully exposed, devoid of any concealing moonlight.

Leaning against the rough texture of the house's exterior, Desmond sat up straight, his gaze fixed ahead, brimming with curiosity. Yet, his moment of introspection was disrupted as another notification materialized before him.

[ERROR || The system lacked information in handling this energy. The energy has entered and merged with the host body, effectively suppressing host's growth...]

Inhaling deeply, Desmond sought to calm himself while analyzing the situation unfolding within his own body. The chilly night air carried a subtle mist that he absorbed, mingling with his being. As he did so, a gradual alleviation of the pain permeated through him.

With a composed demeanor, he commanded the system to scan for any changes within his body.

[Scanning Host Body...]

[Scan Complete!]

A wealth of information flooded his mind, providing intricate details about his healthy physique without any significant alterations. His blood and energy vessels seemed to flow with an outward calmness.

Yet, upon realizing that his bodily condition remained unchanged, a furrow formed on Desmond's brow. "Hmm, if the problem isn't within my body..." He pondered, wracking his brain to recall the events that had transpired earlier.

Recalling the history of notifications, Desmond commanded the system to display the relevant records from midnight onwards.

Transparent screens flickered into existence, presenting a succession of notifications that vanished as quickly as they appeared. Only one elongated screen remained, capturing his attention.

Desmond's gaze narrowed as he meticulously scanned the system notifications, starting from the top and working his way down, determined to find the source of the issue.

[Absorb Complete!]

[Warning! The system detects a presence of energy attempting to hinder the host's growth...]

[System is attempting to destroy the energy.... 0%]

"Hmm, so the problem arose when the absorbed energy sought entry into my body," Desmond mused. He glanced down, realizing that aside from the beast's internal organs he clutched in his hands, the rest resided safely within his pocket.

Desmond pondered further, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. "But still, it's not entirely conclusive. This is merely my conjecture. The issue could lie either with the corrupt energy emanating from the problematic beast's body, unable to infiltrate my own, or my body might be undergoing transformations that impede the assimilation of foreign energy."

Lost in thought, Desmond set aside the inner organ he held and reached into his pocket, retrieving another one.

[Mass of Unique Energy Found!]

[Did Host want to absorb it? Y / N?]

"Yes," Desmond promptly replied, his decision resolute.

In an instant, a translucent screen from the system materialized before him, overlaying the ongoing absorption process.

[System Conclusion: System detected a change in conversion rate during the entry of absorbed energy into the host's body.]

"Unexpectedly, it succeeded on the first attempt, which implies that the problem lies within me," Desmond muttered with a tinge of displeasure. The alteration in the conversion rate indicated that the energy he received was lesser than the usual dosage, exacerbating his frustration.