The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Desmond's mind swirled with confusion as he stared at the peculiar note, his eyebrows furrowing. Meanwhile, the battle between the ogre and the mercenaries had reached its climax.

*Thud.*

In a mere fifteen minutes, the ferocious clash had come to an end, leaving the ogre's hulking form drenched in its own gory carnage. Blood sprayed from its chest, staining the once-vibrant green ground, while deep gashes marred its lower body. Swords jutted out from its eyes and chest, evidence of the merciless assault it had endured.

The ogre's massive hands, now covered in dirt and blood, clenched into fists upon the cracked earth. Its bloodshot eyes smoldered with a lethal mix of rage and murderous intent as they bore into the remaining humans. Kneeling before them, it emanated an aura of primal defiance.

The mercenaries, however, stood nonchalantly in the aftermath of the brutal encounter. Their expressions betrayed no fear, only an unwavering curiosity. Some even eyed the ogre's battered form with the hunger of predators eyeing fresh prey. They held their weapons casually, their attention firmly fixed on their leader.

Meanwhile, from a distance, the captain's face contorted in a mixture of anger and disappointment. Fury billowed within his mind, ready to explode, as he observed his subordinates, their lack of composure evident. Were it not for his duty to protect the boy and his guardian, he would have been swift to deliver a sharp reprimand.

Nonetheless, he snorted disdainfully, issuing a command to the soldiers nearest to the ogre.

"Back off! Let the mercenaries handle the rest. Guard the carriages!" His voice dripped with disdain as he redirected his gaze towards the dark expanse of the nearby forest. Unease gnawed at his senses, his eyes fixated on the trembling trees.

The soldiers, awestruck, hastily obeyed the captain's order, their eyes filled with admiration for the mercenaries. Yet, a few among them couldn't accept this reality, spitting at the ground beneath their feet in frustrated defiance.

"Hah!" Vaurz, the mercenary's sub-leader, sighed irritably. Were it not for his comrade's counsel to exercise restraint, his fists would have already met the insolent soldier's face. Ray, observing the scene, shook his head with a mixture of pity and disapproval, before shifting his gaze to the fallen ogre.

"I'll finish it off. The rest of you, stay on guard for any potential ambush," he declared, his tone commanding despite the newfound atmosphere of calm.

Even as a sense of relief settled over the group, Ray, burdened by the weight of leadership, couldn't shake the lingering unease that gripped him. Casting a quick glance back towards the foreboding darkness ahead, he felt a surge of unknown apprehension.

"ROAR!" The ogre let out a feeble roar as its eyes caught sight of a lone figure, human, slowly approaching with a gleaming sword in hand. It made one final desperate attempt to shift its colossal body, its massive club resting beside its limp hand, but all it managed was a feeble tremor before succumbing to its own weight, crashing forward.

*Thud.*

Amidst the enveloping darkness, cries from the crows echoed through the sky, their mournful calls punctuating the arrival of Ray. Now, the disparity in height between him and the fallen ogre had diminished. Cold determination flickered in his eyes as they locked onto the ogre's head, his sword raised, poised for the final strike.

*Slash.*

A swift and precise diagonal attack sliced through the air, leaving behind a trail of rushing wind as it aimed for the ogre's vulnerable neck. For a brief moment, the ogre's body froze, its eyes filled with bewilderment.

Its limited intelligence struggled to comprehend the unfolding situation before its head slowly detached from its body, a resounding crack reverberating through the air as dust billowed.

*Thud.*

The mercenaries erupted in jubilation, swiftly converging on their leader, but their elation came to an abrupt halt as their pupils contracted, sensing the presence of another entity.

*Swoosh.*

A colossal wolf materialized behind their leader, suspended mid-air, jaws agape, poised to swallow his head whole. "I told you to remain vigilant. Why did you celebrate prematurely?" Ray's voice resonated, his head turning as he swung his bloodstained sword to the right, dislodging it from the jaws of the massive wolf.

"Sorry, Ray," Vaurz stammered, his voice quivering, as he beheld a mischievous grin adorning his friend's face. Mixed within his trepidation, he couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe. Is this the power of a peak-class Swordsman? he wondered to himself.

"Apologies, leader," echoed the remaining members in unison, their eyes reflecting both remorse and admiration for Ray's unwavering alertness.

*Howl.*

"No problem," Ray responded, a sigh of relief escaping him as the lingering unease that had plagued his heart dissipated. However, as he dispatched the wolf, a resounding howl emanated from the depths of the desolate forest.

Ray shifted his gaze to the slain beast before him. Resembling an ordinary wolf, its thick brown fur sprawled across its frame. However, its immense size, measuring roughly five meters in length and standing four meters tall, dwarfed the average wolf.

"A Husk Wolf!" one of the mercenaries exclaimed, his eyes darting around as he realized they had become encircled by a pack of these formidable creatures.

...

Simultaneously, upon hearing the haunting sound, the captain's expression darkened. His gaze shifted from the pack of Husk Wolves to the mercenaries, muttering under his breath, "They can handle it, but for us..."

The captain's eyes scanned his remaining subordinates, and he added, "If I divide our forces, the soldiers' current strength won't match that of a single pack of Husk Wolves." On the left side, five packs surrounded them, each pack comprising five Husk Wolves, equating to a total of twenty-five encircling the Corps of Teleknights mercenaries.

Observing his weary soldiers who had already engaged in combat with the ogre, the captain's brows furrowed. "This is my mistake. I had foolishly believed I could employ the mercenaries as training fodder for our soldiers."

Shaking his head, his gaze shifted to the remaining troops. "The situation is no longer conducive for training. I need every soldier to focus solely on the right flank." Yet, even as he issued the command, his eyes remained fixated on the Steel Legion mercenaries.

*ROAR!*

To their astonishment, an identical deep, resounding cry resonated from the right side of the arid forest, accompanied by the unmistakable howl.

The captain's astonishment was palpable as he stood frozen, his eyes locked on the approaching spectacle before him—an ogre towering at a height of approximately six meters, its muscular form brandishing a familiar club. Accompanying the ogre were three packs of Husk Wolves, their collective presence causing the very ground to tremble.

"All soldiers, protect the right side!" The captain's command shattered the momentary stupor, jolting the soldiers into action. He leaped into the chaotic battlefield, poised to join the fray.

However, the soldiers who had been wounded in the earlier encounter were gripped by fear, their bodies paralyzed, their eyes fixated on the imposing figure of the ogre. The memories of their prior battle trauma lingered, haunting their every thought.

Amidst the swirling chaos, Desmond wore a smile, a glint of anticipation dancing in his eyes as he observed the impending onslaught of the ogre and its accompanying packs of Husk Wolves. "Perfect. This is my moment," he whispered with a mixture of determination and exhilaration.