The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

"Sister," Raina called out, her voice carrying across the vast battlefield, the air heavy with the scent of blood and sweat. From her vantage point, she watched the futile clash between the valiant soldiers and the ferocious beasts, her deep blue eyes locked onto her old friend, Veronica.

Veronica's lips pressed tightly together as she mumbled something under her breath, her head lowered in a gesture that concealed her emotions. It was impossible to discern her expression amidst the chaos and turmoil.

The opposing forces collided with a thunderous impact. With every clash, soldiers were hurled away, but their indomitable spirit propelled them back into the fray, their bodies battered and bleeding, yet undeterred.

Observing this harrowing scene, two women positioned behind Raina tightened their grips on their cloaks, their anxious expressions mirroring the mounting severity of the soldiers' wounds. Each injury they spotted became more grievous, further fueling their concern.

"Sister, the boy has joined the battle!" one of the women exclaimed in horror, her voice trembling, causing the others to follow her gaze, their faces frozen in disbelief.

Veronica's countenance darkened as she raised her head, witnessing the boy effortlessly vanquish the husk wolves. Her mind swirled with conflicting thoughts as she surveyed the remaining members of their group. "Listen, no matter what happens, we must protect the boy! We cannot let Selena's sacrifice be in vain."

A blaze of hatred flickered in her eyes as she observed the wolves, her imagination conjuring a gruesome image of Selena torn apart by their ravenous jaws. Determination surged through Veronica as she unsheathed her sword, radiating a palpable aura of vengeance that seeped into the right side of the forest. With her purple eyes ablaze in the darkness of the cold night, she pressed forward.

Motivated by their leader's fiery resolve, the remaining members of the Steel Legion swiftly sprung into action, chanting incantations and casting spells.

...

Meanwhile, Desmond, already immersed in the heat of battle, flashed a smile as he detected a surge of energy in the distance. "Seems like my subterfuge is working."

Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that Desmond was not engaged in combat with the husk wolves. He stood parallel to the fighting soldiers, flawlessly mimicking their movements, from the grip of their swords to their precise footwork and slashing techniques. Even when the husk wolves fell to the ground, the soldier beside Desmond remained oblivious, wholly absorbed in the ongoing struggle.

Yet, to the members of the Steel Legion, it appeared as if Desmond was single-handedly responsible for dispatching the beasts.

"I am not so foolish as to directly engage in combat with these beasts," Desmond remarked as he took a step back, revealing that he was not alone. Several soldiers stood beside him, their collective efforts responsible for bringing down the husk wolf.

With a flicker of his custom spell, Light Distortion, Desmond vanished into the shadows, his body merging seamlessly with the moonlit darkness that enveloped him. The Steel Legion members remained oblivious, their attention fixated on their leader's confrontation with the ogre, unaware of Desmond's hidden maneuvers.

After distancing himself from the battlefield, Desmond resurfaced, his attire pristine and a contented smile adorning his face. "The Steel Legion mercenaries have joined the battle. No issues with the Corps of Teleknights either."

His gaze shifted to the left, where members of the Corps of Teleknights valiantly fought against two husk wolves simultaneously. "As expected, mercenaries brimming with swordsmanship," Desmond smirked, taking in the scene. He observed the entirety of the battlefield before reaching a conclusion.

"My strength is sufficient to slice through the very fur of these husk wolves, proving their combat prowess surpasses that of dire wolves."

Suddenly, a thunderous roar reverberated through the air, capturing Desmond's attention. His eyes narrowed as he pinpointed the source—a formidable sight indeed. Veronica, her lithe figure defying gravity, effortlessly evaded the ogre's attacks. Her agility showcased the might of a seasoned swordsman. Desmond couldn't help but be impressed.

He had already witnessed Vesta's incredible strength when she singlehandedly decimated an entire bandit attack.

"But it pales in comparison to the witches," Desmond remarked, his focus shifting to the remaining members of the Steel Legion mercenaries. The ground bore the scorched remnants of their powers, with three husk wolf carcasses lying amidst the charred earth, their fur tinged black and the scent of burnt flesh lingering in the air.

The three witches stood resolute, their eyes surveying the battlefield, casting elemental attacks on the ogre one after another. "Truly remarkable, as always. Perhaps it's time for me to begin my own experiment," Desmond declared with a wide smile, his face reminiscent of a child who had discovered a new toy. The calm demeanor he had held suddenly gave way to a suppressed but burning excitement.

"Activate Swordsman Skill: Power Boost."

"Cast Basic Spell: Barrier."

"Manipulate Control Element: Fire."

Desmond initiated his skills simultaneously. His entire being surged with energy as his veins pulsated, seemingly coming alive within his body. A scorching heat coursed through his organs, causing them to twitch in response.

His vision momentarily blurred before settling into a heightened state, enabling him to perceive intricate details of his surroundings—the swirling specks of dust, the watchful gaze of black crows circling overhead, fixated on the fallen corpses below.

Yet, greater power often came at a cost.

[System: All host stats have doubled. The Power Boost skill will expire within a day and can be deactivated at any time. Prolonged use of the skill will result in physical weakness.]

[Host is penalized for utilizing 1st class spells.]

[Energy consumption has increased from 5.00 to 10.00.]

[Barrier successfully created around the host's sword, consuming 20.00 energy due to the weapon's length.]

[Control Element: Fire successfully applied to the blade!]

Desmond calmly absorbed the series of notifications, reading each one meticulously. With that done, he shifted his focus to the sword he held in his grasp.

"It's working flawlessly. As long as I can clearly envision how the power operates," Desmond stated, nodding with satisfaction.