The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Annie nodded, her determination evident as she firmly planted her hand on the head of the unconscious soldier. The vibrant currents of natural energy swirled and coalesced around his skull, drawn inexorably towards it.

The soldier emitted a low groan, his complexion paling visibly, while Annie maintained a deliberate distance, her forehead creased with concentration, her brows furrowed. The process unfolded swiftly, unfolding in mere moments. As the soldier let out one final, plaintive moan, the ethereal natural energy dissipated into the air, fading into nothingness.

Exhaustion washed over Annie, and she wearily lowered herself to the ground, her tired body finding solace on the earth. She cast a glance at her young master, Desmond, who affectionately ruffled her hair, a gesture of praise for her accomplishment. Despite the slight ache in his hand from the tender gesture, he pressed on, a chill crawling down his spine.

Yet, he continued his forward march, refusing to glance back.

Caught in the crossfire of Annie's cold glare, Desmond momentarily met her frigid gaze. However, as he remained blissfully unaware of the intensity behind it, a blush crept across Annie's cheeks, and she inwardly grumbled, surrendering to the playful act of ruffling her own hair.

Meanwhile, the forest hummed with the soothing melody of footsteps dancing amidst the verdant undergrowth. Gentle gusts of wind brushed against the leaves, orchestrating a harmonious symphony, while birdsong filled the air, creating a tapestry of tranquil sounds.

As the sunlight poured into the clearing, a mosaic of stone debris dotted the ground, scattered remnants of what was once an awe-inspiring structure. The half-standing ruins resembled an ancient dome, but now, its grandeur had crumbled into insignificance, a mere fragment of its former self.

Desmond, upon reaching the Shapeshifter's lifeless form, refrained from immediate contact or further advancement. Instead, he patiently awaited the emergence of a translucent display within his vision, a virtual screen of sorts.

[A Mass of Unique Energy Detected!]

[Host, would you like to absorb it? Y / N?]

"Hooh. Last time, when I absorbed the demon corpses, my emotions were tainted, and my purity as a dragon-blooded being was compromised," Desmond mused, his gaze fixated on the corpse, his hesitation palpable.

The bald man's muscular frame remained intact, yet his desiccated flesh bore the unmistakable marks of extraction, as if something had drained his very life force. Although his eyes remained closed, their unseen intensity seemed to bore into Desmond's being, haunting him.

Returning his attention to the translucent screen, Desmond contemplated the potential risks of absorbing the energy from the corpse. Despite his confidence in his draconic heritage, he knew better than to ignore the necessity of preparation.

"System, analyze the potential dangers that may arise from absorbing the energy from this corpse. Use my energy as a variable for experimentation," Desmond commanded, his voice betraying a hint of caution.

With the order issued, Desmond cautiously took a step back, maintaining a safe distance of 20 meters from the lifeless body.

- Custom Spell: Barrier -

Simultaneously, he activated his spell, channeling the natural energy present in the forest. Wisps of ethereal energy coalesced around him, forming a faint, hexagonal golden barrier that enveloped his body from all angles.

These protective barriers, extending a meter beyond his physical form, served to safeguard his movements without hindrance while ensuring proper airflow and circulation.

In perfect synchrony with Desmond's preparations, Annie drew closer to him, her presence felt without a need for visual confirmation. Without shifting his gaze or turning his head, he directed his words to her in a firm, authoritative tone, "Stay away from me."

Desmond's calm tone carried an undercurrent of seriousness, causing Annie's pupils to contract and her expression to turn solemn. She immediately withdrew, keeping a watchful eye on her young master from a safe distance.

A pair of daggers materialized in Annie's hands, her gaze darting between the surroundings and Desmond with a vigilant wariness. She was poised to guard him against any potential danger and, at the same time, ensure that no witnesses or imminent threats posed a risk.

Her movements were swift and fluid, as if she were well-versed in such situations. Even in this sudden turn of events, she maintained a conscious obedience to her master's command. It was evident that all the maids selected by Desmond were not only capable but also exceptionally talented compared to others in his household.

The transparent screen displayed the words, [Starting the process...] and [Using a strand of the host's energy as a parameter and forming an analysis...]. Desmond focused his attention on the screen, sensing the energy on his body swiftly departing and converging toward the lifeless corpse.

Narrowing his eyes, Desmond observed the trembling reaction of the corpse as his energy entered it, momentarily shocking it before it resumed its normal state. Simultaneously, he noticed a strand of red energy rising from the corpse, making its way towards him and merging with his own being.

The golden barriers surrounding him quivered momentarily before settling back into place, and a new transparent screen materialized before his eyes.

[The experiment was a success!]

[Collecting the data and compressing the information...]

[Displaying the new information!]

[Conclusion: After absorbing the energy, the probability of danger is 5%. The level of danger increases if the host cannot withstand the surge of negative emotions emanating from the corpse.

This measurement is solely based on the host's mentality and physical resilience, without factoring in the presence of the host's dragon blood and residual peculiar energies within the body.]

Reading the newly presented information, Desmond finally released a sigh of relief. "So, in conclusion, I can absorb the energy," he mused internally, deactivating his spell and proceeding towards the corpse.

However, just as he was about to take further steps, he halted abruptly and added, "You can lower your weapons." Annie, who had been observing the entire process, gradually eased the tension in her body. She obediently lowered her weapons but continued to cast intermittent glances between her young master and the ruins' crumbling structure.

Although Desmond had instructed her to disarm, her striking orange eyes continued to shift between him and the ruins, not only vigilant but also brimming with curiosity about his next move.

"Now, let's see how much energy I'll acquire from this," Desmond said with a smile, opting to confirm the information displayed on the transparent screen, which detailed the process of absorbing the energy.

[Please touch the source. Absorption time will depend on the energy contained within the source.]

As the system directed, Desmond severed one of the corpse's ears and carefully placed it in his pocket. Annie, standing behind him, was taken aback and left dumbfounded by her young master's action. Her facial muscles twitched, and when she attempted to ask a question, she noticed Desmond's hand gesturing for her to remain silent.

[Begin Absorbing... | Time left: 900 seconds]

"What the hell?!" Desmond exclaimed, his shock reverberating through his core. This was the first time he had encountered such an extended duration for the absorption process.