The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

No wonder Desmond felt a surge of superior energy emanating from her compared to the other peers he had encountered. When he finally cast his gaze ahead, his eyes fell upon yet another silver-haired girl. Her blade was ruthlessly impaled through his palm, causing him to wince in pain.

A quick scan of his surroundings revealed the presence of four additional silver-haired girls, their blades poised to strike him. However, his well-practiced barrier intercepted their every attempt, halting their advances with a resounding *crack*.

The protective barriers that Desmond had conjured earlier began to emit an ominous cracking sound, a prelude to their inevitable demise. In a swift and determined motion, he tightened his grip, causing the blade lodged in his palm to shatter into shards. Blood seeped from his wounded hand as his unwavering gaze locked onto the five silver-haired assailants.

"Wonderful technique," Desmond remarked, his voice resonating with admiration, despite the pain throbbing in his hands. He proceeded to applaud, his bleeding palms coming together in a resounding clap.

At first glance, these five silver-haired girls appeared indistinguishable from one another, almost like siblings with their shared temperament and actions. However, upon closer inspection, keen observers would detect a glimmer of energy within each of their eyes—an unmistakable mark of authenticity that set them apart from their counterfeit counterparts, devoid of any energy emission.

In the midst of this tense encounter, a metallic clash reverberated from the depths of the dark world. Desmond's attention shifted momentarily, catching sight of Felix suspended in mid-air, halted by an invisible force.

With a swift incantation, Desmond activated his custom spell—Barrier. The surrounding energy responded to his call, coalescing around his body to form a transparent, golden shield that enveloped him from all directions.

Before he could fully process Felix's predicament, one of the silver-haired girls seized the opportunity and launched another attack. Desmond's gaze shifted nonchalantly toward the incoming assault. He noted that the four assailants wielded daggers crafted with an otherworldly lightness, executing their strikes in slow motion, almost inviting him to counter at will.

However, what piqued Desmond's interest was the fact that these ethereal daggers possessed the same cutting capability as their corporeal counterparts. Their sharp points left discernible marks on the barrier he had erected, emitting a series of *clank* *clank* sounds as they collided with the hardened surface.

Amidst the persistent barrage from the four girls, Desmond's attention was captivated by the true threat—the silver-haired girl who chanted a spell with ceaseless fervor. Her eyes closed, silver locks swirling around her as she levitated a mere inch above the ground. Bathed in an ethereal glow, her presence emitted a radiant luminosity, akin to that of a holy entity.

A soft breeze whispered through the silent white expanse, carrying with it a gust that gently caressed the chanting girl. Slowly, the breeze revealed a swirling white light that revolved around her form, as if unveiling a hidden secret.

Simultaneously, as if a dormant sun awakened, a beam of light descended upon her, gradually shaping itself into a magnificent sword adorned with ancient inscriptions.

The moment the divine light settled, the silver-haired girl's eyes, a striking shade of crimson, burst open with a palpable aura of impending doom. "Lost Spell: The Angel Warrior!" she proclaimed, her voice laced with a chilling intensity. Her hands instinctively gripped the hilt of the grand sword, and in a swift motion, her body surged forward with formidable speed.

Upon witnessing her rapid approach, Desmond's instincts screamed a warning. In response, he extended one hand and activated his spell—Elemental Manipulation: Steel! A shimmering magic circle materialized in thin air, revolving before his open palm.

Unlike your average wizard or witch, Desmond's mastery over the five primary elements and their corresponding sub-elements flowed effortlessly, vividly visualized in his mind's eye.

The ground beneath Desmond's feet trembled as he channeled natural energy, directing it downward into the pristine white expanse. A series of thunderous booms echoed through the air, marking the culmination of his efforts. Slowly, the ground began to rise, forming an imposing row of steel shields that shielded him from the silver-haired girl's view and impeded her path.

These shields possessed an imposing presence, their rough silver surfaces lacking refinement, yet exuding a strength that surpassed even the sturdiest rock. However, what followed next caught Desmond off guard—a deafening blast erupted from the spot where his first shield had formed. A flickering shadow of the white light emitted by the great sword could be glimpsed from Desmond's vantage point.

Astonishingly, the magnificent blade extended and grew, surpassing the dimensions of his shield, slicing through it as if it were mere tofu.

With each swing of her great sword, one of Desmond's shields vanished, leaving the ground trembling and cracks etched in the white expanse where her attacks landed. The relentless assault stunned Desmond, as he could hardly fathom that a seemingly delicate and frail girl possessed the strength of a seasoned warrior.

He could feel his energy being continuously drained as he struggled to maintain the shield's form.

Merely five seconds had passed, and the great sword had already cleaved through more than half of the shields he had created. "Interesting," Desmond murmured, his expression devoid of panic despite the dwindling defenses.

Drawing his sword from his waist with his free hand, Desmond activated another custom spell—FireSword! Flames materialized in the air, enveloping the edges of his blade, yet curiously avoiding the hilt. The intense heat emanating from the fiery sword could scorch skin, but Desmond remained unscathed. The sword transformed into a weapon of blazing flames, its material unburned by the fiery magic.

Glancing at the impending attack, Desmond released his control over the elemental manipulation, allowing the temporary cage surrounding the tavern to revert back to its natural earthen form. His undivided focus now rested solely on the battle at hand.

With all his energy channeled into this decisive moment, Desmond activated yet another custom spell—Area Spike! Unlike when he wielded control over steel, no magic circle appeared. Instead, natural energy gathered around his palm and surged toward the white ground beneath him.

The silver-haired girl, engrossed in slicing through the remaining shields, was dumbfounded as she witnessed these vexing obstacles abruptly disappear, revealing Desmond standing before her, brandishing his burning sword.

As Desmond caught sight of the weariness etched on his enemies' faces, a smirk curled on his lips. "This should be the second time I say—" he began, but before he could finish his sentence, a colossal steel spike, akin to a door in size and height, erupted from the ground beneath him, hurtling toward the silver-haired girl.

Thunderous booms resounded across the battlefield, and chaos ensued as the spike struck, scattering fragments of white debris across the ground. Desmond's attack was swift and merciless, catching the silver-haired girl off guard. The final spike blocked her line of sight, leaving her defenseless. "Goodbye," Desmond's cold voice reverberated in her mind as her body suddenly went limp.

However, Desmond's elation was short-lived. In the midst of his triumph, he noticed yet another colossal steel spike forming beneath the motionless girl. His pupils dilated with a mixture of delight and apprehension. "Expert spell: Magic Break!" he exclaimed with a resounding boom.

In an instant, all of Desmond's spells vanished, transforming into ethereal white energy before blending into the very air itself.

To Desmond's dismay, his barrier, burning sword, and the devastating attack aimed at the silver-haired girl dissipated into thin air. His gaze shifted, and he caught sight of Felix suspended in mid-air, ensnared by dark elemental chains that tightly restrained every limb. A middle-aged man, whom Felix had been engaged in a fierce battle with, stood nearby, his face drained of color.

A magical circle swirled around one of his hands, evidence of the immense strain he had endured after casting the spell. His heavy breathing betrayed his exhaustion.