The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Desmond muttered inwardly, his voice barely a whisper as he contemplated the Expert Spell and Lost Spell. His expression turned solemn, his eyes narrowing as he locked his gaze upon the middle-aged man, searching for any signs of weakness amidst the chaos of the battle.

The tide of the conflict had already shifted unfavorably, their forces in a state of disarray. Felix, their ally, was held captive, and now their adversaries boasted the power of a 3rd class wizard. Yet, as Desmond observed the middle-aged man's worn and weary countenance, a glimmer of hope ignited within him.

"Keep her alive," Desmond silently conveyed his command through the magic messages, reaching out to his maids who had been exposed after his spells and control over the elements had been obliterated. His once regal appearance was now marred by a tattered gown, the remnants of a shattered mask. They resembled beggars clad in once opulent garments.

"Yes, young masters," the two maids replied in unison, their voices filled with determination. Unlike before, when Laura had been caught off guard and exhausted from dispatching their enemies in the tavern, both she and Annie had since recovered.

"Scan the enemy," Desmond commanded, his voice laced with urgency. Without needing to actively engage his swordsman skills, he swiftly dashed forward, his power surpassing that of an average low-stage 2nd class swordsman. The ground beneath him cracked and split, leaving behind deep footstep prints. A gust of wind surged, defying gravity and pushing pebbles backwards in mid-air.

Desmond's form blurred, his body vanishing into thin air, save for Felix, who wore a faint smile upon his face. Meanwhile, a continuous stream of information appeared before Desmond's eyes, automatically arranged into a coherent display by the system.

[Scanning the target...]

[Scan Failed!]

[The target has resisted!]

[Re-attempting to scan the target!]

[Scan Failed!]

[The target has resisted!]

...

As Desmond absorbed the notifications, he remained unfazed, having anticipated this outcome. He traversed the space between light and darkness, his body mere meters away from the middle-aged man.

[Scan Complete!]

[-Status-

Name: ????

Gender: Male

Age: 37 years

Race: Human

Class: 3rd class Wizard

Occupation: Leader of Aristocratic Technocracy

Unique Energy: 30.00/67.00

Strength: 7.35

Agility: 8.35

Stamina: 1.05/3.35]

Gazing upon the revealed statistics, Desmond's delight surged, propelling him to accelerate his movements. Yet, the middle-aged man's expression remained devoid of panic. He locked eyes with the oncoming Desmond, drawing natural energy around him in an instant.

To Desmond's astonishment, the middle-aged man began conjuring without uttering an incantation. The energy around him transformed into a swirling darkness, coalescing into a menacing wave of ethereal blades that hovered in mid-air. The dark elements burned, akin to a raging fire, though lacking intricate details such as hilts or cross-guards.

Nevertheless, the blades possessed an uncanny solidity, akin to their tangible counterparts.

"You dare approach me, young man? Hehehe," the middle-aged man laughed, commanding the wave of blades to surge forward, aiming to intercept Desmond's rapid advance.

Since Desmond's arrival at the tavern and the subsequent slaying of his doppelganger, the middle-aged man had been aware of the imminent attack on his stronghold. Alas, he could do little to halt their advance. As he cast his spell towards Desmond, his eyes darted incessantly towards the silver-haired girl engaged in fierce combat.

*Whoosh* *Whoosh*

In Desmond's eyes, the incoming blades seemed sluggish, their speed an affront to his finely-honed skills as a 2nd class swordsman. Only Felix and Vesta possessed the fluidity of motion that he deemed worthy of consideration.

Moreover, his keen eyes detected additional blades emerging from below, concealed within the surge of the primary onslaught. One could easily be deceived if they failed to recognize the hidden danger lurking beneath.

Reacting swiftly, Desmond evaded the incoming blades with nimble grace. His body moved like a serpent, his waist twisting and rotating while his hands remained securely tucked close to his torso. Simultaneously, a secondary layer of steel materialized beneath him, acting as a shield against the concealed attack.

*Clank* *Clank*

The resounding clash of blades against the steel layer reverberated continuously, accompanying Desmond's agile dodges as he pressed forward, surging past the onslaught of blades.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Yet, amidst the chaos, Desmond remained oblivious to the fact that one of the blades had grazed his mask, causing it to shatter into fragments.

*Crack*

The blade continued its trajectory, perilously close to his eyes. Reacting swiftly, Desmond tilted his head to the side, narrowly avoiding a direct strike. The blade merely grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow scratch in its wake.

As the barrage of attacks subsided, Desmond found himself standing before the middle-aged man. Without hesitation, he drew his sword from his waist and unleashed a powerful downward slash, slicing through the ground beneath the man and reaching towards the darkened sky.

*Sprout*

The blade, guided by Desmond's precise control, rotated with his body's momentum, intensifying the force behind the swing. The flesh of the middle-aged man could not withstand the immense pressure, resulting in a gushing fountain of blood from the deep, gaping wound he had inflicted.

As Desmond's feet touched the ground, a thud echoed, signaling the collapse of a body. His face was now splattered with thick blood as he remained crouched, one hand tightly clutching a short sword pressed against his chest.

However, Desmond's expression soured. Why had this been so easy? A lingering sense of unease gnawed at him as he straightened his posture, shifting his gaze towards his fallen foe.

"System, scan the person," Desmond urgently commanded, hoping for answers.

[Scanning the target...]

Despite the middle-aged man appearing to be on death's doorstep, blood continuing to spurt from the deep laceration spanning his face, his visage pale and his eyes devoid of life, Desmond couldn't dismiss the possibility that this was merely another doppelganger.

[Scan Complete!]

[-Status-

Name: Krox

Gender: Male

Age: 37 years

Race: Human

Class: 3rd class Wizard

Occupation: Leader of Aristocratic Technocracy

Unique Energy: 0.00/67.00

Strength: 7.35

Agility: 8.35

Stamina: 0.00/3.35]

Gazing upon the middle-aged man's revealed stats, Desmond furrowed his brows. It was evident that this was indeed the real body of the middle-aged man, but what could possibly explain his haunting smile?

Unconsciously, Desmond turned around, only to witness the conclusion of the battle between his maids and the silver-haired girl. The girl was now bound by fringe chains that seared her milky-white skin.