The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Inside the opulent tavern, a haven of luxury, Desmond sat in the center of the hall, his face etched with a deep frown. With his eyes tightly shut and his mouth twitching incessantly, he seemed lost in concentration. A myriad of energy strands surrounded him, their ethereal tendrils reaching out like tentacles into the world beyond.

"Hmm..." Suddenly, Desmond's eyes snapped open as he muttered under his breath. A rush of hot breath escaped his lips, causing the natural energy enveloping him to evaporate into a mist that dissipated into thin air.

"Marvelous," Desmond exclaimed, his expression now radiant with vitality. He resembled a person emerging from a mist-covered lake, his body glistening with sweat, the surroundings shrouded in a hazy fog.

Accompanied by a crisp sound echoing through the mist, the wet floor beneath Desmond's feet bore witness to the mist's touch, while a stone pillar nearby cracked under the weight of his power.

Curiosity piqued, Desmond inquired, "Status."

[A thorough scan of the host body commences...]

[Scan complete!]

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 10 years

Race: Half-Dragon (30%)

Class: 3rd class Swordsman/0th Dragon Slayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 90.00

Strength: 67.00

Agility: 66.00

Stamina: 18.00

Dragon Essence: 0]

"Hahaha!" Desmond erupted into laughter upon viewing his enhanced stats. The fact that he had ascended from a 2nd class swordsman to a 3rd class swordsman in just one night was beyond his wildest imagination. Moreover, his energy reserves rivaled even that of a 3rd class wizard, both in terms of power and abundance. It was as if he possessed an infinite pool of energy.

"No pain, no gain! Hahaha!" Desmond exclaimed, his laughter embodying a mixture of relief and elation. With his newfound power, he could easily crush any assassins foolish enough to confront him, without even having to utilize his skills.

However, Desmond's laughter abruptly ceased. Panic flickered across his face as he hastily inspected his body, only to find it unchanged. A sigh of relief escaped him, realizing that his arms hadn't swollen to the size of logs.

"Now, let's test my newfound strength," Desmond declared as he rose from the floor. With an unintended display of raw power, the ground shattered beneath him, leaving behind a gaping hole in its wake.

Momentarily startled, Desmond believed he was under attack by an unseen enemy. It took a moment for him to regain control and manage his immense strength. A wry smile formed on his lips as he gingerly flexed his muscles, gradually returning to a state of balance.

After a few minutes of jogging and jumping, Desmond finally reigned in his unruly might. However, the aftermath of his impromptu workout was evident—a trail of broken pillars and deep footprints marked the floor.

"Now is the time for a strategic retreat," Desmond mused, glancing at the map before him. He understood that he couldn't simply disappear from sight. Compared to true Master Wizards or Grandmasters, his ability to penetrate their barriers would require substantial time.

During his battle with Krox, fortune had smiled upon him. Felix had already weakened and exhausted over half of Krox's energy. The telltale sign was the appearance of a gate behind the silver-haired girl, impervious to his spells.

The realm of spellcasting was dense and complex, with a hierarchy of power and intricacies. Otherwise, anyone with an abundance of energy could defeat any Grandmaster or Master Witch/Wizard.

However, when his swordsman skills were combined with his newfound powers, close combat against any Master or Grandmaster Wizard/Witch became a deadly endeavor. Choking them to death would be a mere cakewalk for him. The weakness of wizards and witches remained the same—without their protective barriers, even a lowly 1st class swordsman could crush their fragile bodies.

However, in large-scale wars or battles at a distance, the undeniable victors were the Wizards/Witches.

As countless gray dots gathered and approached from all directions, Desmond was dumbfounded. Yet, upon recalling the spell he had cast, it made perfect sense for them to have detected his presence.

"Retreat," Desmond sent a magical message to his subordinates. In reality, only Laura and Annie were able to receive his messages, as they had established a powerful link between them.

After dispatching the message, Desmond glanced at the tavern once more, a hint of pity flickering in his eyes. "If that body were still here, perhaps I could have gained even more," he murmured, shaking his head in disappointment before making his way to the exit.

However, his movement came to an abrupt halt, and he touched his face and body. "Almost forgot about my disguise," Desmond realized. With a swift incantation, the deep hole in the ground began to sprout wood, gradually forming a flat mask with hollowed-out eye and mouth sockets.

Placing the wooden mask on his face, Desmond then cloaked his body in a continuous shroud of darkness.

*Click*

As the sound of a door opening echoed, Desmond stepped out, assuming the appearance of a figure enshrouded in masking darkness. His face remained obscured by the mask, and his clothes seemed to be composed of twitching shadows.

"Why are you all still here?" Desmond's brows furrowed as he surveyed the surroundings. He spotted Annie and Laura, seated on the ground, their breaths ragged. Felix, on the other hand, bore the marks of numerous slashes, his appearance akin to that of a beggar.

Most of their disguises had been torn, revealing glimpses of their true identities. When Desmond cast a glance at the onlookers, civilians peering out from nearby buildings, his expression darkened.

"Ah, you guys..." Desmond tiredly addressed them, his gaze fixed upon his subordinates. Laura and Annie wore expressions tinged with apology, while Felix stood with an awkward demeanor.

"Sorry, young master," Felix spoke up, bowing and lowering his head in embarrassment. Although the battle had been fierce, it held little challenge for him. However, his youthful spirit had impulsively driven him to act cool in front of the younger generation. He was uncertain of the punishment that awaited him, but he knew there would be consequences.

"Never mind," Desmond dismissed their concerns, his tone slightly softened. "You all did a great job. Let's retreat. A formidable force is approaching." He cast a cold gaze toward the distance, where numerous gray dots converged, advancing relentlessly toward their location.

Raising his head, Desmond's gaze fell upon a colossal vortex resembling a dragon's head in the sky, devouring the dark clouds, creating an impending sense of explosion.

Control Element: Darkness Descend.