The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

*fuzz*

As soon as Desmond's body passed through the portal, his surroundings blurred momentarily. When his vision regained clarity, he was greeted by a gentle breeze rustling through the air, and an expanse of vibrant blue stretched across the sky above.

Perched atop a rocky structure on higher ground, Desmond's gaze descended upon a dense jungle below. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the lush wilderness, his view hindered by the thick foliage that enveloped the entire island, leaving no trace of open space.

Though the absence of a blinding sun hindered his vision, the sky and the surrounding environment radiated with a natural luminosity, as if bathed in the warm embrace of sunlight.

"Fascinating," Desmond mused aloud, his words intermingling with the steady drip of water and the melodious symphony of a nearby flowing river.

"A waterfall," he added, his attention briefly shifting to the sides. He discovered a barrier that shielded his back, positioned firmly at the edge of his vantage point.

In an unexpected turn of events, a beam of light descended from above, casting its radiance upon Desmond's figure and amassing energy before him. Serenely, he observed this curious phenomenon, his eyes fixated on the gradual formation of a miniature version of himself.

With a swift motion, Desmond reached out and caught the miniature, carefully tucking it away into his pocket. "Now, let's see where you all are hiding," he remarked with a curled smile, issuing a command to the system.

The system initiated a comprehensive scan of the area.

"Scanning the area," the system responded, its words reverberating within Desmond's consciousness. "Using host's energy to extend throughout the surroundings."

As Desmond's gaze absorbed these notifications, he sensed his energy dissipate from his body, permeating the environment. Simultaneously, he felt connected to the earth beneath his feet, the swift movements of nearby animals, and the rustle of leaves carried by the wind. It was as though he had become one with the very essence of nature.

"Scan complete!" the system declared, but the profound connection only lasted for a fleeting moment before numerous gray dots materialized on Desmond's map.

Comparing the digital representation to the real world, Desmond pondered his next course of action. "The test only requires me to collect a minimum of one additional miniature to pass, but there seems to be no maximum limit," he contemplated. "The more miniatures I collect, the greater the reward, I suppose."

While leisurely perched upon the rock, Desmond surveyed the dense jungle below with an air of nonchalance. However, an unshakable sensation gnawed at his senses, as if he were being observed by someone, likely a member of the academy.

"This discomfort is palpable; the academy personnel must have their eyes on me," he surmised, retrieving the miniature replica of himself. Desmond suspected that this small trinket was the reason for the scrutiny he endured.

A thunderous boom shattered the stillness, capturing Desmond's attention. His eyes widened as he witnessed a mighty gust of wind, uprooting trees and leaving destruction in its wake. Two students emerged within this chaotic scene, locked in a fierce confrontation.

The battlefield bore witness to scorched earth, littered with charred craters and shattered timber, while the combatants hunched forward, gasping for breath.

"Ah, they possess quite the ability to wreak havoc," Desmond remarked, his gaze sweeping the surrounding area. Lingering embers danced atop the meadow, accompanied by peculiar dirt-like pebbles scattered throughout.

"For now, let us observe and determine the best course of action," he decided, maintaining his elevated position as he continued to monitor the ongoing battle. However, as the conflict persisted, doubts began to assail him regarding the combatants' true capabilities.

"Is that all they've got?" Desmond scoffed, his eyes scrutinizing the defeated student lying unconscious on the ground, a sense of disappointment lingering within him. "This seems too easy," he muttered to himself, realizing that his opponents were merely young individuals like himself, not seasoned assassins.

Slapping his forehead in frustration, Desmond rose to his feet, arms crossed tightly across his chest. "I've been wasting my time analyzing their combat abilities and contemplating my next move to counter potential adversaries," he chided himself, his expression one of self-deprecation.

With a sweeping gesture towards the encompassing jungle, the energy surrounding Desmond coalesced in his outstretched hand. "Moreover, the more talented these students are, the greater the rewards they receive," he spoke with a somber tone, his gaze growing solemn.

Control Element: Ice.

A frigid sensation emanated from his hands as natural energy transformed into a miniature oval-shaped ice sphere, gradually expanding in size. As it grew to the dimensions of a basketball, the mini oval underwent a sudden transformation, contorting into a celestial plate that soared towards the heart of the jungle.

"What the fuck is that?!" cried out one of the students in close proximity to the celestial plate, panic overtaking his features. He huddled, his arms crossed over his chest in a futile attempt to generate warmth, eyes widening as he witnessed the massive stellar entity taking flight.

Amidst the chaos, the student hastily began chanting, conjuring energy in his hands that coalesced into a small fireball. The chilling aura that enveloped his surroundings and his own body dissipated instantly, replaced by a rising heat.

"Eat this, Fireball!" he exclaimed, a glimmer of excitement in his voice as the blazing sphere hurtled towards the stellar plate.

However, as the fireball approached a certain distance from the celestial entity, the fierce and intimidating flames abruptly extinguished, vanishing into thin air. The euphoria on the student's face gradually morphed into fear, his body trembling uncontrollably. "W-what on earth is that..."

Meanwhile, observing the hovering stellar plate, Desmond's mind sparked with an idea. He swiftly drained the energy from his body, manipulating the external forces to enlarge the celestial entity and intensify the chilling aura.

The surrounding trees began to freeze, their leaves stiffening and their trunks encased in a layer of ice. The once lively meadow and verdant ground beneath the stellar plate succumbed to complete freezing, transformed into a glacial landscape.

A smile of revelation played upon Desmond's lips as he assessed his energy reserves, realizing that only a quarter of his power had been depleted. Pouring more energy into the stellar plate, it grew to surpass the height of the surrounding trees.

"Now, it's time to unleash devastation and bring this test to a climactic end," he declared, his hands, focused on gathering and molding energy, clenched tightly.

Calamity of the Ice Age!

A resounding boom echoed through the air as Desmond's command was unleashed, heralding a cataclysmic event.