The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Back at the academy, where the crucial test was being held, Matson and his group floated mid-air, their eyes fixed on the treacherous onslaught of roots launched by Edison. Elizabeth and her group stood nearby, witnessing the impending attack from Diana, aimed directly at Desmond.

A deafening *boom* reverberated through the air as the roots effortlessly demolished Edison's feeble earth spikes. Relentlessly, they pressed forward, countering his defensive maneuvers with a vicious assault. Simultaneously, the impact of Diana's mighty Great Sword attack rippled through the center stage, shattering the very earth beneath them.

Amidst the chaos, a black-haired girl began chanting another incantation. She gracefully rode atop a towering wave of water, her hands gripping a slender, ethereal blade formed from the watery depths.

"By the gods! He's under attack from three different groups," a stunned student exclaimed, breaking the tense silence that had enveloped the spectators. "Imagine if he manages to repel all these relentless assaults!"

"Did you see that? He cast three spells in an instant!" another student marveled, eyes widening in disbelief. "It's not just the speed, but the fact that he effortlessly wields three distinct spells simultaneously!"

"Incredible... simply incredible," they gasped, their breath catching in their throats. The ability to cast a spell instantaneously was a rarity among them, but to witness someone who could flawlessly execute three different spells simultaneously was nothing short of terrifying.

"He's... a monster," trembled the students, fear tingling in their veins.

Meanwhile, as the onslaught of attacks rained down upon him, Desmond calmly scanned each one, his focus fixated mainly on the black-haired girl. "The younger generation is far too conceited," he muttered disdainfully.

Of all the contestants present, only Edison, Diana, and the black-haired girl dared to challenge Desmond directly, while the others remained as mere spectators. Desmond couldn't fathom their reasons for not joining the fray—was it part of their cunning plan, or were they simply paralyzed by fear?

"Control Element: Wooden Sword," Desmond declared, extending his hands forward, skillfully mimicking the grip of a sword. Each movement was accompanied by intricate magical circles, and a brilliant white light energy enveloped his hands, gradually shaping into a short wooden sword.

He scrutinized the newly formed wooden sword and nodded with satisfaction.

"Custom Spell: Fire Sword," he intoned.

Instantly, a surge of energy emanated from Desmond's body, intertwining with the ambient energy around him. The intense power congregated upon the blade of the wooden sword, while the luminous white light summoned the searing heat of fire.

A protective barrier materialized above the blade, allowing the flames to dance atop its surface without scorching the weapon's material.

The contestants' gazes widened in astonishment as they beheld Desmond's extraordinary display, especially those who possessed control over the wood element, such as Clark and Edison.

"Master Desmond has truly taken us by surprise," Elizabeth giggled, but her mirth abruptly halted when she felt Gabriela's piercing stare.

Then, to the astonishment of all present, Desmond proceeded to cast yet another spell. The surrounding energy swirled and coalesced around his body, forming a soft, invisible layer of a protective barrier. The barrier seamlessly merged with Desmond's form, rendering it indistinguishable from his own being.

In Desmond's eyes, Diana and Edison's attacks seemed sluggish, lacking speed and finesse, while the black-haired girl moved with remarkable agility, akin to a tortoise. This keen observation allowed him to swiftly formulate his next move.

Even amidst the intensity of the battle, Desmond managed to steal a brief moment to observe the subtle changes in his body and the wooden sword he gripped. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to Clark, who leaped gracefully and landed on the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust in his wake.

Within the swirling dust, a shadowy figure emerged, with Clark bent forward, brandishing a katana in his hand. Meanwhile, Desmond turned his head and caught sight of Diana, her armor suspended mid-air as she unleashed a resounding battle cry, signaling her intent to attack Desmond.

Desmond's perceptive gaze also caught Gibson, Matson, Elizabeth, and the other contestants murmuring under their breaths, their lips moving in unison as energy began to gather around their bodies.

"Alright, cool. None of my magical attacks are going to work now," Desmond finally felt the heat surging through his body. His fire-engulfed sword trembled with anticipation, as if it were screaming with excitement. His eyes flickered, honing in on Clark, who was closing in on him.

With a swift *swoosh*, Clark, brimming with confidence, aimed a powerful upward slash at Desmond with his katana. However, in the blink of an eye, Desmond's body vanished.

Clark's katana sliced through the ground, leaving behind a shallow fissure, indicating the depth of its lethal potential. Unfortunately for Clark, the force of his attack had lodged his katana firmly into the ground, rendering it momentarily useless.

"Too slow," Desmond muttered inwardly as he materialized beside Clark, pressing the fiery tip of his sword against the vulnerable area between Clark's armpit and belly.

*Clack!*

The searing flames on the blade seared Clark's skin, while the sword's tip penetrated his body, perilously close to his heart. Clark's eyes widened in a mixture of danger and disbelief, as he glimpsed Desmond's lightning-fast movements from the corner of his eyes. To his surprise, the sword vanished, along with the scorching sensation.

*Pop!*

"Argh!" In the next instant, an excruciating pain engulfed Clark's body, as if his very life force was being drained. His vision began to dim, and he collapsed, unconscious, onto the ground.

Meanwhile, the other contestants remained dazed, their senses overwhelmed by the sight of Clark's blood pooling around him and his agonized screams still echoing in their ears. The black-haired girl, riding atop her water wave, felt an ominous wave of danger wash over her.

"Last time, I showed you mercy, and yet you've grown audacious," Desmond suddenly materialized in her line of sight. He stood on the same ground as her, summoning a small earth block beneath his feet, disrupting her water wave and causing her to lose balance.

*Thump!*

"Gah!" The black-haired girl coughed up a speck of blood as Desmond used the hilt of his sword to strike her throat, causing her eyes to roll back as drowsiness enveloped her. Her limp body crumpled to the ground.

The water sword and the water wave dissipated into shimmering light energy, fading into nothingness, revealing the shocked and unconscious black-haired girl.

With two contestants defeated in quick succession, all the students in attendance inhaled sharply, their hair standing on end as shivers ran down their spines.

"What the hell just happened?!"

Yet, their breath hitched once more as they witnessed Desmond pointing his hand toward the group of the black-haired girl.

"You all are nothing but an annoyance," Desmond declared, conjuring a magic circle in his palm. A torrent of raging flames erupted from the circle, mercilessly engulfing the girl's group, their anguished cries piercing the air.

"ARG!!"

"Save me!"

The group writhed in agony, their pain-stricken screams causing terror to grip the students. Frantically, they looked around, desperately searching for the white-robed figures or anyone who could be held responsible for this shocking turn of events in the supposed test.

Their hopes were mercilessly crushed as the realization sank in that no one from the academy was intervening to extinguish the raging fire. The acrid scent of burning flesh invaded their nostrils, intensifying their horror.

"Kyhaa! Stop him!" the female students cried out in terror, witnessing the gruesome demise of one of their own. Meanwhile, the male students glared at Desmond, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger. Seizing the opportunity, they offered comfort and solace to the frightened female students, drawing them close in protective embraces.

"He's a lunatic!" they muttered, shaking their heads in disbelief. However, hidden beneath their facade of concern, some of the male students secretly reveled in the soft and ample cushion of the female students pressed against their chests.

Those who found themselves in the fortunate position of having a female classmate nestled against them couldn't help but harbor a hint of spite towards their less fortunate peers.