The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

"In the first place," Jessy exclaimed in a single breath, her words hanging in the air, causing even the senior students to hold their breath. The anticipation in the crowd was palpable, and Jessy herself could feel the intense pressure emanating from their unwavering gaze.

What she was about to reveal was not only astonishing to everyone present but left her particularly dumbfounded, for she knew the individual responsible all too well.

"Student Desmond! Please step forward to the podium," Jessy's hands clapped together, but the sight that met her eyes was one of frozen students, rooted to the spot. Especially the seniors who had considered Desmond slightly above the average new students—they never could have fathomed that he was, in fact, a true behemoth among lambs!

The realization dawned on them all at once. Desmond had become the first student in the academy's history to accomplish such a feat—a perfect score in every test. A murmur rippled through the crowd as they digested this extraordinary achievement.

Turning their attention to Desmond, all eyes fell upon him as he stood calmly amidst the gathering. Sensing the skepticism directed his way, Desmond could almost taste the sneers forming. While no one dared openly challenge him, they were more than willing to test his mettle by dragging out the moment, hoping to see him stumble or falter.

Undeterred by their childish antics, Desmond shook his head in disappointment. His gaze then shifted toward Jessy, only to find her nonchalant and even daring enough to wink at him. A surprised smile tugged at his lips, discovering that she, too, found him an annoyance.

Attempting to navigate through the sea of bodies, Desmond was met with deliberate obstructions, students purposefully hindering his progress and impeding his path. It was a pitiful display, Desmond thought, shaking his head. If the academy hadn't prohibited fights outside the arena, he could have easily blasted them away with a single spell.

An idea sparked within him. Custom Spell: Barrier.

"He's gone mad!"

"Run!"

The realization that Desmond's anger had driven him to chant a spell during the ceremony caused panic to spread among the students. They scattered in fear, desperate to put distance between themselves and the seemingly unhinged individual. Jessy, observing this spectacle, furrowed her brows, disapproving of his ruthless approach.

However, the white-robed figures standing behind her, on the verge of intervening, were restrained by her commanding hand.

"Stop! Look at his hands. He's not casting a harmful spell," Jessy's voice rang out, halting any rash actions.

Gathering energy around his hands, Desmond found amusement in how the path before him cleared miraculously. The natural energy formed a faint, protective barrier, though it did not shield his body. Instead, it lifted him, allowing him to ascend mid-air, as if he were floating.

Step by deliberate step, Desmond began to move forward, each footfall resonating through the barrier beneath him, emitting a faint tremor. The barrier, however, held strong, showing no signs of breaking under his weight.

The students who had been fleeing from him were astonished, never imagining that a barrier could be employed in such a manner. Even Jessy and the white-robed figures, witnessing his ingenious approach, found themselves slightly taken aback.

"He truly is a monster," Jessy muttered under her breath, her gaze fixated on Desmond as he steadily made his way towards the podium, seemingly gliding through the air.

"Young lady, your praise for the young master was well-founded," a voice whispered from the audience seats, capturing Felix's daughter's attention. She watched as her lady nodded in agreement, her eyes still locked on Desmond, the prodigious genius before them.

Deep within her heart, the young lady's affection for her brother only grew stronger. She longed for an opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with him, but fate had not granted her such a chance yet. As her lady's attention remained fixated on her beloved young master, she could only admire him from afar, unable to express her feelings openly.

In another corner of the audience seats, Elizabeth and Diana found themselves unconsciously drawn to Desmond, their gazes locked onto his ethereal figure as he traversed through the air. They couldn't help but perceive him as the embodiment of perfection, longing for the day when their own powers would be strong enough to stand by his side.

Elizabeth, suddenly aware of her thoughts, snapped out of her reverie, slapping her face with both hands, her cheeks reddening like a ripe tomato. She stole a quick glance at Clark sitting beside her, relieved that he hadn't noticed her peculiar behavior. His eyes, too, were fixed on Desmond, but his expression remained cold and indifferent.

"Congratulations, Student Desmond," Jessy exclaimed with a radiant smile as he reached the podium. She couldn't resist stealing another look at him, still unable to believe that this young man stood head and shoulders above the rest in terms of talent. Her eyes discreetly searched for the black-haired girl, only to find her sulking in a distant corner, her head hung low.

"Thank you, Teacher Jessy," Desmond replied with a humble bow, his gaze momentarily drifting towards the white-robed figures whose faces were concealed by their hoods. He also glanced at the peculiar large furnace, but hesitated to inspect it further.

Damn it, this is getting annoying, Desmond cursed inwardly. There were so many things he wanted to investigate — the combat prowess of the white-robed individuals, the enigmatic furnace, and even the layout of the academy itself to expand his mental map.

Lost in his thoughts, he and Jessy momentarily slipped into a daze, prompting a cough from one of the white-robed figures to bring them back to reality.

"Ahem, pardon me, Student Desmond," Jessy feigned a cough and lowered her head slightly in embarrassment.

"No problem," Desmond replied humbly, secretly attempting to catch a glimpse of what Jessy had been glancing at.

"Please place your right hand at the entrance of the furnace," Jessy pointed towards the large furnace behind her, leaving the new students dumbfounded by the peculiar request.

Desmond, however, was utterly shocked and astonished by her words! Was she asking him to sacrifice his hand once again? He peered at the strange furnace, its raging flames ready to consume anything that came near. His expression darkened, and his lips twitched with frustration as Jessy continued to point without offering any explanation.

He glanced at the smirking seniors and noticed his sister, Alice, nodding repeatedly, seemingly giving her approval.

Oh, for heaven's sake, it seems my sister's brain isn't functioning properly, Desmond thought. In the end, he trusted no one and kept his gaze fixed on Jessy, who wore a plastered smile on her face.

"Please forgive my bluntness, Teacher Jessy, but may I inquire as to the purpose of immersing my hand in that raging fire?" Desmond spoke, his displeasure evident as he noticed Jessy's intermittent distractions, her glances wandering towards his back.