The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

-Summer 15, years 430-

It had been over a month and a half since Desmond and his group had evaded the relentless pursuit of the North Kingdom soldiers. Finally, on this scorching summer day, Desmond arrived at the location marked by the blue dots, indicating the presence of Felix and his subordinates.

As their eyes surveyed the vast expanse of the desert plain, a hushed silence fell over the group. Instead of a barren wasteland, they found themselves surrounded by resilient desert vegetation. Saguaro Cacti, Golden Barrel Cacti, and numerous other types of cacti adorned the landscape, their sturdy forms scattered in abundance.

Laura and Annie's expressions turned grim as they took in the waterless land, simmering under the relentless sun. The absence of moisture was palpable, etching an unpleasant scene before them.

"They must be out of their minds, choosing this place as a refuge," Desmond remarked, his voice tinged with disdain. He could sense the thawing of ice coursing through his sister's body, a testament to the oppressive heat that engulfed them.

Laura and Annie nodded in agreement, their inner complaints echoing Desmond's sentiment. Despite the natural beauty of their surroundings, they couldn't help but question Felix and the others' decision to settle in such an inhospitable place.

Meanwhile, Desmond cast a sidelong glance and noticed a concentration of blue dots gathered at a particular spot. It seemed they had no other choice but to head there.

"Did you see any mages among them while they were fleeing?" Desmond inquired of his maid, the ice on his back melting and dripping in response to the scorching temperature—a clear indication of the intense heat they faced.

"No, young master. Most of them are 2nd class swordsmen, accompanied by a few 1st class swordsmen. Felix didn't recruit any mages or mage servants. He believed they wouldn't settle for a mere servant role," the maid replied.

"Almost all of the maids were killed during the escape. Some survivors chose to return to their villages," Annie added, a rare trace of sadness creeping into her usually cold demeanor. It appeared that both Laura and Annie had managed to forge a few friendships during their time at the academy.

"This is troublesome," Desmond frowned. The absence of mages within Felix's group meant he had to deliver the message personally. It wasn't an arduous task, but carrying his sister on his back added to the difficulty. What if the ice suddenly melted, exacerbating her injuries? Entrusting his maids with the task wasn't ideal either, as they lacked the strength to protect themselves.

Status, Desmond commanded in his mind.

[Scanning Host Body...]

[Scan Complete!]

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 10 years

Race: Dragon

Class: 0th Dragon Slayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 153.29 ⇈

Strength: 84.00 ⇈

Agility: 97.00 ⇈

Stamina: 30.65 ⇈

Dragon Essences: 0]

As Desmond beheld his stats, he was taken aback. Only now did he comprehend the reason behind his body's enhanced durability and increased stamina in recent days.

Though he could feel the sudden surge of power coursing through him, he couldn't quicken his pace without leaving his maids behind. Carrying his sister already strained him beyond his limits. Placing his maids atop the ice was simply impractical.

How much progress have I made through those encounters with the wolves? he pondered, his thoughts intertwining with his system command.

[System Conclusion: The host has absorbed a total of 100 beasts, including 1x Husk King, 70x Dire Wolves, and 30x Husk Wolves. These creatures spanned various ages, from young to elder.

Through this absorption, the host has gained a total of +62.00 energy and +44 additional stats, including strength and agility.]

That's quite substantial! Now I can even challenge the city lord without resorting to activating my overpower skill! But why haven't I experienced the intense pain from before?

Desmond vividly remembered the intense pain he experienced when his body received a sudden surge of power. It was always a jarring sensation, indicating his organs struggling to adapt to the abrupt influx of strength. However, more than fifteen days had passed since his last power boost, and he remained completely unaffected.

[System Conclusion: The dragon blood present in the host's body possesses unique properties. It accelerates the body's regenerative abilities and enables the muscles to adapt to new circumstances. Regardless of any future power acquired, the dragon blood will always aid the host.]

"Young master!" Laura's voice suddenly broke through Desmond's thoughts, pulling him back to the present. He refocused his attention on her.

"What is it?" Desmond responded, unaware that the neck restraint that suppressed his aura had already been broken for quite some time. As a result, the pressure and intimidating atmosphere he emanated unintentionally bore down on the unfortunate Laura.

"*Hiks*," Laura let out a scream, her body trembling as she involuntarily collapsed to the ground. Fear flickered in her eyes, mirroring the alarming state of her young master. Desmond's pupils had transformed into slits, and the magenta color surrounding them emitted an eerie glow.

Annie, too, reacted swiftly. She rushed to Laura's aid, supporting her and casting an earnest gaze at Desmond. "Young master, please regain control. The young lady is in distress," Annie implored, her forehead beaded with sweat and her trembling hands clutching Laura.

At the mention of his sister's well-being, Desmond's slitted pupils reverted to their normal state, and the glow subsided. However, in the next moment, he was assailed by a sharp pain in his mind, infused with a murderous intent and a consuming hunger that threatened to devour everything.

"Ugh," Desmond groaned, his hands clutching his head tightly. The ice block on his back began to melt, forming a small pool on the arid ground.

[Detection: The dragon blood is attempting to control the host's mind!]

[Initiating threat elimination protocol!]

[Threat successfully eliminated!]

In the wake of these notifications, the pain in Desmond's mind gradually subsided until it vanished completely. He regained control of his thoughts once more.

The first thing Desmond did was direct his attention to his maids. "I apologize for my behavior earlier. Annie, could you please go and inform Felix and the rest of the group to gather here?" Sitting on the ground, Desmond spoke while still massaging his forehead.

*Swoosh*

Before Annie could inquire about their location, her young master waved his hand, conjuring a small oval shape using the earth element. The miniature representation depicted a blue dot at a specific spot and a white dot not far from it.

"The white dot represents our location, while the blue dot marks Felix and his group. Understand? Also, take this for your own safety," Desmond explained.

Having regained his peak condition, Desmond skillfully manipulated the elements, creating multiple water bubbles that floated beside Annie. Simultaneously, his other hand encased the ice on his back in a freezing grip.

Without the need for further words, Annie bowed and the water bubbles alongside her followed suit. As she departed with the floating water bubbles, they transformed into ice potions, each containing precious water within.