The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

In the heart of the desolate wasteland, where Felix and Desmond's loyal subordinates had sought refuge, a formidable horde of beasts advanced upon them, their roars and cries echoing through the air.

One of the men, his muscular frame adorned with a tattoo, his back burdened by a mighty sword, turned to Felix and posed a question, concern etched across his rugged countenance. The group stood together, a united force, each member donning similar attire, armed with a variety of weapons ranging from spears to short swords.

Their gazes fixated on the aged butler-clothed Felix, who, in turn, cast his eyes upon the ferocious creatures looming in the distance.

Observing them closely, a shared attribute became apparent: a thorny plant protruding from their backs, yet none seemed to notice or care about this peculiar detail. Their bare feet, calloused and hardened like the barren ground they tread upon, were a testament to their resilience amidst scorching heat that mercilessly tormented their bodies.

Moreover, their faces bore the weight of withering features, with dark, cavernous bags sagging beneath their eyes and parched lips prone to bleeding at the slightest movement. Suddenly, a fly materialized and buzzed around one of the men. But as it inadvertently brushed against their bodies, it promptly plummeted to the ground, froth spilling from its tiny form.

The man, his gloom deepening, tugged at his garments and cautiously sniffed himself. Finding nothing amiss, his body still emanating the pungent scent of rancid sweat, he took solace in the fact that it posed no immediate threat to his well-being. To him, such an aroma was commonplace, shared by his comrades.

"Arm yourselves! We shall confront them!" Felix's voice reverberated, accompanied by the distinct sound of a short sword being drawn from its sheath. Yet beneath his authoritative command, a hint of uncertainty and fear lingered.

Felix, the aging leader of the group, had finally eluded the relentless pursuit of the soldiers from the North Kingdom, but their troubles seemed far from over. Confronted by relentless beasts drawn by the scent of their battle-worn bodies and facing an imminent water shortage, their current predicament appeared dire. The beasts, relentless and unyielding, had driven them to this desolate land.

Gazing upon the massive horde of beasts, numbering well over two hundred, spanning a range of classes from E to C, Felix and his comrades knew they were perilously close to catastrophe. The surroundings stretched for two hundred meters in all directions, devoid of any terrain that could offer them refuge. There was no option for escape, with the beasts scattered throughout, blocking every path.

Retreating was equally ill-advised. After all, they were still human, albeit second-rate swordsmen. Though they possessed enhanced physical abilities, the creatures of the wild held a natural advantage, their bodies honed by evolution to endure harsh conditions.

Meanwhile, a sense of desolation overwhelmed the rest of the group. As they awaited their seemingly inevitable demise, regret consumed their thoughts. It was not regret for faithfully following their masters; that notion was inconceivable. Rather, it was the regret of not witnessing their master's presence at the precipice of their demise.

Their spirits waned, drained by weeks of relentless killing and ceaseless evasion. While they no longer harbored the will to fight back, they mustered the strength to raise their weapons, paying homage to Felix's final decision.

Amidst the impending doom, the rhythmic growls of the approaching beast horde reverberated through the air, growing louder and more menacing with each passing moment. Felix and his comrades, prepared for their final stand, tightened their grip on their weapons, bracing themselves for the inevitable.

"Young master, I deeply apologize for my inability to protect you in the days to come," Felix lamented, his thoughts consumed by his daughter's plight. He envisioned her once pure and innocent smile, stolen from her by the clutches of an evil organization that had kidnapped and subjected her to unspeakable acts.

*ROAR!*

Suddenly, a thunderous roar resonated across the vast plain, surpassing the volume of any beast's cry. The entire horde came to an abrupt halt, their advance ceasing just ten centimeters away from Felix and his subordinates. Disbelief washed over them as they beheld the astounding sight—the beasts simply stared at them, their crimson eyes devoid of any intent to pounce or charge.

"What is happening?" Felix, acting as the temporary leader of the group, voiced his bewilderment as he witnessed the eerie spectacle of the motionless beasts, their bloodshot eyes fixated upon them, salivating jaws hanging wide open.

In the next instant, a colossal shadow descended from the heavens, eclipsing the scorching sun and instinctively compelling Felix and his group to quiver in fear.

Danger! A palpable threat!

*THUMP!*

The colossal figure landed forcefully between the horde of beasts and Felix's group, shattering the ground beneath it and sending pebbles flying in every direction. Still rooted to his spot, Felix stared at the massive entity, dwarfing any known creature in size. Its wings spanned wide, its eyes fixed intently upon him.

"Hahaha!" Felix, despite his advanced age, finally witnessed with his own eyes the truth behind the tales whispered among children and circulating in rumors—the Sky Hunter! A beast of the highest rank, responsible for decimating countless villages and claiming numerous lives in the North Kingdom.

This extraordinary creature possessed intelligence akin to that of humans and wielded the power to command other beasts at its whim. However, what truly set it apart was its preference for dwelling within the inner territories, rarely venturing beyond. The appearance of this enigmatic beast near the North Kingdom's border, near the city of Helmfirth, remained a mystery to this day.

Even when two Grandmasters had attempted to vanquish the Sky Hunter, victory against this monstrous being was far from guaranteed.

"Hahaha!" The surviving members of the group erupted into a frenzy of hysterical laughter. Previously, their chances of survival against the approaching horde seemed slim. They had contemplated burying themselves in the earth or attempting to mount the beasts as a last-ditch effort to stave off their demise, knowing that it would require sacrificing a companion.

In the face of such hopelessness, those who remained alive had resigned themselves to caring for their fallen comrade's family or spouse.

But now, whether they chose to flee or hide, hopelessness loomed large in the eyes of the Sky Hunter, leaving no room for salvation or escape.