The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

The moment the colossal feline emitted a thunderous snort, it sent Felix reeling backward, his senses overwhelmed by sheer terror. The cacophonous roars of the creatures lurking behind the leader echoed like a tempestuous wind, freezing the air with a palpable dread. Their eyes mirrored a profound fear of their commanding figure, their breath held in eerie unison.

Felix's forehead beaded with sweat, his aging body struggling to assist his racing heart. Were it not for his status as a 4th class swordsman, the shock alone might have been enough to claim his life.

A resounding thud shattered the tension as a shadow materialized, leaping gracefully from the pinnacle of the Sky Hunter and landing deftly before Felix. This unexpected arrival intensified the astonishment that had already seized hold of Felix and his companions.

"Damn!" A word escaped Felix's lips as he found himself still reeling from the initial shock, yet he couldn't believe what he heard—the creature was speaking! With his wits gradually returning, Felix scrutinized the enigmatic being before him. It boasted a dorsal fin reminiscent of the desert lizards, its ebony skin resembling the gleaming armor worn by humans.

Its wings, akin to those of the Sky Hunter, possessed a pristine and awe-inspiring beauty.

However, Felix struggled to discern any familiar characteristics in the creature's visage. It stood erect, like a human, and astonishingly, it possessed the ability to converse. This indicated a higher level of intelligence. But what caught Felix's attention the most was the creature's mode of transportation—a Sky Hunter of A rank, an astounding feat in itself.

Moreover, its overall appearance was a mesmerizing amalgamation of all the creatures that comprised the beast race.

Yet, in that moment, Felix's realization struck like a bolt of lightning. The more he observed the creature's countenance, the more his fear intensified. It was a dragon—a formidable creature that once reigned supreme, subjugating the entire world! A Dragon Beast!

The creature had horns, though not as pronounced as those depicted in children's tales, but Felix was certain of its resemblance to the majestic Dragon Beast.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Felix straightened his posture and respectfully inclined his body. "I apologize, sir or madam. I'm unable to comprehend your language."

The people behind him stood dumbfounded, witnessing their esteemed leader bow before the peculiar-looking creature. None dared utter a word, even if fortune were laid before them in the presence of these mighty beasts. They were not oblivious, of course, to the spectacle of a human bowing before a creature, especially one riding an A rank Sky Hunter.

However, it left them with an inexplicable sense of unease.

A profound silence engulfed them, the weight of the moment palpable. Felix's nerves were on edge as he maintained his bent posture, his gaze locked upon the shadow cast upon the ground. Then, in a sudden diminution of the shadow, he cautiously raised his head, only to find the horde of beasts had vanished.

"Sir! They've left us!" one of his subordinates exclaimed.

Felix promptly straightened his back, relief washing over him as he let out a sigh. However, his attention swiftly turned to the direction the creatures had taken. "How many of you have family residing in the North Kingdom?"

As Felix posed the question to his subordinates, the realization dawned that the menacing beasts had moved on. Given their speed, they would reach the first city, Helmfirth, in approximately two days.

"I have no kin left. I've been living for myself ever since those villains violated my sister," one of the men confessed.

"I have a wife, but she hides and masquerades as a merchant after I informed her of our dire situation," another shared.

After hearing their responses, Felix deduced that most of his subordinates led solitary lives, with only a few fortunate enough to have partners or relatives to rely on.

"I apologize, my friends, but for those who have relatives or wives to care for, unless you possess a Pegasus or a means of communication, there is little hope for their survival," Felix uttered, his words striking the assembled people with a profound shock.

"What do you mean, Sir?! This isn't a jest, is it? I just became a father!" One of them queried, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation. Suddenly, as the realization of the beasts' destination dawned upon him, his complexion turned pale, and without delay, he sprinted in that direction.

"Sir Felix, I'm sorry! I must go, my friends. Perhaps fate will reunite us!" The man bolted away, his enhanced physique propelling him forward, leaving a trail of dust and scattered thorns in his wake.

As one person departed, others followed suit, one after another, reducing their numbers from fifty to a mere thirty. The remaining men gazed sorrowfully at the departure of their comrades. They understood the implications of their friends' words—they were urging them to stay with their leader, as their chances of survival amidst those fearsome and menacing beasts were slim at best.

The departing comrades' message conveyed a profound meaning: They would be reunited, not in this life, but in the next. A shared understanding bound Felix's subordinates from the moment they joined his ranks.

"Let us pay our final respects!" Felix declared, biting his thumb and smearing the blood upon his forehead. He formed a horizontal line with one arm crossed over his chest, a solemn gesture that his subordinates mirrored, their eyes fixed upon their comrades' departure, their hearts silently bleeding within.

This gesture had become a symbol of their unity ever since they became Felix's loyal subordinates.

Rumbles echoed in the distance just as they completed their salute, causing a surge of apprehension to replace their mournful expressions. Even Felix, who had appeared grief-stricken moments ago, now wore a grave countenance as he gradually turned his back.

"What are you doing?" a familiar voice resounded in their ears. As they turned to face the source of the voice, they beheld a group bathed in the radiant glow of the sun, standing atop a colossal water wave.

For a brief moment, their minds struggled to reconcile this sight with their current understanding. Water in this desolate land? And a group traversing upon a wave of water? How could they walk upon it?

The sound of droplets falling onto the ground provided tangible proof of the reality of the water wave, staining the barren land and transforming it into muddy terrain.

"Young master!" Felix's excitement surged as the group descended from the massive wave, his eyes scanning the surroundings in search of his daughter. Yet, despite their arrival, he could not locate his beloved child among the group of girls that accompanied his young master.