The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

After reaching the end of the grand canyon, where their heads almost brushed against the concealed ceiling ground, a set of ascending stairs came into view, leading to the upper land. These stairs, crafted from mud that had weathered and hardened over time, transformed into a rough-looking paving stone.

Their width allowed people to walk comfortably side by side, a practical design for the weary travelers.

On the left side of the stairs, an enchanting sight awaited their gaze—a magic crystal, about the size of a palm, embedded within the earth wall. Emitting a soft, captivating glow, it tirelessly absorbed the ambient energy surrounding it, a testament to its mystical nature.

This crystal served a crucial purpose: it eradicated the obstructing ground that had hidden and concealed the stairs from the outside world, revealing the passage to those fortunate enough to find it.

As Desmond and his group approached the foot of the stairs, a momentary pause enveloped them. Desmond crouched down, attentively inspecting the condition of the stairs and the crystal. Despite six months of neglect without any maintenance, the magic crystal appeared to be in perfect order, resilient despite its constant energy absorption and infrequent use.

With a wave of his hand, Desmond summoned the surrounding energy to gather, responding to his command. The natural energy transformed into a gentle, cascading wave of water, which flowed over the stairs, cleansing away the grimy residue of bloodstains and mud that had accumulated over time.

In Desmond's right hand, the natural energy converged at a singular point, coalescing into the ethereal form of a shadowy long sword. The sword, crafted purely from metal, possessed a simple guard that demarcated the blade from the grip, devoid of any embellishments or adornments.

With a swift *swoosh,* Desmond unleashed a sidelong slash, effortlessly cleaving through the grass, leaving it neatly bisected. The sword's sharpness rivaled that of a tempered blade, capable of inflicting harm upon an adversary without the aid of hammer or fire.

Examining the sword he had conjured, Desmond remarked, "Although it feels slightly lighter than a real sword, its sharpness is more than sufficient to pierce even the thickest of beast hides." Having wielded elemental swords extensively, Desmond had come to discern the disparity between these nature-forged weapons and their conventional counterparts—their difference lay in the strength of the swing.

Resuming their journey, the group pressed forward until they finally emerged into the outside world. Desmond surveyed the surroundings, taking in their location nestled amidst small hills and cacti that served as a deceptive camouflage for the entrance.

The scorching heat enveloped them, and the warm sunlight kissed Desmond's skin, invigorating him after months of concealment underground and reliance on artificial light.

Meanwhile, the members of the group, aware that their leader needed time to acclimate to the situation, remained silent. They held their breath, their anxious eyes fixed upon Desmond, as this marked the first instance of him leading the hunt, a role typically fulfilled by Felix, their trusted guide.

Their nerves manifested in the beads of sweat trickling down their necks, and their swallowing became audibly labored. Their greatest fear was becoming a burden to their esteemed leader.

In contrast, Desmond relished in the sensation of basking in the sun, his eyes closed as he absorbed the life-affirming warmth. The joy of being alive and witnessing the sun's radiance again enveloped him. After a few blissful minutes, he opened his eyes and cast a glance at his surroundings.

"System, initiate scan," Desmond commanded.

The moment a translucent screen materialized before his eyes, he sensed a slight drain on his own energy. The scan permeated the surroundings, extending his perception to a staggering radius of 1000 kilometers, allowing him to feel the presence of living beings in the vicinity.

However, Desmond couldn't find any recorded spells that utilized energy to scan the surroundings, similar to the capabilities of the system. He was only familiar with a spell his mother had used in the past to scan objects.

With the scan complete, the map before Desmond came alive, displaying numerous red dots that represented potential entities in the vicinity. The sheer number of dots overwhelmed him, causing a dull ache in his head. The issue with the map was its inability to distinguish between humans and beasts, leaving Desmond uncertain as to which dot represented a wyvern.

Internally, he pondered the characteristics of a wyvern. It bore a resemblance to a dragon, with its horns and tail. Though uncertain of its exact origins, his recollections from a past life suggested that wyverns were descendants of vipers, while dragons traced their lineage back to colossal serpents.

Dragons dwelled in solitary dominance, whereas wyverns formed social groups, often found in mountainous regions.

Sorting through the knowledge he had acquired, Desmond sought confirmation from his subordinates, who had traversed much of the territory inhabited by outer beasts in their pursuit of prey. They possessed more firsthand knowledge than him, understanding that the experiences and sensory perception on location far surpassed what his map and system could provide.

"Do any of you know of the nearest mountains or hills?" Desmond inquired, acknowledging that his subordinates' travels had likely taken them through much of the beast-infested territories.

His subordinates, taken aback by their master's sudden question, found themselves witnessing a gradual dissolution of his cold facade. Desmond conversed with them devoid of arrogance or bossiness, treating them as valued individuals rather than mere tools for his purposes.

"Based on what I've seen, young master, the mountains should be located around this area," one of his subordinates responded, pointing on the miniature map that Desmond had quickly constructed based on his 3D representation. The designated place lay far to the north, within a jungle teeming with swamps—an environment that seemed suitable for a beast keen on concealment and water.

Hesitation flickered in the gazes of Desmond's subordinates as they observed the indicated location. The possibility of encountering formidable predators loomed before them.

While they possessed the strength to handle ordinary creatures like anacondas and crocodiles, when confronted with giant beasts from the Beast race, particularly the Basilisk—a creature notorious for its affinity for swampy environments—they were nothing more than ants in its eyes.

Not to mention the Wyvern, classified as a B+ threat to humans. Even a Basilisk, with a strength somewhat inferior to that of a Wyvern, could pose a significant challenge, comparable to the combined might of two second-class swordsmen. The idea of hunting a Wyvern was audacious from the start, considering their numbers.

However, a glimmer of hope emerged when they recalled that their young master possessed dual-class capabilities.

Unlike a swordsman, a mage was a weapon capable of mass destruction. The potential for Desmond to unleash devastation provided a faint glimmer of optimism for the success of this hunt.