The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Right after Desmond turned around, he was frozen in place.

The reflection on the river water unveiled the true form of the possessed body, confirming Desmond's suspicions.

It was indeed a four-legged beast with magnificent wings spanning across its back, protected by impenetrable scales that would render an ordinary sword useless. Two majestic horns adorned its head, emitting fiery flames from their tips.

The beast's size was comparable to that of a cargo truck, its eyes glowing red, and its skin as dark as the embodiment of evil itself.

Desmond stood in awe, taking a moment to appreciate the breathtaking appearance of the dragon before him.

"This is really the little dragon from that room..." Desmond whispered to himself. "It seems that this is its true form, and I must admit, it's incredibly cool!"

Just as he marveled at the dragon, Desmond's gaze was abruptly drawn forward. Within seconds, he felt his dry throat being quenched with fresh water. When he looked down, he saw a long tongue protruding from the river, sliding in and out as if the dragon were drinking water.

Desmond couldn't help but question if this was how dragons typically drank water, watching as the dragon lapped at the water like a dog. It tugged at his heart, evoking a sense of compassion for the creature.

Once the dragon had finished drinking, Desmond felt his body propelling forward.

*Blast!*

The scenery before him swayed, causing dizziness to wash over Desmond. The disorienting motion continued for some time until Desmond grew accustomed to it.

He sensed himself leaping to the right, moving forward, and ascending repeatedly, yet he couldn't comprehend the purpose behind these actions.

Despite his confusion, Desmond strained to survey his surroundings and noticed that the dragon's body was leaping incessantly. Each jump sent the dragon's tail crashing into the river, creating massive splashes and spraying water everywhere.

Furthermore, with each leap, shockwaves rippled through the area, generating additional bursts of water.

Desmond found himself perplexed by the spectacle unfolding before him. Powerless to intervene, he could only wait patiently, unsure of what the dragon's actions meant or what awaited him next.

Desmond maintained his silence, attentively observing the dragon's every move and intuiting the surge of emotions pulsating within its mighty form. A sense of agitation seemed to unsettle the creature, its once leisurely stride now marked by a noticeable tension.

And then, amidst the silence, a distinct sound reached Desmond's ears—a soft, drawn-out creak akin to the unzipping of a tightly secured shirt pocket. Simultaneously, an unusual sensation rippled through his body, akin to the gradual emergence of a hand sprouting from his shoulder, extending outward into the world.

Wings, he thought. Could it be?

Slowly turning his head, Desmond's anticipation was rewarded. Alongside the dragon's shifting emotions, his eyes beheld a wondrous sight—the majestic unveiling of colossal wings. Each wing's tip revealed the elongated protrusion of a bone, resembling the powerful talons of an eagle stretching forth into the air.

The hue of the wings differed from the dragon's main body, possessing a lighter shade adorned with intricate circular patterns reminiscent of intertwining plant roots—an enchanting tapestry etched across the expanse of its wingspan.

From a distance, the wing membrane appeared soft, akin to delicate fabric, but upon closer inspection, the textured, rugged surface became evident, bearing the resemblance of weathered cowhide.

Stretching out to a length one and a half times that of the dragon's original body, the wings evoked a sense of awe within Desmond. Imagining the creature taking flight, he marveled at the grandeur it would exhibit, dominating the sky with its magnificent wingspan.

As the wings unfurled completely, Desmond felt an unexpected lightness suffuse his own body, as if the dragon's newfound aerial prowess resonated within him.

With a resounding swoosh, the dragon ascended into the heavens, leaving in its wake the remnants of its previous position, now reduced to a shattered, debris-strewn ruin, evidence of the immense force exerted during takeoff.

Thump. Thump.

The dragon's determination led it to charge headlong into a cluster of trees that dared to obstruct the sun's radiant rays. Leaves fluttered and descended, caught in a mesmerizing dance of descent. The impact of the dragon's powerful frame was such that even a solitary tree succumbed, bowing beneath the weight of the beast's resolute advance.

As Desmond soared through the skies, a sight caught his attention below—a throng of humans adorned in armor fashioned from dragon skins. Their attire, however, held a disturbing twist. The helmets they wore seemed like an amalgamation of a warrior's headpiece and a dragon's skull, creating an eerie and menacing impression.

This peculiar spectacle surprised Desmond. Not only were their garments unfamiliar to him, but their demeanor also carried an air of unfamiliarity. Despite being airborne, Desmond found himself within earshot of the human conversation, as he had not yet ascended entirely into the heavens.

Startled, Desmond strained to decipher their words. "! @ S #!" The utterances initially sounded foreign and incomprehensible. However, another human conversed in a distinct language, confirming Desmond's suspicion.

"System, system, translate the language," Desmond called out, hopeful for assistance from the system he relied on. He observed the humans intently, noting that they accompanied their verbal exchanges with hand signs.

Yet, as time passed, no response came from the system. Frustration crept across Desmond's face as he continued his ascent, distancing himself from the audibility of the humans' conversation.

Could this be a dream? Desmond pondered. If it weren't a dream, the system would surely have answered, even within the confines of an alternate dimension.

A sudden rush of danger surged through Desmond's senses, jolting him from his musings. An object hurtled towards the dragon's left wing with alarming velocity.

Roaring in agony, the dragon abruptly turned its massive frame, witnessing a fiery spear piercing and shattering the very bones of its wing. Eyes glowing with fury, the dragon's gaze descended upon the humans responsible.

In a burst of anger, the dragon's maw opened wide, unleashing a torrent of blue flame that shot forth like a celestial meteor, albeit slower in speed and reduced in force. Still, the heat emanating from the flame was undeniable. As it reached the ground, the surrounding area experienced a paradoxical blend of scorching heat and chilling cold.

In the midst of his thoughts, Desmond let out a sudden cry, his own pain mirroring that of the dragon. When the spear impaled and crushed the dragon's wing bone, Desmond felt once again the phantom sensation of losing his right hand—a searing agony etched into his memory. Thus, the dragon's tumultuous emotions reverberated within Desmond's own psyche.

His gaze fixated on the humans, Desmond's eyes now blazed with a vengeful hue.

I will exact my vengeance upon you all.

As if attuned to Desmond's thoughts, the dragon hurtled downwards, its colossal form descending upon the humans with a ferocity that matched the intensity of their shared wrath.

The resounding boom echoed through the surroundings, reverberating against the dragon's sturdy scales. While the ground trembled beneath its weight, the impact left no lasting harm. However, the same could not be said for the humans who stood in its path.

Within moments, the unexpected occurred. Instead of the expected sensation of human flesh, a solid object materialized, abruptly halting the dragon's colossal body from its intended collision.

Lowering its gaze, the dragon beheld a sight that took it by surprise. The humans, seemingly unscathed, had encased themselves within a formidable dome crafted from a combination of iron and wood.

Yet, what sent a shiver down the dragon's spine was not the impenetrable structure that shielded them, but the wicked grins that adorned the faces of the humans.

*roar*

Witnessing the persistence of the onslaught, Desmond and the dragon grew increasingly agitated. In a display of defiance, the dragon's jaws parted wide, and brilliant blue flames erupted forth, directed at the remnants of the protective dome.

*clatter* *clatter*

Unrelenting in its assault, the dragon spewed forth torrents of scorching blue fire, causing the dome's exterior to tremble and melt. The intense heat consumed everything in its path, engulfing towering grasses that rivaled human height and even scorching the massive logs that once cast imposing shadows under the sunlight.

DIE!DIE!DIE!

Desmond's overwhelming killing intent permeated the air, his consciousness channeling through the borrowed vessel that he considered his body. The people before him had caused him immense harm, stealing an integral part of his essence.

The dragon's fiery breath erupted continuously from its gaping maw, unleashing a torrent of scorching flames that raged on relentlessly for hours. Gradually, the protective dome, which had shielded the humans, succumbed to the blistering heat, melting away until it was naught but a molten memory.

As the dome disintegrated, Desmond and the dragon beheld the sight of the people clutching something in their trembling hands.

*swish* *swish*

One after another, the spears were hurled toward the dragon, each weapon pulsating with an aura of annihilation, an embodiment of the raw forces of nature.

*roar*

No longer would the dragon endure these attacks in silence. Desmond felt his emotions spiraling out of control, his thirst for vengeance overpowering him, urging him to spill the blood of every human standing before him.

Following the resounding roar, a luminescent silhouette of a dragon's head materialized, emanating pure light. This spectral entity surged forward, ready to clash with the oncoming barrage of spears.

*roar* *roar*

With each subsequent roar from the dragon, the phantom head responded in kind, growing in size and presence. Now, the head loomed large enough to engulf the dragon's physical form entirely.

*boom*

The moment the phantom dragon's head collided with the incoming spears, a cataclysmic explosion erupted, shaking the very fabric of reality itself.