Chapter 288: Time to Reap All of These Benefits(4)

Inside the opulent tavern, a haven of luxury, Desmond sat in the center of the hall, his face etched with a deep frown. With his eyes tightly shut and his mouth twitching incessantly, he seemed lost in concentration. A myriad of energy strands surrounded him, their ethereal tendrils reaching out like tentacles into the world beyond.

"Hmm..." Suddenly, Desmond's eyes snapped open as he muttered under his breath. A rush of hot breath escaped his lips, causing the natural energy enveloping him to evaporate into a mist that dissipated into thin air.

"Marvelous," Desmond exclaimed, his expression now radiant with vitality. He resembled a person emerging from a mist-covered lake, his body glistening with sweat, the surroundings shrouded in a hazy fog.

Accompanied by a crisp sound echoing through the mist, the wet floor beneath Desmond's feet bore witness to the mist's touch, while a stone pillar nearby cracked under the weight of his power.