Woke up in a villain's body

The crowd was quiet as Xandros Threnody stood there, completely exposed. Their angry boos and shouts echoed around him, clearly showing their disapproval of the Imperial Vanguard's unapproved entry into the tournament. Raven recognized him instantly, recalling the character from a book he had read.

"You made things easier for me," Raven said, trying to play it cool despite his surprise.

Xandros just smirked, not bothered by the negativity. "What can I say? I'm just here to have fun since these guys are slacking... a lot."

Suddenly, Cassius Valerius, a top officer from the Imperial Vanguard, walked onto the stage with confidence, making the crowd go silent. "What this man did goes against our values. He's disqualified from the tournament—with immediate effect."

Cheers erupted from the audience, and the earlier hostility faded as Xandros was led away, a frown replacing his earlier swagger.

Raven saw his chance and stepped up. "I know he's part of the Vanguard. But common I've been waiting for this moment to see what a vanguard can do. Let's finish what we started."

Cassius raised an eyebrow, "I am glad to see you're not bothered by this, but fighting a vanguard in the tournament is prohibited."

"Well, I don't expect much from you guys anyway!" Raven shot back, brimming with defiance. Cassius's frustration peaked, but he held back his anger, choosing to stay composed.

In that moment, Raven felt a mix of thrill and empowerment. Standing up to authority was a rush, even if it meant pushing boundaries.

---

With Xandros out of the picture, Raven was declared the winner of the tournament.

As the reality of his victory sunk in, he received a familiar **System Notification** in his mind:

Quest Completed: Be the Tournament Winner!

Reward: 100 XP earned.

Level Up!

Level 2 → Level 3.

New Skills Acquired:

- Blood Summoning

- Description: Call forth creatures or entities linked to blood or life force.

- Effects: Summon demon skeletons or spirits to assist in battle.

Raven felt a rush of excitement mixed with a little anxiety. What the f*ck skeletons, this is Even better than I thought?

---

As the crowd calmed down, Lord Carl unexpectedly walked in, his relaxed vibe grabbing everyone's attention. He approached Raven with a smile and said, "Great show, kid. I must admit you have the talent that I am looking for.

Meet up with me tomorrow at my place; we could talk better, till then" He handed Raven a card with his address, a glint of curiosity and strategy in his eyes.

Raven felt a thrill of excitement, though some uncertainty crept in. So he took the bait, I wonder what intel he has?*He remembered that Carl was a significant player in the empire from the book.

As Raven was about to walk away, Astrid Duskmire stepped in his path, clearly annoyed. "You should have just killed him, Raven. Letting Xandros live is a big mistake."

Raven looked right at her without a hint of worry. "Is that your strategy? Killing anyone who annoys you?"

Astrid moved a bit closer, lowering her voice to a serious tone. "You're not getting me right. Xandros might seem like an idiot, but he's unpredictable. And Carl? He's much worse than you realize. Be careful about who you trust."

"I can take care of myself, Astrid," he replied, his tone more assured, even though he felt the weight of her concern. "But I appreciate the tip."

As he watched her storm off, he couldn't help but wonder, In this world people are not bothered about killing people you know same way I am not bothered in trusting the order, well what choice do I have

---

Raven moved silently through the dark halls along the road of Vorvath mountain to the hidden base of the Order of Death.

When he got to the entrance, a guard stopped him

"Who are you?"

At that moment, Jamal came with an air of authority. "Let him through. He's one of us now."

The guards quietly moved aside and let Raven in without any trouble. Inside, the bright glow of flickering torches stood out sharply against the darkness outside.

In the main hall, Lysander Valtor waited, his sharp eyes carefully watching Raven as he entered.

"Raven, what brings you here?" Lysander inquired, his voice smooth and commanding.

Raven took a deep breath and laid out the details: the tournament, Xandros's disqualification, and that invitation from Lord Carl.

Lysander listened closely, a slight smirk appearing on his face. "Interesting. So Carl wants you to come to his Estate, well don't forget you are on a mission. And again that could be a good play for us."

"What do you know Lucien Wealth?" Raven asked, curious about what the young Vanguard was up to.

Lysander chuckled dismissively. "Lucien? He's not around. He's not bothered with the Vanguards; he's too busy trying to climb the ranks while hiding his agenda. Just make sure you move up and keep your Bloodcraft skills on the down low ."

---

Once he left the base, Raven felt a mix of nerves and drive. He needed to try out his new skill, Blood Summoning, but it had to be done in secret.

He found a quiet spot near the ruins of the Order's base,far from prying eyes.Taking a deep breath, he tried to ease his mind. This is my shot to tap into more power—but is it worth the gamble? That question loomed heavily in his mind.

He turned into the energy inside him, remembering what he read in the Bloodcraft scroll. He opened his System Interface," For now I can only summon A BLOOD DEMON SKELETON okay here goes nothing,

ARISE".

System Notification:

Blood Summoning Activated!

Skill Level: 0/100 (Current Mastery: Unlearned)

With a rush of energy, Raven summoned a Blood Demon Skeleton, its shape forming from swirling red strands that came together into a daunting figure. It brandished two swords, its bony face giving off an intimidating aura.

Raven stood still, his heart pounding, as he watched the demon's eyes burn with an unstoppable desire to fight. Wow, I can't believe this… I did it!

"Go check the area," he said to the Blood Demon Skeleton, which moved away so smoothly it gave him chills. He felt a burst of power, but deep inside, he couldn't shake the worry. "Damn how come nobody came up with this power in the novel"

When the demon came back, Raven felt both proud and uneasy. This power could save me… or maybe destroy me, he thought.

Suddenly, a noise from the distance startled him. He quickly snapped his fingers, and the Blood Demon Skeleton disappeared back into its space, looking around to confirm if he was been watched.

---

Raven found himself alone, trying to understand what he had just summoned. The rush of adrenaline was exciting but also made him nervous." I need to control this power, or it will control me," he promised himself, determined not to repeat Raven Blackwood's dark history.

As he stepped back into the city he thought about his choices: the invitation from Lord Carl, and the constant threat from the Order. Every decision could change everything—would he carve out his path or be swept away by fate's whims?

This can't be the end for me. I'm going to survive—and I'll rise above what Raven Blackwood went through. His thoughts solidified into determination.

With each step, the weight of the night settled on him but mixed with that heaviness was a flicker of hope.

Deep down, he felt a rising power within him, a sign that he could change his own story.

With the moon shining brightly above and lighting his path, he moved forward, Raven don't worry he smiled your fate is in a good hand