Raven, now controlling the body of the young hunter, stood rigid in the large hut. Before him, the tribe leader stared with a piercing gaze, as if trying to penetrate the depths of his soul. The campfire blazing in the center of the room cast an orange glow on the old man's face, creating menacing shadows on the wooden walls filled with strange carvings. The glowing tattoos on his body added to the mystical atmosphere, making Raven even more cautious.
"You are not one of us," the tribe leader repeated seriously. His voice was deep, trembling, and carried a power that felt foreign to Raven. "Something is controlling this boy's body."
Raven mentally smirked. "Impressive, this old man can sense my presence," he thought. But instead of feeling threatened, Raven was increasingly intrigued. If the tribe leader was truly this formidable, then possessing him would grant access to even greater power.
The old man raised a wooden staff adorned with carvings and animal feathers. At its tip, a small crystal hung, emitting a magical aura. "I don't know where you come from, but you will not bring destruction to this tribe!" he exclaimed with conviction.
Suddenly, the floor of the hut began to tremble. Raven felt a wave of energy coursing from the ground through his entire body, as if something was trying to force him out of his host. The tribe leader chanted a mantra in a language Raven didn't understand, but the effect was immediate the pressure inside the body intensified, forcing him to resist. Raven sensed the host's body starting to react, rebelling against his control.
"So, you've got some tricks up your sleeve, huh?" Raven muttered, maintaining his grip. This pressure reminded him of the resistance from the wolf and bear earlier, but this time, it was amplified by magical force. Yet, Raven wasn't one to give up easily. As a former assassin, he was accustomed to facing critical situations like this.
He focused his consciousness, strengthening his grip on the mind and body of the young man he controlled. Gradually, he began to turn the tide. The pain and pressure the host body felt started to lessen as Raven forced himself deeper into every corner of the young man's consciousness. The tribe leader appeared shocked as he saw the young man's expression change. Now, the young man's eyes no longer reflected confusion or fear only a cold, empty void.
"Enough playing around," Raven whispered through his host's lips.
The tribe leader raised his staff higher, ready to unleash a final attack. But before he could finish his chant, Raven was already moving. With unnatural speed for a human, the young man's body lunged forward, delivering a powerful kick to the old man's stomach. The tribe leader staggered back, nearly falling, but he managed to stay upright, supporting himself with his staff. His eyes widened in disbelief that such a frail body could exert so much force.
"You think I'll let you do as you please?" Raven said, this time with a mocking tone.
Instantly, Raven launched a series of attacks. He drew on the young man's memories of spear and knife combat techniques, blending them with his own swift reflexes and sharp instincts. The magic staff in the tribe leader's hand struggled to fend off the assaults, but it was clear he was outmatched in physical strength. Each blow drove the old man further back, his breathing growing more labored.
But suddenly, with a swift motion, the tribe leader slammed his staff into the floor, sending a wave of energy radiating in all directions. Raven staggered back, feeling as if his body had been hit by a storm. Yet this time, he didn't give the old man a chance to launch another attack. With full force, Raven charged again, snatching the magic staff from the old man's hands and driving its tip into his chest.
The tribe leader coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. His eyes, filled with hatred and fear, met those of Raven's host, now entirely under his control. With one final push, Raven drove the staff deeper, ending the old man's life in a single motion.
As the old man's life faded away, Raven felt a surge of energy flow into him. It wasn't just physical strength, but also the knowledge and memories hidden within the old man's soul. Pieces of information began to surface secrets about the tribe's power, summoning techniques for spirits, and even ways to tap into the natural forces embedded in the stone altar at the center of the village.
But the most important revelation was a brief vision of a great power hidden deep within this forest something older and stronger than this tribe, buried far underground. In that flash of memory, Raven saw ancient ruins guarded by creatures brimming with dark energy. These creatures were both protectors and the key to unlocking an even greater power.
"Interesting," Raven thought with a satisfied smile. With this information, he knew what he needed to do next. This tribe was merely a stepping stone. The true power awaited in the deeper, darker parts of the forest.
With full control over his host's body, Raven calmly exited the hut. The tribe's warriors standing guard saluted him without suspicion. They had no idea that their leader had just been killed, and their tribe was now entirely under the control of a foreign entity they couldn't even fathom.
Raven paused briefly at the stone altar in the center of the village. The wooden totems around it emanated a strange aura, as if spirits resided within them. But this time, Raven wasn't interested in ceremonies or rituals. He touched the surface of the altar with his host's hand, feeling the natural power coursing through it. Closing his eyes, he drew a small portion of that energy into himself, using the knowledge he had gained from the tribe leader.
The energy was rough and wild, but with a bit of adjustment, Raven could control it. This was just a small fraction of the potential power he could gain if he truly conquered this forest. However, his focus now was on the ancient ruins he had seen in the vision. That was the key to further enhancing his power.
After ensuring that no one suspected him, Raven led his host's body out of the village, heading toward the direction he had seen in the vision. The night grew darker, and the forest began to reveal its true sinister nature. The trees here were older, with massive roots sprawling above the ground like tentacles. Strange sounds echoed in the distance, signaling the presence of wild creatures roaming for prey.
As Raven ventured deeper, he could feel a different kind of cold not just the night air, but an energy emanating from the depths of the earth. The ground here felt dead, as if no life could grow. This was a place inaccessible to ordinary beings, but for Raven, it was where he could find the true source of power.
It didn't take long before he found the entrance to the ruins he had seen in the memories earlier. In the dark forest, a large crevice opened between two cliffs, leading underground. The air coming from the crevice was heavy and carried a foul stench that assaulted the senses. But Raven was undeterred. He was instead intrigued by the aura of darkness that radiated from below.
Without hesitation, Raven stepped in, descending a steep path into the darkness. The deeper he went, the stronger the pressure of the energy he felt. The stone walls around him were covered with ancient carvings, symbols of forgotten rituals. The air grew colder, and shadows seemed to move on their own, following his every step.
Every step Raven took led him deeper into the darkness, where only a faint light could penetrate. The cave walls began to widen, opening into a larger chamber as the path sharply descended. The sound of dripping water from the ceiling and the echo of Raven's footsteps were the only sounds that could be heard, creating an increasingly eerie atmosphere.
When Raven reached the bottom of the cave, he found himself in a vast underground chamber. The room was filled with the ruins of old structures that appeared to be remnants of an ancient temple. Cracked and moss-covered stone pillars lined the sides of the room, while in the center stood a large altar made of pitch-black stone. On top of the altar rested a large crystal, glowing dimly with a dark red light, as if containing some malevolent force trapped within.
"This must be the source of energy I saw in the chief's memories," Raven thought as he approached the altar. He could feel the energy radiating from the crystal raw, wild, and full of darkness. The crystal appeared to have been sealed for centuries, and only those with special power could unlock it.
However, before Raven could examine it further, he sensed another presence in the room. From the shadows in the corner, a large creature emerged, appearing to be a cross between a wolf and a reptile. Its skin was covered in hard, black scales, while its eyes glowed red like embers. Its sharp teeth were clearly visible under the crystal's light. The creature growled lowly, showing its displeasure at the presence of an uninvited guest.
...[Target Identified: Ancient Temple Guardian]...
...[Level: Advanced]...
...[Risk: Very High]...
Raven restrained himself from moving recklessly. He knew this creature was not an opponent to be taken lightly. The energy emanating from the temple guardian felt incredibly dense, like a force that had accumulated over years. Fighting this creature would be a significant test of the power he had recently acquired.
The guardian stepped forward, its large claws striking the stone floor with each step. Its growl grew louder, echoing throughout the chamber. Raven knew he had to make a quick decision. Facing such a massive creature head-on would be foolish, even with his now-powerful bear body. But Raven was not one to rely solely on brute strength. He was a cunning predator, and he knew how to exploit the situation.
Raven activated the Slither Movement skill he had acquired from the snake earlier. Despite his bear-sized body, his movements became more slippery and smooth, allowing him to dodge the guardian's direct attacks swiftly. The creature lunged with incredible speed, trying to slash at Raven with its sharp claws. However, Raven managed to evade nimbly, causing the guardian to swipe at nothing but air.
Taking advantage of the opening, Raven slipped behind the creature and activated Poisonous Mist. A toxic fog began to spread around the guardian, hindering its movements. The creature growled in pain but remained standing, displaying tremendous physical strength. Raven realized that the toxic mist alone would not be enough to bring down such a powerful foe. He needed a more direct and lethal attack.
As the creature attacked again, Raven activated the Berserk Roar skill, temporarily enhancing his physical strength. With the added power, he launched a frontal assault, striking the creature's side with full force. The loud impact echoed as the large bear body slammed into the temple guardian, pushing it back several meters. Though affected, the guardian remained upright, only appearing more enraged.
Raven did not stop there. He continued his assault, combining the strength of his physical attacks with the agility from the Slither Movement, making his moves unpredictable for his opponent. But each time he attempted to secure victory, the guardian managed to recover, as if the energy from the crystal on the altar was continuously empowering it.
"This won't end if I only rely on physical attacks," Raven thought in frustration.
He then realized that the key to winning this battle was to sever the connection between the creature and the crystal that was its source of power. Quickly, he changed his strategy. Instead of continuing to attack the creature, he ran towards the altar. When the guardian realized Raven's intent, it roared and chased after him furiously, but Raven was already ahead, reaching the altar first.
With all his strength, Raven struck the stone altar with his claws. Cracks appeared on the crystal's surface, causing its red light to flicker and weaken. The guardian howled in pain as if its life was directly tied to the crystal. Seeing this, Raven was even more convinced he was on the right track. He struck the crystal again and again until it finally shattered into small fragments.
Immediately, the temple guardian staggered and collapsed onto the floor. Its energy began to dissipate, its large body weakening. Raven knew this was the perfect moment to finish it off. He approached the creature, gazing into its red eyes now filled with despair. With one swift motion, Raven drove his bear claws into the creature's heart, ending its life quickly.
As the temple guardian's life faded, its energy flowed into Raven's body. However, this time was different. This was not just physical power or ordinary magic this was ancient energy that had existed for thousands of years. Within that energy were memories and knowledge about this temple, about other creatures hidden in the forest, and about the power that could elevate Raven to a higher level.
...[Infection Successful]...
...[Skills Acquired: Dark Binding - Binds the target with shadow chains]...
...[Skill Acquired: Guardian's Resolve - Increases endurance and regeneration during battle]...
...[Evolution Points Gained: 25]...
Raven felt an extraordinary surge of power within him. His body felt stronger, and his mind was filled with new strategies and techniques he had learned from the guardian's memories. But that wasn't all he gained. From the absorbed memories, Raven learned that these temple ruins were merely a gateway to something much bigger.
Deep within the forest, hidden behind a magical barrier that only those with a certain key could penetrate, lay a portal to another world a place where legendary creatures and extraordinary powers were hidden. This portal could only be opened by those who had gathered power from ancient guardians like the one he had just defeated.
Raven realized that if he wanted to conquer this world, he needed to gather power from every ancient guardian out there. Each power he collected would bring him closer to his ultimate goal mastering the portal and using the hidden power behind it to become the ruler of this world.
"This is just the beginning," Raven thought with a sly smile. With his bear body now stronger and infused with magical energy, he stepped out of the temple, leaving the ruins behind and heading deeper into the forest. His new journey had begun, and this time, he wouldn't stop until he reached the pinnacle of power.