After successfully defeating the Titan guardian of the temple, Raven returned to the forest with a light step. His newfound strength made him feel more formidable, but he knew that physical power alone was not enough to conquer this world. If he wanted to achieve his goals, he needed more than just muscle and magic he needed information, influence, and power.
"I'm strong enough for now," Raven thought. "Now, I need to start understanding this world. Who are the rulers, what types of magic are commonly used, and how can I best infiltrate their political systems?"
In the memories he had obtained from the Titan guardian, there was a clue about a small village near the edge of the forest. The village wasn't very large, but it was bustling with various races living together. Raven saw this as an opportunity. By infiltrating the village, he could gather important information about the social structure, politics, and magical powers in this world.
That night, Raven moved toward the village with the agility and calm that had become his trademark. The bear-like body he controlled moved swiftly, leaping over forest obstacles without making a sound. Upon reaching the village's edge, he reverted to his virus form and began searching for a suitable host.
He found an old farmer resting in front of his house, gazing at the stars in the night sky. The man's face was wrinkled, showing his advanced age. Raven knew this wasn't an ideal host in terms of strength. But this old man must have lived in the village for many years, and his memories were likely rich with the information Raven needed.
"This will be quick," Raven muttered before infiltrating the man's body. The infection process went smoothly, and within seconds, Raven had full access to the man's memories.
Flashes of the man's life began to surface a simple life as a farmer, conversations with neighbors, and stories about the village passed down from generation to generation. From these memories, Raven began to understand the bigger picture of this world.
First, he learned that this world was inhabited by various races humans, elves, dwarves, and some unique races like beastmen and demons. Each race had its own culture, skills, and even dominant magical elements. Humans, as usual, were the most common and spread across many regions. Elves were known for their connection to nature magic, while dwarves were famous for their skill in forging weapons and magical tools. On the other hand, beastmen focused more on physical strength and agility, while demons had a strong affinity for dark magic.
"There's quite an interesting variety here," Raven thought. "If I can understand the weaknesses and strengths of each race, I can easily manipulate them to my advantage."
From the old man's memories, Raven also learned that the political systems in this world were quite diverse. There were large kingdoms ruled by monarchies, some small federations led by groups of nobles, and even independent territories governed by adventurer guilds or magical organizations. In the northern region, there was a powerful kingdom called Veloria, known for its military strength and the magical elements mastered by its nobility.
"Veloria, huh?" Raven remembered the name well. The kingdom seemed to be the center of power in the north, and interestingly, in the old man's memories, there were rumors that Veloria's crown prince was a genius in magic and strategy.
"The king's son, a magic genius, and with direct access to political power? This is the perfect host," Raven thought with a grin in his heart. If he could take over the crown prince's body, he would not only have incredible magical power but also access to the kingdom's political and military networks. With that, conquering this world would become much easier.
However, he knew it wouldn't be easy to infiltrate the royal palace and take over the prince's body. For that, he needed a well-thought-out strategy. First, he had to gather more information about the kingdom and the crown prince. He also needed to devise a plan to approach the prince without arousing suspicion.
"Alright, the first step is to infiltrate this village and learn more," Raven thought. He began scanning other memories of the old man, searching for people connected to the kingdom or who had traveled to the capital.
Among those memories, Raven found something interesting. There was a merchant in the village who frequently did business with the nobles of Veloria. This merchant had a wide network that spanned many regions, and he often received the latest news from the capital. "He could be a good entry point," Raven thought.
Quickly, Raven decided to change hosts. Although the old man had useful information, his body was too weak and inflexible. Raven exited the man's body and began searching for the merchant in question. The night was late, and the village was growing quieter. Only a few houses still had lights on, one of which was the merchant's home, where he was busy inspecting his goods in the warehouse.
Raven slipped inside without a sound. The merchant appeared to be plump and wore expensive clothing a sign that he was quite successful in his business. Without hesitation, Raven infiltrated his body and immediately took control of the merchant's consciousness. Once the infection process was complete, the merchant's memories and experiences began to unfold.
"This is better," Raven thought. This merchant had access to a lot of important information. He knew about the political movements in the capital, how the nobles were vying for influence, and there were even some rumors about the intrigues within the palace.
However, what caught Raven's attention the most was the information about Veloria's crown prince, a young man named Alaric. Alaric was known for his genius in military tactics and his ability to master various elements of magic. Many believed he would become a stronger king than his father. But most importantly, Alaric was an ambitious person who didn't hesitate to use any means to achieve his goals.
"Someone like him must have enemies in the palace," Raven thought. "If I can exploit the discontent of those around him, I can approach him without much resistance."
Raven then discovered in the merchant's memories that there was a major event happening in the capital soon a magic and combat tournament that would be attended by nobles and warriors from all over the kingdom. Alaric was confirmed to be participating as the main contender.
"This is my chance," Raven said as he planned his next move. "I'll go to the capital and look for an opportunity to get close to Alaric. If I can infect him at the right moment, his body will become mine, and with the body of a crown prince, I will have access to everything I need to conquer this world."
With a well-laid plan in mind, Raven left the village and began his journey toward the capital of the Kingdom of Veloria. The journey would be full of challenges, but for Raven, this was just part of a grand strategy to achieve ultimate power not just through strength, but also through politics and manipulation.
After several days of travel, Raven finally arrived at the great gates surrounding the capital. The tall walls with towering guard posts showed just how well-protected the city was. The soldiers stood guard with discipline, ensuring that no threats entered. Raven knew that infiltrating this city wouldn't be easy, but he was already prepared.
"Alright, time to play a role," Raven muttered as he resumed using the merchant host he controlled. By taking advantage of the merchant's identity, Raven could enter the city without arousing suspicion. Inside the city, the atmosphere was bustling. People were coming and going, from commoners to nobles dressed in luxurious clothing. Magic shops, weapon forges, and food stalls lined the main street.
Raven walked towards the city center, where the royal palace stood majestically on a hill. The palace was adorned with tall towers and colorful stained-glass windows. In the palace courtyard, the flag of the Kingdom of Veloria flew proudly under the sunlight. Raven knew that inside, Alaric was preparing for the upcoming tournament.
However, Raven couldn't enter the palace directly. He needed a plan. First, he had to get close to people who had access to Alaric perhaps palace servants or even one of Alaric's followers. That way, he could enter without raising suspicion. To do this, Raven decided to visit the elite market in the city, where nobles and important people often gathered.
At the market, Raven observed everyone's movements. He overheard some nobles talking about the upcoming tournament and how they hoped Alaric would win and bring honor to the kingdom. But what caught Raven's attention was a young man with a simple yet charismatic appearance, surrounded by several guards. From their conversation, Raven learned that this man was one of Alaric's loyal followers.
"This man could be my way to get close to Alaric," Raven thought. He approached the man politely, using the merchant's identity to start a conversation.
"Excuse me, sir, I heard you have a close relationship with Prince Alaric," Raven said in a humble tone. "I'm a merchant who wants to offer some rare goods from outside the kingdom. Perhaps you'd be interested?"
The man gave a slight smile, then looked at Raven sharply. "Rare goods, huh? Interesting. But I don't do business lightly, especially with someone I've just met."
Raven smiled inwardly. He knew how to handle people like this. "Of course, sir. I understand. But how about we start with something small? I have valuable information about the other participants in the tournament. Perhaps that could be useful to Prince Alaric."
The man's eyes narrowed, indicating that he was beginning to take interest. "Information, you say? Alright, let's talk further. But remember, if you try to deceive me, I won't hesitate to cut off your head."
Raven chuckled softly. "Of course, I only want to offer help. After all, who wouldn't want to be on the winning side?"
The conversation continued, and Raven cleverly slipped in the information he had gathered from the memories of his various hosts. He made the man believe that he was a savvy merchant with a wide network who could provide strategic advantages. In the end, the man agreed to introduce him to some of Alaric's trusted associates.
"This is a good start," Raven thought. "Step by step, I'll get close to Alaric and take over his body. With the prince's body as my host, I'll have power, influence, and access to all the resources I need."
In his mind, a grand strategy was beginning to take shape. Raven knew that conquering this world wasn't just about winning battles; it was also about mastering the political game behind the scenes. With a combination of cunning, manipulation, and ever-growing strength, he would ensure that no one could stand in his way on the path to absolute power.