After successfully taking over Alaric's body, Raven felt a powerful surge of energy coursing through him. Every movement felt lighter, every breath filled with extraordinary magical energy. Raven looked at his hands and clenched his fists. "This body... Perfect," he murmured, feeling how the fire magic once mastered by Alaric was now entirely under his control.
However, Raven knew that mastering this body was just the beginning of his plan. He needed a chance to test the limits of this new power, and the upcoming tournament was the perfect stage for it.
That night, as the dark sky loomed over the capital of Veloria, the tournament arena was still bustling with the cheers of the crowd. Fights continued one after another, and the remaining participants were approaching the finals. However, all attention was now focused on Alaric or rather, Raven in Alaric's body.
Felix, who had been a loyal follower of Alaric, approached Raven in the participant waiting area. "Your Highness, the semifinal will start soon. Your opponent this time is the leader of the Dark Magic Guild. Many say he might be the only one who can challenge you."
Raven looked at Felix with a cold smile. "Darkness, you say? I'm more than ready to face such trivial magic."
Felix seemed a bit surprised by Alaric's change in demeanor but quickly dismissed his doubts and bowed. "We are all confident that you will win, Your Highness."
Raven simply nodded and walked towards the arena. As he entered the arena filled with spectators, the deafening cheers echoed throughout the stadium. Alaric's name was mentioned as a potential winner, and all eyes were on him with high hopes. But no one knew that the person standing there was no longer Alaric, but Raven.
On the other side of the arena, his opponent was already waiting. A man in a long black robe with eyes radiating a dark aura stood tall. This man was Varian, the leader of the Dark Magic Guild, known for his expertise in manipulating shadows and illusions. Varian's face showed calmness, but behind it was a high level of confidence.
"Alaric, the crown prince of Veloria. I have been looking forward to this moment," Varian said with a grin. "Many believe you are invincible, but I will show that even a royal heir can fall into darkness."
Raven, now in Alaric's body, simply raised an eyebrow. "A lot of talk, but little proof. If darkness is the power you rely on, you'll soon learn that you are not the only one who understands it."
The referee signaled, and the fight began. Varian immediately activated his dark magic, creating a thick black fog that enveloped the arena. The fog was filled with disturbing whispers, attempting to disrupt concentration and confuse the opponent's mind. Within the fog, Varian hid, preparing shadow attacks that could appear from any direction.
However, Raven remained calm. "Dark fog? This is a joke," he thought. Relying on Alaric's memories and power, Raven activated fire magic, creating a large ring of fire around himself that dispelled the fog in an instant. With a single wave of his hand, he unleashed a blast of fire towards the hidden shadows.
Varian emerged from behind the shadows, evading the attack swiftly. "Your power is impressive, Alaric, but it's not enough to face true darkness!"
Varian then launched shadow attacks in the form of spears, flying at high speed towards Raven. The spears seemed to pierce through space, attacking from various unexpected angles. However, Raven was not surprised. With cold calmness, he activated Shadow Glide, allowing him to move through shadows with speed almost invisible to the human eye.
Varian's attacks continued to hit empty air as Raven darted around the arena. The spectators could only see flashes of shadows as the two fighters battled with incredible speed. But Raven didn't rely solely on speed. He knew that Varian depended on uncertainty and illusions to defeat his opponents, so he decided to turn the strategy around.
Raven used Dark Binding, launching shadow chains that emerged from the ground and restricted Varian's movement. Amidst the chaos, Varian lost focus for a moment, and that was enough for Raven to launch a deadly attack. With a swift motion, Raven combined fire magic with shadows, creating a spear of fire that shimmered with a dark aura.
"Your story ends here," Raven murmured before hurling the spear directly at Varian.
Varian tried to form a shadow shield to block the attack, but the combined power of fire and darkness was too great. The spear pierced through the shield and struck Varian directly in the chest, sending him crashing against the arena wall. Black blood flowed from the wound on his chest as Varian fell to the ground.
The spectators fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers of victory for Alaric. They were unaware that this victory was not the result of Alaric's usual strategy or power but rather Raven's triumph, using all the dark powers he had accumulated.
Black blood dripped from Varian's mouth. "You… You are not Alaric. Who are you really?" Varian gasped.
Raven approached Varian, looking at him coldly. "The one who will rule this world," he replied tersely before turning his face and walking out of the arena, leaving Varian helpless on the ground.
The fight proved that Raven's power now surpassed anyone else in the tournament. He demonstrated not only mastery over fire and darkness but also lethal strategy and tactics. No one realized that the person standing as Alaric was now the greatest threat to the entire world.
After leaving the arena, Raven met again with Felix and some of Alaric's other followers. Their faces were filled with awe and respect.
"Incredible, Your Highness! I never imagined Varian could be defeated so easily!" Felix said with enthusiasm.
Raven merely nodded. "That was just a warm-up. The tournament is nearly over, and I will ensure that none of them stand in my way."
Felix seemed pleased to hear Alaric's confidence. "Indeed, Your Highness. After you win this tournament, no one will doubt that you are the most worthy heir to the throne."
Raven gave a small smile. "Heir to the throne? That's just the beginning. I want more than just the Velorian throne. I want everything."
Felix paused for a moment, not realizing the true meaning behind those words. For Raven, winning the tournament was only the first step towards absolute power. He now possessed a perfect body, unmatched strength, and grand plans that would crush anyone who tried to obstruct him.
With the final of the tournament approaching, Raven prepared for the last fight. He knew that with Alaric's body, no one could stop him. And once the tournament was over, Veloria would fall completely under his control, not just through physical power, but also through cunning manipulation and political strategy.