The next morning, Raven awoke with a stronger sense of purpose. The soft sunlight streamed through the curtains of his room, but it was no longer something that warmed his heart. In the large mirror reflecting his image, Raven saw a man who was more than just the heir to the throne he was the ruler who would take full control of Veloria and beyond.
After copying the skill from the basilisk, Raven quickly realized that the Stone Skin ability he had acquired had a defensive effect similar to one of his existing abilities, Soul Fortress. Both skills provided extraordinary protection, one in the form of a magical shield and the other as physical reinforcement. He opened the system window and contemplated his next move.
[Evolution Points Available: 100]
Raven pondered for a moment, then decided to use some of his evolution points to combine the two skills. If he could merge the protective power of Soul Fortress with the physical toughness of Stone Skin, he would create a nearly impenetrable defense.
[Combine Skills: Soul Fortress + Stone Skin?]
Description: Combining these two skills will create a stronger defensive ability, offering both physical reinforcement and an almost impenetrable magical shield.
[Evolution Points Used: 50]
New Skill: Titanium Aegis
Description: A combination of physical strength and magic, Titanium Aegis creates a highly strong and flexible defensive layer. The user will have skin as hard as titanium and a magical shield capable of withstanding both physical and magical attacks simultaneously.
As the new skill integrated into his body, Raven felt a tremendous surge of energy. His skin seemed to glow with a thin metallic sheen before returning to normal. In his mind, he felt an unmatched protective power flowing throughout his body. Now, with Titanium Aegis, he could not only withstand magical attacks but also significantly enhance his physical toughness.
Raven closed the system window and smiled with satisfaction. "Now, I am unbeatable in both defense and offense," he thought. This gave him extra confidence as he planned his next steps.
That day, Raven spent his time in the palace, ensuring that every part of his plan was going smoothly. He continued to manipulate the royal family members and the surrounding nobles, using his intelligence and power to deepen his influence.
That night, as he had planned, Raven held a secret meeting in a secluded wing of the palace. He had invited several advisors whom he believed could be easily manipulated. His goal was to start building a power network within the kingdom, ensuring that every decision made by King Valerian and the Royal Council would support his ambitions.
The meeting room was small but cozy, with walls paneled in mahogany wood and adorned with beautiful paintings. A large round table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by luxurious chairs. Candles burned around the room, creating a warm yet serious atmosphere.
The invited advisors sat around the table, their faces looking serious. They were influential people in the palace, but they also had ambitions and desires that could be exploited.
Raven sat in one of the chairs, looking at them with a sharp and controlled gaze. "Thank you for coming to this meeting," he said in a low yet powerful voice. "We all know that Veloria is at a crossroads. The decisions we make in the coming months will determine the future of this kingdom."
The advisors nodded in agreement, their faces showing that they understood the importance of this meeting.
"I will not speak at length," Raven continued, "but what you need to know is that I have a plan to ensure Veloria remains strong and undefeated. However, to carry out this plan, I need your support."
One of the advisors, an old man named Lord Vincent, known for his wisdom, spoke. "Your Highness, you have proven yourself as a worthy heir in the tournament, and many of us believe in your abilities. However, what do you need from us?"
Raven gave a slight smile, pleased to see that they were already starting to open up to him. "I need your support in the Royal Council. Every decision made by the King must be carefully considered, and we must ensure that these decisions align with Veloria's interests... and mine."
Lord Vincent nodded, though there was a slight hesitation on his face. "You want to control the Council's decisions, Your Highness?"
Raven looked at Lord Vincent sharply, making sure the old man understood their position. "I don't want to control. I want to ensure that the decisions made are the best for Veloria. And I believe we all agree on what is best for this kingdom."
Another advisor, a woman with silver hair named Lady Morgana, known for her intelligence in military strategy, spoke. "Your Highness, if you require our support, then you shall have it. But we also need to know that our support will not be in vain."
Raven smiled, pleased to see that Lady Morgana was already on his side. "Of course, Lady Morgana. You will all receive due rewards for your support. Power, influence, and... wealth."
Those words were enough to convince them. The advisors began talking amongst themselves, discussing the plan and how they could ensure that decisions in the Royal Council would support Raven. In the blink of an eye, Raven had already begun to plant the seeds of his influence among these advisors.
However, as the meeting was about to end, a sudden idea crossed Raven's mind. He thought about the Venomous Gaze ability he had just copied from the basilisk. This skill was similar to the Dark Binding he previously possessed, which was also used to incapacitate opponents. Raven knew that if he combined the two skills, he could create a new, stronger, and more lethal ability.
He decided to do it immediately after the meeting ended.
"Our meeting is sufficient for tonight," Raven said, standing up from his chair. "I will contact you again soon to continue this plan. Remember, we are all working for the future of Veloria."
The advisors stood and saluted Raven before leaving the room one by one. After they had all gone, Raven sat back down and opened his system window, ready to combine the two skills.
[Combine Skills: Venomous Gaze + Dark Binding?]
Description: Combining these two skills will create a deadlier control and attack ability, merging the paralyzing effect with a lethal poison.
[Evolution Points Used: 50]
New Skill: Venomous Domination
Description: A combination of Venomous Gaze and Dark Binding, Venomous Domination allows the user to incapacitate opponents with a deadly gaze that not only renders them helpless but also spreads a lethal poison into their bodies, destroying them from within.
As this new skill integrated into his body, Raven felt a surge of immense power flow through him. With Venomous Domination, he could paralyze anyone who dared to oppose him with a single glance, and the deadly poison would spread, slowly but surely destroying his enemies.
Raven closed the system window and smiled coldly. "Now, I have the power to control anyone who stands in my way," he murmured. "Veloria... and this world... will soon be mine."