Woke up in a villain's body

David woke up suddenly, he noticed he wasn't in the same room he was in last night like there was a change in environment. He sat up fast, looking around. Something is wrong, trying to figure out what he did last night

"Was I drunk and got into another person's house?

Then he approached a mirror in the corner of the room.

When he saw himself in a broken mirror, his heart raced. This person has red eyes and pale skin, is this person feels familiar. He remembered reading about Raven Blackwood in a book just last night. It hit him hard: This can't be real… this is raven

Raven was doomed to die as soon as Lucien Wealth, the hero of the story, appeared.

Then, out of nowhere, he got this notification *ping* in his head:

System Notification: Welcome to the Aethonian Realm!

Level: 1 | Class: Rogue | Title: Failed Experiment

Experience Points: 0/100

"What the heck?" David muttered, trying to wrap his head around the ridiculousness of it all. Not only was he stuck in an antagonist body, but he also had a one-way ticket to a gruesome death. His heart raced at the thought of Raven's story—betrayal and a painful quest for power flashed through his mind.

Taking a deep breath, David noticed a strange energy flowing through him, especially in those red eyes of his that seemed to come alive. For a quick second, he wondered if those eyes held some kind of special power or if they just made him an easy target.

He checked the system screen and saw his stats:

- Health: 50/50

- Mana: 30/30

- Strength: 5

- Agility: 7

- Intelligence: 6

- Skill Mastery:

- Bloodcraft: Unlearned

- Basic Combat: Unlearned

"This can't be real," David thought. He closed his eyes, trying to push away his growing fear. Why did Raven want power so much? What did he have to give up for it? He promised himself he wouldn't make the same choices.

Then David spotted a Bloodcraft scroll nearby—it looked intriguing but also kind of terrifying. He was feeling uneasy and he picked it up, sensing the weight of Raven's desperation within its pages.

System Notification: Bloodcraft Technique Acquired!

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

As he read further, he learned that Bloodcraft needed actual human blood to tap into its powers. That felt ominous. "Do I want to dive into this dark side?" he wondered, remembering how Raven sought strength through such twisted means.

This power could either save him or doom him. Holding back tears, David made up his mind: he was going to face this situation, but only on his terms.

David shook off his lingering fears. He couldn't stick around in the hideout any longer. The empire had its eyes out for rogue magic users, and he'd become a target. He searched the place, only finding a shabby cloak and a rough dagger.

He wrapped the cloak around himself, feeling it give him some sense of protection. "Time to get moving," he said quietly, getting his resolve together.

As he stepped outside cautiously, David noticed an imperial soldier on patrol nearby. Fear washed over him as memories from the novel came back, where someone caught Raven in a similar situation

"Identify yourself!" the soldier shouted, approaching him with authority. David's heart was pounding. He needed to think fast.

"Please, you have to help me! That madman tried to kill me for his so-called experiment!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency.

Well, I am not entirely wrong. I am trapped in Raven's body. This is like a fucking experiment.

The soldier looked skeptical and replied, "Show me your wrists, boy.

Taking a deep breath, David rolled up his sleeves, showcasing one clean wrist. "Look! No marks here!" he insisted, desperation creeping into his voice.

The soldier frowned, still suspicious. "Show me the other one," he ordered.

David tried to stall time as his heart raced. He knew he had to move quickly, or he would caught. He lunged at the soldier taking the knife from his belt, and drove it into his side.

The soldier gasped, his eyes wide with shock, and then fell to the ground. David stood over the dead body, feeling a heavy wave of guilt. "I didn't want this…" he said quietly, filled with fear and regret.

System Notification: +25 XP for defeating Imperial Soldier. Current Level: 1 | Total Experience: 25/100

Panic hit him again as he heard footsteps approaching from outside.

Fueled by adrenaline, David glanced at the pooling blood, and a primal urge kicked in.

Bloodcraft Manipulation surged through him as he summoned the technique, his hands shaking.

System Notification: Bloodcraft Manipulation Activated!

Skill Level Up: Bloodcraft Technique (Trial) - 10/100

Bloodcraft Effect: Blood Manipulation (Temporary)

The blood twisted around him, forming chains that moved at his command. His red eyes sparked with energy, filled with a strange mix of power and burgeoning dread.

"Not a blessing—nothing but a curse," he thought, pushing himself to concentrate. He had to make it out alive.

As the first soldiers crashed through the door, David struck out, using the blood chains with deadly accuracy. Defeating each enemy felt satisfying, like releasing pent-up frustration, driven by the weight of Raven's past.

System Notification: +25 XP for defeating Imperial Soldier. Current Level: 1 | Total Experience: 50/100

"His red eyes sparkled with the thrill of power, but fear flashed within him as he imagined what he might turn into."

"Raven, you're not dragging me down with you," David vowed, his resolve hardening as he fought.

Once the fight was over, David grabbed supplies from the fallen soldiers, feeling the urgency settle in. He couldn't linger on the violence; he had to get away. Just as a glimmer of hope sparked within him, another notification popped up:

System Notification: Level Up! You have reached Level 2!

Health: 60/60 | Mana: 35/35

New Skill Unlocked: Bloodcraft - Blood Chain (Activation required)

The rush of power was thrilling but came with a strange weight on his shoulders. "What's up with this power? How risky could it be that so many people tried for it?" he wondered while he dashed deeper into the wild, his heart racing with every step.

Just when he thought he had escaped, a guy in a mask stepped in front of him.

David felt a shiver run down his back; this dude seemed sketchy, and he could sense the bad energy coming off him.

"Going somewhere, Raven?" the masked figure sneered, standing there like he knew exactly what David was planning.

Fear washed over David as he got ready to fight back, activating Bloodcraft again. But the masked man moved with an unsettling grace, dodging with ease and dealing a brutal blow that sent David crashing to the ground.

As darkness edged in, David's mind raced. "Why am I stuck living this character's life? I wanted a second shot, not to end up in a damn story."

The masked man dragged David's unconscious body away.