Woke up in a villain's body

As Raven strolled through the winding stone hallways of the Order's base, a sudden golden light caught his eye. He came to a halt as a familiar System Notification popped up:

System Notification:

Side Quest Completed: Show your worth during your initial training.

- Reward: 50 XP added.

- XP Progress: Raven: 150/250 XP to Level 3.

A wave of both relief and anxiety hit him. *I'm getting closer to leveling up, but it's still not enough. The notification brought back memories of those tough training sessions, complete with bruises and Jamal's harsh feedback. Proving my worth? They want to see how much of a pawn I can be.

As Raven turned a corner, he saw the heavy door to Lysander's Office, watched over by two large guards wearing masks. The door had detailed carvings of dark shapes.

Without saying anything, the guards opened the door, and Raven walked into the room that felt both powerful and threatening.

Lysander sat behind a large black desk and fixed his intense gaze on Raven as he entered. The room impressed Raven but also made him uneasy. Symbols glowed faintly on the walls, casting light, while shelves overflowed with ancient books. The atmosphere felt heavy and powerful, making Raven's steps cautious as he approached.

"Ah, there you are," Lysander said smoothly yet with authority. "Come on in. We've got a lot to talk about."

Lysander leaned back in his chair. "You've proven that you can make yourself useful, so I'm giving you a mission." Lord Carl, a person who rarely appears in public but he will be attending the Tournament Event in the Imperial Capital today.

"Carl has a document we need—one that could reveal a lot of secrets," Lysander said, leaning closer. "Your task is to find out where he's hiding it."

Raven frowned. "So, you want me to just watch him? What's next? Am I supposed to take him out?"

Lysander smiled but didn't answer directly, making Raven feel uneasy. "Your job is simple: gather information on Lord Carl and find out where he's keeping that document."

Raven pressed further. "Why choose me? Why not send someone like Astrid, who has more experience?"

When Lysander heard her name, his smile widened. "Ah, Astrid Duskmire. She'll be… watching you."

Raven's heart raced. Astrid? That name reminded him of a cold and deadly assassin known for her skills from the stories he had read.

"If she's so capable, why not just send her?" Raven asked, trying to stay calm while feeling anxious.

Lysander leaned back with his hands together. "I'd like to, but she insisted you take this one. Think of it as her gift to you." There was a mix of humor and threat in his voice that made Raven feel sick.

Lysander gave Raven a fake identity and told him he needed to enter the tournament. "Use this opportunity to get close to Carl. Astrid will ensure you stick to the plan."

With that, Raven left, feeling nervous. Astrid is watching me? This is going to be much more dangerous than I thought.

Raven strolls into the Imperial Capital, a city brimming with tall golden towers, busy streets, and colorful banners celebrating the tournament. The crowd's excitement is contagious, with the sounds of vendors pushing their goods and performers entertaining folks nearby.

"This place is buzzing," Raven thinks to himself as he watches families walking together, street artists captivating crowds, and kids playing games filled with laughter.

Yet, even with all this liveliness, he feels a strange yearning mixed with unease. It seems lively here, but in reality, it's just another game board for people like Lysander.

He entered the registration hall, where there were a lot of warriors and adventurers waiting to sign up for the tournament. The atmosphere is filled with excitement as competitors introduce themselves and size each other up.

Using his fake identity, he registers and gets a badge that marks him as a tournament participant. He glances at the variety of contestants—bold fighters, clever rogues, and powerful mages—all eager to show what they can do. As he signs up, he catches bits of conversation about the legendary Lord Carl, who seems to be the hot topic around town.

I don't know why I am feeling huped but I would love to fight with an imperial Vanguard, in the novel I heard that most of them are powerful psyche arts users ,well apart from Lucien, he thinks while navigating through the crowd of competitors, knowing that his mission is just kicking off.

---

Stage 1 – The Arena:

The tournament starts in a large circular arena filled with a lot of excited spectators. The announcer's voice echoes as each fighter enters the arena. The crowd's energy rises, and their excitement washes over them.

Raven feels a mix of excitement and anxiety as he prepares for his match. The crowd's cheers electrify the air: "Come on! Show us what you've got!" and "Take him down!"

Raven's first opponent is a big, cocky guy swinging a huge Warhammer. The guy charges in, and the audience goes wild, cheering him on. The roar is intense, but Raven tunes it out, focusing solely on the fight.

The fighter swings his Warhammer wildly, and Raven relies on his quickness. He dodges the initial hits, waiting for just the right moment. As the fighter brings his hammer down with force, Raven ducks and rolls aside, momentarily gaining the upper position.

Raven was certain of his victory as he landed a precise hit right on the guy's jaw, knocking him to the ground. The crowd erupts in cheers, "Wow! Look at that speed! He's amazing!"

Once Raven is declared the winner and steps back, he can sense the crowd's eyes on him. Am I being watched? He scans the stands for any signs of Lord Carl or Astrid, but all he sees is a sea of unfamiliar faces mixed with his fellow competitors.

---

Stage 2 – The Labyrinth

The second stage is a team challenge set in a huge underground maze filled with traps and rival competitors. Teams of four have to navigate through the labyrinth, snag a glowing orb from the center, and get back to the exit without getting knocked out.

Raven's Team:

Raven finds himself teamed up with three strangers:

- Jace: A bold swordsman who relies on sheer strength.

- Liora: A quiet mage with sharp eyes, specializing in ice magic.

- Tobin: A nervous rogue skilled at disarming traps but somewhat timid.

There's a noticeable tension as they gather, and Raven knows he must stay focused on the mission while also watching his teammates.

As they navigate the winding maze, Raven's team faces different obstacles filled with traps. Tobin's skills help them avoid danger, while Liora's magic is great for freezing the traps, allowing them to move forward carefully.

During a tense moment, Raven quickly spots a deadly spike trap and shouts for everyone to halt, smoothly guiding them around the danger. His fast reactions earn him some thanks from his teammates, although Tobin clings to Liora, clearly on edge.

As they get closer to the orb, Raven's group gets ambushed by a rival team led by a huge guy swinging an axe. The fight kicks off, and while Jace charges in without a plan, Raven teams up with Liora to disarm the enemy.

Their teamwork shines as they take advantage of the brute's sluggishness, managing to outmaneuver his sheer strength and snatch victory in the maze. As they catch their breath, Raven feels Liora's gaze on him, a mix of curiosity and suspicion showing she's starting to figure out what he's capable of.

---

Stage 3 – The Free-For-All

The final round is a free-for-all brawl. The top eight competitors clash in the grand arena, and the crowd's excitement is off the charts. The announcer introduces each fighter, spinning stories of their past wins, while the audience goes wild, creating an electric vibe.

Raven sizes up his rivals, including the masked fighter, who stands out with their cool demeanor and mysterious air. The commentator's voice booms, "And check out the masked fighter, a real powerhouse!"

As the match starts, Raven faces several different opponents, using his strong physical skills and smart strategies. The energy in the air is intense as he skillfully dodges attacks and counters, with each move getting cheers from the crowd. The audience buzzes with excitement, many shouting his name and encouraging him to give his best effort.

"let him cook!" a spectator cheers. "He's unstoppable! This tournament is all his!"

Raven weaves through attacks, with each dodge and counter met with cheers and gasps. The crowd's energy surges as he expertly manages the chaos, showing off his speed and determination.

Finally, he stands face-to-face with the masked fighter, who showcases some serious mastery of Terraka (Earth Element) Psychē Arts. The fighter conjures up rock formations, hurling obstacles at Raven with precision.

Raven tapped into all his agility to dodge the incoming attacks, leaping over debris and rolling for cover. He kept an eye on the masked fighter, waiting for the right time to attack as the crowd's tension built.

Just when Raven thought he was in control, the masked fighter launched a powerful attack that knocked him down.

"Wow, he's a strong psyche arts user," Raven thought, struggling to catch his breath.

The masked man stepped closer. "Let's make a deal. I've beaten most players here. It would be safer for you to just let me win."

Before Raven could reply, the masked fighter hit him hard with a rock, sending him crashing to the ground.

The audience gasped, and the commentator exclaimed, "Oh no, he is down! Can he recover from this?"

Raven quickly stood up again, looking calm like nothing just happened. "Don't get me wrong you are not in my list of worries right now just keep on trying?" he said, scanning around to see if he could see Astrid or better still Lord Carl

The masked man tried to kick him, but Raven sidestepped just in time. For a moment, he hesitated to use his bloodcraft abilities, thinking about the risks.

"I know you're a psyche arts user," the masked man taunted. "Don't bore me with stupid tactics!"

Raven raised his arm to protect himself as the fighter lunged at him. The force broke the masked fighter's mask, and as the pieces fell away, Raven gasped in shock, recognizing a face he never expected to see. "So... it's you?" he said. "You just made my work faster".