Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Liria's breaths came in ragged gasps, her legs trembling beneath her. She raised her sword, the black flames flickering weakly. The odds were stacked against her, but she wasn't about to back down. Not against this towering, overpowered excuse of a monster.

"Alright, you overgrown reject of a shadow puppet," she snarled, tightening her grip on her sword. "You want a piece of me? Come and get it!"

The Revenant roared, its crimson core pulsing violently as it charged, the shadows around it forming jagged, flailing tendrils. Each step shook the ground, sending chunks of stone tumbling down from the ceiling.

"Oh, great," Liria muttered. "Now it's throwing a tantrum. Fantastic."

The monster lunged, its claws slicing through the air with lethal precision. Liria dove to the side, rolling to her feet just as the tendrils lashed out, narrowly missing her by inches. She swung her sword in a wide arc, the flames roaring back to life as they scorched through one of the shadowy appendages.

The Revenant recoiled, emitting a guttural snarl that vibrated through the chamber. But instead of retreating, it doubled down, slamming both claws into the ground. Waves of shadow energy erupted in all directions, racing toward her like deadly tsunamis.

"Are you serious right now?" Liria yelled, scrambling backward. She leapt onto a chunk of fallen stone, narrowly avoiding the attack as it shredded the floor around her.

[Warning: Hostile attack pattern intensifying. Current success rate for survival: 18%.]

"Oh, shut up, System!" she shouted aloud, her voice echoing through the chamber. "You think I don't know that I'm about to die? Maybe be helpful for once!"

[Helpful suggestion: Don't die.]

Liria growled, sparks of irritation mixing with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Ugh, I hate you so much right now."

She didn't have time to dwell on the snarky response because the Revenant was already closing in, its form becoming more amorphous, its attacks more erratic. It lunged again, claws outstretched, and this time, Liria stood her ground.

Channeling every ounce of her strength, she activated Inferno Burst, unleashing a torrent of black flames that engulfed the creature. The fire consumed its shadowy body, illuminating the chamber in an eerie glow.

For a moment, she thought she had the upper hand. But then, through the blaze, the Revenant's core glowed brighter, its shadowy form regenerating almost instantly.

"Oh, come on! You have a healing mechanic, too? What are you, a boss from hell?"

[Technically, yes.]

"Not helpful!"

The Revenant struck, and this time, Liria couldn't dodge in time. Its claw connected with her side, sending her crashing into a stone pillar. Pain exploded through her ribs, and her health bar flashed again.

[Health: 200/2500]

Her vision blurred as she struggled to stand, gripping her sword like a lifeline. This wasn't just a fight anymore it was survival, pure and simple.

The Revenant roared, its shadows swirling as it prepared to end her for good. Liria felt her knees buckle, her body screaming in protest. But deep inside, something stirred a spark of defiance that refused to be snuffed out.

"I am not going down like this," she whispered, her voice trembling but firm.

Drawing on her last reserves of energy, Liria focused inward. She could feel the demonic power coursing through her veins, dormant but potent, waiting to be unleashed. The black flames around her sword flared, brighter and hotter than ever before, as if responding to her desperation.

The Revenant lunged, its core blazing like a malevolent sun. Liria met it head-on, her sword slicing through the air with blinding speed. The impact was cataclysmic, the clash of shadow and flame sending shockwaves through the chamber.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The Revenant's core flickered, cracks forming along its surface as Liria's flames burned through its defenses.

"Not so tough now, are you?" she taunted, a feral grin splitting her face.

But the Revenant wasn't done. With a final, desperate roar, it lashed out with all its strength, its shadowy claws striking her sword and shattering the fiery blade into shards of molten energy.

Liria stumbled back, her weapon destroyed, her body battered. The Revenant loomed over her, its core dim but still pulsing with malevolent energy.

[Emergency activation: Skill acquisition unlocked.]

"What—?"

Before she could process the message, a surge of power erupted within her. It was raw, unrefined, and overwhelming, flooding her senses like a tidal wave. Her vision darkened, her body moving on instinct as the demonic energy took hold.

Black flames erupted from her hands, forming a new weapon a massive greatsword that pulsed with an ominous glow.

[New Skill Unlocked: Shadowflare Blade (Level 1)]

The Revenant hesitated, as if sensing the shift in power. Liria smirked, her mismatched eyes glowing with fiery intensity.

"Round two, you bastard."

With a roar of her own, she charged, the Shadowflare Blade carving through the air with deadly precision. The Revenant retaliated, but this time, Liria was faster, stronger, and more relentless. Each strike of her blade sent shockwaves through the chamber, the black flames consuming the shadows with each hit.

The battle raged on, the chamber filled with the deafening clash of steel and shadow. Liria's attacks were unrelenting, her newfound power giving her the edge she so desperately needed.

But the Revenant wasn't finished yet. Its core flared one last time, the shadows around it coalescing into a massive, writhing form. It struck with everything it had, its tendrils lashing out like whips, each one aimed to kill.

Liria gritted her teeth, dodging and countering with all her strength. She could feel her body reaching its limit, but she refused to back down. With one final, desperate swing of the Shadowflare Blade, she aimed for the core, her flames burning brighter than ever.

The massive blade cut through the air with a shrieking roar, its black flames licking hungrily at the shadows surrounding the Revenant. The attack connected, and the force sent a shockwave rippling through the chamber, causing loose stones to crash to the ground. The Revenant staggered backward, its core flickering wildly, but the monster refused to fall.

"Just give up already!" Liria snarled, her voice filled with both fury and desperation.

The Revenant roared in defiance, summoning its remaining strength. Its shadowy body writhed, and it began to transform. The once-humanoid form now dissolved into a monstrous amalgamation of tendrils, jagged edges, and a pulsating core that floated above it like a dark sun. The chamber seemed to darken as its new form exuded a suffocating malice.

"Great," Liria muttered, tightening her grip on the Shadowflare Blade. "Because that's exactly what I needed right now a second phase."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Revenant's tendrils shot toward her in a barrage of attacks, each one crackling with dark energy. Liria leapt back, dodging the first wave, but the sheer number of tendrils was overwhelming. One grazed her arm, and the burning pain made her stumble.

[Warning: Health critical. Remaining HP: 100/2500.]

"I noticed!" she hissed, forcing herself to stay upright.

Summoning her dwindling magic reserves, Liria unleashed Inferno Burst, a wide arc of black flames erupting from her blade to incinerate the approaching tendrils. The attack bought her a moment's reprieve, but the Revenant quickly adapted, pulling its limbs back and surging forward in a massive wave.

Liria threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed. The ground where she'd stood cracked and splintered under the force of the Revenant's attack.

"You're persistent," she muttered, her voice strained. "But so am I."

The Revenant turned its core toward her, glowing brighter as it charged a devastating energy blast. Liria could feel the oppressive heat building, the air around her humming with raw power. She knew she wouldn't survive a direct hit.

[Suggestion: Aim for the core while it's exposed.] Enjoy new chapters from empire

"You think I don't know that?!"

The Revenant released the blast, a beam of pure shadow energy tearing through the chamber. Liria sprinted forward, her heart pounding as she zigzagged to avoid the attack. The beam scorched the ground behind her, leaving a trail of destruction.

Drawing on every ounce of strength she had left, Liria closed the distance between herself and the Revenant. With a feral cry, she swung the Shadowflare Blade upward, aiming directly for the core.

The blade connected, and the explosion of energy was instantaneous. The core cracked, sending out a shockwave that sent Liria flying backward. She hit the ground hard, her ears ringing and her vision blurred.

For a moment, everything was still. The Revenant's monstrous form wavered, its tendrils collapsing into ash. The core hovered unsteadily, dimming as it cracked further.

Liria forced herself to stand, her body screaming in protest. She gripped her blade tightly, summoning the last remnants of her strength.

"This ends now," she growled, her voice low and determined.

She dashed forward, ignoring the pain and exhaustion, and leapt into the air. The Shadowflare Blade flared to life, its black flames roaring as she brought it down in a final, decisive strike.

The core shattered, the sound like glass breaking amplified a thousandfold. The Revenant let out a final, unearthly wail before disintegrating into nothingness, leaving behind a swirling vortex of dark energy that slowly dissipated.

Liria landed on the ground, her legs barely holding her up. She dropped to her knees, the Shadowflare Blade dissolving into embers. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath.

[Battle Complete. Experience Gained: 30 000.]

["Congratulations! You have leveled up."]

[Current Level: 17.]

The notification chimed in her mind, but she could barely register it. Her entire body felt like it had been through a meat grinder.

[New Ability Unlocked: Nightflame Shield (Level 1).]

Liria frowned, forcing herself to focus. "Nightflame Shield? What's that?"

[Nightflame Shield: Summons a barrier of black flames to absorb damage and counterattack enemies. Perfect for individuals who frequently get hit.]

Liria scowled. "Is that supposed to be a dig?"

[Merely an observation.]

Rolling her eyes, she finally glanced at the area where the Revenant had been. Among the rubble, a small, glowing object caught her attention. She crawled toward it, her limbs still trembling, and picked it up.

It was a gem, deep crimson with black veins running through it.

[Item Acquired: Core of the Shadow Revenant.]

"What does it do?"

[Unknown. Analysis required.]

"Of course," Liria muttered, pocketing the gem. "Why would anything be straightforward?"

She dragged herself to her feet, wincing as her muscles protested. The chamber was eerily quiet now, the oppressive darkness gone.

"I swear, if every dungeon is like this, I'm retiring early," she muttered, staggering toward the exit.