Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Liria leaned against the jagged dungeon wall, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The chamber where she had just fought the Revenant was now eerily silent, save for the occasional crackle of fading embers from her Shadowflare Blade's final strike. She wiped the sweat from her brow, wincing as her arm protested the movement. Every inch of her body felt like it had been through a meat grinder, set on fire, and then stomped on for good measure.

"Alright," she muttered to herself, "let's assess the damage. Bruised ribs? Check. Health bar in the red zone? Check. Complete and utter exhaustion? Double check. Yeah, doing great."

[Suggestion: Consider using your newly acquired skills and items to increase survivability.]

"Oh, really? Wow, I never would have thought of that on my own," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thank you, oh mighty System, for your infinite wisdom. Truly, I'd be lost without you."

[You're welcome.]

Liria groaned and fished the crimson gem the Core of the Shadow Revenant out of her pocket. It pulsed faintly in her palm, veins of black energy twisting through its glossy surface. She turned it over, half-expecting it to whisper some ancient secret or explode in her face. When neither happened, she sighed.

"Okay, so what does this thing actually do?"

[Core of the Shadow Revenant: A rare item infused with shadow energy. Potential uses include weapon enhancement, spell augmentation, or trade at high-value markets.]

"Potential uses? That's it? You're not even going to tell me what it specifically does?"

[Analysis incomplete.]

"Of course it is," Liria muttered, rolling her eyes. She clutched the gem tightly and looked around the dungeon. "I guess I'll just have to wing it. Again."

She shifted her focus to her new ability, Nightflame Shield. The name alone sounded promising, but given her track record, it could just as easily end up being a glorified sparkler. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on summoning the skill. Black flames sparked to life around her, coalescing into a shimmering barrier that flickered ominously.

"Huh," she said, tilting her head to inspect it. "Not bad. Kind of badass, actually." She poked the shield experimentally, yelping when it retaliated with a tiny burst of heat. "Okay, okay, I get it. Hands off."

[Note: Nightflame Shield absorbs a percentage of incoming damage and counters with fire damage. Recommended usage: defensive strategy against high-damage enemies.]

"Yeah, because defensive strategies are totally my thing," she muttered. "Next time, maybe suggest something that aligns with my actual skill set. Like running away."

[You're already quite proficient at that.]

"I hate you."

[Merely an observation.]

Shaking her head, Liria tucked the Core of the Shadow Revenant back into her pocket and turned her attention to the rest of the dungeon. She still had no idea how far she was from the exit, and the thought of running into another Revenant-level monstrosity made her stomach churn.

"Alright, focus," she told herself, forcing her legs to move. Each step sent a jolt of pain through her battered body, but she gritted her teeth and kept going. "Let's just find a safe spot to rest. Preferably one without murder shadows or surprise bosses."

The corridor stretched on, twisting and turning in ways that made her question whether the dungeon's architect had been drunk or just sadistic. The walls were lined with jagged spikes, and the floor was uneven, forcing her to tread carefully. She reached a fork in the path and paused, eyeing both options suspiciously.

"Left or right? What do you think, System?"

[Statistically, both options have an equal probability of leading to danger.]

"Wow, super helpful. Thanks for nothing."

[You're welcome.]

Grumbling under her breath, Liria chose the left path. It wasn't long before she regretted her decision. The air grew colder, and an eerie hum filled the corridor, setting her nerves on edge. She tightened her grip on her sword or what was left of it. The Shadowflare Blade had vanished after the fight, leaving her with only the hilt and a faint sense of betrayal.

"Great," she muttered. "First the System, now my own weapon. Everyone's out to get me today."

The corridor opened into a small chamber, its walls adorned with ancient, glowing runes. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it rested a small, blackened dagger. The blade seemed to absorb the light around it, its surface swirling with shadowy energy.

Liria approached cautiously. "Okay, this definitely screams 'trap.'"

[Observation: The dagger appears to be a Shadowforged Relic, a powerful artifact that could complement your abilities.]

"Could complement, or could kill me?"

[Both are possible outcomes.]

"Why do I even ask?" she muttered. After a moment of hesitation, she reached for the dagger. As her fingers closed around the hilt, a surge of energy shot through her, making her gasp. The runes on the walls flared to life, and a deep, guttural growl echoed through the chamber.

"Oh, come on!" she shouted, spinning around to face whatever fresh nightmare was about to emerge. "Can't I get one break?"

The growl grew louder, and a shadowy figure materialized in the corner of the room. It was humanoid but twisted, its limbs elongated and its eyes glowing with malevolent light. The creature stepped forward, its claws glinting ominously.

"Right," Liria said, gripping the dagger tightly. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."

The creature lunged, and Liria activated her Nightflame Shield just in time. The barrier absorbed the impact, retaliating with a burst of black flames that made the creature shriek and recoil.

"Hah! Take that, you overgrown nightmare!" she yelled, her confidence surging. She followed up with a slash of the dagger, which cut through the creature's shadowy form like butter. The blade hummed in her hand, resonating with the dark energy coursing through her.

The battle was short but intense. By the time the creature disintegrated into wisps of shadow, Liria was leaning heavily against the pedestal, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Okay," she said, wiping sweat from her brow. "New rule: no touching mysterious artifacts unless absolutely necessary."

[Observation: The dagger's power has been successfully integrated into your skillset.]n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Wait, what?"

[New Ability Unlocked: Shadowstrike Dagger (Level 1).] Read the latest on empire

Liria blinked, staring at the weapon in her hand. "Huh. Guess you're not completely useless after all."

[You're welcome.]

With a tired sigh, she sheathed the dagger and stumbled back into the corridor. The exit had to be close. At least, that's what she told herself to keep going. As she limped onward, the System chimed again.

[Reminder: Rest is recommended to avoid further injury.]

"Rest? In this death trap? Sure, let me just find the nearest five-star dungeon inn."

[Observation: Your sarcasm is noted.]

"Good," she muttered, trudging forward. "Because it's not going anywhere."