Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Liria scowled at the cryptic response from the system, her frustration mounting as she adjusted her grip on her blade. The labyrinth's oppressive atmosphere pressed down on her, the dim, flickering blue-green flames casting jagged shadows along the walls. Every step echoed eerily in the silence, as though the dungeon itself was holding its breath.

[Warning: Significant energy signature detected ahead.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"No kidding," she muttered under her breath, her mismatched eyes scanning the twisting corridor ahead. The air had changed, thickened with a sense of foreboding that set her every nerve on edge.

The system didn't reply, its usual sarcastic tone absent. That silence, more than anything, unnerved her.

She rounded a corner and froze. Before her was a massive chamber, the largest she had encountered in the labyrinth so far. The walls were lined with jagged black stone, their surfaces glinting like obsidian in the flickering light. In the center of the room stood a towering creature that could only be described as a nightmare given form.

The Shadow Revenant.

Its form shifted unnaturally, as though it was caught between solid and shadow. Standing at least three times her height, it had long, skeletal limbs wreathed in writhing darkness. Its eyes glowed an otherworldly crimson, and its mouth if that jagged, inky void could be called a mouth curled into a cruel mockery of a grin.

[Boss Monster: Shadow Revenant]

[Level: 25]

[Health: 8000/8000]

[Strength: 80 | Agility: 65 | Endurance: 70 | Intelligence: 50 | Magic: 60]

[Caution: This enemy is significantly stronger than you. Recommend retreat.]

"Retreat?" Liria hissed through gritted teeth. "Not a chance."

The creature turned its glowing eyes on her, its presence suffocating. A low, guttural growl emanated from it, reverberating through the chamber like the tolling of a death knell.

Liria tightened her grip on her sword, the black flames of her demonic magic flaring to life along the blade. "You want a fight? Let's see what you've got."

The Revenant didn't wait for an invitation. It lunged forward, its movements unnaturally fast for its size. Liria barely had time to leap aside, the creature's claws raking the air where she had stood moments before.

She rolled to her feet, her heart pounding. Swinging her sword, she unleashed a streak of black flame toward the Revenant, but the attack seemed to dissipate against its shifting form, as if the creature absorbed the magic.

[Analysis: The Shadow Revenant has high resistance to magical attacks.]

"Would've been nice to know before I tried that," she snapped, ducking as the Revenant's massive arm swung toward her again.

The force of the attack slammed into the wall behind her, sending shards of stone flying. Liria darted forward, aiming for the Revenant's legs. Her blade connected, slicing through its shadowy form. For a moment, she thought she had landed a solid hit but then the creature reformed, the wound sealing as though it had never existed.

"Fantastic," she muttered, backing away as the Revenant loomed over her.

It retaliated with a swipe of its claws, forcing her to block with her sword. The impact sent her skidding across the chamber floor, her arms trembling from the force.

[Suggestion: Target its core. Observe the glow in its chest.]

Liria's gaze flicked to the Revenant's chest, where a faint crimson light pulsed like a heartbeat. "Great. Just have to get close enough to stab it. No problem."

The Revenant charged again, its movements a blur of shadow and malice. Liria dodged to the side, but the creature anticipated her movement, its elongated arm lashing out and catching her across the ribs.

She gasped, the pain sharp and immediate. Her health bar flashed a warning:

[Health: 1900/2500]

"Okay, that hurt," she growled, staggering back. "System, any more brilliant ideas?"

[Survive.]

"Really helpful," she spat, summoning her strength.

This time, she went on the offensive. Darting forward, she swung her sword in a wide arc, aiming for the Revenant's core. The black flames flared brighter, fueled by her frustration and determination. The Revenant twisted its body unnaturally, avoiding the strike, but Liria followed through with a second swing, aiming lower.

Her blade connected with its leg, and the creature staggered slightly. Taking advantage of the opening, she unleashed Inferno Burst, a surge of dark fire erupting from her sword and slamming into the Revenant.

The explosion of flame momentarily engulfed the creature, forcing it to retreat. Liria didn't wait to see the results; she dashed toward the center of the chamber, trying to position herself for another strike at its core.

The Revenant emerged from the flames, its form distorted but far from defeated. It raised its arms, and the shadows around it began to writhe and coalesce.

[Warning: Area-of-effect attack incoming.]

"Of course," Liria muttered, sprinting away as the Revenant unleashed a wave of dark energy that swept across the chamber. She managed to avoid the brunt of it, but the edge of the attack clipped her, sending her sprawling.

[Health: 1300/2500]

She groaned, pushing herself to her feet. "This thing is ridiculous."

The Revenant didn't give her a moment to recover. It lunged again, forcing her to roll out of the way. She swung her sword in a desperate counterattack, managing to deflect its claws but failing to land a decisive blow.

Each movement felt heavier than the last, her stamina draining quickly. The Revenant, meanwhile, seemed almost tireless, its relentless attacks forcing her to stay on the defensive.

For a brief moment, Liria considered retreating. The system's warnings echoed in her mind, and she knew she was outmatched. But something deep within her refused to back down.

As the Revenant loomed over her once more, its crimson core glowing ominously, Liria tightened her grip on her sword. "I'm not done yet."

The monster's jagged claws descended like a falling guillotine, carving the air with a menacing whistle. Liria twisted sharply, dodging by the slimmest of margins, her boots skidding on the uneven stone floor. Sweat trickled down her temple, but her mismatched eyes burned with determination. She launched herself forward, aiming her blade directly at the pulsing core in the Revenant's chest.

The creature responded with terrifying speed, its elongated arm sweeping sideways in a punishing arc. Liria ducked, feeling the rush of displaced air as the strike narrowly missed her head. She rolled to the side, springing back to her feet and retaliating with a slash aimed at the Revenant's knee.

Her blade bit into shadowy flesh, and this time, the creature let out a guttural snarl. The darkness around its leg rippled, the injury visible but shallow. Still, it was a hit. Encouraged, Liria pressed her advantage, unleashing Ember Swipe, sending a streak of black fire slicing through the air.

The flames connected, but instead of igniting the Revenant, they fizzled out as though devoured by the creature's inky form. Discover hidden tales at empire

[Note: Resistance to fire-based attacks remains active. Consider alternative tactics.]

"Yeah, thanks for the stellar advice, System," Liria muttered, her breath ragged. "Maybe tell me what it isn't resistant to!"

The Revenant roared, the guttural sound vibrating through her bones. Shadows coalesced around its hands, forming elongated claws that glimmered with malevolent energy. It charged, each step shaking the ground, its speed almost impossible for something so large.

Liria braced herself, her muscles screaming in protest as she parried the first strike. The impact sent her staggering back, her feet digging into the stone to stay upright. The creature didn't relent, following up with a flurry of brutal swipes that left her no room to counterattack. She ducked, rolled, and twisted, narrowly avoiding blow after blow, but each evasion left her more winded than the last.

One claw grazed her shoulder, the sharp edge slicing through her armor like paper. A searing pain shot through her, and she bit back a scream. Her health bar flashed a warning.

[Health: 900/2500]

"Damn it," she hissed, clutching her shoulder as blood seeped between her fingers. "I can't keep this up."

But the Revenant wasn't done. It raised one massive arm, gathering energy into its clawed hand. The crimson glow in its chest intensified, casting the room in an eerie red light.

Liria's instincts screamed at her to move, and she dove to the side just as the Revenant slammed its hand into the ground. A wave of shadowy spikes erupted from the point of impact, jagged and deadly, tearing through the floor in every direction.

She hit the ground hard, the air forced from her lungs. Gasping, she scrambled to her feet, her mind racing. She couldn't outrun the creature forever, and her magic seemed useless against it. But there was one thing she hadn't tried yet.

Planting her feet firmly, she gripped her sword with both hands and closed her eyes for a split second. The world around her faded, and she focused on the energy coursing through her body the demonic power that had lain dormant for so long.

Black flames erupted along the blade of her sword, hotter and more intense than before. They crackled with a dangerous energy, licking at the edges of her vision but never burning her. Liria opened her eyes, her mismatched gaze glowing faintly in the dim chamber.

"Alright, big guy," she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her limbs. "Let's see if you can handle this."

The Revenant charged again, its crimson core blazing as it closed the distance. Liria didn't retreat. Instead, she surged forward, meeting the creature head-on.

Their clash was thunderous. Liria swung her flaming sword in a wide arc, aiming for the core. The Revenant countered, its massive claws slamming into her blade. Sparks flew as metal met shadow, and the sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave through the chamber.

Liria gritted her teeth, pushing back with all her strength. For a moment, they were locked in a deadly stalemate, her blade pressed against the Revenant's claws. The heat from her flames began to sear the shadowy substance of the creature's hand, and it snarled in anger, withdrawing slightly.

Seizing the opportunity, Liria pivoted, bringing her blade down in a powerful slash aimed directly at the core. The Revenant twisted, the edge of her sword grazing its chest but failing to penetrate the glowing center.

"Damn it!" she cursed, stumbling as the Revenant retaliated with a backhand swipe. The blow connected, sending her flying across the chamber. She hit the ground hard, her vision swimming.

[Health: 400/2500]

Pain lanced through her body, but she forced herself to her feet, her sword still burning in her grip. She couldn't give up not now.

The Revenant, its movements more frenzied now, advanced on her. Its form seemed to blur, becoming less solid and more shadow as it prepared for another devastating attack.

Liria's breaths came in ragged gasps, her legs trembling beneath her. She raised her sword, her flames flickering weakly. The odds were against her, but she wasn't about to back down.