Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Chapter 160 Deeper into the Abyss

Liria exhaled sharply, rolling her sore shoulders as the shadows around her shifted uneasily. The cavern had fallen into an eerie silence, the only sound her own steady breathing and the occasional distant drip of water echoing through the abyss.

She flicked open her status screen, her mismatched eyes scanning the glowing text as the system's familiar voice chimed in.

[+10,000 EXP Earned]

[Level Up! Liria Silverthorn has reached Level 18.]

[All stats increased by +2.]

[New Skill Acquired: Void Step (Level 1)]

She let out a low whistle, stretching out her arms as she felt the surge of newfound strength coursing through her veins.

"About time," she muttered. "I was starting to feel like I was getting my ass kicked a little too much."

[Oh, don't worry. You still are. This is just to ensure you last a little longer before your inevitable demise.]

Liria scowled. "Thanks for the confidence boost."

[You're welcome.]

She dismissed the screen, refocusing on her surroundings.

The Abyssal Labyrinth twisted ahead, its walls carved from obsidian stone that seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive. The faint glow of violet runes lined the floor, shifting and changing like liquid symbols, leading deeper into the unknown.

Liria tightened her grip on her sword, stepping forward cautiously.

Every part of her instincts screamed at her something was waiting.

She didn't have to wait long to find out what.

The first attack came from above.

A sickening hiss pierced the silence as something massive dropped from the ceiling, its shadowy form slamming into the ground just inches away from her.

Liria barely dodged in time, twisting mid-air as the ground shattered beneath the impact.

She landed in a crouch, her eyes darting and immediately regretted it.

Abyssal Widow

Level: 22

Health: 6,500/6,500

Abilities:

• Web of Despair – Creates binding webs that drain energy.

• Venomous Bite – Inflicts a poison that saps magic and stamina.

• Hunting Instinct – Gains speed and strength the longer the battle drags on.

Liria grimaced.

"Oh, hell no."

The Abyssal Widow was a monstrosity, its chitinous black body gleaming in the dim violet light. Its multiple glowing eyes locked onto her, legs clicking as it shifted, preparing to strike.

[Oh, fantastic. You get to fight a giant nightmare spider. Congratulations.]

"Shut up!" Liria snapped, dodging sideways just as the Widow lunged.

Its fangs sank into the ground, hissing as the stone sizzled under its venom.

Liria swung her sword, aiming for one of its legs the Widow reacted instantly, twisting its grotesque body with unnatural speed, its razor-sharp leg slamming into her side.

She grunted as she was flung backwards, rolling several times before catching herself.

[-400 HP]

[Health: 3,100/3,500]

[You're off to a great start.]

"I hate you."

The Widow didn't wait, firing a web toward her.

Liria slashed through it, flames igniting around her blade.

The dark fire hissed, cutting through the sticky mass, but another web was already flying toward her.

Too fast.

She barely managed to throw herself aside, but the edge of the web caught her arm, pulling tight.

Abyssal energy drained from her body instantly.

[-50 Magic per second]

[Magic: 1,750/2,800]

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

She twisted violently, struggling against the web, but the Widow was already on the move, scuttling forward with horrifying speed.

Liria made a split-second decision.

She activated Void Step.

The world warped around her.

In the blink of an eye, she teleported, reappearing directly above the Widow.

The monster screeched, momentarily confused Liria dove.

Her blade plunged deep into its back, black flames erupting in a violent explosion.

The Widow howled, convulsing wildly as fire consumed its chitinous body.

Liria held on, stabbing her sword deeper, twisting the blade the Widow collapsed, its dying screeches rattling the cavern walls.

[+8,500 EXP Earned]

[+ Abyssal Silk (Item)]

[+ Widow's Fang (Item)]

Liria panted, her grip tightening around her sword.

She had won but she wasn't foolish enough to think that was the last of it.

Something deeper in this labyrinth was waiting.

Something far worse.

Liria stood over the twisted corpse of the Abyssal Widow, her breathing ragged as the last embers of her darkfire flickered off her blade. The scent of burned chitin and venom filled the air, thick and acrid, making her stomach churn.

She flexed her fingers, trying to shake off the lingering numbness from the creature's web. The drain on her magic was noticeable, a dull ache throbbing behind her eyes. She could feel the energy slowly returning, but not fast enough.

[You're looking a little shaky. Need a break? Maybe a nice warm drink? A nap?]

"Shut up," she muttered, scanning her surroundings.

The labyrinth stretched endlessly ahead, the stone walls slick with condensation, glowing runes casting eerie shadows that flickered like phantoms in the dark. The passage ahead split into two paths one narrow and jagged, the other wide but disturbingly silent.

Her gut told her neither was a good choice.

[Choose wisely,] the system intoned, far too gleeful. [One of these paths is going to suck just a little less than the other.]

"Helpful."

[Always.]

Liria took the narrow path, keeping her sword at the ready, every step slow and deliberate. The air grew colder, the moisture in the air turning to mist, curling around her like spectral fingers.

Then, the sound of claws on stone.

It came from above.

She snapped her head up just as a dozen glowing eyes blinked open in the darkness. Something huge clung to the ceiling, its limbs stretching unnaturally long, its body blending into the stone like a predator perfectly adapted to the shadows.

Abyssal Wraithbeast

Level: 24

Health: 8,000/8,000

Abilities:

• Silent Stalker – Remains unseen until attacking.

• Shadowstep – Moves between darkness instantly.

• Rend – Tears through armor with its claws.

Liria's stomach dropped.

"Oh, fantastic."

[Would you like a moment to say your final words?]

"Bite me."

The Wraithbeast struck.

It moved with impossible speed, lunging down without a sound, its claws slicing through the air toward her throat. Liria dropped low, narrowly avoiding the strike, the wind of its attack whistling past her ear.

She rolled, coming up with her sword raised, black fire exploding outward as she swung at its exposed underbelly.

But the Wraithbeast disappeared.

One second it was in front of her, the next—

Behind.

Its claws raked across her back.

[-600 HP]

[Health: 2,900/3,500]

Liria staggered forward, biting back a curse.

It was fast. Too fast.

She spun around, barely catching sight of its distorted form vanishing into the shadows again, its low growl vibrating through the cavern.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

[Try not to die this time.]

"Great idea, why didn't I think of that?"

The Wraithbeast struck again, but this time, Liria was ready.

She activated Void Step at the last second, her body blinking out of existence, reappearing behind the creature mid-attack.

Her blade flashed.

The Wraithbeast screeched as her sword carved through its side, black flames igniting along the wound. It whirled on her, but she was already moving, twisting her body to avoid its retaliatory swipe.

Another strike.

Another howl of pain.

Liria pushed her advantage, slashing in rapid succession, forcing the creature to backpedal into the narrow walls. The black fire spread, burning deep into its flesh.

For the first time, it hesitated.

That was all she needed.

She surged forward, bringing her sword down in a single, devastating arc the blade sank deep into its skull.

A final spasm racked its body before it collapsed, its massive form crumbling into black ash.

[+12,000 EXP Earned]

[+ Abyssal Core (Item)]

[+ Shadow Cloak (Item)]

Liria let out a shaky breath, wiping the sweat from her brow.

She was exhausted.

Her body ached, magic drained, and her hands trembled from the lingering adrenaline.

[You know, if you die down here, I'm not refunding your effort.]

"Oh, bite me."

She flexed her fingers, rolling her shoulders. There was no turning back now.

This dungeon wasn't just testing her strength.

It was pushing her to her limits.

Liria leaned against the stone wall, her breaths still coming in short gasps. Her muscles ached, and her magic reserves were dangerously low. The fight with the Abyssal Wraithbeast had drained her more than she wanted to admit.

She slid down to sit on the cold ground, stretching her legs in front of her. The eerie blue-green flames lining the dungeon walls flickered softly, casting distorted shadows across the jagged stone.

[You actually survived. I'm impressed. Barely.]

"Gee, thanks," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

[Since you're taking a break, might as well check your status. You did just level up, after all. Maybe you got something actually useful this time.]

Liria sighed but pulled up her status window, her mismatched eyes scanning over the glowing text.

[Status Update:]

Name: Liria Silverthorn

Race: Half-Human, Half-Demon

Level: 18

Experience: 2,500/12,000

Health: 3,800/3,800

Magic: 3,200/3,200

Attributes:

• Strength: 56

• Agility: 55

• Endurance: 54

• Intelligence: 32

• Magic: 65

Abilities:

• Swordsmanship (Level 5)

• Endurance Training (Level 5)

• Fireball (Level 5)

• Ember Swipe (Level 4)

• Blade Mastery (Level 4)

• Inferno Burst (Level 3)

• Hellstorm (Level 2)

• Water Ribbon (Level 2)

• Earth Sense (Level 2)

• Stone Shot (Level 2)

• Earth Wall (Level 2)

• Spectral Binding (Level 2)

• Nightflame Shield (Level 2)

• Shadowflare Blade (Level 2)

• Void Step (Level 1)

Liria blinked. "Damn."

[Well, well, well. Look who's finally not completely useless.]

"Was that supposed to be a compliment?"

[Absolutely not.]

She ignored the snarky remark and focused on the biggest jumps. Her strength, agility, and endurance had all increased significantly. The darkfire inside her felt stronger, more controlled, and Void Step… that was new. She could still feel the lingering energy from when she had blinked behind the Wraithbeast mid-fight.

That ability was going to be fun.

Liria smirked, rolling her shoulders. "Not bad."

[Sure. But try not to die before you actually get to the boss. That would be embarrassing.]

She sighed and pushed herself back onto her feet, cracking her neck as she adjusted her grip on her sword.

The final chamber was ahead.