Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Breakfast was a tense affair. Despite the cozy warmth of Daena's cabin, the atmosphere was thick with silence and the occasional glare cast between bites. Liria barely touched her food, her mind still buzzing with thoughts of the upcoming evolution and what it would mean for her abilities. Across the table, Enara picked at her meal, clearly uneasy, especially under Daena's watchful eye.

Then, just as Liria thought things might be calming down, the door swung open. Standing in the entrance, silhouetted against the morning light, were Enara's mothers the Demon Queens, Verida and Nyssara. Their fierce expressions and imposing presence brought the room's temperature down a few degrees.

Daena greeted them with a nod and a knowing look. "Ladies, you're just in time. I was about to explain to Enara here why sneaking out and battling Direhounds isn't exactly what we call 'proper behavior.'"

Verida crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowed on Enara. "Direhounds, Enara?" Her voice held a dangerous edge, like thunder rumbling on the horizon.

Nyssara's lavender gaze softened just a fraction, but her voice remained firm. "We expected better, Enara. You know better than to charge into fights recklessly."

Enara shrank under their combined stare, and for once, her usual bravado faltered. "I… I just thought…" she muttered, eyes downcast.

"No excuses," Verida interrupted. "You're not some low-level demon fledgling. As a princess, you're expected to lead with wisdom and caution. Not this… this reckless display."

Liria did her best to hide her smirk. Enara glared back at her, but there wasn't much she could do under the disapproving eyes of her mothers and Daena.

When breakfast finally ended, Liria practically bolted to her room. She was eager to get away from the heavy atmosphere and even more eager to get started on her evolution. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she took a deep breath. This was it. She was finally going to reach a new level of power, and she couldn't deny the excitement coursing through her.

[Evolution can now be initiated.]

"Alright, System," she thought, feeling a rush of nervous energy. "Let's get this started. What's the first step?"

[Beginning evolution process. To facilitate a seamless experience, temporal stasis will be applied to the surrounding environment. No one will be aware of the time passing during your transformation.]

"Wait you mean you're stopping time?"

[Affirmative. Temporal stasis is a standard protocol for significant evolutions, ensuring safety and uninterrupted focus.]

Liria's eyes widened. "Alright, then… bring it on!"

The room around her seemed to fade, colors blurring and stretching until she was surrounded by a surreal, shimmering void. It was as if the entire world had gone silent, leaving her in a strange, tranquil limbo.

[Evolution commencing. Base statistics will undergo a twofold increase.]

A surge of power coursed through her, like fire igniting in every cell of her body. Her muscles tensed, strengthened, and she felt as if her very bones were being reshaped, fortified from within. The pain came suddenly, sharp and searing, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let it break her focus.

[Strength increased from 18 to 36.]

[Agility increased from 19 to 38.]

[Endurance increased from 18 to 36.]

[Intelligence increased from 13 to 26.]

[Magic increased from 23 to 46.]

Each increase sent a new wave of energy crashing through her, and with it, a fresh jolt of pain. It was as if she were being remade, every fiber of her being upgraded to something beyond human something far stronger.

[Abilities will now undergo an enhancement.]

She felt her magic stirring, raw power building up as if a dam had burst inside her. Each of her abilities surged with new strength, their essence stretching, transforming, evolving.

[Swordsmanship enhanced from Level 2 to Level 3.]

[Endurance Training enhanced from Level 2 to Level 3.]

[Fireball enhanced from Level 3 to Level 4.]

[Ember Swipe enhanced from Level 2 to Level 3.]

[Blade Mastery enhanced from Level 1 to Level 2.]

[Inferno Burst enhanced from Level 1 to Level 2.]

The abilities blazed within her, shifting and growing, as if they had taken on new lives of their own. She could almost feel the magic crackling beneath her skin, eager to be unleashed.

Then, the system's voice echoed in her mind again, even more intense than before.

[Congratulations, Liria. You have reached a Special Evolution Threshold. Choose your unique evolution path to unlock a new, elite ability.]

Liria's pulse quickened. A special evolution path? The idea of unlocking something unique, something tailored to her, was thrilling.

"What are my options?" she asked.

[You may choose from the following evolutions:]

Infernal Fury – Grants the ability Hellstorm: Summon a storm of black flames that consume everything within a designated radius. The flames bypass most resistances.

Ethereal Shield – Grants the ability Void Aegis: Summon an impenetrable shield made of dark magic that nullifies physical and magical attacks for a limited duration.

Crimson Rush – Grants the ability Bloodfire Slash: Convert health into a powerful flaming attack that grows stronger with each successive strike, at the cost of your own endurance.

Liria mulled over the choices, each one sounding more incredible than the last. The thought of summoning a storm of black flames sent a thrill through her, but the other abilities also had their appeal.

"I think I'll go with… Infernal Fury," she said, grinning.

[Confirmed: Infernal Fury selected. You will now gain the Hellstorm ability.]

With a flash, the knowledge of Hellstorm flooded her mind, and her entire body throbbed with a power so intense it felt like she was about to explode. Fire burned within her veins, hotter and darker than anything she'd ever felt before. She clenched her fists, feeling the flames dance just beneath the surface, eager to be unleashed.

[Warning: Evolutionary process reaching critical phase. Final adjustments may induce discomfort.]

"'Discomfort?'" Liria echoed with a nervous laugh, right as a new wave of pain crashed over her. Her body felt like it was being torn apart, rebuilt from the inside out. Every nerve screamed, her muscles tightening and shifting as if they were being carved anew.

For a moment, all she could do was endure, her vision blurring as she fought to stay conscious. But just as quickly as it had begun, the pain faded, leaving a calm, powerful energy humming within her.

[Evolution complete. Congratulations, Liria Silverthorn. You have become an Infernal Fury.]

Liria took a deep, shaky breath, feeling the new strength in her limbs, the fire in her chest. She was more than ready to test her new limits.

[Status Update:]

Name: Liria SilverthornNôv(el)B\\jnn

Level: 10

Experience: 0/1500

Health: 1100/1100

Magic: 840/840

Attributes:

Strength: 36

Agility: 38

Endurance: 36

Intelligence: 26

Magic: 46

Abilities:

Swordsmanship (Level 3)

Endurance Training (Level 3)

Fireball (Level 4)

Ember Swipe (Level 3)

Blade Mastery (Level 2)

Inferno Burst (Level 2)

New Ability Unlocked: Hellstorm (Level 1)

Liria stared at her hands, flexing them as if trying to grasp the power now flowing through her. She could feel the magic at her fingertips, ready to unleash at a moment's notice.

[Temporal stasis disengaged. Time has resumed.]

The world around her snapped back into focus, the cabin returning to its ordinary, peaceful state. Liria took a deep breath, her heart pounding with exhilaration. She was stronger than she had ever been and she couldn't wait to see just what she was capable of.

"Welcome to the new and improved Liria Silverthorn," she thought with a smirk. "Ready or not, world, here I come."