Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

"For once, I agree with you," I muttered, slowly backing toward the door.

The Venomfang Reaper let out a shrill, chittering roar, its glowing eyes narrowing as it stalked closer, its massive pincers clicking ominously.

"Back. Slowly. Quietly," I whispered.

Ananara, ever the loyal (and useless) companion, hissed, "You think I'm the problem here? Maybe the giant death bug should get a lecture on personal space."

[Warning: Retreat path blocked. Combat initiated.]

The door behind us slammed shut with a resounding boom. I spun around, yanking at the handle, but it didn't budge.

"Great," I growled, unsheathing my sword. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."

"You mean the suicidal way," Ananara corrected, perched smugly in my satchel like a sarcastic mascot.

The Venomfang Reaper surged forward, tail raised high, venom dripping from its stinger like molten acid. It slammed its pincers into the ground where I'd been standing half a second ago. I rolled to the side, the impact sending cracks through the stone floor.

"Think fast!" the system chirped. [Boss health: 5000/5000. Yours? Dropping if you don't move.]

"Shut up!" I barked, channeling fire magic into my sword. The blade glowed with searing heat, and I lunged at the Reaper, aiming for one of its legs.

The strike connected, slicing through its armored limb and sending a spray of green ichor across the floor. The creature screeched, stumbling slightly, but its health bar only dropped by a sliver.

[Boss Health: 4900/5000]

"Fantastic," I muttered. "Just 98 more hits like that, and we'll be golden."

"Or dead," Ananara offered helpfully.

The Reaper retaliated, its tail whipping toward me like a spiked whip. I barely managed to duck, feeling the sting of displaced air as the venom-laden stinger grazed past. It embedded itself in the wall behind me, hissing as the venom melted the stone.

"Good news!" Ananara called. "It's a messy eater. Bad news: You're the entrée!"

I launched a fireball at the Reaper's head, but the creature swatted it away with one pincer, as though batting a fly.

[Note: Your aim needs work. Or maybe a miracle.]

"System," I gritted, dodging another swipe, "you're not helping."

[Motivational tip: Don't die.]

"Motivational tip: Eat dirt," I shot back, pivoting to avoid a lunge from the Reaper.

The Reaper reared up on its hind legs, tail coiled and ready to strike. It let out another screech, and the ground trembled beneath us. I stumbled, nearly losing my balance.

"That thing's got moves!" Ananara observed, bouncing slightly in my bag. "If I had legs, I'd show it who's boss!"

"Stay put, pineapple of wisdom," I snapped.

Summoning every ounce of magic I had, I unleashed a Hellstorm. Flames erupted around the Reaper, swirling into a fiery tornado that engulfed it completely. For a moment, I dared to hope.

[Boss Health: 4500/5000]

The flames dissipated, revealing the Venomfang Reaper, charred but still very much alive. Its health bar had barely shifted. Worse, its eyes now glowed brighter, and the venom on its tail dripped faster, sizzling as it hit the ground.

"Oh, great," I muttered. "It's angry now."

[Correction: Enraged.]

The Reaper charged again, this time faster and more aggressively. Its pincers snapped inches from my face as I backpedaled, sweat pouring down my temples.

"I don't suppose you've got a cheat code for this?" I asked the system.

[Cheat code: Survive.]

"I hate you."

Ducking another swipe, I tried to slash at its underbelly, but the creature leaped back with surprising agility for something its size.

"Think, Liria," I muttered to myself. "There's got to be a weak spot."

"The weak spot is you," Ananara quipped.

I didn't have time to retort before the Reaper lunged again, its venomous tail sweeping low. I jumped, barely clearing the stinger as it whooshed beneath me.

Mid-air, I spun, unleashing an Ember Swipe at its face. The attack connected, flames licking across its armored head. The Reaper screeched, momentarily blinded, and I landed, panting.

[Boss Health: 4300/5000]

"Getting somewhere," I said through gritted teeth.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Somewhere closer to death," Ananara snarked.

The Reaper shook off the flames and snarled, venom spraying from its mouth. I barely dodged the toxic glob, which landed with a wet splat, corroding the stone floor.

"This thing is disgusting," I groaned.

"Would it kill you to aim for its eyes?" Ananara suggested.

[Hint: The eyes are vulnerable. Hit them for critical damage.]

"NOW you tell me?" I yelled, channeling another fireball.

The Reaper lunged just as I fired, and the shot missed its eyes by a hair, striking its shoulder instead. It staggered but recovered almost instantly.

"Great advice, system. Really top-notch."

[You're welcome. Want me to send flowers to your funeral?]

"I swear, when I get out of this—"

The Reaper roared, its tail whipping toward me again. I ducked and rolled, coming up behind it. Summoning all my strength, I aimed for the base of its tail, hoping to sever its most dangerous weapon.

The blade connected, cutting deep into the joint. The creature screeched in agony, ichor spraying everywhere.

[Boss Health: 4000/5000]

The tail wasn't severed, but it was injured, its movements slower and less precise.

"Finally, a break!" I panted, taking a step back to catch my breath.

"Don't celebrate yet," Ananara warned from my satchel. "It still has enough limbs to crush you into a fine paste."

"You're such a ray of sunshine," I snapped, circling the beast as it hissed in pain, trying to shield its wounded tail.

The Venomfang Reaper crouched, its body coiled like a spring, preparing for another strike. Its glowing eyes darted between me and my satchel, as if it could sense that the talking pineapple was, somehow, the source of all evil.

"I think it's looking at you, Ananara," I said with a smirk.

"Impossible. Who wouldn't adore me?" he retorted.

[Focus! The boss is adapting. You need to strike harder, smarter, faster.]

"I know how fighting works, system!"

The Reaper lunged, its pincers slamming into the ground where I'd just been standing. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, nearly knocking me off my feet.

"Harder, smarter, faster," I mocked under my breath, dodging another swipe. "Got any actual advice?"

[Yes. Don't get hit.]

I threw up my hands. "So helpful!"

The Reaper lashed out with its injured tail, slower than before but still dangerous. I ducked under the venomous arc and thrust my sword upward, aiming for its soft underbelly.

The blade scraped against its chitinous armor, failing to pierce it.

"Fantastic," I muttered, leaping back before it could counter. "Why don't you just wear a tank?"

Ananara snorted. "If it wore a tank, it'd crush you and your fragile ego."

The Reaper hissed, its movements growing more erratic.

"Alright," I muttered, raising my sword again. "Let's try this one more time."