Reincarnated as the Villainess's Unlucky Bodyguard-Chapter 192: A Test of Shadows

The training grounds beneath the Dark Sovereign's fortress were an endless labyrinth of stone and shadow, illuminated only by torches burning an unnatural violet flame. The air was thick with tension, anticipation vibrating in the very stones beneath my feet. I stood in the center of the arena, the echoes of my heartbeat pounding rhythmically in my ears, eyes narrowed as I assessed the figure across from me.

General Vorath stood calmly at the opposite end, his towering form cloaked in shadows that seemed to cling to him like obedient hounds. He was a monstrous being—broad shoulders, obsidian skin marred with centuries of battle scars, massive horns curved back over his skull. Eyes burned with crimson light, cunning and dangerous. He'd served the Dark Sovereign since the very beginning of her reign, loyal beyond reason, powerful beyond measure.

And today, he was my opponent.

The Dark Sovereign lounged upon her throne overlooking the arena, golden eyes glittering with interest. This was no simple sparring match—this was a test. She was measuring my strength, my resolve, perhaps even my worthiness.

"Begin," she purred softly, the word a whisper that echoed throughout the cavern.

Vorath smiled—a terrifying, predatory expression revealing sharp fangs—and drew twin blades that glinted darkly in the torchlight. He bowed slightly, a mocking gesture that grated against my pride.

"Let's see if the Sovereign's new pet has teeth," he taunted, voice like gravel over stone.

I drew a steadying breath, focusing the chaotic surge of emotions within me—anger, confusion, determination—into a singular, deadly point of clarity.

Without responding, I summoned my own power. Shadows coalesced around my fingertips, swirling and twisting eagerly as my magic crackled through my veins. Vorath's gaze sharpened slightly, acknowledging the threat. Good. Let him underestimate me.

In a heartbeat, the battle erupted.

Vorath lunged, blades slicing toward me in a deadly arc. I twisted to the side, shadows forming a shield that deflected his blow. Metal screamed against dark magic, sparks raining down like embers from hell itself. The force of his strike sent tremors through my arms, but I held steady, shifting fluidly from defense to offense.

I sent tendrils of shadow slithering across the ground toward him, wrapping around his ankles. Vorath growled, muscles tensing as he struggled against my hold. With a vicious tug, I pulled him off balance. He stumbled but quickly recovered, cutting through my shadow binds with a burst of raw strength.

"Impressive," he conceded grudgingly. "But predictable."

He surged forward again, faster this time. His blades moved with terrifying precision, forcing me to dodge backward in a desperate rhythm of retreat. I deflected one strike, then another—but a third broke through, slicing painfully across my shoulder. Hot blood seeped down my skin, sharp pain jolting through me.

I hissed softly, anger igniting anew.

[Maybe we underestimated him just a little bit,] the system commented drily. [Perhaps a change of tactics?]

I clenched my jaw. "You think?"

[Just saying. He's older than dirt. We should probably be smarter.]

I grit my teeth, rolling my shoulder to test the wound. Painful, but manageable.

Vorath watched with amusement. "Is that it, little traitor?"

The word twisted like a dagger in my chest. Traitor. How many times had I heard that now? From Vorath, from Daena's soldiers...and silently, from my own heart.

I snarled, pushing the thought aside. "You talk too much."

I closed my eyes briefly, drawing upon deeper reserves of my power—darkness swirled around me, thickening until my form blurred into shadow itself. When my eyes snapped open, they burned bright amber and vivid green, piercing the darkness I'd summoned.

In a blink, I moved, becoming a wraith, shadows carrying me effortlessly through the air. Vorath swung his blades blindly, unable to track my movements. I appeared behind him, striking swiftly, shadows forming blades sharper than steel. They sliced into his armor, cutting deep gashes through the obsidian flesh beneath.

He roared in fury, whirling around to retaliate, but I vanished again, reappearing at his side, striking once more. Each movement was a dance—fluid, deadly, impossible to predict. For the first time, I felt in complete harmony with the darkness inside me.

The Dark Sovereign leaned forward on her throne, watching closely, a slow, pleased smile curving her lips.

Vorath snarled, frustrated by my elusive attacks. Suddenly, he slammed both blades into the ground, unleashing a shockwave of raw, brutal power. Shadows dispersed violently, knocking me from my ethereal form. I crashed to the ground painfully, breath driven from my lungs.

Before I could rise, Vorath lunged forward, catching me by the throat and lifting me effortlessly off the ground. My feet kicked uselessly in the air as I struggled against his iron grip.

"You're skilled," he growled. "But you lack experience."

My vision blurred, lungs burning desperately for air. Panic flared—but I forced it down, reaching deep within myself. I met Vorath's glowing gaze defiantly, snarling through clenched teeth.

"I don't lack determination."

Shadows surged from my fingertips, twisting violently around his arm. His grip loosened just enough for me to gasp in precious air, allowing strength to return to my limbs. I gripped his wrist tightly, focusing my power intensely, envisioning my darkness not just as shadow—but as reality itself, bending to my will.

He screamed in pain as my magic pierced flesh and bone, forcing him to release me entirely. I landed gracefully, staggering slightly but remaining upright, breathing heavily.

Vorath stumbled backward, gripping his wounded arm, disbelief etched across his features.

"Impossible…"

I straightened slowly, wiping blood from my lip with the back of my hand. "Clearly not."

The Sovereign rose gracefully from her throne, descending into the arena, footsteps echoing softly against stone. She moved to Vorath first, gaze cool and assessing.

"Your pride blinds you, General," she murmured dangerously. "Underestimate her again, and I'll replace you."

Vorath bowed stiffly, expression tight with barely contained fury. "Understood, my Sovereign."

She turned to me next, golden eyes gleaming sharply. "You've grown stronger."

I inclined my head slightly, breathing still labored. "Thanks to your teachings."

She smiled faintly. "And yet, hesitation still lingers within you. I sense conflict."

I tensed involuntarily, eyes flickering to Vorath. He watched me closely, suspicion glittering behind his crimson gaze.

"Conflict is weakness," the Sovereign continued softly. "You must purge it entirely. Until then, you remain vulnerable."

I nodded slowly. "I understand."

She tilted her head, studying me thoughtfully. "Do you?"

I lifted my chin defiantly. "I know my path."

"Good." Her smile widened slightly, dangerous and approving. "Because soon, you will face Daena herself. If you hesitate, she will not."

My heart twisted painfully at the mention of her name, but I concealed it behind a mask of cold resolve. "I won't hesitate."

She leaned closer, her voice a whisper meant only for me. "Make sure you don't. Daena betrayed me once; she will not hesitate to destroy you."

I clenched my fists tightly, forcing steel into my voice. "Then neither will I."

The Sovereign straightened slowly, satisfied. "Excellent. Rest now. Recover. Your training continues tomorrow."

She swept past me, Vorath following silently in her wake, leaving me standing alone amidst broken stone and scattered shadows. Silence descended heavily, the weight of her words pressing deeply into my heart.

Could I truly face Daena without hesitation? Could I strike down the one who raised me, who taught me strength and compassion? Was I strong enough to bury those emotions, those memories, beneath layers of darkness?

[You don't really believe she'd hurt you, do you?] the system murmured quietly, breaking the silence.

"I don't know," I whispered truthfully, shoulders slumping. "But I can't afford to doubt."

[Careful, Liria,] it warned gently. [Losing yourself in darkness is one thing but betraying your own heart is another.]

I closed my eyes briefly, breathing deeply to steady myself. "I chose this path."

The system sighed softly. [Yes. But choices have consequences. Make sure you can live with yours.]

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I opened my eyes slowly, gazing around the dark arena the arena where I'd proven my strength, my resolve, my determination.

Yet the cost of that proof weighed heavier with every passing moment.

The darkness had claimed me fully but at what price?

With a heavy heart, I turned away from the battleground, shadows trailing quietly in my wake, each step echoing with questions I was no longer certain I could answer.

I retreated from the arena into the solitude of my chamber, the massive stone door sealing behind me with a hollow thud. My room was stark devoid of warmth or sentiment, mirroring the emptiness spreading within me.

Slowly, I approached the tall mirror that hung against the far wall, its surface cracked slightly at the edges, distorted like my own reflection. As I met my gaze, I barely recognized the figure staring back: pale skin marred with recent wounds, dark circles beneath mismatched eyes, hair a wild cascade of black . But beyond appearances, it was the shadows in my eyes that unsettled me most the same darkness I'd once feared, now willingly embraced.

[You're becoming just like her,] the system murmured, voice unusually somber.

I swallowed hard, fists clenching at my sides. "I don't have a choice."

[You always have a choice,] it replied softly. [Even if you refuse to see it.]

My chest tightened painfully. Choices each made for survival, for power had brought me here, to a place devoid of trust and warmth. But standing there, alone, confronted by my reflection, I wondered if the price was truly worth paying.

Or if, perhaps, I'd already lost far more than I realized.