I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl - Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Chapter 264 – The Queen Who Trains Once More
It had been more than two weeks since Sylvia had opened her eyes from her long slumber. Time passed quickly.

The once-gray skies had grown clearer, the air fresher, and deep violet flowers now bloomed in every corner of the castle garden. But to Sylvia, all of it was nothing more than a silent backdrop for a single thing: the desire to become stronger.

That morning, the air within the castle’s training hall felt cold and dense, thick with circulating magical energy.

The dark stone floor reflected Sylvia’s figure, clad in simple training attire, a sleeveless black top and flexible pants that allowed her to move freely. Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail, swaying each time she moved.

In front of her stood a massive punching dummy made of high-grade monster hide, reinforced with defensive enchantments. Each strike she delivered echoed heavily through the chamber.

BAM!

BAM!!

BAM!!!

Punch after punch landed with a steady rhythm not rushed, yet not slow. Her movements looked fluid, but every blow carried enough force to make the air vibrate.

Around her, faint black energy swirled, coiling around her wrists and arms like mist that moved in tune with her breathing.

Her body stayed cool. No sweat, no signs of exhaustion, only the steady rhythm of her breathing and the sharp, dim focus in her crimson eyes.

“Still weak…” she murmured, barely audible.

Her hand stopped midair, fingers curling into a fist.

“Even with my current strength… facing the gods would still be a dream beyond reach.”

She lowered her fist, gazing at the dummy now covered with fine cracks from the pressure of her strikes and mana.

A flash of the last battle crossed her mind the terrifying might of the gods who had descended into the mortal realm through their vessels. She had been powerless to fight back.

If it hadn’t been for her… I’d have been dust between two worlds.

Sylvia took a deep breath, lowering her gaze as the cold aura around her faded slightly.

“If I have to rely on someone again, especially on Goddess Persephone, then I’m not a Queen. I’m just her shadow.”

Her hands moved again with fast punches followed by a spinning kick.

BAM!

The dummy shuddered violently, part of its enchanted hide burning from the burst of black energy. In her eyes burned a new resolve not anger, but hunger. A craving to evolve.

…..

She paused for a moment, took a drink from the flask near the wall, then walked toward the open side of the hall that faced the castle garden.

The morning breeze flowed in, carrying the scent of damp soil and wild violet flowers that had sprouted among the old ruins. She looked up at the sky soft blue today, with slow-moving clouds.

“This place is too peaceful,” she murmured. “A dangerous kind of peace.”

To her, such tranquility was a double-edged sword.

After the great war, after the death of gods and the explosion of divine power, the world had fallen silent. But Sylvia knew silence was never the end. It was only a pause. And beyond that pause… lay the next storm.

“If those gods decide to descend again or if this world begins to fracture because of them I’ll need power even Persephone can’t ignore.”

She raised her hand, watching faint violet light shimmer beneath her skin. The energy within her was still unstable, but it was recovering fast. And with that came a thought she had been holding onto for days.

The dungeon?

No.

She had already conquered several dungeons across different regions; none could offer her real challenge anymore. Even S-class monsters felt fragile in her hands.

Then, a thin smile curved her lips. Cold, but filled with curiosity.

“The Gate of the Underworld…” she whispered. “Yes, that’ll do nicely.”

She walked slowly back to the center of the room, her eyes on an ancient sigil carved into the stone, a seal linking this world to the lower layers of existence. Until now, that gate had only been used to banish evil spirits or imprison creatures too dangerous for the upper realm.

But for Sylvia, it could become the perfect training ground.

“Millions of entities from the lower world,” she murmured, weighing the thought. “They’re strong, savage, and utterly without restraint. But… their experience points must be extraordinary.”

Her tone carried a hint of amusement, like someone who had just discovered a thrillingly reckless idea. She placed a hand over her stomach, closed her eyes, then chuckled softly.

“If I can conquer the underworld here just as Goddess Persephone rules hers on Earth… that would look rather impressive.”

The wind blew again, brushing strands of her hair still damp with morning dew. Her smile widened not out of arrogance, but out of a rare spark of genuine excitement. It felt like the beginning of something new.

…..

The door behind her creaked open softly.

Alicia appeared, looking mildly worried, holding a tray with a glass of water and a slice of bread.

“You’re training again, Sylvia?” she asked gently.

Sylvia turned, still wearing that faint smile. “Just a warm-up. I can’t keep sitting still.”

Alicia stepped closer, her eyes glancing at the half-destroyed training dummy.

“Warm-up,’ huh? That thing looks like it’s been erased from existence.”

Sylvia chuckled lightly. “Maybe I got a bit… enthusiastic.” She took the glass from Alicia’s hand and drank slowly.

“Your body has healed, but your soul isn’t stable yet,” Alicia said, her tone soft but firm. “I can feel it. The death energy within you is still churning.”

Sylvia nodded, her gaze drifting back to the sky. “That’s why I have to keep moving. If I don’t, I’ll stagnate. I refuse to stop growing.”

Alicia opened her mouth to respond, but Sylvia continued, voice quieter now.

“You know, I’m not afraid of dying. But I am afraid of stopping or losing the will to grow. Because when that happens, everything we’ve built in this castle, this world will crumble.”

Silence lingered for a few seconds. Only the wind whispered through the open window.

Then Sylvia looked at her and smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry. I won’t be reckless. But maybe… it’s time for me to go somewhere for a while.”

“Go?” Alicia raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

Sylvia’s gaze sharpened, mixed with dangerous excitement.

“To the underworld.”

Alicia studied her for a long moment, then exhaled softly.

“If you’ve already decided, I know nothing can stop you.”

Sylvia nodded, setting her glass down on the table, her eyes lingering once more on the sigil carved into the wall.

“There’s nothing to stop,” she said calmly, though her voice carried a deep undercurrent of power. “I’m just going… hunting.”

Outside, the sky grew brighter. Black birds flew over the castle garden while the undead soldiers below continued their drills, unaware of the thoughts brewing within their Queen’s mind.

Sylvia knew the risks. The gate to the underworld was not a place for mortals and even for her, being half goddess of death, it was a realm that could devour anyone whole. But that was precisely what drew her to it.

“The underworld… the prison of ancient spirits and beasts,” she whispered. “If I can survive there, then even the gods will no longer look down on me.”

She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift. The image of Goddess Persephone appeared in her mind, smiling gently as always. Sylvia knew if the goddess heard of this reckless plan, she would probably scold her… or perhaps let her go, just to see how far Sylvia could walk without guidance.

A faint smile touched Sylvia’s lips.

“Don’t blame me, Goddess. I’m only following the path you showed me.”

…..

Sylvia walked slowly through the long corridors of her castle. The air inside was cool, but a faint trace of warm steam drifted from the far end of the hall, a sign that the grand bathhouse was in use.

After nearly two hours of relentless training, her mind, crowded with plans and strategies, felt heavy. She needed a moment of stillness, even if brief.

Her steps stopped before a tall door etched with the symbols of water and violet flowers. She opened it gently.

The warmth enveloped her immediately. Thin steam rose from the wide pool, reflecting the soft blue light of enchanted crystals in the ceiling. Smooth obsidian walls surrounded the bath, lined with dark-leaved hanging plants that dripped water like gentle rain.

Sylvia slowly undressed from her training clothes and wrapped herself in a thin black bath cloth that clung lightly to her skin. She stepped into the water, one step at a time, until the warmth swallowed her body.

The sensation was soothing not the crude heat of mortal baths, but the touch of pure magical energy that calmed her skin and steadied the mana inside her.

As the water reached her shoulders, Sylvia heard a faint sound from the far side of the pool, the quiet rustle of a page turning.

She turned her head. In the tranquil corner of the bath, Stacia sat by the edge, her gray hair tied up neatly, a thick book with magical seals resting in her hands. The steam had fogged her glasses slightly, but her focus was undisturbed, serene, composed, and perhaps a bit too calm for someone soaking in a bath.

“Stacia,” Sylvia called softly.

Stacia looked up, slightly surprised but not shocked. “Sylvia. Have you finished your training?”

Sylvia nodded gently, lowering herself until her shoulders were fully submerged. The warm water embraced her cool skin, and for the first time that day, her tense muscles began to ease.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the sound of rippling water and the soft hiss of rising steam wash through her mind.

“It’s been a long time,” she said quietly, “since I’ve soaked in peace without thinking about war.”