I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl - Chapter 270

Chapter 270: Chapter 266 – The Gate to the Underworld
A month had passed since Sylvia last fell asleep without dreams. Time moves too quickly, even for someone like her.

Life in the castle had returned to tranquility. Black-violet flowers bloomed across the gardens, zombie guards marched in disciplined lines across the training yard, and the machinery of administration turned ceaselessly in the hands of Celes and Aurellia.

The world outside seemed peaceful, but to Sylvia, that peace had begun to feel like a cage. Her body had fully recovered. Her mana flowed steadily, no longer surging out of control whenever she used it. Even the Death Authority pulsing beneath her skin now throbbed softly, synchronized with her breath.

And to Sylvia, that could only mean one thing: It was time to move again.

That morning, pale sunlight filtered through the grand hall’s windows. Before her sat three familiar figures: Celes, Alicia, and Stacia. Their faces all bore the same expression of disapproval.

“No.”

The word left Celes’s lips before Sylvia could even finish opening her mouth.

Sylvia stopped mid-step, folding her arms across her chest. “I haven’t even explained yet.”

Celes shot her a flat look. “I know that face. Every time you look out the lower windows of the castle with that expression, it always means one thing: you’re planning to go somewhere dangerous.”

Alicia, sitting beside her, lowered her gaze, visibly uneasy. “Sylvia, you just finished recovering. You don’t need to rush. The underworld isn’t… an ordinary place.”

Stacia closed her book slowly, looking at her younger sister with calm firmness. “Your death aura might be stable, but your soul core isn’t in full balance yet. I can feel the resonance around you.”

Sylvia rolled her eyes, glancing at each of them in turn. “I’m fine. I’ve waited over a month just to make sure of that. If I don’t train my power now, I’ll lose control when it really matters.”

Celes tapped the table with her finger, the faint chime of magic echoing through the air.

“You’re not talking about training in the back garden, Sylvia. You’re talking about entering the underworld. A place where even dead souls can lose their way and vanish.”

“That’s exactly why I’m going.” Sylvia’s gaze was steady, unflinching. “A place overflowing with death is the perfect ground for me to grow stronger.”

Silence settled in the room for a moment.

Only the ticking of the enchanted clock filled the air, counting the seconds toward the inevitable argument.

Alicia was the next to speak, her voice soft almost pleading.

“If you want to train, there are still plenty of S-class dungeons you haven’t cleared. You don’t need to go that far. The underworld… it’s too dangerous, even for you.”

Sylvia looked at her, her eyes gentle but resolute.

“Alicia, I know you’re worried. But I’m not going there to cause trouble. I’m going to make sure that if the gods show themselves again, I won’t be the one standing on the weaker side.”

Celes sighed heavily, then rose from her chair. “You’re impossible.”

Sylvia shrugged with a faint smile. “And you know that’s why I’m still alive.”

Stacia exhaled quietly and looked at her sisters. “Then at least… don’t go alone.”

The room fell silent again.

Sylvia tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

Stacia stood, holding her book to her chest. “If you insist on going, then Alicia and I are coming with you.”

Alicia turned quickly, startled. “Stacia…”

“Of course you’re coming,” Stacia interrupted softly but firmly. “She may be stronger than any of us, but we all know the underworld isn’t predictable. I can stabilize the dimensional mana if things go wrong, and you can protect the fragmented souls from being pulled into the abyss. Together, we can minimize the risk.”

Sylvia stared at her for a long moment, then lowered her head slightly with a faint smile.

“You sound like an older sister now.”

“Hmph! It’s not like I’m worried about you or anything,” Stacia muttered, turning her head aside, a faint blush on her cheeks. “I just think you’d be reckless if you went alone.”

That tsundere tone made Alicia stifle a laugh, while Sylvia looked amused.

“Of course… I’ll be very careful, sister.”

“Don’t call me that,” Stacia grumbled, eyes on the floor but the corners of her lips twitched upward.

Celes, who had been silent, finally shook her head and looked at the three of them.

“I can’t stop you, can I? But someone has to stay here to make sure this castle doesn’t lose its ruler if the three of you… fail to return.”

Her tone was heavy, but honest.

Sylvia turned to her, her expression now serious. “Celes.”

Their gazes met two sets of eyes carrying different convictions. At last, Celes sighed and nodded slightly.

“I’ll stay here with Aurellia. We’ll keep the castle, the city, and your army running. But on one condition you don’t go without full protection.”

Sylvia arched her brow. “Full protection?”

“It means,” Celes said, glancing at Alicia and Stacia, “you’re going with them. Not alone.”

Sylvia hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between resistance and acceptance. Finally, she let out a long breath.

“Fine,” she said quietly. “You win this time.”

Alicia smiled with relief, and Stacia lowered her head slightly, trying to hide a small grin.

Celes stepped closer, her tone softening.

“We’re not forbidding you because we doubt you. We just… I don’t want to lose you again.”

The words made Sylvia pause. Then a faint smile touched her lips.

“Words like that… you should save for a farewell speech, Celes.”

Celes gave her a sideways glance. “Oh, I have one ready, in case you keep being stubborn.”

Sylvia chuckled lightly. “All right, all right. I’ll go with them.”

…..

A few hours later, in her private chamber, Sylvia stood before a tall mirror framed with black stone carvings.

A dense aura of black mana swirled slowly around her body.

Her battle attire was complete:

The Dress of Death, hugging her frame with a sheen like polished obsidian, merging seamlessly with her aura.

The Black Crystal Earrings glimmered faintly on her ears, absorbing death energy from the air.

The Rapier of Night hung at her waist its blade slender, black, and gleaming like a starless sky.

The Agility Ring pulsed softly on her right hand, syncing perfectly with her mana rhythm.

Then came the Black Stockings, Black Gloves, and Elegant High Heels all perfectly matched, giving her the look of a queen of the night, both deadly and graceful.

The door opened softly.

Alicia entered first, wearing the Dress of Soul, a silver-gray garment etched with delicate runes along the sleeves. The Intelligent Ring shimmered on her finger, and in her hand she held the Staff of Soul, its tip adorned with a lantern emitting a soft blue flame like a living candlelight.

Moments later, Stacia followed behind her.She wore the Dress of Magic, layered with a thin shield of deep-blue enchantment, a sealed Grimoire in her left hand. The Intelligent Ring on her finger gleamed faintly, storing hundreds of spells within its crystal core.

Sylvia looked at them and smiled gently. “You both look ready.”

Alicia met her gaze, a trace of worry in her eyes. “And you… look like you’re about to conquer the underworld.”

Sylvia’s lips curved into a faint grin. “That’s the idea.”

Stacia closed her book and stepped forward. “Celes already prepared a new coordinate. The previous gate was destroyed by you. We’ll start from the first layer ‘The Black Mirror Palace.’ The underworld consists of seventy-two layers of existence, and that’s the safest one.”

“‘Safest,'” Alicia muttered quietly, “out of seventy-two layers of hell.”

Sylvia chuckled lightly. “Well then… let’s see how safe it really is.”

She stepped toward her balcony. From there, the view of her castle stretched vast and majestic black towers rising high, surrounded by faint violet mist that swirled like the world’s own breath.

The cold morning wind brushed through her long black hair. Below, rows of zombie soldiers stood silently, looking up toward their queen, as if sensing the change about to come.

Sylvia gazed down at them for a long while before whispering under her breath,

“Wait for me to return… stronger than ever.”

And in her eyes, that light of determination burned once more cold, powerful, and unshakable, like death itself.

…..

Celes and Aurellia were already waiting in the lower courtyard when the three descended the grand staircase of the castle.

A violet mist blanketed the area, swirling slowly around the stone pillars etched with ancient runes.

Behind them, hundreds of zombie soldiers stood in perfect formation Sylvia’s personal army, silent as statues but radiating an aura of deep reverence.

The small ceremony unfolded in utter silence.

No music, no prayer, only the whisper of wind and the faint clinking of steel chains from the zombies’ armor.

A soft black light filtered through the fog-covered sky, falling upon the figure of the Queen as she stepped out of the castle.

Each of Sylvia’s footsteps echoed lightly, trailed by a chilling aura that rippled across the courtyard.

Celes stood at the forefront, cloaked in a silvery-white robe that shimmered faintly, while Aurellia stood beside her, staff in hand, her eyes glowing with the calm blue light of her flame.

Both of them bowed deeply as Sylvia approached.

“Are you ready?” Celes asked her tone flat, but her eyes betrayed her worry.

Sylvia merely nodded, then turned her gaze toward Aurellia, who offered a gentle smile.

“Be careful out there. The underworld knows no limits to power.”

“I know,” Sylvia replied simply.

She looked at each of them in turn, then said,

“Guard the castle. I’ll return before the next season’s fog arrives.”

With that, she turned around. Her black dress fluttered softly as the wind of magic began to spiral around her. Alicia and Stacia stood at her sides, their faces steady and composed.

Without hesitation, Sylvia extended both hands. Alicia took her right, Stacia her left.

In that instant, Sylvia’s Void Energy pulsed dark, yet elegant, like the night swallowing the light.

“Void Step,” she whispered.