I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl - Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Chapter 284 – Shadows of Fire and the Trial Road of the Underworld
The long corridor of the palace welcomed Sylvia and Seere with a grand, echoing silence as they returned.

Their footsteps rang softly against the black crystal walls, which shimmered faintly with violet light from demonic lanterns. In the distance, the quiet hum of conversation could be heard Alicia and Stacia’s voices, speaking to someone.

As soon as they stepped into the great hall, the scene became clear. Alicia stood with her arms folded across her chest, trying to appear calm but the faint tremor in her shoulders betrayed the immense pressure she was under. Beside her, Stacia still held her spellbook tightly, her face serious but slightly tense.

Before them sat Belial upon his obsidian throne, his body wreathed in layered gold-and-shadow aura, while Lumielle and Ithara stood to his right and left. The two goddesses looked serene, but their gazes remained sharp, filled with quiet judgment toward the two much younger girls standing before them.

When Sylvia and Seere entered, the atmosphere shifted slightly. The suffocating heaviness in the air seemed to thin, replaced by a subtle wave of relief from Sylvia’s two sisters.

“Sylvia!” Alicia exclaimed, letting out a breath of relief. “Finally, you’re back…”

Stacia smiled faintly. “We thought Seere might drag you off to another world again.”

Sylvia gave a quiet snort. “She almost did,” she said flatly, her eyes flicking toward Seere, who walked ahead with a carefree smile as if she had done nothing wrong.

Seere covered her mouth with a sweet grin. “You look refreshed now. That means my tour was enjoyable, right?”

“If by ‘enjoyable’ you mean it made me want to die three times, then yes,” Sylvia replied immediately.

Belial let out a low chuckle from his throne. “Hahaha, my daughter has always been… intense in showing hospitality.”

Lumielle looked at them with a gentle expression, though a spark of amusement glimmered faintly in her eyes. “At least you’re alive to tell the story.”

Sylvia sighed, then turned to her sisters. “So… what were you discussing?”

Alicia and Stacia exchanged a brief glance before Alicia answered, carefully choosing her words. “We were talking about… a training ground. A place where we could get stronger.”

Stacia quickly added, “Somewhere filled with monsters, maybe but safe to access without trespassing on other demon territories.”

Sylvia raised an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes slightly. She knew they were deliberately avoiding the word leveling, a concept alien to this world. Still, Belial seemed to grasp their meaning, for a faint smile curved his lips.

But before he could reply, Seere raised her hand enthusiastically.

“Oh! I know just the place!” she said eagerly, stepping forward. “There’s a massive crater near the western region. It’s filled with Hellhounds fire hounds that live in eternal flames. They move in packs, and each one has power equivalent to a mid-level demon.” Her golden eyes glimmered playfully. “You can test your skills there. Though for me, they’re rather weak.”

Sylvia gave her a flat look, tension creeping into her expression. “Maybe for you. I’m not the daughter of a Demon King.”

Seere giggled. “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t help you… unless you die. Maybe.”

“Thank you for your incredible sympathy,” Sylvia replied dryly.

Alicia looked at Seere worriedly. “You said… do they come in large packs?”

Seere turned casually. “Yes. Depending on the time, it could be dozens… or hundreds. But they’re not very smart. They just run, bite, and burn everything.”

“Hundreds, she says…” Stacia murmured, her face paling slightly.

Sylvia exhaled slowly. “Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but… fine. Better than another floor guardian battle. I need a real battlefield.”

Before she could continue, Belial’s deep, calm voice cut through the air.

“I don’t object to you going there, Queen of Death,” he said in a tone that carried the weight of a test. “But your two sisters will not accompany you.”

Alicia straightened. “What? But we can help! We’re not that weak…”

Belial raised a hand, and the air trembled faintly, silencing her instantly.

“You are strong in soul magic and curses, but your focus is not direct combat. In that crater, the Hellhounds attack without pattern, and the air itself burns with eternal fire. Without special protection, you’ll be ashes before your first spell is cast.”

Alicia’s lips tightened, frustration visible, but she stayed silent.

Belial continued, “Instead, your talents will be honed better elsewhere.” He turned to his right, toward Lumielle. “You will train Stacia, won’t you?”

Lumielle smiled softly and bowed her head slightly. “Yes. I can help her deepen her understanding of supportive magic. She has remarkable potential, her mind is sharp and structured, but she restrains herself too much. I’ll correct that.”

Stacia froze for a second, then quickly bowed. “I… thank you, Lady Lumielle.”

Belial then turned left, his gaze sliding past Ithara before fixing on Alicia.

“And you will train with me.”

Alicia almost choked on air. “W-with you?”

Belial nodded slowly, the faintest grin forming on his lips. “You have an intriguing gift. A soul that can pierce the spiritual plane is rare even among demons. I want to see how far you can go.”

Alicia swallowed hard, then nodded. “A-all right.”

Silence settled again, until Sylvia spoke, her voice calm but heavy. “So I’m going there alone?”

Seere twirled lightly, her smile returning. “Not alone. I’ll go with you.”

Sylvia narrowed her eyes. “To make sure I don’t die, you mean?”

“To make sure you don’t run away,” Seere corrected brightly. Then, with a teasing smile, added, “And to keep myself entertained, of course.”

Belial shook his head slowly, though his eyes glimmered with amusement. “Try not to drive her mad, my daughter.”

“Ah, Father, I’m adorable,” Seere said with a grin that was anything but convincing.

Belial merely shrugged, then turned his attention to Sylvia. “You may use all your power, even your Death Aura. But remember, that crater is no playground. If you return in one piece, perhaps I’ll allow you to ascend to the next level.”

Sylvia’s crimson eyes burned with steady light. “I didn’t come here to play, Demon King. I came to see how far I can go before I lose myself.”

Belial studied her for a long moment, then smiled faintly. “A good answer.” Then he glanced toward Seere and, with an almost imperceptible wink, gave his silent approval.

Seere immediately understood. She looked at Sylvia and said softly, “Well, I guess it’s time.”

Before Sylvia could react, Seere had already grabbed her wrist. Time magic swirled around them, wind whispering, violet light blooming softly.

Alicia and Stacia stepped forward instinctively. “Sylvia…!”

But before they could reach her, the light burst gently like shattering crystal mist.

In an instant, Sylvia and Seere vanished from the hall, leaving Alicia and Stacia standing frozen amid the vast chamber surrounded by gods and demons who watched in silence.

Alicia lowered her head, clutching her staff tightly. “Please be safe…”

Stacia looked up toward the ceiling, her eyes shimmering faintly. “She always is… but I can’t stop worrying.”

Lumielle approached with a kind smile and laid a hand on Stacia’s shoulder. “That’s not a weakness, child. It means your heart is still human.”

Meanwhile, across the hall, Belial gazed at the empty space where the light had faded. A small smile lingered on his lips.

“And soon,” he murmured, “the underworld will learn why the heavens fear that queen.”

…

Heat slammed against Sylvia’s face the moment Seere’s teleportation light faded. She hadn’t even adjusted her vision when the stench of sulfur and ash filled her lungs if she still breathed like a human, that is.

The ground beneath her was a deep crimson, pulsing faintly like living flesh. Black smoke seeped from cracks in the surface, and in the distance, volcanoes belched rivers of molten fire.

But what annoyed her most wasn’t the blistering heat, it was that Seere had placed her right in the middle of a Hellhound pack.

Dozens of glowing red eyes surrounded her, emerging one by one from the shimmering haze. Their bodies were massive, twice the size of bears, skin glowing like burning coal, and every step they took left trails of sparks.

And in front of the pack, Seere stood calm, casual just outside their circle, smiling brightly as if she were sending off a friend to a picnic.

“Good luck, Sylvia! And be careful, okay?” she said cheerfully, waving.

Sylvia stared at her, deadpan, her patience on the verge of breaking. “You… DON’T YOU DARE…!!”

But before she could say the rest of the words that would have made the entire underworld tremble Seere vanished in a flash of violet light, leaving behind a soft laugh that faded into the sweltering air.

Sylvia stood motionless amid the pack of Hellhounds, her head lowering slightly.

She took a long, unnecessary breath just to steady herself. “Damn it… I knew she’d pull something like this.”

She glanced around dozens of crimson eyes now locked onto her. Low growls rumbled from every direction.

The first Hellhound stepped forward, its flaming tongue flicking like a whip. Others followed ten, twenty, fifty… there were far too many. They circled her, the air vibrating with heat and killing intent.

Sylvia narrowed her eyes. “All right then… I’ll trade your ‘good luck and be careful’ for ‘may you slipped later, Seere.'”

Chains of black iron slithered from her shadow with a metallic hiss, their tips glowing violet. Nether flames coiled around her, distorting the air with their rising heat.