I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 363 - 359 – Unexpected Guests in the Castle Garden
In the castle garden, time seemed to stand still.
Thin black mist drifted lazily among the dark-blooming black roses, their leaves glistening like wet obsidian. The dead pond reflected a faint purple crystal light, small ripples appearing now and then without wind, as if the water itself were breathing slowly. The scent of fresh black mushrooms mingled with cold gusts that carried distant battlefield smells: scorched metal, dried blood, and faintly echoing thunder.
Sylvia remained seated on the black stone bench, legs crossed elegantly, her black dress unmoving even when the occasional breeze brushed the hem. The Chain of Abyss coiled loosely around her wrist like a sleeping living bracelet. The teacup in front of her was already empty, yet she made no call for anyone to refill it. Her bright red eyes gazed northward where Aurellia’s red flames still burned faintly in the distance, but her expression stayed flat and calm like the surface of the dead pond.
Sofia sat beside her, golden hair cascading freely, her twelve wings neatly folded. She no longer rested her head on Sylvia’s shoulder. Her golden eyes glowed softly, though a small crease lingered on her forehead that she couldn’t hide. Her left hand held a cup of now-cold tea, fingers occasionally tapping the ceramic rim.
"Ten archangels... and an avatar of Thor," Sofia murmured quietly, almost to herself. "They’re really throwing everything they have now."
Sylvia gave only a small nod, not replying immediately.
Alicia still leaned against the dead tree trunk, her semi-transparent spirit body shimmering faintly whenever lightning from the north slipped through the mist. She wore a wide, almost cheerful smile like a child watching a circus performance.
"Wow, Thor himself has descended," she said with a soundless chuckle. "I’m almost jealous. I want to see how hard his head would be if it got hit by the Chain of Abyss."
Stacia hovered low, her feet nearly brushing the black grass. Gray mist wrapped around her body like a thin cloak, her fallen angel wings tightly closed. On her lap lay an open book not an ancient grimoire, not a dusty spellbook, but a slim novel titled Love Amid the Storm. The final page was already open, yet she wasn’t reading anymore. Her eyes occasionally flicked north, then returned to the book, as if deciding the battle wasn’t more interesting than the romance plot she was following.
"If Thor really came down, maybe we’ll finally get a worthy climax," she said flatly while turning a page. "But if he just poses while brandishing his hammer... I’ll be disappointed."
Little Treant, nestled in Sofia’s lap, wriggled gently, its small branches moving as though yawning.
"Plop... plop..." (Smell of god... big smell...)
Sylvia finally spoke, her voice still soft but carrying a piercing cold edge.
"They think this is the end. Ten archangels and Thor’s avatar... they believe that’s enough to crush us."
She looked up at the sky, toward the north where blinding white light was growing brighter, heavier.
"But they forgot one thing," she continued quietly. "Nocturne is not a city that waits to be destroyed. Nocturne is a city that waits for them to come... so it can show why we are called the city of death."
Sofia bit her lower lip lightly. "Aurellia is alone there right now. Even though Celes, Zark, and Velthya have joined... ten archangels..."
Before Sofia could finish, the air in the garden suddenly trembled.
CRACK
Space on the eastern side of the garden tore open like ripped fabric.
Two figures stepped out from the rift.
The first was Lumielle, the goddess from another world who had once been Sylvia’s ally long ago. Her long golden hair shone brightly, sapphire-blue eyes glowing softly, her white dress fluttering like morning mist. Behind her came Ithara, the Star Goddess, her black hair adorned with twinkling stars. Both goddesses looked confused, even slightly hurried.
Lumielle spoke first, her voice gentle yet filled with concern.
"Sylvia... we sensed immense power in this world. We thought you were fighting for your life. We came to help..."
She stopped mid-sentence as she took in the scene before her.
Sylvia sat leisurely on the black stone bench. Sofia beside her with a cup of cold tea. Alicia smiles brightly while giving a small wave. Stacia is still reading her novel with a bored expression. Little Treant raising its branches in greeting.
Lumielle’s eyes widened.
"...you’re... having tea?"
Ithara frowned, her hand still gripping her bow and arrow.
"I thought we were arriving on a battlefield, not a tea party."
Sylvia gave a faint, cold smile the kind she rarely showed to anyone except Sofia.
"You arrived at the perfect time," she said softly. "But the main war hasn’t truly begun yet. What’s happening now is only a warm-up."
Lumielle and Ithara exchanged glances, still incredulous.
Before they could ask more...
CRACK...
Space tore open again on the other side of the garden this time more roughly, more violently.
Seere stepped out from the rift.
Her long purple hair whipped wildly, blood-red eyes blazing with excitement. Her black robe moved as though alive, and her wide grin immediately locked onto Sylvia.
"Sylvia! I came "
She leaped forward, arms open for a hug.
But before she could reach Sylvia...
WHOOSH!
Sofia was already standing in front of Sylvia in an instant, twelve wings spread wide, left hand raised to block the path. Her golden eyes burned sharply, a rare cold tone in her voice.
"Don’t come any closer."
Seere froze mid-air, arms still open, her expression shifting from joy to a pout.
"Eh? Sofia, why so mean? I just wanted to hug Sylvia a little~"
Sofia didn’t budge. "You know the rules. No touching her without permission."
Seere puffed out her cheeks, but her eyes remained fixed on Sylvia behind Sofia.
"Sylvia... Sofia’s so strict today..."
Sylvia let out a soft sigh, though a trace of warmth flickered in her eyes as she looked at Sofia.
"It’s fine, Sofia. Let her through."
Sofia slowly lowered her hand, though her gaze remained wary.
Seere immediately leaped forward again this time more carefully and landed beside Sylvia’s bench, though she didn’t dare hug her. She simply sat on the black grass, legs swinging like a child’s.
"I sensed huge power in the north. I thought you were in trouble, so I rushed over. But... Why is everyone just chilling?"
Lumielle and Ithara approached, now standing on the other side of the bench.
Lumielle looked around with a bewildered expression.
"You’re really not fighting? We thought..."
Sylvia cut in calmly.
"We are fighting. It’s just... not us doing the fighting."
She looked north again. The blinding white light from the ten archangels and Thor’s avatar was still clearly visible, even from afar.
"But now," she continued softly, "the main force has appeared. Ten archangels and Thor himself. Aurellia, Celes, Zark, and Velthya are facing them."
Seere grinned widely.
"Wow, sounds fun! Can I join the game?"
Sofia shot her a sharp look. "No."
Seere pouted again.
Alicia laughed softly. "If you join, the war might end too quickly. Sylvia wants the people of Nocturne to learn to stand on their own."
Stacia closed her novel gently.
"And if you interfere, the plot becomes too chaotic. I still want to know the ending."
Lumielle let out a long sigh, then smiled gently.
"Very well. In that case, we’ll wait here with you. If the situation truly worsens..."
Sylvia shook her head lightly.
"Not yet. Aurellia and the others can still handle this. And if they cannot..."
She glanced at the Chain of Abyss, which was now trembling more intensely.
"...then it will be our turn."
Silence fell over the garden for a moment.
In the distance, Thor’s thunder grew louder. The holy light of the ten archangels began merging into one massive, blinding beam that pierced the sky.
But in the castle garden, the teacups on the table still held a trace of warmth.
Sylvia raised her empty cup, gazing northward.
"Let us see... how far they can endure before we step in."
Sofia gently clasped Sylvia’s hand.
"Together."
Sylvia gave a small nod.
"Always."
The unexpected guests now gathered around the small obsidian table Lumielle and Ithara with bewildered but battle-ready expressions, Seere still pouting but unable to hide her excitement, Alicia smiling cheerfully, Stacia reopening her novel, and Little Treant wriggling happily.
Far away, the holy light of the ten archangels fused completely, forming a gigantic beam like a divine spear stabbing the heavens. Thor’s avatar raised Mjolnir high; blue lightning crackled violently around the hammer, making the air feel heavy even all the way to the castle garden.
Lumielle swallowed hard, her hand gripping her staff of light that suddenly felt cold. "That... is the power we felt from our worlds. Ten archangels together, and Thor himself. Sylvia, if they attack all at once..."
Ithara had already half-drawn her bow, the stars in her hair flickering anxiously. "We’re ready to join right now."
Seere jumped up from the grass, red eyes blazing with enthusiasm. "Come on! It’s been forever since I got to go big! Sylvia, please let me~"
Sofia glared at her again, but this time didn’t block her. She only tightened her grip on Sylvia’s hand.
Stacia marked her page with her index finger and sighed dramatically. "Finally, the climax arrives. I just hope it doesn’t end too fast."
Alicia floated closer, her spirit body glowing brighter. "If Thor throws that hammer at the city... Can I catch it first?"
Little Treant raised both branches high. "Plop plop plop!" (I want to grow big now!)
Sylvia remained silent for a moment, staring north. The Chain of Abyss on her wrist vibrated even more fiercely, as though sensing divine blood about to be spilled.
Then she raised her empty teacup, as if toasting the distant battlefield.
"Not yet," she said softly, her voice calm like undisturbed mist. "Let them fight first. Let the people of Nocturne witness... that they can stand without our shadow."
She lowered the cup, her pitch-black eyes flashing coldly.
"But if even one of them falls..."
A faint smile curved her lips, a smile that sent chills through every guest in the garden.
"...then tonight, the world will remember why Nocturne is called the city of death."
