I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 407 - 404 – Regeneration and Shadows

The following days passed in a deliberately fragile calm within the city of Nocture. The black mist that usually shrouded the area remained thick, but the dim morning sunlight began to filter through more often, as if nature itself was granting a little breathing room after the fierce battle at the riverbank. The sounds of city life returned to normal: merchant carts rumbled along the stone streets, the aroma of black bread and smoked meat wafted from small markets, and the footsteps of undead and brave human residents sounded like an undisturbed daily rhythm.

Inside the main castle, the healing process progressed quickly thanks to the natural regeneration possessed by every core resident of Nocture.

Velthya was the first to recover fully. As a lycanthrope who had received a direct blessing from Fenrir, her regenerative ability was extraordinary. Within just two days, the deep wounds on her ribs and shoulders had closed completely. Her silver-gray fur regained its shine, and her wolf ears and tail moved nimbly. She could already run across the castle courtyard in her humanoid wolf form, testing the strength of her legs with powerful leaps THUD THUD THUD. "Still a bit stiff," she grumbled while rolling her shoulders, "but enough to rip the throat of anyone who dares come close."

Sofia followed not long after. Her holy angelic physique allowed her golden wings to heal smoothly. On the third day, her broken wings were fully restored, though still somewhat stiff. She flew slowly above the castle courtyard, her ten golden wings fluttering gently, soft holy light illuminating the black stones below. "I can finally fly again," she said with a tired but happy smile as she landed on the balcony. The burns and cracks on her body had almost completely disappeared without a trace.

Alicia woke earlier than expected. Because her body was purely spiritual, she had no significant physical wounds. The soul exhaustion from the fusion was her only issue. On the morning of the fourth day, she was already sitting upright by the stone altar, her transparent body glowing again with healthy pitch-black color. "I’m strong enough now," she said in her soft, cold voice. "I just need a little more time to readjust the soul flow after the fusion."

Stacia woke after Alicia. Her fallen angel body had been quite damaged during the fusion. The twelve black wings that had appeared when merging with Sylvia and Alicia had forced an abrupt evolution on her original eight wings. Now that the fusion had broken apart, her wings had returned to eight, though they were still somewhat weak and some feathers were damaged. "My wings... are back to normal," she muttered while gently moving her black wings in the healing chamber. "But they feel stronger than before. It’s as if some residual power from the fusion remains."

Celes and Aurellia’s healing progressed fairly quickly even though they were ordinary humans. Their wounds were not as severe as the others’ only dimensional cuts, burn wounds, and heavy bruises. By the fifth day, Celes could already practice with her crystal sword in slow movements in the courtyard SHIIING SHIIING although her Spatial Severance was not yet as strong as usual. Aurellia could also summon small dark red flames at her fingertips again, laughing softly when the fire burned steadily. "Still far from full Inferno Abyss, but enough to burn foolish enemies."

The slowest to recover was Sylvia.

Her zombie body had already healed all physical wounds by the second day cuts and bruises had vanished without a trace. However, her soul and core power had not yet recovered. The first-ever fusion of three souls had been too heavy for the body that served as its center. She remained lying on the main black stone altar, her long black hair spread like dark silk, her breathing slow and steady. Her beautiful face was pale, but the dark aura around her began to rise slowly each day, like black mist gradually thickening.

Nocture itself continued very normally on the surface. The markets were bustling, zombie patrols continued, but the intensity of guarding had been deliberately reduced. The gates were no longer heavily guarded like the first few days, the number of patrols on the walls was decreased, and Zark even ordered some zombies to rest in the barracks in shifts. All of this was under Sofia’s direct orders before she herself had fully recovered.

"We’re deliberately making them think we’ve let our guard down," Sofia explained one afternoon as she spoke with Zark on the castle balcony. "Let our enemies believe that Sylvia, Stacia, and Alicia are still weak. Let them think this is an opportunity. The bolder they become, the easier it will be for us to crush them later."

Zark nodded with a cynical smile. "A good strategy, Miss Sofia. The troops are ready. We’ve only reduced the visible numbers. Underground and in the surrounding forests, the reserve forces remain fully alert. If anyone dares to attack, they’ll walk straight into a trap."

Indeed, some scouting groups from outside had begun to appear bolder. On the sixth day, a group of human mercenaries was seen approaching within sixty meters of the southern wall before retreating again. On the seventh night, several minor Greek gods were spotted floating in the distance, observing the castle with hopeful eyes. But none actually attacked. The fear of the "giant claw owner" from the dimensional rift the previous night was still too fresh in their memories.

In the underground chamber, Noir’s evolution process was nearing its end. Its low roars were now deeper and filled with new power. Its thirty-meter body had grown to nearly forty meters, and its undead scales gleamed with a deeper pitch-black color, accented by faint red veins similar to the Elder Dragon’s. "GRRRROOOAAARRR..." Its roar echoed softly, making the castle floor tremble lightly.

Velthya often visited Sylvia’s healing chamber. She sat beside the altar, her wolf tail swishing slowly. "Sylvia... wake up soon. Nocture feels empty without your cold presence."

Alicia, who had already recovered, often stood beside Sylvia, gently touching her forehead. "Our souls are still connected. She just needs time to reorganize the power of three souls within one body. Don’t worry."

Stacia, with her eight black wings almost fully healed, spent her time reading her grimoire that had separated again, trying to understand the residual fusion power that still lingered inside her. "It feels... like a new door has opened. But the door is still too heavy to open alone."

Sofia took full responsibility for running Nocture while Sylvia was unconscious. She flew slowly above the city every evening, her gentle golden wing light giving the residents a sense of security. "We are strong," she said one day to a group of nervous merchants. "Sylvia is only resting after a great battle. When she wakes up, Nocture will be stronger than before."

On the ninth night, the wind grew slightly colder. In the forest outside the walls, more shadows moved. Zark reported to Sofia that several groups were beginning to gather a mix of human hunters, dark cultists, and possibly envoys from small envious pantheons. But they were still hesitant, waiting for a clearer sign that Nocture was truly weak.

In the main healing chamber, Sylvia finally showed clear signs of progress. Her fingers moved more frequently, her brows furrowed slightly as if fighting a nightmare. The dark aura around her body had grown thick enough to make the air in the room feel heavy and cold. Small Chains of Abyss began to faintly appear around her wrists, clinking softly CLINK... CLINK... as if wanting to return to their master.

Alicia smiled faintly when she saw it. "She will wake up soon. And when that happens... those who are scouting outside will regret thinking Nocture was vulnerable."

Velthya growled in agreement, her sharp teeth glinting. "Let them come. I’m getting tired of waiting."

Sofia stood on the castle balcony, looking down at the dark city below. The deliberately reduced number of zombie patrols moved casually, as if there were no threats. But hidden in the shadows, hundreds of reserve troops stood ready.

The night grew deeper when a soft clinking sound came from inside the main healing chamber. The faintly visible Chains of Abyss around Sylvia’s wrists moved slowly CLINK... CLINK... like chains coming back to life. The dark aura around the black stone altar grew thicker, causing the rune candles in the room to flicker unsteadily.

Alicia, who was sitting beside her, immediately turned, her ghostly eyes glowing softly. "She’s starting to wake up."

Velthya, who had been leaning against the wall, stood up quickly, her wolf ears erect. "Finally."

Sofia entered the room with quick steps, her golden wings half-open. She approached the altar and gently touched Sylvia’s hand. "Sylvia... Can you hear us?"

Sylvia’s eyelids fluttered slowly. For the first time in nine days, her cold red eyes opened slightly. Her gaze was still blurry, but there was awareness in it. Her lips moved faintly, her voice hoarse and weak.

"...How... long...?"

"Nine days, Sylvia," Sofia answered with a soft, relieved voice. "You fought too hard during the fusion. Your body needed time to contain the power of the three of us."

Sylvia tried to sit up, but her body was still too weak. She could only lift her head slightly before leaning back again. "Nocture... safe?"

"Still safe," Velthya said with a fierce smile. "Zark and the zombie troops have been guarding it well. We deliberately reduced the visible guards on my orders. Let the enemies think we’ve let our guard down."

Alicia touched Sylvia’s forehead, sending a bit of her spirit energy. "Rest first. Your physical wounds healed long ago, but our souls still need to adjust. That fusion... was heavier than we expected."

Stacia entered the room shortly after, her eight black wings neatly folded behind her. "My grimoire also still feels the residual fusion power. It seems we all received a little ’gift’ from that event."

Outside the castle, the night wind blew stronger. In the edge forest, the increasingly bold scouting groups began to gather. They saw the reduced zombie patrols and thought this was a golden opportunity. Greedy whispers could be heard among the dark trees.

"The Queen of Death is still unconscious... this is the time."

"But be careful. The holy angel and that wolf have been seen moving."

"No problem. We will attack tonight too."

Zark, standing on the tower, smiled coldly as he received the report from the shadow troops. "Let them get a little closer. The traps are ready."