CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER 246 – SHADOWS AT THE EDGE OF WINTER

Winter was nearly over, yet the air still bit deeply, as if unwilling to loosen its grip on the Isle of Darkness. Snow that had once buried rooftops was slowly receding, leaving hardened heaps along the roadside and thin sheets of ice clinging to the branches. The sun lingered longer in the sky, but its light was pale, only enough to make the snow glare.

Inside the black castle rising proudly amid the white expanse, Sylvia sat in her study. Maps stretched across the broad table, marked with black pins at key points along the coastline, forests, mountain borders, and even the underground tunnels uncovered by the zombie shadows. Black chains hovered around her, occasionally tapping against the table’s surface as though they too pondered strategy with their mistress.

Reports arrived without end. The zombie shadows spread across the island were tireless eyes that never slept. In just the past week, Sylvia had received more than thirty accounts of small ships approaching from the east and south.

These vessels weren’t mere fishermen or merchants. They moved in organized fashion, most carrying supplies, timber, and magic stones, the typical materials used for building teleportation circles.

"...good thing I spread you all out," Sylvia murmured, her crimson eyes scanning the report inked in dark strokes across parchment.

The moment a circle was etched into the soil, the shadows relayed it. Within minutes, the zombie mages stationed along the coast unleashed destructive spells, flashes of violet, fireballs, and black lightning that obliterated the circle’s foundation before it could activate.

So far, not a single ship has succeeded in planting a permanent circle. But Sylvia knew these were only trials. The Church would not stop.

.....

She leaned back in her chair, scarlet pupils glimmering faintly. Her thoughts drifted to the races now under her banner.

The vampires, once arrogant, had bowed after their king was defeated. Their blood was useful for her undead armies, though Sylvia herself never drank it.

The dark elves, infamous for striking down intruders, had instead welcomed her after long negotiations with their elder. Black beastkin from the west, shadow-born humans dwelling in the ruins of ancient cities, and the dark ogres of the snowy mountains all had joined her ranks.

Not every conquest came peacefully. Some demanded blood and bone, battles that claimed lives. But to Sylvia, such things were necessities. The sooner they submitted, the sooner preparations could begin for the true enemy.

She closed her eyes for a moment. "Every creature on this island... already mine. All that remains is time."

.....

A knock at the door broke her reverie. The black chains moved of their own accord, opening it without command. A zombie servant entered, bowing deeply, and laid a rolled parchment on the table.

"A report from the west, my Queen," its rasping monotone echoed.

Sylvia unrolled it, her gaze sweeping quickly across the tidy, frigid handwriting.

The Underworld Gate.

Her heart thumped once, hard.

The report was clear: the rift in the air that formed the portal to the underworld had begun to pulse again. Faint red-black light seeped between the stones, signaling the weakening of the seal. Shadows stationed there reported the temperature rising sharply despite snow still blanketing the land.

Her fingers tapped against the table. "So soon..."

She had expected the gate would not stay sealed forever. Yet the timing was cruel: as the Church prepared for a massive strike, the underworld stirred as well. Two threats, arriving at once.

Sylvia rose. Her gown whispered as it moved, black chains coiling in the air.

"Call them here."

.....

It wasn’t long before her study was filled with familiar figures. Celes entered first, clad in a thick black cloak, her longsword at her hip radiating spatial sharpness. Aurellia followed, crimson hair unbound, her left hand clutching a leather-bound spellbook.

Alicia and Stacia came next Alicia with her staff tipped by a glowing blue lantern, Stacia with a thick grimoire held close. Both appeared calm, though their eyes reflected the weight of seriousness.

Sylvia stood at the end of the table, surveying them one by one. "The situation is worsening faster than expected. Church ships are arriving more frequently, though so far every teleportation circle has been destroyed. But there is another problem."

She pushed the report to the center of the table. "The Underworld Gate is stirring again."

Silence gripped the room.

Celes frowned. "How much?"

"Not fully open. But the seal is weakening. If left unchecked... creatures from below could emerge at any time."

Aurellia clenched her hand over the table. "We can’t fight both the Church and the underworld. They’ll grind us down from both sides."

"That’s why I’ve already prepared the next step," Sylvia replied coolly. She lifted her hand, and from the air itself ten figures materialized.

Zombie Rank 4.

Their aura filled the chamber with suffocating death. They were tall, imposing some clad in cracked black armor, others wielding strange weapons forged of bone and metal. Their eyes glowed with deep crimson, radiating a will far stronger than ordinary zombies.

Alicia stared at them, eyes widening. "Rank 4... ten of them."

"They are remnants from the Dungeon Tower of Zombies," Sylvia explained. "At first, arrogant, refusing to bow. But once they saw me... they knelt immediately."

Celes narrowed her eyes, lips curving faintly. "As expected. You’re unlike any undead ruler before."

Sylvia dismissed the remark. Instead, she raised her hand, issuing orders.

"Eight of you go to the coasts. Guard the sea borders. If any Church ship approaches, sink it before it touches land. The remaining two... stay at the Underworld Gate. Hold back anything that tries to emerge."

The ten Rank 4 zombies bowed as one, then vanished into shadow. Their oppressive aura dissolved, leaving the chamber quiet once more.

Stacia shut her book gently. "A strong move, Sylvia. But... what if the gate fully opens at the same time as the Church’s assault?"

Sylvia turned to the window, where the snowstorm was finally easing, the sky paling. "If that happens..." She paused, her scarlet eyes glowing cold. "...then we endure. No matter what. There will be no other choice."

.....

When the council dispersed, Sylvia sat alone again in her study. Outside, the wind still blew, yet faint birdsong hinted at spring’s approach.

She closed her eyes briefly, sensing the faint pulses of her forces scattered far and wide thousands of zombies, vampires, dark elves, beastkin, ogres... all now in her command. A vast strength, but also a crushing weight.

Her hand lifted, brushing against one of the black chains coiling lazily through the air. "All of this... for one purpose. This world must not fall again."

Yet deep in her heart, Sylvia knew it wasn’t only this world she fought for. There was Sofia, waiting for her in another world. A promise yet unfulfilled.

And before that promise, she would have to survive the coming spring, a season where snow and blood might mingle as one.

.....

Morning turned to noon, and more reports flowed in. Shadows in the east reported larger Church vessels approaching not just small boats, but warships, sails bearing golden crosses. Luckily, zombie mages struck them swiftly with spells, sinking them before they drew close.

Elsewhere, the Underworld Gate pulsed harder, its red glow visible even from afar. The two Rank 4 zombies stationed there reported faint noises seeping through roars of creatures that had no place in this world.

Sylvia set the report aside, her gaze lifting to the brightening sky.

"Winter ends. The next storm won’t be snow... but blood."

.....

Sylvia still sat in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly against the cold black surface of the table

The two Rank 4 zombies she had stationed there were indeed powerful, but Sylvia knew well what lurked behind that gate. Creatures of the underworld were no mere monsters; they were remnants of primordial chaos filled with hatred, bloodthirst, and utterly unpredictable.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then exhaled.

"...two alone won’t be enough."

Sylvia rose, the hem of her gown whispering softly as she walked toward the tall window half-frosted over. From there, she could see the snowy expanse beginning to thaw, streaks of mud emerging in the distance.

Her crimson pupils glowed. With a thought, she summoned the two Rank 4 zombies who had been en route to the gate. They halted their journey and returned to the castle, appearing once more before their queen.

"My Queen," their voices rumbled in unison.

Sylvia studied them for a long moment, her crimson gaze piercing. "You both know it’s not enough. If that gate opens... the things that come out will not be something a small force can contain."

Both bowed low, as if conceding the truth of their weakness.

"Listen well." Sylvia raised her hand, black chains slowly circling her body. "Rally the forces. I want more than a thousand stationed there. Let the majority be zombies, even Rank 3 or lower, it doesn’t matter. They will serve as the first wall. The rest... draw from the other races under my banner. Dark elves, beastkin, ogres any who are willing to fight."

One of the Rank 4 zombies lifted his head slightly. "Are you certain, my Queen? To commit so much strength to a single gate"

Sylvia’s gaze sharpened, a cold smile curving her lips. "This isn’t a sacrifice. It’s prevention. If that gate opens without sufficient defense, what pours out will be a calamity greater than anything the Church could bring."

Silence weighed heavy in the room. Then both Rank 4 zombies knelt in unison, their voices deep with submission. "Your command will be carried out."

"Good," Sylvia replied curtly, flicking her hand. Shadows swallowed their bodies, returning them to the frontlines to fulfill her orders.