CHAPTER 251: CHAPTER 248 – THE DAWN OF SPRING, THE DAWN OF CHAOS

Winter had finally ended. The snow that once buried rooftops and roads was beginning to melt, revealing pale, muddy earth beneath. From the window of her study, Sylvia stared intently at the outside of the castle: black trees that had stood rigid now dripped with water from their branches, and the thin mist of spring began to replace the biting cold that had suffocated the island for months.

But instead of relief, Sylvia’s chest only felt heavier.

On the black stone table before her, dozens of scrolls lay scattered. Thick black ink formed lines of words that brought no comfort: the Church’s forces had discovered gaps that had slipped past her surveillance.

The shadow zombies had worked tirelessly, combing the coastlines, forests, even the underground passages. But the island was too vast, and Sylvia knew that no matter how thorough her surveillance, there would always be a point overlooked. And now, according to the most recent report, that single point had grown into a large Church encampment not merely dozens, but hundreds of men, equipped with supplies and magical wards.

Sylvia snapped the last report shut with a sharp movement.

"...I’ve tried so hard. But still, there are gaps," she muttered, her voice hoarse and cold.

She leaned back against her large chair, staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes. Her crimson pupils glowed faintly, flickering in the dim torchlight.

"War is inevitable now. They’ve already planted their feet on this island."

Her hand rose, pressing against her temple. The headache that had haunted her these past days surged back again. And not only because the Church reports something else far more terrifying gnawed at her: the Underworld Gate.

With each passing day, its pulse grew stronger. A reddish-black glow could now be seen even from kilometers away, like the heartbeat of a primordial beast waiting to awaken. Sometimes faint roars and inhuman whispers could be heard, robbing the guards stationed there of any sleep.

And the worst part Sylvia had begun to suspect.

"It seems true..." she whispered, almost to herself. "Those gods are working together with the rulers of the Underworld. This chaos isn’t a coincidence... They want faith to flow to them. The more suffering, the more knees bent in prayer."

Her eyes closed, feeling the pounding in her temple, the stabbing pain. Of course everything felt so tightly knit. They wanted to trap her between two abysses: the Church on one side, the Underworld on the other.

The black chains drifted lazily around her chair, as if holding their mistress upright. Sylvia bowed her head, exhaling deeply.

"...troublesome."

If she let the gate open, she could use it. Fighting creatures of the Underworld would give her army real combat experience, and it would be her chance to raise her own level faster. If lucky, she might even seize new sources of power.

But the problem was simple: the Church wouldn’t sit idle.

If she busied herself with the Underworld, the Church would exploit the opening to strike her defenses. Thousands of zombies could fall in vain not from enemy might, but from poorly timed choices.

Sylvia pressed harder against her temple. "If I open the gate on purpose... the Church will seize the chance. If I close it... my level won’t rise, and I’ll face them weaker."

Her head spun. With a harsh movement, she rose from her chair and walked toward her chambers. Her black gown whispered across the stone floor, chains rattling restlessly like the tail of a serpent.

.....

The black-canopied bed greeted her in silence. Sylvia let her body drop onto the mattress, lying on her back, her gaze empty against the ceiling.

What should I do...?

For a moment, her mind tossed forth a mad idea, one that even made her grimace.

"...or... I should just let it all go. Destroy everything."

Her lips moved, words slipping unbidden. "Spread zombies across the world... let every being, human, elf, even beastkin... turn undead. If all become zombies, there will be no more war. The world will be quiet."

She chuckled faintly, bitterly, covering her face with the back of her hand. "Hah... that idea almost sounds good."

After all, wasn’t it the world’s avatar herself who once told her? That she must destroy the old order of the world, to rebuild anew. With an endless army of zombies, Sylvia could do it. No gods, no Church, no Underworld. Only her, and a world fully under her dominion.

But then, her smile faded. She rolled onto her side, her face half-hidden by her long black hair.

"...but what about Velthya?" she murmured softly. "What about the people of Anarats I once met? What about those who... are kind?"

Her hand clenched tight upon the black sheets. "If I destroy everything... isn’t that betraying them?"

She growled faintly, frustrated. "Arghhh... infuriating!"

Her head sank into the pillow, chains groaning around her.

For a moment, Sylvia felt mad, trapped between the desire to destroy everything and the duty to protect those she cared for.

The cold chamber was filled only with her breath. Spring might have arrived, but within Sylvia, winter had not yet ended.

.....

Minutes passed before she finally sat up again. Her face had turned cold once more, crimson eyes glowing in the chamber’s darkness.

"There’s no use being stuck between two thoughts. If I keep this up... I’ll truly go mad."

She stood, her gown rustling softly, chains curling around her body like armor. One thing was clear: war would come, sooner or later. And when it did, she could not afford to hesitate.

Sylvia looked out the window, to the haze of spring now settling over the land. "If gods and the Underworld want to trap me... then let’s see who falls into whose game first."

A thin smile curved her lips. Not one of relief, but of a queen prepared to drown the world in darkness, if that was the price.

.....

The next morning, spring’s mist floated over the castle courtyard. Blue flames still flickered along the walls, though sunlight had begun to pierce through. From the study, the rumble of chains echoed Sylvia had already buried herself back in plans.

War was drawing closer. And Sylvia knew she could no longer just wait.

The clink of chains reverberated softly in the study. Sylvia stood tall before the great table of maps and reports, her crimson eyes glowing in the blue torchlight. She stretched out her hand, and her black chains struck a small bell in the corner. Its sharp ting rang through the halls, a signal understood only by her closest.

Soon, quick footsteps approached down the corridor.

Celes entered first. Her cloak shimmered damp from the spring mist, sword at her hip radiating a sharp, cold aura. Behind her, Aurellia stepped in with a leather-bound grimoire in hand, her crimson hair stirred by the wind that slipped through.

Not long after, Alicia and Stacia followed. Their contrast was stark: Alicia with her pale-blue staff glowing with a calm aura, Stacia clutching a thick grimoire, her face composed but calculating.

They all stood before Sylvia, forming a half-circle. Tense, yet filled with respect.

"What’s happened, Sylvia?" Celes asked directly, eyes narrowing. "We just arranged the coastal defenses. Has another gap appeared?"

Sylvia’s gaze swept across them, then pointed to the map sprawled across the table. Black pins marked several points mostly along the coast, some near the Underworld Gate.

"The situation worsens," she said coldly. "The Church has found the gaps. They’ve built large encampments there. Not dozens... but hundreds, perhaps even thousands. And that doesn’t count the warships anchored farther out."

Aurellia closed her book slowly, face tightening. "So... they’re already prepared to march. Just waiting for the snow to finish melting."

"Yes." Sylvia tapped the table with her fingertip. "And at the same time, the Underworld Gate grows more active. Its glow stronger, the roars inside louder. If it opens at the same time as the Church invasion, our forces will be trapped between two sides."

Silence gripped the chamber. Only the blue torches hissed softly, as if waiting too.

Celes stepped forward, both hands on the table. "We can’t allow two fronts to open at once. The question is: which must we face first?"

Sylvia exhaled, crimson eyes reflecting the torchlight. "That’s what makes my head ache. If we deal with the Underworld first, the Church will strike from behind. If we focus on the Church, the Gate might spew horrors stronger than anything you’ve ever seen."

Stacia lifted her gaze from her grimoire. Her voice was flat, but firm. "There’s a third option. We can pit one side against the other."

All eyes turned to her.

"Explain," Sylvia commanded.

Stacia flipped several pages. "The Underworld Gate... the creatures that emerge have no allies. They destroy whatever is before them. If we open a small breach enough to let some out they may clash directly with the Church encampments near the towers or coastlines."

Aurellia immediately shook her head. "That’s far too risky! Those creatures are too strong. What if they surge straight into the island’s heart?"

"It is risky," Stacia replied calmly. "But leaving two open fronts is worse. At least, by letting them fight each other, we conserve our forces."

Celes turned to Sylvia, eyes sharp with calculation. "It’s possible. But if you choose this, we’ll need additional wards, in case the creatures turn our way."

Sylvia did not answer immediately. She lowered her gaze, fingers tapping against the black stone table, chains swaying uneasily around her.

"...an interesting idea," she murmured.

Finally, Alicia spoke, her voice gentle but firm. "Sylvia, are you certain you want to take that risk? I know you want to grow stronger by fighting the Underworld’s spawn. But if miscalculated, not only you fall. The entire island too."

Sylvia met her gaze for a long moment, crimson eyes glowing. "You’re right. That’s exactly what I thought. My level rises quickly fighting them. And if I don’t grow higher now, when the Church descends with their gods... even I could be cornered."

Silence again.

Celes slapped the table hard. "Then we divide our forces. Not all to one front. We’ll make a flexible defense line."

Sylvia turned to her. "Do you have a plan?"

"Yes." Celes’s eyes gleamed sharp. "We place the core forces vampires, dark elves, and beastkin near the island’s center. They can move to any side quickly, whether coast or gate. Meanwhile, your Rank 4 zombies remain stationed at the vital points. That buys us time to react, not just endure."

Aurellia nodded slowly. "I can add short-range teleport nodes across the island. Not permanent like the Church’s, but enough to move core units within minutes. That will give us flexibility."

Stacia closed her book, her gaze deep. "And I’ll prepare a containment spell, a large-scale Deadlock Field. If Underworld creatures emerge, we can confine them before they spread. You’re the only one with enough energy to power it, Sylvia."

The room’s atmosphere shifted. From a tense dilemma, it became a strategic calculation. All eyes fixed on Sylvia, awaiting her choice.

She studied them one by one: Celes with her sharp gaze, Aurellia with her calm mastery of magic, Alicia with her quiet care, Stacia with her cold logic.

At last, Sylvia sighed deeply. A thin smile cold but resolute curved her lips.

"...Fine. We’ll do it that way. Core forces in the center, Rank 4 zombies at the vital points, emergency teleportation built, and the containment spell prepared."

She paused, crimson eyes glowing brighter.

"If the gods and the Underworld truly conspire together... then we’ll make them collide with each other. This world has long been their board game. It’s time I move the pieces instead."

Celes smiled faintly, hand tapping her sword’s hilt. "That sounds more like the Sylvia I know."

Aurellia shut her book, her eyes alight with new resolve. "Then let us begin."

Stacia nodded softly. "War is at the door. There’s no room left for doubt."

Alicia only gazed at Sylvia with a gentle smile, as if silently saying: don’t bear this burden alone.