Chapter 162: Chapter 162 – The Call from the North
Morning sunlight gently filtered through the thin curtains of Sylvia’s old room, casting a warm pattern across the worn wooden floorboards that creaked with age. Sylvia opened her eyes slowly, allowing herself a few more moments of repose than usual. The air in the room still carried the scent of slightly damp old wood, but it felt comforting. The soft chirping of small birds outside the window added to the sense that the world was at peace at least, for this morning.
The aroma of wood smoke, herbal tea, and toasted bread tempted her senses all coming from the kitchen below, as it always did. For a moment, Sylvia closed her eyes again, imagining herself not as a queen or undead leader, not as the focal point of gods or mortals, but simply as Sylvia the stranger from another world who had once been lost and welcomed into this home.
But that reverie couldn’t last long.
Reality swept in like a cold breeze through a cracked window. She sat at the bedside, took a deep breath, and began donning her gear piece by piece. The dark Dress of Death wrapped around her like a cloak of night. Black gloves climbed gracefully to her elbows, elegant yet lethal. Black stockings and rune-etched boots made her steps silent but certain.
Her Rapier of Night, imbued with dark magic, hung at her waist. The Agility Ring glowed softly on her middle finger. And when she placed the Abyssal Regalia the dark, spiked crown on her head, her reflection in the small mirror revealed her true identity: no longer a wanderer, but a force even the gods reckon with.
On the small bedside table lay a handwritten note from Velthya, penned with warm care:
"I’ve gone to the town hall briefly. Breakfast is in the kitchen. If you wish to leave earlier, this home is always open to you. Always."
Sylvia let her fingers trace the words before folding the note and tucking it behind her glove. She descended to the kitchen, sipped warm herbal tea, and tasted a slice of toast unhurried, unchilled, just calm.
Then, as if summoned by duty, she rose and stepped outside. On the porch, she paused to look at the wild, beautiful garden. In its center stood a small stone statue of a wolf a symbol of her past that refused to fade.
"I must go," she murmured.
Her steps down the narrow street were steady. The sun had not yet fully risen, and a light mist clung to the blue-roofed buildings. A few early risers glanced her way but quickly returned to their routines. Sylvia paid no mind, walking toward the city gate where a broader world awaited.
The guard at the gate, who had recognized her the previous day, immediately stood at attention and saluted. Sylvia gave a slight nod no farewells, just a determined stride toward fate.
Once beyond the gate, she increased her pace. The forest she crossed yesterday now felt like a corridor of memories, guiding her from peace back to war. Her feet glowed with magic as she ran, the wind sweeping her dress and whipping leaves into the air around her.
Soon, the mist-shrouded gate of the old castle came into view. The aura of another world pulsed behind its weathered stones proof that the time of peace had ended. The high gate stood strong, surrounded by mossy columns and cracked pillars but that place was alive, protected by unseen forces.
A familiar voice rang in her mind, laced with irony:
"Finally you return. I thought you’d never come back."
Sylvia halted a few meters from the gate. Celes leaned against a stone pillar, arms crossed, her gaze as sharp as ever.
"Ah, sorry. But it shouldn’t be an issue, right? I was gone for just two days," Sylvia replied calmly, though she knew the fatigue on Celes’ face was real.
"Two days can create many problems. A Beastkin envoy arrived while you were absent staying here overnight, and frankly, they’re upset at not meeting the ’Dark World ruler’ in person."
Sylvia exhaled, raising an eyebrow. "Are they brutal?"
"Not brutal but bold. A typical mountain clan. One wrong move could spark a minor conflict."
Celes’ tone dropped. "And there’s more. Arwen the hero you once encountered is still active. According to Aurelia, he’s empowered by a new force. Our informants suggest the central military is gearing up for a large deployment and their target is likely this place."
Sylvia’s features hardened. She stared at the castle shrouded in magical mist. The air trembled lightly with her rising anger.
"Just two days and they’re already mobilizing?" she murmured.
"The world is impatient, Sylvia. They’re watching for any tiny opportunity."
Sylvia closed her eyes, then gazed upward through thick mist toward the sky, as if whispering to a distant entity Luminelle.
"You said you didn’t want mass bloodshed... but this world can’t avoid it. They started it not me."
The air around her tightened, and Celes recognized the decision made in that moment. Sylvia stepped through the castle gate, her dress billowing and the shadow of her crown stretching across stone.
"Begin preparing a hall. I want to hear the Beastkin envoy in person. Also, instruct Aurelia to strengthen our surveillance network within the human territories. The world is moving we must stay three steps ahead."
Celes nodded and slipped into a side corridor.
Sylvia strode to the main hall. As she passed towering windows, the mist outside thinned as though aware the Queen had returned to her throne.
And in the world beyond, gods and men readied themselves to shake everything.
But within this fortress, the echo of her footsteps resonated alone, amid stone walls and candlelight.
She took her seat in the meeting hall, waiting for the Beastkin envoy. She closed her eyes to steel her resolve, and then reopened them, ready for whatever came next.
[STATUS – SYLVIA HORTENSIA]
Name: Sylvia Hortensia
Race: Morteluna (Rank 4 – Special Elite Zombie)
Element: Death, Nether Wood, Nether Flame
Level: 86 / 100
STATS
HP: 252,800 / 252,800
MP: 58,000 / 58,000
STR: 27,600
VIT: 252,800
INT: 16,800
AGI: 42,000
LUK: ERROR
Sylvia stared at the status screen blankly and muttered softly,"From level 52 to 86... I guess I’ve grown quite a bit."
ACTIVE SKILLS
Infectious Bite (20/20) – Max
Venom Reaper Claw (36/80) – Poison now penetrates regeneration and light holy effects
Eclipse Piercing (12/80) – Can penetrate holy barriers (Cooldown reduced)
Death Aura (6/10) – Radius increased to 20 meters, Death and Decay effects enhanced
Appraisal (10/10) – Max
Deadlock Field – Area increased to 25 meters, duration remains 10 seconds
Phantom Bloom – Explosion effect now creates an additional double illusion
Death Step Mirage – Invincibility extended by 0.5 seconds, shorter cooldown
SPELLS
Gravebind – Forbidden Death Spell (Rank 4) – 1,500 MP
Nether Branches – Netherwood Spell (Rank 2) – 100 MP/branch
Void Steps (10/10) – Max – Void Spell (Rank 5) – 2,500 MP/10 km
Flame Ball – Nether Flame Spell (Rank 7) – 1,000 MP, stackable
Nether Bloom – Netherwood Spell (Rank 1) – 100 MP/flower
Decay Rain – Black rain inflicts 4,500 HP/sec, duration 15 sec, cooldown 5 min
Oblivion Roots – Rank 5 – Increased immobilization and HP drain
Entropic Grasp (New) – Death-Nether spell, drains 10% of target’s HP and redistributes it to nearby undead (500 MP, 10 min cooldown)
PASSIVE SKILLS
Killing Stroke – +5 AGI/kill, max 15 stacks
Queen Flesh (27/80) – Regeneration increased to 8,600 HP/sec
Med MP-Regeneration (20/20) – Max – 6,000 MP/min
Toxic Affinity – Bonus: +20% effectiveness against Holy Creatures
Blood Instinct – +6% all stats per blood stack, max 5 stacks
Soul Resonance – Can read emotions and memories of certain souls
Deathborne Tolerance – Holy and debuff resistance increased to 40%
Undead Commander’s Presence – Radius: 150 meters, +25% stat bonus (Improved)
ORIGINAL SKILL – CHAIN TECHNIQUE
Form 1: Binding – Can now silence short spellcasting
Form 2: Shield – Absorbs 50% more magic damage
Form 3: Death Spiral – HP recovery doubled
Form 4: Guillotine Blossom – Can now manually target more than one enemy
Final Form: UNIFICATION – All stats increase by 250% for 30 seconds (Cooldown: 45 minutes)
EQUIPMENT
Dress of Death – Major boost to Death Magic, +25% magic resistance
Chains of Abyss – Evolves actively based on Sylvia’s will
Black Crystal Earrings – +10% INT, +10% VIT, boosts MP regeneration and mental resistance
Rapier of Night – ???
Agility Ring – +10% AGI
Black Stocking – Charm and evasion +15%
Black Gloves – Indestructible, +10% damage on first slash
Abyssal Regalia – Enhances undead influence, increases death magic control by 20%
TITLES
Reincarnated
First Evolution
Second Evolution
Third Evolution
Fourth Evolution
Queen of Zombies
Blessing from the Goddess of Life and Death (Persephone)
Arcana of Death – Enhances undead within 100 meters, unlocks Tier 2 Arcana Tree branches