CLANG!! CLASH!! TING!!
The deafening clashes between Sofia's glowing spear and Sylvia's shadowy claws echoed through the air, each impact powerful enough to crack the ground beneath them.
Sofia gritted her teeth, eyes locked onto the Queen who attacked relentlessly. Every blow felt heavy, lethal, leaving no room to breathe.
But Sofia... was no longer trying to defeat her.
She wanted to bring her back.
Her spear began to change.
The holy light that once burned fiercely now shimmered gently—like the morning sun. She poured her every intention, her every prayer into the weapon.
"I'm going to bring you back!"
SLASH!!
The spear arced through the air, its path graceful. The sacred light didn't destroy—it pressed against the darkness clinging to Sylvia, unraveling it bit by bit.
Sylvia's body trembled. Her puppet-like, lifeless eyes flickered.
Despite the wounds covering her body—her shoulder torn, legs bleeding, breaths ragged—Sofia kept moving forward. The pain didn't matter. What mattered was saving her.
TING!! SWOOSH!! SLASH!!
Clash after clash. Each time Sofia's spear touched Sylvia, the dark aura around her shivered.
Inside Sylvia's Inner World
In a boundless black void, Sylvia slowly opened her eyes. She stood on cracked, mist-covered ground.
In front of her appeared a girl—long black hair, glowing red eyes, petite yet radiating hatred. The girl... looked just like her. A perfect reflection. And yet... something was wrong.
"M-Me?" Sylvia whispered.
The girl grinned, then laughed darkly.
"Hehe... Hahaha... I SHOULD BE THE ONE ASKING THAT!!"
Her voice was rough and echoed ominously. Her face twisted with rage.
"This body was supposed to be mine! Why are you the one using it, you thief!"
Sylvia took a step back. Her heart pounded violently.
"I... I..." she stammered.
"Huhuhuhu... HAHAHAHA!!"
The laughter turned to a furious scream.
"You're nobody! Just some old man who stole my body!"
The words struck Sylvia like a sledgehammer.
Old... man?
Her mind wavered. Why did she feel... so hollow?
A burst of black aura erupted from the girl, throwing Sylvia backward. The world around her began to darken. Her identity fractured. Her face cracked like shattered glass.
Almost...
Almost lost.
But in her darkest moment—
SWAAA!!!
A gentle light poured from above, enveloping Sylvia in warmth. Faint voices echoed in her ears:
"Who am I...?"
Memories returned—of a smiling child from her old world. A clumsy old man. A zombie girl fighting to survive a world of death.
All of them... were her.
But now I am Sylvia.
Then, more memories came. Of this body. Of a girl—its original owner.
Her name was...
Alicia.
Alicia reached out a hand.
"Welcome back, Sylvia. Even as a zombie, don't let it consume you. Don't lose yourself."
Sylvia stared at her in shock, then turned to the hateful figure—the one who had screamed and attacked her.
Now she understood. That wasn't Alicia.
"Why?! Why are you still here?! This body is mine!!" the fake screeched.
Sylvia lifted her head.
"You're not her."
Her aura burst forth.
SSWWUUUUSHHH!!
Darkness cloaked her—not from hatred, but from the calm of the night.
The false girl shrieked. Their auras collided.
BOOOMMMM!!
They fought fiercely. Claws clashed, sending spiritual shockwaves. Sylvia held on, exhausted, while the fake fought like a wild beast.
"I won't give up!" Sylvia shouted.
SLASH!!
A wave of energy cut through the darkness, revealing starlight above. The fake lunged, trying to consume her existence.
But Sylvia answered with calm, dark light—crashing into her with all her soul.
Both were thrown back. Exhausted. Sylvia prepared her final spell—but lacked the strength.
Then Alicia stepped in.
Together, they crushed the imitation.
The fake's body began to crack. In her final scream, she cried:
"I'LL BE BACK! NEXT TIME, I'LL WIN!!"
But Alicia just smiled gently and said:
"Fufufu... That's not possible. Because I'll always be here."
Then she turned to Sylvia.
"Wake up, Sylvia. And I entrust my body to you."
With a sweet smile, she gently tapped Sylvia's forehead.
Back to Reality
Amidst the storm, Sylvia's body froze.
Her movements stopped. Sofia's spear, once meant to block an attack, now merely rested against her skin.
Every zombie nearby fell still—as if time had stopped.
Sofia, wounded and out of breath, looked at her.
"...Queen?"
No answer. Sylvia just stood there, eyes closed.
Then she collapsed.
Sofia caught her instantly, ignoring the pain spreading through her body. She held Sylvia tightly, shielding her from the rain, and carried her into the nearest ruined building.
In her arms... Sylvia's face looked so serene.
Sofia looked down. Her cheeks warmed. For the first time, she truly saw Sylvia up close.
Wet black hair, delicate lashes, porcelain-pale skin...
Sylvia—was beautiful in her sleep.
"..."
Sofia blushed.
"Idiot... What am I thinking..." she muttered, shaking her head slightly, still flustered.
Once they were safe, Sofia laid Sylvia's head in her lap and began casting healing magic for her self.
But her eyes couldn't look away. Her gaze fell on Sylvia's soft-looking lips...
Without realizing, her face inched closer.
Their lips were about to touch—
"Hm...?"
Sylvia opened her eyes.
"Ouch!!"
Their heads bumped. Sofia yelped softly. Sylvia—though unfazed—rubbed her head.
They stared at each other. Awkward. and Sofia blushing slightly.