The evening sky was blanketed with rolling dark clouds, like the belly of a beast in turmoil. The rain had just stopped, leaving droplets falling from rooftops, merging with the fast-moving footsteps of two girls on the wet ground.
Drap drap drap—
Sylvia and Sofia ran side by side among the ruins of broken buildings, their hair fluttering in the strong wind.
Their destination: the command tower.
The central building where the military leaders who had ordered the attack on Sylvia... were now trying to escape.
Sofia clenched her teeth. "They must not get away…"
Beside her, Sylvia glanced sideways. Her dark red eyes now glowed faintly, surrounded by a cold aura. With one swift motion, she snapped her fingers in the air.
Tch!
Crackkk—WHUMP!
As if an invisible wave swept across the land, a thunderous sound burst like lightning slamming the earth. Instantly, the hundreds of zombies that had been charging forward suddenly collapsed like puppets with cut strings.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Sofia turned toward the sound and froze. The countless corpses now lay motionless. Only ten remained standing… ten chosen zombies, their eyes glowing faintly red. They weren't ordinary undead.
They were Sylvia's extensions.
Without a word, Sylvia raised her hand and gestured. The ten zombies bowed slightly, then sprinted away—vanishing into the forest and ruins. Sylvia let them go.
Sofia watched in awe, but there was no time to lose.
"Come on! They'll escape if we're late!"
They picked up speed. Upon reaching a small hill overlooking the command tower, they heard it:
WHUP—WHUP—WHUP—
Eight helicopters lifted off the roof, rising one by one like predatory birds avoiding danger.
Sylvia narrowed her eyes.
Black chains emerged from beneath the sleeves of her dress. The end of one pulsed like a hungry serpent, and with a flick—
CLANG!!
The chain shot into the sky with incredible speed!
SWOOOSH!!
BAAMMM!!
The end slammed into the tail of the first helicopter, tearing through the metal and sending the machine crashing down in flames.
KRAAAK!! KABOOOM!!
The helicopter spun out and smashed into the ground.
A second chain flew like a spear, piercing through the cockpit of another helicopter and impaling the pilot.
SHLUUK!! BZZZT—
It nose-dived and exploded.
Sylvia's chains continued to strike.
WHIIZ! BAANG!
THAANG! KABLAAAM!
Four more helicopters fell, totaling six destroyed.
But the last two began escaping the range of her attack.
Sofia clenched her teeth. Her face hardened with resolve.
Sofia hurled her sacred spear with all her might toward the seventh helicopter.
VRRROOOM—FWSHHH!!
The spear shone brilliantly with golden light, slicing through the air like vertical lightning.
ZRAAAAAK!!
KABBOOOM!!
The seventh helicopter split in half, its wreckage aflame as it fell into the forest.
But…
The eighth.
It had gone too far.
Too far to reach.
Sylvia stared at the sky with a blank expression, though her eyes burned with restrained fury. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She buried the grudge in silence.
Sofia noticed. Gently, she took Sylvia's cold hand and held it.
"Come... I'll introduce you to my team. They need to know you're not the enemy."
Sylvia glanced at her, then nodded slowly.
They walked toward the ruins where Sofia's team was waiting.
As they emerged from behind the rubble, the sound of weapons being cocked filled the air.
CKLAK! CKLAK!—CLICK!
Sofia teams stood at the ready, weapons raised. heavily armed people, faces tense and bodies scarred.
"SOFIA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! THAT THING—SHE'S A ZOMBIE!!"
Sofia raised both hands and stood in front of Sylvia like a shield.
"SHE WON'T HURT US!" she said firmly. "Calm down! I'll explain everything!"
Yuna hesitated. still aimed at Sylvia.
"Stand down! That's an order!"
Sofia's voice rang with command. They paused.
Then she looked back. Sylvia stood quietly, her eyes revealing no killing intent. In fact, from a certain angle… she looked like an ordinary lost girl.
Eventually, Rina lowered her staff first.
"You're crazy, but… we trust you, Sofia."
One by one, the weapons lowered. The tension faded.
Sofia turned to Sylvia and smiled.
"Go on, introduce yourself…"
Sylvia stared at them silently. She then raised her hand and, with her long claw, began writing on the dusty ground.
""I'm Sylvia. I won't attack... as long as you don't provoke me."
The team members stared at the message. Vivi, gulped.
"She… she can write? She's fully conscious?"
Sofia nodded.
"She's more than you think. And she also saved us from the Tyrant, didn't she?.""Well… even if it might've been unintentional."
Silence.
Only the soft sound of rain returned. Gentle, this time.