I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 350 - 346 – The Arrival of the Wolves

Sylvia and Sofia walked back toward the castle at a leisurely, synchronized pace, like two shadows that were never truly separated. The morning sun had risen high enough, its rays slipping through the thin mist of Nocture and gently reflecting off the death crystals embedded along the black stone road. The city pulsed with its usual rhythm: the clang of dwarf hammers echoing from workshops, merchants of various races shouting their wares, children of all kinds running and laughing, and the morning breeze carrying the scent of damp earth mixed with forge smoke. Everything felt peaceful too, after what they had experienced the night before in the silent forest.

But that peace shattered as they approached the main gate.

From a distance came a commotion not the sound of war, but a chaotic mix of low growls, shouted commands, and heavy footsteps rumbling like distant thunder. The two Elite Zombie guards at the gate already stood at attention, spears raised, yet they did not attack. They simply held position, their empty eyes fixed beyond the city walls.

Sylvia quickened her pace slightly; Sofia followed without needing to be told. In silence, the two of them climbed the gate tower, accompanied only by the wind, which now carried a sharper tension. From the top, the view opened wide.

Outside the gate, on the usually empty open plain, stood a large group of gray-and-black furred creatures. Lycanthropes werewolves tall and massive, with glowing yellow eyes and gleaming sharp claws. They were not in full wolf form, but in hybrid shape: humanoid bodies with beastly features, pointed wolf ears, long swaying tails, and a wild aura that could almost be felt in the air. At their front stood a female lycanthrope taller than the rest, her silver-gray fur streaked with black lines like lightning bolts, her yellow eyes sharp yet warm as they turned toward the gate.

Velthya.

Sylvia’s friend since the early days when she had first arrived in this other world. Velthya, who had once fought side by side with her against the paladins of the church.

The moment Velthya saw Sylvia appear atop the gate, her pointed ears stood straight up. Her tail wagged rapidly almost like a dog seeing its owner return after a long absence. She stepped forward, leaving her pack, who immediately formed a respectful line behind her.

"Syl!" Velthya’s deep, resonant voice boomed, filled with relief. "You finally showed up! We’ve been waiting since dawn!"

Sylvia leaped lightly from the tower, landing soundlessly in front of Velthya. Sofia followed, her bat-like wings opening slightly to maintain balance. The Elite Zombies atop the gate remained silent, though their spears were now lowered, a sign that the queen had taken control of the situation.

Sylvia studied Velthya from head to toe. Her silver fur was covered in the dust of a long journey; fresh, unhealed wounds marked her arms and shoulders traces of recent battles. Her yellow eyes were bright, but exhaustion could not be hidden.

"You brought your entire clan," Sylvia said quietly, her voice flat yet carrying a warmth only Velthya could detect. "What happened?"

Velthya let out a long, heavy sigh that made her chest rise and fall noticeably. She glanced back toward the hundreds of lycanthropes standing in loose but orderly formation, small wolf children hiding behind adults, some carrying simple belongings: leather tents, weapons, and baskets of dried meat.

"We want to join Nocture," Velthya said bluntly, no preamble. Her voice was firm, though a faint tremor at the end betrayed not fear, but the weight of a decision long and carefully considered. "Our clan... can no longer survive in the old territory."

Sylvia’s brow furrowed slightly. "The reason?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Velthya turned her gaze eastward, toward the border that had grown wilder since the worlds fused. "Ever since the two worlds merged, everything changed. Mutant humans have multiplied and grown stronger. They have plasma weapons, armored vehicles, and radiation mages who can burn our settlements in an instant. We fight every day. Our children can’t sleep soundly. Our hunting grounds are gone, devoured by new monsters pouring from the world’s rifts. We’re... tired, Syl. We need a safe place. And Nocture... is the only place we know that can protect us."

Sylvia was silent for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the entire clan. Hundreds of yellow eyes gazed back at her small children clinging to their mothers’ legs, old warriors covered in scars, pregnant females standing tall despite their fatigue. They had not come as invaders. They had come as refugees.

"If you join here," Sylvia said softly, her voice clear and firm, "your kingdom ends. You will no longer have your own land, your own king or queen. You will become ordinary citizens of Nocture, the same as the dwarves, undead, elves, and everyone else. You will obey Nocture’s laws. You will work, pay taxes in labor or game, and survive together with us. No exceptions."

Velthya stared at her for a long time. Then she turned to her clan, her voice ringing out like the howl of a wolf calling its pack.

"You heard what she said? No more kingdom. No more ancestral land. We will become part of Nocture, the dead city that sings, the city that gives shelter to the outcasts. Who agrees?"

There was no hesitation. One by one, the lycanthropes raised their hands, claws glinting in the morning sun. The children mimicked the adults, their small tails wagging gently with excitement. Even the wounded stood tall, their yellow eyes filled with resolve.

Velthya turned back to Sylvia, a small smile appearing on her furred face.

"We agree. All of us agree."

Sylvia nodded slowly. The Death Flame in her chest flared brighter for a moment, as if welcoming new souls into the city she had created.

"Very well," she said. "There is empty land to the west of Nocture, near the river and the forest. The soil is fertile for you, far enough from the city center to build in your own way, yet close enough for protection. You may build a small settlement there, call it whatever you wish. But remember: it remains part of Nocture. No borders, no private army. You answer me."

Velthya bowed deeply, her right fist clenched against her chest in the ancient lycanthrope salute.

"Thank you, Syl. We won’t let you down."

Sylvia nodded once more, then glanced at Sofia, who had been silently watching.

"Prepare a special Zombie escort to guide them to the new territory. Make sure there are no incidents along the way."

Sofia gave a small smile, her bat wings opening slightly.

"I will."

The lycanthrope crowd began to move slowly, led by Velthya at the front. They did not cheer or shout, only firm steps, gently swaying tails, and eyes full of hope directed toward the city of the dead that would now become their home.

Sylvia watched them go, her expression calm, though a faint gleam appeared in her black eyes, a quiet satisfaction from a queen watching her realm grow stronger.

Sylvia watched the crowd of lycanthropes slowly begin moving toward the western territory she had just designated for them. Their steps were heavy yet filled with determination, tails swaying in unison like the rhythm of a long journey that had finally found its destination. Velthya walked at the front, occasionally glancing back to make sure no one was left behind; exhausted children were hoisted onto adult backs, nearly fallen belongings quickly retrieved. They spoke little, communicating only with occasional low growls, a code they had understood since birth.

Sofia stood beside Sylvia, her bat-like wings still half-open. She observed the special Zombie escort already lined up neatly behind the gate: fifty Elite Zombies clad in black crystal armor, their empty eyes glowing with faint green light, long spears raised in perfect uniformity. They did not breathe, did not blink, yet their mere presence was enough to make the smaller lycanthrope children instinctively take a step back.

"I’ll accompany them to the new territory," Sofia said softly. "To make sure nothing disturbs them on the way."

Sylvia gave a small nod. "Don’t take too long. I want you back before nightfall. There’s something we need to discuss... about that spear, and what Simurgh said."

Sofia offered a faint smile, her golden eyes shining with gentle warmth. "I know. Don’t worry I won’t be far."

She stepped forward. For a brief moment her wings spread fully, radiating soft golden light that made several of the younger lycanthropes stare in awe. Velthya turned, giving Sofia a respectful nod before returning to lead her clan. The Zombie troops moved to flank the procession on both left and right sides, their footsteps perfectly synchronized and utterly silent, like shadows trailing their master.

Sylvia remained at the gate, watching them go until the very last row disappeared behind a small hill. The morning breeze carried Velthya’s final howl, a low but clear sound of gratitude before silence returned once more.

She turned and descended the tower stairs with slow, deliberate movements. Today Nocture has grown larger not through conquest, but through acceptance. The lycanthropes were more than mere savage warriors; they were master hunters, peerless trackers, and unrivaled guardians of the wild frontier that had long been Nocture’s weak point in the west. With them, the city would be stronger. More complete.