"What on earth was that thing?" As her body crashed heavily to the ground, Chu Lian felt a tightness in her chest. Even so, her mind was still replaying what had just happened, trying to figure out what had struck her.
That giant zombie—despite being restrained—was far too weak, wasn't it?
She had treated it as a super boss-level opponent from the beginning. Yet, after defeating it so easily, she immediately sensed something was off. Before she could think further, that unseen attack had struck, throwing her thoughts into chaos.
"So it was all because of its tail... no wonder." Slowly pushing herself up from the ground, Chu Lian swung the Void Greatsword in her hand. The force of her momentum shattered, and any nearby zombies that tried to approach were instantly cut down. Her eyes then turned toward the spot where the giant zombie had fallen.
"I knew it. With that kind of regenerative ability, losing a tail shouldn't have been a problem at all. Turns out it wasn't that it didn't want to sever it—it couldn't. That tail must have been the key to its evolution. Without it, it's just another weak, stupid brute." Chu Lian sighed with frustration, thinking of how cautiously she had fought such a fool of an enemy.
Even if its tail had hidden power or some backup ability, it was still a separate entity from the main body. Once the zombie was dead, whatever was connected to it would inevitably appear. There had been no reason for her to hesitate so much.
She didn't realize that at the very moment she came to that understanding, the dim light of her Battle Soul—which had been flickering weakly—flared back to life within her spirit. Though it shone just as before, it was no longer dull or lifeless.
"But still... what exactly is that thing?" Her thoughts returned to that moment before she fell. Whatever had made that shrill screech had left her dizzy, powerless, and completely off balance. It was something she couldn't ignore.
If she had to fight it directly later, and it used that same attack again, she wasn't confident she could withstand more than a few hits like that.
"No matter what it is, I can't let it leave here alive. As long as it exists, the defensive line will be in danger. Even if it means getting seriously injured, I'll destroy it." Chu Lian clenched her fist, gripping the Void Greatsword tightly. Her feet pounded against the ground as she accelerated, sprinting toward the fallen giant zombie.
"I will never again allow anyone—or anything—to harm the people I care about! Even if the price is my death and the destruction of my soul!" The conviction in her heart burned brightly. She didn't care what stood in her way.
The weaker zombies were blown aside by her momentum. Those strong enough to resist were swiftly cut down, leaving behind a road littered with shattered limbs and torn bodies—a scene straight out of hell.
Meanwhile, on another battlefield, Inori Yuzuriha and the others were struggling to hold their ground.
Although Chu Lian had almost single-handedly stopped the zombie tide along the riverbank, there were still countless undead left on the other side.
Among their group were Li Xiu'er and Liu Yanran—two girls whose physical abilities were still within human limits. Even though both had benefited from their rebirths and now had attribute points around twelve or thirteen, the prolonged, high-pressure battle was rapidly draining their stamina.
"Xiu'er, Yanran, Chu Chu—take a short rest. Nana, Lux, and I will handle the defense here." Seeing the exhaustion written plainly across the girls' faces, Inori—who had been taking care of the others while Chu Lian fought—issued her command without hesitation.
The three girls exchanged glances, their eyes full of reluctance, but they knew their limits. If they kept pushing themselves, they'd become a burden rather than help. After a moment's hesitation, they withdrew from the front line, sitting down beside the black coffin that held Kurosaki Satsuki.
"Even in a battle like this, we still can't do much to help..." Liu Yanran said softly, brushing the sweat from her forehead. This was her first real battle, and the bloody, chaotic sight of dismembered corpses, flying limbs, and grotesque zombies had tested her mind beyond measure.
But she hadn't given up. Gritting her teeth, she had continued to fight until she replaced her fifth energy crystal—only then did her body finally give out, forcing her to step back after Inori's insistence. Still, she knew exactly how many enemies she had taken down during that time, and the thought left her feeling both proud and bitter. She really wanted to help—to help them, to help Chu Lian.
"Big Sister Inori really does care about us," Li Xiu'er said softly. "She's been watching us quietly this whole time, picking off the special zombies so our pressure wouldn't be too great. And Chu Lian didn't take her along to fight—not just because of power differences, but also so she could stay behind and look after us. Honestly, she's probably under the most pressure of all."
Hugging her knees, Li Xiu'er rested her head against them, her expression dim. Even with Ayase's help improving her physique, she still couldn't compare to the real cultivators. If only I knew how to use cultivation techniques already, she thought. Then maybe I could just wave my hand and destroy these zombies with ease.
"It's all my fault for being too weak," Chu Chu muttered through clenched teeth. "Not only can I not protect you all, but because I'm injured, I can't even help defend this place." Her frustration burned deep—no one understood it better than she did. She had worked so hard, yet every time, her elder sister widened the gap effortlessly.
"My lightning... why won't it respond to me?" In her heart, she had been silently calling for a miracle. The vast lightning power sealed within her since childhood—too immense for her to control—had been sealed by their mother's own hands. She had said that when Chu Chu's desire to use it became strong enough, the lightning power, which grew with her age, would respond to her call, breaking the seal and allowing her to wield it freely.
But so much time had passed, and aside from that one moment on the flight to Los Angeles—when her call had been faintly answered—the lightning remained silent, unresponsive, as if it had a will of its own.
"Xiu'er, when we go back... do you think I could train with Chu Lian too? This new world is so fascinating. I want to see what kind of beauty lies within it." After a brief silence, Liu Yanran suddenly spoke, her tone calm but sincere. Her words startled Li Xiu'er, who turned to her in surprise.
"Yanran, didn't you say your family wanted you to become a writer? Why the sudden interest in the cultivation world?"
Liu Yanran sighed softly and shook her head. "My family comes from a long line of scholars. Our company is one of the most famous publishing groups in the country. Since childhood, I was raised on classical literature and philosophy. To me, obeying my parents' wishes always seemed natural. But... I don't want that kind of life."
Her words left Li Xiu'er speechless. Though Liu Yanran's future had been predetermined, at least she had her family's expectations and care. Li Xiu'er, on the other hand—who hadn't known the warmth of family since the age of eight—had no one who expected anything from her. How could she truly understand what Yanran felt?
"Xiu'er, you don't need to be so pessimistic," Liu Yanran said gently, sensing her melancholy. "Your family might be your scar, but it's also your drive—to make sure no one ever abandons or forsakes you again. That's your strength. I... I lack that kind of motivation. Not until..." She hesitated, realizing she had revealed too much, but when she saw Li Xiu'er's curious look, she decided to continue.
Family—this topic wasn't new to Li Xiu'er. Chu Lian and Chu Chu had often comforted her about it, so she had grown used to it over time. Her momentary silence earlier had been out of habit more than pain. Now, hearing Yanran's words, her curiosity stirred.
"Not until... hmm, until I read Chu Lian's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series. That's when I became fascinated by strange, magical worlds." Liu Yanran's cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment, clearly uneasy about admitting it aloud. Still, saying it out loud felt like a small but meaningful step forward for her.
After all, for a girl raised under the strict etiquette of a traditional upper-class household, confessing such a thing was already a quiet act of rebellion.
"There's nothing embarrassing about that, is there? Western ladies like reading knightly romances, so it's not strange for a cultured girl from Huaxia to enjoy fantasy novels too, right?" Li Xiu'er asked curiously. Coming from a wealthy family herself, she was no stranger to the genre and found Liu Yanran's bashfulness a bit unusual.
"Well... it's just that the books my parents allowed me to read were either poetry or classical literature. Even among the Four Great Classics, they only let me read Dream of the Red Chamber, forbidding the rest. So..." She trailed off there, but Li Xiu'er already understood. In the end, it came down to parental expectations—Liu Yanran was simply too obedient.
"When I secretly started reading fantasy novels, I truly wished I could become the protagonist and explore those mysterious, wondrous worlds myself. It was like that with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz when I first read it, and now the same with Sword and Fairy." Brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Liu Yanran's eyes shimmered faintly. After a moment of silence, she added softly, "Maybe it's because I've been trapped in a gilded cage since I was little... that I long so much to see the open sky."
"Then... let's do it together." Li Xiu'er reached out her hand and gently clasped Liu Yanran's left hand, their fingers intertwining tightly like a vow. "Let's follow everyone together—toward a freer, wider world."
Liu Yanran gazed into Li Xiu'er's eyes for a long time before nodding softly. "Mm..."
Nearby, Chu Chu, who was resting, overheard their conversation and let out a quiet sigh of relief. In her heart, she whispered, "Big Sis... see? Everyone wants to follow you. So please... don't leave us behind. Because... you're my faith."
Gently tucking a strand of her pale pink hair behind her ear, Inori Yuzuriha's crimson eyes shimmered with a faint smile. As long as they had hope and motivation, this battle would not be in vain.
"Hey, Lian—you owe a lot of debts, including one to me." She fired her gun, taking down several agile mutant zombies in one sweep. Standing at the front line, her long hair fluttered in the wind, her skirt billowing gracefully—she was breathtakingly beautiful, a vision of both elegance and strength.
At that moment, the black cross-shaped coffin containing Kurosaki Satsuki suddenly began to tremble. Then, it burst into waves of pure life energy that flowed over everyone on the defensive line, replenishing their strength, clearing their fatigue, and healing much of their wounds.
A white-haired girl in a black sailor uniform slowly descended from above, her blood-red eyes opening as she looked out toward the sea of zombies beyond the line. Her expression was calm—utterly emotionless.
Her exquisite legs touched the grass lightly, though she seemed to hover above it, barefoot and ethereal.
Compared to before, the aura she now radiated was more than twice as powerful. This girl—after experiencing death itself—had become steadier, stronger, more resolute.
"Kurosaki, you'll act as our support. Don't let any evolved zombies approach us. The rest of you—once you've recovered, return to your positions. The battle isn't over yet... there's still a long road ahead," Inori's voice rang out, resolute yet gentle, inspiring everyone to rise once more and take their places on the line.
This was the place they had sworn to protect. They could not—would not—let the enemy pass.
Kurosaki Satsuki gave a small nod, then leapt high into the air, vanishing into the surroundings as if she'd disappeared completely.
But everyone knew—she was there, silently guarding them.
At that same moment, Chu Lian returned to the site of the giant zombie's death. What she saw before her widened her eyes in disbelief.
"What... what is this?!"