Chapter 122 – The Smile That Welcomes the Queen
The sky was still gray, the silhouette of my castle towering in the middle of a ruined world slowly beginning to take shape again. The zombies were busy with their tasks some building additional guard towers, others cleaning the main road leading to the city center. I sat on my throne, observing them through the large window newly adorned with deep crimson crystal panes.
But the calm didn’t last long.
From the edge of the hall, several figures emerged as if born from the shadows themselves. Their slender bodies were cloaked in black robes that seemed to blend with the darkness. They were Zombie Shadows, my stealth units and most agile scouts creatures capable of merging into shadows and moving almost without a sound.
I recognized them and I also knew the burden they carried.
They had once been tasked with guarding Sofia, the only human from my original world whom I had given full protection. But they had failed, too focused on their battles and no one could have predicted Viktor’s betrayal.
And now, it was the same.
They knelt before me with their heads bowed deeply. Their auras wavered, their bodies slightly trembling. They didn’t dare speak, as if my mere presence was enough to bring them to their knees.
My eyes narrowed.
A cold, dense aura began to radiate from me. The grand hall felt as though it were blanketed in a fog of darkness. The temperature dropped sharply, and even the castle walls seemed to hold their breath.
"What do you wish to report?" I asked flatly, emotionless.
The voice was soft yet sharp, like a cold blade slicing a throat without touching the skin. The Zombie Shadows lowered their heads even more, and one of them the squad leader, it seemed finally spoke, his voice trembling with fear.