As Gabriel carried me over his shoulder, I couldn't take my eyes off the shadowy figure behind us. My chest tightened, and a cold shiver ran down my spine — that presence wasn't human. Something about it felt… wrong, like it was studying me.
Then I blinked.
Something — or someone — slammed down in front of us, forcing Gabriel to quickly step back with me still in his arms. Dust swirled in the air, and when it cleared, the shadow figure was gone.
My gaze shifted forward. There, standing before us, was Envy.
Gabriel slowly lowered me to the ground, a nervous smirk on his face.
"Looks like we're in trouble…"
I froze, my legs rooted to the ground. The mask he wore split his face in two expressions — one side sorrowful, the other a jagged, toothy grin. I felt a knot form in my stomach. Something about him screamed danger.
"Yo, Gabriel. I didn't expect to see you here."
He slowly removed his mask, revealing more of himself, and a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"And should I thank you for catching my prey for me?"
Gabriel chuckled nervously, but I felt a wave of dread.
Prey… that's me.
"Your prey? Pardon me, but I have no intention of handing this boy over to you…"
Envy's smile faded. His eyes flicked toward me, and the air seemed to thicken.
"How disappointing. Looks like I'll be taking him by force."
I stumbled back instinctively. Every instinct screamed to run, but there was nowhere to go.
"Before that… you seem to be in a new body," Gabriel blurted.
Envy froze, caught off guard.
"Oh yeah?"
"What happened to the old one?" Gabriel continued,
smirking. "You know — the one that was very close to you. Or should I say… your brother's body?"
My heart skipped a beat. He was taunting him
Envy's silence was heavy, suffocating. Then, with chilling finality, he hissed:
"I'm going to kill you… and take your body as well."
Suddenly, he lunged. His body twisted and shifted, limbs snapping and reshaping into sharp, lethal weapons. A blade extended from his left arm, and his movements became a blur of deadly precision.
I scrambled backward as Gabriel hurled me aside, narrowly dodging the first strike. My chest heaved, my eyes locked on every motion, my heart hammering. I could feel the air tremble with Envy's sheer force.
Coins hovered around Gabriel, spinning in rapid arcs, trying to block the onslaught, but I could see the strain on him. Envy wasn't just fast — he was unpredictable. Every strike, every swing seemed to defy gravity and logic.
"So… Envy or Should I say.... Geye, is that a new ability? I didn't know you could use others' powers," Gabriel called out.
Geye smirked. "Oh no. This is my Sinner ability… Manifestation."
Gabriel's smirk mirrored his, but I felt cold in my chest. Manifestation… his own twisted, lethal ability…
Then Geye dashed again, a blade erupting from his left arm, swinging relentlessly. Coins clanged against steel, sparks flying as Gabriel struggled to parry, and I staggered back, my stomach twisting at the chaos unfolding before me.
Loras grabbed my shoulder, helping me to my feet. I tried to steady my shaking legs as we moved behind the chief and his daughter.
My eyes darted between Geye and his clone splitting off, advancing toward us with a long blade. Gabriel tried to intercept it, but the real Geye continued his relentless assault.
By the time Loras realized, the clone had already struck him. He fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. My chest tightened, my knees threatening to give out.
The Chief pushed us back, raising his sword, but the clone disarmed him with a swift, brutal motion, and I felt panic tighten my throat.
Then, in a blur, a giant skeleton appeared, kicking the clone away with terrifying force.
The skeleton was clad in crimson-tinted armor, wielding a massive spear. My eyes widened — it was impossible, yet here it was.
Behind the skeleton someone spoke.
"Not in my watch,"
To be continued.