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"Not on my watch."
The words echoed from behind the settling dust of the giant crimson skeleton.
My gaze snapped to the clone that had been kicked away. Slowly—far too slowly—the dust thinned. It was still standing.
A shiver ran down my spine as it lifted its head… and looked straight at me.
"Loras!" the chief shouted, panic heavy in his voice.
Loras stepped forward without hesitation, placing himself between us and the threat.
From where I stood, I saw the hardened crimson shell spread across his back, sealing the wound, stopping the blood as if it had never flowed.
"Chief, are you alright?" Loras asked, his voice strained. Pain ran beneath his calm.
"I'm alright. How's your wound?"
"It's fine, Chief. Please… leave this place immediately and inform our people."
The chief nodded, steadying me and his daughter as he dragged us away from danger.
As we ran, I glanced at Gabriel. Geye hovered in midair, restrained by a swirling cage of gold coins encircling his body.
"Hey, kid!" Cheif shouted, snapping myself out of panic.
"Don't let it get to you. They're putting their lives on the line—let's not make it useless."
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I smirked, breath heavy, holding him in place.
"I thought you were going to propose a negotiation," I teased, "but no—you went straight to the point."
Geye groaned as the gold tightened around him, coins vibrating with his struggle.
"I'm going to kill you," he snarled. "Once I break through, I'll turn you to ash!"
I smiled, amusement curling at the edges of my lips. "How about this—as your fellow workmate… I'll free you—and let the kid go."
His eyes narrowed. "Why do you insist on protecting that child, Gabriel? What do you see in him?"
"Pardon," I replied smoothly, keeping my smile, "but I was ordered to protect him at all costs."
"I see how it is..."
Geye smirked, his skin shifting as transparent scales crawled across him, melting the gold coins with a hiss.
"About your proposal…" His arms twisted and stretched into giant, writhing earthworms.
I didn't flinch. Coins swirled instantly, slicing through the worm in precise, controlled arcs.
"I'm still wondering," I said, amusement flickering in my eyes, "you said your Sinner Ability is Manifestation… How do you manifest something? Tell me, Geye."
"Curious, aren't we? Let's say… by hands."
His arms reverted to normal, then his left transformed into a sharp, gleaming mantis blade. I spun my coins, bracing for his attack.
"You're dead meat, Gabriel," he snarled.
Unguarded, reckless… just as I expected. He swung. My coins cut through the blade effortlessly. Geye groaned, collapsing to the ground.
I smirked as he crawled to a tree, leaning against it for support. "Look who's dead meat now, Geye."
Then the earthworm I had cut earlier coiled around my legs, crushing me, while the mantis blade pierced my side. I sliced free, ripping the blade from my body, then collapsed.
Geye stood over me, a wide smirk stretching across his face. "You're still as cocky as ever, Gabriel… I pity you."
"Still tricky, huh? I should've expected it when you cut your own arm off." I scoffed.
"Shall we end this, Gabriel?" His right hand transformed into the mantis blade once more, raised high above his head.
I slowly stood, covering my wounds with Ken as I slow the bleeding and heal it.
"We shall end this… indeed."
The ground trembled beneath us. Birds scattered, wings flapping wildly. Countless coins lifted into the sky, swirling like a metallic storm, colliding from the direction of my carriage until they formed the shape of a god.
"I still have one last trick on my sleeve," I said, calm but charged with anticipation.
Geye smirked. "We'll see how far that trick will take you, Gabriel!"
"Sovereign Buddha!"
Five golden arms spun and launched toward him. Two more arms grew, golden shells spreading across his skin like molten armor. Geye struggled, reinforced body straining against the assault.
The impact hit like a hammer. Dust exploded, and the ground trembled beneath our feet. The golden arms returned to their positions, the air clearing to reveal Geye's battered form.
Countless spikes launched toward me. I shielded myself with the Buddha's hands, letting the worst strike me. When it ended, I stared at Geye—half-crushed, regenerating slowly.
I sighed.
"Leave now, Geye."
He rose, body weakened but defiant.
"Don't get cocky now, Gabriel… this is just the beginning."
He raised his hand, transforming it into a bird, which cut through the air and flew away. His body collapsed, lifeless.
I raised a coin, aiming at the bird—but hesitated. Slowly, I lowered my hand, releasing the Sovereign Buddha.
"Until we meet again, Wicked Envy."
To be continued.