Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 406 A Chimera

Gabriel tilted his head, his gaze sharp. Her mask of composure finally crumbled, revealing raw, unadulterated fear in her eyes.

He turned his head away, a thoughtful hum escaping him. "Ahh, now that I think about it. The way Godfrey and Percival barged in earlier was rather peculiar. They did seem to be acting as if they were trying to protect someone..." His eyes landed back on her as he slowly rose from his seat.

"... To protect you. And your expression confirms they intended to shield you from me. But why? Have I done something to offend you?" He blinked, his brow furrowing as he struggled to recall any transgression. This was how the scene appeared from Lucy's viewpoint.

Gabriel turned back, his steps leading him to a small table set with a chessboard. He settled into a chair, crossing one leg over the other, his attention fixed on Lucy.

"What is it that you know?" His voice deepened significantly this time, the casual tone replaced by an icy chill. His expression remained impassive, a blank canvas that somehow amplified the menace.

Secrets were his tools, yet he despised when others withheld them, particularly when they involved him.

Lucy simply shook her head. "Nothing."

Gabriel tilted his head again. "Lucy. If you truly knew nothing, your demeanor would not betray such distress. You are clearly not acting out of madness; your fear is directed specifically at me. And it's not just you. Percival, Godfrey, perhaps even Isaac. Your little group seems to believe they possess some knowledge about me, and I intend to uncover what that is."

His fingers interlaced, and he leaned forward. "You see... I have no tolerance for being slandered." A dangerous gleam flickered in his eyes as he activated a Sovereign Tier skill: Will Compulsion.

This potent ability allowed Sovereigns to bend the will of others, forcing them to act against their deepest desires.

"Answer me. What do you know?"

"I don't know anything," Lucy responded, the words forcing Gabriel to squint. It was bewildering; no ordinary human should be able to resist Will Compulsion, especially from someone of his caliber.

Gabriel fell silent, a conundrum unfolding before him. She feared him, yet possessed no understanding of the reason? The implication was difficult to grasp, leaving him motionless.

Various scenarios for her peculiar state flitted through his mind until, after a considerable fourteen minutes, one explanation finally resonated.

"Your mind is sealed, but your body retains the memory," he murmured, a chuckle escaping his lips. This was the reward for his relentless pursuit of knowledge. "This indicates you are aware of something about me. Something so significant that your mind necessitated a lock, or perhaps..."

Gabriel leaned back, a new line of inquiry forming. "Is this something beyond me? Are you concealing another secret?"

A sudden realization struck him, and he gasped. He rose abruptly and moved closer to Lucy.

"What am I to do with you?"

She met his gaze, her head bowed, tears welling in her eyes. Deep down, a part of her acknowledged that this man was undeniably a wicked soul.

She was going to die regardless. What was the point of clinging to fear?

And so, fighting against the lingering dread, Lucy lifted her head, her eyes locking onto his. "Just kill me and be done with it. I know you are not the person you pretend to be."

Gabriel offered a smile, which quickly dissolved into boisterous laughter that echoed through the confines of the tower.

Lucy scoffed. "You are so profoundly lonely. You are far worse than I am."

Gabriel's laughter intensified. "You will need to do far better than that if you wish to provoke me into taking your life."

"So you admit you are not a good person. You intruded upon my home, consumed my mother's cooking, and then proceeded to abduct her daughter. All of this, after displaying such warm smiles. Is anything about you genuine?"

Within the depths of her being, Lucy questioned the source of this newfound bravery. Was it a consequence of accepting that death loomed near?

Her sole hope was for a swift end.

"Now this... this is the genuine Lucy. The one buried beneath layers of relentless bullying and mediocrity. I find myself preferring this version of you," Gabriel suddenly declared.

"I mean..." He turned to face her fully. "We are indeed captivated." Two additional voices, distinct from Gabriel's own, chimed in, causing Lucy's shoulders to tremble despite the fierce defiance in her gaze.

It was evident she was locked in a battle against her own fear.

Gabriel cracked his neck, the sound sharp in the tense air. "My aspiration is to leave an indelible mark, much like the great figures of history. There were individuals in the annals of the past whose brilliance and talent were so profound, one could only gaze upon them with awe. People whose methods, no matter how intensely you pondered, remained utterly beyond comprehension."

He strode to the telescope, placing his eye to the lens. "I, too, desire to be the first in something, to be an individual where, upon reflection, no equal can be perceived. A figure whose achievements defy logical explanation. Do you not share this ambition? Or are you content with your current existence? You resemble those insignificant side characters I've encountered in novels. Utterly worthless."

He turned back to her, his expression grim. "The likely outcome is that I kill you, and then your friends will storm in seeking vengeance." He let out a cynical laugh. "The power of friendship. It makes for an epic narrative in fiction, but it holds no sway in reality."

Gabriel approached her, lowering himself to a squat once more. "Have you ever wondered about the Afterlife World? Well, you are fortunate, as you won't have to, because I can find no use for your demise… you are practically no different from a discarded trash bag. However, there is one singular item within that trash bag that holds value, and it is the sole reason you remain breathing."

A grin spread across Gabriel's face as he locked eyes with her. "What I said," he murmured, his voice soft, "did it cause you pain?"

He smiled upon observing her bloodshot eyes fixed upon him. It was evident his words had struck a deep, painful chord.

"You have no significance in this world, Lucy! While I may not align with your definition of a good person, I cannot even leverage you to attain my objectives. That… that very fact illustrates just how utterly insignificant you are. You are incapable of even appreciating your own mother's cooking and offering thanks."

He tilted his head. "Are you not going to weep yet?" With a light chuckle, he stood and returned to his seat.

The space beside him suddenly tore open, and a figure emerged. It was a young woman.

Lucy's eyes widened in surprise as she noticed the girl bore a resemblance to herself, yet possessed long, elven ears and a single braid that cascaded down the middle of her head, extending past her knees and nearly reaching her ankles.

Her skin was a peculiar shade of gray, adorned with pink, lightning-like markings that traced across the exposed areas of her skin. One side of her eye, resembling that of a cat, was also marked.

She was dragging a single-edged sword, its blade emanating a pink luminescence that harmonized with the striking, lightning-shaped tattoos.

"As I've stated, I cannot utilize someone like you in your current state, so I must modify you to my preferences. This is one of my most recent creations: an Obsidian infused with elven characteristics. A being born from the fusion of two distinct realms, a true chimera. It has been nourished and prepared… exclusively for you."

Lucy pushed herself to her feet. "I would sooner embrace death than become a Fanatic."

"You shall not," Gabriel responded smoothly. "You see, a Fanatic is one who adheres to our doctrines and offers worship to us. However, you, who prey upon beast summoners yet refuse to honor your creator, are what we term a Lunatic. That is your designation until you submit to our will."

Observing the unyielding resolve in her eyes, Gabriel's own gaze gleamed with anticipation. "This promises to be quite entertaining."

In that very moment, Lucy detected a nearby presence. She turned and found Sebastian standing directly behind her. The palpable bloodlust radiating from him caused her to stagger backward.

A chilling hand made contact with her back, and a brilliant pink light erupted, eliciting a piercing scream from Lucy. It was a cry that transitioned into a high-pitched shriek. The sheer agony in her voice could have thawed the heart of the coldest individual, but it was suppressed as Gabriel conjured a pocket dimension to isolate her.

When the harrowing procedure concluded, Lucy lay collapsed on the ground. Her hair, previously one color, now transitioned halfway down into a spectral pale pink.

Still reeling from the intense pain, Lucy clutched her hair, her eyes wide with dawning horror.

"Remove this thing from me! Get it out!" she cried, frantically tugging at her hair as she attempted to expel the chimera.

Sebastian let out a scoff and instantly froze her in place with his 'Will Freeze' ability. "We elevated you to the status of a demigod. You ought to be grateful." He reached out, his fingers aiming for her neck.

"If you kill her, she achieves victory," Gabriel interjected calmly.

Sebastian released his grasp on Lucy's neck and raised his right hand.

The last sensation Lucy experienced was a distinct snap. One moment, a snap echoed, and the next, she awoke in her bed, the morning sun streaming through her delicate curtains, flooding the room with light.

She sat up, gazing at the peculiar pink section of her hair with a sense of bewilderment.

What on earth was truly transpiring?