The flames crawled across the giant's body, merging with his flesh until his elemental core and burning soul felt like one. His killing intent surged.The bright, fiery glow in his eyes faded little by little, like a candle being smothered.
Meanwhile, Poul launched himself toward the giant. His dash carved a trail of solid, gleaming ice behind him. Blood dripped from his mouth, leaving faint traces on the frozen ground.
He leapt, blue particles swirling toward his hand, forming his incomplete ice blade.
Grinding his teeth, he swung—
But the giant's flaming hand seized Poul's arm. Fire seeped past the frost coating and burned straight into his skin.
"Agh!"
With a single motion, the giant hurled him down.
The ground cracked in layered plates beneath the impact, dust erupting as a stream of blood escaped Poul's mouth.
He coughed again and again. He tried to rise, but dizziness washed over him, stealing his breath.
"Are you giving up? Even after everything you've endured?"A voice echoed in his mind.
"No… I won't…"His trembling hand closed into a fist, dragging soil with it, leaving marks on the ground as he forced himself upright.
'Maria…'
Her smiling face flashed through his mind.
A tear slid down his cheek as he stumbled to his feet, posture broken but spirit refusing to collapse.
"It's getting hard to see…" Poul muttered, vision blurry as dust swirled around him.
The sound of burning rushed from behind him. Heat touched his back—too close, too fast.
He couldn't dodge.
He didn't have the strength—nor time to form ice.
The flaming hand struck him, launching him toward the wall.
As he shot through the air, Poul lost all sensation in his legs. Just before impact, he raised his frost-covered hand—what little ice still clung to it—to soften the blow.
His fingertip grazed the stone.
And ice spread.
When he collided, a thunderous crack exploded, sending a cloud of cold blue smoke mixed with gray debris into the air.
'Again… this damn thing…'A faint laugh escaped him.
'I guess… I'm really going to die this time…'
His vision flickered.
'Ah… damn it… I'm losing… conscio—'
Poul—not the captain, not the hero, but a man, a father, a husband searching for revenge and power to protect his family—fell into darkness.
He awoke in a fractured plain of shadow and ice, trapped again in the void of defeat.
But then—A gentle voice broke the silence.
"Poul, wake up or you'll get burned!"
A woman's voice. Soft. Warm. Familiar.
"Come on, I know you're pretending."
'That voice… no, it can't be… but… it has to be her.'
He opened his eyes.
"Maria?!"Tears welled instantly.
She smiled and brushed his hair with tenderness.
"It's alright… it was just a nightmare. I'm here."
Poul lay with his head on her lap, staring at the woman he loved—one he hadn't seen in so long.
This peace… this warmth…This was the real dream.
His son's laughter echoed nearby. Fresh air—not smoke, blood, and iron—filled his lungs.No explosions. No screams. Only wind, birds, and life.
He stood to see the children—but the moment he took a step, the world cracked like shattered glass.
"No… why did it have to end…"He curled into himself like a frightened child.
Everything crumbled.
Then her voice called again.
"Poul! Look at me!"
He lifted his head. Maria stood bathed in soft light, but distant.
At his feet, he saw the countless beings he had killed—Including himself.
"Maria… I couldn't protec—"
"It's alright." Her expression tightened with worry."You don't have to push yourself this far. Think of our son—he's sti—"
"HOW CAN I NOT?!" Poul roared."I'M LITERALLY FIGHTING TO AVENGE YOU, MARIA!"
Tears streamed uncontrollably.
Not because he was weak—But because he no longer knew if she wanted him to become this monster driven by hatred.
Maria looked at him—serious, sorrowful, gentle.
"You didn't do this for me… you did it to satisfy your own pain."She sighed."This journey of vengeance must end here, Poul."
Her voice softened.
"Because… I forgive you. And I will always love you. So please… survive this battle. Not for revenge—but for me."
Poul reached for her, desperate—But a barrier stopped him.
He pounded on it with all his strength.A faceless creature, dripping blood, clung to his shoulder.
"Don't listen to her, Poul. You've always been alone. Finish your goal."The voice pulled him down even as he tried to rise.
"NO! NO! NOOO!"He screamed until something cracked in his hand—a burning, unbearable pain.
Yet he laughed… a broken, hollow laugh.
The creature hissed:"Look down. See all those lives you took. You really think a man who killed even himself can be happy?"
Maria's eyes darkened as she glared at the monster.
"Get off my—"The creature smirked."Your ex-husband?"
"Yes. He may be a killer, a monster, whatever he becomes… but—"
Poul slowly lifted his head.
"He will always be my husband," she whispered. "The love of my life."
The crimson ground turned blue.His frozen tears hardened.
He stood, placing his hand against the barrier.
"I love you, Maria. I always will."
She stepped closer."Win this battle. And above all—don't die, Poul."
He nodded.
His desire to hold her—just once more—nearly crushed him.
But as ice crawled across his broken arm, as his expression hollowed… part of him died.
Not by fire.Not by giants.Not by explosions.
But by himself.
Cracks spread—
—and he fell.
Her final words echoing as he plummeted back into reality.
He opened his eyes, breath misting into the cold air, his entire body encased in blue ice.
He strained—tendons burning, bones creaking—until the ice shattered.
He rose from the crater.
Searching.
Then he saw the flames.
He dashed forward, blue particles swirling.When his foot touched the ground, frost spread in a thin sheet and carried him toward his enemy.
The giant's sword wasn't covered in fire.It was fire.
Poul glided closer. Three meters away, he bent his knees and launched into the air.Particles formed a spear in his hand.
The giant turned, blade blazing, ready to cleave him.
Poul released the icy spear—It slid from his fingers, melting as it neared the flames.
Then—
He created frozen spikes along his arm.Cold vapor steamed from his skin.
The spear met the flaming blade—
Shattered.
The giant's fire dimmed.
A wall of flames rose, but Poul's barrage of icy spikes pounded it until it withered.
The giant's face emerged—drenched in sweat, expression exhausted.
'This being… can I truly call him human?' the giant thought.
Frost crawled across Poul's body and face.
'This ice… it's not just power anymore,' Poul thought.'It's a part of me. A piece of my soul… lost in this war. I really am a false hero.'
The giant vanished.
Pain stabbed through Poul's stomach.
He looked down.
A massive crystal spike pierced him—and a small figure walked along its shimmering surface.
"A hero, a father, a husband, a captain… I failed at everything," Poul whispered, his eyes cold and lifeless.
"I am the false hope."