Inside a dim command room, several lieutenants stood in tense silence.
BANG!
The door burst open.
"C-Captain!" a soldier shouted, panic clear in his voice.
The captain raised an eyebrow, calm—but alert.
"Yes?"
"A-An elemental giant is heading toward the city!"
The room froze.
"What?"
The captain stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.
He turned to the lieutenants, tension flashing across his face.
"Call every soldier. Now."
Then he stepped closer to the trembling messenger.
"How long?"
"An hour… maybe two at most, sir!"
"…Damn it."
The captain clenched his fist.
"Bring Captain Jackie—and the recruit with him. Poul. Send them to the wall."
The soldier nodded deeply and rushed out.
Left alone, the captain leaned against the wall, his gaze darkening.
This city… might not survive this.
Under the daylight, Jay walked with his hands in his pockets, head slightly lowered.
Beside him, Kyrai moved with light steps, a bright smile on her face.
Jay, however, was lost in thought.
Why does that goddess keep bothering me?
His fingers brushed his chin unconsciously.
Ever since my mother died… she's been different.
The thought lingered.
What does she want from me?
Friendship?
Comfort?
…Or something else?
His eyes widened slightly.
No. That's impossible.
He shook his head.
No one would…
His steps slowed.
A quiet truth surfaced—cold and familiar.
People leave.
They always do.
Just like before.
A soft touch landed on his shoulder.
Jay snapped out of his thoughts.
Kyrai was looking at him, worry in her eyes.
"Jay… are you okay?"
He nodded quickly.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
A small, forced smile.
She hesitated—but accepted it.
At the top of the wall, Poul stood with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
In the distance, something massive moved.
A mountain of earth… advancing.
"That's the elemental giant?" Poul asked.
"No," Jackie replied, narrowing his eyes. "It's inside that."
"…Like a shell?"
"Exactly. And one that blocks arrows."
Jackie smirked faintly.
"But let's see how it handles cannon fire."
Poul remained silent.
No… I don't think that'll be enough.
Moments passed.
Then—
Poul frowned.
"Jackie… look."
The "mountain" wasn't just moving.
It was accelerating.
Jackie's expression shifted instantly.
"…Damn it."
He stepped forward and shouted:
"Prepare the cannons! Archers—ready!"
The soldiers rushed into position.
At the same time, civilians were being forced into shelters.
Doors were knocked down.
People were dragged if they resisted.
There was no time for hesitation.
Jay sat at the table when the ground trembled.
The air shifted.
Silence fell.
Luis stood up immediately.
"Basement. Now."
No one argued.
Inside the dark, cramped space, dust filled the air.
Jay sneezed lightly, irritation flashing across his face.
…Why did I even come here…
Beside him, Kyrai trembled.
He noticed.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then—
He pulled her into a quiet embrace.
"It's okay… you're not alone."
Her trembling slowly eased.
Above, the battle had begun.
Cannons roared.
Arrows rained down.
Explosions echoed.
But the moving mass… remained untouched.
Unstoppable.
Poul stood still.
Watching.
Listening.
Then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Something inside that "shell."
Something… wrong.
The noise around him faded into a dull hum.
His grip tightened.
Jackie noticed.
Something's off…
Then his eyes widened.
"STOP FIRING! FALL BACK!"
The soldiers froze.
Too late.
The earth split.
And something emerged.
Without hesitation, Poul raised his hand.
A surge of cold burst forward.
Ice spread instantly—
Freezing the entire mass.
Silence fell.
The soldiers stared in shock.
Poul dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
Pain burned through his arm.
"Poul!"
"Don't come closer!" he snapped.
"…Lead the others. I'll hold it here."
Jackie hesitated—
Then nodded.
The frozen shell cracked.
Something descended from above.
BOOM.
The ground shattered on impact.
A towering figure stood there.
Seven meters tall.
Holding a blade of stone.
Poul looked… small.
The giant moved.
Vanished.
A sudden pressure—
Behind him.
Poul turned—
Too late.
The impact sent him flying across the wall.
Jackie's voice broke through the chaos.
"POUL!"
But he couldn't stop.
He had to lead the retreat.
The giant stepped into the city.
Each movement shook the ground.
Buildings collapsed under its strikes.
Then—
It faltered.
Something had struck its leg.
A soldier shouted—
Before vanishing in an instant.
Panic spread.
Attacks came blindly.
Desperately.
But the giant answered.
The battlefield collapsed into chaos.
Far away—
Poul struggled to breathe.
Blood filled his vision.
His body refused to move.
No…
No…
"I can still fight…"
His voice trembled.
"I won't… stay down…"
Then—
A thought.
Jay.
His son.
Something changed.
The pain faded.
Cold gathered around him.
Ice formed over his broken blade.
A new edge.
Sharp.
Blue.
Wings of crystal spread from his back.
With a single beat—
He rose into the sky.
The giant noticed.
A presence above.
Poul descended.
Faster.
Projectiles flew—
He weaved through them.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
He struck.
The blade pierced deep.
Ice spread from the wound.
Freezing from within.
He pushed forward—
Then released.
Falling.
The wings vanished.
The ground rushed toward him—
A shadow followed.
A massive hand.
Everything slowed.
A shield of ice formed.
Impact.
His body was thrown again.
Pain surged—
But he endured.
The giant roared.
And charged.
Poul stood.
Barely.
His body shaking.
His breathing uneven.
Still—
He raised his hand.
And clenched it.
Inside the giant—
The frozen fragments reacted.
A surge of power—
Then—
A silent collapse.
The giant stopped.
Its body failed.
And fell.
Silence.
Poul dropped to his knees.
Blood ran from his mouth.
His heart pounded violently.
His lungs burned.
But the giant… was no more.
And on that day—
A name was carved into history.
Hyou Poul.
The man who stood alone—
And brought down an elemental giant.