Ice spread across the giant's face. It felt like it was burning him—but instead of flames, it was ice. Cold… yet strangely warm. How could ice feel like that?
The thought echoed through his mind as he tried to move his arm. Something resisted. When he looked, his eyes widened—his arm… was completely covered in ice.
He couldn't feel it anymore. It was as if it had disappeared. Gritting his teeth, he tried to move it again, but suddenly something struck his face, pushing him backward.
Poul watched him calmly, his arm wrapped in ice as he stepped forward. The giant's arms lay frozen on the ground behind him. A sense of unease slowly grew inside the giant.
With every step Poul took, the ice on his arm broke into fine particles and flowed toward his other arm. The cold spread—across the ground, across his body—growing steadily.
Poul let out a slow breath. The air around him felt heavier, colder.
The giant felt a chill run down his spine.
Is this real…? Am I really going to lose to a human…?
Without arms, he clenched his teeth. His heartbeat grew louder as Poul approached.
The ice continued to spread. The flames weakened. The pressure in the air became harder to ignore.
Moments ago, the giant had the advantage.
Now… something didn't feel right.
What is this… feeling? Why am I shaking?
Even so, flames rose again from his shoulders, forming new arms. He pressed them against the ground, steadying himself.
Poul moved first.
The ground froze beneath his steps as he swung his blade in a horizontal strike.
A wall of fire rose instantly, melting the ice blade before it could reach.
Poul paused for a brief moment, surprised.
He stepped back as a wave of heat passed close behind him. Turning slightly, he saw the giant preparing another attack, flames gathering along his arm.
I let my guard slip…
His expression turned quiet, almost distant.
So this is how it ends…?
"Jay."
The image of his son crossed his mind.
In that instant, he raised his hand and formed a shield.
The giant's strike collided with it.
Cracks spread across the surface.
The impact ran through Poul's body, forcing him back with overwhelming force. He was thrown into the distance, crashing into the wall behind him.
Dust rose into the air.
For a moment, everything felt distant.
Inside the impact, Poul lay still.
He could hear distant sounds—voices, movement, echoes of battle.
Something warm traced along his skin. His vision blurred slightly.
He tried to move.
Nothing responded.
I can't… end like this.
His thoughts tightened.
I still have something to protect.
Jay's image appeared again—quietly reading, eyes filled with light.
That simple memory pushed him forward.
The warmth on his body faded, replaced by something colder.
Ice began to spread again.
Slowly, it moved through him, stabilizing what had been broken, holding everything together.
Cold mist rose around him, soft and steady.
Poul reached forward and pulled himself up, the frozen surface supporting him.
The air around him shifted.
When he stepped out, his presence felt different.
His skin had turned pale, his gaze calm—but deeper than before.
Ahead, the battlefield continued.
Smoke, movement, scattered weapons, distant clashes.
He stepped forward and dropped down from the wall.
When he landed, a faint layer of frost spread across the ground beneath him.
Quiet. Controlled.
A giant nearby tried to attack him, swinging its weapon—
Poul didn't even look.
He kept walking.
The giant froze in place.
Step by step, the cold extended outward. The air itself seemed to slow, as if reacting to him.
Then—
The elemental giant felt it.
A pressure.
Something heavy in the air.
The surrounding giants hesitated.
Poul didn't stop.
The elemental giant turned and rushed forward, flames trailing behind him.
Poul reacted instantly, raising his blade to meet the attack. The impact pushed him back slightly, but he held his ground.
They faced each other again.
Fire burned.
Ice spread.
Without hesitation, Poul moved forward.
With each step, the cold deepened.
The giant raised his hand—several spheres of fire formed and shot toward him.
"Disappear."
Poul didn't slow down.
Wings of ice formed behind him, lifting him into the air.
He moved through the attacks, cutting through them as he advanced.
For a moment, he rose higher.
From above, he could see the battlefield clearly.
His soldiers were struggling… but still holding.
A faint smile touched his face.
Then he let himself fall.
The wind rushed past him as he descended.
The giant prepared another attack, flames gathering again.
Poul turned midair, adjusting his movement.
The heat approached—
He didn't hesitate.
His blade met the giant's strike.
A burst of energy spread outward as cold and heat clashed.
His wings began to fade, but he didn't stop.
They separated again.
Both stood facing each other, their elements surrounding them.
Poul's body felt heavier now. Parts of him were distant, harder to control.
The air around him carried the scent of heat and smoke.
The giant stared at him.
"How… can a human like you reach this level?" he asked, his voice low.
Poul looked at him quietly.
"Who am I?"
A small smile appeared.
"I'm just the one standing in your way."
The giant's gaze sharpened. Flames rose once more around his body.
"…Don't get ahead of yourself."
His voice grew steadier.
"This fight is far from over."