Flames spread across his body.
With every passing second, it felt as if his soul and his elemental power were merging into one. His desire to kill grew stronger, heavier… overwhelming.
The light in his eyes slowly faded, like a candle losing its flame.
At the same time, Poul dashed forward. The ground beneath him froze into a solid, shimmering trail. Blood slipped from the corner of his mouth, leaving faint marks behind.
He leapt.
Blue particles gathered into his hand, forming a freezing blade.
Grinding his teeth, he swung it—even incomplete.
A burning hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
The flames seeped through the ice and scorched his skin.
—"Agh—!"
Grabbing him, the giant slammed him into the ground.
The earth rose in cracked layers, splitting under the impact. A thick liquid escaped Poul's mouth as dust filled the air.
Coughing repeatedly, the man tried to stand—but dizziness struck, followed by a suffocating lack of air.
"Are you going to give up… after everything?"A voice echoed inside his mind.
"No… I won't…"
His fingers slowly clenched against the shattered ground, dragging dirt along.
"…give up."
Maria appeared in his thoughts—calling his name, smiling gently.
A tear slid down his face.
Unsteady, without posture, he stood and began to walk. His body swayed, yet he kept moving.
"It's… getting hard to see…" Poul muttered, his vision blurred as dust filled the air.
A burning sound came from behind.
The cold on his back turned into heat.
Turning, he saw a flaming hand rushing toward him.
There was no time to dodge.
He was too exhausted.
Creating ice… wasn't an option.
It was too close.
The blow struck him.
He was launched toward the wall.
Flying like a streak of fire, he stopped feeling his legs mid-air. Before crashing into the stone, he raised his partially frozen arm to soften the impact.
The moment his finger touched the wall, frost spread.
The longer it remained in contact, the more the ice expanded.
Then—
Impact.
An explosion echoed, followed by a surge of cold blue mist mixing with gray smoke.
"…Again… damn it…"
A faint laugh escaped his lips.
"…So this is how I die…"
His eyes widened.
"Ah… I'm… losing… con…sciousness…"
Poul.
Not a captain.
Not a hero.
Just a man.
A father. A husband.
Someone who wanted revenge… and strength to protect his family.
And he lost consciousness.
Inside the crater—split between ice and stone—he was swallowed by darkness once more.
Was this defeat again?
Would a man who swore revenge… and promised to return to his son… end like this?
Then—
A voice.
Soft. Familiar.
"Poul, wake up… or you'll get burned."
It was gentle. Warm.
Just hearing it brought him peace.
"Come on… I know you're pretending."
"…That voice…"
His eyes snapped open.
Before him stood a beautiful woman with black hair.
"…Maria?"
Tears filled his eyes instantly.
Smiling softly, she caressed his hair.
"It's okay… everything is okay. That was just a bad dream."She leaned closer."I'm here with you."
Those words…
Made him believe it.
That everything—was just a dream.
Lying on Maria's lap, a tear slipped down his face as he looked at her gentle expression… one he hadn't seen in so long.
The real nightmare wasn't the war.
It was leaving this dream.
A dream where everything he wanted still existed.
He heard laughter—
His son's voice.
Playing happily with another child.
The air was pure. No gunpowder. No blood. No steel.
No screams.
No explosions.
Only wind… leaves… birdsong.
Peace.
Real peace.
Standing up, he saw Jay running with Saint Clarice, chasing each other with laughter.
A small smile formed.
He walked toward them—
But the moment he took a step—
The world cracked.
Like glass.
"…No… why… why does it have to end like this…"
He curled up like a helpless child.
Everything shattered.
And once again—
That same gentle voice called him.
"…Poul. Look at me."
He raised his head.
Maria stood there—
With wings.
Like an angel.
But… distant.
Looking down—
He saw them.
Every life he had taken.
Including himself.
"Maria… I'm sorry… I couldn't—"
"It's okay!" she interrupted, clearly worried."You don't need to push yourself this far. Think about our son, he—"
"HOW CAN I NOT?!" Poul shouted."I'M FIGHTING TO AVENGE YOU, MARIA!"
Tears streamed down his face.
He couldn't bear it anymore.
Not because he was weak—
But because… this wasn't what she wanted him to become.
A being driven only by hatred.
She looked at him.
Not with anger—
But with quiet pity.
"You did all this… for yourself."
She sighed softly.
"This path of revenge ends here, Poul."
Her eyes softened.
"I forgive you."
Tears filled her eyes.
"And I will always love you."
"…So live."
"For me."
"Not for revenge… but because I want you to be happy."
Poul rushed forward—
But an invisible wall stopped him.
Grinding his teeth, he struck it again and again.
Maria cried on the other side.
Then—
Something grabbed his shoulder.
A figure.
Faceless.
Its mouth stretched open endlessly.
"Don't listen to her," it whispered."You've always been alone. Finish what you started."
Its voice dragged him down like weight.
Poul cried uncontrollably.
"NO… NO… NO—!"
A cracking sound came from his hand.
Pain surged—
But instead of screaming—
He laughed.
A hollow, broken laugh.
The creature clung to him.
"Look down… see them?""All the ones you killed."
It climbed onto his back, whispering:
"Do you really think someone like you… can ever be happy?"
The laughter grew louder.
Maria raised her head—
Her gaze turned sharp.
"Get off him."
"Your… ex-husband?" the creature mocked.
"Yes."
Her voice didn't waver.
"He may be a killer… a monster… whatever he becomes…"
She looked straight at Poul.
"…but he will always be my husband."
"And the love of my life."
The ground turned blue.
The hands reaching for him froze.
His tears solidified.
Poul stood.
Placed his hand against the barrier.
"I love you, Maria… I always will."
She stepped closer.
"Win this battle."
"And… don't die."
He nodded.
Even as he spoke—
The urge to hold her… to kiss her—
Burned inside him.
But as the ice crept over his broken hand—
Something inside him faded.
Even forgiven—
He couldn't forgive himself.
To him, Maria's death…
Was his fault.
The ice cracked—
Then everything collapsed.
Before it ended—
She said something.
And Poul… trembled.
Falling into the void, his empty eyes stared ahead.
"…Yes."
Just that.
A single answer.
His heart ached—
Knowing this might be the last time he would ever see her.
As the ice spread across his arm—
His lifeless eyes formed a faint smile.
And in that moment—
Hyou Poul died.
Not to fire.
Not to giants.
But to ice.
And to himself.
A cracking sound echoed.
His eyes slowly opened.
His entire body was covered in blue.
He moved his arm—
It responded.
Cold air escaped his mouth.
"…Let's go… Poul… you made a promise."
Forcing his body to move—
Every muscle screamed.
Ice shattered loudly with each motion.
Grinding his teeth, he broke free.
Finally—
He stepped out of the crater.
Looking around—
Searching—
Until he saw it.
Fire.
He launched forward, blue particles trailing behind him.
The moment his feet touched the ground, a frozen layer spread, carrying him forward like a slide.
Ahead—
The giant.
Its sword wasn't covered in flames—
It was flames.
Even touching it meant burning.
Poul slid across the ice.
At three meters—
He bent his knees—
And leapt.
The air rushed against him.
Particles gathered—
Forming a spear.
The giant turned.
Swinging its flaming blade—
As Poul prepared to throw.
The spear left his hand.
Melting as it approached.
Poul extended his arm—
Creating frozen spikes mid-air.
Cold mist poured from his skin.
The giant cut the spear apart.
Its flames weakened.
A wall of fire rose—
But was slowly pierced by a rain of ice spikes.
The wall faded.
The giant's face became visible—
Sweating.
Exhausted.
"…Can I even call this thing… human?" it thought.
Ice spread across Poul's body.
"This isn't just power anymore…"
He exhaled cold air.
"…it's part of me."
He stepped forward.
"…part of my soul."
Another step.
"…lost in this war."
"I really am… a false hero."
Suddenly—
The giant vanished.
A sharp pain pierced his abdomen.
Looking down—
A massive crystal spike had impaled him.
And walking along it—
Poul.
"A hero… a father… a husband… a captain…"
His empty eyes stared ahead.
"I failed at everything."
He looked at the giant.
Cold.
Hollow.
"…I am false hope."