Why the hell can't I cry when my heart's shattered into pieces?
Elara Voss wanted to weep, but not a single tear would fall.
She'd thought she'd die of grief if Kael Voss left her.
But now, her chest was numb—empty of all feeling.
She stared at the ashes, her breath catching in her throat.
Grief flooded her chest, yet she couldn't shed a tear.
She wished she could feel sharp pain, anything.
But instead, there was nothing but cold indifference.
"Didn't you say I was yours, that no one could take me away from you?"
"Didn't you swear you'd crush anyone who dared to steal me?"
"I'm right here, not going anywhere. But where are you?"
"How could you break your promise? Why… why won't you give me a damn chance to repent?"
"I said I'd stay with you. Why didn't you wait for me?"
Elara curled her legs, hugging herself tightly, burying her face in her knees.
She was alone in the world again.
Just like after Kael left in her past life…
She'd lost him twice.
Silence engulfed the room.
Only the human-shaped pile of ashes accompanied the silently grieving Elara.
She didn't know how much time passed, but a bone-chilling cold seeped into her very veins.
Her body felt frozen stiff, yet her mind was terrifyingly clear.
Clear enough to feel despair and loneliness.
Clear enough to know Kael was gone.
She wanted to laugh at fate's cruelty.
To cry for the love that withered before it even bloomed.
But in the end, she just sat in silence.
Listening to the sound of her heart dying.
Suddenly, a warm aura wrapped around her.
Then, strong arms lifted her into a tight embrace.
A familiar voice—soft, tender, and laced with affection—whispered in her ear:
"Elara, why are you still sitting on the floor?"
Elara froze completely.
The silent world shattered around her.
She thought she must be hallucinating.
But the next moment, she was lifted into a scorching chest.
The dry smell of fire mixed with fresh shower gel filled her nostrils.
It was Kael Voss's damn scent!
She猛地 raised her head, staring dumbly at the man in front of her.
"What's wrong?" Kael held her close, warming her cold body, asking in confusion.
"You…" Elara's voice was hoarse.
She paused, then suddenly remembered something.
"Did you… go to your Space just now?"
A smirk tugged at Kael's lips. "My clothes burned off. You wouldn't want to see me naked, huh?"
"That ash… it was your clothes…" Elara muttered, lost in a daze.
"Yeah. What's wrong with you?"
Slap!
Elara raised her hand and slapped Kael hard across the face.
Kael turned his head, his expression stiffening for a moment.
"Sorry. I forgot you hate me touching you."
Kael slowly let her go and stood up. "The floor's cold. I don't want you to get sick—damn it."
Caution crept into his voice.
His eyes were dim with disappointment.
"If you don't like it, I'll stop. Just… don't be mad at me."
Kael lowered his eyes and spoke softly.
After a long silence, he looked up to find Elara still standing there, her gaze empty and unreadable.
He hung his head again.
Sighed quietly.
"I'll leave first, then."
Kael took two steps toward the door.
Elara, as if jolted awake, rushed forward and hugged him tightly from behind!
Kael froze in shock, unable to believe what was happening.
"When I woke up and saw the ash… I thought you were dead…"
Elara's suppressed sobs came from behind, hitting Kael like a sledgehammer.
He quickly turned around and hugged her back, apologizing frantically.
"I'm sorry, Elara. I just didn't want to look like a fool."
"I didn't expect you to wake up right then. I'll tell you first next time—promise."
Elara pushed him away, wiped her eyes.
She glared at him angrily.
"One Superpower awakening is more than enough! How many damn times do you want to do it?"
Kael grinned. "You're right! That was stupid of me! Don't cry, Elara—I can't stand it when you cry."
She felt Kael's dry, warm palm brush her cheek.
Suddenly flustered, she turned her head and swatted his hand away.
Glaring at him sharply.
"Who's crying!"
"Me! I'm crying!" Kael quickly raised his hands, pointing to himself with a fawning smile.
"Hmph!" Elara felt even more embarrassed.
She quickly changed the subject.
"Show me your Fire Superpower!"
Kael noticed her awkwardness and didn't tease her further.
He just smiled meaningfully, raised his right hand, and snapped his fingers.
An inch-long jet-black flame erupted from his palm.
The temperature in the room soared to an astonishing level in an instant!
Elara felt the searing heat.
Shock and joy filled her face.
She'd never seen Absolute Superpower in her past life—only heard how powerful it was.
Now, witnessing it firsthand, she couldn't help but gasp.
She'd thought her Absolute Gold was strong enough.
But now, facing Kael's Absolute Fire, she realized he had her completely under his thumb once again.
Only Absolute Fire could melt Absolute Gold.
Fire had always overcome gold.
Was this really fate? Was she destined to be tangled up with Kael for this entire lifetime?
Elara stared at the inky black flame in Kael's palm.
A thought hit her.
She pulled the giant snake's skin she'd taken from the breeding village out of her Space.
As soon as it touched the black fire, the snake skin shrank by half in the blink of an eye!
Kael raised an eyebrow, standing still as Elara tested the flame on the skin.
Purple light erupted from Elara's body.
She held the snake skin in her left hand.
Slowly infused her Absolute Gold Superpower into it with her right.
The yellow snake skin gradually turned purple-black under the combined smelting of the purple Gold and black Fire Superpowers.
It shrank, softened, and became flexible.
Elara was completely focused on forging a leather armor from the snake skin using her Gold Superpower and Kael's Fire.
Forging armor and weapons consumed a massive amount of Superpower.
She also had to focus on resisting the high temperature radiating from Kael.
By the time the leather armor was finished, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep.
Before she could even try it on.
Kael caught her, holding her tightly in his arms.
He was exhausted too—he'd just awakened his Superpower and used it for so long.
He looked at the empty, charred room.
Waved his hand, and a soft bed appeared out of nowhere—pulled straight from his Space.
He laid down with Elara in his arms.
Having the person he loved in his arms made Kael feel happier and more content than even awakening his Superpower.
He closed his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips, as drowsiness and exhaustion washed over him.
Kael had a long, vivid dream.
Even though he felt like he was burning alive, he never wanted to wake up.
In the dream, he could hold the woman he'd been longing to possess without any hesitation.
No mockery, no coldness—just her warmth.
He wished the dream would never end.
But he was woken by noisy sounds outside the door.
He frowned, not opening his eyes yet.
A violent aura already oozed from him.
A small black flame flickered between his brows, like a living spirit, adding a touch of evil charm and wildness to his already handsome, sharp face.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
Eyes darker than ink, brighter than obsidian, brighter than stars.
Kael parted his lips, ready to snap at whoever was outside.
But then he caught sight of the sleeping face nestled in his arms.
He froze instantly.
Elara!
It was his Elara—his beloved, his obsession, the girl he'd decided to make his wife since childhood!
He stared at her face greedily.
Scared to death she'd disappear like a phantom.
Elara frowned unhappily in her sleep.
Shifting slightly to find a more comfortable position before dozing off again.
Only then did Kael realize it wasn't a dream. His Elara was back!
Blurred memories suddenly cleared.
He remembered Elara refusing to let him go find her.
Helpless, he'd helped Cyrus Voss build a Safe Zone.
Once the Safe Zone was ready, he could settle their parents there.
Then lead people to fetch Elara.
He'd invested money, effort, and men.
Thanks to the reputation he'd built in the days after the Apocalypse, people had flocked to him.
But just as the Safe Zone took shape, he'd fainted.
He didn't know how long he'd been unconscious.
Only that a blazing fire had been scorching him, trapping him in a world of heat.
Later, he'd felt Elara's aura nearby.
He'd fought like hell to break free from the fiery hell, dazed and disoriented.
Until he saw her.
She'd said something about him awakening his Fire Superpower, hadn't she?
What else had she said?
Kael frowned, struggling to recall every single word they'd exchanged.
Those words were his most precious memories—he didn't want to forget a damn one.
After a long while, a wild, triumphant smile spread across Kael's face.
He flipped his finger, and a small black flame danced in his palm, like a living creature.
His burning gaze turned back to Elara's elegant face.
His eyes were as bright as stars.
The affection in them was hotter than his mutated fire!
A knock on the door interrupted the moment.
The softness and affection on Kael's face instantly turned to violence and ferocity.
The flame between his brows flickered rapidly.
Making him look like a devil of the night—terrifying as hell.
"Elara? Kael? Are you okay? It's night now. Come out for dinner!"
Mother Voss's voice sounded, soft with anxiety and worry.
The ferocity in Kael's eyes faded a little.
But he didn't say a word.
Instead, he looked down at Elara.
She'd pouted in her sleep at the disturbance.
A smile crept onto his lips unconsciously.
You promised to let me protect you for a lifetime.
Whether you like it or not, you can never escape me now. Never.
The knocking continued, annoying Elara.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slowly.
Finally, she opened her eyes, looking grumpy and disoriented.
She lifted her head dazedly—and directly fell into a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes!
She froze for a moment.
Then realized she'd fallen asleep in Kael's arms!
She moved instinctively.
Only to find herself trapped in his tight embrace.
Her face turned bright red.
She struggled, but he held her tighter, pinning her firmly in place!
Next Chapter Highlight:
Dinner with the Voss family turns into a tense showdown! Kael's overbearing declaration of "she's my woman" sparks a hidden crisis. Meanwhile, the leather armor forged from the giant snake's skin attracts unwanted attention from Safe Zone forces. When a horde of mutated beasts suddenly besieges the hotel, Elara's Absolute Gold and Kael's Absolute Fire must join forces for the first time—will their bonded Superpowers create a miracle? And Kael's dark secret about the Apocalypse is on the verge of being exposed…