The flames spread across his body, and with every passing second, his soul and elemental power became one. His desire to kill grew stronger. The bright gleam in his eyes slowly faded, dimming like a candle being snuffed out.
While this was happening, Poul charged toward the giant, leaving behind a shining trail of solid ice. Blood dripped from his mouth, marking his path in red.
He jumped as bluish particles swirled into his hand, forming his freezing sword. Gritting his teeth, he swung even though it was incomplete. The giant's flaming hand caught the arm of the ice hero. Fire burned through the frozen layer and scorched his flesh.
"Agh!"
Grabbing Poul's arm, the giant slammed him into the ground. The earth split into layered cracks while liquid spilled from Poul's mouth. Dust filled the air. Coughing violently, he tried to stand, but dizziness and lack of air overwhelmed him.
"Will you give up? After everything you've been through?" A voice echoed in his mind.
"No... I won't..." His hands pressed against the scarred ground as he slowly clenched them, lifting dirt and leaving deep marks behind.
'Give up...' Maria's voice echoed in his mind, calling his name, smiling as she laughed. A tear rolled down his face. Weak and trembling, Poul forced himself to stand. Even staggering, he kept walking.
"It's hard to see..." Poul muttered, his blurred vision struggling through the rising dust. A burning sound came from behind. The cold across his back turned into heat. Turning, he saw a fiery hand coming for him.
There was no way to dodge. He was too exhausted to move, and forming ice was no longer an option. Too close for creation.
The flaming hand struck him, launching him toward the stone wall. Flying at the speed of fire, Poul stopped feeling his legs. Before colliding, he raised his ice-covered hand—partially, at least—to soften the impact.
At the touch of his fingers, frost spread across the wall, growing as his hand pressed harder. When the impact came, a deafening explosion echoed, followed by blue smoke mixing with gray dust.
'Again... damn it...' A faint grin spread across Poul's face.'Looks like I'm really dying this time...' His eyes widened.'Ah... damn... I'm losing... conscio...'
Poul—no longer a captain, not even a hero. Just a man. A husband. A father seeking revenge for his wife, craving power to protect his family—lost consciousness.
Inside the crater, split between ice and stone, he was trapped once again in the darkness of defeat. Was this really the end for a man who swore to avenge his wife and return to his son?
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice calling his name."Poul, wake up or you'll burn yourself!"
The voice was calm and gentle—a woman's voice. It soothed him just by hearing it.
"Come on, wake up. I know you're just pretending."
'That voice... it can't be... but it has to be her.'Opening his eyes in shock, he saw a beautiful woman with black hair staring at him.
"Finally, you stopped pretending."
"Ma... Maria?!" His eyes filled with tears.
The woman smiled and brushed her fingers through his hair."It's okay... it's all okay. It was just a nightmare."She leaned closer, whispering softly,"I'm here with you."
Those words made Poul believe it had all been a nightmare. Lying on Maria's lap, the hero of ice let a tear fall. He hadn't seen her kind face in so long.
The true nightmare wasn't the war—it was waking from this dream that held everything he ever wanted.
He heard his son's laughter as the boy played with another child. The air was pure—not filled with gunpowder, metal, or blood. The sounds weren't swords or roars of hate, but wind brushing through trees, birds singing. It was peace.
Standing to see them, Poul watched his son chasing Saint Clarice, both laughing. A gentle smile touched his lips as he walked toward them.
But the moment he took a single step, a quake shattered the air. Everything cracked like glass.
"No... why did it have to end like this?" The hero of ice curled up like a helpless child.
As the world shattered, that same sweet voice called again."Poul... look at me!"
He raised his head and saw his beloved wife—an angel now, with wings—but far from him. Looking down, he saw all the lives he had taken... including his own.
"Maria, I'm sorry I couldn't—"
"It's alright," she said, her face filled with concern."You don't need to push yourself this far, Poul. Think of our son, he's still—"
"HOW CAN I NOT!" Poul screamed."I'M FIGHTING TO AVENGE YOU, MARIA!" Tears burst from his eyes again.
At that moment, he could no longer carry his purpose—not because he was weak, but because he finally questioned if she had ever wanted this... a man consumed by hatred.
Maria looked at him with sorrow and pity.
"You only did all this to satisfy yourself." She sighed."This path of vengeance ends here, Poul, because..."
Her gaze softened with love and compassion."I forgive you." Tears welled in her eyes."And I will always love you, Poul. So survive this battle."
She wiped her tears and smiled gently."Not for vengeance. For me. Because I want you... to live happily."
Poul reached out to embrace her, but an invisible wall stopped him. Gritting his teeth, he began pounding it, watching his late wife cry.
The more he struck it, the more desperate he became—until something grabbed his shoulder. A being without eyes, with a mouth forever open.
"Don't listen to her, Poul. You've always been alone. Fulfill your purpose," the heavy voice hissed, dragging him downward.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down Poul's face.
"NO, NO, NOOO!" His screams filled the void, until a sharp pain surged through his hand.
Instead of crying out, he laughed—a broken, hollow laugh. The creature clung to him.
"Look down and see all the people you've killed." Crawling over his back, it whispered into his ear."Do you really believe someone who killed himself can ever be happy?"
Its laughter echoed.
Maria raised her face, staring coldly at the eyeless, blood-drenched being."Get off my—"
"Your ex-husband?" it mocked.
"Yes. He may be a murderer, a monster, or whatever he's become. But—"
The creature arched an eyebrow.
"He will always be my..." Poul lifted his head as she spoke."My husband, and the love of my life!"
The crimson ground, full of reaching hands, turned blue in an instant. The tears on his face froze into crystal.
Standing, Poul placed his hand on the invisible wall and looked at her."I love you, Maria. And I always will!"
She stepped closer to the barrier."Win this battle for me. And above all, don't die, Poul!"
The hero of ice nodded. Even as he spoke, the urge to hold and kiss her grew stronger. With every second the ice spread up his broken arm, a part of him died. Even after being forgiven, he could not forgive himself.
To Poul, Maria's death was his fault—for letting his guard down.
The ice began to crack, forming a void. Before falling into it, Maria said something that made Poul tremble.
Falling through the void, eyes lifeless, he whispered, "Yes..."Just one word—but what else could he say?
Knowing it might be the last time he'd ever see her tore at his heart. As ice crept up his arm, his lifeless gaze became a faint, sorrowful smile.
That was when the part of Hyou Poul died—not by fire, nor by a giant, nor by explosions... but by ice, and by himself.
A cracking sound echoed. He slowly opened his eyes, seeing his body encased in blue. He tried to move his arm—and it moved beneath the frozen shell. He exhaled.
Cold air escaped his lips.'Come on, Poul... you promised.'
Forcing not only his arm but every fiber of muscle, he pushed. The sound of cracking ice roared louder than the explosions around him.
The hero of ice gritted his teeth, tearing himself free from the frozen prison. Finally, the last shard broke. Climbing out of the crater, he looked around.
Searching... until he saw the flames.
He dashed forward, blue particles trailing behind. Every step coated the ground in frost, sliding him toward the inferno.
The giant raised his sword—no, the sword was the fire itself. Just a touch could burn flesh to ash.
Poul glided across the ice. When he was three meters away, he bent his knees and jumped. No longer feeling the ground, only wind rushing against his torn clothes. Blue particles gathered in his hand, forming a spear.
The giant turned, swinging his flaming blade while Poul prepared to throw his frozen weapon. Feeling the icy spear slip from his fingers, Poul watched it fly toward the flames.
The ice began to melt, and from his outstretched arm, cold spikes emerged. Frosty vapor escaped his skin.
The elemental giant slashed at the spear. Flames weakened as the weapon shattered into glowing fragments.
He raised a wall of fire—but it grew thinner, battered by a rain of icy thorns. The wall slowly dissolved, revealing the giant's face—sweat dripping, exhaustion clear.
'This being... can I really call him human?' the giant thought. Ice crept up Poul's face and body.
'This ice... it's no longer just power. It's part of me.' Poul exhaled. Cold air mixed with the heat before him.'A part of my soul was lost in this war. I truly am a false hero.'
At that moment, the giant vanished. A sharp pain pierced Poul's abdomen. Looking down, he saw a massive crystal impaling him—and a small figure standing on it.
"A hero, a father, a husband, a captain... I failed at all of them."He looked at the giant with cold, empty eyes."I am... the false hope."