Chapter 9.5
Ice spread across his face, burning like fire—but instead of flames, it was ice. Cold and somehow hot. How could ice feel hot?
How is this even possible? the giant wondered. He tried to move his arm, but something stopped him. His eyes widened. His arm… completely encased in ice.
At that moment, he could no longer feel it. It was as if it never existed. Gritting his teeth, he tried to move, when suddenly he felt a sharp hit to his cheek and was thrown backward.
Poul simply walked forward, his arm covered in ice, toward the giant whose own arms now lay frozen on the ground. Despair consumed the giant's mind.
With every step, ice particles spread from Poul's body and the ground, merging and growing, consuming the battlefield. He exhaled, the cold air heavy and harsh.
The giant shivered from head to spine, swallowing hard. Am I really going to lose… to a human?
Despite the fire sparking along his shoulders, flowing down to form his arms, he slammed them onto the blood-stained ground.
Poul reacted immediately, stepping onto the icy terrain, sword raised, cutting horizontally.
A wall of fire erupted, melting his sword. Eyes wide in surprise, he jumped back, feeling a hot gust at his back. The giant's eyes glowed with elemental fury.
Ah… damn. I let my guard down. I'm going to die, thought Poul, his face cold and expressionless. His eyes lacked any light.
"Jay!" He remembered the reason he had come to the battlefield—his son. The image of his smiling child filled his mind. Instantly, he formed a shield.
The giant swung his fist at the human in front of him. The punch hit the shield. Insect!
The shield cracked, and Poul felt fractures across his arm—and then his whole body. Flying like a flame, slicing through the wind, he hit the wall. Smoke rose, parts of the battlefield cracked, fissures widening gradually.
As Poul lay in the debris, hearing the screams of rage and despair, he felt something sliding over his skin—head and arms alike. Hot, like freshly boiled water. He could not feel his legs or arms. His vision blurred, parts of his body turning red.
I… I'm going to die. Just because of a mistake. Damn it… he gritted his teeth.
I won't die. I refuse. I must… The image of his son reading in the living room, eyes shining, strengthened his resolve. I must keep my promise to him!
The hot liquid on his body solidified and cooled, melting away the ice that consumed him. The frost receded, reconnecting broken bones, healing muscles and organs. Poul's elemental power even consumed the crater around him, as he pushed free from the ice with a swirl of cold smoke.
His skin pale as snow, eyes icy yet burning with hatred, he stepped forward. The battlefield was chaos—fire, smoke, fallen weapons, roaring combat. Explosions cracked the air, and gunpowder stung the nostrils.
With every step, ice spread across the ground. The giant struck, fire blazing, but Poul remained calm, calculating his counterattacks with precision.
Flames and ice collided, erupting in violent bursts. The giant roared, firing balls of flame. Poul created wings of ice, flying, dodging, and slicing the fire midair.
Rising above the battlefield, he saw the soldiers struggling but surviving. A faint smile appeared as ice consumed half his face. He let gravity pull him down, spinning in midair, releasing a gust of icy wind.
The giant swung a flaming sword; the clash of fire and ice tore the battlefield apart. Ice melted, fire hissed—but neither side gave in.
They locked eyes. Poul's body was numb, breath heavy, the stench of blood, fire, and powder filling his nostrils.
I… can't… feel… my mouth… he thought.
The giant inhaled, trying to intimidate him.
"An insect… how can an insect like you be… so powerful? Who… are you?"
"I'm your worst nightmare," Poul said, a small, chilling smile on his lips.
"Nightmare?! Don't make me… laugh. We haven't even started properly yet, insect."
The giant's fiery glare spread across his body, but Poul didn't flinch. He was ready.