The raging flames scorched the mountainside with such force that even Thor stopped in his tracks at the sound of the dragon’s cry. His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the people riding atop the ice dragon.

KRRRRAAAOOOOM!

The ancestral beast unleashed a violent blast of high-speed fire at him, and the explosion tore the ground apart.

Thor did not dodge, taking the attack head-on. His spear swept the icy flames away, but his expression twisted into something ugly. Nearly a hundred ice dragons rose up the mountain, and from the ancestral beast, a woman jumped down, her feet landing beside Max, who was barely keeping himself standing.

He did not even notice Rosalia. His eyes were still locked on Thor, waiting for the next move, while quietly preparing the last strike he could still force out of his body. He still had mana, but no strength left to release it, and he did not even know if it would be enough for that monster.

"Max, Max!" Rosalia shook him, but he did not respond, as if he could no longer hear her at all.

"Thunder Dragon Clan leader, please leave our lands, and we will let you walk away unharmed," Rosalia called out to Thor. People landed behind her, standing with her and Max, their gazes hard, unwelcoming, ready to risk everything to protect their home. And to protect the man who had stood alone to face the enemy for them.

The entire place was enough to make many gag. The smell of blood and the crimson-soaked ground were not a welcoming sight, especially for the children, but many adults had decided it was time for them to see what the real world truly was, and what it took to stand at the edge of life and death as a warrior.

Suddenly, another figure shot up, followed by a younger one. Henry and William made their entrance, both with ugly expressions on their faces. The entire clan had abandoned them, forcing them to rush after the rest. If they had not, Henry knew the people would soon start following Rosalia instead of him. While he wanted his daughter to lead one day, he was not ready to give up that position just yet.

"Great Thor, son of Ragnarok, I am William, leader of the Ice Dragons, son of Dravik. Forgive me for my daughter’s hot temper." He stepped in front of Max, finally making him snap out of it. Max saw Henry first, and when he turned his head, Rosalia’s face was right beside his, pale with concern and anger.

"Wh-what are you—?" Then he noticed the rest. "What are you all doing here?" he shouted. Void energy pushed out of his palms in soft bursts, forcing the clan members away as confusion spread across their faces. "Get back! He’s too dangerous!" Max roared, stepping forward and shoving Henry aside by the shoulder. Even if he could barely walk, he still had to kill Thor, who was watching the whole thing with a mix of annoyance and entertainment.

"What is this little act? Are you trying to make me laugh? Or should I clap? How touching..." His face dropped as he stepped forward too, his spear resting in his palms, bursting with sky-blue lightning.

"Enough, Max!" Rosalia shouted, making him stop. Purple ice flames lit both her palms. "Everyone, attack with me!" she roared, igniting the people’s spirits, all their hearts beating together. Henry stepped back, his expression dark, but he too began gathering his energy.

"Why?" Max called out, his voice trembling.

"You don’t need to stand alone, Max. You have us to fight with you. You have me." A warm smile rose on her face, accompanied by a faint blush. "Fire!" she roared. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

At that moment, the sky lit up in purple, and the temperature dropped so sharply that the air itself seemed to crack as a giant wave of ice flames crashed toward Thor. This time, he did not dare block it. His body lit up with lightning crackling through his bones as he pushed back, but the wave chased him anyway. Only when he rose into the sky was he able to shake it off. The ground below froze solid, making him curse.

"Ice Dragons! Know this, we will be back, and we will kill the rest of you for this humiliation today! And when the time comes, Max, I will have your head!" he spat before fleeing.

"Yeah... I will be waiting..." Max said weakly, his body finally loosening after the battle. Darkness crept over his vision. He was so exhausted that he could not even turn back to look at Rosalia, much less thank her for coming. His body nearly gave out and dropped to the ground, but before it could, a soft embrace caught him.

------

Max’s eyes snapped open as he shot upright in bed, breathing hard, his eyes searching the room like he expected danger to still be there.

"I’m... home?" He looked around and recognized his hut. "What happened? I... did I shake them off?" His memory felt broken, everything inside his head still blurred and heavy, but one thing remained clear — that worried face standing by his side.

"Rosalia!" He shouted, jumping out of bed, only for his legs to give out immediately. "My body... fuck, it’s too weak..." He forced himself back up and sat on the edge of the bed, his head lowered in frustration.

A sudden creak came from the door. He turned his head with expectation, but his face quickly soured. It was Henry, carrying a straw basket in his arms.

"I see you’re awake," Henry said with a happy laugh. "What, not who you expected? She’s sleeping right now." But to Max, the man looked far too friendly, far too pleased. It made him suspicious at once.

"What happened? How long was I asleep?"

"Five days," Henry replied, placing a basket of fruit and bread on the table inside the hut.

"That long?"

"Well, not everyone can face an army on their own, Max. What did you think would happen? It’s already a miracle you’re alive."

"Not like you cared about that when you bet everything on me to protect the village," Max scoffed, rolling his aching shoulders.

"Are you angry?" Henry sat down on the chair, grabbed a fruit from the basket, and bit into it, spreading a sweet smell through the room.

"No, I’m not angry." Max turned his head away, though the irritation in his face gave him away. "But who else is supposed to protect you if not me?"

"That is true. That is why I have an offer for you."

"What do you mean?" Max looked Henry deep in the eyes, catching that fox-like look on his face. He already knew that whatever came out of that devil’s mouth next would come with a price, and that price might as well be his soul.

"I want you to stay here and become part of our clan. As family."

"Is it that simple?" Max laughed.

"No." Henry smiled. "That is why I want you to become my son-in-law."