In an instant, the island that had been a paradise felt like a cliff with no escape.

The small island had no other inhabitants besides us, so there was no one to ask for help. Moreover, there was no proper place to hide.

‘How on earth did they find out where we are? Even if they somehow knew our location, launching such a massive attack shouldn’t have been possible…’

Ascan and I were under the protection of the Arwen Empire and the Lazent Empire.

Attacking us meant the Kalua Empire would provoke a major diplomatic crisis—potentially even sparking a full-scale war.

We had traveled here precisely because we judged the Kalua Empire incapable of targeting us. That’s why this sudden assault made no sense.

‘What’s going on? Is there something I don’t know?’

My head spun with confusion. But I had no time to hesitate.

Warships floated on the sea, and armed navy soldiers were advancing toward us.

Ascan swiftly pulled me behind him, shielding me. Even in this chaos, he remained calm.

“Listen to me carefully.”

At the gravity in his voice, I lifted my head and looked at Ascan.

“I’ll hold them off here. You go to the fishing boat behind the island.”

“…What?”

If I go, what about you?

I stared at him, bewildered. Leaving him behind with so many enemies ahead was unthinkable.

“Ascan, what are you even saying—”

“Go. Tanashia.”

As he spoke, Ascan turned his head slightly to look at me. His resolute gaze was one I’d seen once before.

Ten years ago—when Ascan sacrificed himself in my place.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Suddenly, my heart pounded wildly.

It felt like a moment I’d sworn would never return was crashing into reality.

I didn’t need him to explain further. I knew—he was preparing to sacrifice himself to save me.

Again. Just like ten years ago.

I shook my head violently. My eyes burned hot, and a lump of fire rose in my throat.

If I let my guard down even slightly, tears would burst out uncontrollably.

“No, no! I won’t leave you behind ever again.”

“Think rationally. If you stay, we’ll both die. It’s better for you to take the fishing boat and get help from someone else.”

“Lies!”

Ascan wrapped it in logic, but it was nonsense.

By the time I escaped on the fishing boat, brought help, and returned, this small island would already be engulfed in flames.

Ten years ago, Ascan survived by sheer luck. But if I left him now, I feared I might never see him again.

“Don’t be stubborn. Go, before it’s too late.”

With that firm command, he raised his hand and summoned undying flames.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three flames ignited midair around Ascan.

They flew toward the approaching navy. As I stood mesmerized by his overwhelming display—

“Cough, cough.”

Suddenly, Ascan bent over and coughed violently.

Watching him from the side, I gasped in shock.

Blood stained the corner of his mouth. Having read the novel , I knew all too well what it meant for a human weapon test subject to cough up blood.

“As—Ascan, don’t tell me…”

I was so stunned by this unexpected sight I couldn’t even finish my sentence.

Ascan coughing blood meant his life was running out.

Since when?

I hurriedly grabbed his arm. Summoning undying flames in this state was literally burning away his remaining life.

“Stop it. Please, stop.”

Even as I pleaded, Ascan didn’t cease using his power.

Thanks to his flames, the navy struggled to land on the island. But he wouldn’t hold out much longer.

“Ascan!”

At my loud cry, he glanced back at me.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about—”

“Don’t you dare lie to me! Since when have you been coughing blood? Do you think I don’t know your life is in danger?”

As I spoke, my heart felt like it was being shredded.

Every moment I’d spent with Ascan had been happiness. I never imagined such a secret lurked beneath it.

I’d grown complacent because I’d read the original . I never anticipated the story wouldn’t unfold identically—or that Ascan’s limits would arrive.

The crushing guilt and regret overwhelmed me—I’d watched him use his power all this time without even realizing his condition.

Ascan stared at my tear-streaked, agonized face, speechless. He seemed to realize he could no longer deceive me.

“I’m sorry. I meant to tell you during this trip… but the time with you was so sweet I couldn’t bring myself to say it.”

“You should’ve lied to me about anything else—but not this! How could you hide something like this?”

If not for the urgency of the situation, I would’ve screamed at him. I wanted to demand how he could betray me like this.

But then Ascan spoke again—and my heart sank.

“Since you know now, I won’t sugarcoat it. My life is almost over. So you must live.”

“I already said no! I won’t leave you behind—not twice!”

“Tanashia.”

Ascan cut me off, gently caressing my face as if handling something precious.

In this trembling moment, the warmth radiating from his touch felt painfully vivid.

“Just like ten years ago, and still now—if I must give my life for you, I’ll gladly do it thousands, tens of thousands of times.”

“I… I can’t. I can’t be left alone in a world without you…”

I’d already endured ten years of it. Having lived through it once made the thought even more horrifying.

I loved him more deeply now than ever before. I couldn’t lose him again. The fear was paralyzing.

“Ugh.”

Ascan groaned sharply and coughed up another mouthful of blood.

His face visibly paled. It seemed his limit had arrived from continuously summoning undying flames.

He opened his mouth with a strained voice.

“I don’t want to leave you either. But if only one of us can survive… it must be you, Tanashia.”

“That’s not how it works!”

“Please. Go. I’m begging you.”

Desperation filled Ascan’s eyes as he looked at me. I’d never seen him plead like this before.

But my feet wouldn’t move. The thought of surviving alone while leaving him behind—walking into that hell—held no appeal whatsoever.

Then—

Swish—

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Ascan raised Calspelliver. He pressed it against his own throat, poised to slash at any moment.

I cried out in shock.

“What are you doing?!”

“If you don’t go, I’ll die right here.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”

“Live. If you can’t find a reason to live in a world without me, then take revenge. Cling to any emotion and survive. I can’t bear to see you hurt.”

I couldn’t respond.

Ascan’s threat wasn’t a bluff. The determination in his eyes made it clear—he’d slit his own throat if I didn’t move.

“Staying here means we both die. At least give yourself a chance to survive.”

I hated it. If I could, I’d repeat those words thousands of times.

While we argued, navy soldiers reached the island. Their disciplined movements revealed they were highly trained.

Resigned, Ascan placed his only remaining weapon—Calspelliver—into my hands. Then he charged straight at the enemies, endlessly summoning flames.

To an outsider, he might look like a god of war. But knowing his condition, I saw him as fragile—as if he might shatter at any moment.

I didn’t want to leave him alone in this danger. But turning away from someone burning his entire body to save me alone was unbearable.

“Tanashia!”

Finally, I turned away at Ascan’s desperate cry.

Then I ran—mindlessly—toward the fishing boat behind the island.

Tears blurred my vision. Only Ascan’s desperate voice propelled me forward.

‘I can’t let Ascan’s sacrifice be in vain. If something happens to him, I’ll take revenge. I’ll use everything I have to repay them tenfold…’

Suddenly, without realizing it, I stopped.

But if today passed, I might never see Ascan again. No more holding his hand, meeting his eyes, or greeting the morning together.

“Hic.”

A sob escaped my lips as tears poured down.

Rationally, I knew I should survive and plan for the future.

But I refused to repeat what happened ten years ago. I hadn’t spent all this time developing magical engineering weapons just to weakly relive the past.

‘Pull yourself together, Tanashia.’

I had no time to cry and whine.

For some reason, my magical engineering weapons weren’t working. It seemed to be an issue with the magic stones, but I couldn’t diagnose the cause in this situation.

‘Think. Think of a way…’

As I desperately searched for a solution, my eyes fell on Calspelliver—just handed to me by Ascan.

Calspelliver wasn’t a magical engineering weapon powered by magic stones.

Intrigued by the magical formula engraved on the blade, I’d been studying it since my time in the Kalua Empire.

‘If I use the magical formula engraved on Calspelliver… I can shatter this sword.’

Calspelliver—an ancient weapon revered as the greatest treasure in the Kalua Empire.

The sword itself possessing the power of fire was remarkable, but its ability to wield that power infinitely made it the ultimate weapon.

It was a weapon impossible to replicate even today. Calspelliver was mysterious, its engraved magical formula complex and difficult.

Even I wouldn’t have dared tamper with the formula on Calspelliver if I’d seen it for the first time…

But now was different.

‘Shattering Calspelliver will trigger a massive explosion—enough to engulf this entire island…’

Meaning it could wipe out all the navy soldiers on the island. The nearby Kalua Empire warships would certainly suffer damage too.

I couldn’t guarantee Ascan and I would survive—but if used correctly, there was hope we could both escape the island.

I hurriedly retraced my steps. Grabbing a device capable of inscribing magical formulas, I began modifying Calspelliver.

I could say with certainty—this was a task only I in the entire world could perform. No one else would dare—or even be able—to manipulate the ancient weapon Calspelliver.

Creak. Creak-creek.

Dozens of newly crafted magical formulas flowed from my hands onto Calspelliver.

Whuuuuuuuum!

Immediately, Calspelliver vibrated and emitted a wailing hum. Its blade began glowing crimson-hot, like metal heated in a forge.

I’d inscribed formulas designed to shatter Calspelliver—this state was like a volcano seconds from eruption.

Having completed everything, I sprinted toward where Ascan was.

He looked exhausted, on the verge of collapse. The moment he saw me return, despair crossed his face.

I hurled Calspelliver far away and shouted loudly.

“Run!”

Whoosh— thud.

The crimson, near-bursting Calspelliver plunged into the sandy beach.

Ascan looked bewildered, but he began running as I commanded.

Together, Ascan and I moved toward the fishing boat—just as countless navy soldiers pursued us from behind.

Kabooooom!

With a deafening roar, the entire island was engulfed in flames.

It dwarfed the cannon fire from the Kalua Empire’s warship moments earlier. The firepower released as the ancient weapon disintegrated surpassed any bomb.

Just as Tanashia predicted, shockwaves reached even the Kalua Empire’s warship.

The vessel rocked violently with the madly surging waves, nearly capsizing—screams erupted from within.

Moments later, the thick black smoke blanketing the island settled, revealing the scorched landscape.

Nothing remained on the island. People, buildings—all reduced to charcoal-black ruins.

The Kalua Empire’s warship confirmed the horrific scene. A navy officer peering through a telescope reported:

“No survivors detected.”

The captain, receiving the report, spoke with cautious gravity.

“Go to the island and verify personally. I won’t rest easy until I see the corpses of Lady Brellof and the former Royal Guard Commander with my own eyes.”

No one in the Kalua Empire was unaware of Ascan’s abilities. Hence, they couldn’t afford to relax until the very end.

Following orders, surviving navy soldiers disembarked from the warship. They confirmed no living creature remained on the island.

They attempted to identify the corpses, but too many bodies—including fallen navy soldiers—were charred beyond recognition.

“Captain, the corpses are too damaged to identify. But given the scale of this explosion… surely both of them are dead?”

The captain, lost in thought for a moment, nodded.

“Report this exactly as it is to His Imperial Majesty.”

A tiny island with no escape. Countless corpses scattered across it.

Anyone would conclude Tanashia and Ascan perished here.