Gabriel stood over the hero rank tank's body for a brief moment, his greatsword dripping slowly as the severed head rolled and came to a stop in the dirt.
Even in death, there was no fear or worry in the man's eyes, only a cold acceptance of his fate.
The fight around them did not pause, but within that small pocket of space, everything felt quieter. The screams, the gunfire, even the roar of engines in the distance all became dull, as if the world itself was forcing him to acknowledge what he had just done. His gaze fell to the photograph in his hand, the worn edges and deep crease marks telling him that this man had clung to it like a lifeline.
