Zenian could barely register the words that had just shattered the foundation of his entire existence. Arfrotian’s cold yet calculated philosophy had left him in utter silence, unable to summon a single retort.

  He had always believed in his own superiority, in his destiny to rule, in his claim to the Eternal Frostheart and the Ice Phoenix. But now, standing before Arfrotian, he understood the bitter truth—he was nothing but a mere puppet who had been dancing to the strings of his own arrogance.

  Glacialix, however, was in a completely different world. Whatever profound speech Arfrotian had just delivered to Zenian didn't even register in her mind, because her heart was still melting from the warm smile Arfrotian had given her earlier.

  She was still stuck in that fleeting moment of warmth, her thoughts clouded, her emotions racing. Even as Zenian stood there, shattered and speechless, she wasn’t concerned with him. Her Master had smiled at her. That was all that mattered.

  But then, Arfrotian brought up the next pressing issue—one that held greater significance than the broken man before them. He stepped toward Glacialix, gently tapping her shoulder, jolting her back to reality. She blinked rapidly, snapping out of her daze as she looked at him.

  "What is it, Master?" she asked, trying to mask the lingering fluster in her voice.

  Arfrotian’s expression was serious, his voice carrying the weight of command. "We need to leave the icy temple immediately and stop the war between the elves and angels. I already told you the real reason behind their conflict, right?"

  Glacialix paused, recalling what Arfrotian had deduced earlier—Zenian had orchestrated the war as a diversion. By using his faction of angels to battle the shadow elves in Rodentia, he had ensured that Glacialix would be forced to intervene, leaving the Eternal Frostheart unguarded. That would have allowed Zenian to steal it without resistance.

  But because of Arfrotian’s arrival, the plan had completely fallen apart.

  "Huh? Master, I understand that we need to stop them," Glacialix said, tilting her head slightly.

  "But is it really necessary to do it right this moment? I mean, you've just been crowned as the sovereign of the Icy Omniverse. Wouldn't it make sense to first rename this place and the barren megaverses of Dementia and Rodentia?"

  Arfrotian nodded but remained firm. "I know. That issue will be handled soon. But the war between the factions isn’t the actual problem." His piercing blue eyes darkened slightly as he continued, "Something else is coming. And if my analysis is correct, we don’t have much time before it makes its move."

  That was all Glacialix needed to hear. She trusted him completely. Without questioning further, she nodded. If Arfrotian was concerned, then there was something truly dangerous at play.

  Both of them turned to leave, but Glacialix hesitated for a moment before asking, "Master, what about Zenian?" Her icy blue eyes flickered toward the half-frozen figure standing in silent ruin. "Even though he's immobilized, wouldn’t it be unwise to just leave him like this in the ice temple? Shouldn’t we do something with him first?"

  Arfrotian followed her gaze, his own expression shifting into something unreadable. He took a long look at Zenian, the man he had utterly dismantled, and then—he smiled.

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  It was a sly, knowing smile.

  "Oh yeah," Arfrotian mused. "I should do something with him, shouldn’t I?"

  Glacialix blinked. That smile. She knew it all too well. Her Master was about to do something unpredictable.

  Arfrotian turned his gaze to the divine spear in his hand—the Eternal Frostheart. His fingers lightly traced the radiant blue crystal embedded within it as he gave his command.

  "Frostheart, I want you to place yourself in Zenian’s hand. Freeze the entire timeline around him so that it appears as though he is wielding you, but due to backlash, both you and he have been frozen together. Make it look like his arrogance led to his own downfall."

  The spear pulsed in response, acknowledging its master’s will. In the next moment, it vanished from Arfrotian’s grip.

  Zenian, still dazed and barely comprehending what was happening, suddenly found the Eternal Frostheart materializing in his half-frozen hand.

  His breath hitched. "Wha—what now? What plan does he have in mind? Why would he return the spear to me when he already claimed it?"

  But before Zenian could process anything, he felt an overwhelming, suffocating coldness consume him.

  "What the HEL—"

  His words were cut off as his entire body was encased in an impenetrable, glacial prison. The air around him warped as time itself froze in place. Zenian became nothing more than an ice statue, his body locked in an illusion where he appeared to have sealed himself by trying to wield the Eternal Frostheart.

  His minions, too, suffered the same fate—completely frozen solid, unable to move, unable to think.

  Glacialix, watching all of this unfold, was utterly bewildered.

  Her Master had frozen Zenian, yes—but why had he also frozen the Eternal Frostheart alongside him? It was as if he wanted to create the illusion that Zenian had been undone by his own greed.

  "Master… I don’t understand," Glacialix stuttered, her mind struggling to keep up with Arfrotian’s strategy. "You could’ve just killed him outright. But instead, you set up this elaborate deception. What are you planning?"

  Arfrotian chuckled. "My Ice Queen, do you trust your Master?"

  Glacialix instantly blushed deep red.

  She looked away, flustered beyond belief. "H-Huh, Master… is that even a question to ask?"

  Arfrotian simply smirked. "Then just watch. Let my moves carve themselves into existence. After all, fate isn’t just about strength—

  It’s about who controls the perception of the bigger game."

  With that, he turned to her and said, "Now then, Glacialix… wouldn’t it be faster if you gave me a ride to Rodentia? Your flying speed surpasses mine, doesn’t it?"

  Glacialix froze.

  Her mind short-circuited.

  "M-Master… wait… let me… at least prepare myself…" she mumbled, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

  She had never—even in all her eons of existence—given anyone a ride on her back. Not in her phoenix form, and certainly not in her human form.

  But before she could protest any further—

  Arfrotian closed the distance between them.

  "Huh? Is that hesitation I’m seeing in my Ice Queen?" Arfrotian teased, his voice carrying the same sharp amusement that had earlier broken Zenian’s spirit.

  "I thought you were the bravest and most fearsome warrior in my service. A little thing like this shouldn’t bother you, right?"

  Glacialix’s brain completely shut down.

  "MASTER!! IT’S STILL MY FIRST TIME!! AT LEAST THINK ABOUT MY FEELINGS!!" she screamed internally.

  But before she could process anything else—

  Arfrotian casually hopped onto her back.

  THAT IS, SHE AS ALWAYS WAS IN HER HUMAN FORM.

  He wrapped his arms around her soft, silky neck, holding her gently yet firmly.

  Glacialix’s face turned completely red from such as intimate act as well as position.

  Steam was coming out of her ears.

  Her entire body felt like it was on fire.

  And then—he leaned closer.

  His breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, "My Queen, we don’t have time. We need to hurry."

  Glacialix without a second thought, hearing the concern in her master’s voice, ascended into the sky at full speed—without even realizing she was still in her human form.