Arfrotian’s laughter had finally subsided, his voice returning to its usual composed and velvety tone as he leaned forward, whispering directly into near Glacialix’s ear. Even though she was in her Phoenix form, she stiffened slightly, caught off guard by the words flowing so effortlessly from her Master’s lips.

  ".....Huh? Master, will that be necessary? Like, truly?" she asked, a hint of disbelief creeping into her usually confident voice.

  Arfrotian, ever the enigma, smirked. His sharp gaze gleamed with that dangerous, calculating light—the same one that had sealed the fate of countless before.

  "Well, my Ice Queen, you just have to wait and watch. If ever they will come and then, they say such a thing, just give them this reply. Remember?"

  Glacialix swallowed, feeling a shiver run down her spine. Not because she feared him—no, never. It was the sheer preparedness of her Master, his unwavering control over events that left her in awe. How far ahead was he thinking? Even before Zenian’s faction could realize their downfall, even before the Omniversal ruler whom they had not even met yet already weaving into his series of traps, it was like he had already decided their fate.

  She turned her majestic phoenix head slightly, glancing back at him one last time. He was still seated on her back, relaxed, calm, as if he had already won. He merely gave her a thumbs-up, that knowing smirk still gracing his lips.

  Then what, well it happened as Arfrotian had said, he hid behind Glacialix's feathery back, which made Glacialix to tremble a little, as she started screeching slightly.

  Glacialix coming back to her composure sighed, shaking her head slightly, and embarrassed on how casually her Master used her back, she was an ICE PHOENIX RIGHT? And she started muttering,

  “Master, nothing can be done about you…” before she flapped her massive wings and descended.

  The sky above Rodentia was an expanse of glacial twilight, a world blanketed in cold despair. What was once a battlefield had now turned into a celebration—but only for the foolish.

  Zenian’s faction, blissfully ignorant, was reveling in a victory that did not exist. The angels of his army cheered, their voices echoing across the icy wasteland. Their laughter and self-assured cries filled the frozen air.

  They truly believed their delusional fantasy.

  They thought that Zenian had ascended.

  That he had become the ruler of the Icy Omniverse.

  That their victory was absolute and that they stood at the apex now.

  How utterly pathetic.

  A massive gust of wind surged through the battlefield as Glacialix descended. The air froze solid, the temperature plummeting as her magnificent icy-white feathers reflected the twilight sky.

  With a single mighty flap of her wings, she sent forth a chilling current, washing over the battlefield like an omen of impending doom.

  The celebration abruptly stopped.

  Then, her commanding voice rang out, booming with unchallenged authority.

  "WHAT'S ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT?"

  For a moment, silence.

  Then, the angels of Zenian’s faction brightened, mistaking her presence for a sign of loyalty.

  One angel stepped forward, voice filled with eager expectation.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  “So, Ice Phoenix, are you here to help us?”

  Glacialix’s icy blue eyes narrowed slightly hearing such a thing.

  On the opposing side, the reaction was entirely different.

  The shadow elves and the angels of Queen Asura’s faction stiffened. Their faces paled as terror seeped into their expressions.

  Murmurs rippled through their ranks.

  "This is the end for us!"

  "We just can't go against someone that mighty!"

  "WE ARE DOOMED!"

  Even Luvania, Queen of the Shadow Elves, who was usually composed, felt her heart tighten. But she quickly quelled the panic with a single command.

  “Everyone, quiet down…!”

  The voices immediately hushed.

  Luvania turned toward Azuraelis, the Goddess of Infinite Tides, who stood beside her.

  Azuraelis’ deep blue eyes gleamed, carrying no fear. Instead, there was only a soft, knowing look, as if she already knew the truth.

  She gave a slight nod to Luvania, as if conveying,

  It will be fine.

  Glacialix’s eyes flickered back toward Zenian’s faction.

  “Hmm? Help you all?” she asked, tilting her massive phoenix head. “Why?”

  Confusion spread through Zenian’s angels.

  “Weren’t you sent here by our Lord and your Master, Zenian?” one of them questioned.

  “Yes, you are now our Lord’s servant! It is your duty to assist us in battle!” another added.

  Glacialix’s blood boiled, like HELL, crazy, she just wanted to shout so loud and tear apart those foolish angels, for making SUCH ABSURD ASSUMPTIONS!

  Her icy-blue flames flickered ominously, but just as her rage threatened to surge, she felt something.

  A touch.

  Arfrotian’s fingers gently caressed her feathery back, while still hiding behind her feathers. A subtle reminder.

  A reminder that she could not afford to be reckless.

  That she had a role to play.

  She exhaled deeply, calming herself, before delivering the truth.

  “Sorry, but you are misunderstanding something.”

  The angels of Zenian’s faction blinked.

  “Your Lord Zenian… well, he wielded the Eternal Frostheart…” she continued, her tone carrying a subtle amusement.

  “…and then he froze into an ice statue.”

  Silence.

  Total silence.

  Then, an uproar.

  “NO, THAT CAN’T BE POSSIBLE!”

  “DIDN’T OUR LORD BECOME THE RULER OF THIS OMNIVERSE!?”

  "YES! Didn't you feel the change in the surrounding environment, rather the entire Omniverse as if new energy of the royalty was being added into it!"

  "YES! IT CAN'T BE OUR LORD BECAME THE WIELDER OF ETERNAL FROSTHEART RIGHT!?"

  Panic.

  Denial.

  Desperation.

  On the opposing side, it was the opposite.

  For Luvania, for the shadow elves, for the angels who fought against Zenian—

  Hope bloomed.

  "So, Zenian’s frozen?" someone whispered.

  “Does that mean… we are saved?” another murmured.

  Even Luvania, who had been cautious, now felt an immense wave of relief.

  “Truly… Zenian’s frozen?” she asked, more to herself than anyone else.

  Azuraelis gave a soft smile of satisfaction.

  “Look. Didn’t I say everything would be fine?”

  Glacialix continued.

  “I came here because I sensed the disturbance of battle brewing… and I am here to dismiss it.”

  She unfurled her wings.

  The sheer force of her presence alone caused blizzards to form, the wind howling in her wake.

  Her icy flames danced, licking the battlefield with an otherworldly chill.

  Then, her voice carried a final warning.

  "So, everyone is kindly advised to go their own way."

  A pause.

  Then, her voice dropped—chilling and ominous.

  “That is… unless you want me to handle you all myself.”

  Terror.

  Utter terror spread through Zenian’s faction.

  On the other side, Luvania smirked.

  “Well, we wouldn’t want to anger the Ice Phoenix, now would we?” she mused.

  She turned to her forces.

  “We should take our leave.”

  The shadow elves and the angels fighting alongside them immediately departed.

  Only Luvania and Azuraelis lingered behind.

  Luvania glanced at Azuraelis.

  “So… Arfrotian, is it?” she asked, her voice carrying undercurrents of intrigue.

  Azuraelis simply nodded.

  And Zenian’s faction?

  They could do nothing but stand there in stunned disbelief.

  For their ruler was nothing more than a frozen monument to their failure.

  And their victory… had never existed to begin with.