The frigid winds of Rodentia howled as Ice Phoenix departed, her wings slicing through the frozen air as she made her way toward the Ice Temple. Behind her, Zenian’s faction had been thoroughly dismantled, their forces scattered in terror. Yet, unbeknownst to her, deep within the faction lurked a shadow—a hidden infiltrator, a servant of a much greater force that had been manipulating events from the very beginning.

  This infiltrator, concealed within the ranks of Zenian’s fallen archangels, watched as the Ice Phoenix vanished into the distance. His sharp eyes gleamed with knowledge, his lips curling into a smirk as he thought,

  Before that damn Ice Phoenix reaches the Ice Temple, we must secure that fool Zenian. Our Lord requires him. If we fail to retrieve him before she arrives, it will be troublesome.

  With this urgency in mind, the infiltrator closed his eyes, reaching out telepathically through the icy void. His mind connected across vast distances, locking onto the signature of his commanding officer—General Lin, the fearsome warrior who led the mission under their true Lord’s orders.

  "Greetings, General Lin," the infiltrator conveyed telepathically. "I have crucial information regarding our mission. The situation is unfolding as we speak."

  Far beyond Rodentia, stationed in the void near the border of the Icy Omniverse, General Lin stood with his legion of warriors. Clad in silver-white armor adorned with runes of concealment, his very presence was masked, unseen by the omniversal forces that ruled this frozen domain. The general had been awaiting updates, and upon receiving the infiltrator’s message, he responded with his usual cold pragmatism.

  "Speak. What have you learned? It had better be useful."

  The infiltrator smirked, knowing the significance of what he was about to reveal.

  "General Lin, do you recall how our Great Lord aided Zenian, the fallen archangel?

  Our Lord gave him the resources to rebuild his shattered society and even tasked him with acquiring the Eternal Frostheart.

  Well, I bring news that Zenian has done exactly that. He wielded the Eternal Frostheart, and in doing so, has effectively become the ruler of this Icy Omniverse."

  General Lin's lips curled into a knowing smile.

  "Is that so? Then it seems our mission is proceeding better than anticipated.

  If Zenian truly holds the Frostheart and has assumed dominion over this realm, then we are already halfway to victory. Our Lord will reward us handsomely once we deliver him."

  Yet, ever the cautious strategist, the general asked, "How can you confirm that he has actually become the ruler?"

  The infiltrator chuckled.

  "Simple observation, my dear General. Firstly, Zenian did not engage in direct warfare.

  Instead, he strategically sent his angelic legions elsewhere as a distraction before personally infiltrating the Ice Temple.

  After a considerable amount of time, the very air of the Icy Omniverse changed—it now carries the essence of a new ruler. There is an undeniable shift in its presence, a tangible claim of sovereignty."

  The infiltrator paused for dramatic effect before adding,

  "And if that is not enough, the Ice Phoenix herself—guardian of this Icy Omniverse—declared it openly.

  She proclaimed, without hesitation, that Zenian was her Master, the new ruler. There was no stutter in her words, no hesitation that would suggest a lie. A guardian of her caliber does not deceive so easily. That alone confirms the truth."

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  General Lin stroked his chin, intrigued.

  "So, the Ice Phoenix acknowledges him as Master. That does add weight to your claim. But what of Zenian himself?"

  The infiltrator’s smirk deepened.

  "Ah, and here is where things become interesting, General.

  That fool Zenian—while wielding the Eternal Frostheart—failed to control its power and has frozen himself completely. He now stands as an ice statue, utterly powerless. You can retrieve him without a struggle. This makes our job much easier."

  General Lin exhaled sharply, amusement flickering in his eyes.

  "Well, well. That arrogant fool. I always suspected he was too weak to handle such divine power. So, he truly encased himself in ice while trying to wield the Frostheart?

  This confirms everything. And you say he remains in the Ice Temple, in Dementia?"

  "Precisely," the infiltrator confirmed.

  "The Ice Temple in the Dementia Megaverse is where you will find him, still locked in ice. You must act quickly, though.

  If the Ice Phoenix arrives before you retrieve him, she will complicate matters. Fighting her now would only delay our mission."

  General Lin nodded, decisive. "Then we move immediately. We will extract Zenian before the Ice Phoenix arrives. The mission must not be hindered."

  Before severing the connection, the infiltrator added, "General, I still harbor doubts about the Ice Phoenix. Something does not sit right with me."

  General Lin frowned. "Explain."

  The infiltrator grinned darkly.

  "Let us test her. If she was lying about Zenian being her Master, her reaction to his disappearance will tell us everything.

  If she panics and breaks down when she cannot sense him, it will prove her devotion. If not… she was deceiving us all along."

  General Lin’s laughter echoed through the telepathic link.

  "No wonder our Great Lord chose you as the infiltrator. Sharp and cunning as always. Very well, we will observe her reaction. If she was lying, she will face the consequences."

  With that, General Lin and his soldiers took flight, surging toward the Icy Omniverse. They tore through the frozen void, their presence masked by spiritual concealment. Soon, they arrived at their destination—the Ice Temple of Dementia.

  The temple loomed before them, an ancient structure carved from eternal ice, its towering spires glistening beneath the pale glow of frozen starlight. As they entered the grand central hall, their eyes fell upon their target.

  There, at the very heart of the temple, stood Zenian—frozen solid, locked in an unbreakable embrace with the Eternal Frostheart. His expression was one of shock, his body encased in crystalline ice.

  General Lin chuckled. "So, it is true. The fool tried to wield it and paid the price. Perfect."

  Turning to his soldiers, he ordered, "You six—carry Zenian’s frozen form to our carriage. Use spiritual concealment to mask his essence entirely. He must not be detected."

  As his soldiers obeyed, General Lin remembered the infiltrator’s words. Concealing his own essence, he moved toward the entrance of the Ice Temple, positioning himself in hiding. He waited in absolute silence, watching the vast frozen expanse before him.

  And then—

  "MASTER!!"

  A piercing cry shattered the stillness.

  General Lin peered from his hiding place, witnessing a breathtaking sight. The Ice Phoenix had arrived, her majestic wings flaring in the starlit void. In an instant, she transformed—her phoenix form melting away into that of a stunningly beautiful woman.

  Tears of icy fire glistened in her eyes as she screamed into the empty void.

  "MASTER, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

  Her voice was laced with desperation, agony unlike anything he had ever heard before.

  "MASTER, DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!"

  "I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU! YOU ARE MY ONLY PURPOSE!"

  Genral Lin at first a little confused, “Huh? Without even entering the Ice Temple, how did she know that Zenian was gone?” and then after much thought he said to himself,

  “Haha! So foolish of me to even think that, afterall if Zenian was her Master, then her essence must be tied to him, so when his essence was concealed it should be normal she couldn’t sense his essence from the Ice Temple….”

  General Lin smirked in the shadows. "Well, well. That settles it. She was telling the truth after all."

  Yet, as he watched her sorrowful display, an unsettling thought crept into his mind. She is dangerous… but beautiful beyond words. If only she weren’t so enraged… Perhaps once Zenian is under our control, we can take her as well."

  With that final wicked thought, General Lin turned away, returning to the carriage.

  "We have what we came for," he declared. "Let us leave before she senses anything."

  And so, without hesitation, the soldiers activated their transport, vanishing into the void—taking Zenian, and the Eternal Frostheart, with them.

  The Ice Phoenix remained in the icy expanse, screaming for a Master who would never answer.