Meanwhile, as Glacialix was screaming for her Master with raw desperation in her voice, General Lin and his soldiers swiftly took Zenian away, leaving behind the frozen remnants of his former arrogance. The battlefield was now devoid of its so-called conqueror, but one shocking event had shaken Glacialix more than anything—Arfrotian had fallen.

  Without any warning, without a single indication, Arfrotian had abruptly slipped off Glacialix’s back as she soared through the icy spacetime. The sheer suddenness of this act sent an uncontrollable wave of panic through her entire being. Her icy blue eyes widened in absolute horror as she watched him plummet downward.

  “MASTER!!” she screamed, her voice echoing across the vast icy expanse.

  Her heart pounded like never before. Arfrotian, the one who always calculated everything, had just... fallen? No, it couldn’t be. But the sight of him descending, his expression utterly calm as if he had merely chosen to take a nap mid-flight, left her in sheer turmoil. She flapped her majestic wings, ready to dive and rescue him, but then—

  As he fell, Arfrotian yawned, stretching lazily in midair.

  “Uh! When are those people going to go back…?” he muttered with disinterest, his expression betraying nothing but mild boredom.

  Then, as if sensing something, his eyes flickered, and an amused glint crossed them. Zenian’s essence was no longer present in the Ice Temple. Ah, so they had taken him away. That was expected.

  At that moment, he casually adjusted his posture, stabilizing himself within spacetime before effortlessly hovering in place. Despite his strategic mind, he knew this particular move had caused Glacialix immense distress. But there was a reason.

  His Ice Queen’s reaction had to be authentic. For the next few hours, her concern for him would serve a greater purpose—one that he could not explain to her just yet.

  Even as he regretted making her worry, Arfrotian knew there was no avoiding it.

  Sensing her frantic state, he reached out telepathically.

  "Glacialix, I’m alright. No need to worry…"

  The moment his voice reached her mind, she felt an overwhelming relief wash over her. Tears that had been threatening to spill were held back as she exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the cold air. But relief was quickly replaced by frustration.

  "YOU IDIOT OF A MASTER!!" she screamed through their telepathic connection, her emotions surging. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS?! DO YOU?!"

  Arfrotian let out a soft sigh. He knew he had pushed her too far this time.

  "I really am sorry, Glacialix," he said earnestly, "but even I know that a mere ‘SORRY’ isn’t enough to make up for the tears you’ve shed because of me.

  Your worry, your emotions—they are far more valuable than a simple apology.

  I don’t deserve to ask for your forgiveness, but if there is anything you want from me, please don’t hesitate to ask… just not right now. A little later. I can only hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me."

  If Arfrotian had been in front of her at that moment, he would have seen Glacialix’s face turn a deep shade of red. Her Master’s sincerity always had a way of making her heart flutter. She clenched her fists, biting her lip as she thought,

  "I HATE YOU, MASTER… FOR HOW UNDERSTANDING AND SMOOTH YOU ARE… I REALLY HATE YOU, BUT…"

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  A small, affectionate smile crept onto her lips despite herself. Then, deciding to tease him, she telepathically replied,

  "Hmm, Master, do you think that’s enough to make up for what you did to me?"

  Arfrotian, fully understanding her implication, smirked slightly.

  "I know it’s not enough," he replied smoothly, "which is why I won’t ask anything of you. I take back my word, for I am incompetent in helping you…"

  Glacialix froze.

  Wait.

  WAIT.

  WHAT?!

  She had only meant to tease him, and now he was TAKING BACK HIS OFFER?!

  Panic shot through her as she quickly replied telepathically, "NO! … Master… it’s okay… that will definitely do… I just need time to think about what I want…"

  Arfrotian’s smirk deepened.

  "Oh yeah? Sure, take your time then," he said casually. "Though I will be busy. I need to find Eterna’s real body while those fools waste their time unfreezing Zenian and the Eternal Frostheart… only to realize that Zenian is not its wielder."

  Glacialix’s smirk mirrored his own, but then curiosity took hold.

  "But Master… without the Eternal Frostheart, how are you going to…?"

  Arfrotian’s tone remained calm yet insightful.

  "It would have been more convenient if I had the Eternal Frostheart with me. It would have made the search easier. But… it's not about what’s easy.

  It’s about connection. If I only relied on the spear, what would happen on a day where I lost it or if it were sealed away? I can’t afford to rely on it alone.

  Besides, just because I use it doesn’t mean it will guarantee a direct path to Eterna. There may be obstacles."

  Glacialix felt a deep admiration swell within her. Her Master truly relied on nothing but himself, even in the most difficult situations.

  Then, after a moment of thought, she asked, "But then, Master… what should I do? And… where are you, by the way?"

  Arfrotian chuckled telepathically.

  "That’s your job, my Ice Queen. You don’t know where I am, right? Now search for me and find me."

  Glacialix blinked. "WAIT, WHAT?! Master, can’t you just tell me—"

  "I could," Arfrotian interrupted smoothly, "but imagine this: what if some of those Omniversal ruler’s men come by and see you with another man, doing nothing,

  while they believe your ‘Master Zenian’ is with them? If you don’t act like you’re searching for him, they’ll get suspicious. So, better get to work and find me, Glacialix~"

  And just like that, the telepathic connection was cut.

  Glacialix’s face turned rosy red as she pouted, muttering,

  "BUT WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE MY MASTER IS JUST TRYING TO TEASE ME?!"

  Still, she had no choice but to follow through.

  Just as she was about to start searching, Arfrotian’s voice echoed in her mind again.

  "Oh, before you begin, could you give me some details about Eterna? Like, anything unusual that happened before or after, she went missing?"

  Glacialix paused, thinking deeply before responding.

  "Hmm… Master, I don’t remember anything too specific, but the day before she disappeared, Lady Eterna said something strange to me. She told me,

  ‘Hey Ice Phoenix, I hope you will look after everyone safely and soundly. I never know—I might just want to take a rest in the deep ice. It’s been quite busy always thinking about my people.’

  "And after she disappeared, some people whispered things like, ‘Has the goddess gone to eternal slumber?’

  And some people working in the Ice temple saying,

  "The essence will keep coming from the center to the divine spear, which will let the one wielding the spear, from within the inhabitants of this Icy Omniverse, will become the King of this Icy Omniverse"

  And some jokingly people saying in the Ice Temple that,

  "Guess one problem's been kept in deep freezer hah! Well the other's not that much when the King comes"

  This is all I heard from them Master, not that I was much able to comprehend it back then eons ago, but now I feel its surely something related to the disappearance of Lady Eterna"

  Arfrotian’s eyes gleamed with understanding.

  "Glacialix, do you know if Eterna had an Ice Palace?"

  "Yes," she confirmed.

  "It was in the Megaverse of Rodentia, near the northern part, I couldn’t find her back then in the palace.

  But after the catastrophe, I never checked on it. Are you going there, Master?"

  Arfrotian smirked.

  "Who knows? You just focus on finding me, my Ice Queen. Thanks for the info.~"

  Before Glacialix could say anything, the connection was cut.

  Her jaw clenched as she screamed into the freezing wind,

  "MASTER, NOT AGAIN! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS LIKE THIS?!"