Two days passed since their discussion before the gate.

Two days of surveying, searching, investigating across Theia's vast territories as Overlord networks mobilized with Naelvorn's ocean followers diving through deepest trenches, Frostina's ice beasts scouring frozen northern expanses, Raziel's fire creatures patrolling volcanic regions through network communication.

Malvorn's earth communion extended planetwide, sensing through geological formations, detecting anomalies, searching for dimensional disturbances.

Results arrived via Overlord network.

Clear, definitive, comprehensive.

No other gates found.

Only one existed, singular phenomenon, unique occurrence in Frostina's northern territory.

Frostina had monitored the original gate continuously, graceful wyvern form maintaining vigil over swirling clouds with snow perpetually dancing around sapphire scales.

Gate remained stable, unchanged with no new objects emerged, no visual shifts, no behavioral evolution.

Just constant churning, silent and mysterious, dimensional bridge connecting Earth to Theia without further manifestation.

One gate, stable, unexplained but not escalating.

Information gathered, uncertainty reduced, time to continue original mission by investigating Northern Icefield stable zone for answers about Fate's Revenge.

Excavation required first.

Draven stood with pack before massive ice formation half-kilometer from gate location with Malvorn's crystalline human form beside him, Velnar's bulk settling on frozen ground, Sylvara's druid form observing thoughtfully, Feyra nestled close against cold, Zor perched on nearby ice ridge. Genesis Codex floated silently, green-gold book pulsing with quiet light.

Frostina approached gracefully, concentric ice-ring eyes focusing on buried stable zone beneath ice and snow.

"The ruins are beneath," she said calmly, melodious voice carrying crystalline quality. "Deeply buried. Centuries of accumulation. I will clear the ice."

Gentle authority with territorial assistance as Overlord power would be applied.

***

Frostina's wings spread wide, fifteen stories of elegant power with translucent membranes catching pale northern light, scattering rainbow halos across frozen landscape.

Absolute Frost Dominion extended.

Temperature plummeted further as already frozen air became impossibly colder, molecular motion slowing, winter intensifying beyond natural limits.

But not destructive, precise with controlled and surgical application of ice sovereignty.

The accumulated snow and ice covering ruins began responding to her will, not melting, not shattering, but separating and moving aside in massive frozen sections like layers peeling back as ice obeyed Glacial Queen's command absolutely.

Centuries of accumulation relocated smoothly, revealing what lay beneath.

As ice cleared, structure emerged.

Crystalline architecture, but different.

Draven had explored ruins before in Western Wild, Southern Wild, Sunken Archives beneath ocean, all with crystalline construction, translucent structures, geometric precision.

This was unlike them.

The crystal here wasn't simple translucence but multifaceted with thousands of precisely cut surfaces refracting light into kaleidoscope brilliance, colors shifting with viewing angle, rainbows cascading across every surface like looking at universe's largest gemstone carved into building.

And infused throughout were frost patterns, not damage but intentional, crystalline ice woven into structure itself with blue-white veins threading through rainbow crystal, creating hybrid of permanent ice and eternal crystal.

Northern civilization's unique style with beauty adapted to frozen environment, architecture nowhere else on Theia.

Different.

Frostina's work completed within minutes as Overlord efficiency made massive task seem effortless, ice relocated to surrounding area and stacked in elegant formations with ruins entrance fully exposed.

Archway stood clear, tall enough for Overlord in human form, wide enough for group to enter together. Crystalline surface was covered in intricate frost-pattern engravings with snowflakes, ice crystals, winter motifs carved with microscopic precision.

Beautiful and preserved perfectly within stable zone's protection.

Frostina folded wings, frost blooming along her scales as power settled. "Complete. The ruins are accessible."

Turning elegant head toward gate's direction. "I return to monitor the gate. My territory. My responsibility."

Looking at Draven with concentric ice-ring eyes. "Investigate thoroughly. May you find answers we seek."

Gentle encouragement with regal dignity, then graceful departure as wings spread, snow swirled, fifteen-story form lifted skyward toward gate location.

***

They approached together as Frostina's form disappeared into northern sky.

Draven led with Malvorn beside him, Velnar's ancient bulk moving steadily, Sylvara's forest druid form glowing softly, Feyra's small fennec shape trotting close, Zor gliding down from ice ridge to join them, Genesis Codex floating alongside with green-gold light pulsing gently.

Full pack, united family, prepared for investigation.

The crystalline archway rose before them with rainbow light dancing across multifaceted surfaces, frost patterns intricate beyond comprehension, hybrid architecture unique among all ruins they'd explored.

Standing at threshold of something different.

Velnar clicked thoughtfully. "Four hundred years exploring. Never encountered architecture like this. Frost integration intentional, not preservation method but design choice. Northern civilization distinct."

Sylvara's nature magic probed gently. "Structure stable. No corruption detected. Stable zone preservation perfect. But crystalline composition differs from previous ruins, hybrid material, not pure crystal."

Feyra's small voice added, "So pretty! Like giant jewelry box made of rainbows and ice!"

Zor assessed tactically. "Entrance secure. No immediate threats detected. Proceed with standard caution."

Different ruins with same purpose: seeking answers about Fate's Revenge.

Malvorn's earth communion extended, sensing geological foundation beneath crystalline structure. "Stable bedrock. Ancient construction, millennia old at minimum. Built during pocket dimension's early history, perhaps. Foundation solid despite surface ice accumulation."

Crystalline features were thoughtful. "But earth communion senses something else. Not corruption. Not instability. Just presence. Information stored within structure itself, maybe. Or energy signature I don't recognize."

Overlord's uncertainty was rare and intriguing.

Genesis Codex pulsed beside them as Adhivar and Codex both sensed through cosmic awareness but remained silent, observing, waiting to see what Draven discovered independently.

***

Draven stood before archway with rainbow light reflecting across his face, frost patterns seeming to shift in peripheral vision as optical illusion from multifaceted crystal surfaces.

Behind them, Northern Ice Field stretched endlessly with gate visible in distance, swirling clouds tiny from this perspective as Frostina's elegant form circled it protectively.

Before them, unknown ruins waited with different architecture, different civilization, possibly different information.

Answers might wait inside with solutions to Fate's Revenge, understanding of curse mechanics, knowledge previous ruins lacked.

Or more of same with frustrating repetition, partial truths without complete answers.

Only one way to find out.

"Let's begin," Draven said quietly.

Pack nodded agreement as Malvorn's crystalline form stood ready, Velnar's ancient patience remained steady, Sylvara's analytical curiosity was evident, Feyra's optimism maintained despite cold, Zor's vigilance stayed sharp, Genesis Codex's light brightened slightly as cosmic entities became attentive.

Family together, purpose clear, investigation beginning.

Draven stepped forward, crossing threshold from frozen wasteland into crystalline ruins.

Temperature shifted immediately, not warmer exactly but different as stable zone's preservation created artificial environment, protecting interior from eternal winter outside.

Light refracted through rainbow crystal surfaces, illuminating entrance hall in cascading colors while frost patterns glowed faintly from within crystalline walls.

Magnificent, ancient, mysterious.

And completely unlike any ruins they'd explored before.

The Northern Archive awaited.

What secrets would these different ruins reveal?

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