Three days of northward flight brought Draven's pack to the edge of Frostina's domain.
The temperature dropped sharply as Zor descended through frigid air currents while Storm Crown's glow cut through swirling snow. The Northern Ice Field stretched below—vast frozen plains interrupted by jagged ice formations rising like crystalline towers as glaciers carved through permafrost while aurora borealis shimmered faintly despite daylight. Wind howled across desolate landscape with temperatures brutal enough to kill most beasts within minutes.
Draven felt cold even through Warden's Mantle's enchantments, though the Elite-tier armor compensated automatically. Beside him, Feyra's golden fur fluffed defensively against the chill as Blessing of Dawn maintained warmth around her smaller frame. Velnar's massive scorpion form seemed unbothered—four hundred years traversing Theia's varied climates built tolerance.
Sylvara shivered despite vine armor thickening. "Understand why Frostina chose this territory. Harsh. Isolated. Few survive here naturally."
"Perfect neutral ground," Draven confirmed. "Less populated due to climate. Secure meeting location."
Zor circled lower, heading toward familiar ice formation Draven recognized immediately.
The Gate.
Months ago, the original pack had discovered this location—Feyra, Velnar, Sylvara, Zor, Malvorn, and Naelvorn exploring Northern territories together, encountering dimensional breach for first time. That day changed everything. Before alliance expansion. Before corruption investigations. Just seven companions stumbling upon impossible reality.
Now reality itself warped visibly—dimensional breach creating shimmering distortion in air while spatial instability pulsed rhythmically, wrongness evident even to non-magical senses. The nearby stable zone had collapsed entirely as protective magic inverted like Southern Wilds ruins.
Genesis Codex pulsed beside Draven as Adhivar's presence manifested briefly.
"Dimensional breach epicenter. Where investigation truly began. Appropriate convergence point."
Frostina's ice palace rose in distance—massive crystalline structure gleaming against white landscape as snow followed her presence naturally.
Zor landed on broad ice platform outside palace entrance as talons found purchase on frozen surface. Draven dismounted smoothly while pack gathered around him.
Frostina emerged from crystalline doors—Ice Wyvern in magnificent form with sapphire scales gleaming, snow-white crystal formations along spine while wings trailed frost-mist naturally. Her eyes contained concentric ice-rings refracting light into halos. Overlord-tier power radiated controlled presence.
"Draven," she greeted formally as voice stayed composed and regal. "Welcome to Northern Ice Field. Journey acceptable despite conditions?"
"Three days flight," Draven confirmed while inclining head respectfully. "Pack handles cold adequately. Thank you for hosting alliance meeting."
"Neutral ground serves collective purpose," Frostina replied. "Others arriving shortly. Malvorn approaching western route. Naelvorn surfaced coastal waters nearby. Raziel flying from volcanic southeast. Convergence imminent."
She gestured toward palace interior. "Fire elements maintain warmth inside. Comfortable despite exterior climate."
***
Malvorn arrived twenty minutes later—massive form shaking ground with each step. The Earth/Gravity Overlord appeared in full glory: colossal four-legged behemoth with dark armored hide crackling with gravitational energy, bone-like protrusions along spine while eyes glowed with deep earth-power. Every footfall released subtle gravity pulses.
Upon entering palace, Malvorn shifted to humanoid form—tall, dark-scaled, powerful build as crimson eyes softened when settling on Draven.
"Draven," Malvorn greeted warmly as genuine affection showed despite weeks separation. "Investigation efficiency required distance. Reunion welcome nonetheless."
Draven clasped Malvorn's forearm in warrior greeting. "Western territories surveyed thoroughly?"
"Twelve zones confirmed corrupted," Malvorn confirmed grimly. "Crystal dragon remnants throughout. Samples secured. Disturbing pattern—golems attacked despite centuries peaceful coexistence."
Their bond hummed with renewed proximity—mental connection re-establishing fully as emotions flowed between them naturally. Comfort. Partnership. Loyalty.
Naelvorn arrived via coastal breach—massive Serpentine Leviathan rising from frozen ocean dramatically as water cascaded off blue-black scales shimmering like polished obsidian. Spined fins rose from neck and back like jagged coral ridges. Bioluminescent teal eyes burned brightly even in daylight. Forty stories tall—dwarfing other Overlords in sheer size.
Shifting to humanoid form, Naelvorn entered grinning broadly. "Draven! Bro!" Voice carried oceanic resonance mixed with genuine enthusiasm. "Northern Ice Field? Frostina trying to freeze the fun out of everyone?"
Frostina's expression remained composed but slight exasperation flickered. "Naelvorn. Punctual despite theatrics."
Draven smiled slightly. "Naelvorn. Sunken Archives survey complete?"
"Six underwater zones investigated," Naelvorn confirmed as tone shifted momentarily serious. "All corrupted. Constructs hostile despite depth isolation. Crystal dragon remnants everywhere—ocean floor littered with fragments. Samples retrieved despite pressure complications." Grin returned. "Almost got crushed twice. Good times."
Raziel arrived last—descending from sky wreathed in residual volcanic heat and ash. Magma Drake in full magnificence: titanic obsidian-armored form with molten veins glowing orange-red through cracks in black-glass hide while wings vast enough to shadow mountains trailed sparks. Each wingbeat rained ember-ash. Steam rose where volcanic heat met arctic cold upon landing.
Humanoid form maintained composure—tall, obsidian-scaled with glowing chest veins pulsing like furnace-heart as voice rumbled like distant eruption.
"Frostina. Draven. Malvorn. Naelvorn." Each name acknowledged formally. "Northern Ice Field—ironic convergence for one dwelling volcanic flows. Effective nonetheless."
Draven inclined head respectfully. "Raziel. Volcanic region surveys?"
"Four zones accessible," Raziel confirmed as baritone voice edged with heat distortion. "Extreme temperatures complicate exploration—even for fire-specialized. Crystal dragon remnants secured despite magma proximity." He produced heat-resistant container as fragments glowed faintly red inside. "Fire-dominant corruption evident throughout."
Naelvorn grinned. "Noisy fish says hello, Molten Sovereign."
Raziel's eyes flickered with restrained amusement. "Abyssal Sovereign remains irritating as oceanic tides."
***
Frostina led alliance deeper into ice palace through crystalline corridors warmed by enchanted braziers, arriving at spacious chamber clearly prepared specifically for this purpose.
Central platform dominated room—circular stone surface inscribed with intricate analytical runes glowing faintly blue as enchantments designed to facilitate magical examination and amplify detection capabilities. Surrounding platform, storage containers waited—empty crystal vessels organized systematically, ready to receive samples.
"Analysis chamber," Frostina explained as regal voice echoed slightly. "Designed for collective magical study. Runes amplify detection, enhance observation, permit simultaneous examination by multiple Overlord-tier experts."
Draven recognized sophistication—merger-era construction possibly, or Overlord-level enchantment work accumulated over centuries. Either way, perfectly suited.
Genesis Codex floated to chamber center as green-gold light illuminated analytical runes appreciatively. Adhivar's presence manifested more substantially while Worldroot Dragon's cosmic awareness filled space.
"Adequate workspace. Analysis may proceed systematically."
Each participant presented collected samples systematically as organized cooperation was evident.
Draven first—Southern Wilds fragments representing seventeen zones explored over months, organized by ruins location and elemental type. Crystal shards gleaming with corrupted wrongness, carefully catalogued throughout journey.
Malvorn next—Western territories, twelve zones methodically surveyed. Shadow Overlord's organizational precision evident in labeling system with gravity-stabilized containers protecting fragments during transport.
Frostina—Northern Ice Field, eight zones from her own territory as ice-dominant fragments glowed faintly blue-white despite corruption staining crystalline purity.
Naelvorn—Sunken Archives region, six zones retrieved from oceanic depths as water-element fragments suspended in enchanted preservation liquid maintained pressure integrity.
Raziel—volcanic regions, four zones secured despite extreme conditions as fire-dominant fragments radiated residual heat contained in specialized magma-resistant vessels.
Forty-seven stable zones represented completely. Hundreds of crystal fragments spanning Theia's diverse environments. All showing identical draconic essence beneath elemental variations. All contaminated with same dimensional wrongness corrupting ancient protections.
Complete dataset assembled. Ready for Worldroot Dragon's examination.
Under Adhivar's direction, they began combining samples carefully onto runic platform.
Crystal fragments placed systematically—organized by element initially, then corruption severity, finally geographic origin. Physical patterns emerged through arrangement—Southern samples showing heavier contamination visibly, Northern fragments displaying less corruption while volcanic and oceanic samples showed intermediate degradation levels.
Genesis Codex hovered above assembled collection as green-gold light intensified steadily. Adhivar's cosmic awareness expanded outward while Worldroot Dragon's perception examined each fragment individually and simultaneously analyzed collective whole through pattern recognition beyond mortal comprehension.
Overlords stood surrounding platform while contributing observational capabilities—Malvorn's gravitational sense, Frostina's thermal detection, Naelvorn's pressure awareness, Raziel's heat perception, all layered beneath Adhivar's cosmic examination.
Samples arranged. Platform active. Runes glowing intensely. Adhivar focused completely.
Analysis beginning.
Chamber fell silent—anticipation thick, palpable. Forty-seven stable zones worth of mystery laid bare before cosmic dragon's examination.
***
Adhivar's presence intensified dramatically as analysis deepened beyond surface observation.
Worldroot Dragon's cosmic awareness flowed through Genesis Codex like emerald-gold river while cascading over assembled crystal fragments with deliberate precision. Each shard responded to examination—glowing faintly, resonating with Adhivar's probing consciousness while revealing information layers invisible to normal perception or even Overlord-tier senses.
Draven watched fascinated as patterns emerged in cascading light—draconic essence illuminating brighter than corruption while ancient power stayed preserved despite dimensional contamination permeating fragments. Crystal dragon's sacrifice evident in every piece as body distributed across Theia deliberately through merger-era desperation, purpose woven into crystalline structure at fundamental level.
But corruption obscured deeper understanding frustratingly. Wrongness interfered with clean analysis as dimensional instability created noise throughout data while protective magic's inversion complicated interpretation significantly.
Adhivar's focus sharpened further as Worldroot Dragon applied cosmic knowledge accumulated over eons of existence, pattern recognition abilities transcending mortal comprehension working through mystery systematically.
Minutes passed in absolute silence. Alliance waiting patiently.
Time stretched slowly. Analysis continued methodically. Adhivar delved deeper into crystal dragon mystery while examining draconic essence and dimensional corruption simultaneously, seeking understanding beneath wrongness layers.
Worldroot Dragon's voice remained silent—no commentary, no preliminary conclusions shared, only focused examination consuming significant power. Cosmic intelligence processing vast data, comparing against merger-era knowledge stored within Genesis Codex while cross-referencing dimensional breach characteristics observed months, synthesizing comprehensive understanding gradually.
Draven exchanged glance with Malvorn. Bond conveyed shared patience wordlessly. Trust in Adhivar's process. Confidence in Worldroot Dragon's capabilities earned through months partnership.
Naelvorn maintained uncharacteristic stillness—oceanic patience serving alliance well as deep-water calm replaced usual playful energy.
Frostina's composed demeanor showed no impatience—glacial temperament naturally suited extended analysis duration.
Raziel's volcanic restraint held admirably—Magma Drake waiting without complaint despite fire-nature preferring action.
Alliance united in silence.
Watching. Waiting. Supporting.
Adhivar analyzing systematically.
Understanding building.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Answers approaching.
But not yet.
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