Chapter 72– The Ice Palace

The third morning broke with a pale glow over the snow-covered trees, casting blue shadows across the frozen forest. The group had made camp halfway up the mountain the previous night, and now they trudged up the final stretch of icy slope. The air was razor-thin and bitter, howling with wind that clawed at skin and clothing alike.

Ethan took the lead this time. His boots crunched into the hardened snow, his breath visible in great white puffs. Behind him came Kristoff and Sven, and beside them walked Princess Anna, cloaked tightly, her cheeks red with windburn but her eyes filled with unwavering determination.

Olaf, as always, seemed impervious to the cold. "I love this weather!" he chirped, bouncing ahead a few feet before sliding on his belly. "Do you think Elsa will make us snow cones? Ooh! Or a sled made of ice? Or—"

"Olaf," Kristoff muttered. "Focus."

Ethan turned slightly to glance at Anna. "You holding up?"

She nodded, teeth slightly chattering. "I'm fine. I can see it. Look!"

They all turned their eyes upward — and there it was.

The Ice Palace.

It shimmered on the mountainside like a crystal crown. Spires of blue-white ice stretched into the sky, glinting with unnatural light. Even from this distance, Ethan could feel the energy radiating from it. It was cold — far colder than the rest of the mountain — but it wasn't just the temperature. It felt… alive. Like the palace itself was watching.

Anna took a step forward, her eyes wide with awe and trepidation.

"She really made this," she whispered. "Elsa…"

Ethan stood silently, taking it in. The architecture was something out of a dream — no human hand could have carved such intricate patterns, nor created such flawless, weightless bridges of ice. His system pinged faintly in the back of his mind, recognizing an energy source of immense power.

But he pushed the alert away. This wasn't a dungeon boss. This was Anna's sister.

"Let's go," Kristoff said, gesturing for the group to start climbing the last trail up to the palace.

It took another hour of steep, careful climbing before they finally reached the gates.

A long, winding staircase of ice led to a towering front hall, framed by columns and snowflake-like arches. At the top of the stairs, the great doors stood open, waiting.

Anna hesitated.

Ethan placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "You're not alone."

She looked at him — really looked — then nodded.

Together, they climbed the steps.

The inside of the palace was even more magnificent. Light refracted off the walls in dazzling patterns, illuminating the high ceilings and frozen chandeliers. It was impossibly elegant, yet cold and desolate.

Then, they saw her.

Queen Elsa, cloaked in a flowing gown of frost and ice, stood in the center of the main hall, her back turned to them. Snow flurried lightly around her, like a living aura.

"Elsa!" Anna called out.

The queen turned slowly, eyes widening.

"Anna?"

The two sisters stood frozen in place, emotion thick in the air.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Anna said, voice cracking slightly.

"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," Elsa whispered. "I just… had to leave."

Ethan kept his distance, observing quietly. His hand twitched slightly near the hilt of his short blade, more out of habit than threat. The magic here — Elsa's magic — felt raw. Powerful. Unstable.

"I understand," Anna said, slowly stepping forward. "But it's not safe. Arendelle… it's frozen."

Elsa flinched, backing away. "I can't control it. I thought if I stayed here, I could protect everyone…"

"You don't have to do this alone!" Anna reached out, her voice breaking. "Please. Come home."

"I can't," Elsa said, trembling. "I don't know how to stop it!"

A blast of ice surged outward, a jagged spike forming between them, blocking Anna's path.

"Whoa!" Ethan moved forward instinctively.

Elsa gasped. "Who—?"

"He's… a friend," Anna said quickly. "He's been helping me."

Ethan nodded respectfully. "Your sister means the world to you. She came all this way because she believes in you. And honestly… so do I."

Elsa looked shaken. Her hands clenched into fists. "But I don't believe in myself."

Then, the ground shook.

A rumble beneath the palace echoed like thunder.

"What was that?" Kristoff said, grabbing Anna's arm.

From behind a distant wall, a roar echoed through the chamber — low, unnatural, and not made by any ordinary creature.

Elsa's eyes widened. "No… I didn't create that."

Ethan stepped forward, his senses sharpening. "Everyone, back up."

A section of the wall exploded outward in a burst of ice and debris. A massive ice creature burst into the hall — monstrous, like a corrupted golem of jagged ice and glowing cracks of blue magic. Its eyes gleamed with hatred.

"Elsa, what is that?!" Anna shouted.

"I don't know!" Elsa cried, horrified.

The creature roared, slamming a massive fist into the floor and sending out a shockwave. Olaf flew into a snowdrift. Kristoff rolled to protect Anna, and Ethan leapt in front of them all, unsheathing his weapon.

"I got this!" Ethan shouted.

He rushed the creature, sliding beneath a sweeping arm of ice and slashing across its leg. His blade cracked part of the creature's outer shell, but not deep enough. The golem roared again and swung a backhand that sent Ethan tumbling into a pillar.

"Ethan!" Anna shouted, running toward him.

He coughed, blood on his lip. "I've… had worse."

"Let me help—" Elsa began, her hands glowing.

"No!" Ethan said. "Stay with your sister. I'll buy time."

The creature charged again.

Ethan rolled to the side, kicking off a chunk of debris and flipping onto its back. He stabbed into a glowing crack, channeling every bit of strength he had. The ice exploded outward, the beast shrieking in agony.

But it wasn't dead yet.

The monster flailed, tossing him off like a ragdoll. He hit the ground hard and didn't move for a second.

Anna screamed.

Elsa, eyes glowing with raw power, raised her hands—

But the creature suddenly… stopped.

It froze mid-motion, its body glowing with an unfamiliar energy.

Then — it shattered.

Not in a burst of ice, but like glass — imploding inwards.

A strange pulse rippled through the chamber, like the lingering beat of a heartbeat — and then it was quiet.

Everyone stood still, breath held.

"What was that…?" Kristoff muttered.

Ethan slowly pushed himself up, groaning. "That thing… wasn't natural."

Elsa trembled. "That magic… it wasn't mine."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. Something was very wrong.

Anna helped him up. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just bruised."

Elsa looked at them, stunned. "Thank you. All of you."

"You're not alone anymore," Anna said again, more firmly this time.

Elsa's hands slowly unclenched. The frost around her dimmed, and she nodded.

Then, Ethan looked toward the shattered remains of the creature. Something about it nagged at him — not just its form, but its aura. It didn't belong in Frozen's world. It didn't belong in this timeline.

His system pinged.

[System Alert]

Residual anomaly detected.

External influence confirmed.Ethan's heart sank.

Someone — or something — was tampering with this world.

And he had a feeling this was only the beginning.

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