Captain America Appears!

"Timing really is everything!" Ethan sneered as he looked down at the Frost Giants below him.

Such cruelty towards a cute little girl—heretics!

"Die!" Ethan's wings flapped forcefully, launching him toward the ground like a meteor.

Boom! Ethan slammed into the earth, sending ice shards flying. Several nearby Frost Giants were knocked off their feet, howling in pain as they tumbled across the ground.

Seeing this unexpected intruder, the Frost Giants didn't hesitate. In perfect unison, they launched a barrage of icy magic at Ethan—ice arrows, spears, and blizzards all hurled towards him with deadly intent.

Faced with this fierce assault, Ethan quickly wrapped himself in his wings for protection. The sharp stings of pain from the attacks made him curse under his breath, "Damn it! My wings actually have nerve endings that feel pain!"

He hadn't expected his wings to be so sensitive, considering them as mere appendages. But apparently, they were as much a part of his body as any other limb.

"At least my plant-based body absorbs most of the pain," Ethan consoled himself.

The more he endured the Frost Giants' magic, the more his wings began to glow red, as though molten lava was coursing through his veins. Soon, Ethan's wings evolved, developing resistance to the Frost magic.

Seeing their spells having no effect, the Frost Giants were dumbfounded. Even the elite warriors of Asgard couldn't ignore their magic. What kind of monster was this winged Earthling?

Wait... a winged Earthling? Was he even human anymore?

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Frost Giant leader called for a ceasefire. "Hold on! Who are you, and why are you attacking us? Do you know the consequences of angering the Frost Giants?" the leader demanded with a menacing tone.

Even among the stars, the Frost Giants were a formidable race. The leader was confident that his words would give this strange opponent pause.

But Ethan just laughed. The Frost Giants? Weren't they basically anomalous entities?

"What if I knock them all out and take them as prisoners? Could I farm containment rewards over and over again?" Ethan's eyes gleamed with possibility as he regarded the Frost Giants with a newfound appreciation. Suddenly, they didn't seem so monstrous anymore—they were just walking rewards!

Excited by the idea, Ethan summoned SCP-307, the Carnivorous Ivy.

As SCP-307 emerged, Ethan infused it with his power, altering its structure. The once-soft vines became a stark white, fused with solid ice, making them far more durable. Not only that, but the Ivy now secreted a toxin laced with frostbite.

The Frost Giant leader, mistaking Ethan's momentary inaction for submission, nodded in satisfaction. This creature might have been rude upon arrival, but at least it knew when to back down.

Just as the leader was about to deliver another boastful threat, SCP-307's newly enhanced vines erupted in growth.

New feature: The colder the environment, the faster SCP-307 grows!

What was once a vine no thicker than a finger now swelled to the size of a human arm. It spread rapidly, enveloping the Frost Giants like a relentless tide.

The Frost Giants fought back desperately, summoning spears of ice in an attempt to repel the carnivorous plant. "What are you trying to do, you monster?" the leader roared, as several of his soldiers fell under the onslaught.

Ethan responded with a gaze that seemed to say, Are you seriously that dense? Can't you tell I'm here to take you down?

Now he understood why the Frost Giants always struggled against Asgard. If all their leaders were this dim-witted, it was a miracle their race had survived this long, let alone challenged Asgard.

"Die!"

A diminutive Frost Giant suddenly burst out from the ice below Ethan, an ice spear aimed straight for his heart. Reacting swiftly, Ethan grabbed the spear before it could pierce his chest.

This Frost Giant was unusual. Unlike the others, who stood around two to three meters tall, this one barely reached a meter in height. Its bluish body blended perfectly with the snowy surroundings, making it an ideal ambusher.

"Take this!" Ethan snarled, kicking the smaller Frost Giant, sending it tumbling across the snow until it collapsed, pretending to be dead.

"I'm really curious—how did you idiots think you could invade Earth with this level of incompetence?"

Ethan couldn't help but be amused by the Frost Giants' utter lack of strength. Their combat abilities were barely on par with fully-armed human soldiers.

Of course, it was possible that stronger Frost Giants existed elsewhere. These may have been nothing more than cannon fodder...

"Who was the one who said they wanted to eat the little girl? Was it you?" Ethan's gaze landed on a Frost Giant wielding an axe.

The Frost Giant shivered under Ethan's glare and stammered, "I-I was just joking!"

"Joking?" Ethan smirked. "Funny coincidence—I've always wondered what a Frost Giant tastes like!"

Before the Giant could react, SCP-307's vines wrapped tightly around it. In mere seconds, the Giant passed out.

A few moments later, blue liquid oozed from the Frost Giant's orifices, and SCP-307 consumed its prey, digesting the remains in less than a minute.

Ethan felt a surge of satisfaction from SCP-307, as if it were telling him, That Frost Giant tasted fantastic!

Horrified by what they had just witnessed, the remaining Frost Giants immediately fell to their knees in submission.

In their tribal society, slavery was a common practice. To the Frost Giants, it was only natural for the defeated to become the victors' slaves.

Seeing their compliance, Ethan didn't hesitate. He knocked them all unconscious and stored them in his containment space.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully containing: SCP-MC-123-Frost Giants ×46.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining Basic Ice Magic ×46!

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for acquiring Lesser Frost Bloodline ×46.

Hearing the system's notifications, Ethan frowned and asked, "Does stacking the quantity of these powers do anything?"

"It means you have a lot," the system replied coolly.

"...Having a lot is useful how, exactly? This isn't money!" Ethan retorted.

Just then, the sound of crunching snow reached his ears. The small Frost Giant Ethan had kicked earlier had regained consciousness. Looking around at the empty snowfield, the Giant was dumbfounded.

"Did those idiots seriously leave me behind when they escaped? I wasn't even knocked out for long… Or did everyone just die?" The tiny Frost Giant's mind reeled in confusion.

As Ethan's gaze landed on him once more, the Frost Giant quickly knelt and begged, "Please don't kill me! I'll tell you a secret!"

"You seem pretty experienced at kneeling. Been practicing a lot?" Ethan quipped.

The Frost Giant, unfazed by the insult, proudly declared, "Of course! In our tribe, those who don't kneel fast enough die early. I'm the sole survivor because I kneel faster than anyone!"

Ethan chuckled, his interest piqued. "You mentioned a secret?"

"Yes! I discovered something valuable buried in the ice nearby! I haven't told anyone about it yet. Now I'm telling you—so please, spare my life!" The Giant pleaded desperately.

"Alright," Ethan agreed.

The tiny Frost Giant sighed in relief, only to pass out again as Ethan knocked him unconscious.

"I said I'd spare your life. I never said you'd have freedom." Ethan tossed the Giant into his containment space.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully containing...

Ethan turned his gaze toward the location the Giant had indicated. Could there really be something hidden in the glacier? Treasure, perhaps?

Driven by curiosity, Ethan approached the site. What greeted him was a bright red star.

Even though he had never seen it in real life, Ethan instantly recognized it—it was Captain America's shield.

So, was this treasure the Captain himself? Or was it the vibranium?

Standing under the glacier, Ethan contemplated his next move. What should he do with this discovery?

Speaking of equipment... Ethan suddenly remembered something he had overlooked.

SCP-096 was still on some desolate planet. How was he supposed to retrieve it?

And then, thinking about SCP-096 reminded Ethan of Loki, who had died in such a ridiculous manner. Did Asgard ever reclaim the items from his body?

Lost in thought, Ethan projected his consciousness into SCP-096 once again.

Loki's body had vanished, along with the Eternal Spear. However, in the spot where Loki's corpse had once lain, Ethan spotted a pale blue box.

The Casket of Ancient Winters!

Ethan could hardly believe his eyes. How could Asgard have left something as valuable as this behind?

This was the Frost Giants' most prized possession—how could they be so careless?

No, something was off.

If it had been some insignificant object, its loss would've made sense. But the Casket of Ancient Winters? No way Asgardians would have overlooked something so important. There had to be a deeper reason why it was left behind.

Wasn't the Casket of Ancient Winters essentially an SCP? If so, Ethan's heart began to race with excitement.

Immediately, he instructed SCP-096 to pick up the Casket. "Do not let go of that box!" Ethan commanded.

Next, he pulled a Frost Giant from his containment space.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

A few harsh slaps woke the giant from his daze. When he realized what was in front of him, he gasped, "The Casket of Ancient Winters!"

"Yes," Ethan confirmed. "Tell me—how can I open it?"