After leaving the Dimension of Spirit, Max opened his eyes slowly, finding himself once again in the quiet forest at the edge of the core region. The air around him was still heavy with energy, thick enough to feel like a tangible weight on his skin.
His veil of spatial concealment dispersed with a ripple, and the natural sounds of the secret domain returned—the faint hum of distorted energy, the distant roars of beasts, and the occasional pulse of spiritual force echoing from faraway trials.
He stepped out of his hiding place and stretched his limbs slightly. His body felt steady and light, his strength more refined than before. The Dimension of Spirit had a strange effect on him; every time he entered and exited it, his control over his own power became smoother, more natural, as if the link between his physical self and his spiritual core was deepening.
