Then Bruce ran.
The distance vanished beneath his feet, the landscape blurring into indistinct streaks as Reignland finally came into view. The closer he got, the heavier the atmosphere became, dense with mana, tension, and something else beneath it all.
Unease.
The moment he crossed into the outer perimeter, Bruce noticed it.
There were fewer Awakened guards stationed around Reignland than the last time he had been here.
Significantly fewer.
He exhaled slowly.
That alone told him enough.
An array like barrier still enveloped the territory, transparent yet unmistakable, woven layers of mana forming a defensive shell over the land. It was the same formation he remembered. Last time, Varek had personally ordered the guards to let him pass, temporarily opening the barrier for him.
This time, there was no Varek.
And Bruce wasn't in the mood for explanations or pleasantries.
He didn't slow down.
