Raze stepped into different sections of the forest, the atmosphere changing immediately. The trees here were older, thicker, their trunks scarred with claw marks that suggested territory disputes between apex predators. The undergrowth was trampled flat in places, paths worn by creatures large enough to simply push through obstacles rather than navigate around them.
The ambient mana felt heavier too, pressure that made his cultivation respond instinctively. Master rank beasts claimed this territory, threats that would challenge most delegates seriously.
Bephe sensed the change as well, the prehistoric predator's demeanor shifting from enthusiastic to focused. His muscles coiled with readiness, tail low and still rather than wagging. The playfulness that had marked earlier encounters was gone, replaced by recognition that genuine danger lurked ahead.
