The moment Lake stepped through the portal, he felt a wave of nausea as he noticed the difference in the air.
It was heavier here. Thick with moisture and the smell of living things—wet earth, flowering rot, the green sweetness of chlorophyll so dense it almost choked. The mana saturation was noticeably higher than the outside world, even more so than some highly contaminated hunting fields.
Raising his hand, he tried to activate his wristband. Thankfully, it still seemed to be functional despite the high mana density.
Behind him, the others emerged one by one. Hana first, her bow already half-drawn as her eyes swept the environment. Then Landur, who let out a low whistle. Jayce followed, rolling his shoulders like he was warming up for a workout. Gwen came last, her sword held loose at her side, her sharp eyes already scanning her surroundings.
The city stretched before them, or at least, the remnants of one.
