The first thing Adrian noticed as he emerged from the portal was the raw, untamed scent of the wild. The air was thick with the tang of damp earth, the faint metallic hint of nearby minerals, and the sharp bite of wildflowers scattered among the undergrowth. Around him, a dense forest stretched in all directions.
Towering trees with dark, gnarled trunks loomed overhead, their thick canopy filtering the sunlight into fragmented beams. The ground beneath his feet was uneven, covered in moss and jagged roots that snaked like veins through the soil.
A few Hunter trainees had been scattered nearby, their figures barely visible amidst the foliage. The portal's chaotic energy often separated groups upon arrival, and Adrian had been expecting this. As his sharp gaze scanned the surroundings, his lips curled into a faint smile.
'Perfect.' Since there was no princess with her 4-dimensional vision... 'This way, I can act freely.'
