The descent from the Apex was a descent into a world that was beginning to recognize its own pulse. Elara felt the subtle hum of the newly channeled ley lines beneath her feet, a rhythmic vibration that was entirely different from the predatory thrum of the void. It was steady, industrious, and fundamentally mortal. Yet, the victory was fleeting. As they trekked through the lower forests, Elara noticed that the green was not simply returning; it was evolving with a desperate, frantic speed.
The trees are growing too fast, Kael noted, his eyes scanning the biometric sensors on his brass-bound gauntlet. The flora is absorbing the channeled energy at an exponential rate. If we do not regulate the flow, this entire region will be an overgrown labyrinth within a month.
Elara paused, watching
