Lola agreed with the assessment, and they began moving carefully through the landscape toward the massive tree. The mana concentration increased with each step, creating pressure that would have been uncomfortable for anyone below adept rank. Within minutes, they had closed the distance significantly, reaching approximately two hundred meters from the World Tree's base.
Then something stopped them in their tracks.
Five distinct presences radiated power from positions surrounding the tree, each one carrying the unmistakable signature of grandmaster rank. The beasts had positioned themselves strategically around the World Tree's perimeter, apparently claiming territory or standing guard over the precious fruit.
Their eyes immediately converged on Noah and Lola as the new arrivals entered their territory. The attention made Noah feel uneasy, as he felt multiple predatory gazes assessing their threat levels and intentions simultaneously.
