The first thing Riven noticed as he stepped through the teleportation gate was the heat. Thick, stifling, and oppressive, it clung to him like a second skin. Within seconds, his shirt stuck uncomfortably to his back, a sheen of sweat already forming across his arms and neck.
He squinted against the harsh sunlight, his vision momentarily overwhelmed by the brightness. Slowly, his eyes adjusted, allowing him to take in the new environment.
As Riven's vision cleared, the vast jungle stretched before him - dense, untamed, and humming with mana. Towering trees with twisted roots loomed overhead, their thick canopies casting dappled shadows across the uneven forest floor. The air buzzed with the sound of unseen creatures, rustling leaves, and the occasional distant roar that sent smaller beasts skittering deeper into the undergrowth.
He didn't waste time.
