The deathly silent forest did not seem quite so silent after all.
Ruger stood quietly without making any rash moves. As time passed, an odd sensation spread across every inch of his skin, from his ears to his toes, through every hair on his body. It was strange and intriguing, with a stifling quality-not actual difficulty breathing, but a weight pressing down on his heart.
This was no longer their world.
Yet it was different from entering the Abyss or the Nightmare World. Two worlds were clashing here, and this place had grown by feeding on that very clash.
The strange sensation coursing through his body came from the other world. That he could still stand here and feel it only faintly was, naturally, thanks to the Cavern World.
Perhaps the invaders suffered greater discomfort, because the Cavern World would have the upper hand in the clash.
He reached that conclusion because the other side had gone to such lengths to invade, and, of course, because he had confidence in the Cavern World.
Standing on a thick branch, Ruger gradually adjusted. He slowly extended his mental power to sense his surroundings and even meditated briefly.
This was a wondrous place, a newborn small world born from the collision of two currents of world power. The clashing forces had imbued it with the distinct auras and characteristics of both worlds, while their interweaving had twisted and transformed them into things unique to this place-just like everything before his eyes.
These trees were creations combining the characteristics of both worlds, taking root and sprouting. The trees were taking root and sprouting, and so was this world.
Once this world had grown to a higher, more stable state, the truly powerful beings of the other world could descend here. Some old wizards would