His massive head settled against cool stone as regeneration worked its slow magic.
The Apex Mane's image remained burned into his memory, golden eye blazing with fury, claws dripping with his blood.
Round one to you. But this isn't over.
The hunt would continue once he'd recovered from this harsh lesson in power hierarchies.
…
Time flowed like honey through wounded flesh as Ethan's enhanced regeneration worked its slow magic.
Hours passed in a haze of accelerated healing, his bear form sprawled across the Town Hall's stone floor while damaged tissue rebuilt itself fiber by fiber.
The familiar chime of system notifications finally broke through his recovery trance.
'Finally. Time to see if this investment paid off.'
