You are in the forested plains of China, Asia, 160 million years ago.

The air in the landscape was thick and humid, smelling of damp earth and cycads. Through the dense foliage, you watched them—a herd of five Gigantspinosaurus foraging in a tranquil clearing. These were not the massive, lumbering giants you was used to; at roughly 4 meters long, they were medium-sized, basal stegosaurs that appeared built for defense rather than raw size.

As you moved closer to take notes, a snapping twig broke the silence. Immediately, the herd reacted. They didn't panic; they organized. The largest individuals moved toward the edge of the clearing, turning their bodies sideways to face the potential threat. You were close enough to see the sheer size of their shoulders. Unlike the tall, flat plates of a Stegosaurus, these creatures boasted massive, sharp shoulder spines that pointed upward and outward, accompanied by smaller plates along their backs.