Adam's body still screamed in protest, but the intense pain had dulled to a persistent ache. He pushed himself up, every muscle protesting, but his mana flow was stabilizing.
"Lyra," he rasped, "I can move. Partially recovered. Let's get out of here. Absorb the tent. Teleport us to the Red Zone."
The tent vanished, and with a silent flash, Adam found himself amidst the familiar, less oppressive mana of the Red Zone.
"The Red Zone is still dangerous, Adam," Lyra warned, her voice devoid of emotion, "and the anomaly is tracing your mana signature. It will likely head towards the last tent location in the Black Zone, assuming you'd still be there. This gives us more time to recover."
Adam took a deep, shaky breath, focusing on regulating his mana. Even as he did, the Red Zone lived up to its name. A Slimefang Lurker launched itself from a thicket, followed swiftly by a Razor-Wing Bat. Lyra's instincts kicked in, controlling Adam's arm to open brief dimensional rifts that swallowed the creatures whole. Adam, despite the lingering pain, continued his recovery, channeling mana through his system.
"Lyra," Adam eventually asked, "there's one more scattered item, right? In the Yellow Zone. How far is it?"
"The Yellow Zone location is further, approximately eight kilometers southwest," Lyra replied. "However, once your body has recovered sufficiently, we can use continuous teleportation to cover that distance very quickly. The Yellow Zone poses significantly less threat than the Red, Purple, or Black Zones, offering more leeway for a rapid, tactical move."
As Adam focused on his mana regulation, a curious phenomenon began. His now vast mana output, even when simply recovering, was creating a powerful disturbance in the Red Zone. Creatures, drawn by the surge, began to charge towards him in a frenzy.
"Adam, your amplified mana signature is attracting them!" Lyra warned. "Maintaining defensive rifts! Focus on your recovery!"
It was a strange ballet of survival. Gigantic beasts, from hulking Rock-Hide Boars to agile Slimefang Lurkers, lunged at him, only to vanish into the increasingly massive dimensional rifts Lyra seamlessly conjured. Adam, though still battered, found himself improving his mana control even further, using the chaotic energy of the charging creatures to fuel his recovery.
Eventually, the pressure subsided. Lyra's voice held a note of surprise. "Most Red Zone creatures within this radius have been absorbed, Adam. Your full recovery is complete."
Adam, feeling his body hum with revitalized mana, immediately teleported, a continuous blur of motion towards the last item in the Yellow Zone. As he arrived, the same phenomenon occurred. Creatures, though less ferocious in this zone, were drawn by his powerful mana signature, swarming towards him. Lyra, with practiced ease, continued absorbing them, her dimensional rifts working tirelessly.
He reached the final item, a gleaming amulet, and swiftly absorbed it. "Lyra," Adam gasped, a sense of immense relief washing over him, "the path to civilization! Where do we go now?"
Lyra's response, however, was unexpected. "Adam, I'm detecting something amiss. The rate of creature absorption in the Yellow Zone has been exceptionally rapid. Within seconds, the entire vicinity around us has been cleared of all lifeforms." Her voice, usually so composed, held a rare hint of urgency. "Open the Mana-Repelling Tent immediately and enter it. Rest."
Adam paused, confused. His immediate thought was to escape, to press forward. But he trusted Lyra implicitly. Her instincts had saved his life countless times.
"Why, Lyra? We're so close to getting out!"
"Trust me, Adam," Lyra urged, her tone firm. "There is an unknown variable. We need to secure your position now. Do as I say."
Adam quickly set up the tent and ducked inside, the mana-repelling barrier snapping into place around him. The silence inside was instant and profound, a stark contrast to the sudden, unsettling void outside. He waited, his confusion battling with a growing sense of unease.