"Adam, the reason for the sudden halt is the anomaly," Lyra explained, her voice grave. "Its tracking of your mana signature is far more precise than anticipated. My analysis of the Purple Zone's unusual emptiness confirms it: the anomaly systematically eliminated all creatures in its path, even after you left. It won't stop at the Yellow Zone. It will pursue you into human civilization, which would be a catastrophic event for that world."
Adam's blood ran cold. He had to stop it here.
"However, Adam," Lyra continued, "you now possess a significant advantage. We are away from the suffocating mana density of the Black Zone. Here, your body is not restricted by mana poisoning. You can fight to your full extent."
Lyra's attention then shifted to the Dimensional Blade, the unique sword that had just saved him. "My analysis indicates the key to victory lies in the Dimensional Blade's counter-damage properties. It was designed to absorb kinetic and mana-based impacts and can release that stored energy."
"Fuse it," Adam said, his voice firm, his resolve absolute. "Fuse the sword into my body."
"Agreed," Lyra responded with rare haste.
"Commencing integration."
A familiar surge of mana enveloped him as the blade dissolved, its intricate mana signature weaving into his own. He felt a profound shift, a new layer of resilience settling within him. He now possessed an innate counter-barrier ability.
"Integration complete," Lyra announced. "You can now generate a localized barrier that absorbs incoming damage, whether physical or mana-based. While it won't prevent knockback, it will nullify the direct harm. Furthermore, you can instantly switch this barrier into a weaponized form, releasing the accumulated damage outward. This released energy is effectively doubled."
Adam's attention then turned to the very last scattered item he'd just acquired in the Yellow Zone. "Lyra, analyze the last item."
Lyra's analysis of the final scattered item, the glowing amulet, brought a mix of relief and a wry sense of irony. "Adam, this is a Pendant of Mana Suppression. It possesses properties from the 'Above' that can repel, suppress, or even completely remove mana from its surroundings. Had we found this earlier, your initial mana poisoning and subsequent struggles with high-density zones would have been significantly mitigated."
Adam sighed, a bitter laugh escaping him. "You're telling me I went through all that coughing blood and agonizing training, and this thing would have made it easy?"
"Indeed," Lyra confirmed. "Try it on."
Adam slipped the pendant around his neck. Instantly, the oppressive mana presence of the Yellow Zone vanished. He no longer needed to regulate his breathing, no longer felt the subtle pressure. He tested it on a nearby mana crystal, and with a mere thought, the crystal completely decolorized, its mana utterly drained.
"This pendant can even remove magic itself, Adam," Lyra explained. "Its properties are truly unique, capable of nullifying all forms of mana or magical energy at your command. It is also more robust than the tent's barrier.
Crucially, it can conceal your mana presence, making you untraceable and preventing creatures from being lured by your powerful signature."
The implications were staggering. Invulnerability to mana environments, the ability to nullify magic, and complete stealth. "Fuse it, Lyra," Adam commanded without hesitation.
"Very well, Adam," Lyra replied, a rare hint of dry wit in her voice. "You are certainly becoming... an integrated organism. More robot than human, perhaps."
Adam chuckled, a genuine laugh. The pendant dissolved, its intricate mana signature seamlessly weaving into his being, unraveled and integrated by Lyra's boundless knowledge. He felt a profound sense of completeness, an inner shield against the raw energies of this world. He was now truly invulnerable to the mana density of the Unknown Lands.
Preparing for the Final Battle
Adam and Lyra, now a perfectly synchronized unit, prepared for battle. The anomaly was still out there, hunting him, and Adam knew he couldn't let it reach human civilization.
"Lyra," Adam stated, his voice firm with renewed determination, "we have to stop it here. Even if this pendant conceals my presence now, the moment I use any of my mana abilities, it will be able to trace me again. It's time to face it."
"Agreed, Adam," Lyra confirmed. "The Yellow Zone provides optimal conditions for this confrontation. You are at full capacity, with all your abilities integrated. We will ambush it."
Adam is now fully prepared, with all his abilities integrated, and positioned in the Yellow Zone to face the anomaly.