As Adam ventured deeper into the Purple Zone, the landscape transformed. The vibrant, chaotic jungle of the Red Zone gave way to an eerie, crystalline silence. The flora and fauna dwindled to almost nothing, replaced by stark, glowing formations.
Everything was infused with mana, forming massive, intricate mana crystals. Amidst this alien beauty, he found peculiar life forms: vibrant red mushrooms and dark, shimmering black herbs, both pulsing with immense mana. Lyra identified them as the most potent alchemical materials, capable of creating incredibly intricate and powerful potions.
Adam dedicated himself to a grueling routine. He would step out of his tent, pushing his body to endure the Purple Zone's mana density, practicing his mana output. He combined this with physical tasks, slowly cutting down the crystalized trees with his Universal Shaping Tool (now manifesting as a sturdy axe) and storing the crystalline wood in his dimension. The process of simultaneously controlling his mana, performing physical exertion, and managing his dimensional storage accelerated his adaptation.
Over time, the agonizing strain lessened. He could now move with relative ease, even sprinting for extended periods within the Purple Zone. His mana output had expanded significantly, allowing him to consistently disperse the overwhelming mana inflow. He also diligently collected the precious red mushrooms, black herbs, and mana crystals, knowing their immense value.
"Your adaptation rate has been exceptional, Adam," Lyra stated. "Your mana output is now sufficient to sustain you indefinitely within the Purple Zone. However, the Black Zone's density is exponentially greater. It will require further, dedicated adaptation."
Adam paused, a thought striking him. "Lyra, when I first got here, if I'd tried to just teleport to the item location in the Black Zone... what would have happened?"
Lyra's response was chillingly direct. "Instant death, Adam. You would have imploded due to the overwhelming mana concentration. Your body's physical and mana systems would have been catastrophically destroyed on contact with the Black Zone's environment without prior adaptation."
The realization underscored the grim reality of the Black Zone and the wisdom of Lyra's methodical approach. He had avoided an invisible, horrific death.
Adam had conquered the Purple Zone through sheer willpower and Lyra's guidance.
With resolve hardening his spirit, Adam made the decision to enter the Black Zone. He packed his tent, a grim determination set on his face. He knew this would be different.
The moment he stepped across the invisible threshold, the pressure was immense.
It was like being submerged in an invisible, crushing ocean. Every cell in his body screamed in protest, his mana regulation strained to its absolute limit. He barely lasted a few seconds before Lyra's urgent command forced him to retreat back into the relative safety of the Purple Zone.
Adapting to the Abyss
Just like before, he set up his camp at the very edge of the Black Zone. The agonizing routine began anew. Every time he stepped out, he coughed blood, the sheer density of mana forcing his body to adapt with brutal speed. His internal mana output, constantly fighting against the overwhelming inflow, began to expand at an unprecedented rate.
Days blurred into a cycle of intense, painful exposure followed by periods of deep rest and recovery. Adam pushed his body to its absolute limits, driven by the burning image of Emily and the red string connected to his heart. Slowly, painstakingly, he began to endure the Black Zone. He could now walk around for a few minutes, though the exertion was immense.
As he adapted, he used his Mana Vision to observe the Black Zone's unique mana structure. It was a realm of pure mana crystals, pulsating with an internal, vibrant light. Unlike the Purple Zone, there was no sign of life at all. Every surface was covered in a mosaic of different colored mana crystals. With each passing second he endured, he absorbed more of these incredibly dense crystals, adding them to his dimension.
The Tent's Limit
To further test his limits and the Mana-Repelling Tent's integrity, Adam, under Lyra's instruction, began to teleport his camp deeper into the Black Zone. Each relocation was a calculated risk, pushing the barrier's mana-repelling properties closer to their breaking point.
Deeper and deeper they went, until Lyra's analytical mind detected the faint, tell-tale signs of structural strain. "Adam," she warned, "the tent's mana-repelling integrity is nearing its limit. Any further density, and the barrier will collapse."
Adam instantly teleported the tent slightly back, securing it just outside the detected maximum density. The tent had found its limit. Beyond this point, the Black Zone would be a pure test of Adam's own rapidly expanding mana output, a race against time before the sheer mana density consumed him.
Everything from here on was on borrowed time. His body's ability to resist the mana would be the sole determinant of his survival.