Driven by the gnawing pangs of hunger and thirst, Adam, guided by Lyra, moved swiftly towards the mana-purified spring. His Mana Vision painted the path, highlighting safe passages around lurking creatures. The moment he reached the spring, he dropped to his knees, plunging his face into the crystalline water. It was cool, incredibly clear, and tasted like pure life force – a sensation far beyond any water he'd ever known. He drank deeply, the intense thirst slowly receding.
Nearby, a cluster of what Lyra identified as Nutrient-Rich Mosses glowed faintly. Despite their unusual appearance, Adam, trusting Lyra's analysis and his own mana regulation, plucked a handful and devoured them. They tasted earthy, slightly sweet, and though they'd likely kill a normal human with their mana density, Adam felt his body hum with renewed energy as he consciously filtered the excess.
Strategic Item Retrieval
With his immediate needs met, Adam looked towards the next phase of his survival. "Lyra, what about the other scattered items? Where are they?"
Lyra displayed a mental map, highlighting three distinct energy signatures. "There are three remaining clusters of scattered items. The nearest is still within the Red Zone, approximately two kilometers to the north. Another is located deep within the Black Zone, a region of extreme mana concentration, roughly five kilometers to the east. The furthest is in the relatively safer Yellow Zone, about ten kilometers to the southwest, closer to the edge of the Unknown Lands."
"My recommendation," Lyra continued, "is a phased approach. First, we secure the item in the nearest Red Zone location. Then, we will proceed to the Black Zone item, as it's likely to contain highly valuable, high-tier gear due to its hazardous placement. Finally, we will venture towards the Yellow Zone item, as it lies on a potential egress route from the Unknown Lands."
Adam considered the plan. It made sense. Tackling the zones sequentially, from least dangerous to most dangerous within the Unknown Lands, while also moving towards civilization.
"Agreed, Lyra," Adam confirmed. "Let's stick to that plan. For now, absorb as much water and moss as you can into my dimension. We need to be prepared."
With his internal dimensional storage now active, Adam used his Universal Shaping Tool to quickly form a large, rudimentary container, filling it with water from the spring. He then collected armfuls of the nutrient moss, absorbing both into his internal dimension, ensuring he had supplies for the journey.
On the return trip to his tent, Adam moved with a renewed purpose. Guided by Lyra's constant vigilance, he harvested more Glimmering Saplings and avoided any mana signatures that indicated dangerous creatures. The short rest, the food, and the water had revitalized him, sharpening his senses. He was ready for the next challenge.