The Mana-Repelling Tent, now a mere thought away, vanished into Adam's dimension. He felt its presence, a reassuring anchor within his expanded self. Refreshed and resupplied, he set off towards the nearest scattered item location, the early morning light filtering through the alien canopy.
His journey through the Red Zone this time was different. Gone was the panicked flight. Now, armed with his dimensional ability and Lyra's tactical acumen, individual creature encounters were simply opportunities. A Slimefang Lurker, ambushing from a thicket, vanished into a rift before it could even complete its lunge. A territorial Rock-Hide Boar charging down a narrow path found itself abruptly transferred to another dimension mid-tusk.
"Adam, excellent execution," Lyra would comment. "The Slimefang's core can be used for minor mana potions. Its hide is surprisingly durable. The Rock-Hide Boar's tusks, if properly refined, could serve as potent material for piercing weapons. Its meat, while tough, is edible."
Adam was learning to be a hunter, a gatherer in this strange, dangerous land. He collected everything Lyra deemed useful – shimmering herbs, tough hides, dense bones, even the occasional piece of mana-infused meat from absorbed creatures.
An Unprecedented Encounter: The Kirin
He was navigating a particularly dense section of the jungle when Lyra's voice, usually so analytical, took on a distinct note of surprise. "Adam, halt. Detecting a unique mana signature. It is unlike any creature recorded in this world's known biological database. And... it emits no hostility."
Adam immediately focused his Mana Vision. Through the emerald and sapphire leaves, he saw it. A creature of breathtaking ethereal beauty. It stood tall, with a horse-like body covered in shimmering white fur, flowing mane and tail like spun moonlight. But from its forehead protruded a single, spiraling horn, and small, delicate wings, like those of a dragonfly, fluttered gently on its back. Its eyes, a soft, intelligent gold, regarded him with an unnerving calm.
"A Kirin," Lyra finally identified, her voice now filled with an almost academic wonder. "Ancient, primordial beings. A unique breed, a cross between horse and dragon. My records indicate they are not indigenous to this world. They are classified by the 'Above' as beings capable of traversing dimensions."
"This explains its presence here," Lyra mused aloud in his mind. "It must have inadvertently crossed into this dimension, much like yourself, Adam. A creature from another world."
Intrigued, and with Lyra confirming no hostility, Adam took a cautious step forward. The Kirin watched him, its golden eyes unblinking. He took another step, then another. The creature remained still. When he was just a few feet away, it lowered its head, its muzzle gently nudging his outstretched hand. It sniffed, a soft whuffle of air, then to Adam's astonishment, it dipped its head in a clear, deliberate bow.
Adam, overwhelmed by the creature's grace and unexpected reverence, slowly reached out and stroked its shimmering mane. The fur felt impossibly soft, like spun silk. The Kirin leaned into his touch, a gentle purr vibrating through its chest.
"Unbelievable," Lyra whispered in his mind. "A Kirin. Directly interacting. This creature is considered a legend even among the 'Above.' Its presence here, and its response to you, are truly extraordinary."
Adam looked at the majestic beast, then back at Lyra's mental projection of his dimensional inventory. The thought struck him. "Lyra, can I absorb it into my dimension? I mean, it's not hostile, and it's from another world, like me."
Lyra processed the request. "Logically, it fits the criteria for a living creature, which cannot be stored. However, given its dimensional-traversing nature and its connection to the 'Above' hierarchy, its mana signature is highly unique. There is no precedent for attempting to absorb a Kirin."
"And... is there a way to tame it?" Adam asked, the idea of such a magnificent companion blooming in his mind.
"Adam, the concept of 'taming' a creature of the Kirin's stature is beyond my current understanding of this world's natural laws or even the 'Above's' records," Lyra admitted, a rare note of uncertainty in her voice. "They are not creatures to be bound. Their very essence is freedom and dimensional traverse. There are no known methods or spells that could compel such a being. Its current amicable behavior towards you is remarkable in itself."
Adam stood there, one hand stroking the impossibly soft mane of the Kirin, the other hovering over the concept of his dimensional storage. He had a creature of legend before him, a potential ally, yet one that couldn't be bound or simply stored away.