Adam's gaze was fixed on the formidable guardian, his mind churning for a non-direct approach. "Lyra," he mused, "if my body gets poisoned by too much mana, what about that creature? What happens if it receives a huge inflow of mana into its body?"
"That depends on the creature's innate mana capacity and control," Lyra responded. "However, if any creature receives mana far exceeding its maximum input tolerance, it will inevitably go berserk from the overload before succumbing to mana poisoning. The uncontrolled mana would tear at its internal structure."
A flicker of an idea ignited in Adam's mind. He looked at the simple metal rod that was his Universal Shaping Tool. "Lyra, can this tool be used as a weapon? Like, can I shape it into a bow?"
"Affirmative," Lyra confirmed. "The tool can indeed be shaped into any small item, including a bow. However, using it to 'cast' mana arrows, similar to spell creation, would be highly inefficient and drain your limited mana outflow too quickly. The mana required to form a projectile and imbue it with sufficient force would be prohibitive in a prolonged engagement."
"The optimal use, given your unique abilities, would be to absorb the Universal Shaping Tool into your body, integrating it as an extension of your own mana system. This would allow you to directly access its shapeshifting capabilities, effectively 'manifesting' the desired form as part of your physical being. From this integrated state, you could then leverage its intricate internal mechanisms to efficiently create and project mana-infused projectiles."
Adam's eyes widened. That made sense. It would make his ability to create weapons instantaneous, directly linked to his body. "Start the process, Lyra. Integrate the tool."
"Understood," Lyra replied. "Commencing integration. Be aware: the Universal Shaping Tool currently contains any items you've stored within it, such as the water from the spring. Upon integration, these contents will be expelled as its internal storage mechanism is absorbed."
Adam paused. The precious water. He couldn't just let it spill onto the mana-rich ground. "Lyra, can I create a temporary dimension just for the water? A specific 'water world'?"
"A logical and feasible application of your new dimensional control," Lyra confirmed. "Focus your intent, Adam. Visualize a contained space, purely for water."
Adam closed his eyes, channeling his mana, picturing a small, contained sphere of pure liquid. He felt a familiar pull as a tiny, specific dimensional rift opened, drawing in all the water from the Universal Shaping Tool. The process was swift and precise.
With the water secured, Adam focused back on the tool. He felt a surge of energy as it dissolved into shimmering mana, flowing into his core. His body hummed, the familiar metal rod now an intuitive part of his being, a mental command all that was needed to manifest a blade or a bow.
"Integration complete," Lyra announced. "The Universal Shaping Tool is now an innate part of your mana system. You can manifest its forms at will. Now, let us plan for this creature. You intend to overload it with mana?"
Adam's gaze returned to the massive mana signature guarding the item. "Yes, Lyra. It can't handle too much mana. We'll give it more than it can take. What's the battle plan?"