The exhilarating rush of acquiring the Teleportation Device slowly gave way to the daunting reality of Lyra's next objective: the Black Zone. Adam had faced a Gloomfang, escaped Red Goblins, and outwitted a Mana-Stone Rhino. But the grim prognosis for the Black Zone was chilling.
"Adam," Lyra began, her voice unusually somber, "we need to discuss the Black Zone. The mana concentration there is so extreme, it would literally kill any living creature not specifically adapted to it. There are almost no creatures in the Purple or Black Zones, precisely because of this density. However, any creature that does exist there would represent an existential threat far exceeding anything you've encountered in the Red Zone."
Adam frowned. "But you said Red Zone creatures are already 'max level.' How can something be more powerful than that?"
"A critical distinction," Lyra explained. "Most creatures outside the Unknown Lands are far weaker. A single Yellow Zone creature, typically around Level 70 minimum, if it were to enter any human civilization, would likely destroy it entirely. Blue Zone creatures range from Level 85-90. Red Zone creatures, like the Gloomfang and the Mana-Stone Rhino, are indeed considered 'max level' at Level 100 within their standard progression."
"However," Lyra continued, "the Purple Zone and especially the Black Zone introduce a concept beyond mere 'max level.' Once a creature reaches its maximum level, it can no longer grow under normal circumstances. But to survive in these hyper-dense mana environments, they undergo a forced process of Rebirth. With each Rebirth, they retain their previous stats and evolve beyond their conventional limits, gaining exponentially greater power, capabilities, and often, intelligence."
Adam felt a cold dread creep up his spine. "Rebirth? What does 'beyond comprehension' mean for a creature in the Black Zone?"
"It means," Lyra stated, her voice grave, "that a creature residing in the Black Zone could potentially be a multi-Rebirthed entity. A being with effectively limitless stats, possessing multiple forms of magic, and an output of mana that dwarfs even the most powerful Red Zone creatures. This is just the tip of the iceberg of their capabilities. These creatures are also known to develop terrifying levels of intelligence after multiple Rebirths, becoming cunning, strategic, and profoundly dangerous."
Adam swallowed hard. The thought of facing such a being, especially after his harrowing escape from the Rhino, was terrifying. He slumped against the cavern wall, gloom settling over him. He had to enter the Black Zone for the item.
"And there's another issue, Adam," Lyra added, her voice a final, crushing blow. "Even with your current level of mana regulation and your fused abilities, your physical body, at Level 1, cannot withstand the raw mana density of the Black Zone for more than a minute before succumbing to catastrophic mana poisoning."
The reality was stark. He had to enter a zone that would instantly kill him, guarded by something potentially unimaginable, all to retrieve a scattered item.