Shin slowly followed Director Kim through the secret tunnel, down a spiral staircase to a vault underneath the castle.
Two guards wearing hooded robes and face masks stood on both sides of the massive vault. When the headmaster approached, they saluted and began to twist the enormous gear.
Dozens of mechanisms loudly clanked as the guards opened the vault. The next moment, they pushed the massive door open, revealing an even more extensive library.
Director Kim stepped through and led Shin into the room. Hundreds of candles floated in the sky, twinkling like stars, and the ceiling resembled a clear night.
Bookshelves covered the walls, jammed packed with hundreds of thousands of books. Tables were scattered throughout the central area and were stacked high with more books.
Shin walked around in complete awe at the sheer number of books in front of him, and when Director Kim explained they were all skillbooks, the young man's jaw dropped.
"Eva!" Director Kim called out, and suddenly, a hologram of a beautiful woman with long hair and voluptuous curves appeared.
"Greetings, Director Kim." Eva said, bowing, "How might I be of assistance?"
"This is Shin. He placed first overall in the United Federations Grand Academy entrance exams, and we are here to retrieve his reward." Kim explained, turning and revealing the young man, extending an arm toward him.
"Director Kim!" Eva exclaimed, taking a step as she vanished and reappeared before Shin, grabbing his shoulders and turning back to the headmaster.
"You know it is against regulations to bring another being in here!" The AI turned back to Shin, and her eyes illuminated, winking at him as she scanned him, raising a finger to her lips.
"Don't worry about that." Kim dismissed her, waving his hand at her, "If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility."
"There seems to be an error, Director…" Eva announced, turning back to him as her eyes dimmed.
"Yes, I know." Kim nodded, walking through her and grabbing Shin's shoulder, leading him to one of the only empty tables and sitting him down.
"My own inspections have failed as well. Something or someone is preventing me from examining the young man."
"Someone?" Eva asked, turning around rapidly, her eyes staring at Shin incredulously, "If you don't have access, then that must mean…"
"Yes." Director Kim interrupted her, raising his hand, "I reached out and spoke with him myself, and he knows nothing."
"Understood." Eva placed her hands together and bowed, "How might I be of service?"
"Young mister Shin here is looking for a cultivation method for his Stamina Well and Mana Circuit for his Rookie Challenge."
"I see…" Eva replied absentmindedly, turning around as she vanished, reappearing at dozens of locations throughout the library vault.
She would read the title or reach for the skillbook but wouldn't take it, retracting her hand and vanishing once more.
Director Kim stood before Shin and held his hands out, "You don't have to worry about her; she will return when she is finished. Come now, let's determine your Prime Element.
This will help determine the optimal type of cultivation for your Mana Circuit." He explained, closing his eyes and instructing Shin to follow his lead.
"Mana is all around us. It is a part of the planet and everything in and on it. It is the most basic element of life, the creator of everything.
Ignore everything around you and focus solely on my voice, the magic dripping off my every word. Feel it around you, touching your skin.
Reach for it. Touch it. Grab it. Hold onto it and never let go… Wh… yo…" Director Kim's voice trailed off, and Shin entered an extreme state of meditation he had never experienced before.
He opened his eyes and found himself floating in an ever-expanding void. He turned around and called out for Eva and Director Kim but heard nothing.
Shin floated through the empty void; at first, he was loud and vocal, shouting for someone repeatedly, but after hours of no response, he gave up.
Shin lost track of the time he was inside the void, unable to maintain his sense of time. He attempted to log out, but the Dive Pod and SGO's system were unresponsive.
Eventually, the young man lost consciousness, falling asleep, and as he floated through the void, a pair of bright eyes opened, their gaze locked on the young man.
An intense bloodlust burst forth from the eyes, filling the void and startling Shin awake. The young man looked around frantically but couldn't locate the source of the overwhelming power.
"You do not belong here!!!" A deep voice reverberated throughout the void, the loud noise forcing Shin to grab his head, covering his ears as he recoiled in pain, and blood began running from his nose.
A bright red aura appeared, the intense waves of energy concealing the source. Shin's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the shadow approaching him.
The shadow raised his hand, pointing its palm at the young man as red lightning crackled across his hand. An intense sphere of energy formed, spiraling violent energy rapidly as it grew larger.
Shin tried to scream but found his voice was mute, and every attempt to move away was unsuccessful as his body was completely paralyzed.
The shadow unleashed the sphere at him, finally releasing Shin from his paralysis, only for him to flinch, covering his face with his arms.
"NO!!!!" A voice screamed throughout the void, another shadow appearing between the young man and the sphere of energy.
The shadow unleashed its own aura, raising its hand, catching the violent sphere, closing its hand, and crushing the attack.
"You dare oppose me?!?" The voice boomed loudly, the anger in its voice reverberated everywhere, shaking the void.
Shin opened his eyes, blood flowing from his eyes and ears as he stared at the back of his savior, unable to speak a single word.
The aura from the shadow that saved him blocked his view, but he swore it turned around and faced him.
An intense wave of energy washed over his body, causing the young man to flinch again, closing his eyes.
"Shin!!!!" A familiar voice shouted.