Zane reached out toward the white dome.
The moment his fingers grazed its surface, both domes shuddered violently, pulsing as if they were about to rupture. Without warning, they shot forward—one into each of his hands.
He staggered slightly, his eyes widening as searing warmth and cold surged through his arms.
He glanced down.
A white tattoo had formed on the back of his right hand—an intricate book design with a tree's shadow etched on the cover. On his left hand, a black tattoo mirrored it: another book, bound in five dark chains, each chain wrapping around and linking to one of his fingers.
Then, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
Ding…
[Two Forbidden Spells Acquired]
[Book 1 — Divine Judgment]
Attribute: Light | Compatibility: ??? | Grade: ???
Tier: Locked — Analyzing to Unlock...
Unlock Requirement: Super-Hero System — UNLOCKED
Tier One Skill Unlocked: Summoning Moon
— All Stats: +697
— Unlimited Mana
— 100% Regeneration
— Spell Duration: 3 Minutes
— Cooldown: Usable Once Per Week
Zane's heart thundered in his chest.
"That means I'm invincible… for three minutes," he muttered. "But still—there's a catch. A big one."
Before the thought could settle, another chime rang out.
Ding…
[Book 2 — Law of Corruption]
Attribute: Dark | Compatibility: ??? | Grade: ???
Tier: Locked — Analyzing to Unlock...
Unlock Requirement: Super-Villain System — LOCKED
Unable to unlock Tier One.
To proceed: Activate the Super-Villain System.
Zane clenched his fists as dual energies surged through him—one blazing with righteous heat, the other seeping like ink through his veins.
Light and dark.
Order and chaos.
Two forces. Two paths.
One offered.
One denied.
He let out a long breath and shook his head.
"This… is going to get complicated."
Shelby tilted his head. "What's going to get complicated?"
Zane straightened up. "Nothing."
Shelby narrowed his eyes. "What did you get?"
"Two simple skills," Zane replied, his tone deliberately flat. He didn't want to share the truth, not yet. "Nothing important here for either of us. Let's move on."
But Shelby wasn't just anyone.
He had seen the tattoos—the white book with the tree's shadow on one hand, the chained black tome on the other. For a brief moment when they had bound to Zane, he had felt it—an unnatural pulse, something ancient… dangerous.
Still, if Zane didn't want to talk about it, Shelby wouldn't press.
Not now.
The kid had risked much and done more than enough for him today.
Shelby was someone who remembered both grudges and gratitude.
And toward Zane, gratitude flooded his chest like a rising tide.
They turned and walked out of the grand hall. The heavy doors slammed shut behind them with a final thud.
Their steps echoed quietly as they moved in sync down the corridor.
Then, without a word, they stepped into the next chamber—the Weapon Hall.
The Weapon Hall is a vast chamber filled with floating weapons of every type—swords, spears, bows, gauntlets, and more—each suspended in the air and glowing with an aura of power. The walls are lined with runes, and the floor shifts like liquid metal, adjusting to the energy of those who enter.
At the center stands a massive forge-like altar where weapons choose their wielder, not the other way around. Each weapon bears an affinity tag and stat requirement, visible only to those with high perception or system assistance. The stronger the weapon, the more expensive it is in A.P., and some are sealed behind compatibility trials.
In short:
The Weapon Hall is not just a place to pick a weapon—it's a trial of resonance, will, and worth.
"What now?" Shelby looked at Zane for guidance.
Zane didn't answer right away. He walked slowly across the hall, eyes scanning the floating weapons. Every item hovered with a distinct glow, and each price tag glared back at him—500,000 A.P. and above.
He stopped, turned around, and said flatly, "Let's leave."
"What? But why?" Shelby was surprised. "We're already here. If we leave like this, isn't it a waste of our time?"
"How many Assassin Points do you have left?" Zane asked.
Shelby glanced at his wristwatch. "Just 170,000 A.P."
"That's the reason. Everything here costs 500K or more. There's nothing for us."
Shelby was about to protest but quickly understood what Zane meant. He sighed. "After you. There's always next time."
Both turned around and exited the hall, returning to the first chamber of the temple.
"Anything left?" Shelby asked, eyeing Zane.
"Nope. Let's go."
Shelby nodded, then performed a series of intricate hand seals. He slapped his palm against the temple wall, muttering an incantation as his voice rose in intensity.
Suddenly, the wall responded. Stone blocks began folding inward, vanishing in a mesmerizing pattern. The ground trembled beneath them, and before they could brace themselves, the gravitational pull shifted.
The temple rejected them.
They were launched outward, spinning uncontrollably through the air before landing hard in the dusty field outside. They rolled across the dirt before finally stopping.
From the ground, they watched in silence as the ancient temple slowly sank back into the earth. One block after another vanished into the soil, until the final stone slipped away—leaving no trace it had ever existed.
Shelby turned to Zane. "Remember this—I'll come for you in three days. Get your things in order. Say goodbye to your relatives, and meet me at the gate of this Pre-Academy. By now, the others who awakened this year are already on their way to the Academy."
He paused for a beat. "Until then."
With a flicker of motion, Shelby's figure vanished, leaving behind a streak of white lightning that quickly dissolved into the wind.
Zane stood alone.
He clenched his fists, eyes lifted toward the sky. The clouds drifted silently above, unaware of the storm brewing within him.
"I'm ready to take this journey," he muttered. "But those shadows that haunt me every day… Just wait. I'll find him—and I'll settle this score."