F/VoH Ch 77: The Secret Room

Ryan felt the vibration of energy behind him, sensing the hidden secret. As Ryan's hand touched the rough surface of the wall, a flow of Mana energy began to emanate from his body, penetrating the stone. In an instant, the wall trembled softly, then slowly began to split with a rumbling sound echoing down the corridor.

How could this happen? The secret was actually quite simple. By channeling Mana at specific points, the wall responded. Voilà! The wall that had seemed solid now opened, revealing a hidden secret door.

Ryan glanced back, signaling to Charlotte, who calmly followed his lead. Without much conversation, the two of them stepped into the dark room, illuminated only by dim light from a gap in the ceiling.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly oppressive, the scent of damp earth and old metal filling the air. After walking for a while, they arrived at a stone statue standing proudly in the center of the room.

Ryan paused for a moment, his eyes examining the strange statue. Its shape resembled that of an ancient warrior, with a hard, expressionless face. The statue's hand held a shimmering arrow, contrasting with its moss-covered form.

Without a second thought, Ryan moved quickly, grasping the arrow from the statue's grip. As soon as the arrow was taken, a mechanical sound echoed, and the floor in front of them shifted, revealing a passageway leading to a deeper basement.

"Let's go in," Ryan said bluntly, his voice calm yet firm. Then Ryan descended the creaking stone stairs, followed by Charlotte, who stepped quietly, without a hint of doubt in her demeanor.

Upon reaching the bottom, they were greeted by a room that was vastly different from what was above. Bright and clean, with crystal lights emitting a cool glow.

In the center of the room stood a magnificent Jet Fighter, its design resembling a giant bird with outstretched wings. A deep black color enveloped it, adorned with feather-like tattoos that made the aircraft appear alive, as if ready to flap its wings and take flight.

Ryan walked closer, his eyes fixed on the aircraft. His hand still gripped the arrow, and Ryan glanced at a small hole near the entrance of the plane. It was not just an ordinary hole—it was the key to activating this massive machine.

Without hesitation, Ryan inserted the arrow into the hole. As if responding, the Jet Fighter began to vibrate softly, then a loud mechanical roar echoed. A pale blue light illuminated from small cracks along the body of the aircraft.

With a sharp hissing sound, the plane's door swung wide open, revealing a futuristic interior—high-tech seats, holographic screens, and advanced control panels.

Ryan took a deep breath, as if just realizing how significant this moment was. Behind Ryan, Charlotte stood silently, observing with a calm yet anticipatory expression.

"This is the moment," Ryan murmured, his steps steady as he approached the cockpit of the aircraft.

Ryan calmly stepped into the cockpit of the Jet Fighter, the atmosphere inside filled with a thrilling futuristic aura. Each panel shimmered with a soft light, while the holographic screens flickered, ready to display any information needed.

Ryan's eyes scanned every detail carefully, ensuring nothing was overlooked. Once satisfied, Ryan took the arrow he had previously retrieved from the statue and inserted it into a hole in the cockpit console, as if it were the key to activating the entire aircraft system.

Moments later, a soft female voice resonated from all directions. "Welcome, Captain! Please give your command! I am the Aviation Intelligent Responsive Assistant, or A.I.R.A. Is there anything you need from Aira, Captain?"

The voice was melodious, full of warmth and soothing, like a gentle breeze on a morning day. In an instant, a white light appeared before Ryan, forming a holographic image of a beautiful woman.