Well, I better recover my mana now that the mana core is unblocked.
I crossed my legs as I put my sword inside my spatial ring, and started to meditate.
"Mmm, I didn't make a breakthrough but my elements...huh? Are you kidding me?"
When I checked my elemental mana that my mana core was refining in during mana recovering. There was another element present along with my other elements. It was Dark elemental mana.
I'm clearly not an Demon because I have mana that a demon can't possess, but why do I have Dark attribute too?
I guess, my experience in the second test and the third test awakened dark element. Hmm, other than that, I just had my mana core in perfect condition along with my elements in peak conditions.
Mm, to think, I'm this world's only eleven years old kid, who has reached the Dark Yellow mana core stage.
It took some time, but I was able to fully recover and begin climbing the stairs. Unlike the other floors of test, which have one hundred steps, there are only about twenty or so here. May be its because its the last trail and the final floor as I skipped practically five floors after the victory of the second test.
And when I got to the next floor, there was nothing, as if I were standing above the clouds. It was more peaceful than the other floors. However, there were no barriers or walls. It felt like a boundless realm.
I started walking. Only with my first step, a soft click, did the sky split apart, revealing a massive castle rising from the clouds.
My gaze remained fixed on the white castle, which jolted me out of my trance. I was simply taken aback.
I let out another deep breath and trudged along silently thinking "How about that! the Holy Tree has a holy place after all!"
The silence inside the castle doors only echoed my footsteps, filling the hall.
There were doors on either side that didn't match the metallic corridor; they were various shades and materials, all quite distinct from one another.
I found myself in front of another gate leading into what appeared to be a throne hall.
"Ethan Asher!"
While I was staring at the massive gates, a man in a black suit and a mask appeared near me.
"Hello!" I greeted him with respect on thinking how I couldn't sense his presence at all.
"Yes, Sir, congratulations on completing the trials! The President of the Council of Assassins awaits your arrival!" He stated.
Did I hear him correctly? The president of the council is waiting to meet me?
"No way...."
While I was still stunned, the man in the black suit motioned to his back and confirmed, "Yes, sir, the president of the council is here to greet you!" The man in the black suit stood there motionless, waiting for my response.
He appears to be serious, so I should probably take a look.
"Okay! I'll see him!" I stated confidently.
"Thank you, sir!" the man said gratefully as he led me inside the gates. Walking alongside the man in the suits, I began to wonder if I, too, would need to purchase a new mask.
Still, masks aside, I was both angry and amazed. I simply continued to follow the man in the black suits.
We entered a large circular room with a high-rise ceiling that appeared to be entirely made of glass.
The room was simply decorated, with only a chair seated with a man facing the two of us and smiling at me.
What was odd was that he didn't wear a mask. Is he not concerned about losing his identity?
"Sir!"
The man in the suit bowed to the man as the man rose from his seat and approached me.
I followed the man in the black suit and bowed as well, not knowing what the custom was in situations like this.
The man was already standing near me as I raised my torso.
This man...he is the president of the assassins' council.
When I saw his face, I gulped.
I'm not sure why, but seeing him filled my heart with warmth and a familiar feeling.
"Oh my! You really are a kid!" the man said as he patted my head.
It was nice, and I felt great, even though it was just a pat in the head.
"Yes, I'm Ethan Asher!" As I replied, he held out a hand with a bright face.
"Please to meet you Ethan. I'm Red Scythe!"
We shook hands as he said, "Please, have a seat."
He snapped his fingers as he pulled a chair from his seat and placed near it.
Awesome! So when we infuse mana inside, that seat can give us more chairs? That's interesting!
"Congratulations on passing the trials, Ethan!" I said as we sat down.
"Thank you very much, sir!"
Wow, he's not at all what I expected.
"So, what kind of trial did you go through?" he inquired.
What? Does he have any idea what tests I had?
"Ah Sir, Aren't you supposed to know what trials I went through?"
"You see, this Holy tree decides which test or trial one should take based on their potential!" he explained.
"That explains it!" I exclaimed.
"Well, tell me what you had!" he asked me again with curiosity.
"Alright! I passed through a golden walking hell and then a Mad Man-doll, who elevated me directly to the eighth floor. And a zombie arena where I learned to control my Killing Intent!"
I told him, but he looked surprised.
"You...you...went through the Death, Fear, Guilt, and Justice Trail? But....how?" He was perplexed.
"Yes, sir, but don't these trials happen to everyone?" As I noticed his perplexed and perplexed expression, I asked him.
"Kid...Do you even know, that the trial you went through is only chosen to give when the Holy Tree chooses you as the heir to become the next president of the council?"
"Huh?"
Heir to the position of becoming the next President?
"I don't want to be someone like that...Sir!" I responded.
"That's fine! But...do you ever get hurt?" He inquired.
Really?
"No sir. Being an assassin always surrounds us with blood!" I responded.
"Hmm!"
The man smiled as he gave a facial expression that seems reassured that I was safe.
"All right, so what's your decision?" His eyes became serious and his face had a powerful gaze the moment he asked.
"I'm joining the council, sir!" I said directly to his face.
"Good! Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?" He inquired as soon as I stated my decision.
"Yes. The only thing I want is to not have to work for the missions or orders you give me on the spur of the moment!"
"Then?"
"Before I act, I'll make sure he/she deserves to be killed or not!" I said to him.
He starred at me for a few seconds seriously and asked me, "You are saying, you will verify everything before you act...am I right?"
"Yes!"
Then he asked, "Kid...Are you sure...you are an assassin?" He asked me while releasing his mana pressure, which flowed like water.
It was strange that I wasn't affected by it. I looked at him and replied, "I am..an assassin, but I'm not a tool!" I replied.
The next moment, "Wonderful!" he exclaimed as if nothing had happened.
Huh?
"I had been expecting someone like this for a long time, but only two people have approached me after meeting me so far. It makes me so happy that these kids naturally are concerned about the justice of this kingdom! wonderful!" He said aloud.
There is another one? Who might that be? Evana, perhaps?
"I don't quite understand kid, but for some reason, you seems so familiar to me!" he said with a smile.
"I feel the same Mr. Red Scythe. I wonder why!" I replied.