I got the same applause that Nicola received. I looked at her. Convinced, she nodded with an irritating smirk on her face. Although this time, Miss Carsalina wasn't as astonished as last time.
The third trial ended after several minutes. The giant became a C-rank middle stage while the ninja dude became a C-rank lower stage. Miss Carsalina announced the results.
"In this trial, two B ranks, 2 C ranks, 14 D ranks, and 238 E ranks were added to the annihilator army of the humans. A total of 256 new soldiers were added."
The captains, the master, Miss Carsalina, and a few other people who I saw in the tower's base clapped for us. Miss Carsalina continued her job of announcing.
"Next, we will hold the final trial which will assess your true class. While strength is a major factor that contributes to an annihilator's rank, there is another thing that should be taken into consideration. That is your understanding of the races and the roots of all the power we have today. The final trial…is a written test. If you fail, you will go down a rank. Those at the E rank will remain at the E rank but those above will be demoted. If you pass you can remain at your current rank."
The previously disappointed E-rank annihilators sneered at the rest as they wouldn't lose anything and would only gain benefits. The giant especially seemed upset about this but didn't dare to complain in front of the captains or the master.
"All of you have 2 hours to prepare yourselves. By that time we will have prepared the exam hall for you."
Everyone dispersed. There were several moon inns around the moon stadium where we could stay for one hundred dollars a night (Yes, the currency never changed in 1000 years). You would think that a lonely teenager would not have any money but before I left my dad left me a fortune. How much? Let's just say I have the financial strength to live in a moon inn for 30 years. So I was about to go find a fancy one until Nicola patted my shoulder. I was startled. She laughed.
"Didn't know that the strongest rookie in history was a coward."
"I'm not a coward. You just came at me by surprise."
"Of course! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Yeah, why didn't you?"
"I came here to ask you whether you wanted to see something amazing. It's on the opposite side of the stadium. Only the higher authorities are allowed to go there but since I'm a relative of two of them they won't stop me"
"On the other side of the stadium?"
I suddenly remembered something my dad said.
On the other side of the moon stadium is the river of stars. When you go there, ask one of the captains to take you there. You are going to enjoy the view.
I thought my dad was joking then. I couldn't casually ask a captain to take me somewhere! But it seemed as though he was right about the river of stars. I looked at Nicola.
"Could the thing you want me to see be the river of stars?"
She seemed shocked. I had no idea why. Maybe she knew it by another name?
"How did you know that? Only the authorities know about that. It is not even recorded in books! I know about it only because my aunt told me."
I figured that Captain Raphael was her aunt. I wondered whether I should tell her about my father. Oh well, my father never asked me to not reveal him or anything.
"My dad told me about it."
"Who's your dad?"
"Thoms-"
Right then someone suddenly came in between us. It was so fast I couldn't even tell. I looked up to see their face. WAIT.
It was the Master!