After a few hours, all of the people outside of the cloud tower were assessed. Those who passed were directed to the lobby. Those who failed returned to their homes. The examinees waiting inside the lobby numbered around two hundred. This number was pretty chilling, especially when Vincent considered the fact that more than a thousand people came to take the entrance examination.
Most of the students were chatting with each other, some were excited about the next rounds of assessment while the others talked about the best of the bunch. Leila and Felix were the centers of attention. Although their lights far outshined Nevis and the others, they were still looked highly upon by the instructor of combat.
Their chitter-chatter quickly stopped as soon as the three head examiners entered the lobby.
"It looks like everyone who passed is present here. I congratulate you all for passing the first assessment. Now, you guys only need to pass four more assessments to become a student at our military academy. Before we start the next assessment, register yourselves as temporary students by binding with the temporary student identification card that the droids will have over to you," Theodore said before he went ahead and sat on the sofa beside Vincent.
"You don't mind do you?" Theodore asked as he looked at Vincent and his companion.
"Ah, nope," Vincent replied. "I never imagined that you were the instructor of combat, and it's pretty surprising, to say the least."
"Didn't I say I'll see you soon?" Theodore replied with a smile.
"Yeah, you did say that," Vincent replied.
"In the next few tests, I advise you to try your best," Theodore whispered in his ears before walking away from the lobby.
It seemed like his only reason to come to the lobby was to have a small chat with Vincent.
"What did he say?" Peter asked.
"Just some words of encouragement," Vincent replied as he sipped some cold latte from a tin can.
The droids handed a pristine card to all the examinees in the lobby of the first floor of the cloud tower. The droids also explained how to bind to the identification card. They just needed to place their thumb on the thumb imprint at the back of the identification card to get registered as temporary students of the military academy.
"Hmm, what is this?" Peter said as the number zero appeared on the front of the identification card once he registered as a temporary student.
"It's the same for us!"
The number zero also appeared in the center of Leila and Vincent's identification cards.
"Just what meaning does this number hold?"
"Whatever it is, we will find out soon," Vincent said.
A few seconds after the examinees registered themselves as temporary students, the instructor in charge of medics that complained to Theodore about Alex appeared before them and said, "Hello, temps. As you might have already heard, I am Kayle Walken. Listen well! The student identification card records your status. It will identify you as a permanent student of the military base established in the world's connecting expanse between Earth and the world of Lorena once you pass the entrance examination. Only by using this card can you gain access to certain areas and attend certain classes in the academy. It's costly to create one. So you better not lose it. Any questions?"
A lot of students started asking a bunch of questions at the same time.
"Act civil! One at a time," Kayle shouted as she was met with a barrage of questions.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Excuse me, ma'am. May I ask what's the deal with the number in the center of our cards?" A student with a lanky build asked what everyone wanted to know.
"Good question. The number being showcased in the center of your card is your military contribution points."
"What is the use of the points?"
"The points can be used to purchase all sorts of things that'll make you strong such as evolution materials, pills, and a lot of other stuff, but know that most areas of the military academy can only be accessed by utilizing your CP (contribution points)."
Kayle's explanation helped the examinees understand the importance of the contribution points. These points were like virtual currency as they can purchase a lot of items by using these points.
"How do we earn these points?" Vincent asked as he looked at Kayle.
"There are a lot of ways, but for now, you will be earning CP by performing well in the upcoming exams, so I advise you all to try your best."
"Yes, ma'am. We'll do our best!"
"Good! Follow me. I will lead you to the room of the next examination room," Kayle said as she turned around and began walking away from the open lobby.
The examinees followed after her like a group of ducklings chasing their mother.
A few minutes later, Vincent and the other examinees arrived at the second floor by taking the escalators.
"That is the titan's strength examination room; it's where you'll be tested for your strength. Now pass through these doors. Once you enter the room, the examiner in charge of this test will explain the rules to you," Kayle said after she and the examinees reached in front of the huge entrance of room no.7.