In that moment, the grand hall was thrown into uproar.
Who hasn't heard of the trending star, Caden Ryder?
A supreme kingdom's successor who was reported to have eradicated a beast tide of Snow Goblins singlehandedly.
Fearless and protective of his Kingdom's people.
The famous Caden Ryder.
Many eyes scanned through the hall as they searched for Caden Ryder. Although his name has spread.
His image hasn't spread.
"Who is it? Who is Caden Ryder?"
"Why hasn't he come out? Is he scared?"
"Hahahaha, no, that can't be it, Caden Ryder crushed a beast tide of Snow Goblins on his own, he can't be scared of a little Awakening Ceremony, can he?"
"Don't tell me he didn't come to the Emerald Awakening Ceremony?"
"Did he lose his way here perchance?"
"No, if he had lost his way, it would have been announced already. Red Crescent Kingdom has records of every contestant present in the grand hall"
"Morningstar Kingdom hasn't made any report of a missing prince, so he should be here"
"But if he's here, where could he be?"
Caden hesitated as he listened to the whispers. He was the last person to be called to the stage.
Everyone in the grand hall wants to get a glimpse of the trending star, Caden Ryder.
Their age-mate who became renowned for crushing a beast tide singlehandedly.
Even the quadruplets of the Red Crescent Kingdom were searching through the crowd.
Especially Sumeri, she wanted to see this Caden Ryder that she has been hearing about for some time now.
Kane gritted his teeth, suppressing his hatred. He hated the fact that his little stepbrother was getting this attraction.
It should be him getting this fame, not that lowly trash called Caden Ryder.
He felt deep hatred towards Caden but he wasn't alone. The rest of his siblings also hated Caden to the core.
"98th Supreme Kingdom, Morningstar Kingdom's successor, Caden Ryder…..please come forward"
The voice rang out again. After hesitating for a few minutes, Caden breathed in deeply. "I guess it's time to move," he muttered.
The second he stepped forward, everyone's attention drifted towards him.
Sumeri's eyes shone with brilliant light "So he's the trending star, Caden Ryder?" She was stupefied.
Caden had an emotionless expression as he stepped forward, approaching the platform.
Despite the tens of thousands of gazes fixed on him. His heart stayed tranquil, if it were still his second past life.
He would be sweating profusely already but this was what Caden wanted. He needed the attention fixed on him.
This is the arrangement he's preparing for the future. Before Purple Continent fell, Red Continent invaded three times.
The first time was sudden, Sumeri and a few hundred other successors were captured and killed.
But that was when Emperor Rozen Riverrun was still alive. He was the one who created the unification idea.
To unite the ten continents as one. And he started with the Purple Continent, only when the Purple Continent and the Purplemen were wiped out.
That was when the other eight continents chose to bow before the Red Continent. Emperor Zeraith, who succeeded his father, became the true winner.
Caden lost everything in the process; he lost his family, his lover, and his nation. His continent and his race.
Those bitter memories were something he could never erase. This was why he chose this path.
The more popular he becomes, the more power he could grab in the near future.
"So that's Caden huh?" Aaron Violetsun mumbled. He observed from a distance that it could be said only Caden's reputation was equated to him.
He was more curious about Caden than anyone else.
While Kane clenched his fist tightly, he glared at Caden. "It doesn't matter how much you try, little brother, I'm the winner already." He smiled inwardly.
"Thanks to that artifact. I became the winner of the succession race, but you only have a Mana Aptitude of 5%"
"You will only awaken a B-Ranked Innate Skill, nothing significant, you will never beat me," Kane sneered.
Caden's movements came to a halt as he stood on the platform. His gaze fell upon the mana evaluation stone.
"Please reveal your Mana Core…." a voice instructed. Since the beginning of the Emerald Awakening Ceremony.
Caden has never exposed his white Mana Core. No one could evaluate his Mana Aptitude.
This was what he wanted.
He gently nodded, the moment he exposed his white Mana Core, the grand hall exclaimed.
Caden's Mana Core was brimming with a Mana Aptitude of 10%
This was no joke.
Prince Kane gasped in shock, his body shuddered "What? He has a Mana Aptitude of 10%?" Kane's heart sank.
"How could this be? How is it even possible?"
"He's just a seventeen-year-old kid," Kane wanted to scream out, but he held himself back.
Fear gripped him. Princess Sumeri's eyes shone with brilliant "This is a Mana Aptitude of 10%!"
"He really has a Mana Aptitude of 10%" She mumbled, her lips curled into a faint smile.
Aaron Violetsun was overwhelmed with complex emotions "This is…..how is it possible?" His heart shook.
There has never been a successor under the age of 20 who had awakened a Mana Aptitude of 10%
This was the first in history.
Caden softly exhaled as he gently pricked his finger, due to the healing effects of the Primordial Dragon Physique.
His injury swiftly healed up. Caden stretched his finger forward and a drop of his blood landed on the mana evaluation stone.
The mana evaluation stone flickered for a few seconds, the announcement came in next.
"Caden Ryder has awakened an S-Ranked Innate Skill:Frost Life"