CHAPTER 55: NUMBERED 0 (1)

After Caden’s group was returned back to the registration hall. Many others were being returned.

The head chancellor Darius Kincaid didn’t want to take any more chances. Immediately a group takes a ball.

They will be transported back to the registration hall.

An hour later, aside the three groups that were killed by Caden Ryder. Everyone else were in the registration hall.

By now, rumors had already been spread.

It was already known that Caden Ryder had slaughtered three groups of students on his own.

A feat none even imagined.

***

Once all the students were returned back. Head Chancellor Darius Kincaid made his appearance.

Behind him stood his two trusted aides.

His presence drifted every single attention towards him. Darius exhaled softly "I apologise for my carelessness" His voice echoed through the hall.

"I never knew there will be spies hidden in my Academy. I’m certain the rumors have already spread"

"And yes its true. Three groups of freshmen have been annihilated and the one who did that was Caden Ryder" Darius announced.

Whipers and mumurs echoed as everyone stared at Caden. Caden was unfazed throughout the entire process.

His arms crossed, his back resting on the wall. Darius continued "But I assure you that Caden Ryder isn’t at fault"

"Huh? How isn’t he at fault? He killed his fellow students, shouldn’t he be punished?" A bold student asked.

Another spoke "Yes, I’m still surprised that killer is still with us. He should be locked up already"

Many who were jealous of Caden and had hated him since the very beginning spoke aggressively.

All demanding Caden’s imprisoning. Hearing this, Caden’s lips curled faintly ’I guess y’all will be disappointed’ He thought.

Darius cleared his throat, once again. The atmosphere became deathly silent "I allowed this interupption once but next time"

"If any of you dare to interupt me. I’ll make sure you pay dearly for such behavior" Darius warned.

He breathed in deeply "Like I was saying, although Caden is responsible for the death of the students within the three groups"

"It was done out of self defense. The three groups were already under the control of an S-Ranked Skill"

"I can’t go into detail but this special skill is powerful. Very powerful if I must say and those who fell prey to it’s control will be cursed with unbearable pain"

"Caden was aware of this so he had to kill them. All seventy-two students were killed out of mercy"

"If Caden hadn’t killed them. With their little lifespan left, they would suffer endlessly until their death" Darius explained.

Listening to this, everyone gulped. If a Sword Level, Sword Great Grandmaster gave this explanation.

Then they knew it was the truth. Caden who they tried to verbal attack was in the right the entire time.

Not only was there another assasination attempt against him. He was forced to even kill his fellow students.

Many even doubt they would want to be in such a power.

Power comes with a price. They understood that.

Seeing how calm the atmosphere became after the explanation. Caden slightly tilted his gaze, he glanced at the quadruplet.

Prince Hetu who noticed it winked at Caden. Caden shrugged his shoulder, staring at another direction.

He couldn’t help but smile "Those quadruplet, they really are different compared to the rest" Caden mumbled.

Noticing the serene atmosphere. Darius wore a warm smile "Before we had forty-eight groups now it has been reduced to forty-five"

"Sixteen groups will advance to the third stage of the numbered test. But the third stage has be postponed due to this and changes will be made"

"Back then, we had prepared a stage to determine those who will receive number two hundred down to zero"

"It will still be the same but changes will be made. All four hundred freshmen from the sixteen groups will be given a number"

"Within the two hundred number, there will be two students representing this number but number zero will be received by a single student" Darius explained.

"And for the third stage of the numbered test. First year students will be given a chance to challenge any number below them"

"The advanced four hundred students will be given a battle card which will only be used during a numbered challenge"

"That will be the third stage of the numbered test. But mind you, it will end after the first semester"

"So you’ve only one semester to initiate a numbered challenge" Darius explained. He took a step back.

The door shaped portal appeared once again. Before he left the registration hall with his trusted aides, he glanced at Caden Ryder.

With Caden’s indifferent expression. No one could tell what was going on in his mind.

He’s simply too mysterious.

For a few seconds, both entities locked eyes with eachother and Caden noticed the creepy smile on Darius lips.

Darius walked into the portal. His trusted aides followed up and the door shaped portal vanished.

A masked guard stepped forward. All attention was drawn to him and an holographic screen appeared once again.

"All your performance has been recorded and your ranking numbers have been determined"

"Those who failed the second stage will be given numbers from 401 to a 1000 while those who passed the second stage will receive their numbers from 400 down to 0"

After making his announcement. The masked guard stepped back and the holographic screen expanded in size.

It was gigantic. Massive enough to accommodate a thousand names.

Freshmen were seen whispering amongst themselves. Those that were in groups had formed deeper bonds.

The quadruplet approached the screen to see their own ranking numbers and they were all excited.

All successors from the supreme kingdoms had performed better than the rest.

They all had the numbers from 1 up to 50.

To their suprise, Prince Hetu was given the number 16, Prince Viktor had the number 15 and Prince Kaid had the number 17.

Princess Sumeri received the number 10.

If they were unsatisfied with their ranking numbers. With their given battle cards, they could always improve themselves and make a challenge.

After receiving their ranking numbers. It was time to figure out who received the highest number.

It is said the lowest number is 4000th and the highest 0.

From number two hundred down to one has two seats meant for two students to occupy that number.

But only number 0 is meant to be occupied by a single student.

Everyone wanted to see who is the student that reached such an high ranking number.

Number 0 was given to the strongest student. And not only that, the 0 number was meant to be the leader of the freshmen.

It was important for everyone.

Everyone’s eyes were glued to the scene. Many had expected it but were still startled for he was the one who reached that number.

{Number 0: Caden Ryder}

Confirming this, everyone’s gaze tilted towards Caden’s direction. Seeing this, Caden couldn’t help but giggle.

"Well I expected this" He softly exhaled "Darius needed to keep me under his control, this was why he gave me such a number"

"And besides he knew the truth. No freshmen is stronger than me, atleast not at this moment"