Lester remained in his assigned residence for the next eight days.
During this time, Alia did not visit him.
It was clear she was deliberately avoiding him, creating a noticeable distance between them.
At first, he had wondered if she was simply too occupied with royal duties, but he quickly realized the truth—she was dodging him.
Lester smirked to himself as he sat by the window of his chamber, watching the distant royal palace bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun.
So, she's decided to suppress her emotions. It was an expected reaction.
A princess of the Stoneheart Empire couldn't afford to show weakness, let alone let emotions dictate her actions.
Finally, the day arrived when the royal arena opened, signaling the beginning of the challenge for the quota.
The grand coliseum was filled with thousands of spectators, nobles, and influential figures of the empire.
At the highest point of the arena, seated on a throne adorned with intricate golden engravings, was the king himself.
Just below him were twenty-one seats, occupied by the eighteen royal princes and three royal princesses.
Among these, ten seats were placed ahead of the rest—reserved for the nine qualified princes and the sole princess, Alia Stoneheart.
These were the royals who had secured their spots in the Cave Heaven expedition, and their followers would be the ones facing challenges today.
The eyes of the crowd frequently drifted toward two particular princes—Prince Desmond and Prince Venice.
Prince Desmond, at 29 years old, was a prodigy of the royal family.
He had reached the 3rd layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm at the age of 22, making him the second most talented junior after Alia.
His reputation as a warrior and strategist made him highly respected among the younger generation.
Prince Venice, at 27 years old, had achieved the 2nd layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm.
Though not as formidable as Desmond, he was still considered one of the empire's finest cultivators.
Despite their prestige, neither Desmond nor Venice held the title of the most talented.
That honor belonged to Alia, who had shattered expectations by reaching the Energy Accumulation Realm at the unprecedented age of 20.
However, what the empire did not yet know was that another prodigy was emerging right behind her—Alistair.
Alistair's presence at the royal gathering was both unexpected and unsettling for many nobles.
Unlike the royal princes who had been groomed since birth, Alistair was a commoner, handpicked by Alia herself.
His existence alone was controversial, as many felt a mere commoner had no place standing beside royalty.
But Alistair was no ordinary man.
While the empire recognized cultivation only in its traditional energy-based form, Lester knew better.
As a fellow practitioner of physical cultivation, he could sense the raw power concealed within Alistair.
In the past six months, Alistair had ascended to the 3rd layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm in physical cultivation.
If he had fully mastered the nameless body cultivation technique Lester had gifted him, he could even challenge opponents in the mid-Energy Accumulation Realm.
His growth was staggering, yet few could perceive it.
Physical cultivation was harder to gauge compared to conventional energy cultivation.
This meant that, until he demonstrated his abilities in combat, many would continue underestimating him.
As the challenge was about to commence, the atmosphere in the coliseum grew tense.
Among the qualified as well as disqualified royals, some had followers who had been disqualified due limited quota.
These disqualified cultivators now turned their predatory gazes toward the followers of those who had secured quotas, hoping to challenge them and take their place.
The rules were clear: every quota holder could be challenged, but only once per day.
Refusing a challenge was not an option.
The only way to retain a quota was to win in combat.
Naturally, the eyes of many fell upon Alia's faction.
Unlike other princes who had elite protectors—some already in the 7th to 9th layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm—Alia's attendants, Erin and Kai, were only at the 4th layer.
This led many to believe that her chosen followers would be weaker as well.
Their attention soon landed on Alistair.
The commoner.
The stain upon the royal circle.
For past six months, Alistair had been a thorn in the side of noble factions, shielded only by Alia's influence.
Many admirers of alia had long wished to rid themselves of his presence, and today, they saw their opportunity.
However, when their gazes shifted to the man standing beside Alistair, a silent dread filled their hearts.
Lester d Raizel.
At first glance, Lester's presence seemed insignificant.
Unlike Alistair, whose backstory was known, Lester was a complete enigma.
Yet, the moment their eyes fell upon him, a primal fear gripped them.
Dressed in dark attire, his striking yet sinister features exuded an aura of danger.
His black hair framed his chiseled face, and his crimson eyes, deep and unreadable, seemed to pierce into the very souls of those who dared to meet his gaze.
Many who had initially considered challenging him found their thoughts paralyzed.
Who is this man?
Their instincts screamed at them—this was not someone to provoke.
Despite his lack of reputation in the empire, Lester carried himself like a predator.
Every movement, every slight shift of his gaze, radiated confidence and control.
It was a presence that sent chills down the spines of even the most seasoned warriors.
It didn't take long for the gathered cultivators to make a silent decision.
They would not challenge him.
As the arena buzzed with hushed discussions, the royal announcer stepped forward.
"The challenge for the Cave Heaven quota will now begin!"
A roar erupted from the crowd.
The anticipation was at its peak.
Lester remained composed, his gaze scanning the sea of faces before him.
He could feel the fear lingering in the eyes of those who had dared to consider him a target.
He smirked.
Let them come.
Alistair, standing beside him, clenched his fists.
He, too, could sense the hostility in the air.
Unlike Lester, however, he welcomed it with open arms.
This was his chance to prove himself—not just as Alia's chosen, but as a warrior of his own making.
At the royal seats, Alia observed the scene unfold.
Her fingers tightened slightly over the armrest of her chair as she glanced at Lester.
She had expected people to target him, yet… they didn't.
Instead, all eyes were on Alistair.
She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried.
The challenge had begun.
And soon, blood would be spilled.