Alistair stood behind Princess Alia once more, his presence steady, yet the energy from his fight still lingered in the air.
He turned to her and said in a determined voice, "I didn't fail your expectations."
Alia gave him a nod, her expression calm.
"Of course."
Yet as Alistair glanced at Lester, hoping to share in the moment, he was instead met with an amused grin from the black-haired youth.
Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, Lester turned his gaze away, dismissing Alistair completely.
Alistair frowned. What's he grinning about?
But before he could think further, the murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
While Alistair was safe from further challenges for the day, there were still followers from powerful princes—some even at the 2nd layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm—who hadn't secured a quota.
They would undoubtedly come for him tomorrow.
——
As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the royal arena, the atmosphere remained thick with tension.
Eighteen fierce battles had already concluded, and yet, one challenge still remained.
Lester d Raizel had yet to be called upon.
——
Throughout the day, numerous battles had taken place, shifting the delicate balance of power within the royal expedition.
The followers of Prince Desmond and Prince Venice, the two most prominent princes after Alia, had successfully retained their quotas.
Their strength was formidable, and no ordinary challenger dared face them.
However, the followers of several other princes had lost their quotas to the supporters of Crown Prince Alex.
Though Crown Prince Alex himself could not participate, his influence was vast.
Through the challenge system, his subordinates had systematically defeated the weaker followers of the other princes, earning their place in the Cave Heaven.
These warriors now served under different princes on paper, but their true allegiance remained with Alex.
It was a brilliant yet ruthless strategy—ensuring that his own faction gained access to the Cave Heaven without directly defying imperial rules.
The same tactic was employed by the five princes who had been disqualified due to their age.
By sending their followers to claim quotas, they secured access to the Cave Heaven's resources.
In return, the newly inducted followers would hand over their findings once the expedition ended.
Now, Lester was the last unchallenged quota holder.
His presence was an enigma.
Though many had heard his name, very little was known about his true strength.
His dangerous crimson eyes, his mysterious aura, and his lack of known affiliations made him unpredictable.
Unlike Alistair, who had been targeted for his reputation as a commoner favored by the princess, Lester was being watched for a different reason.
No one knew what to expect from him.
And that made him a threat.
Who Will Challenge Lester?
The murmur of the crowd grew louder as the anticipation thickened.
"Who's going to challenge him?" one noble whispered.
"He hasn't even spoken a word since the tournament began," another muttered.
"Maybe he's weaker than he looks," a follower of Prince Desmond speculated.
"If he were truly powerful, wouldn't he have been famous by now?"
But those who had met Lester's gaze earlier in the day felt uneasy.
When they had first considered challenging him, a strange feeling—one bordering on instinctive fear—had crept over them.
It was as if their bodies knew something their minds didn't.
Even the strongest followers, those at the 2nd layer of Energy Accumulation, hesitated.
Yet someone had to challenge him.
The rules dictated that at least one battle must be fought for each quota every day. If no one stepped forward, it would signal weakness—something no royal faction could afford.
At last, a figure stepped forward.
"I will take the challenge."
The voice was deep, firm, and confident.
A hush fell over the crowd as Kiran—one of Prince Desmond's top followers—stepped onto the arena.
Kiran was no ordinary opponent.
Unlike Dexter, who had fought Alistair earlier, Kiran was at the 2nd layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm—a full step above Alistair's previous opponent.
He was known for his iron-body technique, which made his physical defenses nearly impenetrable.
The fact that he followed Prince Desmond, the strongest prince after Alia, made it clear that he was no mere stepping stone.
Turning to Lester, Kiran smirked.
"I don't know who you are or where you came from, but I hope you're ready. Because after today, this quota will belong to me."
Lester, still standing behind Alia, finally looked up.
His crimson eyes locked onto Kiran's with an unreadable expression.
Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he stepped forward, his boots making a light tap against the stone floor.
Unlike Alistair, who had carried a composed but determined presence, Lester's aura was different.
It wasn't calm—it was unsettling.
It was the kind of presence that made one feel like they had just locked eyes with a predator in the dark.
For the first time that day, the coliseum fell dead silent.
Even the royal princes, who had been watching casually until now, leaned forward.
Lester stepped onto the platform with no change in expression.
No unnecessary movements.
No display of arrogance.
Just stillness.
Kiran, now standing a few feet away, felt an inexplicable pressure building in the air.
What is this feeling?
It wasn't Qi.
It wasn't battle aura.
It was something deeper.
Something primal.
Shaking off the unease, Kiran steadied himself.
"Let's begin, then."
The royal announcer hesitated for just a moment—then, seeing no objections, stepped forward.
"The final challenge of the day: Kiran of Prince Desmond's faction versus Lester d Raizel of Princess Alia's faction."
He raised his hand.
"Begin!"
And in that instant—
Lester moved.
Faster than anyone in the arena could follow.
A blur of black and crimson streaked across the platform.
BOOM!
A loud crack echoed as Kiran's body was suddenly sent flying—slamming into the far edge of the arena.
A shockwave rippled across the ground.
The nobles gasped.
The royal princes sat upright in their seats.
Kiran, who had barely had time to react, struggled to move.
He coughed, his chest heaving—his iron-body technique had been shattered instantly.
Lester stood exactly where he had before, his posture relaxed.
As if he hadn't even exerted effort.
As if Kiran had never even been a challenge to begin with.
The arena was silent.
No one spoke.
Even the royal announcer seemed at a loss for words.
It was Alistair who finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What… was that?"
Lester merely turned back to where Alia stood, stepping off the platform as if nothing had happened.
As he passed Alistair, he grinned once more.
"I told you before, didn't I?" he murmured.
"You should watch yourself"
Lester's display of overwhelming strength silently conveyed to Alistair that he was never the weak link—Alistair should focus on his own survival.
Then, without another word, he stood behind alia once again.