Revelation

As the group moved deeper into the Dark Forest, they soon came across a pack of wolves, each at the Mortal Transformation Realm.

Their glowing crimson eyes glared at the intruders, their bodies tensed, and their sharp fangs glistened under the faint light filtering through the canopy.

Without hesitation, Alistair charged forward, using this opportunity to release the frustration he had been suppressing since their earlier conversation.

The first wolf lunged at him, claws extended, but Alistair sidestepped effortlessly, his muscles flexing as he pivoted on his heel and delivered a devastating elbow strike to its skull.

A sickening crack echoed in the air as the wolf collapsed lifelessly.

Another wolf took its chance and rushed at him from behind.

Without even looking, Alistair crouched and spun his body, delivering a sharp kick to its throat.

The wolf let out a choked whimper as it slammed into a tree, its neck snapping on impact.

More wolves circled him, their movements coordinated, attempting to overwhelm him. Alistair's eyes burned with cold determination.

He welcomed the challenge.

Two wolves leaped at him simultaneously from opposite sides.

He lunged forward instead of retreating, ducking under their claws, and delivered a brutal double punch, one fist crushing the ribs of the wolf on his right while the other shattered the jaw of the wolf on his left.

The last wolf, seemingly the pack leader, growled and cautiously approached. It was larger, its spiritual energy denser, signifying that it was at the peak of Mortal Transformation Realm.

A smirk played on Alistair's lips. "Come."

The wolf dashed forward at full speed, its jaw widening to bite his throat. But at the last second, Alistair jumped over it, landing behind the beast. Before it could react, he grabbed its tail with one hand and slammed it into the ground like a ragdoll.

Boom!

The impact sent dust flying, and the wolf barely twitched before falling limp.

Breathing heavily, Alistair stood victorious, the corpses of his enemies littering the ground. His frustration had found an outlet, and he felt more at ease than he had all day.

Unlike Alistair's brutal rampage, Alia's approach was elegant and precise.

She faced two wolves at once, her movements flowing like water.

When one wolf lunged at her, she took a half-step back, allowing its claws to barely miss her before countering with a swift slash across its throat. The wolf fell before it could even realize it was dead.

The second wolf tried to outmaneuver her, rushing from the side, but Alia simply twisted her body, dodging the attack with ease.

She then extended her palm, and a faint glow of Qi energy gathered around her fingers. In a flash, she struck its head with a precision strike, shattering its skull from within.

She didn't waste a single movement, every attack executed flawlessly.

As the last wolf fell, Alia brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and sighed. "Too easy."

Watching the battles unfold, Lester narrowed his eyes at Alistair.

Reaching the Peak of Mortal Transformation Realm with a commoner background was an impossible feat.

The sheer resources required to advance this far in physical cultivation were something that only the Duke's family or the Royal Family could afford.

And yet, Alistair had done it.

"This confirms it," Lester thought. "Alistair is the Chosen One, and even if not atleast someone who attracts opportuniies"

Even without the system, he recognized the hallmarks of a protagonist—hidden talents, impossible growth, and an uncanny ability to attract opportunities.

The stolen fighting technique earlier had already altered the natural flow of things, and now, Lester had to decide whether to continue interfering or allow things to play out as fate intended.

For now, he chose to observe.

As night approached, the group decided to set up camp on higher ground to avoid surprise attacks from nocturnal predators.

Alia's two attendants scouted the area for a safe location, ensuring that the group was not within the hunting range of stronger monsters.

After securing a clearing with natural rock formations as cover, they lit a fire and began preparing the wolf meat for dinner.

The rich, smoky aroma of roasting monster meat filled the air, and for the first time since entering the forest, the group felt a moment of peace.

Sitting around the fire, Alia suddenly broke the silence.

"I have something to say," she said, her voice carrying a rare seriousness.

Both Lester and Alistair turned to her, intrigued.

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"My name isn't Ali," she admitted. "That's just my pet name. My real name is Alia Stoneheart."

A heavy silence followed her words.

Alistair's eyes widened in shock. "The Alia Stoneheart? As in… the princess of the Stoneheart Empire?"

Alia nodded, watching both of their reactions carefully.

Lester, however, remained calm. He had already figured this out earlier but had chosen not to expose her.

"I'm telling you both this because I believe in your potential," she continued. "I want to make friends with you both before we all grow too powerful and distant."

She then smirked. "Besides, now that you both know my identity, it would be dangerous for you to betray me."

Alistair gulped, feeling an invisible pressure settle over him.

Knowing her true status meant that he was now entangled in something far greater than himself.

Lester, on the other hand, found himself amused.

"I see," he said, taking a bite of the roasted meat. "Then I'll assume we're allies for now, Your Highness."

Alia chuckled. "Just call me Alia."

With that, the group solidified an unspoken alliance—one that would shape the fate of the Stoneheart Empire in ways none of them could predict.