BLAAAARRRRRRRRR!

Nora was blasted backward, skittering five meters from where he had stood. His defensive shroud shattered completely under the crushing weight of Advisor Alex's forward surge. Emanating from Alex's shoulders were two translucent, phantom-like wings of pure aura.

They were wings of condensed internal power—the signature technique of Advisor Alex. To the uninitiated, the visual display closely mimicked the transformation employed by practitioners of dark magic. Operatives of the dark army were capable of unleashing a Demon Transformation to multiply their combat parameters for a limited duration, alongside possessing rapid regeneration that scaled with their cultivation level.

Re-establishing his footing, Nora offered a bright grin. Seeing the former grandmaster deploy his signature technique brought him immense relief: Alex was using his genuine, untainted martial art—the legendary Sword Dragon. The rumors Nora had held onto for years were true. Whenever Alex unleashed the Sword Dragon, ethereal wings of pure energy would manifest behind him, multiplying his strength exponentially.

Relief washed over Nora. The allegations implicating Alex as a dark operative were completely baseless—just as he had hoped.

Now, it was time to put on a real show.

Nora prepared to showcase the fruits of his relentless training. This was his chance to prove he had not wasted the opportunity Alex had granted him as a child, demonstrating just how far he had come.

"Phoenix Impact!"

Gripping his broadsword with both hands, Nora channeled a dense flow of magical energy along the massive blade. As the steel absorbed the mana, Nora's eyes flared with a radiant light, and crackling arcs of lightning wrapped around his weapon.

He was drawing directly from the surrounding natural elements—a technique utilizing expanding internal circles that he had mastered under Warrior Jiro over the past two months. Those weeks of grueling, exhausting conditioning had been designed specifically to prepare the squad for the coming war against the dark army.

Now, he laid it all on the line to make his childhood mentor proud, honoring the idol he had strived to emulate his entire life.

Pairing with his rising aura, a pair of brilliant energy wings erupted from Nora's back as well. Even Advisor Alex gasped in surprise. For a warrior so young to command expanding internal circles while simultaneously sustaining a dual-energy mantle was a rare feat.

The boy was a genuine prodigy.

The two fighters locked eyes, smiles breaking across both their faces as they stepped into their next exchange. This exhibition match was a moment both would treasure for years to come—a duel between the Phoenix and the Dragon.

The forty young students watching from the sidelines stared in open-mouthed awe as the two forces collided. Steel struck steel in a shower of brilliant sparks. Nora's wings fluttered in tandem with his movements, formed through his own imaginative adaptation of Alex's style.

Having idolized Alex's Sword Dragon technique for years, Nora had conditioned his body to shape his internal energy into wings, utilizing them as a focal conduit to draw in atmospheric mana—a method refined under Warrior Jiro's guidance. So long as his energy wings remained active, they continuously funneled ambient natural energy into his core, scaling directly with his cultivation rank.

The rate of absorption depended entirely on the physical vessel's capacity to contain it. The hellish training regimen overseen by Warrior Jiro had expanded Nora's physical vessel, allowing him to store and process vastly larger volumes of natural energy.

Every member of the Sky Squad had been taught how to unlock and expand the internal energy circles within their bodies. Joining the squad had proven to be an extraordinary turning point, elevating their individual combat capabilities far beyond their original limits through rigorous, systematic training.

Their specialized skill sets had evolved dramatically, combining enhanced physical conditioning with magical integration taught by Warrior Jiro.

Unbeknownst to the squad, Warrior Jiro had received direct guidance and strategic instruction from Aji behind the scenes. Jiro conducted the training sessions as though he possessed an innate, uncanny insight into tailoring ideal conditioning programs for each individual warrior.

Nora pressed his assault with his broadsword, a joyful grin fixed on his face throughout the exchange. Alex parried strike after strike, the ring of clashing steel echoing across the field. Spotting a brief opening, Nora tossed his broadsword into the air as a distraction, executing a swift upward kick aimed at Alex's guard. Anticipating the trick, Alex executed a fluid backflip, disengaging cleanly.

Catching his broadsword as it descended, Nora immediately drove the heavy blade down from above. Alex raised his sword horizontally to block the overhead blow. Upon impact, the ground beneath Alex fractured as his entire frame shuddered under the immense weight behind Nora's strike.

Alex's knees trembled under the sheer force. The energy wings on Nora's back acted like high-output thrusters, drawing in atmospheric mana and driving it straight down through his arms. As Nora's aura surged wildly, Alex braced his stance with everything he had just to hold the line.

"Booster Impact!"

WOOOOSSHHHHHHH!

The downward pressure mounted steadily. Alex held his guard for a second longer before a warm smile broke across his face.

"Enough! I yield to you, Nora!" Alex called out, maintaining his easy smile.

Nora flinched in surprise, caught mid-assault while fully immersed in the thrill of the match. Snapping back to reality, he remembered this was merely an exhibition spar rather than a battle to the death. He had been enjoying the duel with his idol so thoroughly that he had lost track of time.

Sustaining his momentum, Nora recalled his aura. His energy wings dissolved into light as he withdrew his broadsword and touched down softly on the earth before Alex. Sheathing his weapon, he planted the tip into the dirt and offered a deep, formal bow of respect to the elder master.

"Forgive me, Lord Advisor! I got carried away," Nora offered apologetically.

Alex chuckled softly, resting a hand on Nora's shoulder. "Think nothing of it, Nora. I am immensely proud to see the warrior you have become. You have grown remarkably strong. Continue to train diligently—the forces of darkness possess terrifying power, and you must rely on your comrades in the Sky Squad to stand against them."

Alex shifted his gaze toward Barsha and Aji, who sat quietly among his young students. Even from a distance, Alex noted that the two possessed a level of combat capability that far surpassed Nora's. A thin, highly refined layer of dense aura wrapped around their frames—an indicator of exceptionally concentrated power.

"We will always stand united against the dark army," Nora affirmed earnestly.

The young students swarmed around Nora, eyeing him with wide-eyed admiration. Many called out that they wanted to grow up to be broadsword masters just like him, prompting Nora to laugh and engage them in lively conversation.

Meanwhile, Advisor Alex crossed the field to join Aji and Barsha, sitting down opposite them for a relaxed conversation. During their exchange, Alex learned that Barsha was the true granddaughter of Saint Ganada. It explained why her physical presence felt so subtle and difficult to pinpoint—she commanded the specialized traits of a master assassin.

Aji introduced himself simply as a warrior hailing from the Phosphite continent. His weapon—a thick, unassuming wooden staff strapped across his back—suggested a focus on blunt martial techniques and heavy physical conditioning. Carrying a blunt weapon usually indicated a fighter who prioritized raw physical strength and internal aura over sharp steel.

As mealtime arrived, the Sky Squad had observed nothing remotely suspicious throughout their stay at the estate.

Yet, deep beneath the serene surface, Aji's senses picked up a faint, lingering trace of dark energy—a distinct aura he recognized all too well, lurking somewhere on the grounds. Both Aji and Barsha caught the subtle anomaly, silently agreeing to investigate the matter further once night fell.