Late the previous night, before the three Sky Squad members prepared to depart...

Two masked figures slipped quietly into the night, activating high-tier stealth magic to completely erase their presence. Moving like whispers, they trailed a shadowy intruder who had just finished inspecting the guest chambers occupied by the Sky Squad.

The two stalkers were none other than Aji and Barsha, their faces concealed beneath dark cowls. Deploying master-level shadow stealth, Barsha moved with absolute silence—a specialized technique that allowed her to meld seamlessly into the surrounding dark.

Together, they shadowed the intruder's movements across the compound. Aji recognized the distinct, sinister resonance of dark magic immediately. Keeping behind the cover of shade trees, Aji and Barsha tracked the figure across several residential blocks until they reached a quiet estate nestled along the riverbank.

The figure descended before the front entrance and knocked twice. Moments later, the heavy door slipped open, and the intruder stepped inside.

Exchanging a quick nod, Barsha and Aji vaulted onto the roof, moving into position to observe the interior. They needed to ascertain why this figure had been spying on their sleeping quarters—a clue undoubtedly tied to their active investigation.

Their concealment was flawless, their energy signatures suppressed until they were indistinguishable from mere shadows. Barsha couldn't help but marvel internally at Aji's proficiency; he commanded assassin-level stealth equal to her own.

To Barsha, Aji remained an enigma—from his absolute combat prowess to his mysterious origins. Though he had previously claimed to several squad members that he was the disciple of the Three Legends, part of her had struggled to accept such a extraordinary claim.

Yet, witnessing his mastery of high-tier assassin techniques firsthand, Barsha felt her skepticism melting away. It was becoming increasingly believable that Aji had indeed been trained by her late grandfather, Saint Ganada.

Peering through the roof tiles, the two glided through the upper beams, scouting every room in the residence. Eventually, they stumbled upon a rear chamber where two women lay unconscious on a bed, guarded by a lone man who sat asleep in a chair beside them.

Isn't that...?

Both Aji and Barsha flinched in surprise. The two women lying unconscious on the bed were the real Morina and Nurma.

While Barsha processed the puzzling discovery, everything clicked into place for Aji. The subtle dark energy he had sensed earlier that afternoon had originated directly from the women posing as Alex's wife and daughter.

The two women currently standing at Advisor Alex's side were impostors hailing from the dark army, playing a calculated role to manipulate the elder master. This revelation tied directly into the master ledger extracted from Nasura—confirming why Advisor Alex's name was attached to the mass-produced armaments commissioned for the Demon Lord's forces.

However, the exact nature of Alex's cooperation with the dark army remained unclear.

Aji signaled Barsha to pull back. Understanding the cue, she dissolved into the night alongside him. Once they returned safely to their quarters, Barsha voiced the question weighing on her mind before they retired to their respective rooms.

"What do you think is really going on here, Aji?"

"The two women posing as Advisor Alex's family are counterfeits sent by the dark army," Aji explained quietly.

Barsha nodded, having suspected as much but needing confirmation. "How do we expose them tomorrow?"

"If you wish to lay bare the truth, wait until we prepare to depart tomorrow morning," Aji instructed. "Separate Alex's granddaughter from the two impostors. The moment the child is clear, I will launch an immediate strike."

Aji's strategy was crystal clear. The ultimate decision rested entirely on Barsha's shoulders as Squad Leader. If she chose to uncover the dark conspiracy surrounding Advisor Alex, she would take the little girl from the fake daughter, signaling Aji to execute his assault.

"The choice is yours, Leader. I will follow your command."

With a brief farewell, Aji retired to his chamber. Barsha stepped into her room, spending the next hour in quiet deliberation before solidifying her plan for the morning. Meanwhile, Aji refrained from sleep, sitting cross-legged in deep meditation to cultivate his internal energy and align his mind, body, and spirit—an essential discipline for a master martial artist.

The coming dawn would bring war.

Back in the present courtyard...

"What are you doing, Aji?!" Nora bellowed, raising his massive broadsword. Rather than backing Aji, Nora placed himself directly beside Advisor Alex, lowering his stance to face his fellow Sky Squad member. He no longer cared about his official standing in the squad.

He was prepared to fight to the death to protect the man who had rescued him from poverty as a child—the idol who had given his life purpose.

"I will fight by your side, Lord Advisor!" Nora declared, channeling a dense stream of internal energy into his heavy blade.

Aji's expression remained completely unreadable. Twirling his wooden staff in his left hand, he stepped forward and launched an attack. Nora raised his broadsword to parry the incoming swing.

CLANG!

Steel met wood in a shower of brilliant sparks, scattering energy across the dirt. Seizing the opening, Advisor Alex lunged forward, driving a heavy, energy-infused punch toward Aji's flank. Aji drew his right arm back, catching Alex's bare fist mid-strike. As internal aura pushed violently against internal aura, Aji absorbed the crushing weight of two masters pressing against him simultaneously.

Yet, Aji did not yield a single inch.

Offering no explanation to Nora, Aji allowed the broadsword warrior and the elder advisor to team up against him. Secretly, Aji welcomed the engagement, using the opportunity to evaluate Nora's growth firsthand.

Pivoting gracefully with his staff, Aji slipped past their coordinated assault, accelerating his rotation speed. Spotting a brief lapse in Nora's guard, Aji swept the tip of his staff around, striking Nora cleanly across his back.

THUD!

Though Aji held back the lethal force behind the blow, the kinetic impact slammed Nora onto the dirt. Gritting his teeth, Nora pushed through the pain to regain his footing.

Watching the exchange, Advisor Alex marveled at Aji's speed and fluid control. The youth before him was no ordinary warrior. Seeing such extraordinary talent in the younger generation brought a faint, melancholy smile to Alex's face amidst the chaotic duel.

He felt no regret if his life were to end today, knowing that capable, formidable youths existed to carry the mantle of righteousness. Deep down, Alex realized the Sky Squad had uncovered his secret. Their visit had never been a mere social call—they had come to investigate his involvement with the dark army.

Specifically, his secret commission of mass-produced armaments through Nasura.

Alex felt a quiet pride in the Sky Squad's vigilance. They were sharp, ruthless in pursuing traitors, and unswayed by status—going so far as to target a continental advisor once suspicion arose. Yet, Alex knew they lacked the complete picture. They saw only a senior master aiding the forces of darkness.

For Alex, his reality was a living nightmare. He was a prisoner in his own home—a man stripped of his own free will, forced to dance on the dark army's strings to protect those he cherished. Trapped in a corner, he had no choice but to obey his captors' demands and fight the Sky Squad.

"Sword Dragon!"

Alex's blade burst into a blinding, dense aura as two ethereal wings of pure energy erupted from his shoulders. He was dropping all restraint, preparing to face Aji with his absolute full power.