Escorted by Mayor Basel, the three Sky Squad members rode toward the city's central transit station. Heavily guarded by regional authorities on every continent, these teleportation hubs represented extraordinary feats of engineering—intricate networks powered by high-tier magic, specialized spellcasters, and ancient spatial artifacts.

Constructing a long-distance transit hub was no simple endeavor. A teleportation array had to align seamlessly with its designated receiving hub across vast continental distances, requiring synchronized spatial keys to lock the departure platform to its destination coordinate.

The physical resonance between the two hubs was essential to safely dematerialize and reassemble a traveler's physical vessel. While individual spatial mages could conjure temporary gateways—much like Mora had deployed during his battle against the Sky Squad—such spells were strictly limited to short-range tactics.

Only legendary grandmasters possessed the raw power and spatial mastery required to execute solo, intercontinental teleportation. Alicia had managed such a feat, but only after unlocking the inherited secrets contained within the sacred scroll left behind by her grandfather, Saint Yonan.

"That mysterious warrior..." Nora mused aloud, looking up at the sky as he rode alongside Aji and Barsha. "Who do you think he really was? Maybe a hidden hero who prefers to operate in the shadows without seeking fame or glory."

Spurring his horse forward, Nora surged ahead of his two squad leaders.

"I know it was you, Aji," Barsha said softly, keeping her gaze fixed on the road ahead without turning her head.

Aji offered only a faint, subtle smile, choosing not to respond.

Moments later, they arrived at the central station. Stepping inside the terminal, Mayor Basel escorted them toward a glass-enclosed teleportation chamber. He signaled the attending spell-administrator to verify system readiness.

Turning back to the three young warriors, Basel gestured toward the portal room. Inside lay a glowing, runic circle drawn into the floor. The moment the three stepped onto the array, the administrator channeled a surge of mana into the main console, initiating the transfer sequence.

FLASH!

In a blink of light, their figures vanished.

Far across the realm, Nagada sat silently beside his father's bed.

The King of Hanusan lay motionless in a deep coma. For three years, this mysterious affliction had bound his father to his bed. No physician had been able to offer a cure; even renowned healers summoned from distant continents had departed empty-handed.

The King's internal energy channels were completely blocked, choked by an unrecognizable, stagnant pressure that baffled medical experts.

Taking advantage of the King's incapacitation, Nagada's uncle, Toda, had made continuous bids to seize the throne. Backed by eight corrupt royal advisors, Toda argued that the comatose King was unfit to rule and that the Hanusan Kingdom urgently required new leadership.

While a faction of loyalist advisors championed Nagada as the rightful heir, Toda's supporters blocked the motion. The council had ultimately agreed to a one-year regency, claiming Nagada lacked the maturity required to wear the crown.

"None of this would be happening if Father weren't sick..." Nagada whispered softly.

The kingdom was fractured into opposing political factions vying for absolute control. Recently, Toda's faction had begun actively persecuting Yomura's loyalists, stripping their authority and imposing severe financial boycotts to starve out their resistance.

Nagada was currently deployed to the Hanusan Kingdom alongside Sanjo and Yara. Before departing headquarters, Aji—in his role as Vice Commander—had given him two specific directives. First, Aji had handed him a small vial filled with a clear liquid. Second, Aji had insisted that Nagada must resolve the Hanusan crisis through his own strength, as the other Sky Squad members were simultaneously managing critical operations across their own assigned regions.

Reaching beneath his tunic, Nagada withdrew the small glass vial, studying the crystal-clear liquid inside. Aji had instructed him to administer the water to his bedridden father and subsequently channel his internal aura directly into the King's back.

What did Aji know? Nagada wondered. Did he understand the true nature of Father's illness? Dozens of master physicians had declared the King's condition incurable, claiming his soul had already departed his physical shell.

Determined to try, Nagada summoned Sanjo and Yara into the chamber. The two squadmates stepped forward, carefully assisting Nagada in propping the frail King into a sitting position.

Yomura's body was gaunt, his frame reduced to skin and bone. His unblinking eyes stared blankly into the distance, devoid of light or consciousness.

Tears welled in Nagada's eyes as he witnessed his father's pitiable state. Uncorking the vial, he gently parted the King's lips and poured the clear liquid into his mouth. Gently elevating Yomura's chin while rubbing his throat, Nagada helped his father swallow the fluid.

The moment the water settled, Sanjo and Yara anchored the King's shoulders to keep him steady. Nagada crossed his legs behind his father, settling into a meditative posture. Suddenly, Nagada flinched—a faint, unnatural resonance was emanating from his father's core.

A wispy, pitch-black haze began to seep out through Yomura's skin. Is that... dark energy?! Sanjo and Yara gasped, stepping back slightly as they recognized the corrupt aura.

Drawing both hands back to his chest, Nagada channeled his internal aura, drawing in atmospheric mana to amplify his output. Under Warrior Jiro's instruction, every member of the Sky Squad had learned to unlock and expand their internal energy circles. Though each member developed at their own pace, Jiro's grueling conditioning regimen ensured that even slower cultivators achieved significant breakthroughs.

Currently, Nagada commanded a 5th-realm internal circle—a monumental achievement for a warrior his age. Synthesizing his cultivated internal aura with pure natural energy, a dense, shimmering light condensed across his palms.

Nagada thrust both palms forward, pressing them firmly against his father's spine.

Minutes ticked by as sweat beaded across Nagada's forehead. Sanjo and Yara refrained from intervening, aware that mixing external energy during such a delicate procedure could prove fatal. They maintained their guard, keeping the King's posture stable.

The dark haze continued to purge from Yomura's body in a steady stream.

Cough!Cough!

A raspy cough escaped King Yomura's lips. Nagada's heart leaped with hope, yet he dared not disrupt his concentration. He doubled his efforts, driving his aura deeper to break the stubborn dark blockage choking his father's circulatory pathways.

Sweat poured down Nagada's face as he pushed his internal reserves to their absolute limit.

As the procedure dragged on, Nagada felt his internal energy being rapidly drawn into the dark blockage. Realizing he was running low on stamina, he expanded his internal circle, drawing in vastly larger volumes of natural energy to sustain the driving force.

He poured every drop of his internal aura and natural energy into his hands. His father's recovery was the sole key to restoring peace to the Hanusan Kingdom and uniting its fractured people. More than that, Aji had trusted him with this mission—proving Aji's belief that Nagada possessed the strength to resolve it.

I can do this!

"HAAAAAA!"

An explosive gust of wind erupted from Nagada's back as he unleashed his maximum output. A violent surge of pure energy drove clean through his father's back, forcing the King's gaunt frame forward.

HEAV-E! COUGH!

King Yomura convulsed violently, vomiting a thick pool of jet-black blood onto the bedsheets. The moment the dark fluid hit the fabric, it hissed and burned, dissolving into a cloud of foul, dark smoke.

Nagada stared in horror at the dark vapor. The dark army did this to my father?!