"Shall we proceed to Dompai now?" Commander Yarko inquired, his anticipation palpable. He was eager to witness the ultimate technique of Swordsmanship Aji had spoken of. After all, the sword was his own chosen path, yet he had long struggled to unlock the full potential of his mana-infused blade.

"There is no need for a dedicated training ground, Commander Yarko," Aji replied smoothly, taking a half-step to the side. "We simply require an open space." He extended his right hand, extending his index and middle fingers together.

Commander Yarko gasped in surprise as he realized what Aji was doing. Is he casting a direct spatial gateway? Commanding spatial magic required absolute mastery, achieved only through decades of grueling, specialized cultivation. Was the youth before him truly capable of such a feat, or...

Before Yarko could complete the thought, Aji swept his right hand in a smooth arc. A radiant azure glow materialized in the air, condensing into a pinpoint of light. With a measured movement, Aji traced his fingers downward, carving a half-circle through the air.

A spatial gateway carved by hand?! Yarko stared in absolute disbelief.

Maintaining absolute focus, Aji completed the circular path. The space within the glowing ring fractured, dissolving into deep void energy surrounded by crackling strands of celestial lightning and spatial distortions. It was a fully realized, long-distance spatial rift—the kind typically used to traverse entire continents.

Impossible!

"How can you..."

Before Commander Yarko could finish his question, Aji stepped toward the swirling gateway.

"After you, Commander Yarko."

Though Yarko hesitated, aware of the extreme dangers of unstable spatial magic—where a single flaw could trap a traveler in the dimensional void forever—his deep-seated trust in Aji prevailed. He stepped through the portal behind the youth.

An instant later, Yarko stepped out onto a vast, barren expanse. Endless sand dunes stretched to the horizon under a pale sky, completely devoid of life.

"Where are we, Aji? Is this... the No-Man's Land?" Yarko asked, surveying the desolate landscape.

"Indeed, Commander Yarko. This is the No-Man's Land—an uncharted expanse beyond the jurisdiction of the Five Continents," Aji confirmed, turning to close the gateway behind them. "The unmapped edge of the world."

With a flick of Aji's wrist, the spatial rift collapsed into nonexistence.

Aji walked forward, stopping roughly ten meters ahead of the commander. "Commander, I know you possess a deep understanding of elemental aura and sword resonance. However, your cultivation has reached a stagnant bottleneck, preventing you from accessing your absolute peak. Allow me to demonstrate the technique that will dissolve that barrier."

Aji reached behind his shoulder, unslingsing his wooden staff.

A staff? Commander Yarko blinked in confusion. "Do you not require a sword, Warrior Aji?"

"There is no need, Commander," Aji replied softly. "I have one."

Grasping the upper pommel of his wooden staff, Aji pulled backward with a measured twist. A gleaming, razor-sharp blade slid smoothly from the wooden casing, revealing a hidden sword concealed within the shaft. Setting the wooden sheath aside, Aji held the naked steel in his right hand.

Without waiting further, Aji dropped into a firm stance, planting his boots into the desert sand.

Instantly, atmospheric mana from the surrounding elements rushed toward his blade like a surging tide. Aji's steel erupted in a blinding, dense aura as internal energy overflowed from his vessel.

Aji had unlocked the absolute pinnacle of internal energy circles. Yarko watched in breathless awe as Aji leaped into the sky, his frame rising effortlessly as howling gales whirled around him. Below, the desert sand spiraled upward into a roaring sandstorm.

At that moment, Commander Yarko recognized the absolute truth: Aji's power was boundless—the true, unbridled strength of a legendary grandmaster who sought neither fame nor glory.

Celestial lightning crackled across the sky, drawn directly into Aji's glowing blade. The staggering density of his aura was the result of flawless energy control, rooted in absolute mental fortitude and unyielding resolve.

Swinging his sword in a sweeping arc, Aji unleashed a wave of concentrated energy. The aura detonated at the edge of the horizon in a blinding flash that obscured the sky—an explosive force capable of leveling an entire metropolis in a single strike.

Yet Aji was far from finished.

Releasing his blade, the sword expanded exponentially in mid-air, guided by his spiritual intent. The massive energy sword whirled above Aji's head, filling the heavens with a deafening hum.

As the oversized blade rotated, the kinetic pressure multiplied Aji's output several times over. A split second later, the singular blade multiplied into thousands of glowing, massive sword projections suspended across the sky.

In a flash of unnatural speed, Aji materialized at the far end of the plain, moving faster than the human eye could track. Even a veteran grandmaster like Commander Yarko struggled to trace his trajectory.

BOOOOOOM!

The thousand sword projections descended simultaneously, detonating across the desert floor. The resulting shockwave blasted Commander Yarko backward, despite the elder master deploying his dense defensive shroud to brace his footing.

Skidding across the sand, Yarko felt the residual pressure tearing at his defensive barrier. This is not the power of a human warrior... this is a divine force capable of shattering continents!

Aji... are you truly the disciple of the Three Legends? The question answered itself; Aji had not merely inherited their legacy—he had transcended it entirely.

Concluding the demonstration, Aji extended his hand. Utilizing telekinesis, he recalled his sword, guiding it smoothly back into its wooden sheath with a soft click.

Standing nearby, Commander Yarko stared at the youth in profound reverence. Aji commanded flawless mastery over every domain of martial arts.

"Let us return, Commander Yarko," Aji said, stepping past him to carve a fresh spatial rift.

"Wait, Warrior Aji," Commander Yarko called out, dropping to one knee in a formal bow of respect. "I honor you as a master. Tell me... what is your true purpose in this martial world?"

Aji completed the gateway, the glowing boundary stabilizing instantly. Still, Yarko remained on his knee, waiting for an answer.

"My purpose in this world is singular," Aji replied, his voice cold and resolute as he stepped into the glowing void. "To eradicate Shura, the Demon Lord."

As the portal dissolved, Commander Yarko rose slowly to his feet.

To eradicate the Demon Lord...

Yarko recognized the absolute truth in Aji's words—a vow spoken by a warrior with unshakeable conviction. He knew then that the coming war against the dark army would not be a repeat of the tragedy twenty years ago. The spirit of the Three Legends had been passed down, burning brightly in the heart of a new generation.

Stepping through the remaining light, Commander Yarko returned to his private quarters in Prisma City. A confident smile touched his lips as he prepared to enter deep seclusion to train—determined to elevate his strength for the grand war ahead.