The dark figure remained seated with his back turned to the four generals kneeling behind him, their heads bowed in silent reverence.

"Gultron is no more," the Demon Lord declared, his tone cold and heavy. "And now, our enemies have begun systematically erasing every dark trace we planted across the realm. They have mobilized with thorough preparation, identifying every operative we infected with dark liquid."

The four figures before him were the remaining members of the Five Gates, now reduced to four. All four realized that the combat capabilities of the righteous alliance had elevated significantly. The alliance had begun systematically repelling high-tier operatives who commanded dark transformations.

The righteous sects had achieved a higher level of combat readiness and forged an unprecedented unity. Could all of this truly be the work of the Sky Squad?

"Nesia," the Demon Lord addressed her directly. "What intelligence have you gathered regarding the sudden collapse of our dark networks?"

Nesia commanded the intelligence apparatus of the dark army, specializing in manipulating orthodox cultivators and ensnaring them into becoming loyal dark operatives. She possessed extensive records on their global deployments. Across countless sectors, the foundations her networks had spent years building were being dismantled by joint task forces consisting of the Sky Squad, the martial alliance, and military defense units.

Coordinated counter-intelligence sweeps conducted by regional defense forces and orthodox sects were actively investigating every location tied to dark operations. A massive breach had clearly occurred.

This systematic collapse had originated from the Sky Squad, who had struck at the primary foundation of the dark army's local operations—the Golden Crane Academy—dismantling it before the dark leadership could react.

"My Lord," Nesia began, her voice trembling slightly. "Their movements have been exceptionally calculated and precise. I suspect a mastermind who understands our internal protocols is directing their strategy from behind the scenes."

A heavy silence descended upon the chamber.

"A mastermind?" The Demon Lord let out a low exhale, a massive surge of dark aura erupting from his vessel. The four generals felt a suffocating pressure weigh down upon them. "You may very well be right, Nesia!"

Shura’s eyes narrowed in the dark. "I never believed the fools of the martial alliance possessed the foresight or strategic genius to orchestrate a systematic campaign aimed at dismantling our infrastructure from the ground up!"

Denta, who had lost his most trusted lieutenants during earlier operations, requested permission to speak. "My Lord, allow me to share my observations."

"Speak, Denta!" the Demon Lord commanded.

"I personally investigated the site where Gultron's dark energy signature vanished on the Frost Line continent," Denta reported. "The location was extremely isolated, and my examination confirmed that an apocalyptic duel transpired there."

Denta had previously been dispatched to investigate the exact coordinates where Gultron's life force was severed. His field analysis revealed that the confrontation had been a strictly isolated, one-on-one duel. Gultron had been engaging a single opponent.

"There is a formidable monster hidden within the ranks of the Sky Squad, My Lord!"

Silence blanketed the sanctuary once more.

"Bwahaha... Ha... Ha!"

A thunderous, booming laugh erupted from Lord Demon Shura, echoing off the stone walls. The four generals remained rooted to the spot, not daring to utter a sound. It was a sinister laugh they had not heard from Shura in two decades.

"So, a single member of the Sky Squad defeated Gultron in one-on-one combat? How extraordinary. What makes you so certain, Denta?"

Denta explained that while executing his prior directives, his elite lieutenants had been eliminated inside the Dompai grounds while engaging the Sky Squad. His lieutenants had been subdued with effortless ease. Had the Sky Squad consisted merely of newly recruited greenhorns, defeating his elite lieutenants so decisively would have been impossible.

"Fascinating!" Shura sneered, dark magic surging wildly around his frame. "We face a truly formidable enemy. Does history intend to repeat the clash from twenty years ago? But this time, I am fully prepared! My assimilation of the Blood Supreme is nearly complete. I will crush them tenfold and leave nothing remaining of those arrogant martial artists!"

A howling dark wind whistled through the chamber as lethal killing intent erupted from the Demon Lord's body.

"Hear my command!" Shura bellowed. "I will tolerate no further failures! Leave the auxiliary forces on the surface to their fate. Our sole focus now is the Moon Flower, set to bloom shortly. Once every century, this celestial artifact manifests—an invaluable catalyst for our supreme power. Secure the Moon Flower at all costs. Do not fail me!"

"By your command, Lord Demon!" the four generals bowed low.

"Bwahahaha!"

Across the five continents, the martial alliance—acting under direct orders from Dasatama—partnered with military defense command to launch exhaustive interrogations targeting every suspected Mondu operative.

A massive, realm-wide defense initiative was declared. Operating off the master ledgers provided by the Sky Squad, regional authorities executed high-priority arrests. Anyone refusing interrogation was taken into custody by force.

As the emergency directive took effect, several compromised officials attempted to flee before military task forces could secure their estates. Commander Yarko and Dasatama maintained a relentless pace, resolving to continue the purge until every Mondu cell listed in the intelligence ledgers was completely eradicated.

Beyond the ledger data, secondary investigations uncovered opportunistic faction leaders who had secretly aligned with Mondu sleeper cells for personal gain. Skirmishes broke out across multiple provinces as exposed traitors unleashed suppressed dark magic, forcing regional defense units to eliminate them on the spot.

For weeks, news headlines across all continents were dominated by reports of Mondu sleeper cells being dismantled by joint defense task forces. Through this shared trial, the unity among orthodox martial sects grew unshakeable. Senior continental advisors personally oversaw regional operations, streamlining military intelligence and enforcement efforts.

Mondu operatives were uncovered embedded across every level of governance—royal courts, martial academies, municipal administrations, and even within regional defense units.

The dark army had spent twenty years laying these covert foundations, calculating that a global civil war among human factions would grant them an effortless victory.

Yet this crisis produced the opposite effect: it reinforced continental alliances and tightened diplomatic ties, uniting the five continents against a common enemy. Two decades prior, humanity had been fractured and blind to the impending invasion.

It was the ultimate sacrifice of the Three Legends that had ultimately awakened the realm, demonstrating that only total unity could repel the dark forces.

Meanwhile, at their isolated training grounds, the Sky Squad pushed through their relentless regimen. Continental military command and regional leadership had granted them full authorization to focus exclusively on their cultivation. The Sky Squad was preparing for the ultimate clash: intercepting the dark army at the Frost Line continent to prevent them from claiming the Moon Flower—a legendary celestial artifact appearing once every century.

Day after day, their hellish training continued. By day, they subjected their vessels to extreme physical conditioning to expand their aura capacity and physical endurance. By night, they entered deep meditation to refine their internal circles.

They systematically expanded their internal circles to their absolute limits, maximizing their capacity to absorb and process atmospheric mana.

It was, in every sense, a trial forged in hell. Yet no one wavered. Standing side-by-side, the young warriors of the Sky Squad drew strength from one another, determined to conquer the trials ahead.