"You assimilated the celestial essence yourself—you must have realized it by now, haven't you?" Aji asked, looking over at Gayatri. This time, he offered her a warm, genuine smile.

A sudden blush crept up Gayatri's cheeks. "You're changing the subject, Aji," she murmured, well aware that his smile was merely a clever distraction to prevent her from probing any further.

Aji chuckled softly. "There really is no fooling you, Gayatri. Fine! I neutralized the volatile attributes of the artifact."

Saying this with a relaxed demeanor, Aji casually raised both arms behind his head, stretching out his shoulders.

"How on earth did you accomplish such a feat?" Gayatri pressed, her sharp eyes searching his face.

"Why ask what you already know?" Aji countered smoothly. "I spent over a month isolated inside Dompai specifically to purge the Heart Dragon. Day by day, bit by bit, I cleansed its core."

"But Aji..."

"Leave it be, Gayatri," Aji cut in gently, his gaze turning distant. "Our clash against Lord Demon Shura's forces is right on the horizon. Everything will become clear when the war breaks out."

Gayatri found herself unable to press him further. If there existed a warrior willing to endure quiet sacrifice simply to give the righteous sects a fighting chance against the dark army—without seeking praise or prestige—it was Aji.

She realized with a heavy heart that Aji must have endured unimaginable physical flaying to purify a celestial artifact. He was an absolute enigma. Perhaps one day, she would finally uncover the truth behind his existence—who he truly was, and how he commanded the power to refine a divine artifact while desiring no recognition or reward for himself.

"The portal is ready!" Nora's booming voice echoed from across the terminal, interrupting her thoughts as he gestured toward them with his broadsword.

Aji smiled, raising a hand in acknowledgment. Unable to pursue her private questions any further, Gayatri fell into step behind him.

They entered the central transit chamber, where a massive, long-distance spatial portal hovered stably within a reinforced glass dome.

The third team assembled by Leader Barsha stepped onto the runic platform. The attending spatial technician pressed the activation sequence on the main console, sending a resonance signal through the array. Receiving a confirmation ping from the destination, the technician channeled mana into the core, initiating the transfer.

In a blinding flash, their physical forms dematerialized. The sensation of traveling at warp speed lasted only a fraction of a second before their boots touched solid ground on the receiving platform in Samarkan City.

Stepping out of the glass enclosure, they found themselves in an entirely different domain—the capital of the Frost Line continent.

They were greeted warmly by the first two groups, who had arrived earlier. The entire squad had been divided into three operational strike teams to sweep assigned sectors across the region. As the final team assembled, they were formally received by Lord Ronald, the sovereign ruler of the Frost Line continent, alongside Advisor Silvi, who stood at his side.

Lord Ronald extended a gracious welcome, noting the crucial intelligence the Sky Squad had shared with military command. The Frost Line continent had already initiated sweeping purges, successfully dismantling several major Mondu sleeper cells throughout their territory.

Ronald escorted the operatives into his private estate, hosting a lavish banquet in their honor. Looking around the grand hall, Barsha reflected on how serving in the Sky Squad represented the absolute dream of every young warrior. She hoped that in the years to come, a new generation of brave operatives would rise to carry their mantle.

As the pioneering vanguard of this era, the current Sky Squad had to set a flawless example for those who would follow in their footsteps.

The atmosphere in the hall grew relaxed as host and guests conversed freely. Standing beside Lord Ronald, Advisor Silvi fixed her sharp gaze on Gayatri and Lao. She instantly noticed that their aura signatures differed fundamentally from when they had last met. In fact, every single member of the Sky Squad radiated an unfamiliar, refined pressure—as if their cultivation parameters had crossed into an entirely new realm.

How could their parameters elevate so dramatically in such a brief window?

"You are all welcome to remain at my estate as my honored guests until you determine the precise location where the Moon Flower will manifest," Lord Ronald offered generously. "My servants will escort you to the guest quarters."

Leader Barsha politely declined the ruler's hospitality. Enjoying luxurious accommodations would only dull their tactical vigilance. To track down the exact coordinates of the celestial artifact, they needed to discard their formal appearances and sweep the region on foot.

They had stopped at the palace merely to pay their respects to Lord Ronald and Advisor Silvi. By nightfall, their field operations would commence. For housing, the Sky Squad maintained their own regional headquarters within the capital—a modest facility, but one that felt like home.

As they conversed, Advisor Silvi unexpectedly stepped forward, issuing a direct challenge to Gayatri for a sparring duel. For reasons unstated, Silvi wished to evaluate Gayatri's growth personally, recalling their previous duel when Gayatri had first joined the vanguard.

The subtle aura emanating from the young operatives was impossible to ignore; Silvi could feel an energetic resonance humming within their cores that actively interacted with her own internal aura.

"My granddaughter Gayatri," Advisor Silvi began, her tone carrying a competitive edge. "I wish to test your martial progress once more. I trust you will not refuse your elder's request?"

Gayatri had no choice but to accept. Both women hailed from the Frost Line continent, bound by shared roots and a common duty to defend the realm against Shura's invasion. Furthermore, Gayatri understood her elder's intense curiosity regarding the miraculous transformation her cultivation had undergone after assimilating the Heart Dragon.

Silvi's sharp eyes had caught the shift—the current Sky Squad possessed parameters that would inevitably etch their names into legend.

Gayatri offered a formal bow of respect. "Grandmother Silvi, this junior humbly requests your guidance."

The expansive stone courtyard of Lord Ronald's estate instantly transformed into a private dueling arena for the two Frost Line martial artists. One was a seasoned continental advisor who had dedicated decades to the martial alliance and the defense of global order.

The other was an elite Sky Squad operative—a star pupil trained by Grandmaster Jinho, who happened to be one of Advisor Silvi's closest lifelong friends.

Unbeknownst to anyone present, Grandmaster Jinho himself stood perched on a distant rooftop, watching the courtyard from afar with a proud smile. He had traveled in secret to witness his beloved disciple, whom he had raised since childhood, return to her homeland on a mission to safeguard the world against the dark army.

Gayatri and Advisor Silvi took their positions on opposite ends of the courtyard while the remaining Sky Squad members gathered along the perimeter to watch. This marked the very first live exhibition for an operative following their absorption of the celestial artifact.

Aware that they were standing within Lord Ronald's private grounds, Advisor Silvi knew she could not unleash catastrophic destruction, yet she intended to push Gayatri to her absolute limits.

"In our previous duel, Gayatri, I allowed you to take the offensive while I maintained a defensive guard," Silvi declared, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Today, the rules are reversed: I shall launch the assault, and you must defend with everything you have!"

Gayatri bowed deeply once more. "Please grant me your guidance, Grandmother Silvi!"

A howling wind began to pulse across the courtyard, whistling through every gap in the surrounding architecture. Everyone present could feel the dense concentration of aura expanding within both combatants as they readied their internal cores.

Advisor Silvi offered a sharp smile, eager to witness what new boundaries her old friend's disciple had broken through.

"HAAAAA!"

With a thunderous battle cry from Advisor Silvi, a massive shockwave of internal energy erupted across the courtyard, signaling the start of the duel.