Gayatri and Lao were thrilled by Grandmaster Jinho's presence at the assembly. Before entering the hall, Jinho had offered a formal greeting to Advisor Silvi—an old friend from his past. Jinho claimed he had stopped by simply upon hearing that his two beloved pupils had returned to the Frost Line continent.

In truth, his appearance was entirely due to the quiet persuasion of a youth named Aji, who had convinced the veteran master to step out of hiding and join the Sky Squad's cause.

"Do you still brew warm tea every morning, Master?" Gayatri asked, offering a warm smile of concern. Whenever they lived together, Gayatri had made it a point to brew fresh tea for Jinho every morning. Having raised Lao and Gayatri since they were ten years old, Jinho was the only father figure they had ever known.

"Even with you and your brother away, I take good care of myself, Gayatri," Jinho replied with a gentle smile, putting Lao and Gayatri's minds at ease.

Following the formal banquet, the Sky Squad expressed their gratitude to Lord Ronald and departed for their regional office to map out their operational strategy. Lord Ronald reaffirmed that the Frost Line defense forces stood fully prepared to support the squad, urging them not to hesitate if military backing was required.

Reaching the Sky Squad's regional headquarters located on the quiet outskirts of Samarkan City, the operatives gathered in the main hall. Jinho joined them, readily accepted as an esteemed advisor by the entire squad.

They convened to analyze the search radius for the Moon Flower. Based on ancient astronomical charts and environmental indicators, the celestial artifact was forecasted to manifest in approximately one week. Jinho supplemented their intelligence with his intimate knowledge of the region's geographic layout, identifying the zone most likely to undergo the violent atmospheric shifts signaling the flower's arrival.

It would be the location subjected to the highest concentration of elemental pressure.

"I have monitored the region for quite some time," Grandmaster Jinho noted, pointing to a map laid across the table. "Dark forces have maintained continuous covert activity across the Frost Line continent. They, too, are tracking the atmospheric anomalies generated by the impending manifestation."

Jinho's field observations complemented the intelligence ledger provided by military command. By cross-referencing both sources, they pinpointed the exact coordinates where the artifact was most likely to appear.

"The Tulisma Forest," Jinho declared.

Earlier field reports from military intelligence had flagged three locations exhibiting high-density elemental volatility: the Tulisma Forest, the Baikra Waterfall, and the Alpine Mountain range.

Having spent decades roaming the Frost Line continent, Jinho had been quietly investigating the Moon Flower himself. He noted that numerous rogue cultivators and dark operatives had already infiltrated the continent, scouting areas marked by severe atmospheric disturbances.

"What specific environmental shifts have you observed in the Tulisma Forest, Master Jinho?" Nagada inquired, leaning forward over the map.

"Relentless violent gales and localized lightning storms," Jinho explained.

He clarified that while the other two locations also exhibited heightened natural activity—such as mudslides near the Baikra Waterfall or volcanic tremors along the Alpine range—the atmospheric density over the Tulisma Forest was far more severe. The lightning strikes were continuous, localized, and sustained over unnatural durations.

"Are dark operatives and independent cultivators already gathering inside the Tulisma Forest?" Nora asked curiously.

"Indeed. I can distinctly feel their residual aura signatures permeating the tree line."

The squad resolved to divide their ranks into three reconnaissance teams to survey all three potential sites that very night. To conserve their combat stamina, they would conduct strict reconnaissance, avoiding unnecessary skirmishes. Communication artifacts were distributed to ensure real-time coordination between teams.

"You must accompany us on this deployment, Master!" Lao urged his mentor.

Jinho nodded without hesitation. Looking around the room, he saw that the Sky Squad was a truly unified force, bound by an unyielding resolve to eradicate the dark army.

Deep within his chest, a long-extinguished spark began to ignite. For decades, he had lived in passive seclusion. Twenty years ago, when Saint Yonan had personally approached him to request his aid in the grand war, Jinho had fled, refusing to join the Three Legends on the battlefield.

At the time, Jinho had excused himself by claiming he had to protect his young family. He had argued to Yonan that the war was unwinnable, pointing out the hypocrisy, greed, and internal rot plaguing the leadership of the righteous sects.

Jinho had refused to fight. Yet the Three Saints had marched forward regardless, staking their lives in an apocalyptic confrontation on the Phosphite continent. Saint Yonan had offered no condemnation, knowing that the crusade was a suicide mission.

In the deepest, darkest corner of Jinho's soul, however, lay the shameful truth: he had been paralyzed by raw terror, terrified by the sheer, unwinnable gulf in power. On that fateful night, as the battle erupted, Jinho had felt the sky shatter—a deafening, apocalyptic rumble echoing across continents. It was a terrifying clash of divine parameters, a storm so violent that any mortal caught near its center would have been pulverized instantly.

"Is something on your mind, Master?" Lao asked, noticing the old man staring blankly into space.

Jinho snapped out of his reverie, looking at his pupil. "It is nothing, Lao. We must stand united for the coming trial. No matter what awaits us, your unity will be the absolute key to overcoming the dark forces!"

"Understood, Master!" Lao replied enthusiastically.

Watching Jinho's renewed conviction from the corner of the room, Aji offered a quiet, approving smile.

As night fell over Samarkan City, the Sky Squad mobilized under Leader Barsha's direction. Divided into three reconnaissance units, the operatives wore discreet, unmarked traveling gear, concealing their formal Sky Squad attire to blend into the shadows.

The First Team consisted of seven operatives: Barsha, Lao, Nanji, Yara, Samuel, Rosa, and Binto. Their directive was to sweep the approach from the Alpine Mountain range toward the eastern perimeter of the Tulisma Forest, surveying both the mountain passes and the forest border simultaneously.

The Second Team comprised Gayatri, Aji, Nagada, Alicia, Nora, Sanjo, and Arion. They were assigned to approach the Tulisma Forest from the western coastal line. Due to the vast territory covered by the Tulisma Forest, the teams split their approach vectors—flanking the perimeter from the mountains, the coast, and the northern settlements.

The Third Team included Astro, Midan, Domar, Hamda, Namud, Aria, and Mega. They were tasked with surveying the northern perimeter of the Tulisma Forest, routing their path past the cliffside of the Baikra Waterfall to inspect the site before converging on the woodland border.

Grandmaster Jinho attached himself to the Third Team, offering to serve as their guide through the treacherous terrain surrounding the Baikra Waterfall.

As the operatives finalized their preparations, Jinho stepped toward the exit, pausing beside Aji, who stood quietly near the doorway.

"Are you truly the direct disciple of the Three Legends?" Jinho asked softly, his sharp eyes searching the youth's face. He could no longer suppress his intense curiosity regarding the young man who had stirred his dormant conscience and persuaded him to rejoin the fight.

Aji smiled faintly, realizing Gayatri had likely shared details about his background. Jinho had clearly sought out intelligence regarding his identity, eventually questioning his favorite pupil directly.

"It is the absolute truth, Master Jinho," Aji replied evenly. "If you harbor doubts, you are welcome to test my parameters yourself."

The youth's calm confidence left Jinho even more astonished. How could the Three Saints have taken a collective disciple? Above all, it was common knowledge that Saint Thunder Striker had adamantly refused a single pupil throughout his entire lifetime. Countless renowned masters had begged for his tutelage, or even a moment of guidance, only to be turned away.

At most, the Thunder Striker had granted prospective seekers a single sparring match—every one of which ended in a swift, decisive defeat without ever forcing the grandmaster to exert effort.

Yet the youth standing before him carried himself with absolute composure. Even with his own senses refined as an elemental support master, Jinho could feel an unfathomable, high-density aura swirling beneath Aji's ordinary appearance. Standing near Aji felt like standing in the shadow of an absolute, dominant force—an oppressive pressure that subtly weighed upon his core.

"You need not take my word for it, Master Jinho," Aji continued, his tone turning serious. "However, the Three Legends entrusted their legacy to me. Their techniques and their mandate rest upon my shoulders. I carry their solemn directive to eradicate Shura—and that is the sole reason I stand with the Sky Squad today."

The youth's absolute conviction sent a profound tremor through Jinho's heart. In a flash of memory, Jinho was transported back twenty years—remembering the final night Saint Yonan had visited him, begging for his support.

Jinho remembered the howling storm, the crackle of celestial lightning, and the dark shroud swallowing the sky.

"Grant us your support, Jinho!" Saint Yonan had pleaded, his long staff glowing with radiant light at its tip, his weathered face illuminated by the flashes of lightning. "If our vanguard falls, you may retreat to safety!"

"I cannot, Saint Yonan!" Jinho had wept in despair. "I have a family to protect! Why must we carry this impossible burden while the continental leaders squander their authority in petty greed?!"

Saint Yonan had offered only a gentle, compassionate smile. "I care nothing for those corrupt leaders, Jinho. I fight to safeguard the next generation. If we do not mobilize tonight, the world will end beneath Shura's heel. We have agreed to strike now, while he is still mid-way through assimilating the Blood Supreme. If we do not act tonight, humanity's fate is sealed."

Jinho had stood paralyzed as lightning split the heavens once more, illuminating Saint Yonan's serene face for the very last time.

"I cannot, Saint Yonan... forgive me!" Jinho had sobbed, stepping backward into the shadows. "I am terrified! I will hide my family as best I can. We cannot win against the Demon Lord and his dark army!"

"So be it, Jinho. We shall not force you," Yonan had replied softly, stepping back into the storm. "If that is your choice, then carry our message to the generations that follow. Tell them they must carry our struggle forward. We will lay down our lives tonight to grant them a second chance—buying them the time they need to prepare for Shura's ultimate return."

A deafening thunderclap had shaken the earth. BOOOOOOM!

"Farewell, Jinho. My brothers await me!"

"Saint Yonan! Master Yonan! Please, be careful!" Jinho had cried out, but in a flash of blinding light, Saint Yonan had vanished into the tempest.

That had been the final moment Jinho ever saw Saint Yonan alive.

Now, standing in the quiet doorway of the Sky Squad headquarters, Jinho stared at the youth before him. His disciple? Could it truly be possible?