One hour before the clash erupted.

Two figures using high-level stealth slipped silently from the trees without detection. They landed softly on the roof of a sprawling, somewhat untidy compound. Located at the far edge of the Golden Crane Academy's grounds, this vast area housed the main stables for the horses belonging to the Linggar Emas municipal government.

At first glance, seeing heavy security here seemed normal. A facility of this scale held a large number of horses used as primary transport for government guards and soldiers. However, the level of alertness maintained by these guards went far beyond standard routine. They operated with extreme vigilance, completely barring ordinary citizens from entering the perimeter.

"Are you certain this is the place, Warrior Jiro?" Aji asked quietly.

Of the three prospective locations identified by Aaman as potential secret armories for the mass-produced weapons, this was the final site. The first location was this massive stable complex at the eastern edge of the city, isolated from the public. The second was an abandoned village nestled between two mountain peaks to the west. The third was an uncharted northern forest shrouded in mystical rumors.

Investigating all three leads, Warrior Jiro had discovered that the abandoned western village was still inhabited by a few remaining villagers and lacked any armed presence. Meanwhile, the northern forest—supposedly infested with wild beasts and spirit entities—yielded no suspicious activity upon closer inspection.

While those two sites seemed like plausible locations to hide a massive cache of weapons, an expansive horse stable complex was the last place anyone would suspect. That was precisely what made it ideal: the most unexpected location was often the safest place to conceal a monumentally dangerous secret.

"This is the only logical place left," Jiro murmured. "The security here is far too heavy and secretive for a mere stable."

The two moved like shadows, masking their aura and presence so thoroughly that they seemed to merge into the darkness. Both Warrior Jiro and Aji possessed assassin-level stealth skills. Slipping past the outer perimeter, they moved silently behind a row of wooden buildings.

At Aji's gesture, they paused in the shadows. Aji channeled a subtle pulse of energy down his arm, pressing his right palm gently against the earth. Faint, root-like threads of energy seeped into the ground, spreading outward beneath the soil as Aji focused his perception.

He mapped out the area internally, sensing the headcount and locating the primary concentration of personnel. Aji felt a dense, overwhelming surge of dark energy emanating from a large residence at the far end of the stable complex, where numerous individuals were gathered.

"Follow me," Aji whispered, darting forward with Jiro close behind.

They reached the cover of a massive tree overlooking an aged yet expansive manor. A team of guards dressed in the uniform of the Golden Crane Academy stood watch outside the entrance.

Moments later, two men arrived at a hurried pace. "Sir! Sir!" one of the Linggar Emas municipal guards called out anxiously as he approached the front porch.

Several figures emerged from within the manor—formidable martial artists clad in dark, high-necked attire that covered everything except their faces.

"What is it? Why are you barging in at this hour?" the lead martial artist barked, his sharp features twisting into an intimidating scowl.

The municipal guard recoiled slightly in fear before stammering, "The leadership has ordered us to shut down this facility immediately! You must evacuate for the time being! Do not forget to seal the main entrance!"

A seal. Aji's eyes narrowed. This confirmed they had found the right location. Crouching beside Aji in the brush, Warrior Jiro overheard the exchange, his mind reeling. So the Golden Crane Academy truly is allied with the Mondu?

"Understood! Clear out!" the lead operative barked at the municipal guards. The two city officials bowed nervously before hurrying away from the estate.

Turning back to his men, the lead operative commanded, "Channel your energy and reinforce the barrier seal. We must evacuate immediately until the situation cools down!"

The dark-clothed operatives nodded in unison. A team of ten leapt toward a secluded section beside the manor. Positioned right along the base of a giant rock face, the stables had been constructed directly against the side of a massive hill.

Reaching a giant boulder behind the stables, the operatives deployed a localized magic array. As their spell washed over the stone, the massive boulder seemed to vanish, blending seamlessly into the solid rock face of the hill.

That's their secret, Aji realized. They had hollowed out a hidden cavern inside the hill to store the mass-produced weapons, using illusion magic and barrier seals to disguise the entrance as solid rock.

Having secured the entrance, the operatives returned to the main courtyard, preparing to abandon the estate. Before they could take another step, however, two figures materialized atop the roof directly above them, blocking their path.

"Who goes there?!" the operative leader demanded, raising his weapon as he tried to discern the identities of the two cloaked intruders.

Aji and Warrior Jiro had donned black cloaks over their attire to conceal their identities while approaching the site. Now, with their target confirmed, Aji knew there was no time left to waste.

"We are taking all of you into custody, forces of darkness!" Warrior Jiro declared.

With a swift motion, Jiro cast aside his dark cloak, revealing his official attire. The guards gasped in realization. We've been exposed?!

Sensing the existential threat, the lead operative roared at the top of his lungs, "All units! Assemble!"

CRASH! BANG! CLATTER!

The wooden walls and window frames of the surrounding structures shattered outward as dozens of dark-clothed warriors flooded into the courtyard. Within seconds, over a hundred black-clad operatives spilled out, completely encircling the two men on the roof.

They all drew their weapons, locking their eyes on the intruders.

"Are you ready, Aji?" Warrior Jiro asked, dropping into a low battle stance.

"More than ready, Warrior Jiro."

"Kill them!" the dark leader screamed.

A wave of over a hundred black-clad fighters leapt into the air, charging the roof in a frantic assault. Yet, Warrior Jiro was a veteran who had trained under legendary masters and studied directly under Ganada; a force of this caliber was nowhere near enough to shake him. Dropping his own cloak, Aji revealed the grand uniform of the Sky Squad.

The two unleashed their full speed. Moving in fluid, synchronized precision, they began systematically dismantling the dark forces.

Operatives were sent crashing through the stable roofs and slammed against the stone hillsides. The terrifying speed and raw power displayed by Aji and Jiro left the dark warriors trembling in fear. Yet, as conditioned soldiers of the Demon Lord, they fought on, prepared to fight to the death.

"Wrap this up quickly, Warrior Jiro! We need to reinforce the others!" Aji called out mid-combat.

Invigorated by Aji's words, Warrior Jiro escalated his tempo, striking down attackers with effortless precision. To masters of their level, dealing with these operatives was like swatting flies; the gap in their power was vast.

In less than fifteen minutes, the battle was over. The courtyard lay in absolute ruin, with collapsed structures and unconscious operatives strewn across the grounds.

"I will head out first, Warrior Jiro, to assist our comrades," Aji said, sensing the urgent clash elsewhere. "Please secure this location and seal the cavern entrance!"

Jiro nodded in agreement. Aji launched himself into the night sky, speeding off toward Barsha and Aaman, who desperately needed his support.

WOOOOSHHH!