Lao shot forward with explosive force, driving straight toward Bezman. Seeing the incoming threat, Bezman severed his hold on the energy chain to focus entirely on repelling Lao's assault. Lao struck out with both dual discs, while Bezman conjured a surging barrier of dark magic to shield his frame.

BOOOOOOMMMMM!

Gayatri maintained enough focus to assist her brother, recalling the summoned energy clone she had projected earlier. Through the ordeal, she had grasped the intricacies of animating an energy summon, granting it a lifelike autonomy. It functioned much like a soul projection—so long as it remained within her line of sight, the energy construct would not destabilize.

Rasu pressed his attack using his dual war fans, manipulating them through telekinetic energy until they hovered and whirred like lethal machinery. Rasu had completely surrendered to his Demon Transformation, dark energy swelling his physical power several times over.

They were formidable opponents. Gayatri searched for a fatal flaw in Rasu's posture. In his transformed state, his combat capability was roughly equivalent to a Rank 9 master of the Righteous Path. Naturally, maintaining a demonic transformation exacted a staggering toll on his energy reserves; however, because he had embraced the corrupt power, his stamina would only drain once the transformation reached its climax.

High above the battlefield, Gultron observed the clashes unfolding below, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle. The righteous martial artists had certainly grown stronger, yet in his eyes, their efforts were entirely meaningless against the absolute power of the Demon Lord Shura.

In truth, Gultron doubted that even the Five Gates combined could overcome the Demon Lord. That absolute, terrifying strength was precisely why they served him without question.

Watching the Sky Squad and the Golden Crane Academy tear each other apart provided Gultron with immense amusement. It was a splendid show, and he refused to take the Golden Crane Academy's contribution seriously. To him, they were nothing more than disposable pawns on a chessboard.

Lured by promises of wealth and influence, the academy had betrayed their own allies—yet they were merely stepping stones toward the Demon Lord's grand vision.

Eventually, Gultron grew weary of watching. Channeling dark energy from deep within his core, power flooded his arms as he extended both hands toward the chaotic battlefield below. Crackling arcs of dark lightning hissed and howled around his palms, signaling a massive, destructive discharge.

He concentrated the dense energy into a swirling orb that resembled a tempest trapped within stormclouds. Aiming directly at the center of the courtyard—where Commander Gonan and Warrior Jiro were reinforcing the Sky Squad—he prepared to unleash the blast.

From the eastern flank, Gayatri felt an apocalyptic wave of energy gathering above. Her focus faltered mid-combat against Rasu, forcing her to deploy a localized energy summon to block a volley from Rasu's dark fans while she looked up toward the sky.

Her eyes locked onto the swirling, pitch-black mass of energy in horror. If that attack detonated, it would vaporize the entire estate! It was an unthinkable level of power. How can anyone stop a strike like that?

Gayatri calculated the destructive yield of the gathering dark magic. No defensive barrier could withstand an assault of that magnitude. Was this the true power of one of the Five Gates?

Thunder rumbled across the heavens like the roar of an angry deity. Fighting ground to a halt as combatants on both sides looked up in terror, realizing Gultron was about to obliterate the entire battlefield. It was a catastrophic force—was Gultron truly prepared to wipe out everyone below, including his own troops?

With a cold sneer, Gultron shoved his hands downward, launching the pulsating, lightning-laced orb of dark energy. It plummeted toward the earth at blinding speed, carrying absolute destruction in its wake.

SPLAAAASSHHH! WOOOOOOONNNGGGGGGG!

The screeching roar of the descending energy resembled a furious thunderstorm, deafeningly loud and harsh.

"Everyone, take cover!" Gayatri screamed at the top of her lungs.

Warrior Jiro recognized the sheer scale of the incoming blast. While he might survive the impact himself, his students in the Sky Squad stood no chance. Instantly channeling his internal energy, he began expanding a massive defensive barrier over the squad. Time was short, but he was determined to shield the younger generation so they could carry on the righteous fight.

Just as the massive sphere of dark energy closed in on the courtyard, a shadow moved at an impossible speed—so fast that no one on the ground even registered the motion. The figure appeared like an ethereal illusion, a flicker of blinding radiance shooting straight into the heart of the descending dark blast. Operating outside the bounds of normal space and time, the radiant entity collided with the dark magic.

BLAAAAMMMMMMM!

Every onlooker stood frozen in disbelief. A split second prior, an apocalyptic blast had been milliseconds away from incinerating them all. Yet, amidst their panic and shock, a strange tranquility washed over the courtyard. As their senses returned, the destructive energy seemed to dissolve, scattering softly across the area like gentle, weightless snowflakes.

What just happened? No one could comprehend what they had witnessed.

Gultron's eyes widened in utter shock, the outcome completely defying his imagination. Who could have done such a thing? What had transpired in that microsecond when his destructive energy simply vanished into thin air? As a master who had reached the pinnacle of dark martial arts, an uncharacteristic wave of anxiety washed over him.

Was there a mortal alive capable of such a feat? Or had a divine messenger intervened to perform a miracle?

Before anyone could process the mystery, the dark operatives resumed their assault, dragging everyone back into the fray.

"Halt!"

A thunderous roar echoed from the main entryway. A heavily bearded elder with sharp, commanding features marched into the courtyard with heavy, measured steps. He was furious to find an all-out war breaking out on his domain.

It was Drakos—the father of Sengturi and the former grandmaster of the Golden Crane Academy. He had received reports of a skirmish earlier, but only now realized their treason had been fully exposed.

Cornered, he had to take a definitive stand.

"Father! We must assist the dark forces! We have to eliminate every single witness here!" Sengturi bellowed while exchanging heavy strikes with Alicia.

Drakos clenched his fists tightly. He had always known that their secret alliance would eventually come to light. Twenty years ago, when the Demon Lord's grand invasion had almost succeeded in conquering the world, the Three Legends of the martial arts world had intervened and shattered their plans.

Even back then, Drakos had secretly aligned himself with the Demon Lord. Though his ties were nearly exposed at the time, the Three Legends ultimately perished and vanished from the world, leaving no one behind to expose him.

With all witnesses erased, his position had remained secure. Now, with the Demon Lord preparing for a second invasion, Drakos knew he had to prove his loyalty to ensure the Golden Crane Academy secured a prime position in the new world order.

He had to side with the dark forces. It was the only way to guarantee his family's survival and the academy's future. He had to exterminate the Sky Squad down to the last member.

Explosive energy erupted from Drakos's palms. He charged toward the Sky Squad, leading a contingent of senior academy martial artists behind him.

Drakos commanded terrifying power. Recognizing the threat, Warrior Jiro stepped forward to intercept him. Their energies collided violently as the two masters locked in a fierce duel.

High above, Gultron remained deeply unsettled. While others might assume a master like Warrior Jiro had somehow deflected the strike, Gultron knew better. The attack he had unleashed possessed enough force to level an entire city—it couldn't have been negated so effortlessly. Why did it simply dissolve?

Should I strike again? Gultron mused. His reserves were partially depleted, requiring time to fully regenerate his dark magic.

Nevertheless, he decided to launch a second assault. Though less potent than his initial strike, it would still prove devastating enough to scatter both forces below. Channeling his remaining dark energy, he prepared to release another wave. Pitch-black lightning crackled around his hands—this time, there would be no mistake!

"HYAAAAAH!"

SPLAAAASSHHH! WOOOOOOONNNGGGGGGG!

Gultron unleashed the second wave of dark energy, sending a howling gale sweeping across the sky. From the ground, Gayatri spotted the descending blast once more.

This time... it has to be stopped!