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Matsuo, his father, Hinata, and the Great Ancestor defeated the Nightmares in record time, collected the Key Fragments, and advanced to the next stage. The following area lay much deeper within the mountain caves, opening into a vast, wide chamber where they landed.
"Great Ancestor, are we going to continue this trial? Do we really need to become their members?" Matsuo's father asked respectfully, raising a barrier to shield their conversation.
"No, of course not," the Great Ancestor replied, shaking her head with a gentle smile, her sharp eyes gleaming brightly. "We are here to launch a counterattack on Amaterasu-sama's orders. It has long been known that this was an operational area for the Chaos Gate. We once hoped to reclaim this place for ourselves—the Spirit Veins are incredibly valuable and essential for cultivation—but that is no longer possible."
