"Master, I already said it. Don't worry. Are you forgetting who I am?" Lyra's voice was calm but firm. "I'm not just some fragile human who can die easily. I am the great Divine Behemoth. Don't forget that."

She looked down for a moment before continuing, her tone softening. "I know you're worried, but… before, I never valued human life the way I should have. But since becoming human myself, I've grown attached to them. Even though their lifespans are so short, they live each day as if it's their last — and that's amazing to me. I'm sure you feel the same, Master. You love humans too, don't you?"

She smiled faintly. "Since becoming human, I've felt things I never felt in heaven. Emotions. Thoughts. The way I see the world has changed. Now I realize how precious life truly is. Everyone has their own life to live, and I want to make sure they can live it without pain."

Lyra straightened her back and met Nolan's gaze. "So please, Master. Let me handle this. I promise you, I won't come back broken."

Nolan stepped closer and put his hand gently on her shoulder. "If you insist," he said quietly. "But promise me you'll come back in one piece."

"Yes, Master," Lyra said, her eyes shining with resolve. "Thank you for trusting me. I promise — I will come back to you. I won't lose."

Nolan's hand shifted to her head, ruffling her hair slightly. "Thank you. Please, stay safe. You're important to me — more important than you know."

Lyra smiled at him, a warmth in her expression. "I'll be fine. Don't worry. Tonight I'll go and speak with him."

"And also, if things go bizarre, you can communicate with me telepathically like you did once before," Nolan said quietly. "I'll come right away."

"Okay, Master," Lyra replied, her voice steady but thoughtful. "But a fight between me in my Divine Behemoth form and the Dragon King in his divine form… it isn't like when we fought before. Back then, I was careful. Every attack I placed on you was controlled. If I go all out, our power could wipe out an entire village — maybe a city."

Nolan frowned. "What? Then what are you going to do?"

"I'll put up a divine barrier around us when we fight," Lyra said. "That way our attacks won't escape and harm innocents."

"Good…" Nolan exhaled slowly. "I was thinking of heading to my room. Please be safe, Lyra. It's already getting late. And when you're leaving tonight, come to my room first. Wake me so I'll be aware."

"Yes, Master," Lyra said softly.

She turned and walked toward the stairs. Master is sincerely worried for me, she thought, a strange warmth blooming in her chest. That makes me happy. It's a feeling I've never felt before — realizing someone cares for me this deeply. But even so, he doesn't want me to fight. I have to do this. What if I'm the only one who can?

Her steps were quiet as she climbed the stairs, her resolve hardening with every stride.

Will Lyra really be okay going alone… or did I make a mistake letting her? Nolan wondered. The Divine Dragon King… just how powerful is he now? Things are going to be rough for her.

He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I should just go to bed," he murmured. He walked up the stairs slowly, turned down the hall to his room, and entered. Dropping onto his bed, he closed his eyes and tried to rest.

It was already deep into the night. Far away, Lyra stood by the open window of her room. She could feel it — the oppressive weight of the Divine Dragon's power rolling across the land. Her hands tightened on the sill. Should I wake Master, like he told me to? she thought. No. I'll go alone.

She threw the window open wider. A cool wind rushed in from outside, tugging at her hair. Then she leapt. Her body blurred into motion, wings of light unfurling behind her as she launched herself into the night sky.

She flew at incredible speed. The forests, rivers, and valleys below were just streaks of darkness and silver. The place she headed for was far — a journey of twenty days by carriage — but she crossed it in mere hours.

At last she reached a wasteland of molten rock and black stone. The air glowed red from rivers of lava. And there, rising from the fire, was the Divine Dragon King.

He was enormous, his body swelling larger and larger with every breath. The seal that had bound him for three centuries — placed by archangels and deities long gone — had shattered. Power radiated from him like a storm about to break. He writhed and roared, fire spilling from his jaws in blasts so strong they exploded in distant forests with thunderous booms.

Lyra hovered above him, her eyes narrowed, then descended slowly to the ground. "Dragon King," she called out, her voice echoing across the molten plain. "Or rather, Divine Dragon King. I didn't come to fight you. I came to talk."

The dragon's golden eyes locked on her. His voice rumbled like an earthquake. "You want to talk… or you want to spar, like before? Sparring with me now is useless. I am in my divine form. You are weaker, no matter how strong you've become."

Lyra planted her feet on the black rock, her aura flickering. "Maybe. But what are you planning? You've been pouring your energy into the air. Normal people won't notice, but others will — and that's dangerous. What are you trying to do?"

The ground trembled beneath them as the dragon inhaled, his body glowing brighter with each breath.

"Actually…" the Divine Dragon King's voice rolled like thunder, "I'm planning to destroy this world. The seal kept me bound here, kept me from leaving — but it's broken now. There'll be no more peace. No more stalling. I want battle. I want war. Don't you agree?"

"No," Lyra shot back, planting her feet on the scorched rock. Her voice was steady despite the heat. "There are lives here — people, innocents. War isn't the answer."

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