"Lyserra?" Merlin was surprised. "What are you doing here? And…"

He looked her up and down with curiosity. "What happened to your form? Why are you using your human form?"

Lyserra walked closer, displeasure evident on her face.

"Don't you like my transformation?" She reached out her hand toward him.

"Eh? No, it's not like that." Merlin shook his head as he took her hand. "I'm just surprised to see you like this. It's been a long time since I last saw this form. Besides, you said you didn't like it, didn't you?"

Lyserra pulled him to his feet. The annoyance on her face faded, replaced by a faint smile.

"You have a good memory. Your sensitivity is truly extraordinary," she said. Then she continued, "Earlier, I sensed you were in danger. When I left your consciousness, I saw the Dragon of Light launch a deadly attack at you. Fortunately, I managed to stop it, though you still lost consciousness."

Merlin considered her words, then nodded slightly.

"I understand." He raised his head and smiled at her. "Thank you, Lyserra. If it weren't for your timely intervention, I wouldn't have survived."

Having Lyserra by his side brought many advantages. Aside from her adorable little dragon form, she could also serve as a trump card whenever he was in danger and the system failed to help him—just like earlier.

Seeing his smile, Lyserra's face flushed. She turned away and replied in a trembling voice, "I-It's okay. It's my duty to protect you. After all, if you die, so will I."

"Pfft! You're right." Merlin chuckled softly. Then something occurred to him, and he asked, "Oh, right. Where is Calystron now? What did you do to him?"

Lyserra flashed a smug smile. "Since he dared to mess with you, I punished him severely."

"Punished him severely?" Merlin was taken aback.

Lyserra didn't answer. She simply pointed toward the distance.

When Merlin followed her gesture, his body froze.

His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in disbelief.

"W-What happened to him?"

Calystron, who had once looked majestic, was now battered and broken. Both of his wings were torn apart, his left side was gouged open, and both horns had been snapped off.

Even more terrifying, two massive spikes pierced his chest and tail, pinning him firmly to the ground. He couldn't move anything except his head.

Merlin swallowed hard and turned to Lyserra, horror written all over his face.

"Did you do all this?"

Lyserra nodded casually. "Yes. He showed clear intent to kill you, so this punishment suits him. If he hadn't gone that far, I wouldn't have either."

Her voice was indifferent, as if Calystron's miserable state meant nothing to her.

Merlin was left speechless. Yet instead of fear, he felt a strange warmth in his chest.

She did all of this to protect him. As her master, happiness quietly filled his heart.

With a gentle smile, Merlin stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you for protecting me, Lyserra. I don't know how to repay you."

He buried his face in Lyserra's large, fragrant, and soft chest.

Well, actually, he wanted to act like a real man and pull Lyserra into his own chest.

Unfortunately, his body was still too young, so the position ended up reversed.

Lyserra froze, not expecting Merlin to hug her. Her face turned red like a tomato, and her heart began to race.

But the next moment, she calmed down and returned the embrace.

"D-Don't think this favor is free. You have to pay me back with candy and snacks later. Understand?" Lyserra said with a small snort.

Merlin giggled and released her.

"Of course. Don't worry, I'll give them to you later."

Lyserra nodded contentedly. She let out a lazy yawn, then said, "After torturing that Dragon of Light, I'm a little tired. Lend me your embrace."

As soon as she finished speaking, her body emitted a bright red light.

A moment later, her human form transformed into the familiar little dragon.

Lyserra leaped toward Merlin and lazily settled into his arms.

Merlin laughed softly and stroked her head affectionately.

Lyserra seemed to enjoy it and wriggled playfully.

Merlin then walked toward Calystron, who was still breathing weakly, as if on his last legs.

Standing before him, Merlin looked at his pitiful state and muttered softly, 'I never expected a dragon as powerful as him to be reduced to this. Just how strong is Lyserra? Could she defeat a First Stage Spirit Core? If that's true, wouldn't I be able to travel the world without fear?'

However, he immediately remembered that Lyserra's strength depended on his own. If he were weak, then Lyserra would be weak as well.

Yet the scene before him clearly contradicted that notion.

"Ugh… ugh…" Calystron's faint groans echoed in the air.

With great effort, he forced his eyes open and froze when he saw Merlin.

"Y-You…" He tried to speak, but no words came out.

Merlin smirked and looked down at him arrogantly.

"This is the consequence of daring to attack me, Calystron. Do you still want to fight me?"

The corners of his mouth curved upward in an irritating smile.

Yet Calystron didn't dare feel offended, let alone angry.

"F-Forgive me… I—I won't attack you again! Please, forgive me!" He begged hoarsely.

What had just happened was worse than any nightmare he had ever experienced.

Before Lyserra, he was no different from a helpless, powerless child.

If not for a sliver of mercy from her, he would already be dead.

Merlin had wanted to mock him, but pity held him back. The punishment Lyserra had dealt out was more than enough to teach him a lesson.

He couldn't bring himself to mock him anymore.

Letting out a long sigh, Merlin sat down cross-legged, with Lyserra resting on his lap.

"Lyserra, can you remove those two giant spikes from his body?" Merlin asked softly as he stroked her head.

Without a word of protest, Lyserra waved her left hand. In an instant, the two spikes vanished from Calystron's body.

His previously sluggish recovery finally returned to normal.

Calystron let out a deep sigh as he felt his body begin to heal.

"Thank you. I'm sorry for my cruelty toward you. I promise I won't do it again. I swear on my own name."

He bowed sincerely to Merlin. Turning the child before him into an enemy had been foolish.

He should have made him a friend and ally. But previously, the nightmare had continued to haunt him, leaving him unable to control his emotions until he lost control.

"It's fine. I don't mind." Merlin waved his hand casually.

To be honest, the pain of being slammed into the wall by Calystron's attack was still vivid in his memory.

Even so, he didn't want to prolong their hostility.

As the saying went, it was better to make friends than enemies.

"By the way, let's get down to business. But before that, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Merlin Clay, and I am the Child of Prophecy."

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