"Master, no… don't go." Lyra's voice shook as she clutched Nolan's elbow, her weak fingers trembling. "He's too powerful. I fought him, and I could tell… he wasn't even using his full strength. It was like he was holding back. You may be stronger than me, yes—but please, don't."

Nolan gently placed his hand over hers, easing it back onto the bed. "Don't worry," he said calmly, though his eyes were sharp. "It's going to be okay. Now tell me—where did you fight him? How far is it?"

Lyra shook her head. "Master, no… it's far, very far from here. But even so—if I hadn't protected the area with my shield, if I hadn't contained our battle… half of humanity could have been wiped out."

"Alright," Nolan said, his voice firm. "Where is he now?"

"I used my last attack to bind him in one place," Lyra admitted. "I poured every last drop of my energy into it. But… it's weakening. He'll break free soon."

Nolan leaned closer, his tone edged with urgency. "How far?"

"Two thousand, seven hundred kilometers east," Lyra whispered.

"Good." Nolan stood, already turning for the door. "Then I'll be going."

"Please—" Lyra struggled to rise, her legs trembling as she slipped off the bed. "Master, let me follow you."

Nolan spun back, incredulous. "Are you kidding? You're injured, barely able to stand, and you still want to come? Not possible. Not in a million years."

"I won't interfere. I won't get in your way," Lyra pleaded, her voice cracking. "But please… I just want to be there. In case something happens."

Nolan paused, staring at her for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, he crouched down and lifted her into his arms. "Fine. I'll take you. But don't regret this."

Even in her weakness, Lyra's face turned red, and she couldn't help but smile. Nolan frowned at her. "What is it? Why is your face red?"

"It's nothing, Master," she mumbled, turning her face away. "Just keep going."

Nolan stepped out of the mansion, locking the entrance behind him. Then—vroom!—the ground cracked beneath his feet as he accelerated. His speed was monstrous, three times faster than light itself. Sindra blurred past in seconds. Trees bent violently, their branches snapping from the sheer pressure of the wind, and the earth behind him split apart like it had been struck by lightning.

Four minutes later, he had already crossed over two thousand, three hundred kilometers. Nolan finally slowed, dust and broken ground spreading in waves around him. "So far from human settlements," he muttered, surveying the desolate land. "Good. But still… even here, one wrong move could reach them."

Before him rose a massive dome of crackling energy, shimmering like a dying sun. Inside, the Divine Dragon King strained against Lyra's seal, his colossal form thrashing. The barrier shuddered, fractures spreading across its surface like spiderwebs.

Nolan set Lyra gently at the base of a tree, cloaking her in a protective barrier of his own.

"It's about to break," Lyra whispered, clutching her chest. "I can't hold it any longer."

"Don't worry. I'll handle it now." Nolan's eyes stayed locked on the barrier.

Then—CRACK! The dome split wide open in a thunderous explosion of energy.

At last, the Divine Dragon King stepped free. His voice boomed like rolling thunder. "Finally… I'm out. Hah! Now… what should I do first? Where is that pest, Lyra? She must still be nearby. I'll crush her once and for all."

The ground trembled beneath his words.

And Nolan stood there, silent, staring up at him.

The Divine Dragon King's wings beat, sending gusts of wind and shaking the ground beneath him. His golden eyes scanned the area. Lyra… he sensed them immediately. But then something else flickered in his presence — a strange, unfamiliar energy, unlike anything he had ever felt.

He looked down. There, standing firm, was Nolan. And behind him, weak and exhausted, was Lyra.

"So… this is one of the humans who dares to challenge me," the Divine Dragon King said, a cruel smile curling across his lips. "Terrifying… yet still, he will not survive."

With a ground-shattering thud, he landed. Nolan didn't flinch. The massive dragon moved closer, dragging his weight across the earth, sending cracks radiating outward. Nolan's gaze was fixed, calm but burning with quiet fury.

"Are you the one who did this to Lyra?" Nolan asked.

"Oh, you mean her? The Divine Behemoth?" the dragon purred. "Yes. I am. And what will you do about it?"

Nolan's jaw tightened. He raised his hand. From the mana surrounding him, spears began to form — Holy Lancer, a weapon of pure precision and devastating force.

Twenty lances appeared at once, glimmering with lethal energy.

The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Impressive… to conjure so many."

Nolan didn't answer. With a flick of his hand, the lances launched at the dragon. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The battlefield shook, trees splintered, dust and debris filled the air — yet when the storm cleared, the Divine Dragon King remained unharmed, scales gleaming in the morning light.

The dragon's laughter rolled like thunder. "Is that all?"

Nolan's eyes narrowed further. He summoned more lances — now a hundred — each pulsing with lethal energy. They struck the dragon with unstoppable force.

The dragon's tail whipped like a colossal whip, slamming into Nolan and sending him flying backward. The ground cracked beneath him, and he forced himself to his feet, launching a precise, powerful kick at the dragon's head.

It hit, but the dragon didn't even flinch.

"What… the hell?" Nolan muttered, landing carefully. "Lyra said he was strong, but this… this is different."

Lyra shouted, weak but urgent. "Master! He's not just strong — he's evolving! As you fight him, he grows stronger! Even if you used your full power, you wouldn't stop him. His strength is increasing every minute!"

The Divine Dragon King's laughter echoed across the land. "Yes… show me your limits, human. Give me a challenge worth my time."

"It's… really strong. I can feel it," Nolan muttered, his eyes narrowing. "All I have to do now… is stop time."

With a snap of his fingers, the world around him froze. The wind stilled, the leaves hung motionless in the air, and even the distant sound of birds vanished. Time itself had come to a halt.

Nolan stepped forward, moving effortlessly toward the Divine Dragon King. So he can't escape now, he thought, a dark glint of determination in his eyes. This one is mine.

But then… something strange happened. The massive dragon's body trembled, small cracks of energy dancing across its scales, as if struggling against an invisible force. And then, against all expectations, it moved. Slowly at first, then fully, every muscle and wing shifting as it resisted the frozen time.

Nolan froze in place, his heart skipping a beat. "What… what is going on?" he muttered, stepping back slightly.

It was stronger than when Lyra faced it. Far stronger. Nolan realized the magnitude of what he was up against. I'm level 4 now… my time stop should even freeze Lyra completely… but him? Not even close.

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