"You can help me?" Merlin was stunned. "How?"

Lyserra smiled. "It's simple—I want you to give me all your mana. That way, I can use my true form for a while. Even if that man is as strong as your master, I can still suppress him."

Merlin took a deep breath. He knew Lyserra was powerful, but suppressing someone as strong as Linda? That seemed impossible.

After all, Linda was one of the strongest on the continent. Even the elders at Saint Freya Academy didn't dare challenge her.

Still, his hesitation didn't last long. Lyserra was a proud dragon. If she said she could do it, then it had to be true.

"Alright, I understand. But..."

He hesitated, glancing at the three monsters ready to strike. "If I give up all my mana, I won't be able to move, right?"

When mana is depleted, the body suffers from dryness—a critical moment when mages wouldn't dare go outside unless protected by people they trust.

"Since I said I could do it, I have a way." Lyserra rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you won't have to fear being attacked by them."

No sooner had she spoken than the three monsters lunged at Merlin with all their might.

Merlin's eyes widened, and he was about to release the tree trunk to dodge when suddenly…

Boom!

A massive explosion shook the area, followed by a cloud of gray smoke that blanketed everything like thick fog.

"Move a little further away and give me your mana!" Lyserra ordered coldly.

Merlin didn't dare argue. He jumped back, retreating as far as he could.

The black-cloaked man and his three monsters froze, stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Damn it! Did that kid escape? How is that possible?" He growled, glancing frantically around.

But within a meter, his vision was swallowed by the gray smoke.

Raising his right hand, he shouted, "Wind magic!"

Whoosh!

A gust of wind tore through the smoke, clearing a path before him. He scanned the area but saw no sign of Merlin.

Then, just as suddenly, the smoke thickened again, obscuring his view.

"Bastard!" he cursed, clenching his fist. "If I can't get rid of this smoke, I'll destroy the entire forest! Let's see how you escape, kid!"

He slammed his hands together. Ten glowing magic circles—fire, wind, and lightning—appeared, erupting outward and obliterating everything around him.

Each spell was advanced-level, and the impact was both terrifying and catastrophic.

***

"Uncle Gover!" Catrine cried out in panic.

Gover and the soldiers, who had been chatting together, were visibly startled. They stood up, ready to greet her, but hesitated when they saw the fear on her face.

"Young Lady Catrine, what's happened? Did you encounter a beast? And…" He glanced at the villagers behind her, who also looked terrified, then noticed someone missing. "Where is Young Master Merlin? Wasn't he with you?"

Catrine rushed forward, clutching Gover's muscular right arm. "Uncle Gover, my brother is fighting the enemy!"

"Fighting the enemy?" Gover's eyes widened. "Who is it? A monster?"

The soldiers behind him immediately snapped to attention, preparing for battle.

"Not a monster, Captain Gover," an old woman behind Catrine interjected. "Young Lady Catrine says the figure fighting Young Master Merlin is the one responsible for the outbreak that has plagued our village! Please hurry and save him!"

As they ran toward Gover, the old woman realized that Catrine and her brother were the young lady and young master of the Clay family.

The Clay family led the city of Droswen and held considerable influence. She hadn't expected two young members of such a prominent family to come to their village, let alone face the very person causing chaos there.

"What? How is that possible?" Gover's heart raced. "What happened? How did Young Master Merlin and you come face-to-face with that person?"

He had been searching for days but hadn't been able to find the person responsible. In fact, he and his soldiers couldn't even locate the source of the outbreak.

"I don't know either," Catrine cried, shaking her head. "When my brother and I tried to eliminate the source, that person suddenly appeared and blocked us. He targeted us and tried to kill us."

Gover was puzzled by the phrase "eliminate the source," but he didn't press for details. Right now, the priority was saving Merlin.

"All right, let's move," Gover said firmly. He turned to his soldiers and commanded, "Grab your weapons and follow me!"

"Yes, Captain!" they replied in unison.

***

Boom!

Boom!

Explosions erupted everywhere, like countless meteors raining down from the sky, obliterating everything in their path.

About a hundred meters from the chaos, Merlin hid behind a one-meter-wide hollow in a tree.

He sat cross-legged, as if deep in meditation. In front of him, Lyserra mirrored his posture.

A soft blue light flowed from Merlin's body to Lyserra. At first, he appeared calm, but as time passed, a faint weariness began to creep through his body.

"Is that enough, Lyserra?" Merlin asked.

"Not yet," Lyserra replied. "It's still not enough. I need more."

Merlin gritted his teeth and continued channeling his mana.

Having a large reserve of mana didn't mean he could release it freely.

After three minutes, his body began to suffer from mana dryness.

Quickly, he summoned the system. 'System, buy me a B-rank Mana Enhancement Potion. Now!'

"[Ding! B-rank Mana Enhancement Potion purchased! Cost: 8,000 system points. Remaining points: 130,000.]"

Instantly, a cool, soothing sensation washed over Merlin's body. His mana surged back to its full capacity.

As before, the mana flowed immediately to Lyserra, and Merlin soon began to suffer from mana dryness again.

"Lyserra, is it ready yet?" Merlin asked, biting his lower lip.

"Not yet, Merlin. Just a little longer!"

"Damn…" Merlin muttered inwardly. His body was growing numb, and sharp pains flared across certain areas.

"System, can I buy the potion again?"

"[Ding! No, Master. The B-rank Mana Enhancement Potion can only be used once a day. Your body is too weak and vulnerable—drinking it again will backfire,]" the system warned.

"Understood. Thank you, system."

Merlin closed his eyes. Seconds passed while the rumble of explosions continued outside.

A stabbing headache pierced his head, as if tiny spears were driving through his skull. Still, he refused to give up and continued channeling his mana to Lyserra.

Suddenly…

Boom!

A surge of powerful aura erupted from his body, startling Merlin.

"This… I've broken through to the Ninth Spirit Core level?" he exclaimed.

Before he could even collect himself, Lyserra's proud voice rang out before him.

"Thank you for your mana, Merlin. Now, let me show you why people in the past called me the Dragon Empress!"

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