Rex''s body began to change, his form expanding as his armor shifted and reconfigured. His wings grew larger, their silver light intensifying, and his claymore transformed into a massive energy blade that hummed with power.

    His height increased, his frame now towering over the battlefield as he took on the form of a Kaelzar Battle Mechanoid, a living weapon of war.

    The transformation was awe-inspiring, his presence radiating an overwhelming aura of power. The Tyrant unit guarding Cleo''s body stepped back, its sensors struggling to process the sheer energy emanating from Rex.

    "Alright," Rex said, his voice now deeper and more resonant. "Let''s see how the dragon likes this."

    With a powerful flap of his wings, Rex shot into the sky, his golden light cutting through the mist like a beacon. He soared toward the dragon, which was still hovering in orbit, its glowing red eyes fixed on the Liberator and the chaotic fleet below.

    As Rex approached, he unleashed a barrage of energy blasts from his wings, each one striking the dragon''s metallic scales with pinpoint accuracy. The creature roared in annoyance, its head snapping toward Rex as it registered the new threat.

    "That''s right, big guy! Look at me!" Rex shouted, his voice booming across the battlefield. He fired another volley of energy blasts, this time aiming for the dragon''s eyes. The creature flinched, its roar filled with rage as it turned its full attention toward Rex.

    Cleo''s voice echoed in his mind, her tone calm but firm.

    {You''ve got its attention. Now what?}

    "Now," Rex said, his grin widening, "we lead it on a little chase."

    With that, Rex darted toward one of the enemy fleets, his golden light trailing behind him like a comet. The dragon, now thoroughly annoyed, gave chase, its massive wings propelling it through the void with terrifying speed.

    The enemy fleet, already in disarray, panicked as they saw the dragon heading straight for them. "What the hell is that!?" one of the commanders shouted, his voice filled with terror.

    "It''s the dragon! And it''s coming right at us!" another cried, his ships scrambling to evade the incoming threat.

    Rex weaved through the fleet, his energy blasts striking enemy ships and drawing the dragon''s fire.

    The creature''s laser beam sliced through the void, obliterating anything in its path, including the enemy fleet. Ships exploded in brilliant flashes of light, their hulls torn apart by the dragon''s relentless attacks.

    Cleo''s voice echoed in his mind again, this time with a hint of amusement.

    {You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?}

    "Maybe a little," Rex admitted, dodging a barrage of enemy fire as he led the dragon on its destructive path. "But hey, if it works, it works."

    The dragon, now fully focused on Rex, continued its rampage through the enemy fleets. Its railgun cannons fired wildly, its silver projectiles tearing through enemy ships. The chaos was absolute, the battlefield a swirling maelstrom of fire and destruction.

    As Rex led the dragon further away from the Liberator and the fortress, Cleo''s voice came through once more.

    {The Liberator is safe for now. But we still need to deal with the dragon.}

    "Don''t worry," Rex said, his tone confident. "I''ve got one more trick up my sleeve."

    {Is that trick under your sleeve the ability I just gave for you?} Cleo''s voice echoed in Rex''s mind, her tone calm but with a subtle hint of teasing.

    Finally, with a deafening explosion, the dragon''s core detonated, its massive form disintegrating into a cloud of debris. The shockwave rippled through the battlefield, scattering the remaining enemy ships and silencing their weapons.

    Rex hovered in the void, his white wings dimming as he returned to his normal form. Cleo''s holographic form dissipated, her consciousness returning to her body as the fusion ended.

    {It''s done,} Cleo said, her voice calm but tinged with relief.

    {The dragon is destroyed.}

    Rex grinned, his wings folding behind him. "Told you I had a plan."

    Cleo''s voice held a hint of amusement.

    {You did. But let''s not make a habit of this.}

    "Hold on, my sensors are detecting something... it''s coming from the dragon''s debris!" Rex said, his voice tense as he stared at the scattered remains of the colossal beast.

    His golden wings flickered faintly as he watched in horror as streams of nanomaterial began to flow from the debris, converging and repairing the dragon''s shattered form.

    "No way in hell is this actually happening! Cleo, were your people zombies or something!? What the hell is going on!?"

    Rex shouted through the comms, his voice tinged with panic. He tried to move, to flee, but an invisible energy field locked him in place. His wings strained against the force, but it was no use, he couldn''t break free.

    {Rex! Quickly, escape!}

    Cleo''s voice came through the comms, her usual calm tone now edged with urgency.

    "That''s what I''m trying to do! But I can''t move!" Rex shouted, his frustration mounting as he struggled against the energy field. All he could do was move his mouth and blink.

    The dragon, now partially repaired, began to move toward Rex. Despite the void of space, it walked as if on solid ground, an invisible energy field allowed it to traverse the emptiness.

    Its massive form loomed closer, its glowing red eyes fixed on Rex. When it finally reached him, it lowered its head until its enormous face was just inches away from his.

    Rex, unable to move, could only stare into the dragon''s glowing eyes. "Just so you know, I haven''t taken a shower in days! If you eat me right now, I''ll upset your stomach!" he blurted out, his voice a mix of defiance and desperation.

    {That''s right! Boss hasn''t changed his underwear in days!}

    Mini Cleo chimed in, her tiny form peeking out from behind Rex''s back.

    Rex''s eyes widened. "That''s too much info, Mini Cleo! Be glad no one can see you other than me and Cleo!"

    While they were busy arguing, something unexpected happened. From the dragon''s forehead, a red tech crystal emerged, glowing faintly.

    The crystal pulsed with energy, and something began to materialize from within it. The air around Rex seemed to hum with power as the crystal''s light intensified.

    Rex''s eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of what was happening. "What the...? Is that... a person?"