Not every story about heroes was entirely about heroes.
There were other things too.
In any case, Ian was quite pleased with how he had won. He remembered hearing that history was written by the victors. Future generations only needed to know that even Merlin could not defeat him.
Was that not also the truth?
Merlin had openly admitted that he could do nothing against Ian, while Ian had broken through Merlin's mental defenses. Who was stronger and who was weaker needed no further explanation; anyone with eyes could see it clearly.
"Wisdom is humanity's greatest treasure!" Ian still remembered Lady Ravenclaw's teachings for future generations. In this battle, he had simply had a little more wisdom assisting him than Merlin did.
The Young Wizard sighed with emotion.
Meanwhile.
"×&%￥#@,§№☆2113^&%!$#&%￥..." Merlin's curses still rang on without end. He had submerged himself in a lake within an oasis, continuously stuffing antidotes into his mouth while pouring countless bottles of potions—who knew whether they were meant to disinfect viruses—into the oasis lake as well.
"The one who has never tasted defeat is indeed still me."
Ian landed beside the oasis lake, plucked a fruit from one of the nearby trees, and took a bite. His face gradually twisted.
"Want some? It tastes pretty good."
Ian tried to sell it to Merlin.
However.
That trick could not even fool a little girl like Aurora, so how could it possibly fool a Great Wizard like Merlin? The man in the lake continued spouting vulgarities as always.
"Can't accept losing?"
Ian tossed away the sour fruit in his hand.
"If you can't accept it, I'm fine with a best-of-three." He was currently in a state of enlightenment, with quite a few tricks still waiting to be put into practice.
The Young Wizard was growing eager