The setting sun's afterglow spilled across the grass. Ancient trees with lush foliage surrounded them, their thick trunks like guardians of time, silently witnessing the changes of the world.
Merlin's fist carried an exceptionally clear wind sound, whistling through the air. Before the Young Wizard could react at all, it struck him squarely in the face.
Honestly.
Ian truly had not expected Merlin to suddenly attack. By the time he noticed Merlin's strike, the fist was already right in front of him. He had no time to do anything more.
His tender cheek rippled, and half his face instantly caved in. That heavy blow seemed to contain all the strength in Merlin's body.
"Hiss~"
To be fair.
Not only in this life, but even including his previous life before transmigrating, Ian had never actually been slapped in the face. His head immediately began to buzz dully. It was not merely the burning pain in his cheek; his entire body staggered back several steps involuntarily.
"This punch is for my childhood trauma!" Merlin stopped after throwing that punch, but his fists remained clenched, his knuckles turning somewhat white from the force.
Mm.
The swelling was gradually appearing too.
After all, according to the relativity theory found in unofficial histories, the person throwing a punch had to endure an equal amount of force. They were both Legends, and their physical strength was practically equal.
Precisely because of that.
Merlin's fist had been injured as well. Of course, it was nowhere near as swollen as Ian's face. Ian shook his head hard twice and glared at Merlin, thoroughly annoyed.
He did not ask what childhood trauma meant. Ian was young and hot-blooded—how could he endure such an unprovoked attack? He rolled up his sleeves and lunged straight at Merlin beside him.
"I'm the