Merlin noticed that the two individuals possessed significant strength and immediately realized he wouldn't be able to defeat both of them, as they were subordinates of the Black Clan King.
Lucy quickly prepared herself, knowing this situation would likely overwhelm Merlin, especially since the Black Clan's fighters were clearly well-trained. Their formidable aura alone was enough to prove their strength. Lucy spoke to Merlin telepathically.
"They're strong. What are you going to do? Do you have a plan?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know. They're from the Black Clan—better to run away," Merlin replied, unwilling to risk exposing his secret as a Blue Clan member with blue eyes, which made him immune to the Black Clan's attacks. If they attacked him long enough, they might discover that Merlin was different.
"You're disappointing. Running from an enemy instead of fighting? Cowardly," Lucy grumbled, displeased with Merlin's response.
But before Merlin could react, the two individuals attacked him, directing their power toward him. A cold, impenetrable shield materialized, protecting Merlin from their blows. The attacks failed to harm him.
The two attackers were startled and perplexed. They launched another attack, only for Merlin to dash into the forest, trying to divert the fight away from populated areas.
Lucy, exasperated by Merlin's retreat, could hardly believe how unreliable her master seemed at that moment.
But despite his attempt to flee, Merlin wasn't fast enough. The two caught up to him and launched another assault. Once again, their strikes failed to land on Merlin, leaving him unharmed.
"Stop attacking! I'm tired of running," Merlin called out, frustrated and unsure of what to do.
Merlin felt sorry for his attackers, who clearly could not harm him no matter how much effort they put into their strikes. As they continued to attack, the two men began to realize their efforts were in vain.
"Who are you, really?" one of them asked, realizing Merlin wasn't an ordinary person.
Only members of the Blue Clan with blue eyes were impervious to the Black Clan's attacks. Yet Merlin appeared to have black eyes, deepening their confusion.
Lucy, who shared a strong bond with Merlin, was also puzzled. She had no idea Merlin had blue eyes, as he always used black powder to conceal them.
Originally, Merlin had hidden his blue eyes to avoid being labeled blind, but once he learned the truth behind their significance, he chose to keep it a secret. If people discovered that he possessed blue eyes but wasn't of royal blood, it could put him in grave danger.
"What kind of power are you using that makes you immune to their attacks?" Lucy asked, perplexed by what she was witnessing.
Merlin, unwilling to reveal the truth, lied. "I'm just using my internal energy to create a transparent barrier they can't penetrate."
Lucy was skeptical but decided not to press further. Meanwhile, Merlin pretended not to care about their attacks, though internally, he grew increasingly concerned about maintaining his cover.
"Are you part of the Eastern Royal Family?" one of the attackers speculated, noticing Merlin's unusual resilience.
"Ha! You're dreaming! Do I look like a royal? Trust me, being a prince isn't easy. Save your energy and stop wasting your time on me—you can't beat me because I'm too strong!" Merlin replied nonchalantly, frustrating the two assailants further.
Merlin internally sighed. If this continues, they might figure out the truth, he thought before deciding to run again.
However, the attackers were relentless. They drew their swords, their resolve unwavering. Merlin found himself on the defensive, dodging and avoiding their strikes, which still failed to hit him due to the invisible shield.
"Lucy, should I just fight them?" Merlin asked, growing tired of the endless chase.
"Do as you like. I still don't understand why they can't touch you. You haven't used any visible energy, and all you've done is dodge. I'm as suspicious as they are—maybe you are part of the royal family?" Lucy teased, unhelpful as ever.
The attackers grew increasingly frustrated. Their swords were ineffective against Merlin, while Merlin continued to avoid engaging them in earnest combat.
"This isn't fair! They can't even hit me, and it feels wrong to strike back," Merlin muttered, unsure of how to proceed.
"You're too kind for your own good. Mercy is wasted on people trying to kill you," Lucy retorted, clearly irritated.
As Merlin hesitated, a thought crossed his mind. He focused his energy, and suddenly, a sword materialized in his hand.
"I see. I need to fight back after all. I'll use this sword to finish them," Merlin said.
Lucy, who could transform into a weapon for her master, agreed. "Finally! Let's handle this."
With Lucy's help, Merlin attacked and easily disabled his opponents. His sword was able to harm them, while their attacks continued to be deflected. Merlin struck their legs and arms, leaving them incapacitated and unable to escape.
The pact preventing Black Clan members from harming those with blue eyes had unknowingly worked in Merlin's favor. However, the situation left him uneasy—if they reported this encounter to the Black Clan King, it could spell trouble.
As the attackers lay wounded, Merlin deliberated over what to do. "I can't kill them, but I also can't let them go free. If they report this to the King, I'll be in serious trouble," he thought, holding his sword aloft, paralyzed by indecision.
Suddenly, Azuma arrived with incredible speed, cutting down both attackers with swift strikes to their necks. Blood splattered everywhere, and the two men died instantly.
Merlin froze, trembling as he fell to the ground. His body shook as he processed the gruesome scene before him. He had never witnessed such violence firsthand, and now it had unfolded right in front of him.
"What… just happened?" Merlin whispered, tears streaming down his face, his hands trembling uncontrollably.