Angel With Broken Wings

96 - Wahlberg Baigan and the Greatest Danger (2)

[THIRD PERSON POV]

As the words he spoke left his lips, Headmaster Wahlberg let out a burst of his magical energy, and if it was anyone else but Innocent Zero it would be suffocating to even be near the man as he unleashes his power. 'So this is where he unleashes it...' Innocent Zero's thoughts were calm, eyes flashing the deep red colour even though his expression remains bored and unimpressed.

"Though it may cost me my life..." Wahlberg mutters to himself as he releases more of his magical power, the man having a bit of trouble keeping himself steady as he holds onto his wand tightly. 'Even among three-liners, very few have access to this...the epitome of magic.' Innocent Zero only watched as Wahlberg shifted his stance, his former friend speaking out the spell he was preparing for, releasing his wand to its highest potential, "Spaces Thirds! Uranus Inclination!"

As the spell gets casted a bright light fills up in the sky, a large and almost mechanical looking creature appearing behind Wahlberg and the space around both the caster and Innocent Zero gets turned into a galaxy like space, white platforms appearing in randomly placed areas inside the enclosure. Innocent Zero remains still and impassive as he stares at what sits between the two large hands, a large orb with two interesecting squares rests with a large triangle on top while below it shifted down into a point.

'A thirds spell...magic that unleashes the god's power dwelling within the wand. Your power certainly hasn't declined with age...' His observation was silent, entirely in his head, as he stared at the magic and it's caster before him. Despite the overwhelming power of the spell, Innocent Zero could only feign fear, the man not having a lick of concern for his well-being as he has a plan that tickles the back of his mind. "I'm certain you're aware...the magic of Uranus, God of the Sky, which erases all within a space, cannot be avoided."

"Wahlberg, you dare–" Innocent Zero wasn't allowed to respond to his former friend's words, the Headmage remaining strong as he firmly stated his position, "As the Headmaster of this school, I would go even further than this." As he spoke he directed his wand up into the sky, the squares around the large orb beginning to spin around each other rapidly, the sight almost appearing as a blur until the orb gets brighter and brighter. "Timez Unmove..."

Innocent Zero casted out his spell with a sigh, the man disappointed in his opponent before him, who – along with his very own spell – was not frozen in time, as he overconfidently states, "And you must be aware...that no manner of attack can affect one who can control time." As Innocent Zero just barely shifts his wand, several red coloured clock hands shoot towards the frozen Wahlberg, the villain only stopping his time halting magic when the clock hands strike Wahlberg fatally.

"You won't survive those wounds." He was proud as he said those words, only widening his eyes in surprise as the magic Wahlberg casted before continues to wind around the orb, Innocent Zero proclaiming out his shock, "How can the magic continue when the caster has suffered fatal wounds?!" He stiffens as he hears a dry chuckle come from in front of him, Wahlberg just barely remaining on his feet as he kindly answers the question asked, "Thirds unleashes the true power inside the wand. If you pour enough magic power into it, even if the caster should die, the will of the wand will cast the spell on its own."

Innocent Zero struggled to contain the excitement he felt at those words, his fingers twitching as he feigned a sense of fear, "That's foolish...you can't..." His red eyes remain planted on Wahlberg as the man clenches his hand even tighter around his wand, his opponent saying with a sense of conviction Innocent Zero couldn't entirely understand, "I have been saving all my power for this moment."

With shaking eyes that seemed to shine their red colour, Innocent Zero uttered out as he began to realize something with those words, "You really intend..." His words continued to trail off as he tried to collect his thoughts, his eyes wide as Wahlberg manages out with a cough full of blood, "My thirds will tear you apart...in exchange for my life." Innocent Zero watches as cuts seem to appear on Wahlberg's body, blood spraying from the wounded areas as he exclaims, "You planned this from the beginning!"

His words didn't receive a response as Wahlberg kept his eyes downcast, a feeling of regret swelling within him as he recalls images of both Visionaries and current students enrolled at his school. 'I have yet to fulfill my role...this world could be so much better, it could be a place where we respect each other and accept our weaknesses.' He was holding back tears as the thoughts flicker in his mind and the pain encased his body, the man getting small flashes of previous memories as his mind continues to run,

'That is why I must save them. Those weak, fragile souls...they who were like me long ago.' The light in the sky was bright as it continued to grow, the sight of it almost appearing like an eclipse to those who could look up in the sky and see the sight above them. 'That is why...I must lead my students from the fore, like my master did for me. I will show them through action.' As he was preparing for his life to flicker away, his body crumpled to its knees despite still hovering in the sky, Wahlberg noticing how his magic didn't cast and his life was still intact.

'The magic didn't activate...he didn't...? He reversed time?!' Wahlberg could only stare as the chaos in his mind grew, his eyes wide as a red and black coloured clock seems to appear behind Innocent Zero, he couldn't help but try to hurry to his feet at the sight of his opponent standing unharmed. Innocent Zero only pointed his wand at Wahlberg, the one act sending more of those red coloured clock hands directly towards his former friend's only arm.

As it slashes through the weak limb the wand that was in Wahlberg's hand drops, the object falling to the ground below as it's master slumps to his knees once more, almost following his wand to the earth below. He wasn't able to follow, however, as a hand gripped him at the top of his head by the hair, the grip tight and painful as the blood from his mouth trickles into his long beard. "Wahlberg, you're strong...but I will be stronger."

Innocent Zero spoke calmly as he continues to hold Wahlberg's hair tightly, the villain staring directly at the beaten down body of his former friend from above. "I live only for myself, you will never surpass me." As those words are said another arrow-like clock hand rests directly against Wahlberg's forehead, the Headmage too weak to more or fight back as the tears he was holding back begin to trickle from and sting at his eyes.

'How cruel is fate...our ideals doomed to never be realized.' An image of his master appeared in his mind as he closed his eyes, his thoughts painful for the man as they continue to flit through his mind, 'Was the world I envisioned so fragile...that a small-minded, selfish belief can crush it underfoot?' He couldn't prevent the despair that was building up in his chest, the tears finally dripping from his chin and mingling with the blood resting upon his face. 'Alas...'

"Farewell, Wahlberg." The words entered his ears as the man tensed one last time, Innocent Zero preparing to release the grip on Wahlberg's hair until a knee slammed directly into his face and a kick slammed into his stomach, Mash Burnedead and Kat Ride appearing at that exact moment to thwart his plans, the girl now having Wahlberg at her side with beating wings while the boy has an angry glint in his eyes, the pair both making the same comment to two different people,

"Gotcha."

QUICK AUTHOR'S NOTE:

So, I'm not adding the anime only stuff...sorry.

That means that this time around there will only be two updates – the one yesterday and the one today – as what happened at the beginning of the anime episode for this chapter didn't happen in the manga and that's what I'm following.

Until next time, beautiful people!