"Expected from one of my prime students," praised Old Man Pond, taking back his pets.
"Roar of the Poison God!" yelled the Commander, with a breath of death coming out from his mouth.
"Howl of the Valkyries!" yelled a weakened and pissed off Mavislin.
Light and green met head-on with each other, causing a massive shockwave. As both attacks dispersed into Baldwin's Auras, Old Man Pond let out a laugh.
"It seems that I've underestimated that weak Princess from above. The one out of her Time Stream. Looks like the girl wants to fight me as well. Sorry, but your Memory mess won't affect me," explained the Poison Thing.
Raiyen had a fierce look on his face while Mavislin gritted her teeth.
"Don't you dare try to harm her," said the two, in unison.
Baldwin raised his staff into position, in an answer towards the raging Aura coming from Old Man Pond.
"I may be an Angry Man, but I'm not heartless."
He then lunged at his enemy in an ungodly speed, one which even Raiyen could not rival.
"You can do anything towards me. Stab me, kill me, torture me. Poison me. But don't you dare lay a single disgusting finger of yours on my family!" yelled the Angry Man, grabbing his opponent's hand.
More pressure was added as the two had a showdown in staring.
"You have no family, Baldwin Noble. Your only daughter died," said Old Man Pond.
His eyes darkened while his smile got brighter. A tear fell from Ysabeau's eyes followed by several more. Mavislin wiped away the tears as she covered her mouth.
"And whose fault was that?!" yelled the angered Dark Mage, Auras clashing with each other.
"Don't take my threat lightly, Poisoned Pond. Don't assume that I won't do it. I've sacrificed so many things to get here, another on the pile won't make much of a difference now."
"Oh, how amusing," smirked the Old Man.
"I have got no mission of vengeance, but a duty of care and protection for the two kids that have brought the meaning to continue with my pitiful and dark life. And I have a promise to keep. A promise that has kept me going," warned Baldwin as he held up his Ancient Relic.
"Do all Mages need a promise to continue moving forward?" asked Nova, stroking Fluffy gently.
"Why?" asked Ysabeau, voice shaking.
"Because that's a heartbreaking thing to know. Life is only worth living if there's a promise to uphold," replied Nova, in sadness.
"Accusations of the Betrayed!" called out Baldwin, as the Pentagram on the staff started to spin rapidly.
He then did the unimaginable, he took the Ancient Relic and began bashing at the Commander. This surprised everyone, both on land and above.
"What in God's name are you doing?!" yelled Raiyen.
"Bashing the enemy?"
The Commander was both in shock and amazed that his old student would do such a thing to his teacher. Baldwin merely chuckled as he continued. Old Man Pond continued to block the attacks using his bare hands while the others watched in confusion.
"Has the Dark Element got into the Angry person's head too much?" asked Nova, worried at the scene below.
Ysabeau merely let out a laugh as she shook her head.
"He is a Dark Mage, Dark Elements don't affect the guy. And besides, why did you try to meddle with the Commander's mind?"
"I did not. I simply tried to look in-depth into what actions he was planning to use. Call it witnessing the battlefield without being there."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
Back to the battle below, the childish hitting had ceased and the once teacher and student pair prepared to standoff with each other once again.
"Feels like old times," said Old Man Pond, closing his eyes.
The Poison Mage let out another roar, all being absorbed by the Pentagram and Baldwin's Ancient Relic. As soon as the Dark Elemental Energy was enough, the staff let out a huge shock wave, destroying the two serpents that Old Man Pond had let loose.
As more Dark Energy gathered, the ground became more withered. It was as if it became tired. Soon enough, the gathered energy merged into a huge whip, connected at the Pentagram of the Ancient Relic.
"I've forgotten that Baldwin had to charge his Ancient Relic before he could use it," said Raiyen, looking at the gigantic whip that Baldwin was swinging.
The whip may look light but the damage dealt towards any surface proved that it weighed a tonne. While it constantly destroyed buildings with one hit, it had yet to push Old Man Pond from his position.
"Stubborn one, aren't you?"
"Same goes for your little toy. Looks like my poison isn't able to destroy that annoying rope of yours."