Parallel Memory

-CLANG! -CLANK! -BOOOM! -BANG!

The sound of the battle could be heard clearly as we got closer to the battlefield.

I enhanced my sight with mana. With that, I could see the battlefield much clearer. The Holy Knight and Devil Contractors were fighting.

Searching through the huge battlefield, I tried to find Saintess Amelia as quickly as possible. Well, it was easier to spot her as she had a carriage made of gold.

"Follow me. I have spotted the Saintess and also Christian sister."

I said to them. I took the lead and sped up further.

The situation is not the worst but also not good. At the moment, the Saintess' only guard was Adeline. Zain, the captain of the Holy Knight, seemed to be injured. And only Adeline was fighting.

Therefore, we needed to increase our speed as they might lose their speed if we were any slower. Others didn't complain and just followed me. Well, if they didn't I would have just left them behind.

-WHOOSH!

*******

We reached the battlefield. Luckily Saintess and Adeline were both alive. However, the situation didn't look good. Adeline was on the ground and the Rank-S Devil Contractor seemed to want to finish the job.

Fortunately, I arrived on time.

[ "Diabolic Skewer" ]

Rank-S Devil Contractor was about to use his technique.

[ "Ground Freeze" ]

Fortunately, his attention was not on me. Otherwise, it would be difficult to freeze Rank-S. Although he would easily get out of the ice. Well, it did save Adeline.

"ADELINE!"

Christian shouted as he quickly rushed towards Adeline. The mercenaries also followed him. I slowly followed them, keeping an eye on the Rank-S Devil Contractor who looked angry.

The Saintess and Christian were having a conversation with each other.

"No need! It is not me but that gentleman you should thank!"

Christian said as he shifted all of their focus to me.

"Hello!"

I said. I don't think I come as suspicious and I even help them.

But then why the hell is Saintess Amelia glaring at me like that?

I glanced at her for a moment.

( Yup! Definitely glaring! )

Did I miss something or did I get discovered somehow?

I looked at my current appearance which is that of Jester. Maybe she knows Jester? Anyway, she wouldn't do anything, right? I came to help her.

"Who is he? Did Sir Christian hire him?"

Zain asked. He was thankful for the help but he had to be cautious of everyone, especially powerful people.

"His name is Jester. He saved us from Devil Contractors. You can trust him!"

Christian said immediately. He was afraid that Zain might anger Jester which would not be good in the situation that they were in.

In that case, he would have felt responsible as he thought that he dragged Jester here. Even though Zero was already planning to come here without him.

"Okay! Since Sir Christian says so. Thank you, Sir Jester. I would definitely pay you back for your help."

Zain said. While Zain was cautious, he also understood that rudeness to their savior would be unwise. And he could not sense the Dark Energy from Jester.

*Phew!

Christian was glad that there was no misunderstanding.

"Oh ho! Your name is Jester? Since when?"

Just when Christian thought that he had handled the situation perfectly, Saintess Amelia chipped in.

And unlike Zain who is just asking because he was cautious, Saintess seemed to be sure of something.

"I don't know what you are saying."

Zero replied. He was just doubting earlier, but with that statement, Zero knew that Saintess had seen through his disguise.

He didn't know how as in the novel Saintess Amelia is short-lived and the novel does not really describe her abilities.

"I think you know what I'm saying. Though Zain, you don't need to be on guard against this guy."

Saintess Amelia said. Zain was cautious after the Saintess said that he was in disguise. He thought that it was the enemy and was tense. Which is why the Saintess had said that he didn't need to be on guard.

"Understood!"

Zain said.

She knew Zero was not a threat. She has once saved him and got to know him. Even though she can't say that she likes him, she at least knows what type of person he is. Moreover, he just saved Adeline which proves her point.

As for how she knew he was Zero. Simple! She could see mana inside everyone, even the Dark Energy that Zero has. She couldn't know one's identity through that mana.

( Zero! I thought that he was missing since the Devil's Invasion. )

Saintess Amelia thought.

"I can't understand! I real-"

-CRACK! -BANG!

Just when Zero was going to make up some story and explain, Rank-S Devil Contractor broke the ice.

"Bloody Hell! How dare you sneak attack me?"

Kurtis said. He was extremely pissed off. He was ashamed of being caught off guard and he was even sealed in ice.

-BANG! -WHOOSH!

Kurtis quickly accelerated. He was going to kill Zero as soon as possible.

"I will explain another time!"

Zero said. Well, there was no reply as they were scared by the Rank-S Devil Contractor who is giving an odd pretty scary aura. While others were frightened, especially the mercenaries, Zero was pretty calm.

[ "Dark Ice Embodiment" ]

Zero used Ice Embodiment as armor made up of Dark Ice to cover him. Actually, Zero wears a Rank-A defense artifact which is tougher than his Dark Ice. However, it was better to have more defense when facing Rank-S.

And Dark Ice Embodiment is not only for defense but also makes it easier for him to control his mana.

-WHOOSH!

Zero didn't wait and went to confront Kurtis. Kurtis didn't change his path and just smiled, thinking Zero was just another fool who overestimates himself.

[ "Ice Creation" ]

When he and Kurtis were about to clash, Zero used Ice Creation to make a huge fist. Maybe the size of a building.

!!!

Even Kurtis, who is about to clash with Zero, was surprised. Whether it was strong or not was not important, just the size was intimidating. Though Kurtis still went on.

Zero swung this huge Ice Fist toward Kurtis. Kurtis used his spear to penetrate the ice and make his way toward Zero.

The ice broke apart as Kurtis slowly made his way with his spear. He continuously broke the ice as he continued proceeding closer to Zero. However, his momentum was slowly fading and the force from his spear was also decreasing.

And it reached the point that he could no longer penetrate the ice. He had also made the way halfway through the Ice fist. And when he could no longer resist the force of the fist, he got hit and was flung into the sky.

"ARGH!"

Kurtis was thrown toward the sky. While the Ice Fist had managed to do so, he was not that injured.

[ "FrostWing' ]

However, Zero was not going to let Kurtis recover. When he was still in the air, not being able to control his movement because of the force of the Ice fist. Zero appeared in front of him and punched him in the face and knocked him down from the sky.

-BANG!

Kurtis crashed onto the ground, causing a large impact and shaking the entire battlefield. The Holy Knight and Devil Contractors were stunned by the display of power.

Zero flew back to his original location and deactivated his FrostWing.

He knew that it was not enough and was gathering mana to attack Kurtis when he got up. He looked at his surroundings and was shocked by the reaction.

Saintess Amelia, Zain, and everyone that was there were surprised. What they saw was surreal. Zero was making a Rank-S Devil Contractor seem like a kid. It would already be shocking if one could even fight a Rank-S, not to mention being so dominant.

"You! When did you become so strong?"

The one to break the silence was Saintess. Others might not know, but how could she not? Just three a few years back, Zero was at Rank-D and now he was beating up a Rank-S Devil Contractor.

"Can we please talk about this another time?"

Zero said as he focused on gathering mana on his sword. The Saintess kept her mouth shut as she calmed down and thought about the situation.

Others also didn't say anything and waited for Zero to make his move.

Kurtis was lying on the ground. He got hit hard in the face and was knocked down. However, he could still fight and waited for Zero to take advantage of his situation. However, Zero didn't approach him and distanced himself.

It seemed that he couldn't trick Zero into getting close to him. He gave up and was about to get up.

[ "Glacier Shadow Slash" ]

At that exact moment, Zero launched his attack.

[ "Diabolic Skewer" ]

However, Kurtis defended himself immediately. However, because Zero had condensed his mana for quite a while, his attack was stronger than Kurtis' attack. It managed to destroy his attack and was going to hit his neck.

Fortunately for Kurtis, he quickly dodged the attack. Though he couldn't fully dodge his attack and got cut in the face.

"Keke. You are strong! However, you shouldn't have pissed me off! I am really going to kill you now!"

There was a tremendous increase in Kurtis' mana aura. It seemed that he was finally showing his full power.