Parallel Memory

-SSSSS!

Lilith continued to gather mana in her hands as she prepared to launch one of her devastating attacks. Since her strength was obviously higher than 5 years ago, the attack that she was going to shoot was definitely going to be more powerful than before.

-WHOOSH!

The Devil Contractors immediately began running away in panic. They all know that Lilith will attack even if her allies are there. However, under the pressure of Lilith's mana aura, many of them were struggling to move.

"QUICK! We need to run away!"

Hiro immediately signaled others to run away.

"ARGH…"

"UGH…" …

However, many students were immobile. Even Rank-Cs Devil Contractors were having trouble moving under Lilith's mana aura, not to mention the students who were just Rank-Ds. They were not in any state to move.

Hiro didn't know what to do. Obviously, he could run away, abandoning them all but that was not an option. As for blocking the attack, that was impossible with his current power. Even if he could squeeze out everything he had, he knew that he would not be able to do anything in front of Lilith's attack.

Zion, Lisa, and Sylvia were in no better positions than most students. Though they could still stand, running away from the blast would be impossible for them.

-SHUNK!

There was no more time to think as Lilith had finished her preparation for the attack. Lilith released waves of black energy as the sky trembled with its power.

Just from the force that Hiro felt from the attack being launched, Hiro predicted that no one would survive if the attack reached here.

[ "StarShatterer Style: Devoted Star Limit release" ]

Hiro increased his power once again. Having done it once, the strain on his body was more. However, he gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. However, he knew that this was not enough.

"Not enough!"

Hiro shouted.

[ "System Activate: Double Power" ]

On top of his already skill to increase his strength, Hiro used the system skill to further increase his strength. While System skill does not burden his body as much as the Devoted Star Limit release, there was a burden nonetheless.

Furthermore, because his body was already enduring power that he normally is not privileged with, his body began to tremble with all the power that his body could not handle.

"AAAAAH!"

Hiro was beginning to feel pain that he had never felt before. The intensity of the pain was similar to when Zero first used Dual Art in a fight. Like every mana in his vein was trying to burst out.

-THAK!

Keeping his sword firmly in hand, Hiro endured all the pain. He had to stay conscious or else all the hard work that he had done would be for naught. He gathered his mana quickly as he prepared to launch an attack to counter Lilith's attack.

-SUUUUUU!

The attack was heading in their direction as it continued to disintegrate everything that was in its path including some unfortunate devil contractors.

Hiro got a little used to the pain and his focus shifted to the dangerous black beam that was heading in his direction.

[ "StarShatterer Style: Everlasting Starlight" ]

Hiro launched a slash of his own. The skill was the most powerful one that he could use right now. The skill was unique in that it had the ability to absorb the mana in the surrounding area as it continued to get stronger and stronger and finally hit the target with power greater than it initially was.

Hiro's attack continued to make its way toward the black beam as it continued to grow as big as the black beam.

-BOOOM!

And finally, the two met with one having the ability to disintegrate things while the other had the power to consume mana.

-THUD!

Hiro's body could not handle the strain and collapsed, but Hiro continued to stare in the direction of his attack. The fate of his life depends on whether his attack surpasses Lilith's attack.

They didn't need to wait for a long period of time to find out.

-SUUUUU!

Lilith's attack immediately disintegrated Hiro's attack, as if it didn't exist.

The increase in power of Hiro surpassed the power of many Rank-B Explorers, and with the Everlasting Starlight attack, he could have easily countered an attack by a Rank-A human, but unfortunately, Lilith's power was greater than your typical Rank-A.

Hiro has lost all his hope. He gave his all and the result was still the same. His attack could not even make a dent. Even if he wanted to do something, he simply didn't have any more energy.

And even if he could, he had already shown everything he had and could not do anything. Other students had also lost hope.

Zion, Lisa, and Sylvia were even embarrassed to be able to do nothing but watch their friends injured trying to save them. Hiro did his best while they were struggling to even hold their weapon in their hands.

-SUUUUU!

And soon they lost the light in their eyes as all the light was swallowed by the black beam. Some had already closed their eyes prior to their death, thinking that their time has come to an end.

-BANG!

"Huh?"

"We are alive!"

"We are Alive…"

They got a feeling that they got hit by Lilith's attack but then it looks like they were still alive. They could not hide their joy as they hugged their friends in tears.

"What happened?"

Sylvia asked confusedly.

One moment they were about to die and the next thing they knew, they were still in one piece.

"Look there!"

Someone shouted.

Everyone immediately looked in the direction in which he was pointing to.

"T-That is…"

In front of them was a big shield. They knew that it was what had saved them from that devastating attack.

"Anyone injured?"

The Hero wielding the big shield turned around as he spoke.

'Y-You are …"

"Mr. Diamond!"

The one to come to their rescue in their peril was called Mr. Diamond. He excelled in defense as a Hero of rank-S and is said to be one of the best Rank-S tanks. Despite being attacked by a 5 S-Rank Devil, he is said to have still survived, which shows how strong he was.

"Everyone is fine Mr. Diamond."

"Good! Sorry for coming late! Our team got stuck by some Devil but don't worry now. The Authority will now protect you."

Mr. Diamond said as he shifted his focus from the students to Lilith.

Despite being a Rank-S hero, he was still wary of Lilith. He tried to be perfectly fine but his hand was still trembling from the hit that he took. He still could not believe that someone of the Viscount Devil could display such power.

He didn't know what would have happened if he came one second late.

Lifting his giant shield, Mr. Diamond moves forward toward Lilith. When he arrived, he shielded students with his mana aura which made students move easily.

-SSSSSS!

Lilith who was still in the air gathered Dark Energy once again. She was again preparing to use her skill.

However, students were not scared of the attack anymore. With the arrival of Mr. Diamond, they knew that they would not be harmed.

Mr. Diamond halted his steps and positioned himself to receive the attack. The fact that he knows the attack will be powerful does not deter him from blocking it. As he had previously done, he knew that this time would be no different.

-SUUUU!

Lilith, this time used a smaller sharper black beam which she used to make a hole in Hiro's father's shoulder 5 years ago.

Mr. Diamond used his Giant Shield and blocked the attack.

-BANG!

Students watched the fight without any worries. And just like the other attack, Mr. Diamond perfectly blocked the attack.

-CHEERS!

Students cheered for Mr. Diamond as he continued to block one powerful attack after another without taking any damage.

Mr. Diamond stopped the cheers with his hand.

"You should retreat. There are agents from The Authority to the east. They will protect you."

Mr. Diamond said.

This puzzled the students who were cheering. They thought that Mr. Diamond was going to protect them which turned out to be false.

Actually, Mr. Diamond wanted to protect the students himself but he changed his mind after taking the second attack.

There was a small hole in his giant shield. His shield was a Rank-S artifact that could not be broken unless it took a powerful attack from Rank-S. To be able to destroy some of his shields, he knew that the Devil before him was trouble.

He didn't want to risk the life of the students and if he made some mistake, the Devil could take the students hostage. Both his life and that of the students could be at risk.

Therefore, he asked the students to retreat.

While they didn't understand Mr. Diamond's intention, the students obeyed his command and retreated. Hiro was carried by Zion as they left with other students.

"Now, let's fight!"