Parallel Memory

“Now that annoying bug has been removed. Let’s start the fight, little heroes!”

Barracuda said as he regained his excitement.

Barracuda called Hiro and his group heroes because that was what was called by the media when the news that Hiro managed to drive away Barracuda was known.

Letting Hiro alive was one of the most humiliating things for Barracuda. He used Devil Fruits and even with that he was not able to complete his objectives. His punishment was nothing in comparison to the humiliation that he had to endure.

The news about the heroes emerging was everywhere after that incident and every time he saw those papers, he would be angry. It was like someone was advertising his failure to the whole world which was technically true.

His failure was celebrated by the whole people of Edolas.

Anyway, those were the things in the past that he had to endure. Now, the time to amend his mistake had come. He brandished his ax which was a Rank-B artifact that he got from one of the missions.

Hiro and Zion also got ready. They were not hasty about making their move and waited for Barracuda to make his first move.

Barracuda’s ability to knock out one of the Rank-Cs Devil Contractors in one move showed them that Barracuda was more powerful than the other devil contractors they were fighting.

When Barracuda took the stage, even the other Devil Contractors refrain from interfering. They don’t want to end up in the same state as the one who was slapped by Barracuda.

-THUD! -WHOOSH!

Immediately Barracuda started to move towards them with bloodlust oozing out of his body.

“Enchant me!”

Zion quickly said to Lisa. He knew that for them to be able to defeat Barracuda, they needed to take the fight seriously.

While he could use his secret technique to increase his strength, after the time ends, he would be vulnerable. And that would be the worst-case scenario, especially since Barracuda was not the only enemy that he had to fight.

However, he was not afraid to face Barracuda again. Instead, he took this as an opportunity to wash away his shame of being defeated.

[ “Athena Blessing: Reinforce Strength” ]

Lisa immediately enchanted Hiro and Zion’s power. She also remembers the time when the three of them were defeated miserably by Barracuda.

However, she was not afraid to face Barracuda again for a similar reason. Since then, she has grown and believes that she could perform better than before.

Barracuda wielded his ax and rushed to attack the trio. However, this time they were not only stronger, but they had an additional ally.

[ “Multiple Shot: Dazzling Light” ]

Sylvia was the first one to strike. She shot several arrows simultaneously at Barracuda with each arrow blinding the enemies.

Of the four, only Sylvia has not fought with Barracuda. Even so, she could tell that the opponent appeared this time was more dangerous than before.

Barracuda who was rushing towards them came to a halt due to his vision being taken away.

Hiro and Zion didn’t let the opportunity pass them by and immediately started to attack him.

[ “Imperial Spear Style: Obliterate Strike” ]

[ “Starshatterer Style: Void Destruction” ]

Both Zion and Hiro used their skills at Barracuda who was stunned by Sylvia. The other Devil Contractors even with Barracuda fighting alone refrain from helping him.

Not only were they not friendly with him, they knew that they were more likely to be beaten by Barracuda. Anyway, even if Barracuda was to be defeated, they didn’t think that it was anything bad.

[ “Berserk Chop” ]

-CLANK!

However, their attacks were met with Barracuda’s ax. With Barracuda’s ridiculous strength, he was easily able to parry Hiro and Zions’ combined attack. After fighting many strong enemies for the past few months, Barracuda’s fighting abilities were completely different from before.

Even without his vision, by sensing the mana aura, he was able to tell from where Zion and Hiro were attacking.

“Not today!”

Barracuda said.

-CLANK!

Hiro and Zion were pushed back by Barracuda’s counterattack.

[ “Phoenix Flame Shot” ]

-SLASH!

Sylvia attacked, but the attack was destroyed by Barracuda’s ax. For him, the attack that was done by Sylvia was very weak.

Hiro and others were not that shaken by Barracuda’s display of strength. That was not like the time when they used every power they had and still failed to defeat him.

They were just using their regular power and then also they were not at a disadvantage. While their attacks were all intercepted, Barracuda himself was not able to proceed further.

“I see you have all grown stronger. But so did I! Haaaaaa…”

Barracuda released a powerful wave of mana as he prepared to use his skill. Several students would have passed out if not for Hiro shielding them with his own mana aura.

[ “Mountain Split” ]

A huge slash created by Barracudas’ ax was launched at the students. The attack area didn’t just involve Hiro and those who were fighting him. The slash was so large that it could hit every student that was there.

However, obviously, Hiro and his group would not let that happen.

Lisa raised her staff and prepared to deploy the shield.

[ “Soteria Blessing: Lunar Curtain” ]

Lisa released her skill. In front of the students, there was a wall that seemed to be made up of light. Obviously, a wide area shield like this was not enough to protect the students from the attack that Barracuda has just released.

[ “Stormrage Phoenix” ]

Sylvia shot an arrow that turned into a blue fire phoenix that headed towards the Barracuda attack and challenged it.

-BOOM!

The two skills clashed with each other but Sylvia’s attack could not stop the attack that was released by a Rank-C +. However, the objective of her attack which was to weaken the Barracudas’ slash was successful.

Now, with Lisa’s shield, the weakened Barracuda attack should be blocked. The students who were behind Lisa’s skill could only watch the attack come toward them in despair.

-BAM! -BOOM!

Barracuda’s slash was powerful enough to annihilate all the students present there, however, with the help of Sylvia’s attack and Lisa’s protection skill, all the students were unscathed.

Barracuda was a little surprised at the strength of the girls. He remembered the time in BloodyWolf Forest when Lisa failed to protect herself, much less the number of people that she managed to save today.

-CLANG! -CLANG!

Hiro and Zion immediately moved to attack Barracuda. They didn’t want to give Barracuda another chance to use his deadly attack.

[ “Berserk Chop” ]

-SLASH!

[ “StarShatterer Style: Complete Annihilation” ]

[ “Imperial Spear Style: Obliterate Strike” ]

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

There was a complete stalemate between the two sides. Hiro and Zion’s attack was stopped by Barracuda and Barracuda’s strikes were blocked by them.

-CLANG! -CLANG!

After exchanging a few blows, Hiro realized that even with the support of Lisa and Sylvia, it is going to take a lot longer to defeat Barracuda without using their secret techniques.

Although it was going to take longer, Hiro felt that it was a good thing and continued fighting. It was because while Barracuda was a tough opponent, they were not as exhausted as when fighting with multiple enemies.

Moreover, other Devil Contractors had stopped attacking and were watching Barracuda. He felt that staying in this position would be ideal until help arrives.

The other Devil Contractors were also getting impatient as Barracuda was wasting a lot of their time. However, thinking about what happened earlier, they refrain from directing their anger toward themselves.

Anyway, they do not believe that Ace Academy professors would be able to defeat those Rank-A and Rank-B Devil Contractors plus even if they defeat them, they believe that they would be stopped by the Devils.

Therefore, they thought that interfering with this fight was not necessary and just continued watching them fight.

On the other hand, there was a Barracuda that didn’t care about such things. His only objective right now was to eliminate those three and everything else was a secondary concern. He didn’t even think about the reinforcement and just continued attacking Hiro and Zion.

The good thing for Barracuda was that there was no one stronger than him in that group of Devil Contractors. So, nobody could truly order him.

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

Neither side gained any advantage as the fight continued for a few minutes more. It seemed as though the fight would never end.

-WHOOOO!

However, suddenly a portal opened near their fighting place. Both sides knew what was coming out of the portal as the fight which seemed endless came to a halt.

-WHOOSH!

From the portal, a Devil came out. But unlike other Devils, she was tremendously beautiful. However, nobody has the time to admire the beauty because of the dreadful aura that they sensed.

-CLANK!

!!!

Hiro, who was watching the Devil, suddenly trembled and the sword which was in his hand was released. His body trembled violently as he raised his finger and pointed at the Devil.

“YOU ARE!”