Parallel Memory

( Well, easier for me! )

He thought.

"Today, you are dead!"

Ruelle shouted angrily.

She had been preparing this tactic for three days. It was humiliating for her to work with others to deal with Zero but considering the humiliation she suffered at Zero's hand, it was nothing.

Her priority has changed since the time she considered winning the tournament to be her highest priority. Her revenge on Zero was more important than anything at that moment.

"Do you think you would win just because of this barrier?"

Zero didn't forget to provoke his enemy!

"Humph! You will know in a minute. Everybody, now!"

Ruelle commanded.

All other 8 students instantly poured their mana into the object that they were holding and did some hand gestures.

Despite being confused, Zero knew that they were planning to do something. He was not an idiot to stand there and do nothing knowing that his enemy was planning to do something.

Within seconds, he turned around and sprinted toward the participant who was close to him. He was going to break this barrier and take out that student before they were done with the thing that they were planning to do.

-SLASH!

However, to Zero's surprise, the barrier made by them was very sturdy and there was no scratch or vibration of any kind. It didn't even seem like he had hit the barrier at all.

"Too bad for you! Only somebody at Rank-A might have a chance of breaking the barrier! You, Zero, could not escape from this place."

Ruelle said.

She didn't give up the opportunity to make fun of Zero. To see his plan ruined was something that she was happy to witness.

"Escape? Me? Haha… Do you remember the person who ran away in the first round? Do I even need to run away from you?"

Zero replied.

"Y-You!"

Ruelle's face instantly changed.

It was the greatest shame of her life to run away without fighting back at that time. However, she had no chance at that time and her only option was to run away.

"You will regret this!"

-SHINGG!

Then immediately Ruelle's body began to glow.

Zero knew that she had received some kind of boost from the barrier or the formation he was in. The problem was by how much. For Zero, a 10 % or 20 % increase in her strength was nothing to be worried about. However, considering 8 students were being used for enchanting her, he knew that the percentage would be much higher.

[ "Ice Embodiment" ]

He immediately used his skill to increase his defense. He didn't know what would happen and he was somewhat wary of the enchantment. But he refrained from using Dual Art as he didn't know whether this match would turn into a battle of stamina or not.

[ "Ice Creation" ]

Zero didn't stand idle. He was preparing to take her out before she made a move. After all, the offense was the best defense.

He made a giant hand that was used for crushing Jeremy Vincent in the first round. Jeremy who was watching the match shivered and remembered some terrible memories.

-SHUSH!

The Ice made its way towards Ruelle who was not showing any signs of dodging.

-BAM!

The attack hit her directly.

The Ace Academy students immediately rejoiced watching Ruelle get hit. Zero's attack was strong enough to destroy a tank with his defense on and Ruelle, who had no defensive skill, took the hit head-on. They thought that the girl must be knocked out.

-CRACK! -BAM!

The Giant hand was then crushed into many pieces and Ruelle was standing there with no injuries at all. She gloatingly looked at Zero

"Your attacks will no longer work! Even someone in Rank-A will lose against me. You might as well surrender!"

Ruelle started boosting again in hopes of seeing a scared Zero. She had shown how terrifying she had become and wanted to make Zero afraid.

However, Zero still had a calm expression. He was amazed to see that Ruelle could easily break his skill without relying on anything other than her sword.

However, he was yet to be impressed. She had received enhancement from 8 students and if all she could do was cut big ice, then he would be disappointed.

-WHOOSH!

Ruelle rushed towards Zero.

( She is fast! )

Not only her strength but also her speed increased drastically.

[ "Ground Freeze" ]

Zero immediately froze the ground. No matter the speed, it was more challenging to run on a slippery surface after all.

Ruelle didn't care about Zero's skill and instantly jumped and launched her attack on Zero. She already knew about this skill from her previous encounter.

-BAM!

-FU!

Zero coughed up some blood which he instantly wiped off. It was fortunate that he was using Ice Embodiment which saved his life. He didn't expect Ruelle to just jump and attack him.

Her strength has increased so much that she was able to shatter the Ice Armor. She then managed to hit his body, resulting in him being injured.

"Oh! Sorry, you had to bleed due to me."

Ruelle said.

She was feeling very happy at the moment being able to injure Zero. Previously, she tried everything and she was unable to even leave a scratch on Zero. So, watching Zero vomit blood, she became extremely blissful

She was not planning to instantly defeat Zero but to humiliate him before finally throwing him off the stage. She wants Zero to lose while having his pride and ego stripped in front of the whole world.

If Zero had heard that, he would have laughed his ass off. Pride? Ego? He had none of that. In order to achieve his goal, he knew he had to do everything.

If he cared about pride, he would have resisted those students who came to bully him. He would have accepted their challenge instead of earning the title 'Coward Romeo'.

He does not seem to have been obsessed with keeping worthless pride in any of his memories. All of them find it funny how some people are so intent on holding onto their pride.

Ruelle, however, saw Zero as someone who was way too cocky and proud. It was because of how Zero acted and also because the majority of top students had lots of pride.

They didn't like other people treating them as weaklings. The same was true for her as well and that is why she was angry at Zero because he treated her as some kind of weakling like other students.

That is why she was hell-bent on breaking his pride and humiliating him.

"Haha, Don't worry! I remember making you bleed more."

Zero replied.

He was not angry or anything.

However, it was different for Ruelle. Not only did her strategy of mocking not work but she was mocked instead.

She was angry because Zero seemed to treat her the same as he did when he fought with her in the first round. From her perspective, Zero was still not taking her seriously.

"I will kill you!"

Ruelle angrily roared. She instantly released her Rank-B aura with her murderous aura.

"Already heard that line!"

Zero casually replied.

However, he also became more cautious and instantly released his mana aura as well.

The real battle was about to begin!