Parallel Memory
chapter-345

"This would be the last time because you wouldn't live past today! "

In a careful gesture, Jester slowly removed the sword from the body of the Rank-A tank.

-THUD!

The sound echoed throughout the hall as the Rank-A tank's lifeless body fell to the ground. His eyes showed intense anger even though he was dead.

"What the hell Jester? Why did you do that?"

The Dark Guild members asked. In this turn of events, they had lost one of the Rank-A. They could understand that they had enmity but for Jester to kill one of the Rank-A members on importance like this one was inconceivable.

Even if one hates the other, they would usually settle it privately or maybe silently assassinate the other. No one would blatantly kill each other as they would be heavily punished.

"Do you know the consequences of what you did?"

The subleader asked.

"What consequences? You'll probably not be alive to report me, anyway!"

Jester said as he pointed his sword at them. He wore a smile that seemed innocent which contradicts his actions.

!!!

Then only did they realize what Jester was planning to do. He not only planned to kill the Rank-A tank but was also betraying the whole organization.

-CLANG! -CLANG!

Hiro and the others were still fighting but their attention was also on the one who killed his own teammate. Additionally, they heard their conversation in which one of them betrayed them. While it was good news for them, it was no time to celebrate as they didn't know whether the guy called Jester was their ally or not.

There is a chance that he wants to take all of the credit for killing or capturing them. Because of that, they will have to be more cautious about Jester as he may not be their friend.

"This guy! You two go and handle him before he makes things more complicated."

The sub-leader commanded one Rank-A and one Rank-B who was fighting with Misha and Lisa. Subleader didn't bother to ask for a reason as it was meaningless.

Furthermore, he didn't think much about Jester and just thought that he was a greedy and foolish man who was overconfident.

Killing them all?

That was the last of his worries. He thought that the only reason that the Rank-A tank died was that he was backstabbed by the Jester. Or else he would not have been able to do that.

"Sure!"

The Rank-A archer and Rank-B tank that the sub-leader commanded obeyed his order and proceeded to kill their betrayer.

"I thought you were clever, but I was wrong!"

As he charged his arrow, the Rank-A archer spoke. Even though he knew he could win, he was aware that his opponent was also the same rank as him. This is one of the reasons that he was asked to cooperate with the Rank-B tank.

-WHOOSH!

Jester rushed to the archer position at full speed. It was a speed that surpassed Hiro, not only Hiro, it has also surpassed the speed of Subleader.

Jester was intercepted by the Rank-B's shield immediately.

-SLASH!

"AHH!"

Jester was able to slash both his shield and his body with ease, allowing him to bypass his defense. It was as smooth as a knife cutting butter. The Rank-B tank couldn't offer any kind of resistance to the Jester.

The Rank-A archer panicked at that. He saw Jester rushing there to kill him but due to the presence of a Rank-B tank, he thought that the tank could prevent him from advancing further.

He was planning to slowly exhaust the Jester and kill him when he is all tired and worn out. Never did he think that Jester was so fast as well as strong to be able to get past the tank in seconds.

[ "Explosive Arrow Barrage " ]

The Rank-A archer shot several explosive arrows. Even though he knew that it could not defeat a Rank-A, he knew that it could buy him enough time to retreat and get help. As an archer, in direct confrontation, he knew that he could not win.

-SWISH!

However, Jester had not slowed down at all. He easily dodged the arrow while slicing some of it. In a matter of seconds, Jester was before him.

"W-We are f-friends right? Please spare me!"

The Rank-A archer asked, his voice quivering with fear.

Jester didn't answer. Instead, he swung his sword. Archer wanted to dodge the attack, but his speed was nothing in front of Jester who severed his head.

Within one minute of killing the Rank-A tank, Jester managed to kill another Rank-A on the Dark Guild's side, as well as one Rank-B. This caused the subleader and others who were fighting to be stunned momentarily.

-CLANG! -CLANG!

Hiro took advantage of this to strike at the subleader. He is also surprised but not as much as Dark Guild members. After all, he already knew that Jester was strong, unlike the Dark Guild who thought that Jester was not more powerful than any other Rank-A.

-CLANK! -CLANK!

However, Subleader soon regained his composure. He fought with Hiro while also thinking about taking care of the betrayer. As Jester was much more powerful, he had to change his focus on him to Hiro.

"Ray, support me! We will take care of this betrayer first."

Subleader said.

Ray was a spear user who was fighting Zion. They soon rushed to fight with Jester while other Dark Guild members took their place and fought with them.

Right now, Subleader and Ray, who are in Rank-A, are battling with Jester. Other than them, there was only one Rank-A who took the subleader place and was fighting with Hiro. Other than them, it was only Rank-B Dark Guild members who were fighting Lisa, Zion, Sylvia, Misha, and Lisanna.

Previously, Dark Guild outnumbered them, but now they outnumbered them. They quickly tried to take advantage of this situation. However, they had already spent much of their mana and stamina which made it difficult to defeat their opponents.

At the same time, Subleader and Ray fought Jester together.

-CLANG! -CLANK! -SLASH!

Subleader thought that he and Ray would quickly take care of the Jester before going back to capturing Hiro and others. However, it seems that they had underestimated the Jester too much.

Even after teaming up, they were on the losing side. Jester's speed was much faster than his own, while his attacks were all strong. Their injuries kept increasing.

"Y-YOU! You were hiding your strength all this time?"

Ray asked, with both frustration and fear. Subleader was somehow able to keep up with Jester's speed but he was not. He was just getting beat up in this fight. Moreover, he remembered how Jester used to be the lowest authority in their Rank-A group.

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

There was no reply as Jester kept striking at them. Subleader could not take this any longer. He was losing miserably and his subordinates fighting Hiro and others also didn't seem to be doing any better.

"I am not going to hold back anymore! Ray, buy me some time."

Subleader ordered. He then retreated back as he began charging his mana.

Ray had no choice but to fight Jester by himself. As expected, he just keeps on getting beaten up by Jester. However, Ray was also a Rank-A fighter. He was not going to lose easily and he was also successful in preventing Jester from attacking the subleader.

[ "Chaos Blast Wave" ]

A skill that unleashes a chaotic blast of energy, creating a wave of destruction that engulfs everything in its path. The subleader used the skill without waiting for Ray to move.

He knew that with Jester's agility, he could easily dodge the attack. Therefore, he had to use Ray to keep Jester busy when he was firing this skill.

!!!

Ray saw a powerful wave of energy directed in his direction. The Subleader had used his ultimate attack and he was not even spared. Subleader planned to kill him along with Jester. Ray could only stay still in hatred.

Jester also saw the powerful attack that Subleader unleashed. However, he didn't panic and was rather moving toward the attack instead of dodging.

[ "Shadow Dance" ]

Jester used Shadow Dance to become a shadow who quickly escaped through the small gap and appeared behind the subleader.

-BOOM!

"Yes!"

Subleader exclaimed in excitement. The man believed he had killed Jester and wasn't aware he was standing behind him.

"Sorry!"

The subleader heard a voice from behind. His expression changed from excitement to horror. He quickly tried to get away from that place.

-STAB!

However, a sword passed through his heart. He moved his head to look at the sword that had pierced his heart and at the attacker who had killed him. His eyes closed soon after.

-THUD!

Jester had managed to kill the subleader. He looked at Hiro and the others fighting which was in favor of Hiro's group.

"Looks like they don't need my help anymore. I expected them to be much weaker. Guess they had also grown in the time I was away."

Zero said as he slowly disappeared into the shadows.