Parallel Memory

-THUD! -THUD!

Priestess Helena was relieved that Zero/Jester didn't attack her and was obediently following her. And she also just did what she was told which was to show Zero the way to Cardinal Hildred's camber.

She didn't try to be arrogant and provoke Zero in any way. It doesn't matter whether Saintess was captured or not as she was truly scared of Zero attacking her.

She quickly led Zero to Cardinal Hildred's chamber.

"So you came!"

Cardinal Hildred said with a smile. She slowly stood up from the throne-like chair. Saintess Amelia was kept at her side with Adeline's sword at her neck.

Zero glared at Cardinal Hildred. However, Cardinal Hildred was not intimidated.

"Give me the Nexus Scepter!"

Cardinal Hildred ordered Zero.

Zero looked at the artifact in his hand. He knew that the moment he gave away the Scepter, Cardinal would win and that she might even kill Saintess. His only advantage was having the Nexus Scepter which would be able to revert the minds of everyone who might help him to defeat Cardinal Hildered.

However, his advantage was nothing in front of Cardinal Hildred's advantage. She could kill Saintess before he could do anything and even with the help of others, Cardinal Hildred could easily escape with the help of her Rank-S bodyguards.

"NO! Don't give her the artifact!"

Saintess Amelia who is tied up shouted. Her beautiful hair had become messy because of her blood and her body was pale due to the loss of blood. She seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.

She was getting weaker due to blood loss and her mana being sapped away. Even so, she managed to yell loudly at the moment.

She knows what will happen if the Nexus Scepter is handed over to Cardinal Hildred. She would rather have her life taken away than others. Her eyes showed determination and a willingness to sacrifice herself.

Adeline was directed to make the Saintess quiet by Cardinal Hildred.

Adeline restrained Saintess Amelia's movement and she was pinned down on the ground to stop making any sound.

"Give me the Nexus Scepter or else I will kill her immediately."

Cardinal Hildred threatened.

"First promise me that you won't kill her!"

Zero said.

"Humph! You are in no position to demand things from me. Just hand me the Nexus Scepter or else the Saintess will die."

Cardinal Hildred said. Adeline pressed her sword against Saintess' neck and blood bled out a little.

Zero had no choice but to hand over the artifact.

"Capture him!"

However, Cardinal Hildred was not done with just being able to get back the Nexus Scepter. She ordered Rank-S Holy Knight to handcuff Zero.

Zero didn't resist as he knew that if he did, Cardinal Hildred would threaten him again with the Saintess' life.

He looked for the opportunity to save Saintess but failed. The problem was the two Rank-S Holy Knights who could react faster than him even if he used Shadow Dance. Second was Adeline who was close to Saintess and could take her life any time she wanted.

If he did something wrong, then the Saintess might lose her life. In the end, he did nothing and, now that he was handcuffed, he lost the ability to resist. Despite his best efforts, he could barely circulate his mana.

Cardinal Hildred's smile became wider.

Finally, even the variables in her plan were captured. She was truly unstoppable now.

She got closer to Zero and kicked him in the face.

-BANG!

"Haha… I thought that you would pose some problems for me. Who would have thought that you were naive just like the Saintess? Haha…"

Cardinal Hildred exclaimed. Zero couldn't resist and fell to the ground with blood coming out of his mouth.

Normally, Cardinal Hildred's kick wouldn't be able to do much damage to Zero but without mana, he was powerless and was very weak. Although his physical body was still stronger than many, he could resist the strength of the Cardinal who is Rank-A.

-BANG! -BANG!

"Haha… Why aren't you arrogant? Where did your arrogance vanish? Haha… Take this!"

-BANG!

"ARGH!"

Zero got more and more injured. He was as helpless as he could be.

Cardinal Hildred continued to kick Zero, who was now lying on the ground, helpless. She even strengthened her attack with mana.

The Saintess watched in horror as Zero was beaten and bloodied.

'NO! Stop! Please stop!"

The Saintess Amelia screamed as she watched Cardinal Hildred beat Zero with her mana-enhanced kicks. Cardinal Hildred was so high from the excitement of getting revenge and didn't hear the Saintess scream.

Right now, her mind was filled with only torturing Zero. Her hatred simply stemmed from the fact that she was in a higher position than Zero and that he should have respected her. Although a little of her anger was also because of Zero ruining her plan but most of her hatred came because of Zero not respecting her position.

"Haha… After I take care of you two, that old geezer will be next!"

Cardinal Hildred declared. Her ultimate plan was to control the church and she knew she could with the help of the Devils.

Zero was helpless and could not do anything to defend himself. He was kicked and kicked until he was lying on the ground, barely conscious. However, despite being in pain, he didn't beg nor did he show any kind of helplessness on his face.

-BANG! -CLANK!

!!!

Cardinal Hildred used everything and kicked Zero on his face which forced the Morphic Mirror to come off and reveal his real face.

Cardinal Hildred stopped in her tracks and was startled. So were Priestess Helena and Rank-S Holy Knights. They were more surprised than Cardinal Hildred.

As someone who personally witnessed his ability upfront, they couldn't believe that it was just a boy who seemed to be a teenager.

Cardinal Hildred was startled to see Zero's real face. She had also never seen him without the Morphic Mirror before.

"T-This is the real Jester? Was he in disguise?"

Cardinal Hildred said while turning her head towards Saintess Amelia. If there was one who might have an idea of who it could be, she believed that it was Saintess Amelia.

"..."

Saintess Amelia couldn't pay attention to what the Cardinal was saying. She just looked at Zero's face which was older than she remembered when he was brought by Mia in his injured state.

His state was similar with all bodies full of injuries. Just that, this time she was helpless and couldn't help him. Tears fell from her face as she continued to blame herself.

If only she had escaped and didn't argue with Zero. If she hadn't been so selfish, Zero wouldn't be in this state, Saintess Amelia thought.

"S-Sorry! This is all my f-fault! I am the one who put you in danger!"

She said in a low voice. She was also losing energy and barely staying conscious.

Saintess Amelia was filled with guilt as she watched Zero being beaten by Cardinal Hildred. She knew that it was her fault that Zero was in this situation. If she had just listened to him and escaped, he wouldn't have been hurt.

If she had not been adamant about saving everyone without having the ability to do so. She pushed everything on Zero and now because she was captured, Zero is getting beaten.

"..."

Cardinal Hildred got no answer from Saintess Amelia.

"Humph! Anyway, it looks like I have got two treasures this time. The Lord will appreciate me more if I give him such a talented boy. My position will rise even further. Haha…"

Cardinal Hildred didn't know who Zero was but was happy that he was young.

The reason was because Zero was a genius. Previously, she knew Zero was powerful and even tried to recruit him as a Holy Knight so that she could control him.

However, she wouldn't consider him a genius because of his age. There were many Holy Knights that were Rank-A at the same age as Jester. She just thought about adding him to her force.

But now that his real face was revealed, she knew that she had hit a jackpot.

Even without knowing Zero, she knew that he was very young. A person as young as Zero who managed to get Rank-A was a genius that anyone would envy.

But she was not happy because she thought about recruiting him or anything. It was because of The Lord, the Rank-SS devil that she works for who likes to collect talented people.

She didn't know full well but knew that The Lord rewards those who capture and bring geniuses to him. And now that she had caught one of the greatest geniuses, she was sure that The Lord would be very pleased with her and give her more rewards.

Moreover, she had also fulfilled her initial mission given by The Lord to capture the Saintess.

"Haha… I wanted to kill you just now, but you saved yourself."

Cardinal Hildred happily said.

"Helena, go bring me some mana stone."