Parallel Memory

Chapter 571: Hiro vs Xalvar(2)

Star Shatterer: Death Star.

The moment Hiro invoked the skill, his body ignited with a blazing aura, his sword trembling under the surge of power. His eyes reflected that violent determination which came only when one was fighting with both life and pride on the line. The system’s interface shimmered faintly in his mind, and as he pushed further—activating the System: Double Power—his body screamed in pain from the sudden pressure, but the effect was undeniable. Strength and speed surged through him at a scale he had never once touched before. For the first time, Hiro had a glimpse of what it felt like to stand at the precipice of Rank SS. He had not ascended, not officially, but the overwhelming force he now carried within his blade hinted at that level.

The drawback gnawed at him already—his muscles felt as though knives were tearing through them, and he knew the backlash would come the moment this ended. But Hiro had long since stopped caring about what came after. What mattered was the present: Xalvar stood before him, the one devil he had sworn to strike down. His enemy, his tormentor, his shadow. This was Hiro’s chance, and he would not let it slip away.

On the battlefield, chaos continued. Soldiers clashed, blades and spears flashing amidst spells and blood. The human commanders barked orders, their priority still fixed on thinning the enemy’s overwhelming numbers rather than watching a duel. Only Hiro’s closest friends occasionally cast glances toward him, hearts clenched with worry, yet they too fought to fulfill their role in the larger war. It was Hiro’s fight to settle, and they had to trust him.

Then—

BOOOOM!

The ground cracked under the force of Hiro’s next strike.

"Star Shatterer Style: Void Destruction!"

His sword descended like a meteor tearing through the sky, the impact so great that Xalvar, who had been confidently defending with his dark mana shield, was blasted backward. His body slammed against the far arena wall, rubble cascading around him. The collision shook the air, forcing even nearby soldiers to pause for a second.

When the dust settled, Xalvar rose, dark energy rippling violently around him. His shield, which had weathered countless battles, was cracked, and his expression shifted into one of wary recognition. He had underestimated Hiro—this was no longer the boy he had mocked, the weakling he once thought to crush with ease.

"Tch..." Xalvar hissed, steadying himself. "So this is why Lord Aamon saw you as a threat. If I don’t go all out, you’ll actually kill me here."

Hiro didn’t give him a chance to breathe. He charged, his steps blurring as his speed doubled under the System’s boost.

"Star Shatterer Style: Star Fracture!"

The attack came swift and merciless, his blade glowing with condensed destructive force. Xalvar barely managed to conjure a thick wall of dark energy, shouting—

"Dark Art: Lord’s Shield!"

The clash was deafening. Sparks exploded as Hiro’s sword pressed against the divine-like protection gifted to Xalvar by Aamon himself. Crackles spread like spiderwebs across the shield as Hiro’s energy dug deeper, tearing into its layers. The ground beneath their feet split apart, and the very air vibrated with the struggle.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The shield trembled, fractures spreading, but this time it held just enough. Hiro’s blade halted inches from Xalvar’s chest, and though his power was immense, the shield prevented him from drawing blood. Xalvar’s lips curled into a dark grin.

"You cannot win against Lord Aamon’s blessing," Xalvar sneered. "You’ve forced me to use this much, but it will be your undoing."

The moment Hiro pulled back, Xalvar’s entire demeanor shifted. The cautious defense vanished, replaced by raw aggression. He thrust out his hand, summoning from the void a blade unlike any other—a rusted sword etched with grotesque symbols. Dark energy poured from it like smoke, thick and suffocating, each pulse promising ruin.

The clash continued. Hiro met Xalvar’s sword head-on, every strike shaking his bones, every impact threatening to tear his body apart from the inside. Sparks flew like fireflies, steel grinding against steel, mana against mana.

"HYAAAAAH!" Hiro roared as he drove his blade forward.

"RAAAH!" Xalvar countered, his rusted sword dripping venomous energy with every swing.

The two warriors danced in a deadly storm, their blades flashing faster than the eye could follow. To the ordinary soldiers below, it was as though two meteors had collided above their heads, each strike rattling their souls.

Minutes turned into ten. Ten into twenty. The battle stretched on, thirty minutes of relentless exchanges without either finding a decisive edge. Hiro’s skill was bolstered by his newfound surge of power, but Xalvar was cunning, every move calculated, every strike meant to exhaust and entrap. Hiro’s speed forced him on the defensive, yet Xalvar’s raw resilience and Aamon’s borrowed strength kept him alive.

The arena floor was destroyed, craters scattered where their blows had landed. Dust hung in the air, blood dripped from shallow cuts, yet neither yielded. The duel was evenly matched, as if two natural disasters had chosen to clash in the same space.

And then—mid-strike—Xalvar’s gaze shifted. His eyes scanned the battlefield, and what he saw drained the smugness from his face.

The devil army was faltering.

The overwhelming tide of soldiers that had once dominated the humans was reduced to less than a quarter of its initial might. The numbers dwindled, their morale shattered. Human heroes fought with a newfound fury, rallying in the face of dwindling opposition. What was meant to be a crushing victory for the devils had turned into a slow, grinding collapse.

Xalvar’s eyes narrowed. No... this isn’t right. He had been so focused on Hiro that he had failed to see the bigger picture unraveling. His plan—to drag out Hiro, to wear him down while the humans were slaughtered—was slipping away.

"Tch," he spat, retreat plans already forming in his mind. If I fall here, Lord Aamon’s greater designs will suffer. I must regroup.

He swung his blade in a wide arc, creating distance between him and Hiro. Dark wings sprouted from his back, crackling with energy, as he prepared to withdraw.

But Hiro wasn’t about to let him leave.

"Where do you think you’re going, coward?" Hiro growled, his sword glowing with starlight once more. He surged forward, his speed now fully unleashed.

Xalvar barely had time to react before Hiro appeared before him, blade aimed at his throat. The advantage in speed was Hiro’s domain, and this time he would not allow his enemy to run.

"You started this fight, Xalvar," Hiro said coldly, his eyes blazing. "And you’ll end it here."

The two blades clashed again, sparks illuminating the ruined arena. The battle was far from over, but for the first time, Hiro’s dominance in speed had caged Xalvar completely.

The retreat Xalvar had planned so carefully crumbled before Hiro’s relentless pursuit. The devil commander realized, with a bitter snarl, that escaping would not be as simple as spreading his wings.

Not anymore.