Parallel Memory

Chapter 705: A Fall of a Star

Zero's body arched violently in Lilith's arms.

The first warning was a tremor—small, almost delicate, like a shiver running through his spine.Then the tremor became a pulse.Then the pulse became a shockwave.

A surge of unstable mana exploded outward, rippling through the ruined throne hall in spiraling lines of shadow and frost.

Stone cracked.Ash scattered.Even the air trembled.

Lilith gasped, tightening her grip on him as the unstable energy tore at the space around them.

"Zero—! Please—stay with me—!"

Mia stepped back with Amelia, raising an arm to shield herself from the sudden blast. Her eyes widened.

"His mana… it's getting worse."

No—worse wasn't the right word.

His mana was breaking.

Cracking open like a collapsing star.

Amelia's expression paled."He's burning through everything. Mana, stamina, even his life force—if this continues, his body won't last."

Lilith's face twisted in panic.

"Help me stop it!"

Mia exhaled sharply."How? Touching him burns us. Your instincts attack us every time we approach."

Lilith lowered her head, ashamed but desperate."I know! And I'm trying to suppress it, but his condition is—he's slipping—!"

Zero shuddered again.

Dark shadow energy spilled from his chest like smoke, while cold frost surged across his arms, freezing the ground around them.

The clashing forces were eating each other alive—like two storms fighting inside one body.

Amelia's eyes widened in realization.

"He's not just unstable… he's overloading."

Mia's heart dropped.

Once, long ago, she had seen an elf release mana like that—and the result had almost killed Zero.

Her breath caught.

This felt the same.

Lilith held him tighter, voice breaking."He needs to be moved. I need to bring him somewhere he can stabilize—somewhere the mana won't explode outward and hurt him further—"

Mia cut her off."There is no safe place inside this palace. Everything's falling apart."

Amelia nodded, scanning the cracks running up the walls."If the ceiling collapses with his mana like this, the impact alone will finish him."

The realization hit all three of them at the same time.

They didn't just need to treat him.They needed to escape the palace—before it crushed him.

Amelia pressed a hand against her chest to steady her racing heartbeat.

"We have to move him. Now."

Lilith shook her head violently.

"I told you—if you touch him, he'll burn you. Only I can—"

Zero convulsed again, his body lifting half a centimeter off Lilith's lap as dark mana erupted outward.

Lilith screamed as the energy tore into her own arms, ripping through her skin. Black blood splattered across the ground.

Mia's eyes widened.

"He's hurting you too…?"

Lilith's breath hitched, but she didn't let go.

"His mana… is too unstable even for me now. I can hold him, but not for long…"

Zero's body trembled uncontrollably, his hands curled tight as if clawing at something only he could see inside his unconscious mind.

His voice—usually cold, reserved, steady—escaped in a broken whisper.

"…stop… don't… please…"

The sound froze all three women.

Mia's chest tightened painfully.

"Zero…?"

Amelia bit her lip hard, tears threatening to form.

"He's trapped in it. He's in pain. He's… scared."

Lilith bowed her head, shoulders trembling.

"I can't lose him… not now…"

Another surge blasted outward.

This one was stronger—violent enough that the entire palace groaned like a wounded beast. A pillar collapsed somewhere behind them, crashing into the floor.

Dust rained down.

The ceiling cracked.

The palace wasn't going to hold.

Amelia's eyes darted around desperately.

"We have to leave now or we'll all die!"

Lilith's wings folded around Zero protectively.

"I'll carry him—just clear the debris!"

Mia snarled."You can barely stand with your wounds."

Lilith's devil instincts flared at Mia's tone again, but she fought them down with visible effort—her wings shaking as she forced her posture to relax.

"I don't have a choice."

She tried to lift him.

His body convulsed.

Dark mana erupted again—this time hitting her so hard she screamed, collapsing to one knee.

"LILITH!" Amelia rushed forward but stopped when a flare of Zero's mana sliced the ground between them.

Lilith gasped for air, pupils dilating.

"I—I can't keep suppressing both my instincts and his mana… I'm losing control…"

And Zero—Zero looked worse by the second.

His lips were turning pale.His skin was growing cold.His shadow energy kept spiking, then collapsing.And the frost spreading across his arms was turning blue—too blue.

Mia clenched her teeth.

"We're out of time."

Amelia nodded shakily.

"But at this rate… none of us can touch him."

Lilith's voice cracked.

"I… I can shield you. I can suppress his energy for a few seconds—but I can't carry him alone."

She looked up at them, desperation naked in her eyes.

"Please. I need your help."

Mia hesitated.

Not because she didn't want to help Zero.

But because every instinct in her screamed that touching Zero again would burn her alive.

Amelia placed a trembling hand on Mia's arm.

"Mia… it's Zero. We can't let him die."

Mia closed her eyes.

She saw Zero's faint smile from months ago.The way he helped her train without complaint.The way he listened even when he pretended not to.The way his presence made her feel seen.

Mia opened her eyes—cold, sharp, determined.

"Fine."

Amelia nodded once.

"Tell us what to do."

Lilith steadied her breathing.

"I'll suppress his mana. But I can only hold it down for a few seconds. During that time, you need to support me as we lift him."

Mia rolled her shoulders.

"Consider it done."

Amelia raised her staff.

"I'll soften the air around us to reduce the pressure of his aura."

Lilith exhaled shakily.

"Then ready yourselves…"

She closed her eyes.

Her aura flared outward—silver and black intertwining, wrapping around Zero's convulsing form.

His mana fought back.

It lashed out like a living thing—feral, violent, unrestrained.

Lilith gritted her teeth, blood dripping from her nose.

"Now—! Hold him—! Before he breaks free—!"

Mia darted forward, frost swirling around her hands.

The moment her fingers touched Zero's shoulder—

Agony ripped through her.

But she didn't let go.

Amelia dove in from the other side, using wind mana to cushion the contact—but even that wasn't enough to stop the burning sensation racing across her skin.

Zero's body trembled.

His eyes—still unconscious—twitched violently behind closed lids as if trapped in a nightmare.

Lilith lifted him by his upper body.Mia supported his right arm.Amelia caught his legs.

The three women struggled together, each taking on a piece of his unstable weight.

All around them, the palace continued to collapse.

A pillar crashed down behind them.The ground trembled again.Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling.

"MOVE—!" Mia shouted.

They staggered forward.

Another pulse of shadow energy shot out—Lilith roared and forced it down.

"GO! GO WHILE I CAN STILL HOLD HIM—!"

The three of them pushed through the cracking tiles, stumbling over rubble, dodging falling debris.

Zero's mana kept fighting—lashing out, screaming to be released.

But they didn't let go.

Not Mia.Not Amelia.Not Lilith.

For once, none of them cared about rivalry, jealousy, or titles.

They cared about the same thing—

saving Zero.

And all three of them refused to lose him.

Not here.Not now.

Not after everything he fought for.g