Chapter 137

The Thirty-First Who’s Miracle This Is?

“Let’s just get this done here.”

Ash, who couldn’t fly, was grabbed by Regina and pulled onto the shoulder of Great Adventure, sitting high above as they looked down at the four people below, like ants.

Despite the promise to go easy on them, the sheer size of Great Adventure meant that simply moving could cause widespread collateral damage to humans, let alone now with the ongoing War Stomp.

Thus, if things were to not escalate beyond repair, Ash would ultimately need to manually control the situation.

“I hate troublesome things.”

But having come this far, what else could he do? He had to muster his strength and see this through.

As the towering black shadow approached overhead, any astonishment at being in a new world disappeared, replaced instantly with fear on the girls’ faces. Though they had battled Selfish Beasts before, the current one was much taller than three stacked Gundams, its presence so overwhelming.

They truly felt helpless; how could they fight against something so large!

The exhausted Pretty Cures chased by a robotic girl pushed themselves to run faster, but even though Great Adventure advanced at a steady pace behind them, each step equated to a hundred of theirs, negating their speed advantage. In this space, some force hindered their escape efforts.

Finally, the girls chased into a ravine found no way out; the path back was completely blocked by Great Adventure.

“It’s—no longer possible!”

Arisu bent over, hands resting on trembling knees, breathing heavily with the murky air of the Dark Realm before coughing violently. Pain seared her lungs.

“No way, no way, no way!” Rikka’s face grew panicked, nearly crying, her head shaking so hard it almost blurred.

“It’s too big! This is impossible!”

Key moments like these always called for someone to stand up, and Ai emerged bravely. Twirling, she turned to face Great Adventure directly.

“Makoto!?” x3

Ash sawAi bravely stand in front of the giant machine, his thoughts immediately gravitating toward “the blind insect resisting a cart.” The scene of a little girl confronting a huge robot was too striking—so much so that the others instinctively cried out her name.

“If we lose here, if we Pretty Cures retreat, how can we overcome the Selfish King afterward?”

Thinking of the brief glimpse of the Selfish King in the Card Kingdom, her massive thousand-meter frame was incomparable now. Without the courage to face the current challenge, how could they defeat a more powerful king?!

“If even Makoto says…”

Great Adventure completely drowned out the girls’ voices, its footsteps deafening. Regina covered her ears, her eyes fixed on Great Adventure’s feet.

Ash clenched his closed fist around the gear, wary of killing these girls. It wasn’t easy taking lives.

The dust kicked up by Great Adventure’s foot was blown away by a strong wind, revealing the bottom half of the Pretty Cure, buried under the ground, struggling to stay under great strain.

“Aaaah——”

With elbows pressed to the ground and hands gripping the edges of Great Adventure’s foot, they strained to hold the weight.

Pretty Cures’ faces turned red from exertion, fingertips bleeding from friction. The immense pain from pushing themselves past their limits gave them unprecedented, twisted expressions.

“Makoto! Rikka! Arisu!”

Makoto, still in human form, cried out desperately, her friends barely holding off her fall from grace. Had her friends not protected her spot, she would be the first sacrifice.

“Power—can’t come out!”

Their power, driven by belief and love, seemed bogged down in this realm, burdened by fear and unable to rise.

This was why they struggled against such a formidable enemy, lacking the strength to fight back.

Determined, Ai noticed another person beside her—Regina’s smiling face from below—pushing aside her anxiety.

“See, I’ve done a lot for you. But now you choose.”

“To be a friend or…”

“To be friends!”

Before Regina could finish, Ai answered almost inaudibly, determined.

“I won’t give up my friends!”

Seeing the girls reach their limits, Ash silently unscrewed the capsule and reached for the gear.

It was enough; it had to be.

He understood the gear’s potential now. Powerful yet inefficient, he couldn’t misuse it. He couldn’t keep asking Regina for replacements.

Saving energy, he thought, a good cook needs rice.

Though he hoped to witness the Pretty Cure’s miracle under pressure, miracles weren’t common; they appeared when needed.

“Maybe it’s for another time…”

From adventurer’s back, Ash saw a purple aura.

Was it over?

Even Ai, their strongest, was trembling under the load on her arms. Despondency took hold.

Then a clear sound—crack!

Unable to transform, Makoto joined them, pressing the enormous foot from below.

Human power was negligible, but Makoto chose to stay, joining with the others.

“Makoto!”

Makoto bit her lower lip, shaking. Today had been terrible: mistakes on set, failure finding the princess, and losing a valuable lead to defeat. The emotional trauma from Ash had pushed her near breaking.

Seeing Ai and friends struggle, her worries vanished. Only one resolve remained.

Together, we’ll overcome the adversity—

To victory!

“You may have a point…” Makoto’s voice wavered, “I’m inept, failing to save my country, my princess!”

“But even I can try my best, to aid my friends. Like Rikka and Arisu, I too can face my fears.”

“Wake up, Makoto!”

Ai’s voice cut in, a weak smile gracing her lips.

“No one’s perfect. Inability isn’t about lack of skill but recognizing one’s inadequacy—normal.”

“Our weaknesses bring us together, helping each other through hardships. Lean on friends where you’re weak, and support them with your strengths.”

Isn’t it the same for us? Makoto felt kinship, appreciating Ai’s music despite her own shortcomings in singing.

“Regina, pay attention!”

Called unexpectedly, Regina met CureHeart’s direct gaze in the gemstone, a fierce determination etched in Ai’s eyes.

“Real friends help and understand. To destroy what’s dear because you want me is not friendship!”

“Not me,” Regina yelled, but the princess listened, pondering those words internally.

“To help—that’s for friendship? Dad didn’t teach me that.”

“Fine, then watch!”

A pink aura spilled from Ai’s chest, enveloping her like a radiant light suit. Energized, she prepared herself to face the challenge together.

Seeing this shift, Ash recognized Great Adventure beginning to tremble underfoot!

Dark Evolver started to heat up in his hand, dark waves turning golden, as if something powerful awaited eruption.

“What’s happening?”

“The power of one is small…but united, we’re invincible!”

Dark Evolver’s blue gem suddenly cracked, flooding with golden particles. They cascaded down as a glowing storm, filling the exhausted girls, allowing CureSword to break free and transform once more.

“Yaaah!”

Exhilarated cries echoed, the girls standing, rising from the ground.

Damaged supports broke, and despite Great Adventure’s relentless force, the girls’ combined effort pushed it backward.

Ash leaped onto a nearby cliff as Great Adventure fell.

“Amazing… What is this?”

Incredible, the glow filled them with unprecedented strength, every fiber rejuvenated.

“Warm light.”

Gazing at the dissipating darkness in his hand, his emotions swelled.

Not the power of Dark Mephisto or Zagi.

The Pretty Cures’ miracle unfolded.

The miracle was within—”lost light regained.”

Facing the toppled giant, Ai smiled confidently.

“Our lost heartbeat, Great Adventure-san, will surely be recovered!”