Chapter 268

Episode 167: Ash’s Death

“Is this really right?”

The enemy’s strength was beyond imagination, but they had also learned not to give up.

Cureheart, battered and bruised, stood up with her arms supporting her, surprising Ash. In her eyes, facing the Selfish Ancestor, there was no fear, but pity.

“If you monopolize the world, you can indeed do as you please, but in a world where you’re the only one, you can’t act selfishly anymore, right?”

“What are you saying?”

The Selfish Ancestor’s aggressive aura faltered instantly as it looked at Cureheart with disbelief.

“Selfishness ultimately means ignoring others and thinking only about oneself. But in a world where everything is dominated by you, with no other existence, wouldn’t that meaning be lost?”

After all, if there are no cars on the road, running red lights freely holds no significance for villains either.

“Then, you won’t be the Selfish Ancestor anymore?”

Born in the universe, an entity of conscious beings’ selfish hearts, he was born to uphold self-centered living and to plunder existence.

The question raised by Ai Aida had never crossed his mind.

In an instant, Cureheart shattered his very purpose in life in just a few words. A surge of extreme anger rose from deep within.

He changed his plan. Originally wanting to take Ash to use as material for his resurrection, now, he wanted to eliminate the talkative Cureheart first!

“Shut up! How dare you preach to me, the Selfish Ancestor? You’re the true self-centered one!”

The berserk Another Ryuga rushed in, knocking Ash aside and sending Ai Aida flying into a building. Another Ryuga pursued her, its claw filled with evil energy, aiming for the Heart Decor turned love charm in her chest.

“Mana, stop!”

Seeing Ai’s predicament, the others struggled to get up. The Selfish Ancestor waved, summoning several Selfish Beasts that grabbed their limbs.

The girls tried to struggle free, but under the control of the Selfish Ancestor, the monsters pulled them along, leaping into a reflective area nearby. Blinding light flashed, erasing the girls’ presence from the world, leaving behind only the lone Light Gun and Crystal Mirror tablet.

“Hmph, although strange, that power is indeed interesting.”

Using Another Ryuga’s ability to enter the mirror world, he effortlessly took out the remaining Curehearts, deliberately leaving behind the relics to prevent any troublesome miracles from happening due to contact with them.

Then, he continued his assault on Cureheart.

“I will personally extract your arrogant Spirit Heart!”

A surge of evil intent poured through Cureheart’s Spirit Heart, causing her body to be forcibly corrupted. The conflict between light and darkness within her triggered excruciating pain, making her emit anguished cries. The love charm on her chest, once glowing warmly, gradually darkened with black.

“Mana—!”

Seeing his friend in trouble, a girl from the other side slammed on the glass in despair. Just as her expression turned hopeless, a figure shot past before her!

Ash, despite pain throughout his body, jumped up and kicked the Light Gun lying nearby, charging angrily towards that creature.

“Ma—Na—!”

But it was too late.

“The Spirit Heart of a Cureheart is truly disgusting light!”

In the end, darkness triumphed over light, and the Selfish Ancestor forcibly pulled out the Spirit Heart, representing human hearts. As it severed the connection between her heart and the love-shaped heart, Cureheart collapsed, consciousness blurring.

Once ordinary citizens fell into emptiness owing to self-centered thoughts, officers would take advantage to pollute and forcibly extract their Spirit Hearts, turning them into Selfish Beasts. Only when purified by Curehearts could they regain consciousness.

This time it was her turn to have her Spirit Heart extracted. Ai felt her perspective distorted, seeing the laughing Another Ryuga from her fallen body and observing herself in terror inside the mirror, feeling her soul held captive.

Am I… dying?

I haven’t defeated the final enemy yet… haven’t reclaimed everyone’s future…

Father, Mother, Rikka… Everyone, I’m sorry.

Sorry, Ash… We were supposed to spend Christmas together… Ash?

Fuzzy-minded and almost asleep, Ai became clearer as she saw someone enter her vision.

“Henshin!”

Using her foot to kick up a card box caught in a crevice, the box aligned with the tablet on the ground. Summoning the belt, she used another spin kick mid-air to properly insert the card box into the belt.

Transformed with a foot, Ash stepped forward with his left foot, spear pointed at Another Ryuga. The opponent met him head-on, grasping his spear with four hands.

The sound of four fists clashing with the spear tip nearly shattered her eardrums, the sparks illuminating the similar yet distinct faces beneath both masks.

“Hardly gave you time, did you? Not fleeing, but attacking?!” Clutching the spear shaft with two arms, Another Ryuga’s other two arms, each with claws, left devastating marks on Longya’s chest armor.

“Where do you find your confidence? With your damaged armor? Clearly, the power gap remains unchanged.”

Feeling confident, it even had the leisure to mock Ash.

“Not close enough, how can I bring back that fool?” Ignoring the wounds, she forcefully energized the Light Gun, the beam blasting the opponent back.

“Rather regret trying than regretting not trying.”

The omnipotent adaptability allowed the use of the three relics’ powers, but extracting such strength left Ash’s legs wobbly, sinking to one knee.

Looking back at the unconscious girls lying in rubble and those in the mirror, a forceful resurgence swelled within him, pushing him back up.

“Then, this isn’t some scrap armor! This is me!”

His fist struck his wounded chest armor, producing a clear chime echoing like his heart.

“I am—”

“Kamen Rider!”

Punches collided with spear attacks in mid-air, the impact emitting blinding light. Ash swept his spear across, striking the lifted arm.

With the Light Gun, Ash successfully caused harm to the Selfish Ancestor, making it struggle.

“Ordinary human, tough to deal with!”

“How honorable for you to say so!”

Silent, the Selfish Ancestor increased the frequency of its attacks, pressing Ash backward until he stepped on something soft, no longer capable of retreat.

“Mana…”

“Die, human!”

Blocking the spear thrust with three arms and raising a punch enveloped with ominous energy, it prepared to strike!

Dodge… Unavoidable.

Throwing away the Light Gun, he pulled out a card without hesitation, inserting it into the dark dragon summoner.

[Guard Vent] Descent of Protection

“There’s always a way!”

Even if blurry, Ai saw the resolute knight who blocked her view.

She also saw that Kamen Rider Dark, with a shield, protected the unconscious blonde girl.

Black and another dark silhouette clashed.

Next moment.

“Sizzling—”

Scattered metal fragments sizzled around Ash’s feet, landing with faint metallic clangs when they hit his shoes.

“Don’t…”

Through the knight’s chest, the demon claw pierced, drenched in lethal blood. Droplets falling on the tightly closed eyelids of the fallen girl mixed with tears streaming down眼角