Chapter 323

Chapter Fifty-Four – I Want to Play a Game With You

“Lily, don’t be too hard on them.”

Upon hearing Ash’s vague hint, Tsukikage Lily found it hard to meet his eyes and shifted her gaze. She began to wonder, whether she was taking out her frustration on these children due to her own experiences. If that was the case, then…

Taking advantage of Lily’s moment of self-reflection, Ash stealthily reached out with his thoughts to contact another disgraceful demon indulged in the tender world somewhere else.

‘How long will you play? It’s time to come back.’

Watching Rei and Erika confronting the Desert Beast below, Ash developed an interest.

Although he seemed less critical of innocent people compared to before, due to the experiences from his previous world, this did not mean he wouldn’t have sudden bursts of energy. Right now was the perfect opportunity to test his “flower cultivation results.”

“Scorpion Lena, return Mr. Eddie’s Heart Flower!”

Regardless of their individual opinions about Eddie, responsibility made the girls set on reclaiming the Heart Flower from the onset.

“Tsk, saying return and just returning? When did Desert Apostles become so easy-going?” Scorpion Lena sneered, summoning hundreds of Snakies minions to attack the girls all at once. Her plan was to exhaust their opponents first, then use the Desert Beast to finish them off in one move.

“They’ve only gotten a little stronger, it’s nothing to brag about!”

“This time we won’t let you do what you did last time! Snakies, get them!”

The “Snakies” made of sand and burlap, fearless and undeterred by repeated beatings, shrieked and charged forward with renewed vigor.

“We’re no longer the same as before!”

They fought side by side, striking the Snakies with their fists to send them flying left and right, causing a rain of sand.

Numbers had lost their significance for the current Pretty Cures. Recalling the strategies used against Timons, they effortlessly balanced coolheaded actions with passionate offense, already surpassing novice levels.

“Blossom, duck!”

Realizing her teammate was about to unleash a powerful move, Rei immediately covered her ears and went down on her knees to reduce her surface exposure.

“MarineDynamite!” Pure energy gathered before bursting forth from the girl’s body in dazzling ocean blue light. The AOE energy wave centered on Erika blew the surrounding enemies sky-high, achieving an immediate clear screen effect.

“How, see it? My super FineP—” Before completing the sentence, a golden lightning struck, enveloping Erika instantly.

Struck by electricity, Erika could barely form words, trembling from strong magic currents coursing through her limbs. She looked like a shocked Tom cat, sparks flying, even showing sparkling bones within her, before ending with a puff of black smoke from her mouth and her sleek hair transformed into a spiky hairdo, akin to a Saiyan.

“Marine!”

Seeing her friend’s plight, Rei rushed over, shaking Erika who was dizzy and spinning, trying to wake her up. But a flurry of further attacks soon followed. Swinging his lion-like cannon from his left hand to his right arm, an enormous sword emerged, wreathed in flames, cleaving through and burning the grass beneath their feet. Rei clung tightly to Marine to escape.

Why… This Desert Beast is too powerful!

“Why—why is this happening?”

Thunder and flames danced in the desert beast’s hands. Its dragon-eyed gaze fixed on the two girls, emitting distorted voices of Eddie.

“Why am I struggling despite my efforts? Why isn’t anyone recognizing me?”

Each attack landed with tremendous force. Unlike the previously encountered Desert Beasts skilled in special tactics, this one possessed extraordinary strength and speed, overwhelming the girls with elemental powers at its disposal.

What’s going on, this desert creature is too strong!

Even Scorpion Lena looked surprised, then overjoyed. She had casually turned some despondent figure into a Desert Beast, not expecting such fortune.

“This time…”

“…will surely take down the Pretty Cure?”

“Ah, haven’t heard that one in a long time. Nobody ever means it.”

Hearing the voice behind her, Scorpion Lena’s ecstatic expression froze, turning mechanically. She saw her worst nightmare, a spider-masked face.

“Timons, you want to meddle again?! Even if you are new, it doesn’t give you the right—I,”

“Alright, alright, I’m not here to take credit,” seeing Lena’s agitated state, Ash quickly comforted her, noting his past behavior might have been overly excessive. “On the contrary, I’m here to help, isn’t that right?”

“Help?”

“Yes, if you win, you’ll get all the credit for defeating the Pretty Cure. All I want is to validate the assistance I’ve given. What do you think?”

He glanced at the helpless Desert Beast formed from Eddie’s Heart Flower, shaking his head involuntarily.

Pathetic. Weak when reckless as a hero, strong when bold as a villain.

I once hoped you’d prove the possibility of a role reversal. Was I expecting too much from someone claiming heroism?

“Timons!”

Recognizing the Masked Rider appearing, Erika, who had just rinsed her face clean with water, frowned. Dealing with this Desert Beast alone was tough enough, now thrown in an even tougher Masked Rider— how could…

“Yo, the Heartcatch Pretty Cures, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you.”

“Excuse us, as dignified beauties we can’t accept a villain’s advances!”

“That’s right!” Rei, irritated by Ash’s light tone, chimed in. “At least aim for a level of excellence like our shop owner—”

“Rei, now’s not the time for personal preferences!”

Seeing the girls whispering and goofing around, Ash plucked a string of beads from his wrist and jangled them, catching both their attentions with the shimmering light.

“These are, Heart Seeds!”

“Correct, these are the Heart Seeds taken from you.”

Noticing they were hooked, Ash smirked wickedly under his mask.

“Pretty Cure, I want to play a game with you.”