Chapter 345

Seventy-Sixth Chapter: The Excessive Emotions of a Girl

“Mr. Timons—” When Wuki naturally saw the sudden change, but when she tried to get up, an invincible force pinned her down, making her unable to move.

“His problem isn’t your concern. Get far away from him!” It seemed she heard the girl’s voice. More shockwaves burst from the Golden Eye of the Dark Pretty Cure, sending Wuki flying even further, almost causing her to fall off the floating island.

An intangible attack completely suppressed her. She immediately understood this should be attributed to who it was. Unbelievably, that Dark Pretty Cure had even hidden her strength during their battle. Discontent immediately flooded her chest.

“Cursed, it’s all because of my insufficient training…”

“Timons!”

Arriving next to Ash, watching the man pressing his chest, the Dark Pretty Cure opened her mouth, hoping to help him, hoping to do something, yet completely unaware of what to do.

After all, as a weapon, her only notable ability was destroying enemies. Saving others never crossed her mind; it wasn’t her duty… or at least that’s what she thought.

“I-I don’t know what to do,” the girl said with her usually cold voice, now mixed with anxiety.

“Cough, cough, it’s fine, Small Dark, don’t worry.” Ash exhaled another breath thick with blood, raising his arm after which the Dark Pretty Cure understood his intentions and supported him with her shoulder, helping him stand. “It’s still early for me to be out of the game.”

In an unnoticed circumstance, one of the rootlets of the Heart Tree slowly approached beneath Ash, warm light energy seeping through the soil into his body, starting to heal him without Ash realizing it. He felt his spirit suddenly uplifted.

“It’s just a bit too much fun getting careless…” Just thinking that such a good opportunity to display strength wasn’t used properly ended up backfiring on herself. This really humiliated herself.

“You’ve been asking me to convert life energy efficiently nonstop, which improved Timons’ output to its limit, but the energy you consume won’t recover so quickly!”

The voice of Kayin in the belt also protested. After all, if Ash died, the Demon would die too. Kayin just found fun in the Pretty Cure world and didn’t want to end everything too soon.

“Damn, I know, I won’t do that again. Next time, we won’t.”

Since her version was almost obsolete, unless that succeeds…

“But Small Dark, aren’t you supposed to have a mission?”

Mission…

The Dark Pretty Cure’s gaze swept over the Pretty Cure girls and then over the Heart Tree behind her. Her attention constantly switched between them and Ash.

Destroying the Heart Tree connected to humans’ Heart Flowers would cause a global desertification, leading to a victory for the Desert Apostles and completion of Doctor Shabak’s assignments.

But, doing that would leave the currently powerless Timons vulnerable to the Pretty Cure girls.

When this idea appeared in the girl’s mind, her originally charming face contorted. This feeling of her goals being opposed by her thoughts made her utterly disoriented!

As an existence created by Shabak, all she had to do was complete the task. Anyone getting in her way should be defeated, whether enemy or same-side Desert Apostle, but why…

Scenes of that “date,” with him uncomfortably close to her, flashed in her mind. These scenes interfered whenever she needed to act, reminding her of a past satisfaction and happiness that prevented her from moving forward.

Why can’t I ignore Timons? Why do I feel worried about him?

“Small Dark, what’s wrong? Your face looks so strange,” Ash blinked, not understanding the situation, maybe not knowing if he was suffering from it himself.

“I’m fine.”

She glanced deeply at the masked man beside her, more complex feelings welling up inside her and urging her to make a quick decision.

After proving herself by defeating CureMoonlight, she believed following Doctor Shabak’s orders would be enough, but now…

“Timons, it’s your fault!”

“Huh? Alright, I didn’t mean it, just got in the way… I feel ashamed myself.”

You’re the reason for these extra emotions.

“Precure!” Facing the Pretty Cures who were gradually recovering and surrounding her, the Dark Pretty Cure showed a vicious look once more.

“For now, I’ll let you go, but don’t think the same luck will come next time!”

Without waiting for their reply, the Dark Pretty Cure abandoned the chance to capture all the enemies, beating her wings behind her, flying higher while holding Ash with one arm.

“If your goal is the tree, there’s no need to worry too much.”

At least I’ve handled trees similar to this before, it’s worth a shot.

From her item storage, she drew the half-broken Dark Evolver and hurled it with force. The gem at its tip easily penetrated the protective shield, sinking into the soil near the Heart Tree’s root.

“With such a tremendous dark power that could destroy the world, if this…”

“If you continue fooling around, I’ll throw you down.”

Inserting into the ground, the Dark Evolver looked like a broken DX toy, losing its vibrancy, resembling a gray plastic DX toy from the first generation, showing no response.

Hearing the Dark Pretty Cure’s uncaring words, Ash instinctively wanted to refute, but looking into those slowly chilling golden eyes, he surrendered silently.

“Alright, I admit, I messed up twice today.”

Unnoticed by everyone, light began to emanate from the Dark Evolver, gathering around the root of the Heart Tree shining like a distant North Star.

Seventy-Seventh Chapter: Ash Struggling with Handcrafted Cheat Powers

“What’s going on…”

Placing the stamp in front of him, Ash pulled off its burned outer casing, revealing its twisted internal structure. Through its black sections, he could see golden sand leaking out.

Wires connected to the stamp relayed data continuously to his computer. Although he was tweaking the stamp, Ash couldn’t lift his heavy, worried face.

Trying different adjustments, Ash’s face reflected the uncertain results.

“It’s not working!”

Withdrawing the wire connected to Timons Driver, he rubbed his temples, exhaustedly collapsing into a chair.

Originally, he planned to use materials like Belial’s skin to defeat him and Gyefu’s genetic material to beat Gyefu. With the Desert Apostles’ power, he thought he could activate new possibilities to enhance himself, but to no avail.

“It’s not that easy. My technology and the Professor’s aren’t the same…” Ash, though a genius with limits, realized he wasn’t the supporting character he once was, now struggling to craft his devices.

He initially tried binding the boss’s power into the stamp, as a traditional demonic seal that could synchronize with the driver to unleash its immense power, but failed miserably. Increasing the stamp’s desert apostle power output would risk disastrous consequences. His untransformed self could die instantly, or worse, the seal might explode in a chain reaction. Decreasing the power would negate all sense in creating a cheat power.

“Hey, how’s the situation inside?” Poking the driver shell, a moment later, Kayin emerged with a troubled expression resembling Ash’s.

“Really, if you keep pushing me around, I’ll quit!”

Even as a demon, I’m still your own demon! You want me to go inside and sync the stamp and driver? Isn’t that suicide like dropping a newborn Ultradriver into a Game with Gargantua?

“Even if I’m your weakness, I don’t feel weak. So everything must be done right.”

“Isn’t that what you said about humans needing demons?”

“That’s what the bath guy said. I didn’t agree.”

Muttering, Ash used his practiced hand to soothe Kayin’s head.

“Thanks this time. Later, I’ll let other Pretty Cures cheer you up.”

“Alright, that’s more like it.”

Encouraged, Kayin began reporting on the inside situation.

“In short, the power inside isn’t comparable to Gyefu’s kind. It’s more like an Ultra movie scene.” Kayin sat obediently in front of Ash, licking the stubble on his head.

“Swirl, in short, unless you find a force opposite to this darkness that wouldn’t harm you, mixing them is pointless.”

“Feh—easier said than done.”

“Boss!” Just then, a knock on the door startled an already alert Ash. “We’ve changed clothes, Boss, are you here?”

“Boss, are you really coming down here?”

“Coming.” Ash shook his head, temporarily deferring the troublesome matters, grabbing Kayin and hiding him inside before putting dismantled parts into the refrigerator near his feet and opening the door to his room on the second story of Nasta Café.

“Doesn’t it suit me perfectly?” Erika proudly spun in a circle, showing off her cute uniform with her skirt hem, with Lei and Wuki standing behind her in equally fetching but somewhat shy outfits.

Yesterday, Erika finally convinced Ash to change their uniforms, and Lei and Wuki followed suit. As someone from a clothing store family, Erika had an eye for beauty. Her dream was to display her works in Paris at the World Exhibition.

“Indeed,” Ash acknowledged the fashion talent. Seeing cuter staff, he said teasingly, “No wonder they’re Pretty Cures. They dazzle the eyes.”

“Mmm, really?” Lei started to come closer but stopped as Erika blocked her path, feeling embarrassed once more.

“Heh, there you go, after all, I’m beautiful—”

“Sounding like an adult sounds odd,” he patted Erika’s head. “This time, I’d say Wuki’s more eye-catching than you two.”

He hadn’t noticed Wuki’s improvement before. Despite having kept short hair, she looked quite charming.

“Mmmm…”

“I don’t think I fit well…” Wuki said, waving her hands hurriedly. “Mr. Ash, please, I’m not suitable for dresses!”

When she joined Nasta Cafe, she hadn’t intended to stay after initially coming for the Pretty Cure base’s hype. She was drawn by the refined, relaxed atmosphere. Plus, they enticed her.

Another reason she never mentioned, seeing the owner, “Ash,” always reading manga, felt oddly familiar.

If only his coffee wasn’t so awful… Isn’t this a coffee shop?

“Looks good to me!”

“You know, Lei…” Wuki approached Lei and whispered, feeling it best to consult her as a mentor. “Is Mr. Ash likely to harass employees?”

She didn’t want to end up at the police station, eating tonkatsu rice, right away.

“Ash, thankfully, wouldn’t do that,” Lei answered weakly.