Chapter 409

The hundred and forty-fourth chapter: The Will of the Small People and the Rain

As Ash hung up the phone, he suddenly felt a flash of light before his eyes. Making a quick judgment, he immediately flung the phone away. Then, he sharply tilted the motorcycle to the ground, arching his body to protect his head as the motorcycle skidded and was thrown out.

“Thud thud thud—”

With the overcast weather due to an approaching rainy day, pedestrians had already returned home to collect their clothes. The sound of gunfire echoed unusually starkly on the deserted street.

“What? I thought Lily had changed into someone who would ambush others.”

Squinting at several bullet holes in front of him, Ash shifted his gaze toward a person shadow that emerged across the scene from a bike emitting thick smoke.

“I didn’t expect to run into you first.”

Holding a pistol that resembled a flattened cube, Eddie aimed at Ash, his expression unusually solemn.

“Well, actually, you do have a reason to shoot me. After all, you’ve suffered a lot at my hands.”

Not knowing exactly when he was found out, there’s a saying: “It’s said that fools can be sharper than geniuses.”

In front of the extremely wary Eddie, Ash, having regained his footing, brushed off dust from his clothes carelessly.

“But more importantly, your SCSO target is a huge evil lurking in the world of Pretty Cure, right? If so, then surely it must be me…”

“No!”

Eddie interrupted him with his voice.

“Recently, headquarters sent a message; even I received it.” At this moment, Eddie, still aiming at Ash, neutrally narrated a fact. “It’s said that an unidentifiable darkness was carried by the unexpected train passenger and successfully brought back to the Kamen Rider world, so I received a signal from headquarters to return and they will judge me later for acting on my own.”

“I’m still not mature enough; one reckless action leads to my main duties being completed by outsiders…”

“The Peaches and company? But what’s going on? It’s not even me?” Ash seemed somewhat disappointed, but quickly redirected his attention to Eddie. “Since that’s the case, then why are you stopping me here?” Raising his right hand into a gun shape to point at Eddie, Ash mimicked a gun sound with his mouth.

“Is it because you can’t accept being fooled by my simple methods, or do you want to beat me as proof of becoming a hero?”

“My anger isn’t because you deceived me…” Teeth clenched with rage, red-eyed Eddie removed the Dragon Strike Sword from behind his back and the Magdan Key from his waist.

Thinking of becoming a hero like the commander, only to end up being a nuisance. Maybe I’m just someone who fails at everything… But even someone like me, when it’s time, has the heart to act!

“Whether it makes me a great hero or just a insignificant small person!”

“I’m angry because you betrayed their trust!”

“[Dragon Sword Transformation]!”

Suddenly pulling out the Sealm Destoyer aimed at Eddie and pulling the trigger, he saw Eddie wield his sword to cut through the incoming beam of light.

“Hitting Dragon Transformation…!”

Dodging a charging azure blue dragon and sliding past it, as energy surged into Eddie, he transformed back into the Demanta Warrior Dragon King.

“Something feels different.”

Facing a male combatant charging straight at him roaring, Ash crouched, raising his lance, shooting beams of light from the Sealm Destoyer straight toward his opponent.

“The dragon living with light will cut down the demons stirring in darkness!” Wielding the Dragon Strike Sword to deflect the incoming beams, the explosions in his back illuminated his figure brightly with light. “Dragon Sword Technique, God’s Light!”

Eddie was furious. Though he wasn’t deeply involved with them, the young girls in the coffee shop had still inspired him at times.

Thinking of them laughing as they looked at this person, recalling how this person had inspired him before, he roared, charging at Ash with raw vigor.

“I also have someone I believe in, someone I love! So I can understand this feeling!”

Parrying Ash’s sword strike deftly, seeing his torn clothes, Ash was amazed with surprise.

Now showing such a significant difference, indeed, it cannot be compared in the same day.

“They trusted you, but you did this to them, it’s unforgivable!”

Flipping skillfully to dodge the slash, the axe struck sparks upon impacting his armor. Surprisingly, instead of retreating, Eddie pushed forward and collided forcibly with Ash.

“Hmph, ignorant fellow…”

The strength provided by Sho Wa’s punches might be enough to knock down Eddie, but for some reason, he kept increasing his strength until he turned the tide.

“I may not be smart, but so what?!” Sparks leapt from the Dragon Strike Sword colliding with the Sealm Destoyer lighting up his visor. “I know no matter what reason, there’s no reason to make those who like you sad!”

“This kid…!”

Being pushed harshly into a trash pile, Ash held Eddie’s wrist with his sword trapped above his neck.

“You trampled their sincere hearts, I will defeat you before they do!”

Seemed very confident, yet…

“If this is my game with them, interfering would be…”

Rapidly switching the stamp on the gun’s injector, realizing “Bangy!” effect, while an excited Eddie reacted, the gun’s maw was already pressing on his waist.

“Oh no!”

“[Ohing Strike]!”

Seeing himself being shot at close range and transforming back, lying on the ground, and rolling away, Eddie looked up dully, shaking his head.

“As a warrior, you’re still far behind.”

However, as for having the heart of a hero, there’s a hint of that too.

“Now you won’t stop me anymore because it’s already unstoppable… hmmm?”

“Pitter-patter…”

A heavy drizzle gradually intensified, Ash rubbed his dust-covered nose, feeling wetness.

“It’s raining…”

Standing in an alleyway under the rain, holding an umbrella, Lily stared blankly at the corner in front of her.

Defeated that day was similar, the cold and merciless rain, chilling water took away her lost warmth, making her appear soulless as Ash brought her back.

Expected something else from her instead of meticulous care which opened her healed and closed-off heart, wanting to accept him, filling the “family” void in her heart.

Why did it turn out this way?

That day, Kuron left him, would this so similar rain take something from her too?

“Boom!”

Lightning struck, illuminating the dark world momentarily like daylight, and emerging in the opposite alley was Ash, holding an umbrella too.

“Hey.”

“Ash… Ash…