Chapter 576

The Eighth Proves Himself

Miyuki and the others’ individual purification skills were useless against the heavily reinforced Super Clown Monster. Even without using its ability to warp rules, the Clown Monster could charge forward, swinging all the arrows on its body with incredible speed, bringing massive impact with dark power, instantly knocking down a surprised Pretty Cure.

As “legendary warriors” whose hearts were written in the设定, the Pretty Cures fought with the same mentality. For instance, now that their hearts felt oddly empty, the girls fell one by one with miserable cries after taking a heavy hit, losing even the strength to stand despite supporting themselves.

The Clown Monster’s red nose and exaggerated sausage-like mouth grinned wickedly, mocking them in their embarrassing state.

“How could this happen…”

Facing such a powerful foe, Pretty Cure suffered a painful defeat; Nanoko could not believe it as she knelt down, everything unfolding just like her dream yesterday.

“Huh, you really tried hard.”

Using up two healing accessories stolen from the童话王国 and facing a Super Clown Monster only defeatable with a combined purification technique, they also targeted Nanoko by reversing everyone’s feelings for her, bullying her, plunging her into despair to prevent Pretty Cure from pulling off yet another miracle at the critical moment.

To revive Emperor Pierrot, Joker went through a lot of trouble. Although he messed up with Nanoko, he finally achieved his goal, letting out a sigh of relief.

“But, it seems to end here~”

Of course, these were tricks learned from watching those DVDs. One has to admit, humans’ imagination was indeed impressive. Using human stories to defeat heroes—wasn’t this the perfect tragic ending?

“It’s time for the outdated hero ladies to make way, Clown Monster!” Even though they didn’t succeed in their original plan, taking down Pretty Cure without interference from Kamen Rider was an excellent outcome. “Give them the final blow!”

“Cl~ow~n~”

Just as the Clown Monster was about to smash the screaming girl lying on the ground with its arrow arm, a green figure once again stood in front of everyone.

“Stop!”

Nanoko shouted loudly.

“No one is allowed to harm my friends!”

Even powerless, she still blocked in front of everyone like the first time she obtained her transformation qualification.

“[JaakuRead] (Evil Guidance)!”

Watching from behind the wall, Ash disappeared at that moment.

“How… Is it you again?”

The Clown Monster halted, light and nimble, perching skillfully on an arrow head while Joker leaned close, his face inches away from Nanoko who was sweating profusely.

“Hey, how long has this comedy farce been going on? You’ve put in so much effort, but your so-called friends have ignored you as always, haven’t they? You’ve been abandoned!” Laughing, Joker’s smile was filled with coldness and terror. As someone who sought a tragic ending, the evil dominator was gleefully ridiculing the underdog, goodness, and kindness!

“After all this time, it’s about time someone else joined the fun~” With a footspin on the arrow head, Joker reappeared behind the girl with a magician’s flair. “After all, the era of the tragedy kingdom is approaching!”

“You said they abandoned me, and treated me badly… It’s true!”

Nanoko, completely overwhelmed and vulnerable, trembled as she spoke her heart under Joker’s watch.

“But from the beginning, it was not their fault, but yours! Wasn’t it the Clown Monster’s fault!?”

You destroyed everything we experienced together!

“Why are they all so unprecedentedly hateful towards me… Does this not clearly show that before the reversal, we were closer and dearer to each other? This being the case—”

“I cannot lose to your tragic ending!”

Fear, sorrow, distress—every emotion a girl might feel when facing terrifying things, except despair which generates tragic energy.

“We’re students, not professional combat soldiers. Therefore, for everyone’s smiles, to prevent the birth of the tragic ending! All our genuine happiness, worries, sorrows, and the resolve to stand firm in our battles are real!”

Facing a vast power disparity, Nanoko still stubbornly confronted Joker. “Likewise, I firmly believe that others will never easily fall to a reversal… A lowlife like you wouldn’t understand!”

You can’t understand, right? Well. So what then? To someone born in the Tragedy Kingdom like me, reviving Emperor Pierrot is enough. Why should I understand?

“Originally couldn’t transform anyway. What I do is irrelevant.” Joker narrowed his eyes, naked threats spreading. “But if you insist on being friends with them, follow them to the world of the tragic ending!”

“Ding!”

Kamen Rider Wang Jian abruptly appeared between the monster and the girl, the Dark Sword Tenkuu flaring with pitch-black dragon flames, deflecting the Clown Monster’s fatal attack.

“Mr. Ash!”

Behind her, Rihua, finally gathering strength, got up with a joyful expression. About to join in battle with Ash, she exclaimed, “Thank goodness, having you here, with all of us five—!”

“Tch!” The last person Joker wanted to see showed up at the most crucial moment. Groaning inwardly, he planned to retreat and use Super Clown Monster’s power to fight the man who had thwarted him twice. However, the next move of the knight left everyone stunned.

“Puh!”

Blue Girl ran past, Ash suddenly wielded his sword backwards, the hilt slamming into Blue Girl’s soft abdomen. She gasped in shock and pain, acid-laced spittle flying out of her mouth as the man delivered a merciless roundhouse kick, pushing her back into the open-mouthed, closed-eyed group.

“!?”

W-Why would Mr. Ash attack us!?

“W-Why?!”

Hadn’t they agreed to be partners? Why revert to the original behavior?!

“You…”

“Be silent. It doesn’t concern you right now!”

Neither the good nor bad sides could comprehend the knight slowly tucking his leg. Shouting to halt Joker, Ash gripped the blade in reverse and walked in front of Nanoko, locking gazes with her through his grid mask adorned with red streaks.

“Agreed, until you prove your friendship and bond, I won’t intervene,” Ash said calmly, devoid of emotion. Nanoko nodded, unsure what he was up to.

“Now…”

Ash snatched the bracelet from her hand—the proof of their past friendship. Before everyone’s eyes, he forcefully hurled it to the ground.

“Prove it to me!”

“Prove it to me!”