Chapter 152

Phase Forty-Six End of Intensive Training Stage Three

“Stage Three, begin.”

When Ash completely let go, Arisu’s difficultly maintained defense shattered.

Narrowly evading two punches that came raging at her, the whooshing noise of the fists cutting through the air made loud whistles as they whizzed by each ear. With a weak spot exposed in her waist, Arisu was instantly kicked in the side by Longya’s spinning kick, nearly causing her bones to rattle apart. Unable to break the fall, Arisu let out a sharp scream, her body curling like a shrimp as she flew toward the red area.

Beast King Gorilla grabbed the flying girl by her ankle, paused slightly, but then slammed her onto the ground. He dragged the trembling Arisu out of the human-sized hole and hammered her down on the other side, repeating this over and over.

“R——r… RosettaReflection!” (Rosa Reflection)

Arisu, swung around like a ragdoll in midair, desperately summoned her Heart Bow and Arrow. She was smashed back into the already dented pit. Clenching her teeth, she grabbed the skill card along with the dirt flung from her hand and finally inserted it into her bow.

A massive four-leaf energy barrier shot from the bow, expanding forcefully and pushing Beast King Gorilla away. Despite her lower half convulsing uncontrollably, Arisu could only gasp for breath, collapsing to the ground while maintaining the barrier.

“Bang bang bang!”

Beast King Gorilla’s massive fists battered the barrier one after another, deafening noises causing anyone nearby almost to cover their ears. Each blow added more web-like cracks to the shield, growing wider each time.

Defending alone won’t cut it. I need to find another way!

Arisu knew this, but no matter how she tried to consciously move her legs, all she felt was a tremor.

Move… me, move now!

“You’re the only shield user among the Pretty Cures, right?”

With the last card [Assault Descent] inserted in his Longya Mechan, Ash crossed his arms, holding one Dragon Claw and the other Dragon Shield. His composed demeanor starkly contrasted with Arisu’s disheveled state on the ground.

“While you fight better than that self-proclaimed warrior of the playing card kingdom, you’re just stuck with the shield. Huh, ironic.”

“I have no problem with my role!” Arisu maintained her defense while retorting. “Protecting everyone is what I want to do!”

“Is that so?” Ash flicked the Dragon Shield at Arisu, which rebounded off the continuing barrier and flew far away.

“Didn’t you say your goal was to defeat me?”

Ash raised his Dragon Claw, and under Arisu’s watchful gaze, a jet-black fireball was released but missed, grazing past the barrier.

Did Mr. Ash miss?!

“Well, allow me to tell you— the best defense is offense. Someone once said, you have to aggressively attack to win a battle!”

There was an abrupt explosion behind Arisu. The fireball from Dragon Claw had hit the rebounded Dragon Shield mid-air. Ash’s objective had always been this!

The fireball ricocheted off the shield, changing direction, and struck Arisu’s unprotected back, blackening the spot and causing her to scream in agony. Losing her grip on the barrier, Arisu was shattered by Beast King Gorilla’s blow.

Black smoke rose from her back, and a charred young woman lay lifelessly near the motionless Beast King Gorilla.

Arisu was nearing her limit, yet Ash’s resolve burned fiercely. He wasn’t the kind to suppress his desires, especially when he was intrigued; he would make her responsible to the end.

“What? Is that all?”

“Hey hey, this training was your request, how can you be done already?”

Ash knew several methods to jolt someone awake and chose the simplest. Gripping Arisu by the collar, he gently flicked her face.

“Cough cough cough!” Painful shock returned consciousness to Arisu, and she started coughing violently, weakly grasping the man’s arm. Her saliva dripped onto his hand.

“Why… Mr. Ash…”

This isn’t mere training… this is torture…

“At stage three, it’s well beyond training. Besides, why should I play by your rules if I don’t need anything from you?”

With his hand around her neck, he lifted Arisu up, and she clutched his arm but kicked his shining chest plate uselessly with her tiny legs.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m not about gradual steps. Real growth comes from experiencing the terrifying realities.”

“You asked why I didn’t stop. Real battles aren’t over until either the transformation ends or until one loses the will to fight.”

“Cough, Mr. Ash—”

Ash’s movements were brutal, as if he aimed to kill Arisu, but she saw them differently. Through that mask, she sensed anticipation and desire in his eyes.

Arisu tugged at the man’s hand, grinding out words between her clenched teeth.

“Why… why force yourself…”

Forcing oneself…

What do you mean?

“Don’t be so sure!”

But, you women… don’t plan on giving up yet? Tch, Pretty Cures. Are all heroes relentless?

Forget it, they’re just kids.

Maybe I shouldn’t expect hero-level restraint from them. This will be enough.

Shaking his head, Ash tightened his hold, ready to knock her unconscious. As pressure increased on Arisu’s throat, her vision blurred, and her mind grew hazy.

Can’t… anymore…

Arisu felt herself swept away by waves, no matter how many times she called out. She felt meaningless surroundings, and herself sinking deep into dark, bottomless depths.

Water instantly flooded her nose and mouth, suffocating her in a way she couldn’t describe, engulfing Arisu’s thoughts.

So tired, so sleepy, even though I couldn’t rest during my fight with Mr. Ash…

“You can’t protect anything with just your heart…”

As she drifted, she heard Ash’s voice.

No…

I asked to hire Mr. Ash and train to gain the strength to defeat Longya, all for stopping Mr. Ash, protecting everyone’s feelings.

Mr. Ash, haven’t you noticed? Mana and the others can’t see you as a real enemy anymore.

If you continue hurting us for your own joy, everyone will be even sadder than before. This is true for me as well.

And yet, you’re so happy interacting with us. That makes it even more crucial not to let you, the human, drift toward darkness.

I won’t let you hurt our hearts!

I won’t let you become our enemy!