Chapter 162

Chapter Fifty-Six: Mutation Triggered by Gems

“What is this light!?”

While everyone else was astonished by this scene, Ash slightly narrowed his eyes. Amidst the light, that gem with its plastic-like feel and Bandai ripple pattern started to gradually transform its appearance. It shed its old plastic texture and transformed into something as splendid as finely carved, becoming semi-transparent and glimmering with flickering red light.

His long-term experience told him this was likely indicating that the gem had changed from an unactivated state to an active one. It was now becoming somewhat worthy of its title of a royal gem.

It seemed he had guessed right; Regina, who had appeared as an enemy, wasn’t a genuinely malicious person; otherwise, such a phenomenon wouldn’t be triggered by friendship.

Looking at Regina, the princess was equally astonished by this sight, seemingly not realizing she was the cause of it.

“This is the real Royal Crystal!”

The girls’ attention was drawn to the gem’s light, and once its true form became apparent, they hurriedly gathered to examine it.

“So it really is.”

“Oh, how incredible.”

As the girls exclaimed, Ash swiftly adjusted and held the gem up towards the sun. Through the sunlight shining through the semi-transparent gem, he observed its internal structure.

“It doesn’t seem to be a magic stone, and it doesn’t look like anything significant. Probably only that blue thief would be interested in this degree.”

“Would a thief go after this?”

“Yes, that blue thief might target your spirit allies too.”

“Aaaaaah!”

Frightened, the girls quickly covered their partner spirits, both their own eyes and those of their spirits sweating in panic, lest the mysterious blue thief Ash mentioned would suddenly appear and snatch away their friends.

Ash spared no effort to vilify someone across the worlds, and he felt his remarks were not entirely false since such a thief knight could very well do what he suggested.

“If a thief takes interest in us, it will cause us great trouble!” The girl anxiously tightened her pockets, ensuring all collected gems were still there before feeling reassured.

“Then, you collect these things to unlock some kind of enhanced form when you have them all together?”

Given that collecting various props to unlock grander ones was typical for the TV show to sell merchandise, he couldn’t discount this.

“There’s no such setting!”

“Is it to unlock the final form at once?”

“What final form? The Transformation itself of the Pretty Cure is already the ultimate form.”

“Why do you always focus on such details!”

Initially, Regina, who was having a very pleasant day, didn’t pay much attention to the royal gem. Even the most precious gems were merely gifts to her. But seeing the true essence of this crimson gem, Regina found herself unable to tear her gaze away.

She instinctively felt there was a hidden connection between her and the gem. Her feet moved unconsciously toward Ash, staring at it. Her originally sea-blue eyes gradually took on a trembling shade of red.

Now, instead of being pleased by the newfound friendship, Regina had only one thing in mind.

‘I want it!’

As Ash pondered whether to play with it or make amends with the girls, Regina snatched the gem.

“This is the royal gem.” Holding it close, Regina kept muttering its name, disregarding any external reaction.

“Princess?”

Even when Ash called her, she showed no response until after a while, when she finally looked up. Ash then noticed that Regina’s originally clear blue eyes had turned the same bloody red as the gem in her hand.

‘Cereb—No!’

Instinctively, she had called out the name of an earlier enemy. Ash quickly realized it wasn’t that reason, but however, Regina’s entire demeanor had transformed, making it seem as if she was no longer the person she once was.

In her bloodshot eyes, neither her newly-found friends nor even Ash she once trusted were worth looking at.

Based on past experiences, Ash had derived a rule: If someone suddenly starts acting bizarre, changes into a deep dark style outfit, especially if their eyes turn redder or dimmer, it probably means something has taken over, brainwashed, or blackened them.

“Regina…ya!”

Ai noticing something off approached her shoulder, trying to reach out and check if something was wrong. However, instead, Regina turned hostile and pushed Ai’s hand away.

With a hurt look, Ai covered her reddened hand and wanted to say something more, until Ash restrained her shoulder and shook his head, signaling her to stay silent.

Coincidentally, due to the appearance of a new royal gem, those previously preserved had begun to sparkle in response, drawing Regina’s immediate attention. Seeing even more royal gems made her eyes widen in fixation, and her unrelenting stare was truly alarming.

“Give me those royal gems!”

“Hold on, Regina, these are important!”

“I don’t care, I just want them!”

Regina straightforwardly demanded without caring about anyone’s feelings.

The girls were shocked by Regina’s swift change. They had been friends who transcended their opposing alignments, but seeing these gems made her flip completely, like…

Like reverting to her self-centered, arrogant ways as the daughter of the selfish king.

“If you don’t give them up, I will take them by force!”

“Ash, get all the royal gems for me!”

“What a commanding princess.”

Ash could sense Regina’s voice had returned to his familiar authoritative tone, giving orders like an upper to a subordinate, completely different from when they used to play.

But Ash wasn’t angry; instead, he remained calm.

“henshin!”

Cross-arming his chest, Ash approached the girls, now enemies.

“Looks like I can only be the bad guy now.”

And so, it began.