Chapter 171

Sixty-Fifth -2100

Why, you can be so decisive.

“In the end, it’s just a box to hold cards; it’s not a big deal.”

Hearing this from Ash, Ai felt that the card case in her hands had gained even more value.

“My promise is worth something, so I fulfilled my agreement.”

“Regina, do you want to come along?”

Hearing these words, the vivid red color in the princess’s eyes finally receded, returning to the sea-blue sapphire-like light blue hue she originally had. Closing her eyes and making a firm decision in her heart, she threw over the royal gem she was holding.

“Thank you, Regina!”

“I…I was only abiding by our agreement!”

Seeing the astonished and happy expressions of the Pretty Cures, and observing the approving glances of the men nearby, Regina suddenly realized that while she had lost many things, it seemed she had also gained far more!

Certainly, the convergence of five gems truly triggered an anomaly. There existed an unseen attraction between them, and when they gathered together, they transformed into a light column shooting up to the sky and rapidly soared off towards the other side of Earth.

“Oh, the gems!”

Feeling the events unfolding, Regina left first. As the Pretty Cures also prepared to leave the world created by the Selfish Beast, by some twist of fate, she glanced back to witness something unsettling.

Mamu and Ira were blocking the way of Ash, their twisted, unfriendly smiles belying any trace of goodwill.

“Oh, I want to go home to sleep. Could you guys please move aside?”

Facing the overflowing malice before him, Ash slightly narrowed his eyes. Although he had a rough idea what the two planned to do, Ash decided to give them one last chance out of sheer mercy.

“If you don’t move, then next time I won’t hold back.”

“Don’t push your luck, you bastard!”

They had witnessed Ash throw the card case to the Pretty Cures in front of everyone. Even Ira respected him a bit for acting boldly, yet also saw it as an opportunity for revenge and a chance to settle old scores.

“Even if you use strange devices, without transforming, humans are still humans; you won’t be able to beat us!”

Feeling reinvigorated, Mamu looked down on people through her nose, and although she exuded a lofty air, she hadn’t forgotten the humiliation Ash had inflicted on them earlier.

Using her position and the princess’s backing, she had stolen my parfaits several times, forcing me to stop eating snacks at the base! Do you know that women need desserts?

Recalling the history of being bullied, Ira was just as aggrieved.

Being treated like underlings despite being at the same level; they were also ordered to run errands, fetching this and that! How could I not feel injured hearing a police officer ask me, “Where are your parents?”

And not to mention, being attacked merely because they heard some unpleasant words spoken behind their backs! You’re such a petty person, and it’s time we settle this now!

Unaware of their own hypocritical stance, the two approached Ash with vicious grins.

We must humiliate you today and even break your arm!

“You two,” Ash couldn’t help but facepalm, feeling no fear. “I know you might not be very smart, but I didn’t expect you to be so foolish.”

Let alone others, even if I were defenseless like you think, if you beat me and I report back to the princess, would you be getting anything good?

Furthermore, do you really believe those Pretty Cures will sit idly by?

“What!?”

Enough is enough! They both angrily punched Ash.

Not good!

The girls did not hesitate to rush towards Ash to block their attacks.

We must protect Mr. Ash!

However, the powerful fist was firmly held in Ash’s hand.

“What the—!?”

Panicked, the two attempted to pull their fists back but found themselves trapped, akin to being gripped by a bench vice with tightened screws, unable to escape.

How is this possible—human bodies can’t have this much strength!

Suddenly, Ira recalled the scene of Ash fighting a Selfish Beast barehanded during their first encounter.

“Too weak.”

Casually flicking a metal tank filled with gasoline back into his pocket with a finger, Ash listened to their screams while slowly rotating his hands backwards in a reversed direction.

How does one fight without transforming? The answer is that the new form lies in the body itself. More so for someone like him who used his physical abilities to defeat the final boss. If someone forgot about his setting as a Showa cyborg with enhanced strength and jumping ability, he would indeed be troubled.

“This feels strangely familiar.” Remembering the first event, Ai and Rikka exchanged glances, recognizing the same sentiment in each other’s eyes.

“The true power should be like this!”

While they tried to break free using energy bursts, their grip suddenly loosened, causing them to crash into each other. Before they could react, two fists tore through the air and struck their abdomen fiercely.

“Guh—ugh…!”

Instantly, indescribable pain surged from their stomachs to their brains, interrupting all thought, while nausea consumed them, causing both to kneel in agony, spewing out their recently eaten meal.

“Such a waste.”

Ash stepped back, disdainfully avoiding their vomit without a change in expression.

“You—ugh!”

“I will kill you!”

Holding their stomachs, the furious duo summoned energy between their palms, forming intense light blasts aimed at Ash incessantly.

“Stop! This is an internal matter between us!”

Shouting this at the girls ready to intervene, Ash confidently charged forward against the barrage of light blasts.

Bending low, running like a wild beast, his fingers occasionally scratched the ground.

Ash transformed into a player using dodge tactics, evading the crossfire of the two, barely touching the edge of their clothes. At the same time, he approached them with an incredibly agile and unnatural speed.

“Cursed, cursed, cursed—ah!”

Before Ira could finish his cursing, Ash kicked him flying.

“Still cursed?”

“Die!”

Furious, Mamu concentrated more power, attempting to blast both Ash, who had turned his back, and Ira in one fell swoop.

But Ash’s awareness extended beyond his eyes; he kicked Ira away from the ground and lowered himself backward, creating a light beam that sliced through the original spot where Ash stood.

“You only know to say such catchphrases.”

Supporting himself with his hands, Ash lifted his leg, performing a dance-like move, kicking a cloud of dust directly into Mamu’s eyes.

“Eyes—ah!”

“Opening!”

With his right hand above and left below, Ash crossed them in front of his face generating a metallic sound before settling into a peculiar posture. He pursued and pounded the two while the Pretty Cures stared in disbelief.

His body exceeded human capabilities; his reflexes and speed were beyond human reach, yet the two members of the Selfish Organization found themselves completely suppressed by Ash’s incomprehensible combat techniques.

This was too outrageous!

“Hold on, Mana!” Startled by being called, Ai came back to reality, seeing Ash straddling the two men, gesturing to her.

“Give me my card box!”

“Eh, wait, this is…”

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up!”

Seeing how Ash called out to her, Ai decisively threw the card box back to him.

“There’s why I could easily bet my card box on you.”

Seeing Ash’s smug grin, Ai realized she had been tricked.

“Mr. Ash, you’re too cunning!”

Ignoring the infuriated Ai held back by her friends, Ash didn’t immediately transform but leisurely slapped the card box against the fallen men’s faces.

“Do you feel scared of Ryuga? No, it’s not him.”

“It’s me you should fear; it’s human!”

An indescribable mix of frustration and fear reverberated simultaneously in Ira and Mamu’s minds.

They were humans, they surely were, so why were they so powerful?

“No idea.”

Finally, cowed by Ash’s power, they surrendered, kneeling in the dirt, beaten nearly senseless.

“Please forgive me. I’ll do anything for you.”

“Considering you only wanted to teach me a lesson in the beginning and not aim for vital spots, taking your lives wouldn’t be appropriate, right?”

“Yes, yes!” Both nodded repeatedly. Seeing this, Ash smiled healthily.

Then he reached into his inventory for a lighter.

“Since we are at it, let’s see you perform this; bite onto the lighter, three times!”