Chapter 182

Seventy-Seven The Final Descent

Ash brought the handles of the twin swords he held together, pressing them down at the same time. The coin slid smoothly into the blade, coating it with a layer of flickering cold luster. On the other side, the mouth of the dinosaur opened and closed in tandem with each movement, and every time the teeth on the back edge of the sword lit up.

“[Strong Soul!]”

A shoulder armor appeared out of nowhere around Longya’s right arm. It was attached to his arm, increasing Ash’s strength visibly fast, explosively, and powerfully! The eyes of the dragon head sculpture on its shoulder started to flash uncertainly with crimson light.

“Although Longya’s original prototype is an Eastern dragon and not a dinosaur, who said it can’t be linked this way?”

Ash wielded the dual swords, dancing between the sharp edges of battle. The weapons were incredibly convenient, making him stronger in merely a blink, enough to suppress both combatants, even when they attacked simultaneously.

They felt like they were passing through an ancient jungle composed entirely of blades and sharp edges. They could only be cut and broken by the Saint Crest Sword with the Holy Sign that possessed the power to slice through space; careful evasion would result in a precise strike from Longya’s Sword.

One blow shattered all defenses, another overpowered all strength.

“What’s wrong? Can’t go on anymore?” In contrast, Ash had the leisure to chat with them easily.

“You—how did you suddenly become so strong?!”

Are you even a legendary warrior of the caliber of Pretty Cure? No, do Pretty Cures necessarily have to be that challenging?

“You’re asking this?” Ash lazily used the toothed edge of the sword to tap against the armor on his arm, creating a pleasant sound. “Longya’s Sword can use different Dragon Souls depending on the situation, giving the user various boosts. Since they’re so convenient, I collected quite a few.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about!”

I’ve never heard of this Longya Sword, and other worlds don’t have such weapons. We couldn’t understand!

“Oh, oh~ I forgot; your world doesn’t have toys like this, right? Pretty Cure style props are more for decoration than weaponry, and clearly won’t match our style.”

With a seemingly sincere bow, Ash seemed completely insincere, looking more as if he pushed the button for taunting in a fighting game, angering the two warriors and making them lose their minds, rushing towards him again.

Ira’s sharp hat was powered by a strong malevolent thought, forcefully slashing down to meet Longya’s Sword. Simultaneously, Gura attacked from behind, opening his massive jaws trying to tear apart Ash’s entire back.

“Why do you ask?”

Ash’s lips curled under his helmet, chewing candy as he moved both hands, throwing the Saint Crest Sword up before rotating it and holding it vertically, blocking behind himself. Gura tried snapping the sword but was kicked in the abdomen by Ash before losing six teeth.

“Using my true strength…”

On the other side, the Longya Sword clashed violently with the hat. Ash then momentarily let go, and Ira watched as the sword, due to inertia, circled around his weapon halfway before coming to rest near his chest. Ash grabbed the handle again and struck unprotected areas with renewed vigor!

“How could I lose?!”

The two officers, scattered with fire, collided into the wall. Finally meeting eyes.

“Damn it, Gura, combine!”

As partners, they had a special combination move unique to them, allowing them to transform into a monster with several times their individual combat power, a tactic that could turn the tide.

Previously, they hadn’t used it thinking Ash was easy. Now cornered, they had no choice.

“My teeth… yes! I will eat him this time!”

However, just as their hands were about to touch, Ash threw the Saint Crest Sword in a baseball throw, embedding it into the wall painfully, immobilizing both.

“Aaa~ why did you stop our combination, you cheat claiming to be a hero of justice?”

First, I am neither a hero nor righteous, I simply needed to defend myself.

Brushing Longya’s Sword on the armor, he wiped it with a clear, crisp sound.

Secondly,

The ancestor of combining robots, Getter Robo, had its first prototype on TV interrupted too. Without protection programs, people wouldn’t just watch you fuse.

Perhaps you guys are those villains who take minutes to fuse using cards.

But I am not.

“Now, it’s almost the finale.”

Discarding the Longya Sword carelessly, ash pointed at a fresh card just pulled out from the card deck.

[Final Vent] (Final Descent)

The Black Unpaired Dragon flew out of a mirror bellowing. This time, it didn’t immediately combine with the contract user using [Final Vent]; instead, it roared at Ash discontentedly.

“This time, I don’t care about those two lives.”

“Don’t you already know? These monsters are tastier than the core of mirror monsters. You can eat as much as you want if you like them.”

Ash disliked killing, but known fact is that monsters and those joining the dark organization are traitors, non-human entities.

With Ash’s approval, the Black Unpaired Dragon roared excitedly, circling around him, Longya’s Sword encircling within a circle. Ash floated slowly upward as the dragon expelled fierce black flames from behind.

“I apologize, Gura!”

Levi, at the critical moment, pushed Gura forward, sacrificing himself to shield.

An ounce of help saves a pound of trouble. I’ll definitely report this to the Selfish King, who will avenge your death!

“Levi, you—!”

He was searing hot inside, yet terrifyingly found his leg hardening, spreading upwards from his waist.

No time to think about turning into stone, because just before him, Ash extended his right leg in mid-air in perfect flying kick form!

“Syaahh!!!!”

Landing lightly, Dust off the ashes on his legs. The feeling was smooth. The Selfish Organization officer’s foot, the explosion was bright. The Black Unpaired Dragon happily consumed the lost energy, eager for the next purchase.

Seeing Levi escape, Ash didn’t pursue. Only turned to wave his finger at the burning flame on the ground.

“Farewell.”

Seventy-Eight Lost Imagination

Fondly waving goodbye to the two disappearing legendary warriors as the gears of time drained their powers, the rest of the Hurry Users dispersed, leaving only Hurry One, emitting faint glows beside Akuri.

Removing the small train property from the transformation bracelet, the transformation suit of Hurry One vanished, revealing the cheerful true form underneath. Taking in the fresh air from another world, the man took a deep breath, stretching.

“Here must be Purify Cure’s world seen on television, it’s great here, fresh air, and rich imagination, there’s no chance for a shadow line to emerge here.”

“What—!” Seeing Hurry One, Akuri stretched out a surprised cry. She assumed these summoned team members were mindless puppets like that Diend guy. Why did they show up now?!

“Hi, nice to meet you!” The man warmly bent down to greet Akuri and Ruri without any age gap.

“I am Hurry User Number One, Sugiurato Ryudo, nice to meet you!”

“It’s unbelievable these Purify Cures defending the world are around our age too! Kids surely can protect it!”

Akuri blinked, slightly confused as if she just got a premature spoiler.

“What, Akuri, are you a real Purify Cure? Are you the pink or yellow one? Not blue or purple?”

“No, keep it under wraps, Ruri…”

After whispering with Ruri, Akuri faced Ryudo, cautiously asking,

“Are you real humans?”

Facing her question, Ryudo showed some confusion, scratching his head as if unsure how to respond.

“Aren’t we really humans… probably not. But I am really Ryudo.”

“Our presence here seems to be because Ash is on this side. So we can come here during visualization, onto this Hurry One.”

Ignore the theory, it’s just about victory with imagination.

“Ash… it’s him?”

Her suspicion deepened regarding that person.

Mask Riders, series team players, and Ultraman, characters aimed at kids, are inherently good figures. Could someone befriending them really be evil?

Could he be mixed in the dark organization planning a sudden revolt? It’s a genuine possibility now!

“Hey, you know Ash?”

“A little! He’s friends with the local Purify Cures.”

Too cozy!

Not comprehending Akuri’s odd tone, Ryudo felt his body nearing disappearance. Hastily, he pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Akuri.

“If you could, please give this to him?”

“What’s this?”

Akuri received the paper, rough-cut from a notebook, scribbled with watercolors showing a city and TQG symbol, names including Ryudo’s.

“This is a ticket. We asked the conductor they located Ash’s city, please forward it.”

Imagination fades in reality, Ryudo’s body started dissolving. Giving one last look at the city where his comrades lived, he waved farewell pleasantly.

“One thing, thank him for helping us find our city! Conductor and Ming also miss you, feel free to board whenever!”

“He’s good, but also bad. If he ever gets abnormal, please correct him; he isn’t meant to make the world cry.”

“Huh, what do you mean?”

Imaginative fragments dispersed, Akuri’s question left unanswered by Ryudo.

What does it mean?

“I’m not sure where he is…”

“Waiting for me?”

Handing back Ruri after failing to find Ryudo despite his request, startled by Ash’s voice behind, she jumped.

“Woaa—how’d you walk so silently?”

And appearing suddenly when your name was mentioned? Are you Batman?

“Just found your hopping amusing.”

Ash rubbed his chin casually, smiling slyly as Akuri grew increasingly angry.

“You awful person, shouldn’t anyone teach you a lesson?”

Elementary school kids know better than you!

“Probably because I avoid lessons.”

“You…”

Fed up, Akuri struggled to catch her breath upon seeing the leaving Akuri, Ash continued to laugh and call her back.

“This time, your performance was excellent. I’m starting to like you.”

“Is it liking me, or just interested since I’m a former Pretty Cure?”

Surprised, Ash recalled Ai blushing shyly last time, while Akuri now held a furious feeling, pointing directly at him.

“I see, your heart doesn’t have genuine love, misunderstanding takes more than 20,000 years!”

“Pretty Cure’s Five Vows, the second, is giving love! Without love, words won’t change my mind!”

“Really…” Smiling, despite her offensive remarks, Ash wasn’t offended, extending his hand to stroke her soft hair, which she shoved away.

“Really, what are you doing, do you know ladies hate having strangers messing with their heads?”

“I doubt, because Regina likes me touching hers.”

A lie, Ash was usually resisted while touching Regina’s hair golden gold.

As the two play-fought, Akuri suddenly remembered something, angrily pulling out the ticket, thrusting it forward.

“This, from Ryudo!”

But Ash didn’t immediately receive it, rather displaying confusion.

“Ryudo, who?”

“Ha, playing games? You summoned him. Hurry Number One!”

“Oh, him—if it were about you once, it’s forgetfulness on my part.”

Ash’s realization left Akuri filled with growing frustration, realizing he was teasing her again.

Indeed, she misunderstood Ash. Ash had forgotten the name of someone during travel and battle on the train, happy but unable to recall.

“Stop with old-man excuses.”

“You, what should I catch?”

“Ha, you should see it as a token, a ticket for you prepared by Hurry!”

“Right…”

Closing his eyes, re-opening them, Ash looked again at Akuri’s hand.

Shaking his head,

“Nothing is there.”

Akuri held her hand out, as if holding something unseen. Indeed, nothingness.

Seventy-Nine Regina’s Choice

“Hey! Is that the queen of the Card Kingdom?”

Knocking on the azure ice block standing centrally, imprisoning a beautiful, unconscious girl, verified to be Princess Makoto they were seeking. Ash couldn’t detect life from within despite the sealed prisoner—an anomaly!

Resting his hand on frozen surface, he felt cool yet thaw-free. Nearby, Ira and Mamu exerted their utmost but couldn’t crack open the ice.

“Can’t open it?”

“No, regardless of our dark energies or human flames and bombs.”

Ira complained, trying to flatter.

“So, can you break it, Ash?”

Great! Next…

“But what’s in it for me? Is there benefit in meddling?”

“Don’t bother, Ash, this is for selfish king! And your power must easily crack it—eh?!”

Ash pinched his nose, forcing a pig-like red-faced color before speaking,

“Don’t try to provoke me; I’ll break it with your skull.”

Released, Ira clutched his head, fleeing, Ash focused on the sulking Regina.

“Why, My Highness?”

“Mm, nothing…”

Regina avoided eye contact, sucking on melon juice.

“An unutterable secret?”

“Not… I worry about Mana.”

Silence broke Regina’s hesitation, explaining a snow adventure. They met the light fighters, battled them, and fell into a cave together guided by gems to rescue a frozen princess.

“Mana saved me, called me a good child, everyone forgiving me. It should be joyous…”

“Yes, it is a positive turn.”

Then why the sorrow?

“But I can’t consider them enemies, only friends, but betraying daddy isn’t right. Watching him destroyed by Mana… How could I bear it?”

Caught between loyalty and new bonds, Regina leaned exhausted.

Not wanting to fight Pretty Cure, loving Earth wasn’t an option, but betrayal to the selfish king wasn’t either.

“Mana offered to convince daddy, but…”

Is there a resolution?

A large hand gently covered Regina’s head, fingers smoothing her hair.

“Mm…why always mess with my hair?”

“Your hair’s silky, soft, feels good.”

“What’s this?” Regina countered lightly. “Flattery won’t work, you’re hopeless at comforting girls.”

Others said similarly, but no use.

“Like Ayaka Ai?”

Thinking on it, Regina nodded.

Ayaka Ai is truly impressive, friend and foe alike.

Ash had a flash, remembering Ai treating him kindly, disregarded without interest.

Is she planning to win him over? He gulped.

Setting aside stir-fried noodles, Ash addressed Regina,

“If trusting her gives peace…”

“But father—”

“Often, some things cannot be hurried. Choices depend on current situations.”

Ash’s experience speaks.

Regina finally understood,

“Because I trust Mana, I must trust myself.”

“Good, that spirit!”

Seeing Regina decisive, Ash sighed, relieved.

“Princess, I envy you.”

“Envy?” Regina tapped her chin, puzzled.

True, I envy those who switch sides from villains to allies.

Influenced most by a once aloof robot, whose heart warmed with friendship,

“I’m proud of the friendship I gained.”

They can abandon past beliefs and future destiny.

These things I lost.