Chapter 194

Chapter Ninety-One: Demon and New Hope

Today was supposed to be a peaceful day for seagulls feasting on french fries at the dock, but everything changed when a large black figure and four small colored figures chose this place as their battlefield. The seagulls watched as two beams of light drove the Black Knight into the mountain range by the sea. They spread their wings and quickly flew away from this once tranquil battlefield, which had already turned into a desolate hellscape due to the relentless combat.

BGM: [Sorrowful Battle]

“Rumble! Rumble!”

The terrifying battle moved into the mountain’s body. From outside, a series of explosions continued to burst out, clearly indicating a fierce and intense fight ongoing inside!

With Ayu in the lead, the two girls who had been channeling the powerful forces of the Pretty Cures pushed him forward into the mountain, carving a path through. Behind them were the traces of the tunnel they had blasted through.

“Roar!”

The ferocious dragon’s roar echoed around them. Another Black Dual Dragon with an anomalous appearance also tunneled into the mountain, its sharp horn slamming into the two girls and knocking them from Ayu’s body. Seizing the opportunity, Ayu grabbed their faces, ignoring their punches and kicks, then flipped them over, pressing their heads forcibly into the rock layer.

“How’s that? Fun, isn’t it?” More like mocking, Ayu’s voice sounded like it was more mocking than asking.

“No way—”

“Let us go—”

“Well then, let me show you some fun!”

The anomalous Black Dual Dragon spewed flames behind Ayu, slamming him towards the other end of the mountain. Ayu then used his hands to press them down further with even greater force, leaving two horrific trails in their screams.

“Boom—!”

They finally drilled through the rocky mountain. As they seized the chance to kick Ayu and free themselves, their forms were covered in bruises and their battle-ruined clothes added to the chaos. Their hair, pressed hundreds of meters into the rock, now flowed freely behind them.

“…”

Their gaze met. With a furious yell, they launched another simultaneous attack towards Ayu, who was leisurely brushing off the dust.

This time, you won’t divide the battlefield anymore!

“RosettaReflection!” (Rose Reflection)

This time, the shield wasn’t summoned to defend against something, but rather as a support base. Rikka uttered a low noise, stepping on Ai’s arm and pushing hard with all her strength. In a single strike, utilizing their combined power, she smashed the reflective shield, a unavoidable weapon, towards Ayu.

“Hm.”

Ayu didn’t dodge or defend; he allowed himself to be pushed downward by the shield. True to his prediction, Ai, burning with light, came from behind spinning and kicking at his lower back.

Despite being blocked, Ayu somehow managed to pull out his hands and grab both sides of the shield, tearing it apart before Rikka’s terrified eyes.

Leveraging Rikka’s push, Ayu sidestepped, watching as Ai’s leg narrowly missed his waist. The masked knight and Pretty Cure locked gazes, without hesitation, Ayu grabbed Ai’s ankle, dragging her closer to him, then swung her around fiercely throwing her far away. The target, a mountain peak, was hit, releasing explosive force breaking the rocks behind her, sending dark smoke billowing across the skyline. What was once a towering mountain top shattered and fell, caving in.

“Ai! Ah—!”

“Now, do you still have time to worry about others?”

Facing the incoming Ayu, Arisu gritted her teeth and used the torn shield like a giant fan, slicing down with full force. Before she could fully deliver a blow, Ayu caught her wrist, immobilizing her.

Remembering the tragic fate of Rikka, Arisu instantly retaliated, pushing with her captured wrists, striking a heavy blow into Ayu’s chest.

Back-stepping slightly, Ayu looked down to see her high-heels buried in smoke-rising chest armor. Smiling, he swiftly spun Arisu around in his hands, disorienting her with several rotations before lifting her up and kicking towards the sea.

“Gaaaah—!”

Like a disc hurled by a professional athlete in the Olympics, Arisu’s entire body twisted in a whip-like trajectory over the sea. Her speed mirrored landing on concrete, creating massive waves hitting the sea surface dozens of meters wide each time. After bouncing twenty times, Arisu, having the defensive ability of a Pretty Cure, recovered. She shook off the water sprayed in her face and lunged back at Ayu, determined not to give up!

“Rumble! Rumble!”

With the left hand transformed into a dragon head, a continuous barrage of pitch-black fireballs rained down upon her. Arisu gritted her teeth and exerted her body, desperately trying to escape. She spun, jumped, rushed, and retreated; her arms serving as wings to avoid being struck down like a fighter dodging a missile formation.

Dodging short bursts of flame, if not for Arisu increasing her training intensity since their last clash, she would surely have been hit! Time didn’t allow further thought. Facing Ayu rushing toward her, Arisu sprung upward, clenching her fist!

“AYU—”

This distance, it’s mine! No problem, I’ll defeat him!

Just as Arisu held that thought, she faintly noticed Ayu’s right hand began to glow. Instinctively, she shifted her body away from it.

When she saw exactly what was in his right hand, her eyes widened in shock.

Flames spewed from his right hand!? Not good, this meant she had walked herself into…

Dodging a punch, Ayu’s right-hand blast hit Arisu’s abdomen, forcing it deep inside her.

“Guh—”

Curled into a fetal position, she laid in a charred pit, the distance between her and Ayu was marked by a trail. Her battle-clothing faded as she collapsed, barely lifting her head to see Ayu fading away.

“Mr. Ayu… Don’t do this…”

“You can’t bully her like this…”

Ignoring her pleas, Ayu clasped his hands and observed Ai struggle out from beneath the stones, arriving at his feet.

“Arisu!”

How could…

Even knowing Ayu was immensely strong, she never expected him to be so overwhelmingly powerful!

Lost and wandering, Ai looked around, seeing her friends fallen. Even after accepting it, their fight ended in utter defeat.

I… am also… lost?

“Pitiful—CureHeart! Way too pitiful!”

“Your power of love is utterly useless!”

Reignited by her words, Ai attacked Ayu with a speed surpassing all previous matches, punching his face with rage.

“Don’t speak to them like that!”

Another Dragon Toothy stood motionless, head tilted, grating helmet pieces falling with a crisp sound. Ayu expressionlessly grabbed Ai’s face, pressing down with unprecedented force, crushing the ground and pressing deeply into every solid material, sinking downwards.

“Hmm?”

Ayu felt something firm resisting. Looking down, he saw a pink heart-shaped arrowhead glowing.

“Pretty Cure Heart Shoot————————!!!” (Light Shooting Heart)

With tears threatening to spill, Ai screamed the attack, releasing the arrow, the pink heart beam propelled Ayu away to the horizon.

“Ohhooooo——!”

Even attacks designed for purification contained harm. The result of such a proximity attack was unimaginable. Aida Ai herself found this unimaginably dangerous.

Struggling to extricate herself, Ai saw Ayu leaning back against a rock, silent. Almost biting her lip, wincing, she struggled to approach him.

“Mr. Ayu… Don’t…”

In an instant, Semiparalyzed, Ayu surged upright with a clock chime. Startled, Ai looked at Ayu, noticing a mirror appeared nearby, the reflection inside shooting a Heart Shoot at her.

Is it over?

“Clack…”

After enduring all, Aida Ai’s eyes rolled back in her head, transforming ceased, and she collapsed on the beach, lifeless.

“GAME OVER.”

Ayu released his grip.

Now, it’s time to pick the spoils.

Ayu approached Makoto; just before reaching her, a fiery burst stopped his hand. Turning, he saw a woman standing on a rock, backlit by the setting sun.

“Hmm, resuming?”

Crossing her arms, the red-clad figure exuded a mature charm absent in other transformations. Her piercing gaze seemed ready to burn straight through his masked visage.

Without question, she is also a Pretty Cure!

“Will you play in this game with me, or merely be another sacrificial offering?”

“Love’s Ace, CureACE (Ace Angel)!”

Her voice, both cold and fiery, stung like a thousand needles aimed at Ayu’s soul with righteous indignation.

“I won’t let you run rampant, monster!”

“Monster? No.”

Ayu cocked his head; crimson eyes flaring momentarily.

“My present self is a demon!”

”