Chapter 218

One hundred fifteen: Ash Greatly Disappointed

“Rumble—!”

Cureheart was sprawled in the hole caused by the impact.

Now that the two of them were alone, the battle between Heart, Diamond, and Another Ryuga had reached its breaking point after barely over twenty rounds.

Particularly due to Cureheart’s overly aggressive attack, despite overwhelming at first with sheer force against Ash, she was soon discovered and overpowered, leaving only Diamond struggling to hold on.

“Is it over?”

“Not yet…” Dragging her body riddled with pain, love once filled with battle spirit now flickered to ashes, with only the girl’s stubbornness pushing forward. “I can still fight, and I will make sure you release Arisu and Makoto!”

“Well said,” Ash nonchalantly threw the exhausted Rikka who was gripping his neck to the side without a glance and snapped his fingers. “But hope is different from delusion.”

Ash was greatly disappointed with the outcome of this skirmish. He shook his head, ready to end the charade.

Another Black Dragon charged out from the rearview mirror of a parked car, its target solely focused on Cureheart who was standing, struggling to defend herself.

Is she no longer able to continue?

The thought of giving up even crossed her mind.

“Mana—!”

Rikka cried out desperately as she saw the scene unfold, pouring all her energy—however depleted—into protecting her friend.

All thoughts, even those of their earlier argument, evaporated instantly, leaving the girl with one thought:

Although Mana is causing me trouble again, I must save her!

The moment blue spiritual light enveloped her, the supposed motionless blue superhero leaped across space unhesitantly to shield from the Other Black Dragon.

Invincible diamond light momentarily shrouded the world.

“Bellow~~~”

It was the Other Black Dragon emitting cries of despair; it could not fathom how its contracted body, at the pinnacle of the Mirror Monsters, could not break through a frail human female’s form but instead received a counterattack.

Despite retreat to the Mirror Realm for healing, Rikka, having achieved a miracle, approached her physical limitations. Her last look towards her “happy prince” ended face-first onto the ground, but before touching, she was caught in Ash’s arms who had de-transformed.

“Six Flowers…”

Ai, rendered powerless, could do nothing but watch.

Hadn’t you just said you wouldn’t help me anymore… why?

An indescribable sorrow almost choked up the tearful girl.

“Though you both lost, you did well.”

Ash didn’t state his signature “game over”, rather he acknowledged the fleeting brilliance displayed by Six Flowers.

“Don’t—”

With a desperate plea, Ai could only stare at him, still clutching tightly onto the man’s clothing despite knowing it was probably fruitless.

She met an unfamiliar gaze, causing her grief to waver.

Transferring the unconscious Six, Ash gripped Ai’s chin forcefully, forcing her eyes to meet his.

Her bright eyes had dulled from the fierce defeat; despair, regret, fear now filled her eyes.

Sigh—

Ash released her hand in disappointment.

“Do you know, Cureheart, your current bad end was caused by your recklessness, failing to protect anything!”

“I…”

Ai couldn’t speak. Pressured and emotional after the fight, her initial decision resulted in disastrous circumstances beyond reasonable excuse.

“Cureheart, honestly, I am quite disappointed in you.”

Cureheart raised her tear-stricken face, her eyes clouded with confusion at Ash’s words.

“Being the heart of the Cure Light, you unite people like a tether, strong in spirit and power.”

“Thus, I wonder what strength could be drawn if you lost all your friends. Could you show me the true power of the Cure?”

After all, it was a method validated across worlds. Unexpectedly, today it didn’t work on Ai.

“You greatly disappointed me, Cureheart. You feel no thrill!”

“Ash—wait—!”

Cureheart, reverted to Ai by Ash, looked stunned.

“I have no interest in the scared ones, go elsewhere!”

Ai gaped, watching him take her dear friends away, silent and helpless.

Until Ash disappeared around the corner, Ai slumped to the ground, fists trembling, unable to cry soundlessly as tears rolled freely.

Unseen, Ash at the next alleyway, lightning surging within, his intimidating posture crumbling, sweating bullets. His grip on Six loosened, needing another wall support.

“This isn’t my place…”

Recalling memories forgotten about darkness and full consequences, yet unwilling to simply die, Ash held Six up, approaching the base with a twisted smile.

“A hero to defeat me, where are they?”

—

One hundred sixteen: The Girls’ Questions

Meanwhile, as restless Ash roamed off on his own, the two officers felt the same urge to leave. Without their presence, the Selfish Organization base seemed only occupied by two Cures, creating an illusion of victory for the unaware.

Bound but not chained, their freedom limited to avoiding old friends and reporting at intervals; otherwise, the whole facility was open. At first, they scoured hoping to find nefarious plots. Finding nothing beyond YGO cards, games, toys, they realized perhaps Ash hid too well.

Then came the realization that this “plot” might not exist. This thought bewildered the girls.

After feeding and comforting Lance and Dabi restrained elsewhere, the empty hallway echoed with the footsteps of two lone girls.

Finally, Mako approached Arisu behind her, frustrated past her threshold.

“Even now, do you truly agree with that Ash?”

Makoto’s hesitant speech revealed concern behind her words.

“Do I look like it? Yet I can be close to him in public.”

Even so, Makoto saw an unforgiving truth.

“If we want our struggles to stop, we must adapt.”

“He’s not hard to get along with really.”

“I don’t get it.”

Shocked at being seen as compliant, Makoto’s confusion grew.

“When we save Poker Kingdom and Princess An, no matter what…”

“As long as the goal stays the same.”

“It’s about belief. We choose.”

“But that trust and hope is invincible.”

“Exactly, Cure’s are unstoppable!”

Their resolve strengthened, their goals unshakable no matter developments elsewhere.

“About Ash, what are your feelings now?”

“Are you asking?” Conflicted and complex impressions surfaced.

“Kind of childish in attitudes yet resolute.”

“Now he acts normally but turns ruthless in fights.”

Agreed, Makoto saw change worth addressing.

—

One hundred seventeen: Rikka Gets Bewildered

“Get going!”

Miraculous Jael was unmercifully pushed into a small room meant for her kind.

Called ‘room’, it had nothing besides a bed, hastily converted from an old guest room; a less cruel fate than cage captivity.

“Let me out, Jael, bring Six home!”

The tiny Jael pounded on the door, but her minuscule frame couldn’t even turn the handle, let alone lock it.

“Useless, Jael, that person has no interest in us.”

“Dabi, Lance!”

Turning back, the two missing comrades sat resignedly on the bed.

“Wait, Six was taken though!”

Jael nearly burst into tears, fearing what might happen to Six. “If she can’t transform as Cure, who knows how much harm will come!”

“Calm down, there were outings with Arisu and True before. No further actions followed capturing.”

While regrettable, at least some boundaries remained, even in defiance.

“Lance’s meals are also from Arisu,” Lance munched a doughnut, reminiscent of home.

“Can you eat from such enemies!”

“No, never!”

But since Arisu bought it…

Eating a doughnut, Jael pondered if acceptance meant betrayal.

“Six, Six…”

Regaining consciousness, Six struggled to call love’s name only to meet Ash’s treacherous face.

“Understand your situation?”

“…Yes…”

Soft-spoken Six kept her head down, tugging nervously at her dress, revealing anxiety.

“Naoko and Mama lurk, hiding their malice. Realizing they’re trapped in enemy territory, Six frets for love’s safety.

“She saved us from perilous attacks.”

Six’s concern grew, imagining love’s possible peril now.

“What about Mana, the other girl, is she alright?”

“Rest assured, Ash’s temper seems temperate now.”

Six’s concern subsided slightly.

“But she lost so much, it’s heartbreaking…”

“Their resolve may seem lost…”

Suddenly, Ash seized Six’s chin, trapping her gaze with his hollow eyes.

“You dared think of others while mine!”

“Wrong!”

Six shook Ash’s touch in defiance, reclaiming dignity.

“Incompetent!”

Ash’s insincerity fueled Six’s anger.

“Strip!”

Her disbelief turned to anguish, tears brimming.

“If you say so…”

Trembling, Six’s vulnerability shone.

“Ash, how dare!”

Resisting the humiliation, defiance shone in tears.