Chapter 234

Chapter 133 A New Enemy

Weeks had passed since then; it was already summer vacation, and Ai Aida had just returned to school after her leave. Neither Ash nor the Selfish Organization had reappeared; the luxurious lair of the villains stood abandoned. The doors remained locked even when Rikka used a spare key to enter, leaving the room completely empty.

Regina temporarily left the group to return to her kingdom, as her real father, the King of Cards, still needed her care. Angie’s concern for family drove her to be more invested in this matter.

One thing that caught their attention was that when Regina returned, the enormous body of the Selfish King had vanished, leaving only the king unconscious on the ground, affected by evil thoughts.

It would have been impossible for the King of Cards to escape from within the Selfish King’s body without help; the giant structure composed of countless evil thoughts had simply disappeared.

While it was good not to need to fight, Ai still felt an uneasy restlessness, even in bed. Her feet, enclosed in purple stockings, kept fidgeting on the soft sheets.

“Could the evil energy have been stolen by the other officers?”

Was he really not coming back?

“Boredom… being unable to go to school…”

Ai recalled times when Ash hadn’t yet been influenced by the Selfish Ancestor. Back then, she, along with everyone else, felt less restless.

In those days, they never felt bored.

Unnoticed, she realized that this person who couldn’t be described, Ash, had become a significant part of her life.

Her gaze drifted towards the pure white wedding dress hanging on a hanger, which showcased women’s most beautiful side. This bridal dress was originally Ai’s grandmother’s, later passed down to her mother for her wedding, now handed to Ai.

“What a beautiful dress. But mom says it’s something worn only once in life. When can I wear it?”

Thinking of her dad’s surprised reaction to her wanting to try it on — “Do you already have someone in mind?” — Ai giggled.

“Mana, you’re actually smiling now!”

“Haha, Summer! Everyone smiles when happy.”

Hugging her ever-faithful partner, Ai nuzzled with her little rabbit fairy.

“Mana, getting gloomy all day will make you sick, you know!”

“I know.”

Remembering how she had sunk into despair, Ai humbly accepted the lecture. Ai was grateful to Ash; if he hadn’t made her experience true loneliness from losing all friends, she would have continued taking her friendships with Rikka and Arisu for granted.

Friendship needs mutual care to last; Heart Catch Pretty Cure’s team similarly requires unity to unleash their true power.

“Mana said she has something to do today, didn’t she?”

“Oh yes,” Ai said. Her eyes revealed sadness.

Ai had adopted a puppy named Mallo years ago, whom she loved dearly, but it passed away unexpectedly on this day years ago.

Despite time passing, Ai now wanted to pay respects to her beloved pet to commemorate the past she still remembered.

“Come on, Summer! Six Flowers must be waiting… Summer?!”

Ai’s call received no response; Summer was glued to the window, staring out with wide-eyed terror.

“What is it, Summer?”

“Not good, Mana! Something’s wrong!”

Ai rushed over, sharing the same alarmed expression. Although they had battled the Selfish Beast before, what flew above now was beyond natural.

A gigantic whale, constructed from countless abandoned pieces, hovered in the night sky, eclipsing the moon, emitting sorrowful melodies. Projections launched from the whale were sweeping the ground, luring people into its machinery with light.

“It’s like some sci-fi movie where aliens abduct humans with flying saucers.”

“Dangerous! Light’s shining this way!”

“What the—?”

Sitting on the edge of Kabuto Tower watching people sucked up into the whale like trash, Ash propped his head up with his hands.

“Now, this is grand scale, as grand as a movie’s climax perhaps?”

Dodging one of the lights, Ash got up and looked far at the huge whale parallel to him.

“System is there?… Not here.”

The timing differed from his prediction; the Dark Echo did not kill him, rather kept him alive longer.

Dark Echo had briefly paused, but wasn’t deadly anymore.

More importantly, his desire and malice had been mitigated. Yet, a lingering thought urged him to finally resolve things with the Pretty Cures.

“Our game isn’t over. I assume you’re on top now? You wouldn’t just stand aside.”

I’m coming.”

“But, fundamentally, what does it all mean?”

“These objects, once cherished by humans, abandoned after turning into dust.”

A voice behind him turned his attention to a large-eared fairy explaining, with Summer and others trailing to the tower’s top.

“Their anger and pain coalesced into this form and the people inside.”

“You mean objects thrown into history’s trash have returned.”

Judging by the description, these were similar to Dākushin gods, right?

“I wish you would respect the past a bit.”

“Not necessary.”

He had discarded so much of the past — pain, joy, sadness, significant events, trivialities.

“The present, not the past, matters.”

Ash turned away.

“Fitting for someone like me, the past holds no meaning.”

Ash had learned to move forward, not dwell on the past. Otherwise, he’d long succumbed to his current state.

Seeing this, the large fairy shook her head. She knew Ash was the one others spoke about.

“He’s the savior they mentioned?” She read from Summer’s gaze.

“Not our first choice.”

Fairy companions looked at Ash’s back with fear, knowing he wasn’t kind to their Pretty Cure friends.

But understanding his obsession, they decided to seek his assistance.

“For revenge on those who discard them?”

“No, to confine humans in memories; seizing their future.”

Got it.”

Instinctively ready to act, Ash clenched his fists.