Chapter 306

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Forgetting Techniques

“Why, why doesn’t the master defeat me and give me a good scolding!”

Standing at the foot of the training ground, Ash, speaking about the troublemaking young man, was venting his frustration, perhaps directed at himself.

I know he is the best; he could beat me without even half a technique! And my senior brother as well, he already had me pinned down but didn’t deliver the final blow, allowing me to counterattack!

Even though he won, the boy felt no joy in victory.

“Actually, I…”

I know that move using foul play was wrong, but my pride wouldn’t let me admit it; if only the master or someone else could just defeat me and make me admit it! Instead, I made matters worse!

In fact, I love the Mitsubayashi style the most!

The tragedy born from his inability to speak caused the flower in his heart, resembling his soul, to wilt away.

“Hmph, what’s the point of wallowing in self-pity?”

What?!

A sudden voice behind him startled him. Standing above and towering over him was a long-haired brute in a white coat, surrounded by an army of monsters like toy soldiers on TV.

“Who are you?”

“I am the Grand Officer of the Desert Apostle, Spider Gaki!”

He straightforwardly announced his name, Spider Gaki, noticing the withered state of the heart flower within the boy, possessing a violet violet appearance, instantly setting his sights on the boy.

“A flower about to wither, I’ll take you in. Heart Flower, come out!”

Using dark energy, he separated the Heart Flower and the human part amidst the boy’s cries, shrinking the boy’s body into a tiny form, caged in a crystal orb, while keeping the nearly withered Heart Flower in the crystal, at Spider Gaki’s disposal.

“Desertlin, Descend!”

Fusing the Heart Flower with a nearby plaque for summoning, soon, the boy’s heart was twisted into a “Desertlin,” wielding a plaque as its weapon.

“Now then, Pretty Cures, come out!”

However, this time, Spider Gaki had no intention of battling with Desertlin; the monster was merely there to lure the girls out. He himself was their real opponent.

“Pffft!”

While looking for Wuki with Lei, Erika saw the incoming Desertlin and sprayed like a Water Gun-using Swampert—spewing water.

No way, we keep running into monsters like Desertlin!

“Erika, our disciples are still here!” Lei took out her Heart Sprinkler, slowly gaining courage to deal with the prolonged beating without fear of combat.

“That guy doesn’t seem to be around…!” Erika, after looking left and right, couldn’t find Spider Knight’s figure. Overjoyed, she thought, “Good, let’s take him down right now!”

“To whom do you plan to finish off once and for all?”

A deep, rough male voice echoed behind the girl. Spider Gaki confronted the Pretty Cures, sparks of energy surging from his clenched fists!

“Pretty Cures! This time, I will definitely defeat you!”

I’ll bring you down using new techniques I learned from a game! While showing Timons the extent of my capabilities!

On the other hand, Mitsubayashi Wuki stood by the pond in the backyard, quietly observing her reflection.

“I thought inheriting Mitsubayashi would mean protecting my brother, but it’s not.”

But, if I don’t practice martial arts, who would I be?

“The most important thing is whether you truly like it…”

“If you practice boxing purely because you enjoy it, martial arts won’t just be some hobby or tool. A true devotee of the path finds joy in its hardship.”

Hearing her brother’s words and Ash’s as well, Wuki began to think and have a realization.

The answer lies within myself!

“Mr. Timons, as a senior in martial arts, please instruct me!”

“I want to experience again, as a martial artist, what I first felt!”

Facing this person, even Wuki couldn’t tell whether he was good or bad; he fought the Pretty Cures without hesitation, yet treated her, a total stranger, with such concern.

She couldn’t make an accurate judgment, but now, she wanted to trust him!

Hearing Wuki’s words, Ash wore a sly fox-like smile.

“I don’t know if I really like it, nor do I know what I’d do if I don’t train…”

Finally, it worked.

“Wish to recapture the initial feeling? Then I shall teach you this technique: Forget techniques, discard all routines.”

Only then can you recapture the initial feeling.

“Forget… techniques?” —ah!

Ash enveloped him from behind like a ghost, his chest pressed against Wuki’s back, five fingers adhering to the back of her hands. Not only were the frightful screams of Wuki shocking; although they were almost in direct contact, the presence behind her was undetectable except for actual physical touch.

“Abandon all worries and quit shouldering responsibilities alone.”

Perhaps due to Ash’s repeated fumbling, Wuki who had experienced his touch developed resistance. Her head almost exploding with steam, the flush on Wuki’s face gradually faded, truly as cool as he suggested.

“Just follow your heart, let feelings guide your actions.”

Clutching onto Wuki, pulling her into movement, Ash struck her with a set of moves which she recognized immediately as the Mitsubayashi technique. But…

By which you mean forgetting techniques?

“Don’t overthink it, your body will tell you the answers. The Mitsubayashi style you’ve honed protects you.”

Wuki completely calmed down, errors in her movements due to panic were no more, her graceful, powerful dance-like forms flowed smoothly as the water.

Entering a state, her eyes turned empty, yet her movements became increasingly ethereal.

“Let your mind be unrestrained as water.”

What am I doing here?

“Don’t reflect, just feel.”

Why must I do this?

And who am I?

At some point, Ash stopped guiding, stepping aside the man watched the focused yet hollow-eyed Wuki, seeing her perfected movements, revealing an approving smile.

“Just as I imagined!”

My judgment wasn’t wrong. You’re a perfect fit, Mitsubayashi-san!

“Wham—” An explosion from afar interrupted everything, snapping Wuki out of her daze.

I— I didn’t actually learn anything yet, yet I seemed to have grasped them.

“Mr. Timons?”

“Come, let us see.”

Watching Mitsubayashi run towards the sun, Ash nodded in satisfaction.

Sparkle more, Mitsubayashi, Lei, Lily, Erika.

That’s the destiny stage I want to see; unpredictable and full of turns!