Chapter 316

Chapter 47: Burst of Gold Coins, Little One

“Armlet Light Impact!”

With his arms crossed in front of his chest until magic bullets completely covered his body, Ash moved swiftly. He pulled out the seal from his waist and pressed it onto the driver.

“[Mogura!]”

A green drill-tipped armament was fitted to his right hand. Ash held it across his chest, using artificial muscles to spin the ultra-hard blade at high speed. Like a shield, it deflected all incoming magic bullets, sending them off to explode harmlessly.

“How… could this be…”

“Idiot, when you attack, don’t just focus on one spot; it’s too obvious.”

Shaking his head, Ash pushed the drill into the ground. Using the power of the mole as a reference, the rapidly spinning drill carved a path underground, pulling Ash down with it as he disappeared beneath the surface.

“Where are you!” Seeing the other party vanish underground, Eddie turned his ZectRider sword and, feeling an increased vibration from below, stabbed the ground.

“Got you—in here—wait, what?”

The blade broke through the ground, but apart from a trembling mole underneath, there was nothing else. Just as Eddie’s head spun with confusion, a loud noise behind him made Ash leap out. With a swing of his drill, Ash sent Eddie flying again.

“Idiot, why would I pick such a common place like that? It’s behind you.”

Seeing Eddie flailing across the ground, bored and uninterested, Ash shook his head and disarmed.

What a letdown. I thought I’d face a real threat, like that SCSO… This?

“You talk about being a hero, you’re joking, right?” Keeping calm during the fight, Ash unleashed his hidden anger and roared.

“Hoping others will recognize you as a hero? That’s enough to become one! If it were that simple, I’d already be a hero!”

“You actually came with your daydreams right in front of me!?”

“I will perform my duties as a SCSO warrior… mmph!”

Trying to stand, but with wounds making it impossible even for a slight effort, Eddie struggled.

“I’ll defeat the enemy; I’ll crush evil and, if needed, I’ll help others. In exchange, isn’t it reasonable to want recognition?”

“But—” Taking a breath, Ash calmed himself, holding his hands to his chest and lifting his index finger. “Becoming a hero for recognition is impossible.”

“On that moment you wish to be a hero, you’ve already lost your right.”

“That’s—”

That’s!

These things…

[Now, Ash.]

A screen popped up in front of Ash, presenting more irritating suggestions.

[Kill him, Ash—it’ll eliminate all the information revealed, and also—]

“While he might insult my intelligence, he’s not going to die.”

After all, indiscriminate killing would prevent him from making friends with heroes.

“Timons!”

Murmuring about his friend, another appeared. Black light flashed by, and the Dark Pretty Cure entered the scene, scanning Ash with her open eye until she deemed him safe.

“Oh, it’s Little Dark! Thanks for coming when I called, huh? As expected of my good partner and comrade.”

Hearing Ash speak these familiar words from before, Dark Pretty Cure looked slightly embarrassed.

“I—”

“You heard me out when I was in danger, surely that’s not concern for me? Oh, how grateful Timons is!”

“Stupid—rubbish!”

Dark Pretty Cure shivered, turning away as Timons tried to embrace her.

Why do I feel so warm and excited when he says thank you? Is it because I’m happy…?

Shaking her head, pushing those unclear thoughts aside, Dark Pretty Cure focused on the smoking figure standing up behind her.

“A new Pretty Cure?”

“He’s a man, so he must be a new enemy.”

“Even with one more!”

Nosebleeding and frustrated, Eddie pulled out another power-infused bullet key from his key box, resolving to press the crest and activate it.

“Supreme Key!”

“Not gonna work~”

Spider silk ejected from Ash’s wrists stuck to Eddie’s hand, swinging it off to a nearby billboard. Disabled with half his body paralyzed, Eddie couldn’t break free no matter how hard he struggled, only groaning.

“What now…? Wait?”

Just as Ash was about to end the fight with his spider seal, Dark Pretty Cure stood silently in front of him.

“DarkTact (Dark Magic Rod).”

An expressionless, terrifyingly cold girl drew her weapon from the shadows, her single opened eye looking at Eddie. The gem atop her levitating wand gathered formidable dark energy.

“Dark Forte Wave!”

With no way out this time, even Magatama armor wouldn’t save reckless Eddie.

“AAAHHH!”

Screaming, rolling on the ground, the transformation ended, and the makeshift cover was abandoned. Still, it managed to hide his naked rear end.

“Clink clink~”

With the defeat, the Magatama keys naturally scattered like toppled toy blocks.

“Hey~”

Picking up a key, Ash examined it curiously.

“Not bad, it really is this thing. I have some resentment towards this.”

“This… is mine…”

“Unworthy!”

Kicking away Eddie’s hand, feeling the magic inside, the Invincible [All-rounder] activated. Laughing under his mask, Ash ejected the key from the crest.

“Shark Key… What a nuisance, this thing. After all, the other world’s me almost had this.”

The Magatama Warrior series, Eddie’s transformation, features intelligent devices called Magatama dragons that can use strong justice magic and summon the powerful spirit beast “Beast King” with multiple modes to assist in battles, making them extremely versatile.

Lifting the dragon sword, Ash frowned.

No response from the Magatama dragons… Could it be a fake, or are they asleep?

Disappointed, Ash didn’t want the item and casually threw it aside, fetching the silver Gaia Cellular he’d taken from Basque after his defeat.

“Exactly, I have a proper key for this. Watch.”

In front of the astonished Ed, Ash inserted the Shark Key into his Gaia Cellular and twisted it forcefully.

“Shark Key Summon!”

“[Water God Whale]!”

“Stop, you won’t be able to—”

Before he finished, a magic circle projected from the phone’s center, and a mechanical steel shark emerged, swimming around Ash obeying his command.

How… I can control these Beast Kings after all…

“See?” With his presence, waiting until Beast King [Water God Whale] obediently followed his every instruction, touching its head.

“This is the true way to use Beast King.”