Chapter 338

Sixty-Ninth Chapter – The Third Pretty Cure

“ohmyback!”

Lying on the ground like a dried fish, Ash turned over, his hand couldn’t help pressing against his lower back.

What’s going on? It seems that ever since I transformed into Timons, all attacks are aiming for my back!

As soon as Ash climbed out of the pit and opened his eyes, he saw Wuki rushing toward him. He clenched his teeth and used his strength to shout at her, “What are you doing? Get away from me quickly!”

“But—I—” A gust of wind made Wuki subconsciously raise her arm to block in front of her. That was Lei, who had been knocked away by a heavy blow, screaming like a girl thrown like a basketball.

Seeing the approaching monster, Ash picked up his fingers, ready to use spider silk to pull himself away. But the monster deliberately bypassed him, targeting the Pretty Cure behind him.

‘This year’s Pretty Cure can’t do anything.’

As the monster passed by him, Ash could even hear a slightly joyful voice say: “Doon! Bloody hell—”

Being spared, Ash became even more enraged, clenching his fists, causing spider-web-like cracks on the ground.

“This guy was already strong enough, but he even knows martial arts—too ridiculous!”

Dodging the blade from behind, pulling a few strands of blue hair, Erika nervously looked back, hunched her body, and struggled together with Lei to throw a punch at him. However, due to his agile steps, they missed and instead got hit by a tail whip from behind.

“Bad news—”

By the time they realized, it was too late. The monster stretched out two barrel-like parts from behind, with red-black light gathering at the ends, aiming directly at the two girls.

Facing the two light beams shooting in, the terrified girls lying on the ground couldn’t withstand any more attacks!

“—”

A silent scream sliced through the air. The piercing light almost blinded Wuki’s unprotected eyes. When the light dispersed, the two exhausted Pretty Cures were lying in a deep pit emitting thick smoke. The land around them showed signs of crystallization due to the high temperature. Beaten and injured, they lay in a hellish environment, their resilient wills the only thing keeping them going.

“Pretty Cure!”

No, this is not what my brother expected!

“Stop it, Brother! You are not the kind of person who would find joy in others’ pain!”

Wuki ran in front of the two girls, spreading her arms between them and the monster!

“Do you realize?!” Seeing Wuki’s reckless action, Ash struggled to stand up. “This is a battlefield. It’s too dangerous for you! Are you eager to die? Get out of here!”

“No—I don’t want to just watch!” Remembering what she said earlier to Popuri, Wuki bit her lip to suppress her fear. “There are many things I want to protect: my family, dojo, friends as Pretty Cures, and you—all these are what I need to protect!”

Step by step, Wuki slowly approached the monster that was staring intently at her.

“Brother, please wake up, become the gentle you again!”

Seemingly hearing Wuki’s words, the agitated monster actually paused for a moment.

Wonderful, my brother heard my voice—

Before Wuki could be happy, she met the red eyes of the silly round-headed monster, experiencing an overwhelming feeling of chills.

Wrong, those eyes, the person inside is definitely not my brother!

“—!”

Facing the approaching punching monster, Ash raised his hand to shoot webs to pull her back, but the sudden intense movement caused pain in his back, making him fall to the ground.

Damn, why is my back—critical moment failure?!

‘Wrong, this is because your physical functions have degenerated.’

Despite reaching his hand out with all his might, Ash failed to reach. Just as the shadow was about to cover the girls, a small figure dashed in front of her, opening shields to block the attack.

“Uuuu!”

Popuri exerted herself to release the protective shield, which only lasted a short while before deflecting the attack sideways. She was then blown away by a punch smashing through the broken shield, along with the spirit beside her.

“Popuri, why?!”

Wuki, holding Popuri tightly, rolled on the ground several times. The girl looked in surprise at the sprite that saved her. Despite tears welling up in Popuri’s eyes, she still tried to appear brave.

“I’m the same as Wuki! There are many things I want to protect: my friends, the Pretty Cures, the Heart Tree, and Wuki!”

“Even if I don’t do a good job, I want to keep trying and help everyone more and more!”

The voice choked with tears, but the pure heart of the sprite reached Wuki without hindrance.

“Popuri…”

My feelings are just like yours.

“Oh, new spirit? There weren’t so many spirits before.” A completely different voice came out of the monster as it continued to approach the girl, but the girl didn’t show fear as expected.

“I’m no longer afraid of you!”

Holding Popuri, Wuki stepped forward bravely, firmly blocking the powerless Pretty Cure.

“Whoever you are, give me back my brother!”

“It’s impossible for you to do so,” the monster suddenly stopped speaking, pausing for quite some time before continuing intermittently. “Still putting up a fight? Even with such determined eyes, a human like you can’t do anything.”

“No, Doon!” A loud voice calling from the side drew the monster’s attention, and Ash stood up, holding his waist, his tone filled with stirring emotions. “The people I select won’t let you down, just as you say. I always believe in the miracles they may perform!”

I always believe in the possibility of heroes and hero reserve units!

Okay, Wuki, if the time has come, let me show you!

“Even without power, I must protect!”

“Protect those most important to me!”

With Wuki’s firm declaration of resolve, a dazzling golden light emerged simultaneously from her chest and Popuri’s, coiling and elevating. Both the monster and Ash had to raise their hands to shield themselves from this brilliance unbearable to darkness.

“What is this?”

Bathed in the warm sunlight, Wuki couldn’t make sense of the situation right away, but Popuri was clearly excited.

“The transformation items reacted to Wuki’s will!”

The glowing perfume bottle and the heart seed flew automatically into Wuki’s hand. Unlike the last time, which refused, the two items were now fully enveloped by the light radiating from Wuki’s body.

The two girls who had just crawled out of the pit also looked at her in surprise, opening their eyes wide with joy.

The third Pretty Cure has finally appeared!

“Wuki, use this power to protect everyone!”

“Ha!” Faintly seeing the resolute expression through her fingers, Ash’s face under the mask revealed a look of happiness similar to a farmer seeing ripe crops.

I knew she could do it!

Reestablished in front of the monster, the girl wielded the sacred-patterned perfume bottle half-turn it open, filling it with a gold seed while shouting the transformation phrase.

“Precure Open My Heart!”

“Precure Open My Heart!”