Chapter 396

The One Hundred Thirty-First: Ash’s Outburst

“Damn it, with four against two, we should be at an advantage!”

Gritting her teeth in frustration, Scorpion Lena shot her needles at tricky angles once more.

“[Peach·Sword]!”

He pulled the lever of his Electroface Saint Sword, switching to the most powerful saber mode. The blade sliced sideways, deflecting Lena’s scorpion tail off its trajectory and forcefully hacked toward her. If not for her timely dodge, she might have been cut in half.

Ash and Lily already tore an opening in the Desert Apostle’s encirclement. With their teamwork, their numerical superiority was quickly overwhelmed.

“Ehura, ehura, ehura! The knight and princess must pass through here!”

Beside her, Lily heard this and her lips curled slightly upward. Princess, huh? Sounds quite nice indeed.

“Damn you two, how dare you flirt right in front of me!” An enraged Lena shot several needles straight at the back that Ash had left unguarded.

However, Ash wasn’t alone now. Like teleporting, Lily appeared before the needles’ target, blocking them effortlessly with her palms.

“It can’t be just Ash who remembers these beautiful moments.”

Spider Gaki and Cobra Saga attacked together, but just as before, Ash blocked first. Lily kicked a crescent-moon-shaped kick, sending them both flying back.

“Not bad timing!”

“Of course. To fight alongside Ash, having someone cover my back, I get to experience what it feels like to have a teammate.”

If only Ash was by my side at that moment…

In a moment of distraction as Lily thought about this, a black shadow passed by, taking Ash away from her!

“Ash?!”

Thrown by a powerful force into the back warehouse, Electroface Saint Sword left outside. Ash stood up, rubbing his head, surprised to find he wasn’t hurt much. But when he tried to stand, a pair of hands grabbed his neck.

“Gah!”

“You–you!” The breathless Dark Pretty Cure glared at Ash like a madwoman, red eyes filled with resentment and委屈. “All for that woman!”

I should have been your friend! Right?

Feeling Dark Pretty Cure wasn’t using much strength, Ash didn’t struggle either. Then, with a calm expression, he said:

“I apologize… Timons never existed, to begin with…”

“!”

Astounded, Dark Pretty Cure released her grip, her hands slipping away.

Memories flashed through her mind, ranging from the friendship claim, nonsensical dates, to moments of joy and melancholy, all shattered like broken glass in her eyes.

Lacking emotional skills and expression, she struggled more with these emotions than ever before. From merely focusing on defeating Moonghost Lily, she transformed. She experienced desires, jealousies, curiosities, and occasional joys because of Ash.

Now, hearing it from him again, it struck her with immense weight.

“Stay away from him!”

Before Dark Pretty Cure could continue, an enraged voice wrapped in silver light hit her across the face.

Massaging his neck, Ash stepped out of the warehouse, looking at the two shooting stars overhead.

“I’m sorry, Little Dark… Yet, I’m the true fool who has made you suffer… How ironic.”

“Haahahaaa—”

Kicking Lily aside, Dark Pretty Cure unfurled her bat wings, hatred in her eyes burning brighter.

Mad with rage, Dark Pretty Cure drew her weapon from her chest, gathering power regardless of her injuries and pain.

“Unite, Dark Power! DarkTact!”

“Unite, Floral Power! MoonTact!”

Standing on rooftops, they endlessly fueled their powers until dark and silver moon beams erupted from their bodies, tearing at each other in the air!

“Boom—!”

Moonlight pierced through the cloudy sky, striking the battlefield. A bolt of lightning descended from above, illuminating their faces and releasing their accumulated power!

“Flowers, shine!”

“Dark Power Fortissimo!!”

Dark flames and silver moonlight enveloped both fighters. Lily and Dark Pretty Cure were like meteors crashing down, dragons fighting over territory. They transformed themselves into lethal cores, unleashing unimaginable feats beyond human understanding, colliding with all their might!

The sky was filled with their movements and deafening impacts. Wherever one looked, light and explosions erupted where they clashed.

“Why do you hate me so much, Dark Pretty Cure?”

Naturally hating the one who killed her partner, Lily felt similarly resentful but couldn’t comprehend why her hatred intensified now.

“Because I am you!”

“What does that mean!?” Dark fury grew fiercer. In their collision, Lily found herself trailing behind.

Dark Pretty Cure recalled Ash’s words that day. He used words to make her believe she won over Moonghost Lily, a transformed Precure who no longer needed to feel sorrow for being a clone.

She used to be grateful, but now Moonghost Lily was revived again. This was a tragic joke her existence had become!

“If you are the light, I am the shadow!”

This world doesn’t need two identical existences!

“When shadows consume light…”

Don’t take my only friend away too!!!

“You will fall, Moonghost!”

With her hidden eye revealed, golden irises unleashed immense psychic force, instantly overpowering Lily’s power with her “Fortissimo”.

“Gyah—”

No way, such overwhelming power! Partially hidden strength, I can’t match, my power won’t rise, maybe…

“Lily…”

Maybe, she will lose again…

“百合！”

A beam shot between them, none other than Ash’s Electroface Saint Sword.

“Bloody hell!”

Lily caught it in her left hand, the magic wand in her right, the blade held firmly. With all her might, she pushed back against Dark Pretty Cure.

“No, I’m not alone anymore…”

Through gritted teeth, Lily’s eyes burst with a radiant brilliance.

“I’m fighting not alone!”

Not just Lily, Dark Pretty Cure turned towards the sword, her pupils intensely shaking.

Why…why did you choose to help her?!

“I can’t lose as long as Ash’s attention is on me!!!”

Weapons crossed in a cross shape, Lily fiercely slashed, pouring her immeasurable light into Dark Pretty Cure, illuminating her anger.

One, two, three waves of impact spread halfway around the earth. Silent explosions bathed the midnight market in Hope City, turning night into day with the intertwining of silver and dark red lights.

Two clear clinks followed the thud of heels landing. Back to back, they hit the ground.

“Mmph…”

Holding her injured shoulder, Lily winced, collapsing to the ground first.

“Hmph!”

Smiling, Dark Pretty Cure turned to mock her, but suddenly froze. Currents surged throughout her body, and her lace-lined armor ripped apart, revealing an “X” shaped tear that released a ghastly glow.

“Gyaaahhh—”

Dark Pretty Cure’s eyes wide with defiance, collapsed to the ground.

Angel of Moonlight