Chapter 411

Evolution

“Boom————”

无情的银色 moonlight crashed into the knight’s chest, sending him through two walls along with his belt before he was thrown backward.

“Not bad, Lily. That power—keeps rising continuously!” Ash caught Lily’s straight punch and felt the power surging in his hand, knowing he had been right all along in his thoughts.

“Hold your tongue!” More power surged from Lily’s intent, but she now wished she didn’t have any. The sound of her fists cracking as they gripped the wrist armor echoed, a drastic change for someone who always fought gracefully and nimbly. She angrily poured out all her attacks, punches, and kicks towards the man without holding back.

Although she aimed to counter, the gap was too wide. Plus, Lily fought wholeheartedly with her full strength, even more so this time. Her power kept increasing, making it impossible even for Ash to turn the tide.

“Damn, the belt’s power rose, but as for the transformation device—!”

Thus, he fought while retreating, crashing through the side industrial warehouse. Ash continued to move backward in a specific direction.

“Urgh!”

A silver purple spiritual light fist shattered the web armor over his chest. He saw mixed crimson fragments flying around, tears streaming uncontrollably down his eyes.

“Although I can’t do much else, when you’re sad, calling me and sharing half your energy, I can manage.”

Memories flashed through his mind—moments of sadness, happiness, with her. He thought, “Yeah, that ring suits you.”

When he said he would help her, during that close encounter with death, when Shopkeeper held him saying she’d share half her energy—he felt joy, happiness, rare warmth, and genuine relief.

“Welcome back.”

The last images flashed as he recalled her last comforting words.

Even though I smiled genuinely because of him, why are these tears unstoppable now?

“Lily, losing your father made you seek other emotional outlets to fill the void.”

Ash narrated calmly and coldly as he sat up, as if he hadn’t just been hit.

“But I’m destined not to be part of your life. I am who I am; I cannot be someone’s replacement.”

“Anyhow, you’re all lying to us, big liars!!!”

He was punched down again, and the Pretty Cure, crying, pulled the knight up from the cracks in the floor.

“There’s nothing unsatisfactory about my power.” Ash remained defiant, despite being yanked by his neck collar.

“But your heart is too weak—this will hinder you in defeating the true enemy.”

“Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!!!” Six months of memories were like lit matchsticks, ripping away Lily’s last shred of composure with gut-wrenching pain.

“Don’t act like you know everything just because you’re talking so much!”

Another punch sent Ash flying out of the warehouse, his back exploding in impact.

“Why did Manager have me deliver this in such heavy rain?”

Lei held the umbrella, puzzled at the wicked emblem in her hands.

“Though Ash rarely asks.”

She smiled awkwardly and rubbed her burning fingertips on the spider relief, inadvertently smearing her blood, making the spider look even more sinister.

“Crack—”

As they spoke, a figure rolled out from the wall they just demolished.

“Timons!”

“Hey, it’s you.” Ash casually waved at the anxious pink-haired girl amidst the sounds of rain pelting on his damaged armor.

“Lei, long time no see. Give that back.”

“No…”

Instinctively, she hugged the bloody emblem. Another shock came to her.

Why is Ash’s voice coming from inside Timons?!

As Knight inched closer and Lei backed away, a silver and purple figure charged toward him.

“Your opponent is—I!”

“It’s getting annoying, Lily!”

“[Spider! Stamping Strike!]” Recently defeating Eddie, Spider Destroyer launched a spider light shot towards the girl, but Lily deflected it back to Ash using two silver energy orbs.

“Moonlight Reflection!”

Caught in his own attack, Ash rolled twice, sparks erupting from his body. He appeared in front of Lei, drenched and disheveled.

“!”

Lei’s eyes widened, her pigtails standing out like fireworks.

In disbelief, her brain momentarily shut down, unable to process what she was seeing.

“Timons? Ash? Manager?”

Why is Manager inside Timons? No, why does Manager have the belt? Why is Manager transforming into a Kamen Rider and fighting Lily?!

Unanswerable questions flooded her mind.

“Ash?!”

Increasing rainfall doused them, hiding Ash’s gaze from view.

Lei instinctively closed the distance towards him.

“Quickly, give me that, give me that evil emblem!”

“But, wait!”

Confused, although once brave enough to fight Desert Apostle as a Pretty Cure, Lei was now petrified by his angry shout, the emblem in her hand burning.

“Hanazaki Lei!”

Called by her full name, Lei, conflicted, acted upon her instincts.

Before she could hear Lily, she—

Threw the evil emblem at Ash.

“Plop.”

Watching it land in his hand, synched perfectly to “perfect fit,” Ash exalted, shaking with hands raised high.

“I have it back!”

In front of the drenched and stunned pair, he confidently pressed the emblem.

“[Scarlet Spider]!”

Instantly, a crimson tornado of blood and sand swirled, evaporating the surrounding rain instantly into pure steam.

After releasing, the emblem flew itself into place on the belt under self-guidance.

“[Control]!”

“[Henshin.]”

Grabbing the floating emblem, sealing it over a central scanning panel.

“[Soul Up! Splash! Spark! Sacrilege! Sacrifice! Kamen Rider Scarlet Demon!]”

Sci-fi holographic panels swept over Ash’s body. Pure light and dark together formed the sandstorm enveloping him, culminating in a sandy shell, resembling some sort of Spider Monster, around his exterior.

A deep red armored fist burst through, followed by a sandstorm engulfing a webs of dark energy that coalesced onto the knight’s left shoulder.

His entire body covered in deep red armor, dual compound eyes opened on his chest, plasma cannons slowly activating, the helmet bent in an elegant crown shape except for the blue visor on his single visible eye.

Ash raised his index finger, gently wiping across the extending blue lens,

“This is… Kamen Rider Scarlet Demon.”

“Completed.”

“Completed.”