Chapter 507

**Chapter Eighteen: In the Break of Rest**

“People like you really are quite careless, aren’t they?”

Unfortunately, humans are nothing but humans after all. Didn’t your mother tell you not to casually take things from others?

I originally wanted to have a good match with you, but it seems that isn’t necessary anymore.

A faint voice sounded from behind the unaware Joker, piercing the empty world behind the monster with an intense, rich blackness, like a dragonfly touching the surface of a puddle in the rain.

“Is that so?”

Self-satisfied, Joker was performing a monologue like any qualified villain, completely oblivious to the shadow that had silently appeared behind him.

“I was hoping that working with you would be quite an interesting experience, but alas, what a pity~”

“It seems that Mr. Wangjian is the one who has overestimated himself, which reminds me of a phrase by humans that I quite like.”

“When a person stares into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.”

“Wrong.”

The suddenly echoing cold voice from behind him enveloped Joker with an incredibly chilling aura at such close distance, the acute sense of danger coursing through him pinned the exaggeratedly acting Joker in place.

Even a fleeting glance made him feel as though he were standing in the dark of hell.

“You—!”

You’re just a human after all!

Joker turned sharply to respond, but his complacency left him unable to seize the best opportunity. An unavoidable ray of lunar light, like black ink splashed onto pure white paper, sliced through his slender form.

[Acquired Flash]!

Behind the man whose face was half-covered in blood, it seemed his fearsome gaze would also carve itself into the soul that instilled dread in him, a gaze filled only with bloodlust.

“I am the abyss.”

Ash realized two things.

First, even that officer stronger than him could be careless at times. Second, the officers of the Tragedy Kingdom bleed just as humans do.

He bleeds, then I can kill him.

“He escaped.”

He raised his hand to wipe the blood from his face; some was Joker’s, but some came from his own internal organs jolted into his mouth by the impact.

To trick the opponent into exposing a flaw, he had previously torn a rift in space-time behind him with a dark sword and had planned to cover his escape with the ensuing explosion. It truly was a risky move, as even he, who was well prepared, couldn’t avoid all the damage.

But judging by the opponent’s terrified and confused retreat, it was worth it.

“Did you flee without a hundred percent certainty? Indeed, a wise choice, but—”

Ash spat out another mouthful of blood, secretly despising such a person from the bottom of his heart.

“You just ran away so easily… Hmph, I’ll take that as you conserving your strength. But do you really not have the determination to risk your life for me? It seems I’ve been underestimated as well.”

He felt no essence of a warrior in him, just a pitiful fool to laugh at.

If he is to be considered an enemy, then what I must do next is to gradually force him into a corner. When he has nowhere to retreat, he will realize that not everything can be overcome by retreating.

“In the future, you will regret taking my life without risking your own.”

With this thought in mind, Ash placed a hand on his chest and, dragging his injured body, walked step by step toward the hidden exit within the rocky cave.

Although it had taken a lot of effort to establish the base, originally he wanted to wait until the heroes’ final showdown before tearing it apart spectacularly. But sadly, this secret base was no longer a secret, and he had to avoid unforeseen events.

It was impossible not to feel heartbroken; he had just finished interior arrangements with great difficulty, planning to have some fun this time, but there was no helping it…

The Tragedy Kingdom, I, Ash, will remember this grudge!

“System.”

[——]

The virtual panel popped up as usual in response to the call. Although he was in sync with the system and could accomplish various tasks with just a thought, Ash still preferred tangible interaction over invisible commands.

His fingers moved at an invisible speed on the keyboard that appeared on the panel, and upon seeing the large exclamation mark that popped up, he took one last look at the cave base that he hadn’t even had time to name before decisively issuing the vocal command.

“Activate the Knight’s Fall plan.”

As the tremors from the ground surged behind him, stepping over the crumbling debris accompanied by the sounds of violent explosions, Ash limped towards the sunlight outside, feeling his internal organs throb more intensely.

“As the world is about to be divided into two colors, I seem to have become the unsightly color.”

Having lost his secret base and a place to stay in this world, Ash was left alone, and without even having had time to acquire proper identification, he couldn’t even find a hotel.

Although according to the norms of this world, he could probably just knock on any door and fabricate a story about misfortune to be accepted for a rest, nonetheless… it’s a bit embarrassing, isn’t it? Is there really a villain like that? It’s way too shameful!

“But precisely because of this, until I achieve one of my objectives, I cannot be erased here.”

Thus, for the showdown with Pretty Cure in a few days, he must quickly rest to recover his strength and injuries!

Casually finding a park bench, Ash ignored the dust on it, tugged the collar of his black leather coat, and lay down, closing his eyes.

Besides, I’m not some delicate young lord; I’ve slept in rain-soaked trenches, so how could I fear this little issue?

“System, alert me if someone approaches.” Trusting safety to the system, Ash adjusted his breathing and synchronized with the quick-sleep method others had taught him during his travels, promptly slipping into deep sleep to heal his internal damage.

[I’m not your mother.]

The text displayed on the panel was lost on Ash, who had already started snoring softly, but the system did not retract immediately but instead maintained its form, rotating away to some location.

“What’s that…”

A small burst of soft yellow fur trembled behind the trunk of a nearby tree before slowly peeking out.

Yayoi, holding a sketchpad, carefully stepped out, her nervous gaze fixated on the man lying on the bench, terrified that he might suddenly pounce on her like a wolf devouring a lamb.

Yayoi’s fear was not without reason; her smile transformation compact could no longer enable her to transform, meaning that this dangerous man could do anything he wanted to her, and she would be powerless to resist…

“Um?” Seeing that the other party did not react, Yayoi, gathering a bit of courage, inched closer until she clearly saw the man’s tranquil face.

Is this person asleep?