Chapter 554

Only a stone after all!

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong, Mr. Wangjian!” With the home advantage, Joker, who was previously put on the back foot by the Kamen Rider, found himself now being suppressed. His face twisted into a more deranged smile as his hands moved faster.

“You told me to try, didn’t you? It seems you aren’t as strong as you claim!”

To prevent being blown away by the shockwave from striking the Go-Kaijō, Ash chose to defend instead, inserting the dark sword into an armor seam as a pivot. Facing the incoming rain of swords, he called out in an unnaturally calm voice.

“Hear me out, Akane, first you must do this—”

Since I have chosen the “designated action,” it cannot fail halfway through my hands!

Seeing Go-Kaijō losing power and being pushed toward Earth by the planet, Ash decided to fully support Akane’s actions to turn the tide.

Having experienced the struggles of men, the girl acted with her utmost effort under Ash’s instructions, restarting the corresponding switches on the console, then forcefully grabbing the jammed helm and pulling it down with all her might.

“Move, why won’t it move!”

Akane strained until the helm finally turned with her effort.

Just as she rejoiced, another small explosion behind the control panel knocked her down, causing the re-warmed thrusters to shut down again, and the full-body impact sent Ash crashing to the ground.

“I can’t do it!”

Facing the error, Akane realized that rushing into Go-Kaijō for “proof” was foolish. Now, she couldn’t help but watch as the situation seemed helpless.

Am I really not qualified to be a Pretty Cure?

“Calm down—!”

Ash suddenly attacked, taking advantage of the opportunity created by Joker’s全力进攻. The dark sword flashed like a light piercing the night and passed through Joker effortlessly. Ash quickly retreated as laughter erupted from Joker, who thrust toward Ash.

The sharp sword pierced Ash’s defensive gear, tore through his body, creating a small hole at his waist. Blood instantly froze in such extreme conditions, making Ash’s face pale many times over.

Crouched,呆望着这一幕, Akane desperately covered her mouth. She didn’t want to distract Ash anymore, but tears still flowed freely.

A grieving girl feared seeing the inevitable tragedy unfold. But—

“Don’t be afraid, Akane.”

From the injured Ash’s voice, Akane heard an unprecedented gentleness.

“But I just—simply can’t—I’m self-deceived!”

The blow from exposing Akane’s illusion of strength far surpassed any past mockery by Ash, leading her to truly understand her weaknesses.

“Trust yourself, Akane. You possess potential and strength.”

Potential…?

Yet here, I’m filled with doubts and worries, not seeing any strength.

“Even if you dislike me, you’ve indeed tried helping me your own way.”

“Do it, Akane. Your power and worth should be decided by you.”

Lifting her fist from the ground, Akane paused instead of hammering down. Her soft-back wiped across her red eyes, with tears floating in zero-gravity reflecting the vulnerability on her face.

“Why comfort me now…This liar!”

Repeating the sequence to turn the switches on, Akane fiercely roared, pulling the helm with renewed power.

“Only a stone!”

I can do this. Rather, I must do it!

“Watch me push it back with Ash’s Go-Kaijō!!”

In the unseen area, a humanoid key glowing in five colors floated out, nurturing the illusory glow like stars, slowly appearing.

With a snap, the once immovable helm spun rapidly under Akane’s hand, reinfused with energy.

Again, a massive explosion echoed, reactivating Go-Kaijō’s lone eye, firing its thrusters, pushing the small asteroid toward a set faraway point.

“What!”

Joker, witnessing the surge beneath his feet, immediately grimaced. The one who had gambled on Joker’s distraction last time had switched to a cowardly tactic, revealing his true plan!

However, no matter. My life is but a candle in the wind! After eliminating him, I’ll destroy this machine from the inside!

“…”

The ice-breathe from within Ash’s helmet revealed how unbalanced conditions made cold his body. Almost unable to see, he barely managed to focus on the dark sword’s prophecy.

The enemy approached closer.

“Heheheh, hahaha!”

Faced with yet another desperate scene, Ash looked up, laughing heartily at Joker, seemingly having seen something.