Chapter 577

The Eighty-Ninth Proof of Friendship in Excessive Pain

Humanity is different from one another.

Some humans’ thoughts, memories, and so-called selves are ultimately no more than electrical signals of neurons in the cerebral cortex.

Some humans truly have souls. I think, therefore I am; even if they die, they can still “live.”

There are those who live in a brutally realistic world where a bullet or a small knife can take an experienced warrior’s life. There are others who exist in a world where mind triumphs over matter. They’ll crawl back from the depths of hell as long as someone still needs them.

Some fight with their lives until the last bit they can do is to ignite a spark. Others can kill a couple of monsters as long as they try hard enough.

No matter what they can achieve or not achieve.

Fundamentally speaking, their starting point, that fighting spirit, is the same.

That’s why I’m obsessed with being the villain, provoking heroes, and even sometimes enjoy games like destroying the world. I want to see more flashing human traits. I want to fully savour the anthem of human courage.

So I met many different heroes with distinct personalities.

They proved to me the existence of justice, courage, and miracles.

Now, it’s your turn to prove it.

What used to be a token for the girls on their trip, a symbol of friendship among them, was ruthlessly smashed to the ground in front of everyone by Ash.

“If you’re not interested, if they’re no important anymore to you,”

The broken bracelet “exploded” open, its wooden handmade trinkets flying everywhere, scattering on the ground.

“Prove it then.”

Lifting his heavy iron boots, he crushed these scattered pieces and the sticky natto candies together into a black mud.

“Stop!”

Completely unable to comprehend the abrupt violence from Ash, Naoko covered her wide-open mouth with her hands.

Prove… I don’t understand this, but don’t destroy those! These are what we’ve shared in our past!

“Please, don’t—ah!”

Naoko, hurrying to stop him, had yet to get close when she was struck hard by a sharp gauntlet on her chest, groaning as she landed on the ground.

“This is…”

He was from the Pretty Cure side, wasn’t he? Now he’s…

Oh no, all that pain of the innocent girl seems wasted now ~ how much she cried, it’s making me want to clap for him right now.

Rubbing his chin, even Joker couldn’t grasp what was presently going on in Ash’s mind or his actions.

“Snap—”

With a crisp sound, the red-and-white relay stick snapped in half under Ash’s foot as he vented his frustration by stomping, his feet creating large indentations in the green grass, turning those relics of the past to dust.

“No way—” Unable to endure any further, Naoko knelt down and hugged Ash’s leg, letting tears and dirt coat her face as a plea for him to stop. “Please! Please stop doing this. Stop!”

“It doesn’t matter what I say. Don’t do such excessive things any longer!”

Ash remained unmoved.

Similarly, the other ones lying on the ground also stared with mouths agape at Ash’s blatant cruelty.

Why is Ash doing this?

“If these memories mean anything to you, and if there’s even a little bit of feeling left in you.”

None of the girls’ crying could shake his heart, which was just the beginning of the end. The handkerchief given by Rihua, their scribbled notebook, the origami cranes Miyuki proposed, and the items in their backpack—all were dumped out by Ash.

Even if Naoko tried with her body to shield them, she would be pulled away mercilessly and have them trampled on again in front of everyone as meaningless fragments.

Naoko cried hoarsely until her voice cracked, while the others, who lost their words to expression, watched this spectacle. Just some trivial relics of the past, some things the people hated…now…

Why is my heart hurting?

“Now, prove to me!”

Can your friendship break the rules, overturn and create out of nothingness?

Not just one person has to prove it.

Everyone has to prove it.

“Do you think crying will help?”

Facing that silver grid mask head-on, he saw through the glaring red light that hid his anger.

“What’s with that face? Do your tears really have the power to save and rescue your friends?”

You defeated me before, with that foolish confession trying to move me. It was because of that tenacious feeling that convinced me to abandon my fate and try having faith in this world together with you once.

After waiting for this…is this really just an ugly farce? To be honest, I’m very disappointed!

“Or perhaps, Pretty Cure’s friendship is only this level?” Ash said as he visibly shook his head in disappointment behind the false mask.

The dark sword made the girl’s vision blurry. Then, what followed made her open her eyes wide. It was the photo of the five Pretty Cures and sprite grinning together in the Library of Wonders, slowly picked up by Ash.

Naoko blinked hard, reaching out desperately to grab it. But just when she touched Ash’s wrist, she was flung back without mercy.

Carelessly tossed into the air, it caught everyone’s attention. A sudden purple flash pierced through them.

The memories held within the photo were like a thin piece of paper, stabbed and raised up by the golden blade in front of their eyes.

“So, for you all who’ve lost your bonds.”

For Ash, cutting a “piece of paper” dancing in the wind is easy.

“You don’t need this!”

The Sacred Sword continued its dark flames in the air, continuously striking the photo that bore everyone’s smiles.

“Stop, that’s everyone’s memory!”

Sugar leaped forward, biting onto it like a marshmallow. Yet, even this failed to break the defenses, leaving the sprite that clung to the arm of a man without a second to spare.

“Ugh!”

The image that seemed whole fell apart into fragments, and Ash swung a hand, causing flames to engulf the charred remains.

Naoko had already exhausted her voice. In her increasingly empty gaze, the past burned alongside the flames.

Miyuki and her companions rose slowly, their focus drawn to the smiles captured on their photos.

Why was I smiling so joyfully back at that time… myself…

“Ah…”

Rihua removed her hand from her face. She realized her tears were streaming down as if it was raining.

This is too strange… I’m not sad, yet why am I crying?

Sadness…Tears…

Naoko… even when we hurt her deeply, she still came towards us, even crying. Just to…

Just to make herself a friend.

“No…”

A tremulous voice.

“Stop!”

Another girl placed herself before Ash.

“We don’t want such an outcome!!!”

Clinging tightly around Ash’s waist, Miyuki struggled and tearfully defied him.

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