Chapter 68

Extra Case File 68 Absolute Despair Girl

The bandages under his clothes, stained with increasingly vivid blood from his intense movements, meant nothing to Ash anymore.

Stop!

At the worst possible moment!

“Flower!!” Ash, arriving too late, watched the woman about to fall. His former medical knowledge told him that if he didn’t provide comprehensive and multi-layered treatment immediately, this might be Wild Flower’s last time falling.

He charged forward without thinking.

He believed he could create another miracle.

But, compared to the body, the scarred heart and spirit needed “healing” even more… no.

It might already be beyond saving.

Just as Ash was about to catch her, Wild Flower lost her strength, knelt down, leaned back, and eventually fell powerless to the ground. Yet, in that moment, her动作被 paused like a freeze-frame!

Her waist bent backward, contorting at a 90-degree angle in midair, her hands limp as she lay on the ground, like a puppet stripped of its bones but held up by invisible strings; Wild Flower maintained this bizarre stance, gradually fading away her last bit of warmth with a smile uglier than tears.

Now.

Even for the fear-inspiring Ash, who freely mocked malice and darkness, found himself feeling discomfort deep inside.

Facing such a mysterious scene, Ash felt no fear—only sorrow for Flower.

Why would she cry, when she wasn’t afraid of death?

As if replaying, she reestablished herself like a marionette, her arms outstretched as if imitating Wild Flower nailed to the cross; Ash heard the resounding heartbeat in his chest, nearly loud enough for him to hear it.

“I want to save her.”

Skeptical, self-indulgent feelings, and the unfillable void were cast aside entirely.

In his heart, only one voice resounded:

“I want to save her.”

Knowing what to do was enough.

Ash took a deep breath. When he reopened his narrowing black pupils, his eyes seemed ablaze, burning everything away, transforming him. Standing before her.

She was smiling—but Ash also heard clear sobs.

Having lost faith in the future, despair took over now, intensifying beyond anything seen in any Final Monster. This turbulent energy surged through her chest, threatening to dye the crystal of the future jet-black.

It was as if a destined knot had finally unravelled.

Timefire—in these final moments, only you could accompany me. Do you remember your earlier invitation? Now it’s time, our date!

“I can’t transform anymore, I’m not Cure Yell anymore~”

“This doesn’t matter.”

Standing before him is you, Wild Flower! Realize this!

“I can no longer respond to the hero Ash I loved~”

“It’s enough, Flower, none of this matters now.”

“Even if you don’t care about yourself anymore—think about your friends! Yu, Saya, Himizuki. Think about your family, like that sister of yours who almost fought me for you!”

“I love them.” Tears streaked down Flower’s face, leaving dark trails on her soft cheeks. “But I can’t respond to them…” No.

I don’t want to respond to anyone anymore.

“Flower!”

Ash almost pleaded, shouting her name loudly.

But the answer he received was absolute hopelessness.

“My life… my chance as Cure Yell…”

Love, future, life—all lost.

Doubt, fear, terror of the future.

If tomorrow’s power represents positive force for the future…

Then the future has abandoned me.

I can no longer see a future!

Black fog—excessive anger solidified into tangible rage erupted from Wild Flower’s chest, enveloping her form completely.

Anger, hate, resentment—once vehemently resisted, obstructing the world’s path to light; these malicious elements now stood clearly visible before him.

And why did the cold feeling comfort my heart so close to breaking…

Because without hope for the future, there’s no reason to fight for tomorrow. Therefore, just let everything sink into this darkness—it provides peace.

Heh heh heh… Ha ha ha…

Darkness twisted silently, yet Ash clearly heard laughter—Wild Flower’s laughter—

“Willow!!”

She broke the cage, shook off the shackles.

Laughter rang loud.

Wild Flower floating in the air slowly laid backward, the wave of darkness surged towards her, seemingly aware, crashing against Ash, pushing him backward.

“Guh, guh, guh, gwa!”

Amid the darkness, the shadow rose, accompanied by weeping mixed with laughter. Her housecoat transformed into something familiar yet alien to Ash, then “Wild Flower” covered her face.

“Oh wow oh wow oh wow!!!”

It’s Cure Yell, yet it’s only an object with Yell’s appearance, growing amidst both Willow and Yell’s bodies, taking everything.

Final Monster.

“It’s over… it’s all over…” A hoarse voice whispered, blood dripping drop by drop…

“Completely—finished—”

That was the trademark phrase of an irrational Final Monster.

“Precure” cried sadly, stretching several lifelike mechanical tentacles from her transformed black crystal chest. They wrapped around Flower’s limbs, binding and lifting her higher as they intertwined.

“Ahhh!!” The small gasp instantly turned into an ear-piercing scream, the surrounding darkness grew thicker and denser. Mechanical tentacles, piercing the ground and surroundings, moved in cycles, penetrating the clouds to reach the sky.

Dark energy, akin to infection, transformed her image. Worn-out dark dress, stiff marble wings with cracks, and a plaster-filled, tearful face devoid of expression.

“Willow Flower!!!”

This was the third time he called her name.

But she couldn’t hear it anymore.