Kamen Rider as a Pretty Cure Villain

"Come out now~ If you don't show your fighting spirit, I'll start destroying things immediately!"

Of course, he was only saying that and wouldn't actually do it yet. It wasn't that he was afraid, but rather that it was unnecessary. After all, based on his past experience, usually, all it took was to do this much and wait a little longer to—

"Wait!"

A pink rainbow light descended from the sky, kicking one of the Genet's heads. Sparks flashed from the robot's instantly broken neck, and its single-eyed head, connected to a spine-like skeleton and trailing red cables, flew off with a crackle.

The mechanical head that flew out rolled several times on the ground before Ash stepped on it with his foot. The malfunction caused by the severed connection caused the light flashing across its single eye to extinguish.

The sight of red coolant spilling onto the ground made Hana's expression even more grim. Coupled with the still twitching robot body on the ground, it looked just like a real murder scene.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." Seeing the newcomer, Ash's lips curved into the simple smile of an angler who had just hooked a big fish.

See, it was that simple. Sometimes, doing extra things could lead to more trouble than it was worth.

"!"

The moment the beautiful pink woman appeared and landed, the surrounding Genets simultaneously raised their guns, surrounding Cure Yell in their midst.

"You really came, didn't you?" Ash smiled and glanced at the shock of yellow hair behind the wall in the distance, then pretended to be casual as he greeted her.

"Time Fire! What are you doing? Everyone is scared right now. This kind of thing—why are you doing this!"

Even though she had a slight inkling of the answer, Hana refused to think the worst of him.

"You ask why? Of course, it's to see you!"

Before Cure Yell, who was stunned into silence by his abrupt remark, could react, Ash continued. "And then to have a duel with you!"

The first time we met, your physical condition was no different from that of a dead person, so it meant nothing to me. How could I possibly miss the opportunity to actually experience the extent of your power when you're at your best?

"This kind of fight is completely meaningless!"

At this moment, Nono Hana was beyond words. She never imagined that he would release these cartoonish henchmen to wantonly destroy the streets and threaten people's safety just to draw her out.

But this was truly happening before her eyes, and the culprit was this guy who called himself "Time Fire"! If that's the case, then…

Didn't this make him the same as a "Doomsday Monster" acting solely on dark will? But you're supposed to be human!

"Meaningless? You say it's meaningless?"

Leaning back against the shop's floor-to-ceiling display window, Ash caught sight of customers fleeing in panic due to his appearance out of the corner of his eye. Enjoying this little spectacle, Ash's lips curled into a smile.

"Isn't it? I don't know much about what Fire does, but!" Hana waved her hand, and behind her were all the people fleeing because of Ash's recklessness. "Only Doomsday Monsters who destroy the world indiscriminately due to their volatile energy are our enemies. Aren't you, Fire, also a hero who fought them?"

"As someone with the same enemy, what's the point of us fighting here?!"

"Hero… You say hero?" Pointing to himself, as if feigning surprise, Ash shook his head and then burst into exaggerated laughter. "Hahahaha—No, I can't be a hero. Because I've positioned myself as the villain to the hero!"

Admiring Nono Hana's stunned expression, the man continued to spout his twisted logic. "Just consider this as our boring fated connection. I saved you before, and then we became enemies. It would be strange if there wasn't some kind of fate between us, wouldn't it?"

"If, if you really want an answer."

"Then consider this a battle to confirm the meaning of combat, or to feel the meaninglessness of it."

What is this? This way of beautifying the evil act of "combat" to rationalize his own desires is unbelievable!

"If you like fighting so much, then go fight yourself!" The goodwill she had accumulated from him saving her life was rapidly diminishing with Time Fire's words and actions. Especially today's behavior was enough to make Hana, who was always gentle and cheerful, angry.

"On the computer, on the game console, aren't there so many fighting games? If you like it, go find someone to fight there. Wouldn't that make everyone happy?"

What "to confirm the meaning of combat," what "battle to feel the meaninglessness of it"—Hana was no longer the middle schooler she was when she first became a Pretty Cure. She didn't understand a single word of his nonsense, nor did she intend to believe it!

After all, isn't this just simple sophistry?!

"Excuse me, I don't like deciding the outcome with a keyboard, mouse, or buttons."

And… it has to be you! Cure Yell, you are the one I "like," the one I value! I need you as my "dance partner"!

"Once you've tasted combat with a human touch, this feeling, this exhilaration, is truly irresistible!"

His silver holster flashed at his waist. Like a Western cowboy in a high-noon duel, he drew his gun and pointed it at Cure Yell's forehead. In Hana's eyes, as if in slow motion, he pulled the trigger of the DV Defender.

[Extra]Case File 36 Precure's Jealousy

At this moment, as if in a movie where the protagonist is in a moment of crisis and an emergency brake is applied at the last second, the entire world seemed to slow down in her eyes, entering a state of bullet time.

The slowly opening mouths of the people fleeing around her, even their throats and tongues; the optical cameras of the single-eyed mechanical soldiers focusing and zooming as they aimed their strange weapons at her; the stern face of herself reflected in the light of the laser beam illuminating Time Fire's black goggles!

And that beam that might injure her, even that crimson energy beam spewing from the depths of the gun barrel, she could see it all clearly!

I can see it! I can see the enemy's attack too!

Faster than her rapidly processing brain and firing nerves was Cure Yell's instinctual reaction honed through actual combat!

The scorching beam lightly grazed Cure Yell's raised calf. Just as the heat was about to burn her beautiful skin into a distorted shape, the flashing light that continuously emerged from the girl's body, a light that was faint at its center yet incredibly dazzling, canceled out all the impact and heat. The fierce contact between the two created dazzling sparks on her body, which was bent backward like a bow.

This was the source of Pretty Cure's power: "Tomorrow Energy." It was proof of Nono Hana's extraordinary nature, the "savior" that allowed her to defeat enemies and escape death countless times, and also the culprit that forced her to bear responsibility and sink into an endless vortex of despair.

At this very moment, the Tomorrow Energy radiating from her body was more dazzling and efficient than it had been in any of the past few years, overflowing.

"Bang!"

As she landed, a small, red-hot pit appeared beside Cure Yell, who was in a half-crouch. The bottom of the small pits, filled with scattered charred matter, continuously emitted hot steam.

Ash, who had attacked suddenly, drew and fired his gun at an incredible speed of 0.3 seconds. However, the Precure in front of him reacted no less, moving her position before he could even pull the trigger. Her continuous backflips caused the red beams to arrive a step later, scattering around her feet and sides from the previous second.

"You say irresistible?!" Hana, slowly standing up, clenched her fists, her teeth grinding so hard that the sound became even louder.

She felt genuine anger. After all, faced with the "Doomsday Monster" phenomenon caused by the rampaging energy, everyone was already struggling just to live their peaceful lives. No one had expected or wanted any fighting.

Yet this guy spoke so casually about it, and even caused trouble for everyone, as if their precious everyday lives were just a game. To him, nothing seemed like a big deal.

But what made her even angrier was the jealousy that suddenly surged from her chest, a feeling she couldn't explain, sparked by Time Fire's words and demeanor at this moment.

Neither Nono Hana nor Cure Yell actually liked any form of conflict, let alone fighting. Yet this person in front of her was talking about the fun of battle and indulging in it.

Why… why have I been fighting with all my might like this, exhausting myself, and for what? Even if she could give her life to protect everyone, she didn't want to be constantly on the brink of life and death!

With great power comes great responsibility, I get it, I get it! But I have family, I have friends! Dad, Mom, Kotori, all my friends. If one day I never came back, what would their faces look like? Just thinking about it tears my heart apart!

I'm fighting desperately like this, torturing myself like a criminal!

Countless times I've wished I didn't have this power, that I was just an ordinary person who didn't have to fight. I've often had thoughts of giving up, but you… you suddenly jump out and tell everyone that fighting people is fun, that you can even feel joy from it!

Why can you say such provocative things to me so happily?!

Yes, even though she didn't want to admit it, it was the truth.

I truly, to some extent, genuinely envy him. I envy and hate Mr. Time Fire, who is so pleased with himself right now!

"I've been fighting desperately to protect everyone, but what do you think fighting is? Are you toying with life?!"

The light of Tomorrow Energy shone brighter, gradually forming the long sword with wings in her outstretched hand. As more light sources were continuously injected, this divine weapon, "Melody Holy Sword," which had accompanied her for eight years, emitted an ever-stronger glow.

For everyone's peace... no, even if it's just for myself, if he doesn't intend to back down... I will do it here!

Just like countless times in the past, splitting mountain-sized "Doomsday Monsters" in two—I will defeat you!

"That's right, it's this feeling of anger!" Ash, being scolded, laughed instead of getting angry. "It's that righteous principle that I like. You keep that beauty!"

At this moment, Ash hadn't yet noticed the jealousy, only thinking that she was angry about his recklessness.

Ash stared intently at the intensifying sword intent in her hand, feeling the immense power, the danger, and the bloody smell that crawled out from the sea of corpses and blood hidden within her seemingly beautiful and petite body!

He felt it, the determination and power in this sword that could bring him down!

A slight tremor and fear leaked from the deepest part of his heart. Then, this feeling of licking blood from the tip of a blade gave him an unprecedented thrill, far surpassing any purely material excitement—an incomparable, trembling exhilaration!

This fishy smell, along with her incredibly beautiful figure and incredibly beautiful heart as the "main course," made his vitality involuntarily stand up!

Ha, this is how it should be! If it's not like this, it's not interesting!

"Are you dissatisfied? That's normal, but in the end, it's just your own principle. Your opinion has nothing to do with me."

"You just need to come and fight me... no, duel me!"

The silver metallic lips on the crimson helmet wore a calm smile, but beneath the mask, Ash's face was contorted in a grin.

"Someone like you!"

Ash said this partly to provoke her, and partly because he was already deeply immersed in the familiar cycle of death. A reckless death might be more suited to his way of life!

"Well, of course, I won't blame you, just like any other hero who has said this to me." Ash unhooked his gun and slung it over his hand, shrugging. "After all, I have quite a few prior offenses."

"What did you say!"

In the blink of an eye, the sword of light fell from above.

[Side Story]Case File 37 Battle Without Words!

In his heart, Ash had estimated her as a formidable opponent as much as possible. But when she truly charged at him, he realized with a start that he had still underestimated her somewhat.

"!"

There was no holding back, unlike their previous non-encounters. It was the fury of a woman, and in a way, also confidence in Time Fire's strength. The first move was a terrifying clash. The sword light swung by Tomorrow Energy met the red-clothed warrior, almost severing the time and space he occupied, along with the battle suit covering his body!

He inwardly exclaimed, "Good!" As a weapon against future time criminals, the Time Fire battle suit had a built-in device that accelerated the user's own time flow. It began to operate at high speed, instantly accelerating him to a level that could keep up with Clock Up. His entire upper body moved in a blur, and he immediately executed a 90-degree backward dodge, like he was going for a barbecue with a flying knife.

Following his maximally accelerated trajectory, the near-solid crimson afterimage left in front of him was unhesitatingly sliced in two by Cure Yell's holy sword!

It wasn't just an afterimage that was cut in half. Ash's four Genet mechs behind him had just raised their weapons when the spreading blade light flashed past them.

The Genet mechs' movements froze. They were instantly cut in half at the waist by a strange gust of wind. Their upper bodies fell to the ground, rolling along with their fallen lower halves. From the clean "wounds" at the very top, various electronic and mechanical parts stained with bright red coolant continuously gushed out as they tilted with gravity. These parts, made to look so lifelike, writhed and twitched on the ground due to residual energy reactions, still trying to attack the target locked as an enemy.

"..."

Hana's expression twisted slightly as she stepped on a severed hand that was still reaching for her with its fingers. After a jolt of electricity from under her shoe, the hand finally stopped moving. After all, while the Doomsday Monsters she had fought were always excessively powerful, their appearances were mostly like oversized stuffed dolls, like the shapeless nightmares of children. They didn't have any unsightly appearances. In comparison, these grunt Genet mechs sent by Ash... they made even the Doomsday Monsters' originally hideous faces seem much friendlier.

Really, if they're just grunts, couldn't they be made cuter, like in cartoons?!

The urge to vomit that slowly welled up intensified her dissatisfaction. Her hand movements became faster and heavier. The subsequent sword strike slammed into the ground, piercing the spot where Time Fire had stood a second ago. Ash, moving like the wind, narrowly dodged.

"What's wrong, are you angry?"

"No, I'm not!"

The twisted jealousy in her heart still hadn't subsided. Her clenched left fist swung backward without looking, her smooth backhand hitting the head monitor of another Genet mech attempting a sneak attack. Taking advantage of the moment when its comrade's head was smashed, the last remaining Genet mech raised its gun-sword weapon and was about to slash at her neck!

"Haa—"

The image from the optical camera blurred with a momentary frame drop that even the high-performance internal computer couldn't capture. Genet and Cure Yell were now standing back-to-back. Realizing the situation, the machine unhesitatingly followed the tactical guidance of its internal AI. It spun around quickly, raising its weapon to teach the Precure, who had exposed her back to it, a lesson!

"Kala, kala—"

However, as the mechanical arm rose to its apex, its shoulder emitted the sound of metal fatigue and smoke from being overloaded. The core processor received red error signals from self-checks throughout its body. Even so, it chose to forcibly execute the programmed task, smashing the weapon down. Then, as the weapon, now lacking force, struck Cure Yell's still-smooth back, leaving only a smear of black machine oil, it was shattered into mechanical parts by the faint recoil transmitted back.

"Ah, ah~" Seeing that the entire legion of Genet mechanical soldiers he had pulled from his inventory was wasted, Ash shook his head with some helplessness.

One had its head kicked off at the start, four were instantly killed by a sword, one was smashed after the opponent grew eyes on the back of their head, and now the last one was gone. The entire process, excluding the unknown amount of trash talk, lasted less than 10 seconds.

You guys actually took down Super Sentai team members, and were "powerful" grunts like Shinji's Lightning Cavalry in TV Ryuki, so why are you gone so quickly?

Honestly, I wanted to keep a few to help me out, but there's no helping it... Who knew today's Cure Yell seemed to be provoked by me? As sacrifices to fill its anger, rest assured and become mechanical Buddhas.

"Alright, now there are only two of us left." Ash spread his arms towards the Cure Yell, which slowly turned to face him, revealing his broad chest. He then shamelessly continued talking about himself.

"Come on, let our passionate duel begin, Cure Yell~"

"..."

Hana didn't speak. She simply got into position and quietly pointed the sharp edge of the sword in her hand towards his forehead.

You're next!

Ash heard her silent words.

"I accept your invitation, Lady." Bending slightly, the red warrior politely bowed to her.

DV conversion, Guardian Sword.

With a flick of his right hand, the DV Defender on his hand transformed from a gun into a sword. Ash raised the long blade with both hands and lifted it to his forehead. The dinosaur teeth on his gauntlet, which were flashing with light, were also lifted. His bent arms reached all the way to the sides of his helmet near his ears, forming a rather strange stance.

"Let's dance!"

And so, the two swords in this world crossed again.

The sparks generated by their clash didn't last long. Both sides, having prior experience, knew that continuing to wrestle would only lead to an endless, perpetual stalemate. Thus, Hana quickly changed her move. The blade in her hand slid along Ash's sword body towards him, and was then caught by the dinosaur teeth on his gauntlet. At the same time, his sword was placed at her neck.

But this was not Hana's killing blow; her goal was to get close quickly. In the shadows where Ash couldn't see, a fist filled with rage struck the side of his helmet's jaw with a whistling sound of air being broken.