Pretty Cure: Next Generation

Chapter 5

Caw, caw! Caw, caw!

Nugi disinterested ignored the stray crow but it caught his attention when it flew towards the direction he was heading, leaving a feather behind. The crow stopped and lowered itself on an armrest of what is seemed to be throne, around the armrest was covered with skulls, some of them still had blood on them. Nugi heard a chewing sound and saw a pale hand, illuminating from the light above, holding another hand but it looked rotten. When he stepped closer, he felt different under his feet as he looked down his feet was halfway on a scarlet red carpet and what it seemed it ended on his lord's feet. As he stepped closer, the light started to illuminate more of his lord's body parts; feets were first, then his hips, his muscular body and finally his face where Nugi could see his sharp teeth chewing on the rotten hand. The rotten hand was disemboweled from its body; bones and muscle were visible where his lord was chewing. The crow Nugi saw earlier comfortably sat on the armrest as his lord petted it with his other arm. Nugi stepped closer but stopped when he heard a growl from his feet. A large red-brownish hound with two heads stepped closer as Nugi stepped back.

"Cerus! Down boy!" As the hound laid down and whined, Nugi passed it with a smirk on his face as the hound growled lowly.

"O-Yama.(1) My lord." Nugi kneeled down on one of his knees and bowed his head down.

"Tell me…" The Lord stood up as he headed towards Nugi. "Do you bring good news?"

By the sound of the lord's voice, Nugi could detect that he was in a bad mood. Also that the fact that he despised failures and if there shall be one standing infront of him, he'd tear him apart. "Y-yes, O-Yama. The plan has carried with expedition. The Cures are currently occupied with their current objective; to find the Prism Stones. So I highly doubt that they have come to comprehend our true achievement."

"But?" The Lord stepped behind Nugi as Nugi widened eyes. How did he know something was off? As expected from the Dark King. He kept quiet about it as he didn't want to get in trouble for questioning him. "The hesitance of your voice told me that something was off." Nugi's, if physically possible, jaw would reach on the floor. He turned his head to meet his lord's but immediately resumed back to his position when the lord made eye contact. The footsteps of his lord echoed through the blaze of hell, or a cave his lord would call a home, as Nugi shut his eyes tightly. He didn't know what consequences would befall him, but he swore on his own life never to lie to his lord and master.

"B-Bakugeki has constantly challenged the Pretty Cure in a fight, but with no avail. His current location is unknown…"

The O-Yama didn't say anything as he passed by Nugi. This was never a good sign. Nugi braced himself for the tantrum his lord would throw any minute now. The Yama wouldn't care if he'd hurt his minions, just as long as he had gotten the anger out of his system. But sometimes he'd almost destroy his own home like a child not getting what it wanted. The O-Yama's foot step suddenly stopped and Nugi assumed that he was behind him. Was he going to kick him? Break his neck? Nugi feared the worse as he shut his eyes tightly. Without warning, he heard a sudden bang as the ceiling started to crumble and rocks began to fall down. Nugi covered himself from the rocks. He then turned over to where his lord was. The O-Yama had slammed his fist on a rock wall, causing all the crumble. He was about to swing the second time but felt sudden pull behind him. "My Lord, please cease this instant!" O-Yama lowered his fist, as if following Nugi's command, and relaxed his shoulder as he took deep breaths and muttered.

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

"Four…"

He then proceeded to step away from the wall and return to his seat, petting the crow and the hound. "I have a new objective for you, Nugi. I want you to locate Bakugeki." He took a deep breath as his anger returned to him but immediately calmed down as he continued;