Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Great Escape and Fiery Pursuit
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Beep beep—
A pure white space where nothing was visible.
Was the light formed through the walls, or was this a specially made prison to confine climbers?
All of Yu Ying's possessions had vanished... no, to begin with, she was now dressed in a restraint suit.
Not that it mattered much—Yu Ying was sharper and more sensitive than she let on.
You never knew when something might go wrong... Yeah, she was a survival expert. It was the identity and concept Wakamo had given her, and she never forgot or abandoned it.
Like pins stuck to the roof of her mouth—her nails were transparently coated, not a hint of color showing.
The tips were sharp enough to slice through a monster's vital points with a casual stab.
It was an idea she'd come up with by cleverly adapting the Tai Chi taught by Wakamo for offense, not just defense.
A light graze while flowing and defending would tear the skin, letting her bleed them out!!
Thud thud thud—
Yu Ying tapped around lightly with one hand while prodding the bomb collar with pins using the other.
Thanks to help from people like Weng Wei and Russia's President Dimitri, she'd studied every tool used to kidnap and subdue climbers as an alchemist.
There were always people gunning for her. To Wakamo, she was the most precious person(?) and the only weakness(?).
Being underestimated as a weak alchemist made her the easiest target in a way... So Yu Ying had prepared for every possible scenario.
Click—!
The bomb collar dropped off with a clunk and started blinking.
She kicked the beeping bomb collar into a corner, propped the bed up like a wall, hid behind it, and silently counted down inside.
—KABOOOM!!!!!
The prison walls collapsed amid a deafening explosion.
Agents, mistaking it for the hostage self-destructing, rushed in armed with guns.
Even so, they cautiously raised their weapons at the entrance of the slumped prison, staying on guard.
"Go check it out, Carlo."
The senior agent nodded toward what seemed the rookie, calling his name. Carlo advanced carefully, gun leading, scanning the prison. He eyed the crumpled bed, slowly searching for any trace of Yu Ying, but found none.
"Looks like she blew herself up—"
Just as he reported to the senior outside, his head was grabbed and yanked upward. Carlo screamed and thrashed.
His legs kicked wildly for a moment—then, with a splurt, hot red blood poured onto the floor.
"Grenade!!"
Orders were to execute resisting hostages on the spot, so their response was swift.
Plus, the target was a climber—subduing her without killing wasn't an option. Fights between climbers came down to who moved faster and bolder.
Victory went to whoever decisively committed to killing!!
The opponent was just a girl about to turn 18.
They probably wanted to believe she wasn't used to killing.
Too bad—they couldn't imagine the life of Yu Ying, who'd roamed China's wasteland for ten years surviving, learning humans were scarier than monsters, and carrying a gun.
With monster-like agility unfit for a climber, Yu Ying flashed past them in an instant, ending up behind.
She hadn't even run along the floor—pure "agility stats" let her cling upside-down to the ceiling and break through.
Cockroach speed. In the blink of an eye, she'd already escaped and stood behind them.
How many bonus stats had she gotten from floors 90 to 100?
As always, she'd dumped them all into agility. Her movements were no longer those of an alchemist.
Layered with ten years of survival experience... She'd evolved from a desperate survivalist into nature's perfect predator.
"Ugh...!"
She slammed her hand into the senior's gut, making him double over in agony, then grabbed his face.
"Not talking, huh?"
Eye contact alone let her instincts read him before she even asked. She snapped his neck.
With the one issuing orders dead in seconds, the two flanking agents aimed—but sharp objects pierced their foreheads, throats, and philtrums.
Yu Ying had transmuted her hair with alchemy into sharp needles, infused them with mana, and flung them.
The agents froze in their aiming stance, slowly expiring.
She'd precisely severed spinal cords in their necks, and the seven needles in their faces would kill even non-climber soldiers easily.
"Not climbers, but trained soldiers..."
Yu Ying stripped a bulletproof vest from a fallen agent, donned it, grabbed a pistol, and took the watch from his wrist.
A sign inside banned electronic devices, so it was powered off.
There was a notice to store them in lockers before entry, but since they'd just turned it off and worn it, Yu Ying inwardly rated the base's soldiers as sloppily disciplined, secret base or not.
She spotted a warning not to steal comrades' items due to surveillance cameras, confirming this was somewhere in the American continent.
Or maybe a secret base America had built in another country.
She half-hoped it was the latter.
Escaping to Korea would be easier if so.
"Asuka."
She called Asuka's name into the powered-on watch.
Noise filled the screen, then Asuka's face appeared as an SD character.
Cyber VTuber-fast response, scanning the entire network in real-time.
["Yes, Asuka here. What's up, Yu Ying? We're all hanging out together right now!"]
"...My double's there? It's a fake. Smash it."
["Everyone here except me is fake! Olga Romanova doesn't even realize and is super happy!"]
"Ugh, that thick-headed lizard... Her brain's a flower field... I've been kidnapped. Where is this?"
["America. Satellite coords show a barren wasteland with nothing! Secret underground base? So romantic!!"]
"Can you hack the facility?"
["Piece of cake. Launching [Operation Lightning Z]. Call me Kit, Miss MacGyver. Want some tunes?"]
"Yeah... Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now,' please."
Dum dum dum—♬
Guitar and drums blared through the base's speakers.
Agents, clueless, looked up puzzled—while monitors watching the facility gasped as every camera failed.
In this era, no facility ran without "electricity"—impossible.
Asuka could interfere with anything with electricity, beyond just networks.
Cameras flickered ominously, power surged on-off, firewalls slammed down corridors, blocking escape or movement.
Techs rushed to counter, starting a tug-of-war.
["Get your VPNs and proxies ready. Time for some trolling showdown."]
The ultimate troll vs. a modern superpower.
This first strike decided who was the challenger.
["Roaming, Incinerating VPN and the cracks of Jjudak.Gallery."]
Every hate image on the internet, full versions plus ransomware, in overwhelming volume—
["Tactical nuke."]
Horror filled the camera screens.
They screamed at Korea's nightmare images.
Asuka scanned for research data simultaneously, but only numerical results—no detailed docs, surprisingly. Still, she seized full control of the base.
She displayed a facility map on Yu Ying's watch, guiding to the armory.
Engineers' storeroom: Yu Ying grabbed duct tape and a Swiss Army knife, striding confidently down halls.
Impossible to tell who the intruder was.
Queen's hit looped loudly, joyfully through the secret base; execs realized the worst, scrambling. Asuka watched via cameras.
Agents swarmed to kill Yu Ying, but Asuka gave no warnings.
The footsteps alone warned plenty.
They'd endangered her first.
Then pissed her off.
"This way!!"
As she rounded the corner, the base went dark.
Agents reflexively activated night vision—but Yu Ying's trigger pulled faster.
Deafening gunfire; agents dropped.
Trained soldiers fired back in formation at the shots.
Flick—
Lights on: comrades' corpses littered the floor.
Bullet marks scarred walls, but no Yu Ying in the long hall.
Lights off again; now only hissing air.
Back-to-back on guard, but soon only two of ten remained, cold sweat dripping.
Flick—
"Damn it! Shit! Comms down! We'll all die!!"
"We're all dead."
"......Huh?"
The one at his back wasn't a comrade.
Yu Ying blew blood off her fingertips, then slit the stunned soldier's throat as he turned.
"She's here!!!"
"Man, so many of you."
More agents rushed the collapsing soldier; Yu Ying gripped her Swiss Army knife, as predicted.
Crackle—
Transmuted into a long metal sword, she shrugged: "You just gonna stare?"
["Counter the [Shooter]s!! Kill with sure-hit and piercing skills!!"]
"Know what my job is?"
She stomped; sparks spread, floor buckled up, ceiling crashed down, twisting structure.
Metal transmutation collapsed the passage instantly. Desperate shots from agents—even Shooter skills couldn't pierce.
Before they reacted, metal walls ejected like presses—BOOM!—crashing into them.
Survivors barely dodged, trembling on the floor.
One-sided slaughter; not a scratch on Yu Ying.
Execs, watching Asuka's live feed hoping for rage, flipped out.
"A non-combat alchemist!! Not even combat class!! A 18-year-old chink girl!! Trained soldiers and agents struggling?! Ridiculous?!"
"...Colonel. Not just any 18-year-old alchemist. That fox god's personally raised monster..."
"I don't want excuses!! Mobilize all project results!! She doesn't leave here alive!!"
"Colonel!!"
"What now!"
"Intruder from above...!!"
"—The area's mined! No wizard space-jumping in!!"
"It's an Esper!!"
How long since the op went south? Played by the fox god from the start?
An Esper—US military's Legendary climber...? A loyal soldier betrayed? Why?
Since when...? From the beginning? After contact in America? Or prior ties to the fox god?
"...She's worthless now anyway. Dispose all at once."
Rumble... rumble...
["They're desperately trying manual self-destruct. Hilarious."]
"Not laughing. Kit, hurry."
["Experimenting on citizens... Robert's conspiracy nailed it! Listen, Snake. Need facility research data. Might have Legendary class info."]
"Just guide me out."
Grumbling, Yu Ying armed up from the armory, following Asuka's route.
Deep in the base, otherworldly scenes unfolded.
Researchers fled in terror at Yu Ying, pale-faced screams.
Some alchemist climbers tried flasks or pistols—but no match for her.
Yu Ying climbed towers daily, fixing potion-making's toll on eyes and health; these non-climbers were no threat.
"N-No!! Can't let this data go!!!"
"More precious than your life?"
"—Can't let the Chinese government have it!! Where's security?! Kill her!!"
"Why not shoot instead of yapping?"
One clean headshot, then chest for confirmation. Yu Ying eyed un-shredded paper stacks, ignoring fleeing researchers terrified of her.
One tried activating under-table security; she sensed it, flung knife without looking.
"Scram."
"H-Hiiik..."
Flutter flutter—
『Legendary Class Project』 docs. In English, but Asuka translated unreadable parts.
Artificially creating Legendaries? Training soldiers to Legendary via conditions? Related research.
Man-Eater disposal considerations, third-gen control methods too.
Chips suppressing emotions, brain surgery lobotomies, using psychopaths... Disrespecting humanity; Yu Ying frowned.
"Psyker unit?"
『Esper』 DNA for artificial psychics. Yu Ying clicked tongue.
Research stalled, long-term, but 【Sub Class】 solved it: made Shooters into Espers.
Psychic squads—like a movie. Human experiments stressed her just reading.
Unethical? Kidnapping own citizens?
Agents abroad "supplied" from China, Middle East, Africa too.
Induced tower collapses for chaos, etc.—core docs horrific.
All to solidify America's "world police" peace? Their arrogance speechless.
Other nations allied sans Asia aiding Guardians; paper docs omitted lists meticulously.
Cell-structured ops.
【2nd-Gen Legendary Class】? Already?
Docs said eliminate strong Legendaries, yet exceptions like KKK admitting blacks?
【Phantom Thief】 Legendary. "Hijacker" skill steals regardless of distance if conditions met; experiments ID'd and kidnapped Legendary climbers, killed two.
Third target: most public Yu Ying.
Post-kidnap: brainwash as pawn, hostage vs. Wakamo, or cull—like livestock. Yu Ying's under-eye twitched.
Zzzzt—!
Instinct warned; she dove rolling as space warped mid-air.
Nonstop instinct warnings; she bolted from lab without stopping.
No visible foes or attacks, but she was under assault.
Braking hard, air visibly bent.
Distortion only visible between scenery—so stealthy, silent.
Such assassination style existed?
"Kit! Under attack!!"
["Nothing on cameras. Thermal too."]
"Oh yeah?"
Tossed stolen smoke grenade, flashbang for noise. Eyes closed, she charged.
Thud thud—boots echoed, mapping terrain by sound alone, charging blindly yet surely.
True powered-armor soldiers emerged, machine-guns blazing.
Dodging into cafeteria, Yu Ying tsked.
Tables wouldn't stop bullets.
No choice: wrapped duct tape on sword hand, fixed eyes on entrance.
BOOM!
"Target spotted!"
"Pin and kill!!"
Kicked table transmuted to steel spear, launched—but shield-bearing mech blocked. Climber-composed? Magic-like [skills] bound her as Shooters fired.
Clang clang clang—!!
Yu Ying parried bullets with sword, crouching low.
"Cooldown sucks, wanted to save it!"
Syringe generated; jabbed thigh. Hair whitened, red eyes glowed—bullets froze mid-air.
In stopped world, she drew sword, agility stats multiplied several-fold, lunged at soldiers.
100th-floor reward: [Transmutation - Hyper Adrenaline] skill.
Long cooldown, drug side-effects—high risk, but high return.
[Status Window]
[Climber: Yu Ying]
[Job: Intermediate Alchemist]
[Age: 18]
[Stats]
Vitality: 100
Mana: 100
Strength: 35
Agility: 350
Health: 10
Intelligence: 84
Wisdom: 10
Charm: 1
All new bonus stats into agility.
Over 150 added!! Fitting 90+100 rewards, agility topped 350.
Hyper Adrenaline multiplied strength/agility 10x.
Agility 3,500—insane acceleration. Even Wakamo couldn't catch her now.
No climber here could parry her sword.
Shooter accel-bullets seemed slow. [Homing] curved after her—but slash ended them.
Sword swings left mana trails lingering in air; she carved through soldiers, traversing hall.
Acrobatic shoulder-steps, beheading indiscriminately, reached cafeteria far side instantly.
"Huff... huff...!!"
Pathetic duration. Hair blackening, massive fatigue and heart pain; she clutched chest, gasping, leaning on wall.
Belatedly, armed soldiers sprayed blood, collapsing.
No rest—attack grazed as she dodged; wall shaved.
Bang—!!
Exploiting exhaustion, perfect ambush—but faint drug remnants sharpened instincts; she fired at empty air.
"Gaaah!!!"
Transparent 【Phantom Thief】 clutched chest, revealed.
"...2nd-Gen Legendary..."
"Guh...!!"
Looting as she went, Yu Ying jammed truth serum into Phantom Thief's neck. Thrashing for life, blood unstaunched—she yanked hair, gun to temple.
"Job change conditions—talk."
"Guh... guh... P-Prison... changed there.... Gov hired.... P-Please... blood..."
"Skill penalties. How to avoid [Hijacker]?"
"Hah... hah.... Don't know... ID... or location.... You... broadcast.... To block... [Magic] sys—"
"Yeah, thanks."
Flipped him, stanched wound. Quick first-aid to stabilize; propped dying Phantom Thief against wall.
No need to spare, but promises make good girls.
"Next time, taxidermy by the artist. Remembered your face. Kill you, 3rd-Gen takes over? Hassle."
["Yup! Doxxed him! Safe and secure Asuka!"]
"Time to bail?"
Knew of [2nd-Gen Man-Eater] here; wanted out.
Just seeing it would shock her dead.
Wooo—
Moving to escape, ominous unease hit; slammed into ceiling.
"Urk...!"
Slammed down, ricocheting walls left-right, dropped gun, hung upside-down mid-air.
Fallen gun floated, barrel at her; too slow to react, eyes blinking.
Transparent soldiers revealed around.
All sub-classed Espers: America's psyker unit.
"Quite the rampage. Thanks for the new unit's debut. Now die."
Commander raised hand; trigger pulled auto.
Yu Ying struggled futilely—BOOM! Invisible force blasted area, shredding unit.
"What!!"
"Try harder. Acquired power weak?"
Shadow in dust spoke; they unleashed [Telekinesis] en masse—but Aiba casually repelled, emerging disgusted.
"Making esper squads from my blood donations?! Where's the land of the free I knew!!"
"Original...? But this unit should... beat..."
All troops floated mid-air.
"Beat?"
Sub vs. original class gap? Commander full-power telekinesis—no hair stirred.
Interference impossible—output chasm.
"Born esper vs. acquired? Psychic duel?"
"Bastard!! Think you beat a Green Beret like me!!"
"Try me. Ex-special forces too."
Aiba casually twisted wrist; man bent double.
Clench-release: slammed walls, crumpled. Terrifying.
Yu Ying's mechs fired from hall—but invisible barrier deflected.
"Quiet."
Finger to temple, [Mind Interference]; soldiers dropped like puppets.
Even fleeing transparent esper caught telekinetically, collared; peered into eyes, read mind.
"This for real??? Fat donut-munching Robert's theories all true!!"
Gagging at horror, Aiba met Yu Ying's eyes.
"Came to save you. Remember me?"
"Uh... yeah."
"Let's go, Trinity! Call me Neo!"
Grabbed hand, instant teleport out.
Reached, yanked parked car, unlocked, tossed dazed Yu Ying shotgun.
Auto-belted; as she "uhh...", Aiba driver-seated.
"Fly, Ford Anglia!"
["Call me Kit! AI!"]
"Ancient model!"
"Awesome...! Espers too OP?"
"Huh? Legendaries are all cheats? Pure offense strongest?"
"......Right?"
Aiba worried her esper skills were too good, might get experimented on. Started engine.
Telekinesis lifted car skyward, invisible, streaking US skies.
"Neo! Pursuit!!"
"Damn oracle!! Take the call!! Need signal!!"
Transparent car chased by combat chopper.
Espers detecting psychics, surely.
Rearview: Aiba shook head wildly, crazed.
"Buckle up tight, Trinity!"
"What?!"
"Dive!!"
Bold nosedive through ground.
No time admire esper skills count; subway-tracked car fled underground train, speeding.
"You got this, Neo!"
"Thanks for cheer, Trinity! Seen Matrix!? Not 18?!"
"VTuber!! Seen everything!!"
"Catch Harry Potter too. Got it?!"
Wheeled into station, rampaging stairs.
Car burst from subway; screams, scattering crowds.
Hobos fled aghast; Aiba force-lifted people telekinetically, clearing path. Reached city, pulled onto asphalt.
Car wrecked near scrap.
Parked, pulled iPod, earbuds, played [Bellbottoms], finger-tapped wheel.
"Whew, sugar crash."
"Cops coming?"
"Congrats me: elite to gangster criminal now."
"Our prez'll hire you."
"Screw it, I'm swimming with big fish!!"
Drums intensified song; stress-relief [skill]—wreck transmuted fully to [Subaru Impreza].
Shape-shift upper skill over alchemist transmutation; Yu Ying gaped.
"What?!"
"Watch X-Men! Psychics do most anything!!"
"Eye beams too?"
"Ugh—everyone asks that."
Disgusted, floored it; flames engulfed, melting asphalt, rampage.
Rear-chained wrecker swung flames; smashed cop car engine, exploded, slid wall-crash.
Telegrabbed cig, mouth-clamped Aiba.
Ignored auto-steering, tossed Yu Ying pistol.
"Tires only, got it?"
"Easy."
Street chase erupted into shootout.
Copters pursued flame-car through city!!
Sadako, drinking, saw Yu Ying and Aiba on TV news—spewed massively.