Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Layer Plunder Duel
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[Challenging the 74th Floor Trial of Sichuan Tower]
A duel between holders of the "Complete攻略 Layer" regarding "Layer Plunder" will take place.
Decide victory and defeat without taking each other's lives.
Upon defeat, ownership of the held "Complete攻略 Layer" will be lost.
[Current climber is not a regular entrant!]
[Victory will not grant ownership of the layer!]
[You must stake more layers than you hold!]
[Do you agree?]
How long had it been since she'd last seen this?
Memories of the time when they fought over the 15th floor came flooding back vividly.
Thinking about it, back then she had done all sorts of crazy things just to make the stream entertaining.
Had she become a bad VTuber now—one who took her VTuber career seriously but didn't make it fun, slacking off because she thought she had some experience under her belt?
"—Remembering the 15th floor, are we?"
"Sigh."
She had been reminiscing about those early days that were tough but filled with daily joy when an irritating voice cut in.
It was volunteering information no one had asked for, like admitting it had pulled some shady tricks!
"The 'Iron Man' who raised Korea—who could've guessed he'd fall that far? But at the same time, it was a relief. If that hero had stayed sane with you around, even the [Guardians] wouldn't have been able to scheme against Korea."
"Maybe it's because you're old, but you sure know how to show respect."
The former president was indeed an extraordinary man worthy of the title "Iron Man."
So—had the one who killed him been this guy standing before her? As more people around her became targets, forgotten memories resurfaced.
He had truly been a good man.
A man who poured his heart into reviving his country, only to close his eyes without seeing Korea become a superpower... He must have been so wronged he couldn't even pass on peacefully, lingering as a resentful spirit.
That thought only soured her mood further.
His pitch-black martial robes, which swallowed even light, were embroidered with a golden dragon.
With eyes glaring as if he were the emperor himself, complete with a crown, and standing with hands clasped behind his back as if he knew Wakamo was coming—it made her want to punch that smug face.
"Much earlier than expected, but I anticipated you'd come for the Complete攻略 Layers I've claimed. And the 84 layers beyond that—you want them all, don't you, Idol?"
Was this a test of resolve?
Or was he laying bait beforehand, planning to gauge her strength and then retreat?
He had suffered a humiliating defeat once before, but Wakamo's power had been steadily showcased on streams, so it was best to assume he wasn't underestimating her.
Sweeping back his hair, the stubborn old monster looked even more resolute. Malice seeped from his eyes. The way his gaze roamed her body sent chills down her spine. And seeing him smirk at Xiao Liang behind Mei made her want to disregard elder respect and attack the geezer.
He looked like he'd die of natural causes if left alone... but it seemed she'd have to handle the funeral arrangements personally.
"A place for rulers to measure their might against each other, yet an ill-fitting mongrel is present. I acknowledged your talent, but thinking of biting your master's neck while fleeing? Were beatings too few?"
"Life isn't a toy. Says the criminal lord who kidnapped me and gaslighted me on a whim."
"Hmph, Idol... The world runs on the logic of power. The strong are the law of the world. What is a climber? Stronger than others! Faster than others! Higher than others! —We are the rulers. Those qualified to rule. Those with the mission to look down on those below. You should be grateful for the chance to learn from me."
Crazy bastard.
Mei swallowed a curse.
Xiao Liang's face had paled, and she was trembling, so shielding her behind her back took priority.
Though she vowed revenge, the violence etched into her body over long years and the scars in her memory were shrinking her.
"Like how [Idols] create [Believers]. I merely pursue [Might Makes Right]. Strength alone is justice!! Power grants authority. Just like you!! And I will become the master of this nation—and show the strength of true warriors to those who mock martial arts and deny the martial world!"
"Big dreams."
"Would anyone climb the tower risking their life without such dreams and ambitions? Only those who truly desire something!! Suffer from thirst, Idol!!"
"Man makes his own future... that's my creed. But since you're human too, you can shape yours as you wish—no argument there. Ah—I'm tired. I just want to VTuber, but this turns me into [Wakamo's Black Box]."
"Show me that martial art you couldn't show back then!!"
"My specialty is dance."
Mei carefully pushed Xiao Liang away to keep her at a distance.
She seemed to want to say something, but her mouth wouldn't open. Her head drooped in frustration, her fists clenched so hard blood seeped out, trembling violently.
"No ring-outs like before. Let's see your true skill?"
"You're just dragging out your 'I'll run if scared' excuse."
"You bastard!!"
As Mei drew her three-section staff and taunted, Yao Fang's eyes rolled back in rage, and he charged, kicking off the ground.
Her opponent was a true martial artist—his footwork alone was on another level. Considering Aiba was innately a superhuman...
He might truly be the only one in this world who could wield [Qi].
That would explain why he was so furious at Chinese martial arts being dismissed as fraud overseas.
In that light, she could somewhat understand his feelings. Wakamo would rage too if VTubing became a laughingstock.
But his methods were utterly rotten.
The Martial Sovereign's sword lightly parried the thrust three-section staff.
The pitch-black blade, ferocious beyond measure and inscribed densely with [rune letters]...
Even without being cut, [Idol's Body] sensed danger, chill rising in her flesh.
Her instincts warned that being sliced would be disastrous.
Repairing the severed end of the three-section staff with [Idol's Mineral] and mana, she swung it to clash with the sword—sparks flew with a crackle!! and the mana in the staff snapped off.
Narrowing her eyes at the clean cut, Mei dodged the incoming sword strikes.
Bending backward and backflipping using only leg strength, she created distance from the Martial Sovereign and glanced down at the sword in his hand.
"It's called [Ghost Arcana Blade]. A weapon specialized in severing [mana], killer of specters."
"Tch."
If it cut her, recovery would be impossible.
The fatal flaw of [Idol's Body] was its consumption of mana to restore any damage.
Taking damage was akin to hemorrhaging mana.
Drawing a pair of [Magnum Revolvers] via [VTuber Assets] skill and arming herself, Mei unleashed [Idol's Flames].
He parried every blazing bullet with flawless swordsmanship, closing the distance instead of retreating—his exquisite footwork let him slip into her guard in an instant, sword flashing.
One swing began to multiply slowly.
Even tracking with her eyes, the flashy motion from shoulder to elbow to wrist was beyond human capability.
A [skill]? Or the unique power of [Qi]?
Sword strikes splitting from one blade into eight assaulted her simultaneously; Mei converted only the impact points to metal to block, retreating without testing further.
"Can't dodge, so minimizing damage?"
She couldn't revert the severed parts with [Idol's Mineral]. Even infusing mana failed to fill the cuts.
Thus, releasing the [skill] would cause mana drain and shrinkage from there.
"I hope it doesn't end lamely!!"
Following the arc of his sword, afterimages traced a crescent moon, sharp silver slashes fanning out to engulf Mei. She swung her three-section staff, but it was sliced the moment it touched; drawing twin sectioned staves from her tails, she whipped them fiercely to shatter the slashes.
'[Qi] isn't the issue—the item's effect is the problem!'
For mana-composed Wakamo, that sword was lethally disadvantageous.
What kind of class had so many weaknesses...?
Moreover, she could visually track mana flows to some extent, but [Qi] left no trace even with eyes wide open.
Still, she gauged its level from the ripples around him and space warping around the blade.
Crackle—
"Of course you'd do that!"
Casting [Idol's Thunder], Mei turned to lightning and accelerated; the Martial Sovereign not only kept pace but overtook, running alongside.
"You accelerate too?!"
"Basic martial art, Idol!! Don't think only you can!!"
Eight splitting swords chased the thunder-wrapped Idol.
Invisible but surely bearing sword aura like in wuxia novels! A [anti-mana] weapon that cleaved even spells like [Idol's Flames]—
Wakamo never used it in fights, didn't even possess it.
She must have obtained it as a reward from [China Tower] after defeat!!
Kagang—!!
Hair sliced off by incoming slashes, cuts on shoulder and body, but Mei Shaolongbao plunged in wildly, gauntlets on both hands. Greaves encased her legs—who knew when she'd equipped them—as [Nüwa Swift Codex] activated at overwhelming speed in the racing twin thunderbolts.
"That's your ultimate technique!! Splendid!!"
Hand blades whipped in ultra-swift martial arts struck and battered the Martial Sovereign's body; even blows like famed sword strikes saw his robes tear then instantly mend, wounds sealing and staunching.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—!
Mei's consecutive strikes pierced with wind-cutting shrieks.
[ Nüwa Swift Codex], executed with fingertips raised like [Yang Family Spear], mimicked dual short spears in her hands—ever-changing subtleties unleashed as she battered him with growing ferocity.
Slipping into range where he couldn't swing his sword, leaping into his embrace till head met neck—even his knee to her chin was parried with elbow, countering as Mei spun like a top.
She deflected the eight incoming slashes like refraction.
Master-level [Void Spirit Taiji Divine Fist] deflected any ordinary attack regardless of her stance.
Yang Spear momentum fused with Nüwa speed and water-like softness; the Martial Sovereign yielded to her superior pace, leaping back to gain distance.
"Not drawing your divine sword? Because it's a different entity? If weaker than Wakamo herself, defeating it would be hollow!"
"As a martial artist, I'll answer: not strong enough to warrant it."
His face twisted at Mei's sneering response dismissing it as underwhelming bravado.
She was bluffing—mana leaked from her severed hair.
For others, cut hair ended there, but hers drained mana to repair... flashy aesthetics backfired.
How did one sword split into eight, steps covering ground like shrinking earth...?
"Crude beyond words... Your cherished weapons?"
Glancing at the gauntlets and greaves—mere leather plated with metal—the Martial Sovereign asked.
—These were Wakamo's painstaking [stopgap].
With [materials], Wakamo could sculpt statues, so crude metal-plated leather formed basic shapes. Universal gear usable by Wakamo, but plain with no stats.
Purely pursuing metal durability as weapon and armor.
She wanted [Prism Hardness Diamond], but too hard to process; used mithril-like rare metal dubbed [Moonlight Nonmetal].
'Can't hold out. A full swing would've cut me.'
Yet meaningless against a master like the Martial Sovereign.
Eyeing clear blade marks, Mei wrapped in lightning unleashed [Idol's Storm], scattering slashing winds everywhere as she charged.
"[Phantom Demon Sword]!!"
With [skill] chant, sword phantoms multiplied to dozens, hundreds, thousands, surging at Mei.
Amidst, thousands of blades split into eight each—eight thousand strikes assaulted her.
Knowing illusions, the vivid killing intent widened her eyes; her arms moved frantically.
To scatter the sword wave, she struck wildly with fingertips, backs, palms—full power deflection.
From the phantoms emerged a stealthy, odorless dagger-tip stabbing her brow like a hidden blade.
"What?!"
Tracking the sudden strike, Mei pinched it between index and middle fingers, halting it.
The Martial Sovereign, with matching elegant dagger set, hurled another aura-wrapped one.
Xiao Liang behind couldn't see, blocked by Mei.
Thus, Mei hurled her captured dagger back; parrying, he swung his lethal blade.
Sword waves clashed metal-on-metal, illusions hiding reality amid chaos; unable to discern, Mei faced his roar.
"Shallow and weak!! Reliance on eyesight is obvious!!"
Even shared camera views showed the same.
Hiding in his blade storm, suppressing presence, pressuring with illusions, awaiting one chance to cut.
"Thousand Changes, Ten Thousand Swords!! Perish in the storm, Idol!!"
Can't discern real from fake.
Solution—one:!
Block everything visible!!
"Hyah!!"
Weave shadows, twist tails to reshape.
Two arms on shoulders, two under armpits, two on wingbones, original two gathering [mana] into crude [Idol's Mineral] swords.
"Wakamo Arm Eightfold Style!!"
Track with eyes, parry, parry, shatter everything!!!
Front, sides, rear—eight arms whipped blindly, smashing, advancing brute-force, blasting mana everywhere.
Something blocked spreading mana—eight swords met her single blade swung eight times; the Martial Sovereign gaped at Mei in shock.
His eyes filled with horror: what kind of counter was this?
Clang clang clang clang—!!!
Eight blades versus eight variations clashed breathlessly.
Thus, he was pushed back.
He needed to breathe—natural for living beings.
Composed, circulating [Qi] from dantian while matching her, but her accelerating, fiercer barrage overwhelmed.
How? How was this possible?
Eight arms moved like four people in formation and rotation.
Arms flowing shoulder-to-chest-waist-gut like water, free; low sweeps to legs forced him to hastily parry in vertigo.
Faster, faster, faster.
Using [Idol's True Form], sword grips solidified, arms ethereal to avoid tangles.
Blade barrage became frantic percussion, then death metal drummer pounding him.
Exhaustless, breathless monster swordplay met by his single blade.
[Acquired skill [Eight Thunderclap Swords]!]
Momentum shifted.
Air around Mei swinging froze momentarily.
Reading mana flow, his eyes widened.
"No way—that can't—"
"Eight Thunderclap Swords? So tacky."
"Lies...!!"
Stole his technique outright...?
His eight swords became sixty-four; deeming unbearable, he leaped back swiftly.
His blade was at limit too.
Her mana-reinforced body slammed down insanely—blade chipped, cracks spiderwebbing.
Whoosh—!
Mei's sword cleaved empty air.
'Not an illusion...'
Plenty chances to exploit gaps. But he was a master... no easy feat.
Thus Mei widened gaps, but [Idol's Body] lagged.
Post-revival? Or overload chain from apostle and Inari fights reaching limit?
If so, time would heal.
Initially, couldn't match the body's prowess.
Now—tragic in another sense.
Even after conquering 100-floor tower, [Idol's Body] never upgraded. Merely mana efficiency improved.
Curse of [non-combat class].
'Body reaction dull indeed—!!'
"Excellent, Idol!! Your existence proves me right!! This world is pathetic!! Thus power is just!! Straightening world's laws!! Leading the world!! The one true justice, truth—【Power】!! Human hearts, love!! Excuses of the weak!! Humanity rules by thirst!! Thirst to ascend!!"
Martial Sovereign discarded sword.
Fists clenched, wind swirled, sucking in.
[Idol's Body] wouldn't slip or suck, yet mana drained wholesale.
One arm whitened, other reddened.
Thrusting sword met red arm—infused mana, no scratch.
Instead, her blade snapped; Mei's eyes bulged.
"Blade-proof realm—!! Raise inner power!! Take this, Idol!!"
"Plain Hand Demon Art and Blood Hand Demon Art!!"
Techniques familiar from any wuxia read.
Xiao Liang's cry—sword to neck froze and shattered on white arm, melted gooey on red.
Ugly barrage hurled her back.
Crossed all arms to deflect.
Wakamo's mind saw all trajectories.
Strained but glimpsed angles to slip, vital-punch.
But sluggish.
Body like lead lump.
Like waterlogged cotton.
Like marathon-sprinted exhaustion.
'[Idol's Body] can't keep my speed!!'
"Urgh!!"
Felt like Formula 1 racer in junk car. Dynamic vision, thought superior—paths clear, body lagged!! Engine stalled!!
Damn, skill fully broken?!
Crossed arms defended, but force shoved her with ground.
Freezing-burning hyper-speed barrage proved prior efforts half-hearted.
Machine-gun thuds roared, Mei shoved back relentlessly.
No distance weakened punch's [Qi] strikes.
' Hundred-Step Divine Fist...?'
Xiao Liang: intervene? Help? Anxious eyes on ancestor.
Clearly tilting. Martial Sovereign dominated.
"Winners good, losers evil!! If that's all, die here, Idol!!"
"Where's good and evil in world!! Annoying otaku, that's me!!"
Behold—otaku history rivaling China's 3,000 years...!!
"Fist of the North Star unread? Know martial arts?! Start with Fatal Fury, jerk!!"
Sensing rear [killing intent], he turned—waist kick planted.
Invisible transparent attack unbalanced him; lightning Mei closed, fists raking face to gut.
Something yanked his swinging arm.
[Object Interaction] gripped ankle, toppling; Mei battered in rush.
Realizing extra foe, he burst [Qi], demonic aura repelling.
Unyielding, plunging Mei met thunder-wrapped clawing hand like fierce tiger.
She weaved aside smoothly—impossible with [Idol's Body] penalty.
Weaving out, [Weight of Faith] reverse blow smashed.
Blade-proof like adamantine.
Thus weighted to body's limit, side caved.
"[Ten Thousand Threads of Rain]!"
Wary of closing Mei, sleeve darts fired needles.
Cow-hair thin, invisible—[Deer Antler Wing Robe] from Gang Yeoul fluttered, deflecting all; mana plummeted.
No weave time.
[Weight of Faith] nulled weight to zero, [Wherever You Go, Be Master] skill floated her 1mm off ground—shock flung back again.
Not walking—flying!
Gliding silently, leaping Mei met his ground-kick ascent.
Mutual spinning kicks collided—her greave shattered.
Sole-stomped counter leg, midair stepping like true flight, he soared!!
"Dragon Soars Nine Heavens—!!"
Mei circled midair to deflect palm, but he read her half-beat lag.
Damage accumulated, body failing will—he smirked, seizing momentum.
Whirling descent unleashed strikes—predatory hawk sharpness menaced.
Worthy of "Martial Sovereign" moniker.
Mountain-shadow palm engulfed her.
Dull thud—smashed to ground.
But not passive.
Transparent Dragon General God punched, stealthed Gang Yeoul [Object Interaction]-yanked legs, slamming down—third-party view: mutual clash tumble.
"...Denying happiness, love darkens world. Spouting godlike delusions, yet kinda weak?"
"This fist reaches gods. I am closest to Martial God!"
"Playing god before me?"
[Idol's Body]... slowing.
Battle sharpened senses acutely.
Crack!!
Fissures cracked face, mana leaked.
—Martial Sovereign no match for apostle or Inari.
1v1, no [items] or [allies] vs combat-legendary class—pure spec loss.
Class limit blatant.
Yet bridging gap with [talent] was astounding.
"...What you remember defines you. Remembering only pain, hardship, shame—what good? Good times, laughs, happy memories—give life hope... reason to endure.
As Idol (VTuber), I'll make until my end (graduation). Then even if you say gone, it exists?"
"Die by my hand here—end of that?"
"No unyielding flower, no unblooming flower!!
You can't. I can."
Inhale, breathe.
"Mana ghost breathing—futile!!"
"Fighting as faction leaders!!"
Inhale-exhale, cycle life.
Crack—creak.
Ominous body sounds widened his eyes in horror.
[Qi] is vitality. [Shamanism] deals in [life].
Learned [shamanism] theory from Aska's skills, but unusable.
Shamanism tied to life.
Professor taught mana becomes anything.
Seeds in Mei accelerated by [Idol's Earth], growing.
Roots became meridians filling body, chest bloomed flowers replacing lungs.
Learned flowers nonstop from [Beekeeper].
[Slime]-like [Mana Cores] formed in lower, middle, upper dantian.
Skin-tearing tree roots leafed luminously, throat/chest bloomed.
Body brimmed [life], inhaling with mana, cycling endlessly.
[Shamanism]'s [Five Elements], void-born [Five Elements], nature's principle—what?
[Idol's Earth], [Idol's Flames], [Idol's Mineral], [Idol's Tide], [Idol's Storm].
[Mana (Idol's Body)] holds [life (nature)].
Breath winds, steps earth, motion water, heart fire, growth tree-like.
Simply—nature itself.
[Created non-existent [skill]!]
[Assigns [skill] name fitting Creator's class!]
[Acquired exclusive occupation skill [VTuber's Breath]!]
"Roooaaar—!!"
Cycling life overflowed Mei's arms with [Qi]!!
"Behold, third-rate!! Demon (you) and VTuber (Idol)—different leagues!!"
Fell for it.
Seeming cornered, observed constantly.
Mastered it!! [Qi]!! That monster!!
"Unbelievable...!"
Russia monsterfication, legendary exchanges, endless self-exploration.
All filled Wakamo's voids relentlessly.
"Show your ultimate!!"
[Void Spirit Taiji Divine Fist] infused wind, fire, earth, plants, torrents—[Qi] condensed.
Straight-thrust fist birthed [Fist Aura] line.
Air-torn shockwave direct-hit spewed blood, hurled him back.
Writhing roots as meridians supplied life ceaselessly, [skills] via [Mana Manipulation] wondrously wielded.
Dismissed all bodies save self, one camera—focus maxed!!
Full [Three Brains Harmony] boosted lagging [Idol's Body].
Boom!!
Leg-[Qi] burst propelled her shell-like; unrelenting barrage shoved him back, spitting blood.
"Excited, your words roughen, Idol."
"Rude! Thought no upbringing! Matching your level!"
"...Beyond expectations. Grateful. Defeating you completes my divine fist. See you at 84th."
Warning he held back 【true power】, vanished.
Victory fireworks burst gorgeously after ages, celebrating Mei.
"Amazing..."
Master distant...
Grew per moment, learned swiftly.
Flower-wreathed form like celestial fairy.
Xiao Liang trembled in joy, respect for ancestor surging.
Glad she's special.
And—felt family, love truly protecting her!
"Delusion, Martial Sovereign."
I decide.
Next meet, strip to bedrock—Mei grinned like white-faced golden fox.
Understand now... [life], [Qi] visible!!
Long-lost life pulse... not true heart, but.
"China Tower difficulty rising... more rewards...!! Best ever!!!"
Again.
China Tower gives Wakamo zero rewards.
Only hellish pain.
Korea Tower elegantly napkin-necked, raised fork/knife.
Must live.
Must win...!!
Only she could curb these madmen in China Tower!!