Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: The Executioner's Maze
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Rat-a-tat-tat──!!
"Now I see the entrance we came through has vanished too!!"
"Ahh─ I miss my days in the special forces! Being a VTuber is way tougher!"
"Which part?"
"After tackling this tower today and heading back, I'll be too wiped out to stream. If I post an announcement about taking a break, my carefully planned schedule goes straight to hell."
"A surprisingly practical reason!! Should we just run it 24/7 like Asuka?"
"Don't talk crazy."
The group, surrounded from front and back, unleashes a barrage of bullets without mercy.
While they took turns swapping out the magazines at their waists, Asuka erected a barrier with her spells and fired off flame foxes to seal off the path.
Was it a blessing in disguise?
The labyrinth was shaped like a single-file passage, so even as the underground dwellers poured out, even charging at reckless speeds, even if a mere graze meant instant death, they couldn't dodge the group's attacks. No blood was spilled on their side.
But there were just too damn many.
The original plan had been to block the path with the underground dwellers' corpses, but they witnessed the labyrinth absorbing and devouring the bodies the moment they hit the floor.
Corpses of [Humans] scattered everywhere went uneaten, but the [Underground Dwellers] and the [Holy Knight Order] who had descended for exploration were clearly being consumed by the labyrinth.
Why?
Weren't [Humans], made of pure mana, more nutritious for the tower?
They were effective even as food and top-grade as materials—no part went to waste.
But to the tower, these folks were worth less than a rolling stone.
Pipkin Mami had plenty of experience fighting climbers or criminals in her special forces days, but no amount of that could prepare her for this cinematic spectacle straight out of a movie.
"[Psycho Ball]!!"
"Did you change that skill's name?"
"Gotta use famous ones so the cuties love it, right?"
-National rule lololol
-But Mami's attacks aren't landing?
-These underground bastards are insanely fast...
-No way, no sound, how do they dodge?
-Maybe instinct or something?
The bullets made them flinch at the noise but failed to hit properly, while the telekinetic orbs Pipkin Mami charged up and hurled were dodged like ghosts.
At that evasion speed, they could probably swat incoming bullets too, but instead, true to their paper-thin durability, they just crumpled pathetically.
"Is it over...?"
"Pipipipit♪ Guess I'll have a smoke then."
-Cute humming while going hard-boiled...
-Where the hell does that cig keep coming from????
-And supplying Asuka with ammo mid-fight lololol
-Wakamo Corporation fights dirty as hell!
-Petty? Cowardly? Winner makes the rules.
-In fact, Wakamoto=Kan-sama has never lost once.
-Sutegoi sacho...!!
-VTuber President is superhuman. Proven by Wakamo and the agency landlord.
Asuka opens a [My Worlds] portal and drops off an ammo crate, while Ichigo reloads beside her.
Indiana Jones rummages nearby, picking out properly fitting rounds for his gun and reorganizing.
And Pipkin Mami, alone, puffs away on her cig, savoring it thickly~ regardless.
She smokes so deliciously that even the viewers start craving one.
"Y'know, if ancient humans are those humans littering the roadside... doesn't that make underground dwellers ancient humans too?"
"Makes sense. At minimum, their skeletons are remarkably similar to ours. How they became the tower's monsters. How they ended up living underground... It's thrilling...!!"
-I'm genuinely curious.
-Will the tower's truth finally be revealed after 11 years?
-But more than that, mazes like this are rare.
-Don't they only show up in Wakamo's top-floor streams?
-Yeah, and traps are super rare there too.
-Reminds me of FromSoft games lololol
"This whole space reeks of insidious malice."
Ichigo, eyes stinging like hell, smirks faintly as he checks his gun and stands.
"Indeed. Asuka senses that distinctive Miyazaki shit-stench too."
-Unavoidable off-beat attacks incoming?
-Poison swamp? We know it?
-Welcome to FromSoft Amusement Park~
-That thrill of not knowing if boulders or guillotines are coming.
-You woke up, come to FromGalle....
-Roll to dodge, but sensing a wide AOE follow-up.
Bzzzt─
"[This is Morpheus. For now, predictions via foresight for a safe path look like this. The inner labyrinth is insanely complex. You can feel the designer's malice... It's basically built to devour anyone who enters. As you see, it loops entrants around endlessly, and the maze shifts like it's alive.]"
".....Isn't that too much?"
It was far too alien from a standard 【Tower】.
The tower gave climbers chances to give up and leave, scaled to their level, and rarely pressured with environments.
But this tower was out to devour everyone who entered, just to restart itself.
And the moment you stepped in, it trapped you in the [Shifting Labyrinth Floor] with no escape, setting you up to be hunted down.
Traps everywhere, monsters swarming.
"[At this rate, even my blessings won't be enough, no matter how many. Can we escape?]"
"Nope."
Pipkin Mami had already tried. No escape items worked.
The silver lining: [My Worlds] let them flee to safety.
With a safe zone always available to rest, the group followed the [Guiding Star] Morpheus projected before them.
No telling what might lunge from corners, drop from ceilings, or shift underfoot—they stayed max alert.
Rounding one corner, a box sat in the hall like it was begging to be taken.
-Wow, real dungeon vibes.
-Way different from the tower.
-? No boxes in the tower?
-Nope... Tower gives rewards after clears, no in-dungeon loot.
-Box in tower = 100% mimic lololol
"Who the hell falls for a box like that?"
"UWOOOOH!!! It's dark!!! Get me out!!"
-lolololololololololol
-lolololololololololol
lolololololololol
-lololololololol
Indiana Jones, swallowed by the box, flails his stubby legs.
Too fat for its mouth to even close properly.
His sturdy armor prevented being bisected, but even for an adventure lover, wasn't that too reckless?
Then the mimic shudders and spits him out backward with a pop.
".....Death by suffocation."
-Oh god...
-Don't swallow anything willy-nilly.
-Pelican incidents are Wakamo Director-exclusive.
-Suffocation for a dude? Worst way!
-But in the shadows.... this one's popular....
-Gay...? How'd you know...?
"More importantly, check this out!! The box was stuffed with gems!!!"
"Wooow─"
Ichigo and Mami, who get fatter paychecks from the President than those gems, offer soulless smiles and claps.
But do mimics ever have treasure inside? Better assume this tower's nothing like the standard ones.
This tower existed solely to kill climbers.
"UWAAAAH!!!"
"Heavy!!!"
"Why is Indiana Jones on top....!!!"
"'Cause I'm the shooter...!!"
More traps followed, grabbing at their ankles.
Walking along, the narrow hall spins and flips upside down.
A bizarre trap never seen before: a vertical circular corridor.
Mami leads cautiously, only for Ichigo and Asuka to plummet onto her one after another.
"UWAAAAH!!! Mami's precious back...!! I trained flexibility for this?! NNOT LIIKE THIIIS!!!"
Sticking limbs to ceiling and floor stops the fall—good—but her weight bends her into a U, slowly sliding.
"No nipple fuck!!!"
-Don't say deranged shit mid-crisis.
-Her tits are about to get skewered!!
-Fancy vocab even now.
-She got spare brainpower? Right?
-Her constipated-straining face says otherwise...?
"Who's constipated!! Can't you say something cuter to a lady!? That's why you're all virgins!!!"
-Facts.
-lolololololol
-Ah, use your powers~
-And what's Asuka lying next to her.
-TMI) Asuka can fly.
-lolololololololololololol
"UOOOOOH!!!!"
Mami grimaces, uses telekinesis to restore the hall, rubs her back, and passes the trap.
Two cigs in mouth, stomping along briefly—then the labyrinth quakes, a boulder rolls into view.
Dodge to a corner? A bladed chariot spews flames and charges.
"Hide in that side gap?! Oku!"
Indiana Jones dives into a crevice—floor opens, he plummets.
Mid-fall, his pudgy gut jiggles like pudding, wedging him halfway.
Mami bursts out laughing at the sight.
-You're funnier lololol
-Aww lolololol
-This is.... the tower...?
-Turns everything into a variety show lololol
-Oh~ This is American TV huh~
Her huge chest wedged her in a victory pose.
Pondering these two ridiculous Americans, Asuka steps on Mami's face to climb the gap.
"Ichigo?!"
Asuka points up at Jones's question.
Ichigo already hangs monkey-like from the upper passage walls.
His hyper-sensitive instincts sigh at the QUANGG!! rolling boulder.
He sensed danger, but who predicts this crap?
Traps weren't just one or two.
Path ahead collapses downward, blades shoot from sides to decapitate.
Jump that? Floor gives way to hidden pit.
Asuka and Ichigo fine, but Mami passes—floor sinks, walls SLAM her.
"Y'know─ am I just unlucky?"
Blades halted by telekinesis, pit flown over, crush bypassed via phasing—Pipkin Mami escapes.
-Superpowers are broken af.
-X-Men solo.
-But this is straight-up vicious.
-How many traps even?
"Hey~ How do I cross?"
Mami forces walls apart telekinetically; trailing Jones (Robert) scrambles over.
Cunning traps everywhere—assume one per path.
Thwip!
Ichigo snatches a rear arrow, furrowing brows in growing irritation.
Arrow from distant hall's darkness.
Not the end—poison gas or petrification fumes sometimes spew.
Top [Alchemist] Ichigo resists most, but allies struggle.
Tosses petrification antidote to Asuka's stiffening hand, Ichigo slumps against wall for a break.
"Hiding blades in the rope was vicious."
Rope to cross? Blades inside shredded Asuka's hand.
"What about walls slamming QUANG! with no warning?"
Lightweight Asuka and Ichigo (<50kg) fine, but Mami crushed 5 times en route—now chews 3 cigs, grumbling.
Never wanted handsome hunks charging; not intense wall-kisses from rocks.
"And the monsters...."
Opposite hall end—senses climber, smashes wall, ambushes.
Mami phases through walls fine, but monsters smash them casually.
Wide attacks from beyond? Clip through like game bugs.
Ichigo's instinct blocks with sword—else Jones or Asuka's heads gone.
"Every classic Indiana Jones trap shows up."
Snakes from sky, snake pits.
Poorly lit dark corners or turns: tripwire explosives.
All stunned at thin wire-snapping triggers.
Hooks from walls/darkness... fine.
Ceiling/floor spinning sawblades... okay.
Walls vanish to open space: swinging guillotines, collapsing bridges... got it.
Sudden hall seal: burning or drowning...!!! Tolerable!!
"How much longer do we gotta walk!!!"
Ichigo finally snaps after holding it in.
Even knowing the path, 2+ hours of tension was insane stress.
And Morpheus guides closer to center, ramping trap lethality.
"Didn't run into the Holy See's survey team on the way."
"[─They caught the broadcast, sending their Champion. Not sure when they'll bust in, but glad she won't die alone.]"
"[Wait? You said this was safe? That's why you were operating from here?]"
"[Relax, I'll help if needed.]"
-Thrilling, but batshit difficulty.
-All climbers die here, right?
-Obviously... how survive this?
-So rewards must be nuts?
Barely 10-min break.
Nearly 80 traps in 2 hours.
Plus non-underground monsters blocking paths.
Surprisingly, all familiar—no novelties.
'Let's sort this out.'
The Pope planned to raise [Angel] legions via [Sub-Class] and [Monsterization Research] to check [Idol] forces.
Companion uniqueness, religion's scale, plus [Divine] superiority.
Unexpected variable: 【Idol】, a 2nd-gen class like "divine punishment" on the Pope.
Likely unlocked after Wakamo Inarizushi killed Kyoto Tower's version.
"Zero mana = death"—that horrific penalty wiped out global cults.
Thus, the last qualifier: Christianity's Pope, famously huge-scale.
'Islam or Buddhism have more believers, but Christianity might include variants....'
[Saintess] didn't spill all truths—Ichigo didn't care.
One sure thing: leave 【Pope】 alone, he dies.
'Something fishy.'
Saintess clearly resents Pope.
And they seek a [Idol]-threat deep in here.
Next?
Forgot 'cause natural, but doesn't conquering count as clearing?
Then Pope's experiment resumes?
'Kill Pope with an [Idol]-threat item?'
Why no suspicion entering that space?
Nearing core, instincts spark questions—Ichigo's eyes sharpen.
"Why leave Morpheus behind?"
Maze shifts constantly—no need for maps.
Remote comms fine, Saintess supports—no need for her there.
She never claimed weak combat.
It just... happened.
'Asuka.'
Ichigo slips Asuka a quietly written note.
Asuka receives, finally senses wrongness, scowls.
Too busy dodging traps, but distance weakened [Skill] influence.
'[Oracle] brainwashed from start?'
Pipkin Mami reads Asuka's note quietly, telepathically chats the group.
No need to show Robert—she force-feeds info mentally; he shudders.
Only [Oracle] could access [Fleshly Monster] among them.
What skills does Saintess have? Abilities? Same face?
No questions asked—straight to core like obvious.
Swish──
《You have entered the Tower of Ascension》
-Reach the summit [■■] at the top.
-No records of [■■], cannot access.
-Those meeting conditions can "evolve" into [Heroic Spirits].
※Caution- The tower you entered is closed, preparing restart.
[Executioners] prowl for offerings.
Greater rewards await.
※Caution- All traps active via 96 offerings. Tower activates after [4] more sacrifices.
No choices.
Late instinct screams danger to Ichigo.
No viewers question it—assume edited or scripted.
"....Asuka! Disband the party!!"
Robert realizes, yells urgently.
Tower recognizes fixed parties.
Robert knew the mechanic.
But inside tower, unsure how to disband.
So he ordered the party member best at grasping [Tower System].
"Left the party!!"
"[──Tch, figured it out?]"
Asuka shouts desperately.
At some point, whole group partied with Saintess!!
"Wait, for real?!"
Telepath who reads thoughts/minds mind-controlled—group freaks.
How buff at distance without party?—No one questioned till now!!
Asuka cuts the [Internet Connection] video call.
-Wow, wtf face.
-I'm scared.....
-Hug me.
-Why serious now???
"Snap out of it, everyone!! My [Danger Sense] just pinged something!!"
Robert's shout refocuses eyes; three look at him, two at Ichigo.
Her sharp instincts fully offline—what skill did she use?
Even exists as [Skill], but non-functional!!
"Damn Morpheus brainwashed wouldn't loop us, not guide core?"
"No, not that─ We're close."
Ichigo answers Mami's irritation. Treasure nearby—Alchemist intuition.
Beyond imagination rewards─calling climbers. Faint mythic aura past legendary.
Asuka senses too, same direction... but [Saintess] blocking?
[Executioner] emerges from dark before them.
'.......Not what I imagined?'
Mami instantly triggers shot between eyes, thinks so.
Honestly, what's outer diff from underground dwellers? Question first.
Then warning for all:
[Man-Eater's Presence reduces stats 99%!]
"Man-Eater?!"
"What?!"
"No way!"
"Executioner's a Man-Eater?!"
[Man-Eater's Killing Intent inflicts [Fear], [Confusion], [Hallucination], [Panic], [Reason Loss], [Mental Breakdown], [Convulsion], [Delirium], [Aphasia], [Disarray], [Thought Drift], [Persecution Delusion], [Panic], [Anxiety] abnormalities!]
"Fuck─!!"
Pipkin Mami spits her cig, curses.
This status stack = shock death plausible.
Viewers see same alerts.
Understand why no one survives [Man-Eater] encounter.
Fight irrelevant—enter range, stats -99%, abnormalities galore.
-Wtf insane????
-99% stat drop unanswerable.
-Fuck, all dead????
-This ok? Our Ichigo ok?
-Win way) Emperor Peha! Run!
-No no, not this!!!!
-No Man-Eater ever in tower!!
True, other climbers fought 【Idol】 cases, not Wakamo.
[Heroic Spirits] down, many know quietly, don't say.
Wakamo streams spread info.
But even Wakamo never pulled 【Man-Eater】—not Kyoto Tower 200x harder, not post-clear China Tower.
Overkill beyond excess.
Irony—perfect top boss class.
And now it appears.
[Human Special Forces] class solely for killing humans.
True nature: Executioner to unilaterally slaughter [Climbers] ascending tower...!!
Ineffective on [Humans] with similar flesh to 【Idol】.
Class exists purely for human murder...!!
Tower's invincible for executing entrants, reasons be damned!!
"So that's it!! Old tower was a climber blender!! That's the blade it made to kill humans!!"
"But why are we sane?"
"Wakamo President stocked [Mental Protection] items when shopping Russian merch last time."
-President is Wakamo.
-Welfare is Wakamo Corp.
-Thanks Wakamoto=Kan-sama!!!
-Wakamo basically Buddha! Hence Buddha!!
-Damn, Wakamo!! You're Buddha VTuber!!!
[2nd-Gen Man-Eater] kills normals with eye contact alone, heart attack.
Now knowing why, four backpedal desperately. But -99% stats no fix.
Every move sluggish—Ichigo crawls, not walks.
"Can't pull trigger....!!!"
"Telekinesis work?!"
"Stats too low!!"
Robert/Mami grit teeth on triggers—no budge.
Telepathy wants powers, but INT/WIS downed—screams Mami.
Meanwhile, Executioner postures, charges.
Ichigo knows Man-Eater [Human Special] from Wakamo firsthand.
Graze = death!
No─worst, no touch needed!!
KABOOM─!!!
Instantly, massive flame pillar engulfs Executioner Man-Eater.
Brief shock at heat—flame arrows pelt relentlessly, chain-explode.
"Executioner"
Mana flows sword via [Idol's Lion]—Asuka supplies from Wakamo, usually throttled.
But overdrive boosts power if willed.
What.
Wakamo's usual style.
No VTuber fights wanted—obeys master.
"Before you stands a sorceress with INT over 1,000."
"Asuka!"
"[Idol's Flames]"
Ears ring from roaring blaze swallowing Man-Eater.
For all her looks, Asuka's tower-born Idol.
Tower trials fair to climbers—no unfair ones.
[Man-Eater] tacitly banned.
Useless to climbers or current tower.
'No Man-Eater in tower! But old tower had? '
Records prove [Class] existed—[Mediator] knows.
Only 【Idol】 denied existence, erased.
"I'll handle here—go ahead!"
"No, won't leave you solo."
Frontliner-less sorceress fight sane?
Ichigo tosses cores, absorbs guillotine/terrain into golem, casts [Alchemy - Hyper Adrenaline].
Snow-white hair, agility spikes max—grabs Robert/Mami hands, bolts without looking back.
"No resupply now!!"
Out of range, stats return—Ichigo dons mask.
"Full speed breakthrough...!!"
Dual bladed pistols gripped, scatters red plum blossoms.
Outpaces underground dwellers, rampages—she pursued closely by Mami/Robert.
And truly close—treasure chest manifests at core.
Bang bang──!!
Robert guns chest open, flips spinner-style into room, pierces hidden underground dwellers' heads.
Mami telekinetically gathers debris for platforms—Ichigo flies, snags chest reward.
Simultaneously, lunging underground dwellers all powder to dust.
Tower quakes—clear sign, begins collapse.
"....What is this."
Ichigo eyes dagger, displeased.
[Mark of Hatred]
-Made from 96 souls/lives offered.
-(Kill 4 more to awaken stronger [Effect])
-Permanently destroy one [Skill].
Rumble...
"Go! [Guardian of the Wastes]!!"
"Hiiihiiiin!!!"
Mounts summoned steed, lassos dazed Ichigo upfront—Robert yanks reins hard.
Mami hops rear; white horse gallops from crumbling core.
"Executioner still..!!"
Underground dwellers gone, but Executioner smashes golem, faces Asuka.
Robert fires before range re-entry.
Attribute rounds burst, flash-freeze area—Executioner stiffens.
"Charge, Trinity!!"
Trinity dashes with Asuka slung like luggage, leaps boldly at Executioner.
Legs severed? Ignores, hooks rope grapple overhead, clamps horse with legs for rope stunt.
"Badass!!"
"Hahat!! Don't underestimate Western Cowboy Champ!"
"They're chasing!"
[Man-Eater's Mark applied!]
[Executioner's inescapable death pursues you!]
"No, why won't you vanish!!!"
Mami tosses stones telekinetically—dodges nimbly unlike others.
Wtf her powers trigger dodges—lies back exasperated.
Horse ass smacks her head; dual-wields pistols, sprays.
Bullet barrage slows Man-Eater.
Soon tower power fades—scenery shifts to catacombs.
Then, space fills with [Divine] presence.
Paladins raise shields, block path.
"[Gun Fighting]!!"
"[Metal Manipulation]!!"
Ignores divine whatever—Mami's powers crumple shields, pop helmets, disarm.
Ichigo's ammo rains merciless—Paladins dodge frantically.
"[Mezzogiorno di Fuoco (Noon of Fire)]─!!"
Shooter skill fires.
Forgot momentarily—Robert's rank 177 US climber [Shooter].
Pulls trigger on signature [Skill]—bullets hit all in sight, formation shatters.
"Lift off!"
Mami, tracking Asuka live, teleports group airborne.
Road center: horse and rampaging climbers—people scream in shock, but they don't stop.
"US or here, chases are daily!!!"
Grumbling Mami bites cig—Robert lights it with gunshot.
Rising, sun-glared sight clears.
Snow-white wings.
─An angel crosses overhead.