Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Fox God VTuber Climbing the Tower
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It's been 11 years.
Right after the existence known as [Idol] was completely erased.
The Tower that appeared in the Vatican absorbed the history of [Religion] and began stacking a tower toward [God].
It urged the Pope to pursue the 【Summit】 in order to ascend to the vacant seat of God.
Countless lives were offered up and piled high.
[Saintess] was merely a class that existed for the Vatican Tower. The Pope turned a blind eye to it.
Hiding the cruel truth, countless lives perished solely for the sake of climbing the Tower.
And then, like a miracle, the 【Idol】 class returned.
The Vatican Tower, which possessed [Records of the Past] buried deep within, formed an alliance with the Italy Tower.
Because they needed to check the overwhelmingly massive force known as the [East Asian Federation].
In [Italy]'s arena, the strongest climbers were imprisoned as they carried out their plan—[Saintess] noticed alongside [Oracle] and moved, but it meant nothing.
Everything was already prepared, and it had begun.
A new [Tower] for the [Ascenders], reverting to their most fundamental form of existence, transforming into the true Tower.
Handing everything over to the one [who would reach the Summit], along with glory, honor, and—conquest!!
That was the plan.
"You are an 【Idol (Apostle)】."
A red-haired [Idol] floated casually above the devastated cathedral, standing in a relaxed pose as she spoke.
"And I am an 【Idol (VTuber)】 as well. If the same class can evolve... then I should be able to as well, right?"
Ever since she happened to see an item capable of destroying skills, Wakamo had been steadily pondering it.
If her [Idol's Body] was destroyed, would she die? She had seen the result in Ichigo's broadcast.
Even if destroyed, she wouldn't die. What was needed next was strong will and focus—and finally, resolve.
"With that reckless logic... you evolved?!?"
Wakamo rolled her shoulders as she looked at the former Pope—now Tower Lord—spewing fury beyond disbelief.
"I'm not on the side of [justice] or anything. Still, is there any need to disrupt a peaceful world?"
The happiness and leisure in people's hearts come from idleness, after all.
And what dispels that boredom is a dazzling star (Idol).
That love (Idol) which, even if just for a fleeting moment, burns hot and ecstatic, etching happy memories into a single instant of life.
—If the Tower crushed that Idol (VTuber) and drove her to death...
""Humans" get a scolding! But "monsters" get death. Killing "monsters" has always been the role of "climbers (humans).""
【Idol's True Form】
-[Idol's Body] fully unleashed.
-All power restrictions are completely removed.
-Composed by the will of [Wakamo Inarizushi].
-Usable only by [Wakamo Inarizushi].
-Consumes [Faith] during transformation.
The newly acquired skill of Wakamo Inarizushi.
A skill so far beyond the norm that even an [Ascender] might not obtain it—not a mere [Climber].
And for good reason: it grew in proportion to the number of subscribers to Wakamo Inarizushi, strong enough to rival this star's entire population.
On top of that, people around the world were watching this battle live right now.
Fueled by the faith flowing in from them, Wakamo, radiating golden light, raised her fist into a stance.
"Lord!! Grant us your blessing!!"
"──!!!"
The apostle in the form of a [Saint] donned full plate armor, drew his sword, and charged.
The [Apostle] created by the [Italy Tower] rushed in wrapped in lightning.
He swung his sword at high speed in a threatening manner, thrusting it toward Wakamo—only for her to catch it effortlessly between her index and middle fingers.
The [Vatican Apostle]'s eyes widened in shock at the casual act of stopping it with just one arm, without even moving much.
"Not really anything to be surprised about, is it?"
Had the Vatican Tower never seen how Wakamo Inarizushi fought?
The [Italy Apostle], pissed off, summoned storm clouds in the sky and called forth a lightning storm.
Tornadoes swirled to life, thunder coiling around them as they spewed light.
Screams from climbers shouting not to get swept up mixed with the growing cries of the people.
The [Italy Apostle] smirked as if to say he'd grind Wakamo to dust with that lightning typhoon.
But a single bolt struck down.
The storm split in two under [Idol's Thunder], the gathered thunderheads scattering and vanishing.
Faced with the despairing gap in power, the [Italy Apostle] tried to create distance—but Wakamo vanished before the [Vatican Apostle].
She overtook him effortlessly, draping her arm over his shoulder from behind and bringing him to a halt.
"Don't we have some debts to settle between us?"
[Idol's Light] gathered in Wakamo's fist, and the [Italy Apostle]'s upper body burst like a balloon, evaporating.
The strike was too fast for even an apostle's eyes to follow. In a flash, his comrade was torn away and gone.
The [Vatican Apostle], blessed with [Blessings], [Buffs], and the final Pope's benediction enveloping her body, charged bravely with sword drawn.
Wakamo extended one leg, lightly kicking the blade aside with a foot strike, deflecting her attack.
Unbelieving, she swung horizontally—but Wakamo folded her leg, stomped the blade to halt it, then slid forward with an uppercut kick to the chin.
Looking bored, arms crossed, Wakamo wasn't even watching the Vatican Apostle.
"Put some effort into it. I could handle you with just one leg."
She even showed off the feat of clamping the descending blade between her big toe and second toe.
The apostle unleashed divinity from the blade to form sword aura, but it couldn't even scratch Wakamo's flesh.
Not that it failed to cut—it never even touched.
[Object Interaction] gripped the blade with invisible force, crushing it down with sheer power.
"Chaaap──!!"
Chaeng chaeng chaeng──!!
Wakamo flicked the sword lightly with her toenail, then lashed out with her foot, slashing the throat.
The Vatican Apostle's rapidly healing wound prompted her to drop God's Judgment from above, alongside the sun's light.
But Wakamo parried it with Taiji Fist principles profound enough to reverse a waterfall's flow, sending it back at the caster. The Vatican Apostle crumbled to charcoal without a proper fight.
"Even if two apostles gang up... we'd win..."
"Aww~? This is an apostle? The Tower bosses are tougher. If you're skimping on cost, of course your apostles are pathetic."
Wakamo scratched her opposite leg with her toes, then dug into her fox ear with a finger.
The golden-glowing [Vatican Tower] and the [Italy Tower] beyond the barrier, flaunting their might.
Through this alliance of two Towers causing such chaos, Wakamo understood the danger these Tower entities posed.
"[[Don't you wonder what [humans] truly are, Idol? They are the same as us now!!]]"
"I can tell just by looking."
"[[Humanity evolves by climbing the Tower toward ascension! And at the end lies [God]. Understand...? The one who reaches the Tower's peak becomes a 【God】!]]"
It was just as she'd roughly guessed.
She had plenty of theories.
[Idol] modeled after gods, worshipped like gods.
In the past, for some reason, [Idols] proliferated excessively until a [King] ended it all, bringing collapse.
Erased at the root, 【Idol】 vanished—but returned transformed as a 【Legendary Class】.
The snowball from the [Korea Tower]'s thoughtless act had grown too big—though Wakamo's death in the Japan Tower beforehand had freed the class too.
In the past, there were no class restrictions.
Anyone climbing the Tower could become an [Idol], wielding god-like power.
"[[Yes, as Vatican Tower, I saw the records of the past!! We raised [Saintesses] to create [Idols]!! You ruined everything, but thanks to you, it's all fixed now!]]"
"And become a god, right? Dear 【Tower Lord】?"
Not the [Last Pope]. She'd sensed it from his speech.
This was the [Tower Lord] who had hijacked the Pope's body.
As Vatican Tower, he intended to climb to the top himself and claim the summit.
Questioning his existence and purpose—mere duty-bound living—he harbored ambition and hatched a plan.
"—Something like that, right?"
"[[You could be a detective.]]"
"Any streamer who plays comprehensive games could've guessed it... So."
How much longer should she wait?
In the end, only one can sit at the [Summit].
The Vatican Tower needed the Pope's body because it had to climb the Tower itself.
Who in this world could stop him now—an [Idol] transcended into [Apostle] itself?
From [Tower Lord] to [Climber], allying even with [Italy Tower] to ascend and become [God].
Wakamo Inarizushi was the ultimate wildcard, greatest rival, and same-class hindrance above all.
"[[—To wait despite knowing... such arrogance!! 【Metatron's Judgment】!!]]"
Hymns resounded, spreading across the entire Vatican.
Blessings to the angels pouring from the Vatican Tower, healing to the fallen, empowerment to them all.
Even the rampaging demons from Italy Tower received indiscriminate buffs, while the widespread light began incinerating climbers' bodies.
Climbers groaned under the debuffs rising with the searing pain of burning flesh where the light touched.
"[[【Quis ut Deus】!!]]"
The Tower Lord donned the Archangel's helm and armor, spread angelic wings, and charged as light itself, sword and shield in hand.
"[[You're definitely stronger!! But—a mere climber!! You haven't surpassed me, a 【Tower Lord】 and 【Apostle】 at once!!]]"
"Yeah, sure."
The Tower Lord, buffed with miracles and enhancements, turned to pursue Wakamo as she vanished in a flash.
But Wakamo's kick landed faster.
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
Merciless stamp combos poured down at high speed, crushing the Tower Lord relentlessly.
She kicked away limbs to immobilize them, then stomped face and vitals without mercy.
A sword of holy light pierced Wakamo's back.
Even without pain sensation, Wakamo drew up [Mana], her body shimmering in brilliant rainbow hues.
"Diamond Body──!!"
[Idol's Mineral] boosted her durability as blades of light flew from all directions, clashing against her.
Clang! The swords shattered or ricocheted off, scattering.
"【Idol's Guillotine】!!!"
From there, she placed her foot on his neck, dropping toward the Vatican Tower with maximum [Weight of Faith].
She bound his light-escape with light.
Froze his water-form solid.
Blasted mana, divinity, and qi to batter his body and force-cancel his teleport.
"[[Uoooooh!!!]]"
Kwarung kwarung kwagak!!!!
It shaved away.
The Vatican Tower—itself a radiant holy relic—cracked and fissured as it was gouged.
"Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora!!!"
In a flash, Wakamo's fist became a beam barrage, pummeling the Tower Lord's face.
Speed so extreme the sound lagged; his head snapped back endlessly, no chance to recover as fists hammered home.
His skull embedded in the Tower like a nail, she turned into a human sewing machine, endlessly stitching his head into it.
"[[Gabriel's Lamp!! Devour and purify everything!!]]"
Kwaaaaa!!!
Sacred flames engulfed Wakamo's body, blazing fiercely.
Flames that pierced the soul inflicted the vivid agony of burning alive.
But Wakamo's bloodshot eyes weren't dimmed—instead, madness overflowed.
"Your firepower sucks!!! You think this pathetic holy fire scares me!?!? Mikoch Fire──!!!"
Casting [Idol's Immolation] on herself, Wakamo burned hotter and fiercer, vanishing into the inferno.
She seized the flailing, horrified Tower Lord's face amid the blaze.
"Mikomets Stella!!"
"[[Let go! Release me!!!]]"
A leaping kick launched them skyward, followed by hyper-speed descent.
Even the Tower Lord gaped at the fall speed—Wakamo accelerating with [Object Interaction]!
Gravity bent his body like a parachute as Wakamo hooked his throat over her shoulder.
She clamped his arms with her legs, then yanked his legs with her arms, forcing a C-shape bend.
Dragging his exposed belly to scrape the Tower's sharp edges, she ramped speed right up to contact.
Falling in the perfected S-pose.
"Wakamo Gravity!!"
Spluuurt!!!
Impact with the ground pulverized his legs, spine, neck, waist—ribs shattered his arms, abs exploded, organs ruptured, golden blood spraying.
Despite auto-repair, his body was in dire straits.
Wakamo grabbed his dangling broken leg, hoisting him into stance.
"Protect me from the Tower!! You're the same Idol, so you will, right?!"
Whip—Kwang!!!
Wielding the perfectly gripped 【Tower Lord】 like a weapon, she battered the [Vatican Tower] with flashy, gorgeous, flawless swings.
Demolishing it relentlessly without pause.
"[[【Sandalphon's Foot】!!]]"
Darkness cloaked the sky as a massive Sandalphon foot descended to crush Wakamo.
The nearly spent 【Tower Lord】 passed harmlessly through the attack and soared.
"[[Huff... huff... such a gap...!!]]"
The [Idol] class isn't overwhelmingly strong.
The current Tower Lord drew such power by evolving [Idol] to apostle with Vatican Tower support.
Yes, he had [Memories] of battle but no real [Experience].
Overwhelming power and body, yet his mind couldn't fully process it.
With all those buffs, this gap meant despair.
"[[But drag it out, and I can win!! You can't sustain this power forever!!]]"
Destroying [Idol's Body] to evolve was miraculous—but that power exceeded limits, impermissible.
Using his [Insight]-type skill as Tower Lord, he gauged Wakamo's state: stall for one hour.
Ding─♬
At that moment, a message from another Tower.
[Wakamo Tower Floor 1 World: Climbing in progress]
-Tower Lord's first step as Climber!
-To get familiar, let's take down [Wakamo Inarizushi].
-Afraid you'll lose? Scared?
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
-Hey Tower Lord, I had a great idea.
-Why not just raise a good [Idol]?
-Personal opinion~
"...Huh?"
The [Korea Tower]'s mental blow froze the [Tower Lord] solid.
Other [Towers] had already grasped his deeds, [Mediator] watching—but no one intervened.
Even if the 【Vatican Tower】's 【Tower Lord】 gained 【Apostle】 body.
Even merging all advantages for Idol-evolved power.
—He was showing it off to the same class.
—And facing someone who could copy and learn just by watching.
"【Wakamo's Foot】!!!"
A massive foot's shadow loomed, shaking the earth as it stomped the Tower Lord.
Hymns and light from the sky blotted out by incoming thunderclouds and rain.
The summoners: Kang Yeowul and Mei Shaolongbao, gracefully dancing in the plaza center.
【Idol's Dance Ban】 cast [Blessings] healing believers and summoning clouds to block light.
Ignoring activation limits, [Model Adjustment] enlarged Wakamo's hand, roughly seizing the Italy Tower.
She plucked up six nearby Italy Towers between her fingers.
Before the demon-spewing Italy Towers could react, she bundled them and swung at the Vatican Tower.
Craaack──!!
The Italy Towers shattered in collapse, triggering six chain breakdowns spewing monsters—but [Idol's Immolation] surged, reducing them to ash.
"[[Damn it... why!! I grasped the ultimate power with [Cost]!! Losing my near-god body to a mere climber...?!]]"
The Tower Lord gnashed his teeth at the precariously crumbling Vatican Tower.
Wakamo looked down mockingly at his pitiful, tearful expression.
"Oh nooo, so scary!! The holy power clashing with my mana hurts so bad!! You're really the strongest!!"
"[[Don't mock me...!]]"
"You've never climbed a Tower yourself, have you?"
The 【Tower Lord】 struggled, blocking Wakamo's kick with his shield in a grueling clash.
Wakamo perched atop that shield and spoke.
"If you're jealous, clash with that power. Prove it by taking me down. Show you're the world's strongest."
"[[—In Italy, those VTubers you like got thoroughly trounced... I'll make sure you have no time to fight me...!!]]"
[The Italy Tower collapses!]
Beams from Vatican Tower swirled, precisely slicing all Italy Towers.
Wakamo gaped in surprise at the massive AoE that targeted only Towers.
"[[Useless as allies anyway, those Italy fools!!]]"
The aggrieved 【Tower Lord】's outburst might make [Italy Tower] feel unjust.
Tower collapses unleashed monsters across Italy—not leaks, but bosses included in a frenzy.
Even with top climbers gathered, covering a whole nation wasn't easy.
Protecting civilians made it even harder.
"[[Your allies will die, Idol!!]]"
"...You really don't know a thing."
VTuber bonds—trust that "she'll definitely do it!" from streaming together.
An Idol (god) treating humans as mere stepping stones or consumables could never grasp it.
"Ichigo!!"
Mami, bloodied as she retreated defensively shielding people, supported the wounded Robert and shouted.
Facing the monster waves, Ichigo raised it with resolve.
The scene broadcast live via Asuka's camera.
—All items absorbed by Italy Tower, but he donned the crown given by the mooncake imbued with Wakamo.
"You and your monster scum... all of you... I'll wipe you out."
"『Friends』... assemble!"
Charrrk—the coronet tassels shook.
Hoofbeats echoed toward Italy at the Emperor's call.
The Emperor's legions, and the fandom summoned by Oshii.
Armies materialized in the light from the jade seal in her hand.
Soon, climbers gathered to Wakamo's [Summoned Believers].
Across long ages, the Emperor's heir reached her throne.
The Emperor has returned.