Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Idol's True Form
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All the experience accumulated through the battles up to now.
The foe, perfected in the midst of struggle, was not one that could be felled by mere nothingness.
It was endlessly insufficient—both with the skills at hand and the capabilities as a climber.
The ether generator embedded in her body was being crushed by the sheer presence of the 【Man Eater】, which spewed ether merely by breathing, causing her output to drop.
She sucked in the ether dwelling within her body and somehow boosted the output, channeling it into the hammer.
With all her might, she slammed the mask down hard, cracking it.
The mystical skills of the [Idol] were degraded versions of the infinite network wielded by the [Towers].
What was linked to the [Idol]'s flesh and consciousness was a degraded form of the 【Man Eater】.
That one seemed more fitting for a class befitting a priest who treated it as a classification akin to the Vatican champion.
A class so thoroughly diminished that even basic skills couldn't be utilized properly, leaving only the original form behind.
No stats whatsoever, and listing the drawbacks would never end.
If there was any merit, it was merely that, as an idol (VTuber), she could return even greater rewards to her "fans (believers)."
The size and form of the exchanged sentiments might not matter, but the value of that love was something no one could belittle.
To put it bluntly, she was just a human who was disgustingly strict toward VTubers.
Otherwise, she was no different from the common folk everywhere, holding convictions that shifted lightly depending on the moment.
That was why things changed once she became active as a VTuber.
Clutching [Kusanagi's Sword] and [Ether Hammer] in both hands, she charged toward the [Sun Iron Sphere of Xiwateteotl] swung by the Man Eater.
It was a pure globe of light. Better to call it a mass of burning fire.
She cloaked the blade in [Idol's Karmic Flames] and thrust it deep into the scorching sun-heated iron sphere, her body soaring into the sky following the centrifugal force of its rotation.
Leaping over the iron sphere that melted rather than gouged the ground as it passed, Rias collided vertically from above downward.
She stomped on the Man Eater's head—which had reaction speed so dull it was practically nonexistent—then leaped into a somersault.
Turning a full circle like an acrobat, she poured power into the hammer and slammed it back into the mask with the centripetal force drawing a circle.
A dire warning rang out that the pitch-black mist spewing from the cracking fissure would drain life force upon contact.
But she ignored it and fiercely hammered the mask.
As the Man Eater's arm moved in passionate hammering to grab her, Rias's body phased through the Man Eater.
It was a gamble attempted by recalling Sadako's words that it was possible without [mana].
Rias, instantly shifting behind the Man Eater, grabbed one of her twintails and swung it with all her strength.
Even artificial, since it wielded [ether], it inflicted minor but steady physical damage.
She would use that to knock her out.
It wasn't a fight to beat to death by pummeling— she had to save her, who was essentially the [Apostle of the American Tower].
Not like the Vatican Tower seizing the body, but surely exploiting the peculiarities of the Man Eater class to command as an apostle.
Why a legendary class was overwhelmed by Man Eater, how utterly she had been used by the Tower regardless of her will.
The thought fueled Rias's rage toward the Korean Tower, and she spun with all her might.
"【Idol's Storm】─!!!"
A hurricane generated at the cost of 1 million mana erupted around Rias, sucking in and collapsing the ground.
It drew in the clouds and even crushed the sun iron spheres summoned by the Man Eater under pressure.
This wind was artificially induced— of the same lineage as [Idol's Dance Ban].
Manipulating wind with mana!!
The wind sliced flesh and pulverized rock into sand, erasing trees and leveling the earth.
Even distant cities felt the fierce gales, but nothing compared to the epicenter.
In a world where sound became visible with its speed, Rias spun like a human centrifuge gripping the Man Eater, squeezing out every ounce of strength.
Then, the Man Eater seized her arm, the one clutching the twintail to pull her body in.
Whoosh.
The ground surged vertically, then flipped upside down, swapping sky and earth.
And encroaching darkness.
Wakamo, whose critical weakness was inability to see or hear at will, desperately tried to grasp what had happened to Rias.
For the first time, she realized that hearing too loud a sound could ruin her hearing.
The Man Eater had grabbed and slammed her into the ground, turning the weakened terrain from the typhoon into a canyon.
Like splintered boards surging during a breaking demonstration?
Boom─!!
Before hitting the ground, the unconscious swing of the hammer and Kusanagi's sword spared her instant death.
The problem was her legs crumpling from the mere grip.
Gazing at the broken sword and hammer, she donned [Wings of the Sun].
'[Staff of the Circle Monk] and the set item [Dangun's Divine Relic Cheonbusam-in (Heavenly Talisman Three Seals) Heavenly Talisman Seal], plus [Divine Bird Nanse] and [Gunsin Arrow]─[Nati] too.'
Recalling her items, she pondered various tactics.
Dangun's divine relic had a whopping 1-year cooldown; she had to think carefully.
Thanks to the [Job-Exclusive Skill 【Unshakable Mind】], she wasn't affected by the aura enveloping the Man Eater—a huge advantage.
If her [stats] decreased into negative from the exposure, that would be a problem in itself.
Fwoosh─
[【Man Eater】 uses 【Flames of Xiuhcoatl】!]
"God's flames" bloomed in the Man Eater's hands. Seeing the sheer difference in caliber, a sigh escaped first.
She cloaked her hands in [Idol's Karmic Flames] and maximized firepower using [Idol's Storm].
Creating plants inside her body, circulating qi, mana, and divinity to generate strong repulsion.
Though unable to sense ether, she enveloped her body with a repelling sensation.
[Nuwa Swift Codex]─!
Rias slid across the ground like a streak of lightning.
Closing the distance at a speed where her shadow lagged, her thrusting palm was devoured by the divine flames it grazed, fingers crumbling to ash.
Undeterred, she whipped up massive winds, wrapping a rotating, circulating ring around the typhoon, the Man Eater, her arm, and Rias's arm.
[Void Spirit Supreme Ultimate Divine Fist] at maximum performance, cast with full concentration!!
Layering rotation upon rotation and more rotation with the power of spin—then twisting her wrist to insert a small rotation into that massive flow.
Like ripples expanding to amplify influence, the Man Eater's arms twisted unnaturally and swung wildly, but the shockwave alone burst her upper body.
She endured by planting her legs on the ground; otherwise, the force would have hurled her to city buildings.
Thud─!!
The blow striking the Man Eater's chest with its own momentum caused black blood to pour from inside the mask.
Overworked, weakened, broken flesh. Wounds so horrific it was hard to believe it was a climber's body.
Her lightness, like bones only, ignited fury-born fighting spirit.
"Uoooooh!!"
A rising kick along the center line in one breath powerfully struck the jaw inside the mask.
Without pause, she spun into a roundhouse to lift the body, then before falling, lunged to grip the Man Eater's slender wrist with her toes, flipping and slamming it reverse into the ground.
Miraculous techniques only a master at the extreme limit could perform, poured out relentlessly.
All the martial arts learned by observing and facing 【Martial Sovereign】 unleashed without reserve, striking until the opponent's movements ceased.
Even impacts that would shatter consciousness─ yet black mist exploded.
【Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli's Javelin】
Condensing the sun into a single spear gripped in hand, the Man Eater assumed position.
What rose was [Idol's Thunderbolt], a skill firing thunder spears by expending held mana.
Unlearned and neglected, she couldn't gauge its strength, but it seemed inferior to that spear evoking heat haze, igniting unburnt wood, kindling flames on parched earth.
Keeeen─!
Assuming stance, hurling the spear toward target, spear flying, piercing foe.
─Erasing the entire process, it yielded results akin to "reaching."
She neither saw nor reacted visually; merely intuited, timed by breath, deflected instinctively.
If only she'd deflected it.
"Cough."
One arm vanished below the shoulder, the accompanying arm burned to ash below the elbow.
Even so, the barely deflected javelin gouged the ground, exploding massively before fading.
Mana backlash flowing like blood from her mouth, Rias deployed [My Worlds] upon seeing her form another javelin.
Boom─!!
Man Eater, pierced through gut by her own back-stuck javelin, flew forward; Wakamo somersaulted midair, upkicking the mask.
Two women spinning identically.
Rias a beat faster, boosting mana recovery with [Nanse]'s effect, forming ice fists with [Idol's Freeze] and thrusting.
Yet the arm severed before contact, soaring into void.
Man Eater, eyes alive even in that attack, roared, swinging both arms wide to unleash a storm.
【Eecatontli's Wind】─an upper skill birthing a terrain-devouring storm of death.
Rias, who had spun with full power, swept into a comparable storm, launched skyward.
Soon, Man Eater raised [Quetzalcoatl's Conch Shell] item and blew hard; trumpet sound resounded.
Then, sudden downpour in an instant.
Wakamo hurled her carving knife desperately to block, but Man Eater swatted it away effortlessly.
Drenched by the forced rain skill, Rias saw not the Man Eater, but the sky.
"—Strike."
Man Eater raised palm to sky, uttering thus.
【Sholotl's Lightning】 answered the call, plunging down.
Sword-worthy lightning.
Since [Idol's Thunder] parried it cleanly only to be bisected.
Rias cleaved like by keen master blade.
"Strike thoroughly."
Chained relentless lightning barrage—not burning or shocking, but shattering into hundreds of pieces raining down.
Ore fragments in Rias's form scattered to ground.
Fake.
Only then realizing the deflected carving knife had taken Rias's form.
Misdirection like using [VTuber Assets]. Concentrating 90% mana into body part shaped as sword, hurled with full force.
With remaining 10%, crafted moving fake via [Idol's Ore].
Reconstituting body part fully as Rias, she charged, pressing both hands to Man Eater's chest and waist.
Remnants of ether, traces of ether organ pseudo-implemented via [Job-Exclusive Skill 【Motion Capture】], released from palms.
Qi, mana, divinity, demonic energy, and ether—infusing five energies at once into flesh; blood exploded from self-javelin gut hole.
Man Eater, legs buckling unable to stand properly, punched hard but no impact landed.
She discarded ether organ to evade attack. Already damaged beyond repair from shock, no clinging possible.
Even so—she thought it would land somewhat!!
Water surged beneath staggering Man Eater's feet.
【Wishutoshuatl's Saltwater】
Artificially birthed sea—and cannibal fish bursting from within.
Bitten flesh cleanly torn away.
【Itzcoliuhqui's Dawn】
Then, wondrous power freezing the sea and fish outright.
The girl's innate power, hating to fight, could freeze cities.
Snow poured from sky, world freezing as if seasons changed.
Toward Man Eater spewing white frost breath, she drew [Circle Monk's Staff] and cast [Tathagata Vault].
Behind Rias, golden radiance bloomed; seated Tathagata appeared, absorbing Rias's defilements with enlightenment-imbued hand.
Viewers might chuckle at Tathagata's VTuber-like form, but its might was tremendous.
Ripple alone cracked ice without contact.
──Yet, frost mist coiling Man Eater reflected the attack like a mirror.
Not just freezing; created ice reflected foe's attacks too.
Rias, sensing faint returning vibration and shock in guard stance, tumbled in agony like body crumbling.
"Urgh─"
Must recover mana.
Main body Wakamo diligently recovering mana.
Even without [ether], victory means existed.
So thinking, gazing at Man Eater—she was healing wounds.
【Ishtlilton's Breath】
Breath restored gut hole and cracked mask perfectly.
Desperately slamming hand to ground, rapidly growing plants via [Idol's Earth]; trees surged.
Naturally existing trees moved to bind Man Eater.
【Kamasots's Flower】
Flowers bloomed on Man Eater's body. Blood-sucking, life-sucking, then mana-sucking flowers.
Rias severed hand to drop; spreading flowerbed instantly dyed earth vibrant.
No chance to move, roots spreading; she incinerated flowers with flames, casting [Investiture of the Gods].
Thousand-year gumiho avatar summoned before Man Eater, drawing sword, unleashing techniques charging at her.
Unexpected gain from 【ether】 use gladdened her.
【Xipe Totec's Hand】
Black ore coiled Man Eater's hands; obsidian-like mineral swords gripped.
As if deliberately showing. Making her feel her own inferiority firsthand.
Avatar always overwhelming in martial prowess endured barely six clashes before shredding.
Toward her crouching predatory lunge, Rias steeled resolve.
"【Idol's True Form】!!"
※※※
Whirrr──
"Ha."
No sooner had she handed the recorder than her dreaded suspicion became reality.
Truly, the [Guardian]'s backer was the American Tower's [Tower Lord].
Why on earth? What for? Possessing niece's flesh perhaps? Horrific either way.
Dialing unforgettable contact on phone unused who-knows-how-long.
Call tone continued; recipient, burdened with worries, took long before answering.
"[Ben, what's up. Something with Amelia again? Why'd she escape?]"
"Deal with devil, Leo… kidding. Prayed to a god."
God served lifelong gave no answer, so staked life confessing to lowest god.
For Amelia, spilled all on [Guardian] too.
For daughter, niece, did every human scum deed; opponent unsurprised, no anger.
"Remember? Amelia wanting to be singer like mom."
"[Ben, get out quick, head safe. Coming right away.]"
US gov deal, but Amelia seemed to like idol—VTuber Wakamo.
Eyes sparkled faintly at streams; post-meet, sanity somewhat returned.
In Antarctica, her labored "first penguin" thrilled immensely.
"Dirtied hands too much for niece, Leo. Let me protect."
Not god granting; mere helping weary soul.
More reason: wanted to make sparkling idol (VTuber).
Absurd reason, facing unbeatable existence.
No odds, no chance visible; idol losing, tiring, pushed back.
Why not quit? Some way? Reckless?
──But certain:
Unyielding tenacity till end births miracles.
"God, please guide pitiful child."
Intensifying fierce bloodbath.
Shockwaves reached city; lab collapsing.
Roads, buildings icing; hurricane, downpour like world end.
Godlike beings (idols) clashing within.
One girl's uncle fervently prayed.
Even if faith unreachable heaven, desperately to fighter before eyes.
"Uuuuuuugh──!!!!"
Fists clenched teeth-grinding tight, unleashed at Man Eater.
Focusing power to one point via [Idol's Light], endlessly punching repeatedly.
Fists shattering unable endure? Recreated heedless, slamming.
Casual swings, thrusting kicks lethally fatal.
【Idol's True Form】 unsustainable guarantee, brain-burning pain squeezing strength, yet gap stark.
Simply, no attack penetrated.
Like endless mana meaningless sans 【ether】.
'Russian Tower apostle too! Vatican Tower apostle too! Couldn't use 【ether】!'
Ether producible only by "climbers" ultimately.
American Tower's long-labored apostle; frail withered frame could one-shot Wakamo.
Each foot stomp deformed terrain endlessly via 【Tlaloc's Earth Power】.
Ground to swamp, sand, rifts canyons, cliffs rising.
Unshaken atop chaotically shifting earth, alternating attack evasion pushing.
Hurled javelins barely deflected by true form; spewed flames survivable externally, internally necrotizing plants.
Gales casually flaying flesh; creeping cold ice soul-chilling goosebumps.
"Uwehek!"
Forcing mana rampage backlash, Rias spewed black mana like blood from face orifices.
[Idol's True Form] fine; mind crumbling─concentration, mentality at limit.
Natural after ultra-focus death-brush combat.
Can't call Aska, nor Inari fox god—futile.
Then Olga, using same authority, or Adelheid minimally affected by Man Eater?
Pure capability gap slaughter. Foe too strong.
Even skill reflection possible? Worst for Adelheid.
"Huff, huff."
One more reason tilting odds.
Black mist aura enveloping wholly—[Obsidian Mirror] they formed.
Myriad Rias, Wakamo reflections therein.
[Precognition] viewing─thus all means blocked.
Hence this brute fight.
Future sight or possibilities? Class overkill—
All 【Man Eater】 culmination perhaps?
"This, infuriating enough to die!!!"
Clenching fists anew, unleashing at Man Eater.
Amid barrage, Man Eater now neither guarded nor skilled, walked toward Rias.
Horrific sight taking hits repeatedly, closing gap inexorably.
Unaware wall behind, retreat blocks end; but.
Rias roared charging instead.
Unexpected action; Man Eater's fist reflexively extended.
That hand targeting head slowed progressively approaching.
Long-lost flesh, yet existent body vividly sensing life.
Hobby post-climber, honed abused to martial pinnacle.
Body auto-techniquing sans thought.
──Legs thus, like tiger clamping jaws.
Wakamo's legs draped Man Eater's neck upper-jaw-like, opposite leg clamping maw-like downward.
Fist-touch-face instant [Liquefaction] fully fluidizing, flowing attack; hands gripped arms executing Taiji Fist.
Then detonating full-body counter!!
Kwangagagak──!!!
Mask shredded half crumbling off, Man Eater's arm grotesquely twisted snapped.
Gushing fresh blood─non-ether user shattering ether user wondrously.
Knee strikes, joint locks suppressing human frame, infiltrating body reversing foe's ether via Taiji compound techniques.
Leg pinning slammed Man Eater's neck ground, rear arms embraced coiled snapped.
Wrists, shoulders, elbows—and neck.
Forced rise crushes own joints.
"Huff… huff…"
─Just now, didn't use ether?
Precarious death-edge, keenly sensed something.
Enraptured faint sensation, Wakamo dazed.
Unconscious Man Eater eyes rolled back, other arm surged slamming ground.
Dodging soft-earth-passing fist leap, leg-caught Rias swung.
Leg torn tumbling brief─regenerated rising.
"[──Tough lifeline!!]"
Eerie voice burst from Man Eater's flesh.
"[Nati]!!"
Summon bear familiar beg time-drag.
One strike bisected Nati.
Soon, 【Human Sacrifice】 skill flaying Nati's hide donned, half-cracked mask-exposed mouth crammed chewed.
That skill origin of Wakamo's 【Tribute Receive】.
Instinct knew.
"[End this, Wakamo Inarizushi!!]"
[【Man Eater】 attempts ultimate 【Ometeotl's Power】!! Evade!]
Kwangagagak──!!
Energy pillar soaring visible even America's edge.
Earth quaking madly earthquake-like, Man Eater devouring ley lines, tower mana; whole body golden like true form Wakamo.
Seizing fainted Man Eater, [Tower Lord] forcing overkill skill.
Man Eater's skin tearing, face splitting, blood bursting.
Malice palpable to kill here somehow.
Evadable—but persistent faith aura behind, assumed taekwondo stance.
"Can… do… i… t…"
No energy speak, standing mere feat.
[Idol's True Form] recovery failing match exhaustion.
[Can't, impossible. 【Authority】 conceptual remnant; chooser-side, ugh─regrettable, end here?]
Russian Tower Lord condolences.
[Climber] fulfills ancestor authority conditions "choosing."
Legendary class molds vessel using authority post-condition.
But Wakamo, authority-less created, couldn't even "choose."
Irregular class nonexistent limit.
"Can… do!! I… t…!!"
[Past [Ascenders] essentially held all 【Concepts】 as authorities.]
Even prof Sebastian said. Like Sadako's [Alcohol] option.
All imaginable, reachable, sensible exist.
──Then what ancestors never experienced?
"[【Ometeotl's Power】──!!]"
Pure energy crystal.
Overwhelming mass crushing pulverizing 【authority】-derived devouring power.
Not melting disintegrating eroding, but erasing realm; Wakamo reared fist, pushing with [Idol's Karmic Flames].
All mana recovery mobilized, generating squeezing pushing.
But idol flesh unbudging even bugged burrowing ground, defeated power gap retreating.
「Honestly, future anxious worrisome. No path ahead, but path behind me?」
「Hesitating life won't shine, waste right?」
「Effort more receiving love. Want till can.」
「Effort alone hard, luck too, long fail possible, someone's memory?」
「Concert want, sing want─exciting no?」
VTuber quips flashing mind.
Graduated, striving, sadly departed.
Not always good memories.
VTuber negative images plenty.
Hobby-level arduous tiring painful path.
Anyone can, become desired.
Unchangeable birthright, self-chosen changeable.
Like 【dream】 right?
Higher sparkling dream star-like.
Unreachable idol (star) aspiration anyone can, challenge.
「──Song… pretty…」
Man Eater entranced Wakamo's VTuber stream.
Circumstances unknown, but Antarctica—eyes filled hope, thrill watching stream; rotten otaku clearly remembers.
"Like I'd let dream-stealing scum beat my beloved VTuber─!!"
Form maintenance strenuous──
[Ascender] [Climber] impossible.
Past towers no heal climbing wounds, death final.
Thus─
Thus thus thus!!!
"Can─!!"
Surging emotion excitement nonexistent heart throbbed resounding body.
"I─!!!"
【【Authority】-【Death】 activated!】
Fist-tip single point jet-black energy converged.
One flash.
Single pierce.
Thrusting straight punch unified idol one-fist purely crushed foe.
"[Creating authority─impossible─!]"
"Impossible nonexistent for VTuber, you fucking bastard!!"
Fury divine fist detonating at mask.
Black authority spread through [Man Eater] body, shattering utterly.
[【!@%^@#^)^%!@$!@$#!@#!@$)@$!@$#!@$@!#)!@#】]
Broken notification popped; rising labored Man Eater's pupils refocused.
─Only Wakamo Inarizushi vividly experienced 【Death】 reenactment.
"Told you, Amelia."
Dust scattering everywhere, black ash crumbling authority, vanishing black mist.
Amid, wretched pitiable form grinning coolly, idol called fan (believer)'s name.
"Won't die."
Standing mere brag bluff.
But after long ages reclaiming body, needed thrill the child.
Fan service for girl fan? Essential VTuber.
Far yonder, shouting Ben proxy, princess-carried Amelia.
"Cinderella pumpkin carriage spell then bye."
Far frantic approachers unexplained, fled to [Wakamo Layer].
Seeing awaiting Aska dashing urgently.
With that, how long since?
Fading consciousness, collapsed fainting.
【Authority】 once, really die huh.