Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Fox God VTuber Climbing the Tower
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"─Leave me be."
That was the [Mediator]'s response to the towers' concerns.
In the past, humanity wondered why the Ascenders met their end—and why she had to be the one to clean it up.
If the same events repeated themselves, could they overcome it this time?
Could humans become idols? Could they become gods?
An 【Authority】 carries the souls, egos, and personalities of those who once wielded its power—intensely imprinted within.
It was already akin to an entirely separate personality, a force too overwhelming for any single individual to bear.
Unless one was the "First," they wouldn't even realize they were being swept away by that obsession.
Of course, by now, those Authorities were little more than remnants.
"The number of climbers is growing, isn't it? Sometimes, the world needs a balance of power."
Wakamo Inarizushi's strength had surpassed excess, bordering on the absurd, and the erupting ether was influencing others, granting them power in turn.
Even knowing where this path might lead, the [Mediator] still held faint hope pinned on Wakamo.
"With that much power, she shares it with others, seeks no dominion, and cherishes her followers with genuine love. Could there be a finer king than her?"
So.
If a god must emerge, the [Mediator] desperately wished it would be her.
Another year drew to a close.
Ten years after the towers first appeared, followed by two intensely compressed years of turmoil.
The world shuddered and transformed at the whims of a single climber, resolving issues beyond even the [Mediator]'s control.
"In a world like a comic book with a protagonist, you'd surely be it."
The greed of the 【Black Tower】 and 【Humanity】 would plunge the world deeper into chaos.
The [Mediator] cherished peace and valued modern human civilization above all.
She felt a strange sense of fate toward someone with the same mindset, labeled an "Idol."
An irregular, utterly unbound by any category, unpredictable to all.
"Shine until the very last moment."
The towers gathered to watch the festival at "Wakamo's 2nd Floor."
And the countless people flocking there.
The festival had already begun, with VTubers performing in sequence across various stages.
Fans dashed about seeking their favorite oshi, snapping up near-limitless merch while chatting excitedly.
Major corporations and indie VTubers alike were invited to this week-long year-end VTuber extravaganza, free to do as they pleased.
"Man, she's something else."
Not content with raking in beastly sums and showering it on her followers, she was pouring it into actual VTuber ventures?
On top of that, she'd built factory zones in Russia, creating jobs while turning East Asia into a livable paradise.
"Hey, Korean Tower. She's really just a normie? Profile fraud?"
[The Korean Tower retorts that it lacks the intelligence to lie.]
"Tsk... No matter how you slice it, she's a real idol."
A fox goddess sealed away somewhere, now manifest in the world.
The [Mediator] shot suspicious glances at the Korean Tower, but got no answers.
[The Korean Tower hands the [Mediator] a massive sum from its recent earnings! Says no need to repay! Begs her to splurge wildly!]
"You aren't laundering money through me, right?"
[The Korean Tower asks if money can be laundered.]
"How the hell do I even teach this thing?"
Sighing, she decided to just enjoy the festival.
Meanwhile.
In the 【Tower of Babel】, entities bearing symbols of Nazi SS guards, their true nature unknown.
"That's the conspiracy theory's 【Final Battalion】!!"
"Robert! We can see that!"
"I get you're clueless, but Jackson!!"
"Why'd you call, Satanist!"
"Weren't there people who didn't even leave corpses?"
"Before that, one got trapped in Adelaide's gallery!"
Swapping artwork without notice? Possible with swap skills, sure—but suspicious.
Legendary classes could steal people too, and using corpses for swaps wasn't impossible.
But the issue was the mix: starting with 【Angels】, some left no intact bodies.
As an architect in [Six Freaks], Jackson knew of climbers slain without remains.
"The key point! They're all dead! And no successors!"
"Right!"
Truth was, if corpses could be revived, the [Guardians] wouldn't have bothered hauling a great demon from Switzerland.
They could've just used the first- and second-gen corpses! But the 【Authorities】 had passed on, making it impossible!
"Here's my theory. Don't 【Authorities】 retain strong echoes of past egos and souls? Maybe the Authority controls the dead flesh, making it move."
"Solid theory! So what do these moving corpses want?"
"Past towers were paths to ascension. If those obsessions, grudges (wishes), fixations merged into climbing the 【Tower of Ascension】—that'd explain their cooperation."
"Why?"
"Current towers differ starkly from the past. Even that Black Tower we met tried ousting rivals over territory."
Robert, versed in countless conspiracies, cautiously shared his deduction.
—And it was a guess astonishingly close to the truth.
[Guardians] hunted 【Legendary Classes】 as threats, while this Nazi group harvested 【Authorities】 from dead ones for processing.
Essentially, a shadow org puppeteered another shadow org from behind.
"Sigh, headache."
Xiao Liang, from a martial artist cabal that once aimed to upend China, griped at how relatable it was.
So, did the other side lack 【Legendary Classes】?
Or were they hiding among [Six Freaks]?
This explained who'd whisked away the [Humans] meant for Antarctica.
"If they're brazenly deploying a 'Corpse Legion,' they're signaling open ops ahead."
"Means the boss upstairs's corpse is worth risking exposure!!"
The Oracle's guess got a nod from the Satanist.
"Got it. Just beat 'em with Dual, right?"
The reluctant duelist understood zilch beyond her beloved oshi being threatened.
She'd ordered her summoned ★12 Iosif Khan to crush the charging Mujon.
Iosif Khan spread wings, soaring like ascension—only for Mujon to lightly sever them.
"What?!"
Severance unleashed a pure-qi blade aura as flying swords, hurtling at the party.
Not one, but five demon-qi flying swords forced Xiao Liang to hastily cloak his blade in demon-qi.
Swinging to deflect, the swords wielded techniques like gripped by hands, casually shoving him aside.
"Ahhk?!"
Strong.
One clash revealed an untouchable master.
Even Mujon's rampage in life, spewing demon-qi, hadn't felt this potent.
The refined subtlety in casual swings hinted at eons of swordplay, unimaginable.
"The corpse's stronger than living Mujon?!"
Mujon's corpse generated and absorbed ether via "Ether Generator."
No.
Gauti's known Mujon 【Authority】 exceeded expectations wildly.
Blade afterimages shredded Jackson's unblockable nails—even Wakamo couldn't.
Robert's bullets glanced off the blade, spun back into muzzles.
★12 Iosif Khan's dragon scales sliced like water.
Yet even Mujon dodged the Satanist's floor-kick hand-thrust with footwork.
"Damn, filthy fast!"
Satanist's devil pacts turned gestures to gold-dust bullets—touch corrupts to gold.
Mujon kept distance, unable to block.
"Haaap!!!"
Xiao Liang re-qi'd and demon'd his blade, charging boldly—but no clash; side slashed, he grimaced back.
Shoulder-slung Gauti left one arm free, yet Mujon dominated.
90th floor monsters poured, yet Mujon unilaterally pressed the party.
'This ain't human realm. Is a true martial god possessing Mujon's corpse?'
'Slayer of countless. My instincts scream it!!'
'Crazy mess... Insane?'
Xiao Liang wilted against ancestral swordsmanship; Satanist clocked massacre-honed swings and malice.
Jackson pondered pursuing as morale cracked.
"We dove too deep. Exiting the tower might prove tough."
90th-floor monsters—Korean Tower's evil amalgamations—swarmed from all sides.
Escaping Babel lacked margin, yet party trailed recklessly.
Mujon one-armed massacred monsters, clearing path.
A slight lag, they'd unload finishers for instant kill—but foe too strong.
Amalgam of ancients who slew rivals en route to godhood, now embodied.
Wielding 【Authority】 more perfectly than in life, it exuded lethal intent—gap means dismemberment.
"If no better ideas, I'll play our 'Trump Card' the moment we stop."
"Trump Card?"
The trailing duelist grumbled at losses but eyed resolute.
"Including tower hauls, my ultimate ace, forged at huge cost. Lifetime use only."
"I'll buy card packs cash if needed!"
"I'll invest too!"
Cash-flush Jackson, Xiao Liang pledged fortunes via contacts.
Only 【Satanist】, 【Duelist】 could face 【Mujon】.
Satanist's 【Golden Devil】 needed touch—Mujon severs arm, done.
Duelist's chants left fatal openings.
Foes would cleave blockers too.
But Mujon hastened, no leisure.
Thus, 97th floor.
"Buy time!! 【18 Types of Magic】!!"
"[Eh? What's this?]"
Awaiting: none other than Mei Shaolongbao.
Pale faces dawned why the reckless climb.
Gauti magicked; no-counter light pierced [97th Floor Boss].
Gauti sealed the hypnotized-staggering boss in 【Rune Letters】.
【Record of Tower of Babel's '97th Floor Boss Mei Shaolongbao' is erased.】
Message popped for all in tower.
"Boss taming?!"
"More like infatuation!"
"How many cheat skills does she have!!"
Blocked by 【Mujon】, they watched afar.
Gauti smirked victoriously, boss runed.
"—I activate skill [Harsh Cost]!! Randomly destroy 3 cards from my deck to draw 1 skill card!!"
High-cost cards shredded randomly—but prime ones.
Party winced.
Duelist gripped drawn card, eyes gleaming.
"[★3 Plunder] activate!!"
"Huh?"
Snatched 【Rune Letters】 instantly, pocketed in coat.
Strong luck drew next.
"Next, [★1 Forced Eject Device] activate!!"
No chance for Gauti; card expelled him from Tower of Babel.
Mujon vanished too; party collapsed.
No trump needed, but razor-close.
Who'd guess climbing 【Tower of Babel】 recklessly for Wakamo boss?
"...Towers summon Authority monsters on climb. Unknowns might make worst-case."
Collapsed Robert rasped.
Even Wakamo's inner circle knew not the summit.
But foes did.
"Prophet or something?"
Exasperated Oracle griped 2 sleepless days wrecked schedule.
No sleep, food, drink—2-day pursuit.
They'd blocked, report on descent—but...
—Late for year-end concert.
"Plus that kid glitched the tower—no exit, no entry."
"Sigh, party return card exists—if drawn."
Jackson's words drew earth-shaking sighs; Duelist shuffled draws.
No group-move escape from upper floors.
She inspected 【97th Boss】 item, used return card.
※※※
Ragged beggar-lookalikes appeared at festival.
Yung Wei supported near-fainting Xiao Liang.
"Don't let him sleep!" Threatened stimulants; Yung injected hastily.
Genuine intent to stab eternal grudge.
Rest chugged fatigue potions, recovery pots, buffs—rose.
Mad obsession to witness VTuber concert come hell.
Virtual lives, mega-corp otherworld idols passed.
Finale: 『Wakamo Corporation』 broadcast.
"Details post-show," exhausted lot sat, eyes stageward.
[【Idol's Dance Ban】 triggers special blessing!]
[Consume 【Broadcast Points】 for massive Luck boost!]
[Consume 【Faith】 for massive effect boost!]
[All hearing Idol (VTuber)'s song gain recovery, luck, blessings!!]
"Waa!!"
"What's this?"
"Insane─!!"
Pre-concert music alone spawned alerts.
Idol's devotion: body-wrecking blessings for fans.
—Worth it.
This year-end concert mattered deeply to Wakamo.
For 2-year fans, and fellow shining Idols.
As VTuber prez, how not cheer talents dancing, singing?
Wakamo's wealth allowed anytime—but memories sparkle brighter.
Implant heart-memories (stars) lighting dark days in believers' souls.
Scream hoarse, dance limp-legged, full-throated cheers sans restraint.
Smash hearts at beloved oshi; they dazzle starry dances in return.
"Hiya..."
Two white-masked golden foxes with 9 tails ascended, captivating with flashy instruments.
President Wakamo's guitar solo ignited uncontrollable beats.
Watching stage VTubers, [Mediator] thought:
Beautiful, shining for dreams amid unknown threats.
Year-end tower-climbers pondered:
World ain't movie-like. Wakamo oblivious to near-catastrophe.
But quenched before blaze.
Retrospect: Wakamo Inarizushi's idol charm rallied good folk?
Her goodness birthed Xiao Liang's party, resolution.
Unbound, wishing others joy in her passions—
Truly fit for "Idol."
'Worth the toil...'
Xiao Liang grinned at ancestor healed-by-music, smiling.
"Thanks for coming!!"
"Huamusi Phony!!"
"Everyone, blessings next year too!"
Next: 1st-gen Huamusi Phony full-group song, delighting all; Iosif Khan belted joyfully.
Not venting grudges—pure joy singing for masses, overflowing emotion.
'Ah—this justified it...'
No words needed.
Hot tears streamed Duelist's cheeks.
Oshi thrilled by cheers, smiling-dancing Iosif melted her heart-grudge.
Satanist, Architect couldn't dance but backed Lucia's instruments, grinning.
Mami centered flashy dance, English lyrics; finale: Lucia song, couple dance.
Pure joy, festival-high, fans roared at their rhythmic surrender.
"Ha, truly—insanely impressive now."
"Good work, manager."
"You too, producer."
Distant: Manager Wanda Hye, Producer Leah smiled warmly.
Conferring overtime for corp-VTubers' shows.
Wanda Hye, apathetic to VTubers, satisfied by joy.
Unimaginable pre-Korea scenery.
East Asia pacified by "Idol," masses singing-dancing happy.
Association Chair spectated quietly, drinking.
"Wish peace endures."
Hearing Robert's near-death report, Wanda Hye scratched head—next year tough.
—Wants peace, but world-stirrers abound.
Yet peace-lovers too.
Her charge, Idol (VTuber), unites-leads them.
Recalling first meet: "Always extraordinary," soft laugh.
Likely started then.
Wakamo unwittingly became shining star.
"Alright, let's go!!!"
Mare Pilot's blaze-year-end cry; suited Mei Shaolongbao leaped.
Prez-staff suited; members: Asuka's idol awakening outfits.
Varied ok—but family bound, helping-living.
Thus, all donned Asuka idol garb onstage.
2-year idol polish blazed stages.
Hyper Mei dashed; Asuka hype-jumped cheers.
Front: Ichigo guitar-danced; Pilot karate-master drums unleashed.
"Best, our Ichigo─!!!!"
Xiao Liang, qi-deviation be damned, joy-screamed blood-vomiting.
"Sis loves Ichigo so, die happy!!" Desperate cheers.
Duelist matched, blood-spewing glowstick frenzy-dance.
Architect, Satanist sang along, uncontained hype—humanity's frenzy-loss proof.
"Best, our niece─!!!!"
"Euhhk"
Aged duo wept snot.
Adorable twin idols onstage.
""We're 2nd-gen Double Stars!! Everyone~ having fun~?""
Maya, Rusalka cutely danced-sang.
Mother-aspired, unyielding dreams; ruined faces ok—Idols (VTubers) enable impossible.
Enable choices, become desired self—that's VTuber (Idol).
Maya beamed angelic joy, full-effort song-dance.
"Yes!! This!! Happy endings rule!!!"
[Mediator] teared, throat-hoarse cheering girl's tragic shine.
Korean Tower-side: Chinese, Japanese Towers hyped Russian Tower debut, alert-spamming.
Hottest duo's song swelled fan bliss.
Finally, all Wakamo Corp VTubers onstage.
Bold company anthem reveal, synced dance-song.
Year-end unforgettable concert raced finale.
"Worth it."
Cola-sipping Robert recalled US Wakamo meet, smiled.
World-changer? Her.
—With happiness-spreading smiles.
Dance, sing, timeless sparkle captivates.
Wakamo VTuber-deep, aid averted disaster.
Sky-stars dazzle darkness away.
Unknowing, her shine reshapes world.
Wakamo Corp's Year 2 curtains fell.