Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: Real-Time Antarctic Update
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Guardian, please don't get mad and listen.
Why would there be an attack at a time like this?
Normally, secret organizations would hide or plot world domination, but.
If you knew this, the Führer would be heartbroken.
Let's face reality.
-No way, these idiots get nerfed and charge right in?
-They're so used to it they're too lazy to even respond lololol.
-Asuka's face when looking at these morons, fix that expression.
>More importantly, why's Asuka's hair like that?
>She said she's too lazy to wash it.
>VTubing's making her live too easy.
>Fr lololol.
The lunatics known as the "Guardians"—who don't even know the organization's name and just call it something like the 【Final Battalion (Nazis)】.
They long to return to ancient times, alongside the 【Towers】 and their lords, and the [humans] once called Ascenders, and the Black Tower—and sigh, anyway, there are a ton of them.
There are even theories that they might have been quietly investigating history and biding their time even before Nanna made the Tower appear in the modern era.
Their true identity remained airtightly secret until Wakamo exposed it.
They had taken over the U.S. government, dominated the military brass, and lurked in the shadows, influencing Germany and even—China.
If things had gone according to their original plan, they would have used the "Guardians" to kill off the Legendary Classes, recover their corpses, and revive the "Will of the Ascenders" that wields 【Authorities】.
Why go to such lengths?
The [humans] might no longer be able to use Authorities.
After all, the only remaining Ascender in the modern era is [Nanna Chronos].
The truth is still unknown, but they had been preparing for an incredibly long time.
At least a minimum of ten years—using [Costs] to make the Tower produce things that don't exist in the world, then researching them to advance technology.
They could turn humans and Climbers into monsters, resurrect corpses to fight, and even artificially create ether, the power of human souls.
It was possible because the Towers and humans were openly forming a united front.
They shared aligned goals to some degree, so they pooled their strength and hid, waiting for the right moment.
Think about how the 【EU Federation】 was born after the Vatican and Italian Towers collapsed and the German Tower swallowed them up.
Even with [Records], do you think hiding the Vatican Tower perfectly without getting caught was easy? Dodging the Mediator and other Towers' eyes?
Rather than calling the Vatican Tower's plan to disguise and deceive the 【Legendary Classes】 perfect, it's more accurate to say the surrounding Towers used them as "scapegoats."
And that makes sense—they showed the U.S. Tower possessing Man-Eater Amelia's body and "controlling" her, just like how the Vatican Tower took the Pope's flesh.
It looked smooth on the surface, but unimaginable dangers lurked in the deep abyss!!
And they failed.
They became a laughingstock, with no fear or terror toward them.
Even trash groups that leech off human rights donations wouldn't side with them.
Nazi revival, inhumane experiments, mass slaughter, artificial Tower collapses, etc.—governments around the world, including the U.S., declared them enemies of humanity.
Compared to that, the [Six Freaks] were just a Legendary Class alumni reunion.
Second-gen Legendary Classes got invites and chatted lightly about the vibe, and Wakamo even mentioned it on her VTuber stream.
It was only recently revealed that they were a "leash" to control those with "overwhelming power" and "excessive uniqueness" from crossing lines.
Anyway—.
Do you know there's still 【one perfect secret】 in this world that's completely guarded?
Even the Mediator knows Wakamo's class is 『Idol』, and that her true identity is a regular person.
—But only the Korean Tower knows her class is Idol (VTuber)!!
For a VTuber, the red pill is like a sacred promise that must be kept—the Korean Tower shared info while hiding it as much as possible.
They even made sure to show the Mediator Wakamo's idiotic act of revealing she's a VTuber, to the point no one would believe it even if it was written down.
The Korean Tower, which learned from watching Wakamo, is cunning enough not to fall behind other Towers.
—Everything except that has completely leaked.
Thanks to this nerf patch, the Towers thought Wakamo lost her stats, attack skills, and strength entirely.
And the Final Battalion, backed by the Towers, thought the same.
It was a direct penalty from the Towers' sniping— no matter how strong Wakamo was, they were certain she'd be massively weakened by the constraints.
How could they doubt it? The Towers nerfed her directly and even announced how.
And through that nerf, Wakamo received a direct buff from 『Idol』.
However, don't forget.
Wakamo's class is a insane one that throws everything away to "produce Climbers," fulfilling conditions with a "death" penalty attached.
It has no advantages beyond mass-producing Climbers, and now it gained an Idol-worthy "buff for followers" effect.
And here's where the peculiarity kicks in.
Wakamo has buff skills—surprisingly many support-type skills.
But.
Those skills are made solely for one being.
To maximize buff effects, they impose conditions as constraints, pushing performance to the extreme.
Yes, Wakamo is 『Idol』.
Precisely, 【Idol『VTuber』】.
All of Wakamo's VTuber support skills became incomparably stronger than before.
Before, it was things like chronic illnesses not worsening, no minor ailments, less meds needed, faster recovery, less depression.
Now, chronic illnesses are cured, mental strength maxed for overflowing vitality, skin regressed to 17-year-old levels with boosted recovery.
Even worn-out joint cartilage regenerates naturally—the buffs are that strong.
And one more peculiarity of Wakamo empowers it.
The faith and belief of supporting humans, the worship Climbers send to the Idol.
Each 『human soul』 forms her mana gauge.
Mana increases proportional to believers—practically made of human souls.
No ether exists, but the mana itself is imbued with believers' wills.
Even if an 【Authority】's ego exceeds 10,000, Wakamo's buffs have at least 70 million believers.
Not a level mere grudges could handle.
Wakamo Inarizushi provides massive buffs in exchange for being "limited" to VTubers!!
※※※
"[Humans must not be killed, Wakamo said.]"
Her outer garment flows off lightly.
Her skeletal arm, skin and bones only, is covered in horrific scars.
A Man-Eater wearing a mask with sharp thorns protruding like fox ears grips a weapon.
It's an obsidian-bladed thing, a vicious tool for killing humans.
"[But you're not human──!!!]"
Just swinging her arm back pulls in the self-proclaimed Ascenders with the wind, unable to even stand.
No [mana] dwelled in any of her actions.
But it didn't matter—just clenching her fist makes the air tremble.
How strong is strength over 9,000?
Even with agility stats breaking four digits, it felt like the world stopped.
A Man-Eater who destroyed countless Towers, killed Climbers as a puppet by the U.S. Tower and Guardian's will, against her own.
Even berserking, losing reason, rampaging—no one could handle the strongest Climber.
She swings her sword horizontally; even without touching the ground, the wind pressure shreds the snow.
Frozen earth is gouged, invisible wind becomes formless shockwaves crushing foes.
Violent atmospheric pressure crushes down.
Squeezed between gravity and air, they tremble like they're about to flatten.
"[Aaaaaah──!!]"
"[Reflex Shield]! [Reflection Shield]! [Counter]! [Self-Inflicted Bind]!!"
A shield-bearing Climber activates item skills and counters simultaneously.
Shield clashes with Man-Eater's blade—obsidian shatters, her arm bounces back.
The shock on the shield should pierce the Man-Eater as a blade—but.
Using the rebound, she spins, her returning slash smashes the armor's side without giving time to block.
Craaaang—!
Metal armor tears; the person inside screams like a hamster flung by a child, tumbling wildly.
Not bisected only because of high climbed floors and top-tier gear.
Plus, their mental strength let them fight enduring the Man-Eater's ferocious aura.
—It wasn't something mental strength could overcome, but they had countermeasures for facing Man-Eaters.
Yes, of course.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!!"
Being able to see [stats] means seeing [gear] too.
They figured out Hajime Ichigo lacks a cloak with [ranged immunity].
They knew Aoi Asuka was a typical [Wizard] type.
With the U.S. Tower Lord who made Man-Eaters, they prepared nearly 100% countermeasures, exuding confidence.
They trusted command's word that the 『Idol』 who lost stats and attack skills entirely was a paper tiger.
They even planned to induce berserk, let her slaughter allies wildly, collapse her mind from shock, then subdue and recover her—happy plan.
Man-Eaters can't distinguish friend from foe, or even maintain their own ego.
That's the fatal penalty for such immense power, the irresistible impulse.
【Man-Eaters】 are ultimately the Tower's executioners, inevitably puppets following Tower orders—no need for ego.
But what happened?
She's maintaining ego fully, fighting with reason intact.
She tilts her head to dodge arrows from hidden blizzard allies, leaps over traps without stepping on them.
A downward slash splits Antarctic earth, bedrock flips under force, surging skyward.
She cleaves flying bedrock chunks like water, no resistance, sword effortless.
No technique or skill in her sword—just sensing enemies and swinging, simple brute force.
That's why they could block with shields, dodge, deflect, and endure.
'If plan A, we'd make her lose reason, go full stealth for covert movement, distance ourselves, and watch!'
Without distinguishing allies, she'd naturally hunt nearest humans once enemies vanished.
China's pesky child emperor should've been mincemeat by now, as planned.
Piiiuuung──!!
Flamethrower grenades arc down around the Man-Eater.
Induce fear, hallucinations, loss of reason and judgment.
Spray drugs mixing reagents for "drug buffs" turning her into a berserker.
Inhaling should've made her rampage more—but.
"Oh, berserker drugs."
"Doesn't drinking make your head dumber?"
"It's fine, no room to get dumber."
Asuka and Ichigo in range just traded jokes.
They get "stat boost" but no other stat drops or penalties.
Thanks to Wakamo's class-exclusive 【Healthy Broadcast】 boosting health and immunity.
Plus 【Sturdy Broadcast】 raises recovery, durability of muscles and bones—even normals get Climber-level strength (VTuber only).
Then 【Happy Broadcast】 grants resistance to all mental abnormalities, keeps healthy.
"[Mad Wraith's Wail]! [Banshee Howling]! [Horrific Ghostly Scream]!"
Self-proclaimed Ascenders blast Man-Eater's mind with whistles, skills, magic, items.
But even her 【Authority - Cannibalism】 was overwhelmed by Wakamo's believer count.
No puppet-like forced movement, no tormenting demon whispers.
Crystal clear mind, moving by her own will.
—The promise from Producer: "You can become the self you want to be."
"You monster bastard!!!"
"[I'm not a monster.]"
She closes gap instantly on fleeing stealth foe, leap-punches shattering shield, grabs head, slams to ground.
"[Maya Kinichi, VTuber.]"
Beyond wiping 20+ members instantly, she routed them—mask and sword vanish naturally from her face.
Combat-spawned armament, usable without [mana] since it's an Authority, [ether]-wielding class.
Existence of pure unfairness.
Her gaze slowly scans motionless fallen foes as [VTuber Form] overlays naturally again.
Wakamo's illusion bounced off due to overwhelming power—even with buffs!!
Ichigo hands over cocoa loaded with sweet cream to such Maya as "good job."
"Wanna drink cocoa?"
"Mm!"
"Tasty!"
-Lol, foam mustache is adorable~
-Suddenly tiny, wtf?
-Ah, you don't know? It's VTuber form.
-That form is mercy to enemies.
-Transforms up to 3 times to keep scaredies maintaining?
-No one lasts 3 transformations gg.
-Info) Guild leader risks life too.
-She was #2 sans reason lololol.
Wakamo Inarizushi's voice actor prowess is legendary—no one unaware.
Including teaching Emperor Ichigo alchemy and more, 『Wakamo Corporation』 VTubers are famous for strength unbound by "class."
Nanna personally saw it as one massive 『clan』.
Operating like Ascenders rearing heirs to climb Towers.
Wakamo never intended it, but "producing Climbers" mirrors Ascenders—her class a revived archaic relic in modern times.
Even worse, stripping relic advantages for pure Climber production.
She created a Man-Eater maintaining "reason," fully self-controlled.
Pre-nerf, Maya endured somewhat to keep ego.
Post-nerf, full power without Authority sway.
Unintended, but viewers mistook it as ignoring class's ironclad penalty.
"Pueh! Sniff— viewers, look. Our Maya's so cute and strong."
"Maya got praised!"
"Ugh, you fluffballs."
Came to Antarctica just to see penguins, but Guardian-or-Nazi-remnants thought "godsent chance!" and charged.
Ichigo and Asuka came without [gear], near-naked sans weapons, super defenseless.
Yet they got utterly wrecked as always.
Self-judged or calmly assessed odds—who knows.
Without knowing Wakamo's class truth, no hope for them.
Rather, probably fuming "How do they know to thwart everything?"
No intent to understand villain hearts—Ichigo wipes Asuka's boogers, feeds Maya well-toasted marshmallows.
'You guessed Tower collapse?'
Antarctica's only ruined Tower in human zone.
—But if they collapsed that?
Took collapse-spawned monsters somewhere? Or unknown tech?
"Damn... bitches..."
"Heavens!! Ichigo!! He's alive!!"
"Human lifelines are tougher than thought..."
-Always these guys survive for revenge.
-Split their skulls properly?
-Still come back after.
-Climbers ain't human ffs lololol.
"With this...!! All or nothing!! Wait for you in hell first... disrupting the grand plan... cough, I'll get you here..."
"Grand plan! Asuka knows wuxia well! Next up demonic cult or blood cult!"
"It's a dying wish, take it seriously. What novels you reading?"
"Obviously Volcanic Return and Mukhyang."
-Wtf dude?
-Ah fr lololololol.
-Wuxia nerds getting owned today.
-Say that before Emperor?!
-Golden Guards do something!!!
-Asuka's the Golden Guard.
-Imperial family's doomed lololol.
-Miss Wakamo.
-? What's that on the horizon?
Last survivor's curse-like final words.
All-or-nothing despair yell, but no suicide—eyes open, clearly dead.
How to kill here? Puzzled, but viewers reacted—not on-site VTubers.
Asuka casts [shamanism] first on "something behind."
Gigantic nine-tailed fox races over Antarctica, jaws wide to bite foe.
Pops like a balloon, anticlimactic.
《Ascension Tower's ■■ Floor Boss 【Child of Selene】 @!$!%!% due to Tower collapse》
Huge build, long mane—『lion』 that shouldn't be in Antarctica stares, approaches.
Shackles on neck and four legs—snapped.
Where from? Hard to see through snow, but from "passage" rising from ground.
Ichigo draws gun instantly, aims, pulls trigger—but.
『All human-made weapons ineffective against [Child of Selene].』
『Prove strength on path to godhood with your own power alone.』
『If impossible, perish for another Ascender.』
Extreme "voice": win or die.
Not modern language Ichigo knows—Nanna Chronos's occasional archaic tongue.
Understandable but unknown; Ichigo furrows brow, trigger frozen, won't pull.
Finally draws 『Caliburn』, throws—but bounces off futilely; Ichigo shows dismay.
They hoped.
For a monster current Climbers can't beat.
Monster past Ascenders died to.
If this era's Towers read [Records], they read remnants.
From that, "demigod from the moon" born.
《Influence of Ascension Tower weakens power of modern Tower-affiliated "Climbers"!》
Black shards in lion's flesh—Tower parts.
Tower itself sacrificed to become monster? Unknown.
"Not a penguin."
Maya openly disappointed.
But Tower-collapse monster ahead?
Kill it, penguins return to Antarctica.
[Korean Tower asks what situation this is.]
《Ascension Tower targets Towers that forgot purpose.》
Ichigo, pinned between Towers like a human, casually finishes cocoa.
Whatever, meaningless—resigned; Asuka clasps hands behind back.
《Time has come for Ascension Tower to fulfill duty of forging gods anew—vast earth for climbers, it declares!》
【Child of Selene】 looks urgent, like asking if scheduled.
Climbers know how hopeless Towers Ascenders climbed.
[Weapons] [skills] useless = near-naked fight—what's the difference?
Against Ascension Tower's demigod, another Tower sends executioner.
Strictly, executioner side closer to summoning own master.
Tower executioner slaying countless Ascenders, priest following Tower will, offering tribute.
No matter how strong 【Man-Eater】, U.S. Tower Lord wasted all tributes gathered to kill Idol.
Ascension Tower certain small-nation Tower can't support vs. 【Child of Selene】.
[Korean Tower supplies tribute (Cost) to Tower executioner!]
"【Mask of Mictlantecuhtli】"
Tribute provided, Man-Eater dons "real" mask.
Korean Tower confidently flashes black card.
[Korean Tower advises: dunno what, but hit it first.]
Fox skull-carved twisted grotesque mask.
Sunken eye sockets glow with madness-expelling light.
Vatican has saintess, law of champion guarding her.
Korean Tower has Idol, so priest guarding her.
No sword drawn.
Lion charges roaring at her wholly changed aura; she grabs jaw, slams to ground.
"That movement, no way."
[【Man-Eater】 activates [Warrior God's Body] via 【Dance of Consciousness】 effect!]
Just standing warps scenery with heat haze.
Korean Tower tosses light 10 mil Cost, momentum surges.
With 『Idol (VTuber)』's brutal nerf, reborn Man-Eater kicks off shoes, bares feet in stance.
Skill pulls martial artist's moves from memory at 120%+.
"[Scared? Unbelievable things happening before your eyes?]"
She claims utmost sensitivity to fear.
Ascension Tower panics: this can't happen.
"Like I felt before, fundamentally, the org lacks unity."
Ascension Tower inevitably causes issues.
Ichigo shakes head at Tower possessing lion's body.
Ascension Tower ultimately wants "one" at the top.
This era's Towers want "many Climbers."
No need to ask which communicates and unites better.
"Plus, if U.S. Tower Lord's doomsday weapon, it works on other Ascension Towers too, right?"
Ichigo's word pierces truth like a dagger.
Nothing flimsier than "common enemy" alliances.
Roaring lion lunges; silent Man-Eater's roundhouse connects.
Executioner that cornered even Wakamo to 【Death】 brink.
Full intent to kill—lion vanishes beyond splitting horizon.
"Aftermath how?"
What sin did Antarctica commit.
Asuka calls master first.