Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: VR Zombie Apocalypse Collab
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Vroooom—
My name is Pipkin Mami, a 21-year-old rookie cop fresh out of police academy and assigned to the city precinct.
The day before my first day on the job, my boyfriend dumped me, so I drowned my sorrows in booze and ended up waking way past my shift.
-21 years old???
-That's straight-up shameless.
-Women wanna stay young forever.
-Go call the captain "big sis."
-Mutants count age differently?
-More importantly, who's the boyfriend?
-Iosif, probably lololol.
-"No need for a smoking boyfriend" kekeke.
"Aw, shut up!! Seriously! What am I supposed to do about my cop character?! How come I'm a cop even in this game? I'm so sick of it!"
Mami races toward the city in the police car. Being plopped right outside the city at the start was disorienting enough.
On top of that, even when she grabs the wheel, the car doesn't budge? She realizes she has to hit the pedal too and slumps to the floor.
"No way, is this some invisible superpower chair??"
-lololololololol.
-Normally you'd sit in the seat.
-I'm dying to see the outside view lolol.
-"Roughly: Mami floating mid-air with superpowers meme"
-VR gear performance is insane tho.
-Honestly, they said Sora would drop in 2024~
-Aha! NerveGear, right?!
-Fr fr lololol.
She drives diligently onward and spots a gas station, deciding to top off the tank first.
"Lemme see, objective: Survive for 7 days and hold out against the final wave to board the rescue chopper and escape. But this game's made by Capcom??"
-There's gotta be an underground bunker under the precinct~
-Leon's a New Humanity after all!
-Zombie games are their specialty lolol.
-Secret lab under the city for sure.
-Ending with nukes incoming?
-It's a humanity-doomed apocalypse!!!
"I know this game a bit—what if vehicles explode or something??"
Mami checks the ammo in her hip holster pistol and heads into the gas station.
Gen 0 stuck together because of scaredy-cat Wakamo, but Gen 1 and 2 are scattered solo.
Even Mami figures none of her fellow initiates would cower in fear at zombies, so no worries there.
She steps into the eerily empty gas station, eyes sparkling at the piles of food.
"No bag, so I can't carry much? Just stuff the trunk of the cop car!"
She busily gathers supplies but hits inventory limits, so she cracks open a cola to think calmly.
-Why cola over water?
-'Cause she's American.
-Even then, ignoring good food for snacks lolol.
"Gotta eat in the game at least!! Think idol figure maintenance is easy?!"
-The others don't bother tho?
"Bastard BITCH!"
-lololololololol.
-Local swears on point?
-Fuckin' slut, pounding that bitch lololol.
-But Mami, belly's all pooched out.
-She's at that age where she eats only veggies daily to stay fit.
-Auntie, don't get so mad, watch the blood pressure.
-Too old for idol life.
-What'd you just call our babygirls?
-Who the hell are you, fuck lolol.
"They're the weird ones!! 'Cause they're young? Why don't they gain weight?!"
Wakamo, Mei, and Kang Yeo-ul handle the members' meals.
They cook whatever you want, respecting preferences—but Mami's the stressed one.
"Iosif always lays out a huge spread and stuffs himself! Adolf just sips lukewarm water with biscuits and nuts?! One side's bursting at the seams, the other's like 'is this even human food?'—stuck in between, feeling like I'm grazing on grass—get it?!"
-Adolf likes sweets.
-Which Adolf we talking?
-Russians run on rice lololol.
-White Dragon's fuel efficiency looks trash~
-New Humanity ain't suited for American life.
-Just give up and gain the weight?
"Giving up means the President said he'd put me on a diet!! That's terrifying!!!"
-Wakamo-style diet (can't even imagine).
-Maybe she'll trim the fat without spilling blood?
-Scary 'cause it sounds doable.
-Might go full Baki hardcore diet.
-Guy falls off skyscrapers unscathed with normie body.
-So what're you grabbing?
"First off, crowbar for melee and Marlboro Reds."
-lololololololololol.
-lolololololololololol.
-lolololololol.
-Ah, can't resist smokes lololol.
"Manager! Grab the cigs from my pocket and hand 'em over!!"
-lololololololololol.
-Aw seriously lolololol.
-Wants that immersive realism.
-VR doesn't replace senses fully.
-lololololololol.
Click click—!
"Huu—ah, livin' the dream. Captain drinks on stream, so cigs are classy. Tough, harsh society—exhale the pain in white smoke—"
The manager actually hands her a cig, but with the VR headset on, she can't smoke it for real, so Mami just mimes it.
Grumbling inwardly about false hope served this way, she "smokes" and heads out—only to see the police car driving off.
"??"
-?
-??
-What?
"Wait!! Stop!!! Take me too!!! And that's MY car!!"
"Didn't they teach you in America that leaving keys in the car gets it stolen??"
"Who steals a damn cop car!!"
Mami watches Nanna brazenly peel out, draws her pistol, and fires.
It hits the tire, but the cop car keeps going even flat.
In a whatever-happens mood, Mami reflexively unleashes telekinesis—the car floats up.
"Eh? Why'd that work…?"
-Wow! Magneto!
-How tf??
-Ascenders can use skills here too?
-Captain used Lion's Roar to kill earlier lololol.
"…Why did that actually work?"
Curious if other skills work, she snaps her fingers—flames spark up.
She drops the car, teleports to the passenger seat, and aims her gun at Nanna's temple.
"Wrong mark to steal from, Ancient One."
"Damn, this real?"
-Fuckin' cool as shit lol.
-Like a movie.
-X-Men reboot?
-Apocalypse and X-Men? Ugh, brain hurt!!
-lolololololol.
-That won't work!!
"I'll drive, so buckle up first? I'm a pro criminal—what are you?"
"Meeting the most awkward person possible."
"Honestly, it's fun—ex-con vibes, officer?"
"That too! Criminal missy!"
In a way, Wakamo Corp's two most at-odds pair up in the cop car.
They hold back snide remarks since they gotta watch each other's red pills.
Thus begins the uneasy drive: a Six Freaks boss criminal and ex-special forces US cop.
On stream, gotta say something, but Mami has zilch for the shady Ancient One.
Unlike her, Nanna glances at the New Humanity girl, chatty.
"Godlike power, right? 'Will' projects anywhere— that's the power."
"Aha."
【Authorities】 are powers for those near-godlike.
No real limits even in VR, she says.
Not watching a monitor—it's like being inside the Tower, so perception influences it.
She kindly explains, eyeing the distant city.
"Know this? My era couldn't build cities this big. Imagine those barbarians with god powers."
"Rip out hearts for losing soccer?"
"Nah, for winning. Tribute to strong warriors. Rituals work here too?"
"…Don't say that on stream—stalkers or psychos might try."
"That's how vital 『Faith』 is."
Meaningless, impossible things exist casually in the Tower.
Nanna smiles, but Mami senses her mental waves tinged with fear and dread.
Bad memories from ruined cityscapes make her talkative reflexively.
Understanding her forced nonchalance to suppress anxiety, Mami hesitates then "lights" a cig.
"Well, sure, lotsa Ascenders go wild with power, but laws are strict too? Flip side, those types turn criminal."
"Mexico's the real deal~ True hellscape, you know? Heh heh heh."
Tower's been around ~12 years, yet human civ holds.
Ridiculous 【Authorities】 emerge, but from climbers' view, current humans wouldn't want 'em anyway.
Better snag 【Legendary Classes】, but their personalities? Risky.
Even good folks can snap into lunatics from Authority influence.
Thus, 【East Asian Federation】 must stay solid, exist without expanding.
Humans always lived with bombs underfoot, Tower or not.
"【Ascension Tower】—ignore it, periodic disasters wipe civs."
"Like this if you slack?"
"Nice, pre-gaming disasters is smart."
Wonder if serious talk fits a game stream, but Mami doesn't gripe.
They hit city entrance, fight shambling corpses that don't welcome 'em.
"Not fun? Wandering post-apoc content."
"—Did you make this game?"
"No way—if I did, human-shaped monsters would've popped by now."
"GRAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
A building-sized flesh lump shoves the car aside, bellowing.
Eyes and mouths dot the meatball, spewing human voices randomly.
Knowing it's not that genre, they glance at each other.
"New Humanity, jump!!!"
"Save your own skin, Ancient geezer!!"
Talk tough, but they bolt the same way like synced.
This jerk? Why follow me? They glare briefly—Nanna nags Mami.
"You got powers and a gun! Go fight!"
"Won't work."
"Oh, monster's using Authority?"
"Seems so."
"Wait, where's the quit button?"
-Manager, you tryna kill 'em for real?
-Why no quit button fr lololol.
-Helmet won't come off? This legit?
-Game bugged out finally.
-Lol promo ruined?
""KYAAAHHH!!!""
They scream-roll from flesh tentacle hurling the car.
Spot a manhole—they clutch each other's hair: "Don't let go!"
Freaky good teamwork, they dive headfirst gripping scalps.
"Whew, let's split."
"Good idea—what the—"
Monster ambush brief panic; tired of each other, Mami and Nanna try parting.
Flesh handcuffs bind their wrists. Yanking? No give.
Escape attempt backfires: limbs restrained, immobilized.
They stare silently at the cuffs on each other's arms.
Dead silence chokes—viewers dono romantic wedding BGM.
Dark sewer, fetid flow, corpse-littered, handcuffed duo.
Pink love-filled wedding march plays over 'em.
-lolololololol.
-Wtf situation lol.
-Say something, you two.
-Suffocating!!!
-Need current humans between Ancients and New Humanity.
Clatter clatter.
"Any trains here??"
"Do something with powers~ Pistol just decor?"
"You stole my cop car so I shot and got one bullet left!"
Bickering through dark sewers.
"—More than that, you call me New Humanity 'cause I hopped in?"
"Legendary Classes are basically all New Humanity, one exception."
Fulfilling [Conditions] plus vessel capacity— a set.
Managing Six Freaks and scouting potentials: Nanna's gig.
Aiba's uniquely special among 'em.
Race with special powers aside from Tower.
She signals Mami to mute stream.
"Past had more races, no common traits. Then boom—New Humanity born. They adapt Tower power best, ascend to idols—closest to gods."
Nanna shrugs: "Back then, anyway."
"Humans clasp hands at disasters, unknowns, sun/moon rises, desperation—seeking 【Gods】. Even sans concept, cried for salvation. That massive will birthed 【Ascension Tower】 one day."
"Sounds like I'm next-gen."
"No climb needed for special powers? Climb higher easy."
Tower [Realizes] all unconscious from human [Ether]: records, existences included.
Disasters force no-climbers in; climb for loved ones or godhood—Tower born from human wish for gods.
Pushes till humans become gods: one giant will.
"More populous than my era. Tower popping worldwide natural. Multiple Towers? Kinda success?
As long as humans need gods, Tower's eternal."
Wanna return to 【Ascension Tower】 or leave be—eventually becomes one or the other.
Nanna says limits like "climb to unlock" ain't arbitrary.
All humanity strong, resist future disasters sans Tower world.
"Keep birthing New Humanity like you, no Tower needed?"
"Humans special sans climbing?"
"Yeah, so let's struggle together? Before world gets this bad. Pizza?"
Strong Ascenders with much Ether linger as Authorities post-death.
Human souls make weak 【Ether】 each, but unified in 『One Wish』—transcends common sense.
Mami gets why Tower's below humans via Nanna's tale.
Current clueless climbers better off.
Nanna hands pizza "grabbed on way"—they flop in sewer corner munching.
Mami offers a cig.
"Gen 3: Pre-recruit obedient Legendary Class to raise?"
"Good idea, make junior run tablet errands."
Movie-like side-by-side smoking—viewers beg unmute.
Meanwhile—in modern Tower, potential new Ascension Tower.
Russian Tower Master, born from endless ancient human god-wish: Rusalka Anastasia ponders spear in hand.
"Crazy scientist lab's nearby!! Destroy it, wipe zombies—I'm sure!!!"
Iosif Khan's inexplicable conviction yell.
Mei Shaolongbao stuffs upper body in trash can: head hidden = zombies blind?
"Ooh—VR but look!! Rendering human blood like this, first time drawing people!!"
Lucia splits zombie head with shovel, paints with gore.
"[Hey, friends? Tell me where to run quick?]"
-Give up, no hope here.
-But Lucia's painting moving?
-Nah, met eyes, don't jinx.
-Rein in White Dragon freaking at outside monsters first.
-Bad Russia memories?
-Mei, closing eyes don't make enemies blind.
-Wtf do with these idiots.
"[Snap to it or die, can't trust seniors!]"
-Rusalka smartest lololol.
-Wisdom ON instantly.
-How teammates: soldier, artist, reporter lololol.
-Even I no zombie flicks know this dangerous.
-High schooler Rusalka's strength time!!
"[Anyway amaze~ Feels real Tower inside? Can summon stuff? Russia Tower unpopular af. Ugly freaks only... Now popular tho... Wanna build climbing Tower but no funds—why? Invest in beloved friends?]"
-Zombie lore but energetic af.
-Splitting heads cheerful scary, girl.
-VR? Difficulty lowkey lacking?
-Running zombies exist but not race?
-Should have survivor PVP kills.
"[Right? Too easy? Drop flesh monster I know—boom fun—]"
KABOOM.
【Russia Tower 87F Boss Monster: Babbling Fleshmouth appears!】
"[?]"
-?
-??
-This right?
"[Not the first day I hoped for...]"
Rusalka rips tentacle leg dodging boss screech.
Hiccups at overhead shadow, rolls—gun-toting Iosif charges.
Bullets shred flesh, boss writhes, flees twisting.
"You bastard! Boss, don't run! Fight!!"
-Size mismatch, total coward lolol.
-Anyone runs from bullets.
-White Dragon, wrong genre.
-No underground lab here!!
-Didn't watch drama, original?
"I'm confident in combat!! Beat anyone!!"
"Then handle this."
Lucia hides behind Iosif sudden monster.
"No, just atmosphere sketch—why real?!"
"MOMMYAAAAAHHH!!!!"
Mei bursts from trash, camera flailing at dark somethings.
Horror-fit painting materialized, moving—Mei shrieks.
"[Lucia! Wtf accident!]"
-Bro.
-Flexible dude, no accidents.
-Why collabs always chaos?
-Day 1 only, know?
"No, other paintings fine!"
Zombie-themed VTuber buddies for lore fit.
Lucia aimed cute horror collab merch, points at her art proudly.
"Grroooar"
[Zombie Wakamo] pops as monster.
Her joke sketch hyper-real.
"How—Iosif where?!"
"[Bailed, this guy—!!]"
Three dumbly gaze up: Iosif spreads wings, flies free—
Apoc world—belief in each other? Meaningless.
"No choice, I'll fight!! You two run!!"
Mei steels: Wakamo, so beatable! Raises fists.
Dunno how Wakamo spawns but confident!!
"【Die】"
Zombie Wakamo points, speaks.
"Pardon?"
BOOM—
Mei explodes, dies.
They stare down.
Something's very wrong.
"[Oh yeah, Tower summons Authority holders via records]"
"Like 60F idol?"
"[Lucia's art Authority + my Tower influence? Free spawn, game perk?]"
"Our daughter? Say mama!"
"Mama"
"No, she's doing it"
VTuber bite-proof? Zombie Wakamo wanders off.
Lucia sheepishly scratches cheek watching it munch zombies en route.
"Zombies lose reason usually?"
"[VTubers no bite even undead, guess]"
Impressively hardcore!!
"But where's it going?"
"[Learned from Korea Tower: Stick to strong!]"
"I'll zombie makeup you"
Can't win? Join—
Cute undead-dressed duo tails: "Anime said zombies can idol too!"
Meanwhile.
"Aska no trolling, smooth collab?"
"Aska's pumped, long group stream."
"Yeah yeah, what could go wrong?"
Gen 0 farms slow from hotel down.
Rare group collab, hyped.
Manager didn't pair Aska 'cause troublemaker.
Surely, no issues!
"This collab's a success!!"
Hopeful Pyret cheers.