Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Fanatic Invasion
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"[Special Kit. Target reaction?]"
"Yes, she didn't kill him."
"[So the no-kill policy is real?]"
It was a sort of "morality test" carried out using a man among the climbers who had a criminal record, though few such people existed.
There was no flaw in his personality or character whatsoever—so how would she react to someone trying to kill him?
They had already figured out in Shanghai that even a sword to the head wouldn't kill her, so they had boldly gone through with it.
They were also confident the U.S. side wouldn't catch them.
"[Terminate the situation.]"
The climber known as SCAT—nicknamed the Special Kit—a "Legendary Class" member of the special climber tactical team hidden among the other climbers, replied in the affirmative and melted naturally into the crowd, vanishing from sight.
Without the target even noticing she was being watched.
Their existence was one of the U.S. military's top secrets.
In the U.S. Special Operations Command classification system, transcending Army, Air Force, and Navy, this Tier 1 unit—the largest special climber force in the United States—had been established due to the emergence of [Climbers], a new breed of superhumans. They were already lurking here and there in this very place where Wakamo was, observing her.
A superhuman too perfect would naturally arouse suspicion.
It had been justifiable self-defense, so even if he had died, she wouldn't have been held accountable. Still, the U.S. side desperately wanted confirmation that she truly adhered to a no-kill policy.
On top of that, they hadn't been able to gauge her true intentions—whether she aimed to go beyond the East Asian Union to something like a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
What was her ultimate goal?
With countless followers, openly broadcasting her climbs to flaunt her strength, allying China and Japan—how grand a picture was she painting, and what objective was she pursuing? As the world's policeman, the U.S. needed to know.
They could never suspect that she had no grand scheme at all—that she was just a plain citizen content with her VTuber streams.
They even thought her tantrums about wanting VTuber merch were all for show!
Japan and Korea had allied with the U.S. to check and contain China and Russia.
The majority of Russia's government officials had turned radical, reclaiming territory lost to monsters to build power and influence—this was what the U.S. feared most.
While wary of Russia's seemingly insane moves, they were supporting China's autonomous regions to suppress it—when suddenly, a superhuman dropped from the sky and formed an East Asian alliance of China, Korea, and Japan.
There were opinions that since she wasn't outright hostile to the U.S., maybe accept her as a Five Eyes ally.
But treating the three-nation bloc that had seized Asian hegemony like the EU—with moderate exchanges—was the U.S. judgment.
China had lost much of its former might, and even united, the three posed no threat to the U.S.
In truth, the most unstable and dangerous element was the single climber: Wakamo Inarizushi.
She wasn't some twisted pervert like the Six Freaks, nor a conservative mainstream group.
They pretended to welcome her warmly, but from the moment she arrived at the airport, they had been surveilling, wiretapping, and eavesdropping nonstop.
They gathered intel through U.S. agents dispatched to the Climber Association in Korea—but she seemed purely focused on her VTuber streaming career, making it hard for the U.S. to read her intentions.
Buzzing back and forth between China and Japan, exchanging with the new Chairman and Japan's top climber—what was she up to?
The Asian girl she traveled with was rumored to be of Chinese imperial blood, with whispers that Chairman Yung Wei would crown her empress—adding to the unease.
Was the era regressing?!
The U.S. was still a superpower.
As self-appointed world police, Wakamo Inarizushi was a climber they could not overlook.
Thus—the U.S. was even considering assassination.
Of course, only if things reached the absolute worst.
※※※
"[For now, the subordinate who tried to assassinate Wakamo before might be a follower sent by the Six Freaks. Or maybe even a Chinese government plant.]"
"Hmm~"
"[The Six Freaks have a tendency to observe outstanding climbers. You were targeted in Germany before, right? The U.S.... well, since we're pro-U.S., they won't go after your life for now. But you never know what those guys might do.]"
The climber who suddenly picked a fight had aimed for her head.
Seeing the incoming bullet, Wakamo thought, Not Mana Burn? No need to dodge, and just took it.
Even she thought, Damn, I've drifted far from humanity.
She had half-lost her reason and snapped when they nitpicked her VTuber stuff to get under her skin.
It had punched a hole in the ceiling, but Robert laughed it off as fine. The climber with mangled limbs hadn't died either, so he was safely carted off in an ambulance.
Only after things calmed did oddities start registering one by one.
From the schedule suddenly advanced by three months, to the climber waiting at the entrance like he'd been lying in wait, grabbing at words to start trouble.
Robert said the guy caused frequent issues, but he wasn't the type to kill in the middle of a city.
Yeah, no sane person blasts someone's head in downtown, right?
"[The U.S. monitors the world via the Five Eyes alliance. They probably caught our fight via satellite, so some factions are wary of your strength.──And when they learned the schedule was advanced, U.S. Christian groups calling Wakamo an 【Evil Symbol】—thus a Six Freak to be exterminated—started radical protests.]"
"....Uh...."
"[To minimize damage to U.S. climbers, they split the schedule on purpose.]"
"What about the people living here?"
"[Exactly.]"
No, if you say that, what am I supposed to do?
China hatred was bigger than expected, and with rumors Wakamo Inarizushi was Chinese, Yung Wei warned her to be careful. He was swamped running the new Chinese government, so she understood he had no time to help.
Even knowing this, with Wakamo already in the U.S. attending the gathering, what could she do?
"Seems like forces planning to terrorize this climber gathering. U.S. side sent us intel."
"Haaa....."
Was living a normal VTuber life impossible?
Maybe hole up and never go abroad again? But she had to handle Russia eventually.
Plus, a U.S. VTuber concert later—she had to attend, right?
"Middle Eastern Islamists are saying the Tower is an idol and Wakamo must die."
"No way.... I'm just quietly living my life...."
"U.S. religion is mostly Protestant. Know the Bible Belt? Evangelical stronghold in the South.... That's why Wakamo's existence is... problematic."
She just wanted to stream VTuber quietly.... She never asked to be an idol....
The suffocating frustration wrinkled her face.
She'd been holding back, but her patience limit was creeping up.
"Thanks... for telling me."
What could she do? The world wouldn't let Wakamo live quietly.
Excluding the sudden shooting, the climber gathering had been peaceful.
Yu Ying was eagerly shopping for guns and gear with Aska. Somehow, Aska toted mysterious machine parts, grunting.
Meanwhile, Sadako had zero interest in the gathering—but as the Sword King's daughter, she was surrounded, chatting away.
Yeah, pointless worrying just tires the mind.
She decided to check the pamphlet for the gathering schedule Robert gave her.
Invited singers performing, parties in the hall, auctions, even spots for climbers to date enjoyably.
What to call it... elite leisure?
Climbers earned big, so it fit.
Climbing cured drug addiction too—hence legal drug sales. Wakamo shook her head at America's absurdity.
'Haa...'
The U.S. saw the Tower as Jesus's grace from transcendent beings. A beast-god idol worshipper? Heretics to judge—made sense.
"Fox God miss, you okay? Even cuter now! Like my daughter!"
Her size stood out, so shrunken Wakamo squatted.
Robert offered candy; she thanked him and took it.
"No extremists protesting?"
"Ah... worried about that? U.S. government advanced the schedule by three months for it. For you, miss. Outside the city, idiots with torches rant about burning heretics, outdated nonsense. But don't worry? Would the U.S. let a foreign climber get hurt?"
If he said so, no worries.
Climbers around Wakamo showed interest but respectfully kept distance.
Even here, VTuber streams were her solace in this harsh life.
How did Wakamo's lot get so pitiful...
"Wakamo, planning to join the auction?"
"Not really interested.... Find anything wandering?"
"About this incident. Rumors of U.S. climber special forces involved. Climber with mind-control ability has been whispered about for ages. Might be real."
"Wow... brainwashing? Hypnosis?"
"Alcoholics immune via [Skill]. Me too—so highest chance they'll approach Yu Ying to sway you."
Ah—so that's why he stuck to Yu Ying all day, on high alert.
Sadako looked fragile but had skills and steel mental resistance to all mind skills.
For me.... probably works, but unknown how on my main body and Mei split-self.
Her ego judgment as Wakamo/Mei?
"Anyway, no issues is good? Vatican calls you peace-bringer to Asia. That's enough."
"Want to acquire a [Skill] with spare stats? Okay?"
"Hm? This one? Seems fine. Yeah, learning more never hurts."
Granted Aska's request, bought the skill, petted her head.
The AI VTuber dreaming grandly of streaming harder for influence pulled out a graphics card to brag.
Wakamo, computer parts expert, was a noob to the "real" deal?
"Tower mana stone tech, new-era CPU! Amazing compute power! Price 700—"
Bang!
Crash.
Aska's CPU shattered, scattering.
"Terror!!"
"Where'd these guys come from!!!"
"Above! From the sky bridge!! Engage!!!"
The ceiling crumbled like blocks; climbers poured from a sudden sky bridge.
Cross-emblazoned clothes stood out—they aimed guns, threatening climbers.
"Drop weapons and prone!" Hesitant climbers ducked.
One brave climber charged—white full-plate paladin's warhammer sent him flying one-shot.
"I am Andrew Jacklin!! Paladin upholding God's word, Inquisitor slaying evil!! Bewitching foreign idol of deep-faith humans, receive divine punishment!!!"
"Miss! Run!"
"That the lunatic Robert mentioned?"
"Famous nutjob! Claims God's apostle!! Extreme Christian terror group!"
"Not Six Freaks?"
"Vatican excommunicated those guys."
"Total mad dogs!!"
Robert explained they weren't Six Freaks level but had bases across vast U.S. territory, building followers—biggest southern headache. Some god-worship groups had forces even military couldn't touch.
"That guy's a lunatic who conquered four Towers!!!"
Opponent was monstrously strong.
Claiming God's apostle, he fed the hungry, converted U.S. homeless to followers, gathered criminals—for Tower-climbing zealot army. U.S. rank 5, Robert yelled fearfully.
"See that sky bridge? Doris J. Jackson. Has to be! 『Architect』 class—U.S. Six Freaks. Tower demolition terrorist!"
So... Six Freaks used anti-idol Christian zealots to kill Wakamo.
Absurdity had limits—but the unsupported sky bridge convinced her.
Opponent was non-combat Legendary Class like Wakamo.
"Aska! Grab Yu Ying and Sadako, evacuate! Robert! Aska to you!"
"No, you.... fighting? They came to kill, but U.S. won't sit idle!! Reinforcements soon—hide...."
Right—all correct.
No need to fight.
But fury-boiling Wakamo watched zealots swarm, patience snapping.
"Cleanup's on the U.S."
Unsettling.
Sudden chill, like temperature drop.
Climber Robert recognized it as Wakamo's [Mana].
Her suppressed emotions whipped the mana wild—his vision reddened, cold sweat.
Sweet girl—but truly [Fox God]?
U.S. rank 5 eyed her unleashed presence.
Zealot apostle, claiming Tower God's trial overcome by faith, pointed at Wakamo, yelling to paladins.
"We purge wicked idols! Behold the beast mark!! Slay the chaos-bringing beast by God's will!!!"
No reasoning with this madman.
But his faith real?—rushing Wakamo, yelling no harm to other climbers.
"Unbelievers, leave!! Not sin to not believe!! Don't disturb sacred battle!!"
Yeah, if real terror, they'd smash guards blocking city.
But assaulting climber gathering to kill foreign climber unchanged.
Inquisitor's warhammer gleamed white aura.
Bible beast-smashing swing slammed child-form Wakamo—shock shattered all windows, lights exploded, plunging into darkness.
In darkness—child hand on hammer grew, lifting it.
"God's glory! Grant me strength!!"
Blocked ceiling poured light; angels descended trumpeting, blessing Inquisitor.
Unknown light aura, shield orb, blinding halo.
"Evil, by God's power, I purge you!"
Enhanced strength, endless self-heal via blessing—tireless immortal warrior relentlessly hammered Wakamo.
Ear-piercing booms each clash; behind, zealot bullets and "holy" flame grenades exploded.
Bullets/explosions harmless to god-blessed paladin—Inquisitor smashed Wakamo fiercer.
[Paladin]!!
[Mana]-users got [Holy Power].
Faith irrelevant—tower climbs granted power.
Skills varied by believed [God].
Not just Vatican giants—temple jobs anywhere.
Holy toughness, self-heal endless stamina, poison/wound cure—long fight kings.
Plus self-[Buff] holy shields boosting stats; some wield near-[Miracle] powers.
Andrew Jacklin, U.S. rank 5 four-Tower conqueror—power scaled [Smite] with follower count.
Focused, he could solo Towers—or America—with that destructive confidence.
U.S. knew, hence endless headache.
Homeless/refugee aid for strength—social good, no stopping his rampage.
If Wakamo died? "Personal judgment accident, regrettable."
"Huff— huff...!!"
Crush giant bosses one-shot.
Literal pulverize/launch/destroy strikes.
Instant burst? U.S. strongest claimed.
Warhammer grew heavy after 20+ close-range hits nonstop.
Finally realizing he'd hit the same spot forever—he felt dread.
"Straightforward, simple, effective vs monsters."
Emergency reds flooded building.
Unscathed giant woman loomed over Inquisitor, murmuring appraisal.
"You came all this way. Don't want to waste time on nonsense."
No killing intent—just pity in gaze.
Understood his faith-honed warrior strength.
Overlooking gaze flipped Inquisitor's eyes in rage, roaring.
"[Heavenly Punishment]──!!!"
Ultimate strike from tower ascents activated.
Holy power lit not just building—whole city darkness.
Belief-born visualized force from followers.
[Paladin] pinnacle proof of death-lines crossed.
U.S.-acknowledged "strongest strike" unleashed.
Robert behind Wakamo screamed building would fly—hugging Yu Ying protectively—but.
Wakamo boldly stepped toward Paladin—shocking him.
.....Raise high, slam down.
Legs brace, waist draws power, arms perfect balance full-body slam.
Warhammer swung 10,000+ times perfected form.
Thus—praise-worthy power, but pity for weapon-bound soul.
Now reliant on it.
Pouring strikes precise/masterful.
Initial hits shocked Wakamo into defense—but soon "eyes" caught flow.
Maybe...? Gradually... very slightly....
Theory perfected.
Wakamo's [Void Spirit Taiji Divine Fist] circled, enveloping Inquisitor.
Straight hammer bent space-like, barely grazing floor.
Height diff aimed head—disaster.
Momentum-spinning Paladin gripped hammer, head blood-rushed eyes bulging.
Then heard.
Ankles gripped—lifted by beast.
Comrades gaped; face neared—bam—flying.
"U.S. climbers!! Nice meeting!! Here to kill Wakamo Inarizushi?! Bring it!!"
Thunderous voice.
"Era makes heroes. Onslaught cares not if ready!! Prove faith—show me!!!"
Front climber bled ears/nose, staggering.
"Wakamo Inarizushi you seek!! Idol here──!!"
Violence unleashed.
Not even a fight.
Batted incoming bullets with U.S. rank 5 in hand.
Human swung blurring white cloth-like.
Red-flickering dark building—dozens flew/crashed per flash, screams.
Their swung leader battered fear-yelling god-callers.
Boom boom boom!!!
Smashing floor flashy martial arts!!
Human-weapon swung; Wakamo casually one-hand lifted seized warhammer.
No [Equip]—pure metal lump.
But stance mimicked someone to zealots.
"Andrew...?"
Andrew Jacklin signature overhead.
[Mana]-infused ground slam—people wall-smashed, groaning.
Fleeing "inhuman" overhead hurled man.
Impact snapped limbs; bloody-faced leader dangled puppet-like gasping.
Behind them loomed.
Slaughterhouse-red glow: hammer-wielding giant monster.
"Don't approach, wicked beast...!!"
Cross-praying man's merciless warhammer impale.
Smashed invading zealots—no survivors standing—Wakamo strolled out, dropping hammer before fallen Andrew.
No hostility.
"Guess I'm mean-spirited... vented♥?"
Cute girl threw tantrum—don't be too upset, Wakamo eyed black-skinned youth ahead.
Six Freaks Legendary Class. Self-proclaimed 『Architect』... maybe.
"Doris J. Jackson. Call me Jack.──Moon high over Tower... poetic? Asia likes that, yeah?"
"Hate valkoi to VTubers most—politely decline."
"Up top... real interested in you!! Insanely!! Capture alive blah.... Split opinions though. Too much."
"What?"
"You're too strong!! Miss!!!"
Hammer-raised black youth grinned, swung at tower wall.
Mere strike couldn't collapse tower—but chunk detached disassembling.
"『Architect』 long cooldown... but 『Tower Collapse』!! No monsters, killer!"
Dodging debris jump—H-beam impaled beside Wakamo.
"[Inventory] open!!"
Sky rift poured H-bars rain.
Detached tower chunk trapped her; terrain warped too.
"Wondering how strong 【Idol】 Legendary Class!!"
Hammer ground-slam—earth cracked quaking.
World shook; skyscrapers pudding-wobbled.
Hammer-quake? Plus ground heat?
Pipe-burst water? Steam from fissures.
"U.S. Six Freaks tilt to eliminate you!"
Boom—!
Wakamo debris-snatched; tower chunk auto-blocked Architect.
Dropped spot nails hammered—even dodged, nails pierced body.
City-collapse intent—sinking.
Charging Wakamo—ore protruded, nailed fixed.
Clunk.
Mana-charged ore weighed her staggering.
"Full-mana body? Helpless to [Rare Metal] nails/ore. Heavier mana-sucked, ore grows absorbing. Ripping embedded? Hurts bad?"
Skin-tearing, thorn-sprouting nail sites.
Metal growing wondrously.
Deconstructing surroundings into defenses.
Tower as weapon/shield.
70-floor tower-gazing Wakamo pondered.
"Wakamo!! Evac done area-wide!!"
Wall beyond: Manager Wanda Hye's voice.
City-wide evac... yeah, quakes/collapse natural.
Sinking/tilting tower gauged—Wakamo measured.
Thwack—!
"Think I'll let escape!"
Hammer swing—sky-high wall blocked.
Alchemist walls slower-build.
Blink—wall up!!
But Wakamo no flee—charged tower.
Full-speed [500k Mana] punch—arm embedded.
".....Huh?"
Absorb bird mana, faith-to-mana swap──
Crunch, cruuunch──
".....Eh..."
70-floor tower arm-gripped—from unstable ground—uprooted.
Blinking Architect doubted eyes.
His debris-buildings tower-crushed collapsed.
Not lifting tower—uprooting tower-pierced earth!!!
"—Can you disassemble this?"
Words—70-floor tower swung at Architect!!
High-rise smashing roars—evac per Wanda, but.
She'd imagined [Idol's Flames] AOE.
Tower swung.
70-floor uprooted earth-attached swung.
Not full physics height—internal vastness.
Still skyscraper.
Possible? Some nations tried.
Super-strength climbers exist—not impossible.....
—But no solo idiot done it!!
Transcendent physics attack incoming.
Late-react shocked Architect 70-floor smashed, momentum-flinged to outer plains.
Kwa-gagagak──!!
Tower tough—no shatter/collapse.
Just sideways lay.
Debris poured.
Architect.... who knows.
Wakamo shrugged.
"No, collapsing towers? Total cheat? Job discrimination?"
Grumbling, yanked body nails, Wakamo complained.
"I'm just VTuber, treated too harsh."
Spare stats + all faith mega-strike.
Empty-zero stat "account"—Wakamo grumbled.