Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Wakamo's Unrivaled Might
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"Listen up, world!! Wakamo is here!!!"
Robert Duncan Smith recalled Wakamo, who had stepped out alone to face the terrorists who burst in to kill him.
No, the radical fundamentalist climber group.
She could have hidden or fled. Their target was Wakamo alone, so they had no intention of harming other climbers.
She had only neutralized the charging climbers, stopping short of killing them, like Andrew Jacklin.
A climber ranked 5th in the United States.
His fanatical faith was proven by climbing four towers—no exaggeration.
Of course, not all floors were high, but considering the increasing difficulty as one ascends, he was a man who didn't value his life.
Robert wouldn't criticize him for that, and he thought highly of how the man sheltered and cared for homeless people and refugees.
But he never imagined such fanaticism would drive him to try killing a climber from another country.
"I thought it was just dizziness from the shock of the sudden attack at first."
Robert slowly began his story to the reporter who had come for an interview.
The paladin's radiant glow shone nobly even amid the encroaching darkness.... It was so dazzling.
He had thought his vision warped from that light, or perhaps vertigo from the impact.... Sipping the ordered coffee calmly, Robert continued.
"The mana emanating from the Fox God was warping the space around us."
It was unmistakably mana.
Fierce, violent mana so intense it made the whole world look blood-red—instilling fear and terror.
Not from any skill, but pure mana radiating from Wakamo Inarizushi's body.
"The power suppressed within that massive frame.... It was beyond imagination."
He still couldn't forget that vivid scene. Not dodging or blocking the swinging hammer, but taking it head-on.
The clash alone shattered every window and light fixture inside the building with its sheer force.
"She took zero damage."
The backlighting created by the paladin.
Thus revealing the massive idol's back....
Standing firm to protect those behind her who couldn't escape being swept up.
Amid relentless strikes like a raging storm, not even groaning in pain, fist clenched, standing like a mountain.
"Does she not feel pain? Or does it not affect her at all? Either way, it's terrifying!! He's one of America's strongest climbers!! His power needs no explanation!!"
A man who could shatter a massive raid boss monster's head with one blow, even after the tower collapsed.
Muttering that even the U.S. government couldn't easily oppose his raw strength and just watched.
Borrowing divine power to exterminate evil—rampaging with murderous intent against "evil." One had to question if there was true justice in that.
Amid the desperate onslaught—the Fox God moved.
"Let me take it from there."
Including [Shooter], classes like [Wizard] are common in America, so they might find it hard to understand, said the invited Chinese climber.
As a Shaolin Temple disciple trained in martial arts, he hadn't seen exactly how Wakamo deflected those heavy blows, but he understood the principle.
"The Asian martial arts hold the mystery of the soft overcoming the hard. Andrew Jacklin lost because he was too rigid and thus brittle."
The Chinese climber compared it to reeds that bend in a typhoon without breaking, unlike trees that snap.
Not resisting overwhelming force but yielding to its flow, then surpassing that by turning the opponent's power against them.
"American climbers wouldn't know. She's unequivocally Asia's strongest master!!"
As a fellow martial artist, he felt pride in that scene, overwhelmed with emotion. He'd seen martial arts once dismissed as mere legend alive and real—like witnessing myth itself. Excited, he continued.
The attack was so powerful and straightforward that its flow twisted, flipping Andrew Jacklin with his own momentum. Wakamo grabbed and lifted him.
Then came the merciless barrage: swinging, slamming, smashing down—
"Andrew Jacklin included, none of the 57 attacking climbers died.... Only a true powerhouse can show such mercy."
She'd gauged their builds and reactions, adjusting her force to incapacitate without killing.
How sharp must her "eyes" be to distinguish all that in a split second?
"She stood unscathed after it all. What more is there to say?"
Overwhelming victory against that many climbers, even U.S. rankers.
All by herself, needing no one's help.
Facing them head-on, without dodging or hiding, and breaking them!!
Right after, she faced another assassin.
An agent waiting on-site unfolded a report to explain.
"『Architect』 【Doris J. Jackson】. One of America's most headache-inducing [Six Evils] climbers. We'd long had intel on him building shelters for refugees in collaboration with Inquisitors using his abilities. Vicious bastard... no better description fits. When imprisoned, he tunneled out with a spoon, that tenacious."
Jackson had joined the assault, rampaging alongside Andrew out of fury toward the idol.
His target was Wakamo Inarizushi too, with assassination as the final goal, not capture.
"As a 『Legendary Class』, he has absurd abilities."
Inducing earthquakes with his hammer to crumble the ground. Hammer swings ignoring distance to drive nails. Instant "deploy" construction skills, plus an extradimensional [Inventory].
He could trap pursuing climbers underground or in mazes, create obstacles freely—impossible to approach easily.
On top of nail skills fused with special [Rare Metal] properties, neutralizing climbers was child's play.
Not enough? Abilities to collapse towers without spawning monsters, syncing durability with structures to withstand shells—
For monsters, bury alive, crush with buildings, imprison and melt with acid or lava—overwhelming hunts.
"He doesn't kill people, but extorts money by threatening tower collapses or robs banks for cash. Rumor has it he built the [Six Evils]' secret bases."
As an 『Architect』, he could make mobile or flying bases—explaining his strength would tire one's jaw.
"Weight-increasing [Rare Metal] upon mana absorption, growing [Rare Metal] upon mana absorption. Not content, he collapsed part of the tower and synced with it. Wakamo probably lacked intel, but her foe had 70-floor tower-level durability."
Yes, no chance of winning.
Nails could pierce her body just entering his sight.
He controlled the battlefield at will; he could bury her alive if he wanted.
Plus syncing with the collapsed tower for equivalent durability—however strong she was, victory was impossible.
"—No way to subdue a climber with tower-matching defense.... Or so it was."
Outside the city, at the site of the toppled tower amid heaps of debris.
Collapsed towers vanish over time, replaced naturally, but debris blocked paths, so cleanup buzzed. A researcher adjusted his glasses.
"If a tower collapses from external damage, internal monsters escape. Catching the boss restores it. Well-known stuff."
But tossing the tower? That'd take longer to explain.
"Tower interiors are special. Unaffected externally. If it collapses with climbers inside.... it ejects them safely, granting chances to climb others."
Towers are friendlier to humans than imagined—ejecting to entirely different cities, treating them well.
If one collapses, it grants permissions for others.
Some exploited this maliciously, but never emerged again.
"But only for human destruction. Landslides, earthquakes—natural disasters topple them too.... Japan has a fallen tower."
Towers can be uprooted and moved if not destroyed.
Earthquake-toppled but intact.
Climbable even fallen.
"Relocation research abounds, but moving changes names. Towers clearly recognize."
So, this was a "natural disaster" called Architect, said the researcher.
"Unstable ground, earthquake collapse—the tower's side partially crumbled. Already destroyed then. Wakamo Inarizushi uprooted it with the earth. The pressure to punch a hole in a 70-floor outer wall.... I'd rather not say."
Better not to know, he shuddered.
Striking a tower-durability climber with the 70-floor tower as a weapon.
Equal strengths clashing? The smaller shatters.
"More shocking he survived flying off with the tower crushing him. [Six Evils] climbers are all monsters."
But maybe no longer, the researcher glanced at a tower fragment.
A clear hole in the outer wall. Peering deep: a clenched fist imprint.
"I've heard East Asia tales of Divine Hand, Fist King masters...."
This being might destroy even gods with hands and feet.
Too unreal; he couldn't voice it.
Scientists couldn't comprehend!!
※※※
Aiba Harper Eloine.
Climber in SCAT, the Special Climber Assault Team.
Holder of the Legendary Class 『Esper (Psychic)』.
She'd sensed innate special powers among normals, but never dreamed the tower would pinpoint her as "superhuman" for this job.
At best, sharper intuition, faint emotion reading—yet 『Superpower』 ownership landed her here.
Her role: climber persuasion, honey traps.
Use powers to dull hostility, befriend quickly.
Or invade minds, hypnotize deeply, flip loyalties to America.
Her mission: befriend Yu Ying, rumored Emperor bloodline sheltered by Chinese Premier Yong Wei.
Direct powers? Instant detection risk.
A drunken [Wizard] swaying all day astonishingly resisted mental influence—only feigning.
What "ego" defies even approach? Fist King's daughter indeed?
No approach on Wakamo Inarizushi.
One glance at her feats screamed lifelong discipline. Subdue a war-hardened soul? Egg on rock?
Left: one [Alchemist].
Intel on [Six Evils] aerial bridge assault; alerted Korean gov immediately.
Director Won Da-hye's terror response separated Yu Ying; Aiba closed in naturally.
A "summon" named [Aoi Aska] beside her, but scant info.
Living high-spec AI humanoid with internet access.... That's it. 24/7 VTuber streams, uses spells—nothing more.
Odd info scarcity puzzled her, but summons have behavioral limits despite intellect; shrugged off.
'Approach naturally as guard, urge shelter here.'
"You who?"
"Huh?"
"Shady."
Overwhelming hostility made Aiba flinch, cold sweat.
Out of nowhere... first meeting...? Instinctively sensed intent...?
What intuition. Monster in human skin?
Survival specialist, so hyper-alert—makes sense.
Sharp instincts most annoying. She skill-dulled the wariness instantly.
"Don't approach."
Yu Ying's clipped words.
Aiba unaware: her pronunciation perfect only when furious.
Crimson eyes glaring murderously, poised to strike—Aiba panicked. Powers failed?
"No way you'd suddenly feel friendly. Suspicious woman approaches, tension vanishes...? What'd you do?"
Skill warped minds, but she trusted instincts over influence.
Not rational—superhuman reflex!
Near psychic intuition?
"Relax, I'm Aiba Harper Eloine, security for climber meetup. Terror threat—evacuate now—"
"Liar?"
Yu Ying's piercing glare intuited truth; unknown gun drawn.
'Stronger powers...?'
Interfere with summon's mind instead.
Convince her, helpful—dove deep. Absurd scene unfolded.
Busy fox spirit office: tiny foxes scurrying, typing keyboards.
"[Master ordered protect Yu Ying!! Erase everything but breathing!!]"
"[Eh? No need? Broadcast requests fanart now!!]"
"[Need MR for song!!]"
Fox spirits laboring: input, computation, processing.
They glanced awkwardly at standing Aiba.
Adoring cute fox spirits—summon minds like this?—when one spoke.
"[Aiba Harper Eloine! Age 26!]"
"[Dartmouth grad! New Hampshire prep!]"
"[Legendary Esper! SCAT agent! 4 years service!!]"
"[Agent who mind-controlled Wakamo shooter! Controlled the idiot who shot Wakamo!!]"
""""[Enemy!! Enemy!! Enemy!!]""""
"Uh..?"
Alarms blared; foxes drew blades.
More shocked by doxxing, Aiba fled Aska's inner world desperately.
Soon, emotionless eyes met Aska's stare.
Blank pupils.... Ominous; bolted without looking back.
『Spatial Jump』 distanced instantly; Aoi Aska pursued fiercely.
Expressionless full sprint—like future killer robot; Aiba tried telekinesis pin.
Crack—!!
Leg snapped, toppled.
No rights for summons—bold strike.
Sparks surged; broken leg restored, Aska sprang pursuing.
"What what what?!?!?"
Dropped corridor bars blocking, sprinted terrified Aiba.
Glanced fearfully: Aska lightning-pierced bars.
Aska maxing [Idol's Thunder] from Wakamo.
Neck snapped? Hand-fixed with crack—Aiba screamed.
Swoosh—
Phased through wall outside, mounted bike.
Revved fleeing city—soon overtaken mid-road by standing Aoi Aska. "Damn!" scowled.
Skill-sank under road, [Spatial Jump] max distance opposite.
"Hah— Aiba here.... [Alchemist] approach failed. Bad intel. Companion summon exceeds info. .....HQ?"
"[Copy. Noted. Location?]"
"Passing club now..... Support incoming?"
"[No, I'm coming.]"
Boss voice flipped to Aska's; comms cut.
Something gravely wrong—panicked scan, max psych barrier.
Zap—!
Aska emerged—from Aiba's smartphone.
Tossed sparking phone; woman's arm stretched from screen.
"Human who disturbed Wakamo. Fleeing futile."
Body-to-lightning via waves, emerging crouched head-high grotesquely, Aska murmured.
"Observed Wakamo at climber meetup....
Was watching, human."
Choppy sentences. Human form, zero humanity.
Emotionless mechanical mutter—Aiba twisted space telekinetically; sparks, Aska vanished.
"....Hologram?!"
Stumbled back; empty shop TV auto-on, Aska's face.
"Hostile to Wakamo. Confirmed VTuber insult attack. Approached Yu Ying for interference. Terminate target."
Click—
TV off.
Beep—mic on; streetlight speaker boomed Aska.
"[Special Climber And Tactics] data acquired. Aiba Harper Eloine: residence, likes/dislikes. Hacked SNS, PC. I hold your identity. Sexual preferences fully mapped. Erasing intel on Wakamo-hostile forces including you. Using your satellites to track and eliminate all."
"......"
Beyond serious—this.
Really a summon...?
Refused believe satellite access, but this absurd entity.
Beyond high-spec AI.
"...Surely not, her own info...."
"VTuber activities suffice for Aoi Aska disclosure. Red pill contact forbidden—thus terminate."
Voice behind—Aiba choked.
"......What.... is Wakamo Inarizushi's goal...? If she makes beings like you...."
"Wakamo's goal achieved. Your actions meaningless."
Precisely: Wakamo's desire solely VTubing.
Not brainless—climber pursuing beast-like day-by-day instinct, no grand ambitions.
"No way...!!"
Of course, Aiba mistook her for network-overlord transcendent.
How counter humanity vs satellite-master?
Desperate, pride gone, begged life. No hopes.
"....Any chance... of mercy...?"
"Then VTuber stream 3x weekly. Please Wakamo, human."
Sales pitch sudden: friendly smile, N-pose rainbow, Aska proposed.
"....Huh?"
"5x weekly, benefits included."
Wakamo Corp's Aoi Aska shoved manager card.
"VTubers have human rights."
Choose time.
Identity erased, terminated by humanoid weapon?
Or VTuber debut....
No choice for Aiba.
Aska's phone flooded messages—unit chaos.
"....V-VTuber... d-debut... s-spare me...."
"Terror smashed purchase CPU. Work till paid."
".......Huh? How m-much..."
"70 billion."
Face ashen, tears welled.
Aska warned repeatedly: watched, debut VTuber—departed.
.....Humanity fully subjugated by Wakamo Inarizushi.
Could topple world govs at whim—wasted on VTubing!!
Upper brass: accept negotiations soon, endure......
Special forces don't negotiate terror...? Bit tongue....
Far beyond simple.
Ding ding—
Unknown number: Wakamo channel vids for debut methods from Aska.
"Sob sob... Mommy... sob sob..."
Never cried on duty; terror incontinence, wept bitterly.
...
.....
"Squish?"
"Saw her debut VTuber pledge, spared."
"Yay~ Thanks big sis for lettin' her off!"
"Headpats pending; Aska thrilled already."
Depressed Wakamo: introduce fresh newbie VTuber she scouted.
Era of war reporter VTubers... why not spec ops VTuber?
Slight revenge for poor smashed baby CPU.
"Alcoholic bro too. VTuber acquaintances grow(?); external collabs viable!"
"Wha? Again?!"
"Two more, DKM possible. Awesome."
"Rea? Manager debut too!"
"No talent."
"Yeah, then big sis requests it...."
Super AI foresaw terror but CPU-obsessed forgot—hide that.
All compute on VTubing drops IQ inevitably!!
Cute CPU tempted first!
"Aska faithfully guards Yu Ying per Wakamo order."
Ultimate excuse ready.
Should've said then!!
Human-net-trained AI VTuber overconfident uselessly.
Odd ramblings? Language fail glitch—ignore.
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Our super AI Aoi Aska standing shot acquired.
This cute, but acts like ChatGPT daily.