“[Human]☆Detected!”
“Wahoo~ So.Lucky♡”
“[!!!!$!@%$!@%!!!]”
Without the nearby [Black Tower], the seemingly invincible ability couldn’t be used, and they were just normal [Humans] vulnerable to attacks.
Still, with considerable combat strength, they pushed back the climbers, but couldn’t withstand the collective beating from 500 climbers.
After restraining them, the time spent arguing over who gets credit was much longer.
“Find!!! Hunt!!! Scent and track, then tear them to pieces…!!!”
The [Beast Master], saddened by the lack of Tower Coins, released their tamed monsters in all directions.
The climbers, frantically chasing the monsters that caught the strong scent of [Human], ran rampant through the entire tower.
And among them, the Liu Ying party also had to chase.
“Wakamou!! Wakamou!!”
Aoi Asuka and Liu Ying turned their heads and waved at the climbers’ calls.
A climber, startled by eye contact, shouted excitedly.
“They looked at me! They looked at me!”
“They were looking at the money pouch!”
“They turned their head and looked right into my eyes!”
“No, they were looking at the money box!”
“No, they chose me. They will take me to [Wakamou’s 1st floor]! Wakamou―!!!”
A climber shrieked—”Remember me!!!”—as they charged wildly on horseback, crashing into a fleeing [Guardian].
Regardless of life or death, the climbers pounced immediately upon their fall, beating them fiercely.
It was a scene of pure madness and terror.
Even though [Guardians] were fellow climbers, there was no mercy.
“Those wicked ones dared to target our Wakamou Idol!!”
“””””Death penalty!! Death penalty!! Death penalty!!”””””
“Our Wakamou Idol has bestowed mercy upon us!! Rise countless hatchlings!! Wakamou Idol wishes for the annihilation of [Guardians]!!!”
“”””Wakamou!! Wakamou!! Wakamou!!””””
“Punish the unbelievers who don’t even watch 10 clips per day and aren’t subscribed to Wakamou Leader’s channel!! THEN even pathetic loners like us will find salvation!!”
“Will we make friends?”
“Screw it! We’re all brothers here!!!”
“”””WAAAAAAA!!!””””
Find them! Find and destroy them!!
The only good Guardian is a dead Guardian!! They are our bonus Tower Coins!!
The VTuber otaku, adorned with Wakamou badges, shouted, followed by the believers’ cries.
They saw the miracle that could grant them partners, more than just hopeful lovers.
Men and women mixed together, shouting at the top of their lungs, showing tremendous unity.
“Gather, Lunaites!!! For the princess!!”
“WAAAAAGH!! Wakamou-san!! Remember me!!”
“This is a holy war!! Inari, answer the call!!”
The chants were diverse and overflowing with personality, as expected of an otaku group.
They proudly armed themselves with their beloved oshis’ merchandise, forging a wonderful, peaceful, and happy otaku culture of mutual respect……. The 【Tower Lord】 shivered in disgust.
Why is there an otaku party in my tower…!!
But since they were all walking money pouches, they applauded with smiles as a show of support.
Having received so much, they generously scattered [Tower Coins] as rewards, drawing climbers like pigeons flocking.
Their eyes burned with greed, crazy with thoughts of possibly being praised by their oshi (Wakamou) while gaining honor.
“Damn, who knew opening a TCG shop would be so hard. I haven’t even displayed the goods properly. Why are they targeting me?”
Liu Ying grumbled about not understanding why.
It was already uncomfortable that [Guardians] had targeted her before, but now that their organization was shattered, they still pursued her globally, which was baffling.
Seeing her question, Asuka raised a thumb, claiming to know the answer.
“Liu Ying, don’t get mad. How can you use such a class? Normally an alchemist would have a lab or company, but if that’s known, Master would be sad. Let’s face reality.”
“They’re targeting me because I’m weak?”
“I can’t bet money, but I’d wager you’d die first.”
Even the Russian 【Tower Lord】 agreed with Asuka, nodding at Liu Ying.
She was indeed the strongest among Alchemists now.
Conversely, that meant despite consuming so many rewards, her rank remained low.
“Are they attacking our Master?”
“Impossible.”
“Then are they targeting an alcoholic with passive death touch, who ignores all attacks except mana-based ones?”
“Sister Sadako would rather shout ‘Lucky─☆’ and fight.”
“Can they target me, who can fly and use all kinds of [Spells]? I’m but a familiar. If I die, I’ll just get a new one.”
“Well─ Asuka may be a nuisance, but I hope she lives long.”
“Are they targeting the mad German Artist? That kills instantly with intelligence. But an attempt on a Psychic? She’s a trained soldier.”
Indeed…. Even including the 0th and 1st generations at Wakamou Corporation, the only easy target was the [Alchemist].
It’s as if Asuka might have forgotten someone, but it couldn’t possibly slip her mind.
“Isn’t this going to be resolved soon anyway?”
Liu Ying might not be a fighter, but she knew about the research results from Robert and American experts.
──Of course, Wakamou Corporation had no practical use for it, so they were indifferent.
[Human]… In other words, ancient humans were mysteriously potent in their bodies.
It was as if their existence had evolved to be nourishment.
Beyond preventing hair loss, it regenerated hair, boosted energy, and enhanced focus, functioning as an all-purpose medicine.
【Tower】 cured everything from cancer to dementia just by climbing it.
Even if someone died ambiguously, it could bring them back to some extent, requiring no explanation.
However, even such a tower couldn’t regrow lost hair when hair loss occurred.
It healed injuries that cut or pulled hair during battle, but couldn’t cure baldness.
With such remedies available, the future for [Humans] was bleak.
“When they’re fresh! Shouldn’t we pluck their livers and eat them??”
“Return my hair!!!”
A [Human], caught and dismembered by excited climbers, screamed in agony.
Their cries sounded meaningful as they echoed out to Moscow’s Red Square…. And the ground began to shake.
Currently, Russia hadn’t even built a single tower on its vast territory.
They pooled all resources into the tower in Moscow and used it to produce trade goods.
Other than that, vast lands were being transformed into industrial zones by Jackson.
Russia only had one existing tower.
Ironically, China currently had no towers.
As a result, climbers flocked to South Korea and Japan, while those in Russia were mostly enjoying a vacation.
Some climbers left their weapons behind entirely, and this situation caught them off guard.
Kuuguguguung──!!
From below, the [Black Tower] emerged with tendrils.
“No way, even though I’m weakened now, an invasion like this….?”
But the 【Tower Lord】’s surprise was short-lived. When she exerted her power directly, an invisible force gathered, and the tower began to twist.
As she stretched her hands, exerting all her might, the sound of cracking was accompanied by the [Black Tower] shattering.
Both Liu Ying and Asuka, underestimated for not being strong, had apparently exercised abilities climbers couldn’t, leading to applause for their impressive strengths.
“Save the emotions for later—do you see that [Portal] over there?”
A strange aura was present at the tower’s entrance.
The Tower Lord asked if they knew that a tower could represent a [nation], and listeners nodded.
Which meant, conversely, this [Black Tower] could represent a non-existing [nation], connecting everything, as explained.
“Although there’s a big risk, how about entering there and uncovering 【The Tower’s Secrets】?”
“Why should I take such a risk?”
“I’ll give you the freedom of 【Partner】 creation rights.”
“Are you trying to buy me off with money?!”
Liu Ying lashed out at the Tower Lord’s proposal.
Yet the offer was too enormous to refuse, so she accepted the request with climbers entering the portal together.
She planned to escape at the slightest hint of danger, as the Tower Lord provided a direct means.
《You have entered the Tower of Ascension》
-Reach the top and ascend to the [■■].
-Currently, no records exist for [■■], making it unreachable.
-Fulfilling certain conditions allows “evolution” into [Heroic Spirit].
“『Hello, I’m the Tutorial Fairy. Welcome to the [Tower of Ascension]』”
“….Uh”
Not what I was expecting….
Liu Ying and climbers blinked as they stared at the flying fairy.
“If I hit it, will the head explode?”
“Good thing I keep up with Novelpia!!”
“『Currently, the [Tower of Ascension] is not functional. Please wait』”
The tutorial fairy left with the words “not functional yet,” then disappeared.
Thunk… Thunk….
“It seems like it’s moving.”
As Asuka said, the tower was moving. There was no way to determine where from the inside, and surprisingly, there wasn’t a single [Human] inside.
Could it be that they receive the [Black Tower]’s blessing but aren’t qualified to enter it?
Inside were skeletal remains that appeared human, scattered about.
No monsters were visible—only obvious signs of mutual destruction.
They climbed a staircase, where debris from endless battles was all they found.
“All the skeletons vary. The weapons were from different civilizations.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone who fought inside the tower came from different countries.”
There were rusted bronze swords, wooden clubs, crude stone spears, etc…..
According to Asuka’s words, Liu Ying determined that the dead weren’t much different from modern humans.
Having climbers gather the remains, they realized there was a big difference from [ancient humans].
“What does ascension mean? [Heroic Spirit] is a monster that only appears in towers, right?”
“It’s possible it’s a class, like [Idol]. Speaking of which, my class resembles an idol’s, though there’s no direct one.”
【Legendary Class】 could even be a profession for monsters in the tower.
Even 【Artist】 might emerge, confounding predictions, as was typical for the tower.
Currently, 90-floor climbers faced mostly [Heroic Spirit].
Awaiting them at the top was usually an [Idol].
Liu Ying focused on the spiraling staircase.
Unlike resource-gaining towers they climbed, the structure was fundamentally different.
By the third floor, there were skeletons in weapons and armor.
She said it would be better not to have all the climbers head up, unsure how much further they could ascend.
When voiced, everyone shared her unease.
Using a [Drone], they sent it to the fourth floor, encountering numerous traps.
From pitfall traps skewering victims to crushed ones from pressing walls, it was a gruesome sight.
“Ugh….”
Feeling the sheer malevolent intent embedded in the structure, she rubbed away the goosebumps on her arm.
“Shouldn’t ‘ascension’ be replaced with Tower of Trials?”
There wasn’t even an exit.
Once inside, they had only two choices: fight or die.
They decided to exit to Russia using items they brought.
“─Is that so….? Isn’t it a loss if climbers die? What gain does extremism bring?”
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The Russian 【Tower Lord】 questioned, bouncing their head like a nodding toy, intrigued and puzzled by the [Black Tower] while contemplating their existence.
“Asuka wonders something. Why doesn’t [Idol] exist as a job, yet it’s in the [Tower]?”
“……..Right? I’m using it because it’s the top-cost unit. Since it’s something from human history, maybe even [Idols] themselves don’t know…? I don’t either.”
“What do you know?”
Stung by Asuka’s question, the Russian 【Tower Lord】 shrugged, claiming ignorance because of a total reset.
Investing solely in this tower, they handed Liu Ying the promised reward, a free creation ticket.
Arms crossed in deep thought, Asuka.
Liu Ying was no different.
“Inari Fox Deity doesn’t question its existence either. Looking at items from the Black Tower signifies records of [Idol] were erased…. What do you think, Liu Ying?”
“I have no doubt about its existence. When I see items from the [Black Tower], it means the records of the [Idol] have been erased… What do you think, Liu Ying?”
“If I use this ticket to make Mr. Wakamou my partner, it’ll get awkward, right?”
“Is that more important than discovering the shocking secret of the Tower? Asuka is in shock.”
“Sigh… How should I use it…?”
Asuka shook her head at Liu Ying’s serious teenage dilemma.
If a 【Partner】 is needed, efficiency or performance should dictate.
Ignoring Liu Ying, who was wholeheartedly drawing a fox-eared busty girl on paper, Asuka opened the TCG shop.
“VTuber cards for sale! Virtual Live cards and otherworldly idol goods!! Big-headed unicorn and furry monkey figures are also available!”
Who cares about the truth of the [Black Tower]!
For those living off VTuber broadcasts, it was a story of little importance.
“…”
As Liu Ying, who had been drawing, momentarily stopped and thought about the inside of the [Black Tower].
There was a pattern among the carvings on the inner wall that seemed familiar.
‘Man-eater’
No matter how he thought about it, an abnormal Legendary Class.
“What on earth is the [Mediator]?”
And no matter how he thought about it, a mysterious entity that knows too much for one person.
Not wanting to get involved… Liu Ying sighed as he looked at the crown set on the table.
※※※
“Are you okay?”
“I’d like to believe that the Climber Ranking isn’t determined by the strength of climbers.”
Trung Hieu was still suffering from the aftereffects of the fight with Wakamou.
It felt like everything he had trained for as a Climber over the years was negated in an instant.
Though it seemed like every attack hit, in reality, he was retreating right at the moment of impact.
He could easily fend off attacks if he wanted but was only moderately engaging.
“I felt eyes on me, from all directions. It was a piercing gaze that saw through every movement, from muscles to breath, leaving me feeling exposed.”
“Don’t lose heart. Climbers seldom have reasons to fight one another.”
─The President of the American Association said that, but some Climbers were intoxicated by their own power.
An uncontrollable desire was bubbling up to show and overpower other Climbers rather than the Tower.
It was like slowly boiling cold water just starting to simmer.
【Arena】’s timely appearance could be said to be serendipitous.
It was a place where Climbers could fight each other and gain benefits.
Now even voices emerged criticizing Climbers fighting outside the Arena.
Additionally, if the 【Tower】 continued to host such major events, more Climbers would gather.
To calm uncontrollable excitement and aggression──the meaning might be to get used to fighting [Ancient Humans] akin to Climbers.
“Still, I’m happy to receive a gift. They said I wasn’t weak at all.”
Trung Hieu, who received a box full of gifts from [Wakamou Inarizushi], hugged it to his chest with a bit of regret in his voice.
Though disheartened by the overwhelming gap, he felt a twinge of regret thinking he might have learned much if he’d fought with even more effort.
“She embodies the entirety of East Asian martial arts, built up over long years. Winning a fight with her using fists from the start would be strange, wouldn’t it?”
Finally, accepting the outcome and seemingly relieved, Wakamou chuckled, being praised by the [Werebeast] for his good character.
“Boss, did you make some money?”
“Heh… Do you know why VTuber UniUni is so good at betting..? Because, after betting everything on a failed company once more, the Unicorn succeeded! The first try was experience and connections, but the second one is real…!! The big game hunter Wakamou is coming!! The heart of a beast!!!”
“I don’t even know who UniUni is.”
“Don’t know our adorable big-headed horned young lady?”
“Oh right… that… big head, horns, triangle mouth… Watame, huh!”
“Korean VTubers are great too!! Did Sadako win a bunch then?”
“Won it all.”
Sadako showed off the pile of money, while Wakamou was all out of cash, left with just coins.
Whoever he bet on lost shockingly.
If he had bet on Manager Wanda Haye, it seemed like even she wouldn’t have lost at this level of absurdity.
And with that, Sparta, who had been chewed up and smashed by Wanda Haye, was out of spirit.
【[Diamond League] match starting soon】
“Oh, is it already my turn…. Who’s my opponent?”
Wakamou, munching on a hot dog, glanced at the scoreboard and saw a familiar class.
【[Idol] VS [BearBearBear]】
【[Idol] uses only [1] skill due to penalty】
“This is unexpected.”
“A manager fighting the boss…. Quite ironic. We’ve never fought each other, right?”
Suddenly teleported to the arena, Wanda Haye spoke to Wakamou.
The manager or VTuber, Wakamou wouldn’t have wanted to fight them anyway but with special rewards at stake, he had no choice.
[3]
“I won’t forgive deliberately losing.”
“I must properly settle the score, mustn’t I?”
Emerging as a [Shifter] class, Wanda Haye is strongest when fighting alone.
Moreover, the kind of bear she transforms into doesn’t even need explaining.
If Ichigo or Pirate were alongside, they would not be able to fight properly for fear of getting caught up in it.
But this time, seemingly unnecessary, Wanda Haye, clad in bear skin, was getting ready.
[2]
“I like mecha, but I like bears too.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“No… You don’t understand. I like them much more than you think, Wakamou!!”
[1]
Why tell me this before a fight…?
Wakamou started to feel foreboding.
Even before the fight began, she began morphing into a bear, breathing heavily.
[Commence Duel!]
“Change Kuma1!”
“Pardon?!”
“Oh…. Is that?”
“The graduate student is aware?”
“Professor here. That blazing flame belongs to the [Hell Chain] type. But judging by the chest fur, it’s reminiscent of a bear monster named [Majika Mahun]. Besides, the horn on the head is from [Thunder’s Medvezi]!!”
Transforming into a gigantic bear wrapped in fire as a cloak and two horns sprouting from the head, Wanda Haye appeared before the audience seated [Professor] who said there are more than 3 kinds of bears mixed at a glance.
“An astonishing level of skill. Without a superior class, one wouldn’t notice.”
[Werebeast] explained it to be a chimera bear of not 3, but 7 types of bears combined.
“[Thunder Break]──!!”
A bolt of lightning shot from the hand raised high up striking the arena floor like a sword.
Wakamou, dodging aside before it could strike, caught sight of the giant bear’s eyes shining intensely as if refusing to allow any approach.
“That’s the evil eye skill of [Baskania Bear]!!”
“Photon power beam!!”
Channeling mana into a beam from the eyes, he bent backwards avoiding it in a bridge position.
It wasn’t the kind of skill you could replicate by seeing and copying.
“Digestive Fluid!!”
Spewing out lactic acid that began to corrode everything it touched.
When Wakamou was taken aback, she corrected by saying even Mazinger Z uses it.
“Freeze Beam!!!”
With his arm freezing from the grazing ray emitted from the horn atop her head, Wakamou became aghast.
Observing the spectacle, attention turned to the [Professor] for clarification.
Head horns weren’t [Thunder’s Medvezi], it seemed.
“It looks like something of [Ice Ainu Bear] from Hokkaido, Japan…?”
The King of Authority narrated his memory of smashing it with a headbutt, while the party realized from the color as the [Professor] let out admiration.
“Breast Fire!!!”
From the tattoo engraved on her chest, she unleashed thermal beams burning and evaporating anything in its range.
If she were to transform and fight with Ichigo or Pirate present, allies would likely get swept up due to its destructive power.
Be it the President of Korean Association, but Koreans of the top Climbers, are they all violent by nature?
“Too soft, manager!!”
Even if the attacks pierced through freezing, burning, and shocking him, they were meaningless to [Idol’s Body].
Closing the gap rapidly, Wakamou, having learned a boxer’s punch from [Trung Hieu], delivered a full-force blow to the abdomen.
“Predator Bite!!!”
The stomach split open wide with a crunch and revealed a massive maw.
Metallic teeth glinting, it snapped down like a guillotine munching on Wakamou’s upper body.
“Luckily bit by the stomach.”
Witnessed by 3rd-gen Sparta, clutching his chest with relief thanking the happenstance.
What was with a bear having a mouth in its stomach? Discussing these bizarre revelations, Sadako mentioned hearing something from Liu Wei.
“Maybe it’s the Elite Boss Monster [Sky Dragon Bear King].”
Sadako speculated it might be a reward obtained from Kyoto Tower’s 200-floor reach.
Then Wanda Haye, with half of Wakamou in the maw, tugged his leg out, lifted him overhead, and flung him skyward.
“Quiz! Is there a bear in Muscleman?!”
“There’s not, is there?!”
“I won’t forgive you for ignoring the gigantic bear Gorota, appearing only in animation!!”
“Sincere otakus are the worst!!!”
Comparing manga to animation over one original work, Wakamou protested about the absurdity yet Wanda Haye chose to soar high.
Grasping hold of Wakamou’s head mid-air, fixed at the nape, both arms and held him aloft, she pinned his legs too and proceeded with a rapid descent!!
“Power leg(完力)!!”
Wakamou tried to wriggle free but Wanda Haye’s formidable might far exceeded expectations.
“Mount McKinley Charge!!”
“Craaah…!!”
He didn’t experience pain but the etiquette demanded screaming while receiving the maneuver!!
Turning over from the impact even before hitting the ground, Wanda Haye’s rain of consecutive strikes obliterated as he did.
“1RK Down sweep!”
“Why is it so similar, with both of them!!”
Recognizing commands weirdly, the King of Authority, and Sadako being dumbfounded.
Wanda Haye spinning like a top delivering a triple kick sends Wakamou flying but allowing him a swift landing escape.
Seeing her prepare a breath attack inhaling deeply, shouting out,
“You dare ignore Gorota, capable of Paro Special! Pure Otaku!! Acknowledged── Kuwik”
“From each punch, the true presence of “Oyre” shall be imparted…!!!”
Grinding his teeth, forgetting about being a manager or anything, Wakamou delivered a sincere fiststrike launching the gigantic bear 3M afar.
He delved in for an instant replay, having blocked the grounded attack.
“Wakamou, come, bear bear bear….. Whatever you’ve got, show it!!”
“Go, Fin Funnel!!!”
“Wait a second, time.”
Blue salmons burst from Wanda Haye’s back swimming in air, bombarding Wakamou with volleys as a prelude.
As jet streams of water, it split the arena causing Wakamou to tremble at the sight.
“Oh! Could it be this skill!! Manager Wanda Haye’s level! Even I couldn’t recognize with these professor eyes!!”
“A spirit indeed!! Surely!! Not impossible!!”
Indeed, Wanda Haye was wielding a [Water Spirit] as a bear!!
Impressive in theory but implementing in combat left Climbers in awe.
Caught defenseless facing pin funnel(?) assaults, Wakamou succumbed under the assault.
Moving swiftly in the air aiming precisely, firing as she departed, was telegraphing Wakamou’s combat maneuvers clear as day.
“I also watch VTuber broadcasts, Wakamou!!”
“Who do you watch?!”
“Uoooh Shaha Kick!!”
“Turns out you watch male VTubers…!!”
With water spirits firing like missiles skewering Wakamou’s arm, freezing it, and for precise follow-up, the charging kick from Wanda Haye was well-landed.
Barely succeeding in lifting a leg to guard against it, accepting the kick led Wakamou into the real fight!
“From now on, I shall stomp you fine, seeing as your guard stance shows deep knowledge in martial arts, what I showed just now was just a Shaha Kick as a start.”
“The manager has a lot built up against me, huh!”
There’s so much it’s hard to even say anything!!
“Here I come! Beat please!!”
“I counter with high-performance Roboko Martial Arts!!”
Duking it out fiercely, the bear and the fox exchanged blows and banter ceaselessly.
Sadako, observing the real-time concealment was well aware of their dynamic.
Not wanting to say it but honestly, they both were too embarrassing.
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