Chapter 286: Wu Zetian, the Little Loli
Within the cyber world, aside from the farcical skirmishes elsewhere, a true war was underway.
"Retreat! Find a place to hide. That woman definitely has no good intentions," decided Wu Zetian, who had been observing the battle from the shadows.
"That won't do. The Queen has ordered us to bring you to her," a clear male voice called out from behind.
Turning around, they saw a man with a non-mainstream perm stepping out from behind a distant tree. He had performed a Possession Summoning of an Assassin. He was the host from Shinjuku, and he was fiercely loyal to the Queen. Leading an assassination squad, he was currently surrounding and suppressing guests from various countries.
"They've already caught up," Wu Zetian frowned, looking back at the Shinjuku host. Although she had the class advantage and was skilled at hiding, being burdened with two followers had made her easy to track—especially since the enemy also had Assassin-class experts.
Behind the host, six or seven figures emerged from the grass. All of them were high-level experts with high synchronization for Possession Summoning; none were the useless dregs causing farces on the periphery.
She had miscalculated. Her original plan to form alliances and seize a Holy Grail had been completely shattered. Wu Zetian never expected a woman who broke all the rules to be here—someone who had hidden her true nature until all 128 participants joined this "Holy Grail War," only then revealing her fangs.
Now that the cyber world was locked down, exiting the war was impossible. Even escaping was becoming a challenge. Of the 128 humans who entered this cyber war, half—excluding the weaklings—had been won over by that woman using unknown methods. It was almost like brainwashing.
By the time Wu Zetian noticed the anomalies, it was too late. This competition called the Holy Grail War had been in that woman's hands from the start. Over twenty local "Appropriate Subjects" with synchronization rates over 90% were following her orders. Even foreigners, after coming into contact with her, became completely obedient. The contest had turned into an extermination war against foreign participants.
In the Indian region, a place historically fragmented by conquerors into various states until British unification and subsequent partition, there were no legendary figures like Rama, Arjuna, or Karna present. However, some had possessed powerful conquerors who had historically invaded the Indian subcontinent. These conquerors had relegated the previous nobility to slaves and commoners, replacing them as the higher castes of Shudra and Kshatriya. Among them were strong fighters, but their intense desires made them easy prey for that woman's charms. They were the first to be eliminated.
Then, participants from smaller nations were picked off one by one and brought before her. Some were kept, but most had their Heroic Spirit Saint Graphs stripped away. By now, the woman wasn't even sparing her allies. She used silver-tongued lies to charm the masses and even incited infighting among her companions. What was once a faction divided between the Queen's side and the Yakuza-Police side had now become solely the Queen's faction.
All the alliances Wu Zetian had previously forged were in vain. For safety, she had taken her two followers to hide here. Because of the high elevation and good visibility, it should have been a great spot to observe the situation below. Instead, it had led to her and her companions being surrounded.
"Now then, young ladies, come with us. Because of my profession, I really don't want to raise a hand against potential customers," the host said.
"Princess, what do we do? A handsome guy is inviting us! Even if his hair is weird and he's already taken!" asked a girl named Lingyue, waving a horsewhip.
"Princess, I'll hold the rear. You two break through and escape!" Wan'er cried, raising her sword.
"Who do you think you're talking to! If you want to see me, tell that woman to come herself! Speaking of Queens, I am the true Empress here! That woman who bewitched you all... no matter how you look at her, she's just a lewd nun!" The girl pointed down at the charming woman at the base of the hill, her twin-tails swaying in anger.
The charming woman seemed to feel the girl's gaze. She looked up, smiled, and waved. The dress she wore after summoning was not a magnificent robe, but a white veil paired with a pure black nun's habit.
Up on the cliff, the men grew excited. "Ahhh, the Queen smiled at me!" "Hehe, she was smiling at me!"
"It's no use, you can't reason with them. To think... what Heroic Spirit? She's clearly a fox demon from somewhere..." The girl covered her face in exasperation. Her two followers stepped back, guarding the Empress's flanks.
"What's the plan, Princess? I consider myself open-minded, but crazy, stupid, loyal dogs who like old women are definitely outside my comfort zone."
"No, being bewitched by such a strange woman... is she a cult leader? Truly, the men here were idiots from the start."
"You brats! You're too insolent! Lady Queen is not to be insulted! It seems I must teach you a lesson. Do it! Don't hold back, just don't damage their faces. Lady Queen seems quite interested in them!" the host shouted harshly, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
"Yes! To think they dared speak ill of the Queen!" the mob of male followers roared. "If that noble lady didn't dislike violence, you'd have been finished long ago!"
"Princess, what now? Do we fight?" Lingyue held her whip, watching eight men approach with daggers and ropes. She turned back with an embarrassed smile. "Hehe... maybe we should just forfeit."
"Eh? We can't exit? How can this be?" Wan'er tapped the virtual menu repeatedly, but there was no response.
"Princess... now what?" Lingyue asked, looking fearfully at the twin-tailed girl.
"Idiot, don't provoke them if you haven't secured a retreat," Wu Zetian said, facepalming.
"Bastards, stay back! Ugh..." Lingyue and Wan'er swung their weapons, standing in front of Wu Zetian. Though talented, they were ultimately ordinary girls. Their combat skills were immature; against a numerically superior force of adults, they were taken down in less than five rounds.
Seven black-clad men wearing Hassan masks—all trained experts with max synchronization—pounced at once. They quickly subdued the two girls, knocked them out, and tied them up.
"See! This is the power the Queen has bestowed upon us! Even with only 50% synchronization, that Lady can make the Servant obey and surrender all their power. Now, little miss, won't you come with us?" The host spread his arms, singing praises for his master, and looked at the girl who was now cornered at the edge of the cliff.
Wu Zetian frowned at the two bound girls. If it were just her, she could find a way to survive even if she jumped off the cliff... But...
Wu Zetian finally retracted her weapons and lowered her hands. Now, their only hope was their "hidden ace."
.
.
.
"Hmm, it seems things are settled over there as well." Seeing the figures descending from the small hill, Kiara Sessyoin smiled. She turned back to look at the middle-aged man being pinned to the ground by a mob of followers.
In the clearing at the base of the hill, several groups of people lay around the woman in the nun's habit. Their eyes were rolled back, seemingly unconscious, and their bodies were twitching. Because the exit function was disabled, the mechanism that usually allowed a player to log out after taking a certain amount of damage was gone. These people had to lie on the ground, continuing to endure intense pain.
The latest group to be defeated were all from the local region. They were the companions who had attended the meeting in Shinjuku with the woman. The pinned man was their leader.
"There, there, hehe. Mr. Inspector, since you've lost, I'll take your power. Don't worry, I'll treat you as a reliable companion."
"Damn you, you crazy woman! I should have tied you up and sold you across the sea long ago! Don't think you can hurt me. I've already investigated the identities of your entire group. If anything happens to me, none of you will escape! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you borrowed the power of a Heroic Spirit! In the face of the state machine, you're nothing but an experimental subject for dissection!"
The bearded man in the Captain's uniform had lost all the majesty of a Yakuza boss and police official. He was like a cornered old dog, screaming hysterically and spitting out underworld slang and curses.
"How could a weak woman like me do such a thing? However, Mr. Inspector, I suspect that even if you leave, you won't be able to do much. In fact, by now, your subordinates should be arriving at your front door."
"Hmph! Hahaha! You bitch, I didn't think you were such an actress! You think you can trick me? I never told my wife or kids my true identity. How could I leave evidence at home!" The Inspector laughed, then glared at the followers pinning him down. "You! You! All of you! None of you will get away with this!" Finally, he threatened Kiara: "Release me now, and we'll go our separate ways. Otherwise, we both go down together!"
"I wasn't talking about that ordinary suburban house you bought with a loan, Mr. Inspector. I meant the 400-square-meter villa with a garden and pool that you secretly bought at the resort," Kiara said with a smile.
"What!" The Inspector's eyes widened.
"See for yourself." Kiara waved her hand, and the management staff behind the scenes opened a screen in the void.
In the real world, an honest-looking man was being followed by a person in black carrying a camera, as if live-streaming. They arrived at a hidden villa. The honest man pulled out a key and opened the door. He entered a hall with tiger-skin rugs and red leather sofas, pressed a mechanism in the fireplace, and pulled out a safe...
"How! Stop! Stop it!" The moment he saw the man's face, the Inspector turned deathly pale. His bravado shattered instantly. That was his trusted aide of ten years, kept close because he was honest and loyal. To think even he had been bewitched by this woman.
The Inspector could no longer maintain his dignity. He lowered his head and pleaded, "I know! I know! Queen! No—My Queen! Make him stop. I'm willing to serve you. With my influence in both the underworld and the police, and the network I've built over decades, I can definitely help you!"
"Is that so? That is a fine proposal... It would have been better if you had done that from the start, Mr. Inspector," Kiara smiled.
"Yes! I was ignorant! I didn't recognize your greatness! From now on, I am your dog, My Queen!" The Inspector lowered his head further.
"What a shame. I actually find you more charming when you look like a stray dog."
"No! Stop! AAAAAAGH!!!"
Kiara pressed her hand onto the man's head and forcibly extracted the Servant spirit from his body—a method of violently peeling away a fused soul. Though this was a network world where physical damage was limited, the mental impact was the same. In a virtual world driven by the mind, nerves became even more sensitive. The pain of having a fused spirit torn away was equivalent to having one's fingernails ripped out. Beyond that, his psyche sustained severe damage.
At the same time, she implanted the All-Pass Tenancy (Wanshoku Yūtai) software, fundamentally twisting his will into that of a Kiara follower. It was a mental panacea; no matter the worry or trauma, it would be "healed," granting "salvation." At this moment, even the pain Kiara caused him by extracting the spirit became a rewarding lash.
"Haaa... haaa..." The man collapsed, gasping for air. After a while, he looked up and crawled to the woman's feet, clutching them and crying. "Please! My Queen! Spare my life! Don't let them expose me! I've worked for the organization for twenty years, restricted by others, risking my life to leak info... I finally reached this position... My Queen! If you find me an eyesore, I'll resign immediately! I'll leave Tokyo—no, I'll leave Japan and never come back! I won't get in your way!"
Kiara smiled and agreed. "Mhm, of course, since it's your request, Mr. Inspector. Oh... but there's no need to resign and go abroad. You're no longer an Inspector. The Metropolitan Police Department just released an official document announcing your dismissal and investigation. When you go out, it will be quite noisy. After all, a high-ranking Inspector of the capital being a Yakuza leader is quite the scandal. You'll likely spend the remaining decades of your life in prison."
"Haaa... no! I've offended too many people! If I go to prison without protection, I'll be tortured. I won't even be allowed to die. My Queen! Kill me!" The man broke into a cold sweat, his face full of terror. He performed a dogeza, banging his head on the ground. His neatly combed hair fell messily; he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.
"Hey! That's enough. Even a heinous criminal has been punished. There's no need to torture him this much," a young blonde man in a biker gang outfit said, unable to watch any longer. Even though he had a grudge against the Inspector, he felt the woman was going too far.
"Kill me... please! Kill me!!" The man's eyes lit up with a final hope as he looked at the blonde man.
"..." The blonde man clenched his fist, wanting to act, but then noticed the woman's gaze.
'Is this really the woman I knew? Why does her gaze look like she's not looking at a human? That smile... it's like a child playing with a toy...'
For a moment, the blonde man felt a flicker of doubt, but in the next, his mind became a jumble. One voice told him this was wrong, but another said: She's not wrong. Even if she is, there must be a reason. Yes, this was for all of humanity, to maintain peace. The Holy Grail must not fall into the wrong hands. The woman was just putting on an act.
"Haa... haaa... I don't remember who your friend's sister is... but there are plenty of idiots who can be drugged and forced into the trade to earn money for me. You can find them anywhere in my nightclubs or film companies. So... you're right to hate me! Kill me!" the middle-aged man said, deliberately making a repulsive, sinister face to provoke the youth.
"You bastard!!!" The blonde youth gnashed his teeth and manifested a large golden axe, aiming for the man's head.
Kiara stepped forward and caught the youth's hand, stopping him. She smiled. "Kintaro, that won't do. I made a promise to the former Inspector, didn't I? I said I'd spare his life. To be a good person, one must keep their promises. Right, Mr. Dog?"
"Aaaah... AAAAGH!!!" The middle-aged man clutched his head and let out a roar. His eyes rolled back, and tears and snot flowed freely. He just laughed idiotically.
"My, my. If he goes mad in this world, I wonder what will happen when he returns to his body?" Kiara mused, looking at the Inspector with curiosity.
"Queen! We brought back the girl you specified."
The host returned with the seven followers, bringing Wu Zetian and her two companions.
"Ah, good work, everyone."
"So, you are Wu Zetian's subject. I've known about you for a long time. Trying to incite my members to defect... such a naughty, cunning child. But I quite like your methods."
"In addition to that dog on the ground, you hired assassins to invade the place where we sleep, didn't you?" Kiara smiled.
"Tch... so it was exposed from the start." Wu Zetian clicked her tongue, her eyes scanning the crowd, calculating a way out.
"But I haven't told anyone else. Since I've already entered this world, I can live here forever, even if I'm just lurking in the network."
The girl lowered her head, pretending to be despondent, but her mind was racing. That blonde punk's mental state is a mess; he looks like he'll explode if provoked. And that host seems very jealous. Dammit... time is too tight! What do I do!
"How wonderful! Yes! Such a strong desire for victory makes things interesting! Such an arrogant and distinct child is wonderful! The more arrogant someone is, the more I want to
see them submit. If it's an incredibly proud Emperor, I might not even get bored of keeping them for a lifetime. Ahhhh..." Kiara reached out to touch the girl's face.
Slap!
Kiara's hand was swatted away. All-Pass Tenancy, the terrifying charm and brainwashing ability, had no effect on the girl.
Wu Zetian glared at the woman and shouted, "Get away! You heretic! Do you think I would bow to anyone now? I spent fifty years climbing to the throne step by step for my ideals! Nothing I have was begged for! I earned everything with my own hands and hard work!"
"Hehehe, is this the dignity of an ancient Chinese Emperor? Truly strong. Ahhh! That look in your eyes, as if you want to execute me? I look forward to it. But for now... what about the two girls beside you?" Kiara looked toward the other girls.
Wu Zetian sneered mockingly. "Hmph, I thought you were going to do something meaningful. What a waste of effort. Do you know how many poisonous schemes and power struggles I survived in the palace? This level of threat is nothing."
She glanced at Lingyue and Wan'er with indifference. "To me, they are just temporary assistants chosen for this competition because they have some talent. If they hadn't held me back, I wouldn't have been found by your playthings. I don't need such people. I can train more whenever I need them; abandoning them is no loss."
Kiara smiled. "Is that so? While the Emperor of Zhou Wu could indeed find others, you were summoned in your childhood form, weren't you? Can you really bear to see these children come to harm? And unlike me, you haven't completely replaced the body's owner. Would the girl you're possessing truly agree?"
As she spoke, Kiara's hand reached for the heads of the unconscious girls, intending to forcibly extract their spirits.
"...I understand. We will give the Holy Grail to you. Let us out. Otherwise, my subordinates will leave with the Grail, and you'll never get it!" Wu Zetian glared coldly.
"That won't do. More than the Holy Grail, I find myself wanting you. Thinking about someone as proud as you crying... just the thought makes me excited." Kiara cupped her flushing face.
"Indeed. Speaking of which, the Emperor of Zhou Wu was a ruthless character who would even kill her own children for power. I see. But I still want to try. Hehehehe!!!" Kiara's tone shifted as she laughed loudly. She reached for the faces of the two girls, for she loved nothing more than seeing the expressions of frustration and despair on others.
Her hand, carrying the brainwashing skill All-Pass Tenancy, was about to touch a girl's face.
Bang! A flash of fire, and blood splattered.
Kiara frowned and clutched her hand. A bloody hole had appeared, and blood was gushing out.
"Ahahaha—Rashomon Great Grudge!!"
In the next moment, a massive ghost claw struck the center of the followers. A pillar of flame exploded, and the resulting heat wave blew the gathered people away.
"Wahahaha! You trash! You chased me for so long, now you know my power!" The girl with the demon horns raised her hands and laughed wildly.
Beneath the smoke of the flames, a dark figure quickly scooped up the two unconscious girls, cut their ropes, and placed them beside Wu Zetian. The figure then stood tall, shielding the girls, and looked directly at the laughing, furious Kiara Sessyoin.
Another purple-haired girl twirled her cloak, generating a whirlwind that dispersed the smoke. It was then that the twin-tailed girl saw the dark figure clearly.
It was Shirou, wielding black and white twin pistols. The moment he arrived, he had unhesitatingly aimed for the woman's hand. It was the most efficient method. In a network state, being "killed" normally wouldn't cause significant harm to the shop manager. To force the intruder out of the manager's body, it was necessary to show his resolve.
Cold, decisive. Shirou reminded himself repeatedly, strictly controlling his every movement. He could not let Kiara think she could use the manager's life to threaten him. If he did, he would be forced to actually harm her.
"Shirou! You came to save me!!" Zhou Meimei, who had surrendered her body to Wu Zetian's control, cried out in surprise as she surfaced.
"Mhm, Meimei! We need to talk later. For now, get back. BB, you've lifted the lockdown, right? Let them out first."
"I understand! Since Shirou said so, I believe you! I'll leave this to you!" Zhou Meimei took the two assistants and agreed.
"Yes, yes. Senpai is so gentle to everyone. BB-chan is going to get jealous~!" The purple-haired girl jumped out from behind. She had already completed her task. As someone who already held authority here, BB had removed the logout restriction and replaced it with a humane system where players could leave by forfeiting.
"My, my. Interesting new friends have arrived? And familiar faces, too," Kiara Sessyoin asked, looking at the boy and girl with a smile.
Shirou looked at the charming woman. Her outward appearance was indeed the female shop manager who had made his suit, but inside, she was a completely different person.
"Shirou-kun, did you come for me too? That's fine. Here, we don't need to worry about anyone's gaze. Even if you're still a minor, you can hold me, you know." The woman smiled
seductively, spreading her arms. She was as radiant as ever, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
Bang! Bang! Bang-bang-bang-bang!!!
The response was the twin pistols in the boy's hands, firing ammunition generated by magical energy.
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