Chapter 330: World Intangible Cultural Heritage: Southern Dipper Human Cannonball

Angle calculation complete.

Human Cannon, Level One Ready!

A stern expression, a commanding tone.

With a cute face, short slightly yellow hair, two shoulder-length braids, she looked no more than eleven or twelve, yet her clear black-and-white eyes held an intellect far beyond her age.

At her command, the massive base beneath her rose, lifting from the steel metropolis a cannon of absurd proportions; its enormous, heavy barrel slowly raised, precisely targeting the enemy formation before it.

Distance calculation complete.

Human Cannon, Level Two Ready!

The steel behemoth obediently crouched beside the girl, while other figures similar to her vanished one by one from view.

Impact point calculation complete.

Fire!

Less than a second later, a thunderous roar erupted from the barrel, smoke and dust billowing upward as the entire street trembled.

Boom!

A gale surged forth, and a colorful, petite figure shot out, whipping up fierce winds as she crossed the distance between enemy and ally with unmatched force, striking the enemy ranks like a meteor.

“Wooaaah!”

The explosion’s shockwave produced a chorus of adorable screams—some from enemies, some from allies—because… the shell just fired wasn’t a metal projectile, but— a little girl!

Then came the second, the third…

—A hundred arts, this is the 【Southern Dipper Human Cannonball】!

Yes, this was the most absurd martial art of the Southern Dipper sect, where each “shell” seemed to carry the bizarre, humorous spark of thought from the Southern Dipper masters who created it.

A free-fall with no deceleration or protection, relying solely on “launch” and “surprise” for aerial strikes—this could rightly be called the Art of the Idiot.

“Hah!”

Using the gravitational potential of her fall, before the enemy’s scattered ranks could regroup or even assume defensive stances in panic, the girls once called “Cursed Children,” now known as “Blessed Children,” slashed the air with their slender limbs, producing repeated explosive cracks.

“Bai Lu Leg Slash!”

“Double Feathered Claw Break!”

“Nightwing Cut!”

…

The fully armed petite figures were all flung backward by the shockwaves, slamming hard into the walls of surrounding shops and buildings, embedding themselves deeply as rocks shattered and dust filled the air.

A few nimble ones darted aside; despite the utterly unexpected, surreal attack that shook their spirits, they still calmly pulled their triggers.

Toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toot!

High-speed custom bullets surged like a storm, carrying smoke and sparks toward these self-sacrificing fools—but the world seemed to slow; every bullet, after tearing through the air, gradually froze before the attackers.

“Ariyane! It’s a repulsion field!”

The enemy general let out a despairing cry.

Though they knew even without these instant personal repulsion fields, victory was unlikely, the loss of their only means of resistance was still unbearable.

“Don’t fear—keep going! Don’t lose to the Sendai bunch!”

Watching her side gain the upper hand, Qianshou Xiasi’s tense face finally broke into a faint smile of joy.

The surprise attack succeeded.

Once again, the Tokyo Student Council had won decisively!

But such events were merely everyday occurrences in the simple, hospitable world of 【Kiwotos】.

…

Everything began over a year ago.

It was the beginning, the turning point, the rebirth.

When a man wearing an iron mask used the Zodiac Beasts—once deemed unstoppable disasters—to cleanse post-Gehenna War Japan with iron fists, he then built this academy city for the “Blessed Children” at a speed that stunned everyone.

As its influence expanded, children once afflicted by the virus flocked in, and the academy city grew at a breakneck pace, becoming the largest gathering of “Blessed Children” on Earth.

With continuous funding, facilities improved: schools, cafeterias, commercial districts were established, supporting daily life, study, socialization, and cultivation.

The number of “Blessed Children” from around the world eventually exceeded one hundred thousand—and with so many, factions inevitably formed.

They simply organized themselves by birthplace, martial arts style, virus type, and personal interests, forming countless clubs, societies, and affinity groups.

What began as a city outside Tokyo now housed thousands of unique organizations, some of which were officially recognized by the current supreme ruler of Japan, the Holy Empress, as political entities with full autonomy, permitted to wage war, trade, and sign treaties with other regions.

Today, this city had nearly become a nation for all “Blessed Children,” and daily events like “Freedom Day” served as outlets for these girls—already possessing superhuman physiques and now even stronger through cultivation—to release stress.

Of course, though each possessed Level 3 Gehenna Beast-level regeneration and hardened bodies, they were not invulnerable to gunfire; to prevent serious bloodshed, student organizations used specially designed weapons provided by Sima Heavy Industries.

These weapons reduced lethality while enhancing impact and anesthetic effects—those unskilled in combat merely collapsed into unconsciousness when hit.

Take Qianshou Xiasi: she carried dolphin genes, a rare intellect-type, normally serving as support; yet in this academy where gun ownership neared 100%, she earned legendary fame through her command ability alone.

Yet, why say “nearly” a paradise for “Blessed Children”? Aside from nanobots and autonomous trash bins, there were still a few “adults”…

“Hey! You brats who don’t know any better!”

A furious, shrill shout echoed from afar—and the next second…

Boom!

A girl in a black sailor uniform, her gaze cold, swept over the shattered ground; dark lines of fury etched across her face, her jet-black hair whipping behind her like a demon of vengeance as she surged forward, tearing through air as a pure black streak.

“Eeeeee!”

“It’s ‘Ghost Swordsman’ Tendou!”

“Run, everyone!”

The Sendai and Tokyo factions, moments ago locked in battle, froze at her appearance—every one of them turned pale with terror and scattered like birds.

(End of Chapter)