The Unprecedented Crisis of Vanguard Fans

Oh, you people! You’d really escalate a forum argument to online doxxing? If you’re so brave, why not meet me for a 1v1 offline?

Seething with rage, Liu Yu logged onto the forum and created a new post, its title practically overflowing with aggression.

‘[Speaking objectively, do all fans of Vanguard possess a beauty born of a missing brainstem?]

[As fellow heroes, Azure Blue hosts offline fan meetings and interactive events every year. But Vanguard? Not a single official photo exists, yet their popularity remains undiminished. A mere collection of AI-generated face swaps and shoddy Photoshopped images is enough to utterly bewitch you all.]

[Tsk tsk, I can certainly understand your desperation, given there’s absolutely nothing to sustain you. Yet, despite this, you manage to propel Vanguard into the top ten in every single vote. You must either be brain-dead or a simp—there’s no other explanation.]’

A single stone had indeed stirred up a thousand ripples.

‘[Damn, brother, I’m impressed. You actually dared to say that.]’

‘[Can this blanket insult just die already? Where are the admins? Quickly, lock this clown back up.]’

‘[OP, hold strong! As a proud member of the Azure Blue faction, I openly support you.]’

‘[Brother 79 just got unbanned and is already stirring up trouble. He truly can’t sit still. Does he harbor some deep-seated grudge against Vanguard?]

[Hero fans are utterly terrifying. Our Miss Tianlai is so much better; her voice is beautiful, her demeanor gentle, and she’s incredibly warm toward her fans. I suggest everyone embrace Miss Tianlai.]’

‘[Can these idol fanatics just go back to their own section and rant? A bunch of pretty faces with no other purpose, just useless vases, daring to pick a fight?]

[Heh heh, as if you aren’t all just after their faces. If looks don’t matter, why don’t you go fawn over old Uncle Cang Hong?]

[Did “uncle-lovers” offend you?]’

Watching the thread erupt into a lively debate, Liu Yu decided to add more fuel to the fire.

‘[Since there are so many Vanguard fans here, surely you can’t even produce a high-definition full-body photo, can you? No, no, surely not. Perhaps they’re perfectly aware of it all, deliberately stringing you simps along to maintain their popularity, cultivating an aloof persona.]’

This challenge truly stumped the forum users.

As everyone knew, ever since the association’s inception, Vanguard had been stationed year-round in the border zone, precisely where the Blackblood and human territories converged.

To catch a glimpse of her within the now stable inner and outer realms was a feat more challenging than ascending to the heavens. The only conceivable method would be to orchestrate some earth-shattering event significant enough to compel her return.

In such a situation, where she was as elusive as a dragon showing only its head, unearthing even a few old photos from disaster relief efforts was considered a monumental achievement. As for high-definition, full-body shots, that was a laughable impossibility.

‘[You all claim to be veteran fans, yet you can’t even produce a single photo. With such a pathetic showing, no one would even want you as a simp—it’s no wonder Vanguard pays you no mind.]’

Having finally gained the upper hand in a forum debate, a rare occurrence, Liu Yu pressed her advantage relentlessly. The more she engaged, the more invigorated she became, her cheeks flushing a distinct crimson from the sheer excitement.

‘[We’re doomed! Brother 79 is going to utterly obliterate us today.]’

‘[Vanguard stans, are you even trying? Weren’t your fighting capabilities formidable before? You were among the first to bash pop idols back then, so why have you all become cowards now?]

[This is the most I’ve ever supported Brother 79. These people constantly use Vanguard to belittle others. PS: Just a disclaimer, I have no issue with Vanguard; my problem is solely with those brain-dead fans.]’

‘[Fight, fight! I want to see rivers of blood!]’

The thrill-seekers wildly egged them on, fanning the flames and sending the post soaring to the top of the trending threads.

In this fervent atmosphere, Liu Yu felt as though the entire world was rallying behind her, urging her to settle scores with these universally detested scoundrels.

She scrolled through the screen, ceaselessly seeking out new targets for debate. The opponents’ stunned silence and flailing attempts to deflect brought her an indescribable rush of satisfaction, a thrill that propelled her to relentlessly seek her next victim.

…Hm?

Why did she suddenly feel a strange heat, a restlessness? Was Shadow slacking off?

However, there was no time to lecture a slacking employee who wasn’t doing their job properly. Liu Yu’s attention had been captured by a newly posted message from a user with the ID [Vanguard Fan Club Member 124].

‘[It’s just Vanguard’s photo, isn’t it? I have plenty.]’

Below, a picture was confidently attached.

As if doused with a bucket of cold water, Liu Yu briefly snapped out of her frenzied state. While secretly cursing the shameless, white-haired scoundrel for her apparent love of showing off, she clicked on the image with a pounding heart.

“Ha, is that all?”

Liu Yu scoffed, immediately drawing a conclusion by comparing the image to her own figure.

‘[These legs are clearly a size thicker, and the person is shorter. Aside from the face, it bears no resemblance. You loli-lovers, can you find somewhere else to indulge your fantasies? Is there no room at Gemini? Swapping someone else’s head onto this is just pure comedy.]’

‘[Holy moly, Brother 94, you’re amazing! I just used AI to compare it with a photo taken when the association was founded, and it’s exactly as you described.]’

‘[So Brother 94 is the *real* fan.jpg]’

‘[Hater-fans are still fans, right?]

[It seems Vanguard’s perennial absence truly hurt Brother 94’s heart, which is why he’s attacking that white-haired person everywhere. I ship it, I ship it!]

[…Seriously, can you just ship *anything*? And why are you, with a Starfire avatar, even joining in this discussion?]

[I told you, I have many, many photos of Vanguard. Only one was fake; I still have plenty more.]’

Even after being exposed on the spot, [Vanguard Fan Club Member 124] refused to back down, continuing to send photos of Vanguard to bolster their argument.

To ensure he was utterly convinced of his defeat, Liu Yu walked to a mirror, casually critiquing the images by comparing them to her own reflection.

‘[Heh heh, this must be a dairy cow. Her chest is ridiculously large.]’

‘[These eyebrows are skewed, brother, and those eyes are noticeably smaller.]’

‘[Her skin tone is far too dark, isn’t it? Do you have a fondness for chimpanzees?]

[This one seems real, but it’s so blurry it’s practically a mosaic. Where did you even crop it from?]’

Under Liu Yu’s almost unfair assault, [Vanguard Fan Club Member 124] was utterly routed, retreating step by step until they had nowhere left to go.

A crisis! A major crisis! An unprecedented, colossal crisis!

They could not afford to lose any further.

He knew precisely what terrifying consequences would follow if this losing streak continued.

That was—the complete loss of their internet voice!

This epic defeat would be etched into everyone’s memory, ensuring they would forever be seen as inferior in future debates. More gravely, even those idol fanatics would be able to walk all over them, and they would face severe backlash from every group they had previously scorned.

Therefore…

They could not lose…

They absolutely could not lose…

‘[Don’t be afraid, brother, I’ve brought the Black Dragon Annihilation Blade to save you.]’

Oh, look, someone even created a new alt account.

The ID was [Vanguard Fan Club Member 125], registered less than three minutes ago—clearly a hastily made alt.

‘You think that’s enough to turn the tables?’

Liu Yu felt an unshakeable calm. She was convinced that these people could never produce any high-definition photos of Vanguard. The light of victory was already within reach, theirs for the taking.

‘All of you so-called Vanguard fan clubs, disband yourselves now!’

“Hahahaha!”

Having completely forgotten her original objective, Liu Yu laughed as she clicked on the photo posted by Member 125. Then…

Her smile froze.

Wait, wait, wait…

Wh-wh-what *is* this?

Why, why, why would such a photo exist?

Cold sweat trickled down her back as Liu Yu painstakingly zoomed in on the image. The familiar scene within made her dizzy.

The location was precisely the wilderness outside Dongchuan, near the small house where she had woken up. A silver-haired (?) girl in a black robe stood atop a collapsed building, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.

‘Aaaah! That’s me! That’s absolutely me! Aside from my grey hair being Photoshopped white, the location and appearance are identical!’

‘…When was this taken? Have I been under surveillance all this time??’

The more Liu Yu thought about it, the more terrified she became, feeling as if an unknown entity was clinging to her window, watching and photographing everything inside her room with its eyes and phone.

She trembled as she sent her comment:

‘[I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please, please don’t post any more. I promise I’ll never call you simps or cucks again. Please spare me.]’

Then, before anyone could react, she swiftly deleted the post and fled the scene, all in one fluid motion.