Consecutive numbering across a book: If you need consecutive numbering within a whole book, the numbering has to be processed before generating final (X)HTML files, without using CSS counters. Or use per-chapter numbering, e.g., "Figure 2.3" for the 3rd figure in Chapter 2. In this case, the figure number in a chapter can be get with CSS counter. However, using CSS counter for such numbering will not be a good option when creating lists at back of the book because the CSS target-counter function works only within an HTML file
See section 'Key issue for Vivliostyle' for Shinyu's comments:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1prgiLs8BUC0Kypw9KyxSbg1m47wLuD6VYR-GuLSZWGU/edit#heading=h.bsyoag5uxu4a