Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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[Now this is it—the Queen truly meets her end.]

[Nonsense! The Queen has clearly become the Parasol Kaiserin. Who cares about the Queen of the Void? The Parasol Kaiserin is where it's at!]

[Her presence lingers...]

Of course, alongside these comments were also well-wishes for Sirin's farewell.

The affection and interest in Sirin largely stemmed from Honkai Academy, where she indeed portrayed a lovable little angel. This sentiment carried over, making Captains here anticipate Sirin's portrayal as well.

As for the Queen's departure, how should one put it? It wasn't particularly grand, but considering her past, it was actually quite fitting. Moreover, the Queen represents a part of Sirin, so players could still accept it to some extent.

After all, even if the Captains pondered themselves, they couldn't envision a better fate for the Queen. She embodies Kiana's antithesis, the malevolent side of Sirin, and ultimately, only one of them can exist.

However, there were suggestions hoping for a heterogeneous version of Sirin from another world bubble. This idea seemed reasonable enough, right?

At this point, players still preferred existing heterogeneous characters like Yae Kasumi from the current version and previous ones such as Zhuge Kongming and Moonlight—these variations didn't fundamentally deviate from their original roles.

To truly introduce a new heterogeneous character, whether it be Sirin or any other, would require further confirmation.

[Hey, folks, shouldn't the focus of this chapter be on Ana instead?]

[I'm deeply moved. Despite saving Himeko, Ana has to lie to Kiana afterward. Hopefully, Kiana won't hold a grudge against Teacher Ana; she's just as great as Himeko.]

[Yeah, strangely, after witnessing Himeko's sacrifice, I feel less impacted by this revelation now.]

[But wow, didn't expect the foreshadowing from the Legacy Chapter to lead here! It seems Ana had been contemplating how to deal with the Queen for quite some time. This move puts Ana way ahead of everyone else.]

The narrative doesn't reveal much about Ana's inner thoughts, nor does it depict her small attempts at breaking dimensional barriers. It appears that the system discourages Ana from engaging in such unconventional maneuvers.

Upon reflection, such portrayal was indeed a double-edged sword; some players appreciated it, while others did not. It might resonate well with younger Captains, but for those slightly older, it could seem overly simplistic.

After all, everyone knows that truly breaking through dimensions is impossible.

[Waaah, my heart breaks for Ana! She carries so much burden...]

[I actually feel more for Rita. Her expression shows she genuinely wants to help Ana, yet she's utterly powerless.]

[Right, following this logic, Ana must be against the Saint's Plan, right?]

[Hmm, if I'm not mistaken, Fu Hua is likely the executor of the Spark Project, and together they entrusted the Kindling onto Senti.]

[So, does that mean Ana was also a MANTIS from the previous civilization era? Otherwise, how could she be so badass?]

[Unfortunately, although it sounds plausible, the official stance clearly states that Ana belongs to the current generation.]

[By the way, why would Ana entrust the Kindling to Kiana instead? With her immense power and mastery over the wind authority, wouldn't she herself be the ideal Kindling?]

[That is indeed peculiar. Let's see how the writers explain it.]

[My guess is, perhaps Ana had planned to do as you suggested, but entrusting the Kindling to Kiana served as a contingency plan.]

["Her dialogue makes it clear: she felt uncertain about her own success, so she didn't rely solely on herself."]

[Sigh, but precisely because of that uncertainty, she needed to commit fully to her own potential.]

The chatters debated amongst themselves, highlighting the difference between players and Ana herself. The players were unaware of future developments, whereas Ana had foresight.

If players knew what lay ahead, they might find it even harder to comprehend. After all, at this moment, Ana seemed most likely to become the so-called Kindling, making Kiana seemingly unnecessary.

Moreover, facing the Herrscher of Ice, Ana also required these powers.

These apparent inconsistencies actually contributed to Ana's charm. She was human, not a saint or aspiring hero. Consequently, she harbored her own emotions and could act impulsively.

Did she lack the right to be impulsive? Not at all; in fact, she had every right, perhaps more than anyone else. It is precisely this impulsiveness that made her a living, breathing person rather than just another player focused solely on progression.

"Regardless, I believe we should trust our favorite characters," Brother Cake remarked thoughtfully after watching the unfolding plot for some time.

He generally disliked discussing storylines, fearing that such discussions might influence the actual scriptwriters' decisions. Unless, of course, the script deviated egregiously—like introducing a 2.5 version of Ana, which would surely break his patience. In such a case, he'd lead the charge straight to MiHoYo Headquarters without hesitation.

In short, he didn't want meaningless drama, even if it generated buzz. Exploiting characters solely for popularity was beneath his dignity.

For instance, if Himeko hadn't been saved by Ana and her name were constantly brought up every day, Brother Cake wouldn't have indulged such behavior either.

Naturally, Brother Cake had his own judgment; after all, this type of content initially propelled him to fame.

"Brother Cake, what's your take on this?" With Brother Cake's response, viewers quickly turned their attention to him, compelling him to elaborate further.

"Alright, alright, since you insist, I'll share my thoughts briefly." Pressing his fingers against his temples, Brother Cake sounded somewhat resigned.

"I believe Ana is playing a strategic game, where she considers everyone, including herself, as chess pieces, aiming for the most ideal outcome."

"My guess is that she doesn't truly wish for the Queen's demise here, but as a teacher, a loved one, and a Valkyrie, she must make a choice. She has no other option but to relinquish the Queen."

Brother Cake paused momentarily, took a sip of water, and continued:

"For the people of this world, the Herrscher of the Void represents a threat. Therefore, despite any reluctance, the Queen's departure was necessary and entirely justified."

"In summary, at present, things are still quite promising. Although the official narrative has thrown curveballs, Ana has managed to intercept them effectively." Concern crept onto Brother Cake's face.

"Now, I'm somewhat worried about what might happen if the writers directly target Ana with their knives. How will she handle that?"

"She has shielded others from harm, saving Wendy, Himeko, and even Siegfried, but what if the writers decide to focus on her specifically?"

[Damn, if they really do that, I'm quitting the game, period!]

[Hey, calm down there, buddy.]

[I agree, if the writers dare to go after her like this, I... ]

[Exactly! Those who bring warmth to all should not perish frozen in the snowstorm!]

[Well said!]

Watching the scrolling bullet comments on the screen, Brother Cake smiled but then shook his head. He didn't intend to stir up controversy, yet it seemed he inadvertently did so. Now, he could only hope everything unfolds as he wished.

If the original intention was indeed to deliver a tragic twist, and this uproar prevents it, he would be quite content. After all, humans often exhibit double standards in situations like these.

In the Honkai World, Ana suddenly sneezed, feeling as if someone was talking about her, though she had no evidence to support it.

Currently, she remained in Tianqiong City, observing the unfolding events. There was no need for her direct intervention; instead, she awaited an opportunity. Once that task was accomplished, her chances of countering Herrscher of Ice would significantly increase.

Originally, there wasn't even a necessity to wait, but given the current circumstances, she preferred avoiding an encounter with Kevin. To prevent such an unnecessary meeting, seizing this chance became crucial.

Captains familiar with the plot knew what was coming next: Kevin would leave the World Serpent Headquarters to engage Fu Hua in battle, which was precisely the opportunity Ana sought. However, for Ana, it was still early, leaving her ample time and chances to act.

As Ana patiently waited, the System's voice chimed in once again, announcing another reality inversion event—this time longer, with synchronized real-time flow, allowing her to avoid wasting time in the Honkai World unnecessarily.

After all, at present, she truly had nothing pressing to do.

The situation in Tianqiong City could be handled by Kiana, Rita, and the recently arrived Bianka. With the current Kiana, there was no concern about the Herrscher awakening, enabling her to freely utilize the Authority of Space. Ana's involvement now held little significance.

Moreover, having Bianka take Kiana away wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Otto indeed needed assistance from the Herrscher of the Void, but only for support. This could also help alleviate Kiana's situation and strengthen the bond between sisters—what's not to like about that?

Ana couldn't find any compelling reason to intervene; just because Raiden Mei might worry? No, no, no—not anymore. Now, she is effectively the "son-in-law" of the Kaslanas, and her word holds sway.

Besides, concern and longing can fuel one's strength. Becoming a Herrscher isn't straightforward for Raiden Mei either, much like how conquering the Gem of Desire came at a significant cost.

Thus, this situation could be seen as fostering Mei's growth.

Alright, enough with the excuses—it's all bullshit. The real reason is simply to create an opportunity for Kevin's ascension. Ana has grand plans at hand; failure could result in creating a world-ending Herrscher.

In comparison, the romantic entanglements between Kiana and Raiden Mei seem trivial, don't they? How can you focus on love when the world itself is at stake? Is romance even possible amidst the world's Finality?

However, initially, Ana thought this reality inversion reward would be straightforward. But upon her return to the real world, she was utterly astounded.

This time, Ana materialized at her residence in Shanghai—a luxurious villa built during the Republican era and later renovated by renowned architects, now considered one of the city's premier mansions.

She appeared directly on the comfortable leather sofa, accompanied by a flood of memories rushing into her mind, revealing events from the past.

Approximately two months had passed since then. As a privileged young lady and a returned doctoral student, Ana enjoyed a remarkably leisurely life. She only needed to occasionally show up at her university before comfortably returning home.

Her contributions to research were enough to drive the entire academic community mad. After all, they originated from another world, remnants of the previous civilization, containing knowledge far advanced for this era.

During this period, the young heiress mostly stayed at home, rarely venturing out. Whenever she needed anything, she simply informed her butler, who promptly arranged for its delivery. Essentially, she could obtain virtually anything she desired.

Just as Ana finished assimilating these memories, her phone suddenly rang, and a warm, intimate voice of an affluent woman resonated from the other end.

"Sweetheart Ana, how are you adjusting back home?"

Indeed, it was Ana's mother in this world and also the head of the financial conglomerate. Typically, she remained abroad, constantly busy.

"I'm doing well, what's up, Mommy?"

From Ana's recollection, although her mother loved her dearly, their phone calls usually followed a strict routine. This wasn't the usual time for mother-daughter conversations.

"There's your little cousin; I heard she's eager to meet you since you're back home! She took a private jet yesterday and should be arriving soon. Make sure to take good care of her. She adores you."

"Sure, understood, Mommy."

Ana responded and hung up the call. The mention of her foreign cousin didn't evoke any particular feelings or interest in her. Once she arrives, she'd let the butler handle things.

Ana lazily thought to herself as she heard rhythmic footsteps approaching. A distinguished white-haired gentleman ascended from downstairs and bowed towards Ana. It was Edward, her family's butler, whom she typically addressed as Grandpa Edward in her memories.

"Young Lady, your cousin has arrived."

"Alright, send her up!" Ana casually waved her hand, showing little interest. After all, she used to be a teacher at Saint Freya Academy; no matter who this little cousin might be, she could handle it easily. Once done, she'd delegate the task to Edward and then comfortably catch up on her beauty sleep...

"Big Sis Ana..."

Before Ana could even close her eyes, a timid yet delicate voice suddenly echoed. Initially, Ana felt nothing, but after a second, as if realizing something, she bolted upright, astonished, staring towards the source of the sound.

What she saw was astounding!

A young girl with purple hair and golden eyes—this...this...bloody hell, it's Sirin! It's Sirin!

"Sirin?" Ana stood up, cautiously addressing the girl before her, feeling slightly annoyed within herself for not asking Mommy earlier about her cousin's name. If it wasn't Sirin, that would just be...

"Yes, Big Sis Ana, hello."

The young girl responded affirmatively and rushed towards Ana, throwing herself into her embrace.

"Ana, I...I missed you so much... I had a dream before...a dream where I turned into a villain, committing many wrongs and hurting numerous people..."

"In the end...it was Ana who freed me, so that's why I came to find you!"

"Thank you, Ana... Thank you very much..."