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

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Shortly thereafter, Kiana and Bronya arrived at Taixuan Mountain, while Ana had already completed constructing the illusory realm.

This illusion consisted of two layers—an outer and inner realm.

Kiana and Bronya entered the outer layer, which served as the foundation of the illusion, while the Herrscher of Sentience accessed the inner realm. Initially, the Herrscher indeed possessed the ability to directly shatter the entire illusion, but with its division into two realms, she lost this possibility.

However, before commencing, Ana had clearly explained the situation to the Herrscher of Sentience.

The outer realm acted as a timer. Until the illusion shattered, both she and Fu Hua were free to seek answers, needing only to find them before the illusion dissolved.

If they couldn't find Fu Hua, Ana had provided one final option: let Kiana determine who the real Fu Hua is. This elaborate setup could be considered quite intriguing, perfectly aligning with Senti's taste.

As for Fu Hua, she remained silent, likely pondering the identity of the cloaked figure before her, shrouded head to toe.

Thus, the outer layer of the illusory realm unfolded as anticipated.

Neither Bronya nor Kiana could discern between reality and illusion within this realm. On one hand, it was based on the genuine Taixuan Mountain, and on the other, it was crafted by the Herrscher of Sentience herself.

In terms of their consciousness strength, both Kiana and Bronya were relatively weak. Even before becoming the Herrscher of Sentience, the original Ana, armed with gifts from two Fusion Fighters and Fenghuang Down, could create an illusion enveloping the entire Coral Island. The World Serpent trio failed to detect any anomalies back then, making it even more impossible for these two now.

As events unfolded according to the original storyline, Kiana and Bronya soon encountered Honkai Beasts. However, this time, these creatures' target was not them.

A group of Honkai Beasts had surrounded someone—a woman dressed in traditional jianghu warrior attire. She wore a conical bamboo hat with a mask covering half her face, intricately adorned with a lifelike painted gardenia flower.

"Kiana, it seems someone is in danger over there."

Bronya promptly noticed the situation and alerted Kia beside her.

"Hmm, let's go help."

Kiana nodded, surprised to encounter others on Taixuan Mountain. Nevertheless, she would unhesitatingly assist anyone in peril.

Quickly, both girls rushed towards the scene.

However, the woman encircled by Honkai Beasts showed no signs of panic whatsoever.

"My, my, so many beasts! This could be quite troublesome," she exclaimed lightly. "But within seven steps, which is faster: blade or spear?"

The woman's voice carried a playful lightheartedness. To Kiana and Bronya's astonishment, she swiftly produced two remarkably antique-looking pistols from beneath her skirt.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

As the woman spun like a top, she transformed into a terrifying barrage of gunfire. In no time, the surrounding Honkai Beasts crumpled to the ground.

With grace, she blew away the smoke from her pistols, then whistled casually.

Her entire sequence flowed effortlessly, without any wasted movements—a true visual spectacle. Even Bronya, with her exacting standards for perfection, couldn't find fault; it was simply awe-inspiring.

Just as Kiana and Bronya marveled at her prowess, the woman suddenly turned towards them.

"Ladies over there, come join me for a chat!"

Kiana felt an inexplicable familiarity in the woman's voice, yet it also exuded a refreshing boldness. Exchanging glances, Kiana and Bronya approached her promptly.

In the present world, within Brother Cake's live stream chat:

[Wow! New waifu alert!]

[Ooh, those moves—so badass! And drawing her gun from beneath her skirt? MiHoYo knows how to pay homage!]

[The blend of ancient warrior maiden vibes with a gunfighting twist is truly intriguing!]

Although Brother Cake remained silent during the stream, his expression clearly showed satisfaction with the new character's attire and movements. The only downside was that, despite being presumably beautiful, she wore a half-mask, while the visible side of her face had makeup applied, creating an unnatural appearance.

However, upon closer inspection, it evoked a sense of classical elegance.

Her dress was modified, not entirely traditional but distinctly MiHoYo-inspired. It revealed generous swathes of snow-white skin, and although lacking leg hoops, she sported bindings, maintaining MiHoYo's signature asymmetrical aesthetic.

Moreover, her voice acting and animations exuded confidence and fluidity, markedly different from Rita, another mature female character. While Rita embodied charm, this newcomer possessed a spirited aura, distinct even from Durandal's heroism.

It seemed evident that MiHoYo was diligently striving to avoid overlapping character traits.

"Don't get too excited yet; we still don't know her name. Plus, having a character model doesn't guarantee she'll be added to the game."

Rationally-minded viewers quickly emerged to cool down the live chat.

Their point was valid. So far, numerous characters with models had not made it into the game, such as Anti-Entropy's Doctor and even Higokumaru. Not only were they absent from the battleship, but they didn't have ELFs either. It was possible that this new character might just remain as a model without further inclusion.

"You're right, we don't know her name yet, but I declare her my waifu!"

"Who's peeing yellow? Someone wake him up already!"

"Nonsense, she's clearly my wife!"

Throughout this excitement, Brother Cake, the main figure of the live stream, remained silent. To be honest, he felt something was peculiar about this. Moreover, comparing the character model, it seemed strikingly similar to another existing character's design modifications.

While it wasn't definitive proof that similar models indicated the same character, it did spark some thoughts for Brother Cake. However, recalling his agreement with Old Mi, he held back. This time, he decided to trust the screenwriter—perhaps there was more to it after all! After all, Otto himself had stated that death wouldn't come so easily.

Although not explicitly stated by the writer, Otto's remark and the script's arrangement already hinted at significant implications.

At this point, Brother Cake was unaware that Otto would also meet his demise later on.

How should I put it? Otto's death was both unexpected yet plausible within the narrative context. Nevertheless, it genuinely caught everyone off guard. Considering Otto's status, power, and deeply ingrained character portrayal, he could have easily avoided death if he so desired.

Of course, similarly, the writer never explicitly said that Otto wouldn't die either.

In any case, regarding this newly introduced character, Brother Cake decided to observe further. Many characters follow a similar pattern: they make an appearance only to be sidelined indefinitely without any subsequent development.

However, this particular character resonated well with players' preferences, and their introduction, along with the background setting, strongly suggested a new figure representing an emerging faction. This led to speculation among fans.

At the very least, even if nothing else materialized, incorporating them into future event scenarios as a heterogeneous character wouldn't be a bad idea!

This notion echoed among the viewers in the live stream chat.

As they say, words spoken without intent can resonate deeply with the listener. This idea struck a chord in Ana's heart as she secretly observed the live stream. She recalled that previously, the system had offered her an opportunity to edit event scenarios.

Throughout Honkai Impact 3's events, Ana's involvement was always minimal—typically confined to ensemble activities where she would receive a swimsuit skin and play a minor role, far from the prominence enjoyed by characters like Parasol Kaiserin.

Moreover, legitimate alternative storylines never featured Ana at all.

However, this thought sparked an idea in her mind.

Becoming part of the Captain's harem seemed impossible, but being his wingwoman wasn't out of the question. On the heterogeneous Hyperion, several characters, such as Hacker and Delta, filled similar roles.

Furthermore, given her status as the Herrscher of Finality, even if she encountered the Captain's Hyperion within the Sea of Quanta, she would hold more influence than figures like the Ferryman.

In other words, she could appear as the Captain's ally in an alternative event, requiring no direct assistance from him; collaboration alone would suffice. This arrangement would be acceptable for both herself and appealing to the players.

However, planning and executing these storylines required careful consideration. After all, as her alternative plotline unfolded, she needed to ensure it met her expectations without any regrets.

She didn't expect to surpass Luna's event arc, considering Luna was the Captain's primary love interest, at least ranking third if not higher.

Although the system had been quiet for some time, Ana felt there might still be more surprises in store. Ideally, it could grant her the ability to traverse space-time, allowing her to directly rescue Elysia (not that she would admit such intentions).

Granted, this might be pushing the boundaries of what the system could handle. Nevertheless, Ana suspected her system operated similarly to the Cocoon of Finality, likely another creation from higher dimensions, albeit with distinct features and functionalities.

As for potential encounters with future higher-dimensional beings? That's something to worry about when the time comes. For now, since it's unpredictable and unmanageable, it's best to pretend it doesn't exist.

After all, given how much assistance the system has provided, if its entity ever sought to take something from her, resistance would seem futile.

"May I inquire where you two ladies hail from and why you've come to Taixuan Mountain?" The woman bowed respectfully towards Kiana and Bronya, her question direct and devoid of any pleasantries.

Kiana and Bronya exchanged glances, momentarily unsure how to respond. Introducing themselves indeed proved challenging, especially given their visitor's attire. Additionally, they had no idea about her identity, heightening their caution.

"Oh dear, my apologies—I almost forgot to introduce myself."

"I am Bai Zhi, a leisurely swordsman. In the past, I studied extensively across Central Europe. Recently, hearing tales of the Taixuan Immortal, I ventured here specifically to seek this sage!"

Bai Zhi—formerly Ana—spoke with fluency and ease, thanks to the additional assistance provided by her predecessor: a believable identity. With the World Serpent's help, it was one that could withstand scrutiny, boasting a verifiable background.

Considering the World Serpent's expertise, even if Schicksal conducted thorough investigations, they wouldn't uncover any inconsistencies. Of course, should any arise—no worries, for the Herrscher of Sentience would promptly alter your perception, ensuring everything seems perfectly coherent.

How many individuals in this world can truly resist the Herrscher of Sentience's Authority without fail? Given Bai Zhi's strength as such a Herrscher, those capable likely wouldn't fill more than a single hand's count.

After a brief silence, Kiana glanced at Bronya and decided to speak up.

"I'm Kiana, and this is Bronya," she said. "To be honest, we're here to seek the immortals as well."

"Wow, really? Immortals haven't been seen on Taixuan Mountain for centuries! With your gear, you don't look like seekers at all. More like tomb raiders." Bai Zhi glanced them up and down, suppressing her amusement with a light chuckle.

It wasn't just Ana's teasing; Kiana and Bronya indeed appeared unprepared, resembling characters from a tomb-raiding adventure who scout locations.

Moreover, their youthful appearance was quite misleading, not typically associated with tomb raiding lore.

"Huh?" Kiana blinked, momentarily bewildered by Bai Zhi's comment. However, being a top-notch hacker, Bronya swiftly comprehended the situation and whispered to Kiana:

"She means we don't seem like visitors seeking immortals but rather like grave robbers."

Bai Zhi maintained a faint smile. Despite the amusing direct translation, she remained professional.

"Well, I'm not overly concerned about your intentions. However, Taixuan Mountain teems with illusions and dangers aplenty. Ladies, please exercise caution. Compared to those perils, the beasts we encountered earlier are insignificant."

Bai Zhi responded cheerfully:

"If you don't mind, both of you can travel with me. I've visited Taixuan numerous times and consider myself quite knowledgeable about seeking immortals here."

As she spoke, Bai Zhi proudly puffed out her chest.

"Ordinarily, accompanying someone would require a substantial fee, but seeing as you two seem interesting enough, what do you say?"

"Thank you, Bai Zhi Big Sister, but we have our own plans."

Exchanging glances, Bronya ultimately declined on behalf of both.

"All right then. However, remember well: Taixuan Mountain is shrouded by an immortal's barrier, filled with illusions and realities. Do not trust others too easily!"

With that, Bai Zhi waved goodbye and continued up the mountain, soon disappearing from their sight.

After ensuring Bai Zhi was completely out of view, Kiana turned to discuss with Bronya.

"Bronya, do you think we can trust her?"

"Bronya didn't sense any malice, and according to Anti-Entropy's records, this person exists; her identity seems genuine."

"Bronya believes she is trustworthy."

"However, our primary goal is to obtain control over Honkai Energy through the Taixuan Sword Qi, so we should avoid entanglements with others."

"Hm, Bronya agrees."