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

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After Su's departure, Ana ascended through the theater's corridors.

At each level, there was a mirror. In the game's storyline, Kiana would traverse this path, but now, Ana took her place, proceeding even more recklessly.

These mirrors represented shared memories between Sirin and Kiana. Within the game, interacting with them unlocked specific plot events.

Now, Ana also engaged with these mirrors, albeit in a different manner.

She swung Might of An-Utu, shattering each one after another.

"Stop hiding, Sirin. I know you can see me; you won't escape this time! Heh heh he—"

As Ana ruthlessly destroyed the mirrors, she called out to the Queen in a somewhat deranged tone. At this point, acting might have been futile.

But life is like a play, and performance matters. If she could intimidate the little pufferfish this way, it would save her considerable effort.

After all, the stakes she had to wager were indeed quite high.

Unfortunately, the Queen didn't fall for it. The theater remained eerily silent, with only occasional sounds of shattering glass echoing through. Apart from that, no other noises disturbed the quiet.

Undeterred, Ana continued smashing mirrors one by one.

Honestly, she wished she could set this entire place ablaze and burn it to the ground. However, doing so might harm her students, forcing her to resort to this clumsy method instead.

Although slow and time-consuming, it proved effective. As Ana progressed upward, the memories within the mirrors dwindled, indicating she was drawing closer to Sirin.

Finally, amidst a series of roars, a massive dragon suddenly emerged from the previously dark skies—more accurately, a dragon-shaped Honkai Beast named Benares, often referred to as Baby Dragon by players.

It dove down towards Ana, making her seem incredibly small compared to its colossal size.

However, size does not equate to strength.

"Still guarding your queen, I see? Hmph—" With a cold snort, Ana raised the Greatsword of Cataclysm, igniting it with raging flames. A brilliant sword aura blazed forth as she swung at Benares.

Benares attempted to evade, but how could a mere Archon Honkai Beast stand against the Empress of Wind? The combination of the Transcendent Queen and the most potent Divine Key meant even an Anarchy-level Honkai Beast might be instantly slain.

The sword's radiant strike hit the great dragon, effortlessly slicing through its body with terrifying force, leaving behind a massive gash. With a mournful roar, Benares plummeted from the sky, crashing near Ana.

Despite its injuries, it steadfastly guarded the staircase, barring Ana's path as if protecting something invaluable.

"Against an unbeatable foe, your best choice is to step aside."

Ana pointed the Rift Bringer at Benares, unwilling to kill her here. If Benares died in this realm, there would be no chance for resurrection outside.

Ana was quite fond of the master-servant dynamic between Sirin and Bella. Moreover, Bella remained fiercely loyal to Sirin, who also happened to be Kiana. Additionally, should Bella perish here, what would happen to Mei's Kujikara?

Despite its grievous wounds, the great dragon stood firm, unwilling to budge. Lowering its proud head, it pleaded with Ana to spare its queen.

This sight elicited a sigh from Ana. If ever she found herself in such a predicament, would Cang Luan protect her just as fiercely? Perhaps that's what being a loyal companion meant—being not merely subordinates but family.

"Little pufferfish, how long will you hide behind your companions before stepping forward?" Ana asked coldly. She raised her Greatsword, aiming at Benares, but instead of striking down, she wielded the Authority of Wind, sweeping Bella aside like debris.

The great dragon let out a mournful cry, attempting to defend its queen. However, moments later, a blue luan bird descended from the sky like an eagle capturing a snake, pinning the dragon beneath its weight and rendering it immobile.

"My lady, leave this one to me!" exclaimed the excited voice of the luan bird, addressing Ana. Without a doubt, this Honkai Beast was none other than Cang Luan.

Ana did not respond verbally; instead, she strode directly towards the mirror.

Within the mirror lay a familiar girl, Ana recognized—this was not where the Herrscher of the Void hid but rather the refuge for Kiana, escaping reality.

The relationship between Kiana and the Queen was truly intriguing.

In truth, the Queen always possessed the power to utterly extinguish Kiana, yet she never acted upon it. In a sense, neither Kiana nor the Queen were the original Second Herrscher anymore; they represented continuations of Sirin's essence, distinct from that of the Second Herrscher.

Though the Queen outwardly proclaimed her disdain for all, viewing others as mere insects, in reality, she exhibited restraint. Perhaps, one might speculate, she has even assumed aspects of the Herrscher of Human state.

However, due to the immense evil burdened by Sirin—the malevolence and fear directed towards her by researchers, Valkyries, and countless others, along with the carnage she caused—all these sins now weigh heavily on the Queen's shoulders.

It is indeed difficult to judge her actions objectively.

Nevertheless, regardless of circumstances, for the sake of the Kiana Ana knew so well, and driven by their fundamentally opposing ideologies, the Queen must be removed from the stage.

Humans did not need a Herrscher wavering between humanity and Honkai. To save this generation, they required a Herrscher who could serve as the Kindling—a Herrscher wholly dedicated to fighting for humankind.

Despite the world's many imperfections, it was still essential for them to continue battling, striving towards a brighter future.

Ana touched the mirror surface, finally sighed, and turned to leave.

Just then, an Aether Spear suddenly burst forth from within the mirror. Caught too close, it pierced through Ana's chest.

More Aether Spears followed, impaling her like a hedgehog.

This was the mental realm of the Herrscher of the Void, where Ana's Authority proved less effective. The power of wind remained purely physical, lacking any influence over the spiritual plane.

"As expected, you still care about this girl... How utterly laughable..." A voice, tinged with both indifference and mockery, echoed behind Ana. Unbeknownst to her, the true Herrscher of the Void had appeared nearby.

Ana swiftly turned around, only to find that Kiana in the mirror had vanished without a trace.

Undoubtedly, this was Herrscher of the Void's trap. It must be said; she has indeed grown wiser.

Ana trembled, attempting to struggle free from the Aether Spears, but more continued to emerge from the mirror behind her.

The Herrscher of the Void never showed mercy to her enemies.

"Your strategy wasn't bad, unfortunately..."

Herrscher observed Ana's dire state and shook her head, remaining completely unaffected. Her emotions mirrored those when she believed she had killed Himeko previously.

However, the current situation differed entirely. This time, Herrscher of the Void could confidently assert her victory.

"Is that so?" Ana weakly responded, pierced by multiple Aether Spears. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips as several feathers materialized in her hand.

"How can you be sure everything you've seen is real?"

As Ana finished speaking, all the Aether Spears impaling her vanished, causing the once triumphant Herrscher of the Void to abruptly kneel on the ground.

A pale green glow emanated from Ana, revealing Su's power—the Karmic Wheel.

During the Legacy Chapter, Bianka had already experienced the potency of this move firsthand. As widely known, Su was a psychic perception-type Fusion Warrior; hence, his most formidable abilities lay within the mental realm.

Currently, Ana herself exists purely as a spiritual entity. Firstly, her Authority suppresses three powers that the Queen has yet to fully master, giving Ana a significant advantage from the outset.

Everything before now was merely a ruse by Ana to lure out her opponent, both physically and mentally.

Undeniably, Ana is indeed an exceptional actress, completely deceiving the Herrscher of the Void.

As a result, the pain previously inflicted on Ana by the Herrscher of the Void is now amplified and rebounded back upon the Queen without affecting Ana at all—a testament to Su's power.

This ability truly has the potential to turn the tide in critical moments, hinting at the immense investment Ana must have made in Kiana.

"Just now...it was all fake?" The Queen uttered incredulously, the repeated agony of being pierced by the Aether Spear felt unbearable. Despite enduring similar torment in the past, the pain she now experiences is exponentially intensified.

"What else?"

Holding Fenghuang Down's feather with one hand, Ana slowly approached the Queen.

"Kiana's mental strength is safeguarded by my most trusted friend; her presence here was never possible. Did you think I would falter? How laughable!"

"Heh heh—so what if you win this time? You can't save this girl. I will forever haunt her dreams, lingering within her mind until... she can no longer resist..."

"She's a sinner; there's no saving her, ha ha ha—"

Watching the slightly deranged Herrscher of the Void, Ana shook her head. In truth, even she felt somewhat overwhelmed, as the Herrscher had now stumbled twice at the same point.

The last person to inflict such significant losses on the Queen was Himeko. However, it mattered little now, for henceforth, the Queen wouldn't face further setbacks, being inherently benevolent herself.

"If I could reach this place, why assume I don't have the means to save her?" Smiling, Ana gently waved the Fenghuang Down feather in her hand.

Although it appeared to be trembling, the feather itself remained unchanged. These feathers existed on a spiritual level, crafted from the core power of the Herrscher of Sentience.

"I remember this... hmph." The Herrscher of the Void knelt on one knee, struggling to maintain her composure, yet even then, she couldn't help but scoff upon seeing Ana's feather.

This object had also caused her significant setbacks before.

"You can't save this girl with just this trinket."

"That's because you lack understanding of Fenghuang Down. Remember, knowledge is power, little pufferfish. If only you'd read more, perhaps you could have already destroyed the world by now," Ana lamented while activating the Fenghuang Down in her hand.

Instantly, the feather began to shimmer, igniting with pale pink flames as Su silently materialized behind Ana, infusing his energy into her.

"Ha ha ha, using that trick again? Is there any point?" The Herrscher of the Void laughed mockingly, treating Ana like a clown. She had witnessed this tactic before and knew it was futile; however, she underestimated Su's strength.

At that moment, Ana ignited her own memories using the Yin-Yang Wheel to connect with the Herrscher of the Void's mind, then proceeded to burn the negative memories sustaining the Queen's persona.

Of course, burning these memories at this level wouldn't completely erase them, meaning it couldn't fundamentally extinguish the Herrscher of the Void.

However, it was sufficient.

When Kiana eventually recovers these memories, the Queen's personality would need to be reborn anew. With Kiana's now considerable strength, she could either conquer or fully accept the Queen's persona, much like before.

For Kiana, reconciliation remains the best outcome, as regardless of circumstances, the Herrscher of the Void's blood debt must ultimately be borne and redeemed by Kiana herself.

As for Ana, burning these memories doesn't entail significant loss. The Herrscher of the Void perished while still young, considerably younger than Ana's past self - the reincarnator. Exchanging those early memories is advantageous for her, without affecting her understanding of the world from her previous life.

Unfortunately, with this decision, she would never be able to return to her past.

Her memories lacked a carrier like the Herrscher of the Void; once burned, they were irretrievable, without any backup possibility.

Nevertheless, Ana harbored no regrets.

In her previous life, she deeply admired Kiana, appreciating this optimistic, kind-hearted, and slightly hot-headed girl. Having witnessed her journey, the opportunity to create new stories for her now felt truly honorable.

"Uh... Ah—"

The Herrscher of the Void emitted piercing screams as the agony from burning Fenghuang Down's memories rivaled the pain of being injected with the Gun of God earlier. This time, genuine fear gripped her, sensing the imminent threat of complete annihilation.

"Stop it! Stop! Do you realize what you're doing?!" The Queen shrieked, desperately trying to dissuade Ana, well aware of the price Ana was willing to pay. It seemed like a mutual destruction scenario unfolding before her eyes.

However, this mutual destruction could only be achieved by Ana herself due to her involvement with Herrscher's Authority. If Fu Hua attempted it, she would likely take both Kiana and herself down—an essential distinction between them.