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

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"Long time no see, Klein," Ana greeted casually as she took a seat at the conference table. With a quick glance around, she realized...this chair was likely where Elysia usually sat.

It had been a while since Ana last saw the enchanting Miss Pink Elf, and surprisingly, she found herself missing her presence. Elysia possessed such a captivating charm that despite sometimes feeling overwhelmed by her fervor and affection, all Ana could feel after parting was longing.

For Ana, this encounter presented a valuable opportunity.

Compared to their previous meeting, Ana now held the status of Herrscher, having completed the Ascension of Wind, making her akin to Elysia. This shared identity somewhat alleviated Ana's sense of loneliness.

In truth, within this world, Ana felt genuinely isolated.

She couldn't share what she knew with anyone, and the path she walked was inherently solitary. Only Elysia, or more accurately, Elysia's memories, could fully empathize with her emotions.

Even though Ana couldn't reveal everything to Elysia directly.

"It has been long indeed."

Klein responded mildly, continuing her work as if Ana's presence held little significance to her. Nonetheless, she had still greeted Ana upon arrival.

She truly...

"I'm entering the Elysian Realm again; this time, I might be there for a while. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out."

Ana remained unfazed by Klein's busyness and calmly stated.

"Alright, go ahead."

Klein replied without looking up, seeming somewhat dismissive, but that was just Klein - she fully comprehended what Ana said.

Honestly, at this point, there wasn't much in the Elysian Realm requiring Ana's help. It usually involved routine maintenance unless Ana planned something specific within it.

Besides, Ana had already visited the Elysian Realm before.

"Well then, I'll head in now."

With those final words to Klein, Ana turned and walked towards the nearby entrance. The Elysian Realm is a spiritual realm, with only the main hall serving as a transitional space between physicality and spirituality. To delve deeper into the Garden, one must enter purely as a consciousness entity.

The Hall of Heroes itself can be considered a connection or conduit linking the Elysian Realm to reality.

Entering the Elysian Realm might be disorienting for newcomers, but Ana had grown accustomed to it. Having previously experienced Herrscher of the Void's Mind's Eye World also made this transition smoother for her.

As soon as Ana stepped into the Elysian Realm, a familiar voice echoed through the Hall of Heroes.

"Hey—"

Following the sound, she spotted Elysia sitting on a sofa in the hall, smiling warmly at her.

"It's been a while, Ellie."

Seeing her, Ana's lips curved upwards in a heartfelt smile, and she swiftly walked over to sit beside Elysia.

"Oh my, judging by your expression, let me guess—you've missed me terribly, haven't you?"

"Of course I have."

Without waiting for Elysia's response, Ana immediately embraced her. Though merely a memory fragment, Ana could still sense Elysia's fragrance and feel her warmth—it was truly comforting.

"Looks like you must have embarked on quite a long journey, huh?"

Elysia didn't push Ana away; instead, she whispered gently into her ear.

"Yes, indeed. I've gone through so much... And now, I've become a Herrscher."

Softly, Ana spoke.

"Now, you and I belong to the same kind, don't we?"

Elysia didn't verbally respond, but her smile and slightly reddened eyes conveyed everything.

Ana hadn't spent much time in the Elysian Realm previously; otherwise, she would have at least encountered Mobius. Theoretically, she should be unaware of Elysia's situation, and Elysia herself wouldn't voluntarily reveal such information.

Unbeknownst to Elysia, Ana was essentially a reincarnator from another world. However, Elysia could discern that Ana had not been chosen as a Herrscher by fate but rather chose to become one herself, overcoming the Herrscher persona.

The exact process, however, held little importance.

"How...did you know? Was it Kevin?" Elysia asked, genuinely curious. This secret was meant to be deeply hidden within the Elysian Realm, yet Ana seemed to have uncovered it. If not through Kevin, there were few other plausible explanations.

However, even if it were Kevin, it seemed unlikely. He hadn't returned during Ana's brief stay, and considering his nature, he probably wouldn't have revealed it directly, preferring instead for her to discover the truth on her own.

Elysia, as Kevin's old friend, had a keen understanding of his character.

"What if I told you it was fate?" Ana chuckled softly.

"Elysia, I need your help and that of other Heroic Spirits. Can you assist me in finding them?"

Though phrased as a question, her tone conveyed certainty.

Elysia's memory fragment held high authority within the Elysian Realm, as everything here revolved around concealing her secrets. The only exception was Aponia.

Coincidentally, overcoming Aponia was also the challenge Ana faced during her previous visit.

"Of course, but it seems your thoughts are somewhat scattered. If not urgent, perhaps taking some time to rest and proceeding at a more relaxed pace would be better?" Elysia suggested with a smile. She could sense Ana's eagerness, but even with absorbing and mastering the power of engravings, locating all the Heroic Spirits required both time and mental fortitude.

"Uh, sorry, I'm indeed too impatient." Ana paused momentarily, her expression turning serious.

"However, I truly don't have much time left."

Indeed, she didn't. It was May 2017, nearing its end, which coincided with the expected awakening of the Herrscher of Ice. Before that moment, Ana had to complete the Elysian Realm and grasp the necessary power.

She only had ten days remaining.

"Can you share your predicament with us? Perhaps we can offer assistance?" Seeing Ana's seriousness, Elysia set aside her usual playful tone and spoke earnestly.

"Certainly, but Ellie, you must believe me!" Ana nodded gravely, understanding that claiming to awaken a second Herrscher Core as a human sounded quite abstract.

"This is how I obtained my current Herrscher Core..." Ana briefly explained the origin of her Herrscher Core to Elysia.

Elysia listened attentively, her eyes sparkling with fascination. The idea of a human choosing to become a Herrscher and conquering their Authority was truly astonishing even for other Herrschers.

At least, Elysia could sense the immense effort and hardships Ana had endured.

As the daughter of God and Herrscher of Origin, Elysia herself had never experienced what Ana went through.

"However, after becoming the Herrscher of Wind, I felt as if I was chosen again to be the Herrscher of Ice," Ana continued, her gaze towards Elysia filled with a hint of apprehension. Although she genuinely sensed this selection, it initially stemmed from her knowledge of the storyline.

"Becoming a Herrscher and then being chosen by Him once more..."

Elysia murmured thoughtfully but soon broke into a smile.

"Yes, this means you're a unique existence like me, something to rejoice about."

"I know, believe in yourself—you can achieve anything, just as I believed in you before!"

"..."

Ana didn't respond verbally, only managing a wry smile. She wished to have faith in herself, but...she was still an ordinary person at heart, and confidence stems from one's abilities.

She still lacked confidence in her powers, especially after consuming Su's strength.

Ana's situation couldn't be resolved simply through mastering Taixuan Sword Qi. Her experiences as a transmigrator and Ana's inner demons were challenges she needed to confront herself.

Much like how Kiana faced the Queen of the Void, Ana must confront her own Herrscher persona and engage in a similar battle.

However, reconciliation with that aspect seemed unlikely, likely the price Ana had to pay.

"Alright, alright, don't overthink it. Since you need our help, head to the Garden of Eden and seek them out!"

"Don't worry. As the first visiting Herrscher and one aware of the Garden's secrets, none of the Heroic Spirits will avoid meeting you."

"As for obtaining what you desire, that depends on your abilities!"

"Oh, by the way..." Elysia paused momentarily, a playful smile spreading across her face.

"I recall Kalpas having quite a connection with you!"

"Kalpas, huh..."

Frowning slightly with a peculiar expression, Ana thought about her relationship with Kalpas... It wasn't merely "not shallow." As the Herrscher of Ice from the previous civilization, if events unfolded as expected, another version of Ana was single-handedly vanquished by Kalpas—an incredibly dramatic feat.

Among all Heroic Spirits, none despised Herrschers more than Kalpas himself!

However, for Ana, she didn't feel particularly intimidated by him. Compared to Raiden Mei, the original Herrscher of Thunder in the storyline, this Herrscher of Wind was significantly stronger. Consequently, she held no fear towards Kalpas.

"In that case, I wouldn't mind seeking his guidance!" Ana calmly replied, then stood up and raised her hand, summoning a greatsword engulfed in raging flames—the Greatsword of Cataclysm.

Traditionally, she would have drawn Abyss Flower, but since Ana had given it to Rita, the weapons at her disposal were now limited to the Key of Domination and the Key of Destruction, represented by the Greatsword of Cataclysm.

As the Greatsword of Cataclysm appeared, somewhere within the Garden of Eden, the white-haired youth sensed its presence and opened his eyes. He rose to his feet, conjuring a celestial greatsword which transformed into the Might of An-Utu.

Although not physically present in the same space, the two Might of An-Utu resonated with each other, allowing Ana to sense Kevin's presence.

However, she felt no fear towards him; instead, her fighting spirit surged. Dealing with the genuine Kevin from the real world might have been challenging, but against this version within the Elysian Realm, she held nothing back, confident as long as he didn't resort to tactics like artificial collapse.

Elysia clearly hadn't anticipated Ana producing a Greatsword of Cataclysm, and surprise flickered in her eyes.

How should she put it? Elysia genuinely enjoyed surprises, and so far, Ana had exceeded her expectations. She indeed saw aspects of herself mirrored in Ana, glimpsing the potential to surpass Kevin. Yet, she kept these thoughts to herself, smiling faintly.

"Wow, you've mastered Judgment of Shamash! If Kevin sees this, he'd be quite astonished, I bet!"

"I'm already eager to confront Kevin now! Oh, did you know? That guy always has such a stone-cold expression, rarely cracking a smile or showing any emotions..." As she spoke, Elysia pouted, appearing somewhat dissatisfied.

"However, now Kalpas will likely get excited too, with a Herrscher and a worthy opponent on par with Kevin..." Elysia continued, her face filled with awe.

"But don't worry, if he goes too far, I'll be there to assist you!"

"Mm-hmm." Ana nodded, also revealing a smile.

She too looked forward to challenging Kalpas. As a benchmark for combat strength, his prowess held immense value. Most importantly, unlike other Heroic Spirits, Kalpas genuinely fought visitors to the brink, making him uniquely engaging.

"Well then, it's time for me to set off."

As Ana spoke, she embraced Elysia once more. Among the three girls, while she cherished them all deeply, Elysia was undoubtedly her favorite.

Although Elysia loved many people, her affection was openly expressed, unlike Rita and Bianka's subtle sentiments. To exclusively win Elysia's love, the solution was quite simple:

Make oneself exceptional, become akin to Elysia, reciprocate her affection, and follow her path, leaving no room for others.

"If I perform well, remember to praise me!"

Imitating Elysia's tone, Ana chuckled softly.

"Hmm?" Elysia hummed with a smile but didn't respond directly.

As Ana released her grip on Elysia, she turned and stepped into the Elysian Realm.

Within this realm, spaces intertwined and overlapped, each derived from the memories of the Heroic Spirits residing here.

What greeted Ana's eyes was a vast urban landscape filled with buildings of varying heights, collectively forming the cityscape.

However, the city was eerily silent, devoid of any human presence or sounds. It felt as though everything within had been forgotten by the world, diminishing its significance.

Indeed, this is the outer region of the Elysian Realm—the Forgotten City.

Its existence stems from the collective impressions shared by the Heroic Spirits about that fading era. Traces of every individual can be found here, meaning there's a chance to encounter any Heroic Spirit.

Of course, it's merely a chance.

And among them, several have the highest likelihood of appearance. The first worth mentioning would naturally be—Kalpas.