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

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To be honest, Ana might have gone too far.

Given Kalpas's tenacious nature, admitting defeat was simply not an option for him. Moreover, he was unaware of the extent of Ana's energy expenditure, and without activating artificial destabilization himself, even against Kevin, Kalpas would never back down.

Thus, unless Ana provided a way out, Kalpas absolutely wouldn't concede, determined to maintain his facade no matter how bruised he appeared.

"Hmph, Herrscher, do you think you've won?"

"Although I acknowledge your potential as a successor, it's not enough!"

With those words, a raging inferno ignited around Kalpas, transforming his stance noticeably. It was clear that he realized facing or defeating Ana in his normal state was impossible; she warranted his full power.

"Artificial Destabilization, activate!"

As Kalpas prepared to enter his artificial destabilization state, Ana's eyes also reflected a serious demeanor.

She had faced both powerful Valkyries and Herrschers before, but encountering a Fusion Warrior in their artificial destabilized form for the first time, especially against someone as formidable as Kalpas, was unprecedented.

In the original storyline during the Elysian Realm arc, when confronted with Kalpas going all-out, Raiden Mei struggled to keep up, ultimately requiring Aponia's intervention to halt the confrontation.

There was no doubt that Kalpas possessed the power to kill the Herrscher of Thunder. Additionally, his solo defeat of the Herrscher of Ice further elevated Ana's assessment of him, making her cautious not to underestimate him even slightly.

That's why from the beginning, Ana refrained from using ordinary wind blades for probing and instead opted for a more significant move directly. Kalpas deserved this respect; employing trivial tests would be insulting to such a mighty warrior.

Intense flames erupted from Kalpas, akin to a volcanic eruption. The terrifying combat determination left Ana somewhat uneasy, showcasing the true strength of a MANTIS from the previous civilization—a genuine Heroic Spirit.

Their indomitable wills were unmatched by any current Valkyries.

In comparison, the environment for Valkyries remained too comfortable. Under Archbishop Otto's leadership, although they fought against Honkai, they never truly faced the full weight of an apocalyptic world.

Pressure can either break or shape a person.

When it comes to combat determination, even Durandal, Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, couldn't hold a candle to Kalpas. However, in terms of sheer strength, if Bianka ascended to Heavenly Yuan, she could likely match him.

"Let's begin!"

Unconsciously clenching her fists, Ana tensed up, fully focused. Although she didn't draw Might of An-Utu, there were two reasons: Firstly, she was not yet proficient with its control, and secondly, Kalpas hadn't revealed his Divine Key either.

Indeed, throughout their time in the Garden of Eden, Kalpas never once used his Key of Domination—a fact worth pondering. Just how much stronger would he become wielding the Key of Domination?

The answer is—not significantly so.

In comparison, the Key of Domination's Authorities were relatively weak and couldn't significantly enhance these elite MANTIS fighters. For Kalpas, it was only effective due to the Divine Key's unique nature.

However, before Kalpas could fully enter artificial destabilization mode, a familiar voice echoed through the air:

"Alright, alright, Kalpas, calm down now!"

Elysia descended from the sky, plunging straight into Kalpas' inferno. She placed her hand on his shoulder, channeling a silvery energy from her palm.

As if doused with cold water, Kalpas swiftly composed himself. The flames engulfing him subsided, and without notice, he had switched to a new mask.

"Hmph—" Kalpas let out a cold snort, but then burst into fury in the next moment.

"Elysia... Do you realize what you're doing?"

"Um—of course I do! Kalpas, you really don't understand girls well enough. When interacting with someone as gentle and adorable as Ana, you should be more gentlemanly."

"Gentlemanly..."

Kalpas muttered under his breath, scanning their surroundings through the mask's eyeholes. Finally, he glared at Elysia once more before lifting his head to look at Ana.

"Herrscher, our battle is far from over! I'll await you in the deepest recesses!"

With that, Kalpas turned and leaped away, swiftly vanishing from Ana's sight. Sensing his direction and energy fluctuations, she knew without doubt that he had gone off to vent his frustration elsewhere.

As Kalpas departed, Elysia quietly sighed in relief.

It wasn't that she truly opposed a fight between Kalpas and Ana; however, the timing and location were not suitable. If they engaged in an all-out battle here, half of the Elysian Realm could crumble.

That would leave Klein, herself, and others with quite a mess to clean up. A confrontation was permissible, but first, they needed to move it to the deepest recesses, allowing Aponia to utilize her administrator privileges and reinforce the area.

Elysia initially hesitated to intervene directly because she indeed owed Kalpas—a promise left unfulfilled. This is why, in the original storyline, when Raiden Mei attempted to defy prophecy, it was ultimately Aponia who stepped forward as the mediator.

Indeed, it was not convenient for her to intervene directly this time, but circumstances had slightly changed.

Kalpas' obedient departure stemmed from noticing the Garden's transformation. Had he overheard Ana and Klein's conversation earlier, he might have found an excuse to leave immediately.

As for assisting with repairs? No way! It was already commendable that Kalpas refrained from causing further damage! Besides, he wasn't a visitor or administrator.

Without any authority to help with repairs, his only option was to depart.

"Don't mind him; Kalpas has always been rather stubborn," Elysia said with a smile as she approached Ana. "But deep down, he's truly adorable."

"I agree, indeed very cute." Ana nodded, a hint of a smile appearing on her face. Kalpas was genuinely pure-hearted, making such individuals inherently endearing.

"However, I believe the most adorable person here is you, Elysia."

"Hmm, well, thank you for the compliment! And yes, I tend to think so too?"

"Absolutely! You're both incredibly charming and gentle, Ana!"

"Gentle..."

Ana softly murmured these words, recalling her cold demeanor towards Theresa, Himeko, and Kiana, as well as her indifference towards Rita. A wry smile crossed her face, and she shook her head.

"I've hurt many people close to me; I can't claim to be gentle."

"But you did it for their own good, didn't you? Bearing all this alone just so others could find happiness is the epitome of noble gentleness."

"It's not that grand," Ana sighed, shaking her head gently.

"Hmm, if you keep belittling yourself like this, I might get upset, you know? You deserve love too, Ana." Elysia pouted, feigning anger.

"Would you love me then?"

"Of course!" Ellie replied matter-of-factly. "Who wouldn't fall in love with someone as kind, beautiful, and adorable as you, Ana?"

"That answer feels a bit sly," Ana chuckled, shaking her head again. It was quintessentially Elysia—loving everyone unconditionally. Perhaps truly crossing boundaries with her would require taking the initiative myself.

"How could it be?" Elysia placed her hands on her hips, responding warmly. "Alright, alright, let's go meet Eden! She's been eager to get acquainted with you for quite some time now."

Without giving Ana a chance to respond further, Elysia swiftly changed the subject, leaving Ana with no choice but to nod helplessly—this was just how Elysia operated.

She never directly refused anyone; if truly reluctant, she would simply divert the conversation. She rarely outright spoke her mind, often choosing subtlety instead—a form of art and self-protection for Elysia.

"Eden..." Ana murmured softly, conjuring the image of that elegant and beautiful figure in her mind's eye.

Whether in this life or the previous one, Ana's attitude towards Eden has always been one of admiration. Like a lotus, she stood aloof, unconquerable by mere desire.

No one could tame such a thorny rose unless she herself showed significant interest.

However, it must be said, as a best friend, Eden is truly exceptional. Everyone would wish for a friend like her; having Eden as a companion is indeed immense good fortune for Elysia.

"Wouldn't our unannounced visit be somewhat intrusive?" Ana expressed her slight concern, highlighting the stark differences between reality and the game world.

In the game, Raiden Mei's encounters with Heroic Spirits primarily took place in the Boule Chamber, while exploring the Elysian Realm focused more on combat scenarios.

Initially, when Ana first entered the Elysian Realm, it followed a similar pattern.

In her previous visit, Ana encountered Elysia in the main hall and Kevin thereafter. Finally, at the deepest recesses, she passed Aponia's trial, completing the full gauntlet.

"Don't worry! Eden is wonderful; she won't mind," reassured Elysia with a wink. "Besides, it was originally Eden who invited you."

"An invitation..." Ana's eyes sparkled, realizing that as the first Herrscher to enter the Elysian Realm and having just subdued Kalpa, it naturally piqued the curiosity of other Heroic Spirits.

Hmm, though if we're strictly talking about invitations, only Eden seems likely. There's a slight chance for Su, but compared to his real-world counterpart, approximately fifty thousand years have elevated his spiritual realm significantly here, making him more inclined towards Buddhist principles.

And Buddhism emphasizes karma and fate.

Thus, Su wouldn't extend such an invitation. However, this realization opened up intriguing possibilities for Ana, albeit needing Pardo's assistance first.

While Rational Fluid doesn't directly influence the Garden of Eden's weather system, Ana can only affect a limited area at once. To truly stir things up, she requires Pardo, capable of traversing through everyone's memory spaces.

Eden's residence is also located at the outskirts of the Elysian Realm, reflecting her generous nature. The entire realm owes its existence to her benevolence.

In fact, Eden is one of the Heroic Spirits that visitors are more likely to encounter easily. Conversely, Elysia typically only appears if something piques her interest.

From the beginning, it seems Elysia has been observing Ana, despite her not being a Herrscher.

Indeed, Ana is practically the first person in thousands of years to meet Elysia within this Garden, while encounters with Eden are relatively common. Natasha, or Miss Raven, who entered the previous incarnation of the Elysian Realm and frequented this current version as well, often visited Eden here.

Natasha had a fondness for fine wines, which coincidentally matched Eden's interests, making them quite compatible in conversation.

As Ana stepped into this area, she was deeply captivated by its breathtaking beauty.

In the distance, there lay an eternal sunset, casting vibrant twilight hues. A bit further away stood majestic maple trees, their fiery red leaves gently swaying in the breeze. Beneath one grand maple tree, a luxurious piano rested gracefully.

A classically beautiful figure with long burgundy hair sat before the piano under the tree, playing a mesmerizing melody.

The crisp notes danced across the piano keys, melodious and soaring, akin to the heralding fanfare at dawn or a lament for the setting sun.

This scene prompted Ana to spontaneously recall a phrase, uttering it aloud:

"This moment shines like gold."

Beside her, Elysia looked slightly surprised before breaking into a smile.

"It seems you'll fit right in with Eden!"

"I should say she fits well with me," Ana corrected herself. With her limited talents and abilities, how could she compare to this superstar from the previous civilization? This luminary wasn't just any ordinary celebrity; she was a genuinely gifted all-rounder.

Even in her past life, such a figure would have been unparalleled.

As Ana gazed at the woman in the distance, her emotions swelled, and memories related to Eden flooded her mind. She recalled Eden's favorite operas and the compositions Eden had created for Ellie.

In comparison, Ana felt like merely an untalented, fervent admirer.

Before arriving here, Ana had even daydreamed about riding on that magnificent giant whale—an honor reserved only for Elysia.

Thus, when it came to Eden, Ana truly envied Elysia. She too wished for a best friend like Eden.

"Alright, alright, don't sell yourself short. You're truly exceptional; have some confidence and smile, okay?" Elysia noticed Ana's unease nearby and gently encouraged her with soothing words.

As Ana and Elysia continued their conversation, the distant harp music gradually ceased. The breathtaking beauty elegantly rose from her stool, turning to look at Ana and Elysia.

Noticing Eden's gaze, Ana momentarily froze. Eden was indeed...truly too beautiful, her aura indescribable by mere words. As Ellie had said, she embodied the epitome of beauty.

"Greetings, Miss Ana."

"My apologies for keeping you waiting."

"I am the fourth Heroic Spirit of the Fires of Defiance, inscribed as 'Gold'—Eden."