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

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"I'm in, definitely!" Pardo's eyes lit up, and she quickly responded. As the sole business owner in the Elysian Realm, her opportunities were limited. Encountering a significant client like Ana, there was no reason to refuse.

"But let's establish this upfront—if it involves Brother Kal, count me out. I'm genuinely scared."

Unlike her cautious approach with Raiden Mei in the original story, Pardo could be blunt with Ana. She simply admitted to being somewhat fearful of Brother Kal and knew that if they targeted him, while Ana might escape unscathed, it would likely end badly for herself.

Why did Pardo bring up Brother Kal? It stemmed from the earlier confrontation between Ana and Kalpas, even though she wasn't present at the scene. As the most observant and well-informed individual in the Garden of Eden, naturally, she was aware of the situation.

Thus, Pardo immediately associated it with Brother Kal.

"Don't worry, this time our target isn't Kalpas," Ana reassured her with a smile, understanding Pardo's concerns.

"Then there's no problem. However... Boss..." Pardo's expression turned slightly ingratiating, her gaze subtly falling near Ana's feet where a pale green gemstone lay. In Ana's terms, such gems should be called Fluid Crystals, products of Authorities brought by her Memory Fragment entering the Elysian Realm.

"Here you go." Ana casually picked it up and tossed it to Pardo.

"Heh heh, thank you, Boss!"

Watching the delighted Pardo, Ana shook her head. If Pardo merely appreciated shiny objects, it wasn't an issue. But if she considered these as valuable treasures, then it was unnecessary.

As long as her Memory Fragment remained within the Elysian Realm, these crystallizations would occasionally appear, becoming common occurrences here. Essentially, they were akin to Honkai Crystals.

For a Herrscher, forming such crystals was effortless, much like Morax creating Mora without even needing his Divine Heart—it came naturally.

These crystallizations could never hold significant value or collector's worth, unlike the gems from Eden.

After weighing her options, Ana decided not to reveal this information to Pardo. After all, with only these individuals populating the Elysian Realm, it didn't matter; Pardo's happiness should suffice for now.

"So, Boss, what is your request? You can count on me!"

"Do you know Su's whereabouts?" Ana wasted no time and asked directly. For her, finding Su in the Elysian Realm was the most crucial task of this journey.

The other objectives, such as obtaining seeds from the Primogenitor or setting up plans, were less important and could be addressed later. The day was nearly over, leaving little room for further delays.

"Of course! I visit Brother Su quite often."

Pardo smiled, looking quite proud.

"Thank you, then please lead the way. I urgently need Su's assistance."

Ana didn't dwell on Pardo's words; after all, if her assumption was correct, Pardo had likely been restocking from Su.

How intriguing! Despite knowing everything, Su simply chooses not to interfere—is this what Buddhists refer to as fate?

"All right, Boss, follow me!"

With that, Pardo pointed in a direction and swiftly headed towards it. Although her combat strength may be lacking, when it comes to agility and movement, Pardo faced no issues.

Su's residence was located similarly to Eden's dwelling, both situated within the Twilight Forest.

However, like the elusive lake fairy—no, he is the lake fairy—one could only encounter him by chance. Ana wasn't particularly fond of relying on such luck, especially in the Elysian Realm.

Moreover, seeking out Su involved personal matters, potentially even revealing her true nature. Therefore, Ana preferred not to involve Elysia for assistance.

Geographically, the Forgotten City is somewhat distant from the Twilight Forest. However, within the Elysian Realm, various Anchor Points and passages enable swift travel between locations.

As one of the Garden's exceptionally unique Heroic Spirits, Pardo and Can conveniently knew the locations of these rapid transit Anchor Points. Consequently, they swiftly guided Ana to Su's residence.

After jumping through three or four Anchor Point regions, Pardo and Ana quickly arrived at the Twilight Forest. The surroundings had drastically changed; instead of peculiarly twisted skyscrapers, all that remained was a forest bathed in golden hues during the twilight.

While Ana surveyed her surroundings, she noticed Pardo suddenly darting away without warning.

By the time Ana realized Pardo's disappearance, he had already returned with some fruits, even holding one between his teeth.

Pardo casually tossed an apple to Ana.

"Boss, you gotta try this! These are fruits from Brother Su's garden. Even outside the Garden, you won't find apples this good."

Looking at the apple in her hand, Ana couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

She originally intended to visit Su's vegetable patch anyway, but she didn't expect Pardo to beat her to it. Judging by his actions, he clearly treated it as if it were his own domain.

"Pardo, aren't you worried about Su noticing?"

Ana took a bite of the apple, and her eyes instantly lit up. This apple was truly exceptional, deserving of being cultivated by Skywise Su. Aside from its superb taste—sweet and delicious—the most remarkable aspect was the refreshing sensation upon eating it, as if gaining newfound wisdom.

It wasn't just any ordinary apple; rather, it felt like a treasure bestowing wisdom, akin to the forbidden fruit of knowledge that Adam and Eve partook in Eden.

"Don't worry, Brother Su is asleep. He won't know."

"...Is there a chance he's only pretending? Even with his eyes closed, I wouldn't be surprised if he can still read or do other incredible things."

After a brief silence, Ana decided to inform Pardo about this possibility.

Pardo initially froze, then broke into a smile.

"No way?"

Hmm, she still found it hard to believe. After all, every time she casually entered to pick fruits, Su never reacted. Even when they encountered each other within the Garden of Eden, he never mentioned it...

Just then, a sigh suddenly echoed from the distant forest. Although it seemed to originate from the woods, in reality, it resonated directly in Ana's mind. However, Pardo appeared to hear it too, becoming visibly uneasy.

"Pardo, I truly can see it."

A hint of resignation was evident in Su's voice. Initially, he didn't want to address it, as whether Pardo knew or not, it wouldn't change her habit of sourcing goods from here.

Moreover, being in the Elysian Realm, there seemed little reason for concern. However, since Ana had already brought it up, there was no need for him to hide it further. Pretending not to notice would indeed be burdensome.

Perhaps other Heroic Spirits could overlook Pardo's actions, but with his Insight Seal, Su couldn't simply ignore them. His lack of response only emboldened Pardo over time.

"Eh?!"

Pardo froze, her fur standing on end. Caught red-handed yet again, even she found it hard to remain composed, unsure how to face Su now.

"Really? Ha ha ha... Well then... You guys keep enjoying yourselves, I'll take my leave!"

Without waiting for Ana's reply, Pardo swiftly made her escape, her speed and agility suggesting that similar incidents had occurred numerous times before. It appeared everyone simply let her get away with it.

As Ana watched Pardo depart, Su's voice echoed once more.

"Please enter, visitor."

Hearing Su's voice, Ana felt reassured and stepped into this domain.

Before her eyes, she beheld a majestic Bodhi tree, reminiscent of the one within the Nihility Tardigrade.

Withered yellow leaves drifted down from the tree, scattering across the ground. Su sat beneath it, his eyes gently closed, expression kind and serene, as if in deep meditation.

Adjacent to the tree, on a patch of open land, lay a cultivated field with various vegetables growing. Nearby, there was also an orchard filled with fruit-laden trees.

All these sights gave Ana the impression of encountering a Buddhist ascetic.

Despite everything, especially considering Su from the Elysian Realm, Ana still held him in high regard.

"Greetings, Su. I assume there's no need for further explanation?" Ana said mildly, hinting at their shared understanding.

"Yes," Su responded softly. Indeed, words were unnecessary; he could sense the true essence of Su's power residing within Ana.

Unfortunately, the consciousness controlling that power no longer existed.

"It seems he has found the path he sought," Su remarked slowly.

"In a certain sense, indeed," Ana nodded in agreement.

Ana nodded in agreement.

"Su, I need to master this power. Please assist me."

"This is both Su's and my will, as well as my responsibility. Rest assured, Miss Ana."

With that, Su's eyes suddenly opened, revealing a profound force emanating from him, as if capable of penetrating all worldly mysteries.

He lifted his hand, and a Bodhi leaf appeared in his palm.

"All phenomena are impermanent, subject to the cycle of cause and effect. Momentary existence, like fleeting dreams or mirages, come forth now, step into this boundless light."

"This is the Insight Seal!"

Although Su's words during the bestowal carried a Zen-like quality, another voice echoed in Ana's mind—this was the Hall of Wisdom.

For some reason, Ana felt her gaze imbued with a sense of wisdom.

"Visitor, your thoughts seem somewhat scattered," Su's voice interrupted Ana's contemplation.

"Oh, apologies!"

Ana composed herself, realizing honestly that she hadn't experienced such feelings when facing the real Su before. In this Elysian Realm, she couldn't help but associate Su with the Goddess of Wisdom.

However, Ana quickly gained a moment of realization.

This observation actually reinforced the essence of their situation. At present, within the Elysian Realm, Su indeed possessed more divine and enlightened qualities than his counterpart in reality.

Nonetheless, even in the real world, it was not yet the end for Su. Perhaps at this very moment, the true Su might already be finding breakthroughs amidst his confrontation with higher-dimensional entities.

"No need to feel tense; I am not here to rebuke you."

"Words reflect one's inner thoughts, and so do your mental processes. I can sense your determination, will, and heart, yet they remain troubled by complexities and haunted by past memories," Su said calmly. His voice carried a mystical power that gradually eased Ana's mind.

"You're right." Ana nodded.

Her current self had benefited from her previous life and experiences, but now, she found herself inevitably entangled by these same things—a manifestation of cause and effect. This was the issue she must soon confront.

"Visitor, I initially thought you were following her path, but it seems...you have chosen a similar path to Kevin's."

"I did want to follow her way," Ana admitted, somewhat helplessly.

Mentioning this, Ana felt somewhat helpless, knowing unequivocally that "she" referred to Elysia.

But who was Ellie? She embodied pure innocence, genuine and untainted love. As God's daughter and His messenger, she stood far above mere mortals like Ana.

Walking her path would undoubtedly be smooth, but how could it ever be possible for Ana? If the original Ana had not experienced the Manila Honkai, perhaps she might have embarked on such a journey. However, the version Ana inherited was already flawed, compounded by the fact that her own existence itself was inherently imperfect.

This made it clear: no matter what, that path was closed to her.

"I can sense it, Miss Ana."

Su's eyes flickered, gradually taking on a more serious expression.

"But there is one thing I must tell you—you are not suited for Kevin's path.

"Your circumstances and personalities differ significantly from his."

"You need to forge your own unique path, and I can feel that you've already begun attempting this with some success."

Ana's eyes flickered, a hint of confusion appearing on her face.

She...has walked her own path? But she didn't feel it at all! What exactly is her path? Surely, just like Kevin, she chose to bear everything...

"I know you still have doubts. Continue moving forward!"

"Once you comprehend everything, the power of Skywise, his strength, and our powers will be at your disposal. That moment will mark your Ascension."

With that, Su closed his eyes, no longer speaking further.

"..."

Ana gazed at Su, feeling more frustrated than ever with enigmatic riddles. Despite all he said, it felt as if nothing meaningful was conveyed; the only tangible outcome was receiving Skywise's engraving.

However, Ana realized that lingering here would serve no purpose.

Strangely, after hearing Su's words, she felt a newfound sense of inner calm. It seemed as though her confidence in her upcoming Ascension had grown stronger.