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

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The two remained entangled for several seconds before finally parting.

"Hey, Bianka, you..."

Flustered and panting heavily, Ana looked at Bianka with disbelief. She couldn't quite comprehend how her opportunity to take charge had turned out this way.

"Well, for me, it's just like living in a dream anyway. There's nothing wrong with being slightly more open," Bianka smiled warmly at the adorable Ana, displaying her usual charismatic grin.

"But...this isn't a dream for me."

Su Ana silently cursed inside, managing only an awkward smile on her face, "Ha ha ha..."

"Excuse me, may I interview both of you?"

An untimely voice interrupted them as a young man dressed entirely in black approached Ana and Bianka. Holding a microphone, he resembled a street-side reporter seeking interviews.

In reality, this young man was a content creator on a popular video-sharing platform, let's call him Aoki-kun.

"No..."

"Yes..."

Concerned about potential complications, Ana responded with a "No." After all, Bianka was currently in a dream state; if she woke up, her existence might change unpredictably, and Ana couldn't foresee the outcome.

However, Bianka answered with a firm "Yes," her voice overpowering Ana's hesitation.

Despite their differing responses, Aoki-kun heard both, looking puzzled at the contrasting reactions, unsure why they would give such varied answers.

Ultimately, he took it as acceptance from both.

"Are you two a couple?"

"Yes."

"For real or joking?"

"For real."

"And just now...that was..."

"Just now, that was my response to his confession."

Bianka replied earnestly, her confident answers suggesting she had fully embraced the role she was playing.

"Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness! Could you share your thoughts on the impending future and Honkai?"

"Whatever happens in the future, I will face it together with her." Bianka, holding Ana's hand firmly, looked deeply into her eyes as she spoke, her voice filled with determination and sincerity. Ana had no doubt about Bianka's resolve, but...

"Humankind shall ultimately triumph over Honkai!"

"And what about Miss Ana?" Aoki-kun turned the microphone towards Ana.

Facing the nearby cameras directed at them, Ana felt slightly uneasy, her gaze flickering. She had anticipated various scenarios at the comic convention, but never expected this situation—it was just too...

As for Bianka, well, sometimes reality doesn't align with one's wishes...

"There is nothing more to say," Ana replied calmly after a brief moment, her expression cool and composed, reminiscent of a perpetual iceberg.

Indeed, there was nothing more to say.

Her actions were already set in motion, irreversible by anyone. Consequently, certain burdens were destined to be carried solely by Ana herself.

"Great, thank you both for your responses."

Aoki-kun's eyes lit up at Ana's answer, which perfectly captured the essence of the solitary and burdened Ana from the current storyline. This cosplayer truly was top-notch!

Unfortunately, Aoki-kun wasn't solely focused on Old Mi content, so he missed out on one unique aspect: Ana and Bianka's voices were identical to their characters' original game voices.

This was something no other cosplayers could replicate unless the voice actors themselves agreed to cosplay. It's worth mentioning the remarkable talent of Teacher Big Cane...

Ana and Bianka continued strolling through the comic convention. Along the way, Bianka gradually grew curious about her surroundings, particularly the Valkyrie-related merchandise. Eventually, she even purchased a chibi Rita plushie.

Seeing the plushie in Bianka's hand, Ana couldn't help but twitch slightly at the corner of her mouth.

In a sense, this could be considered direct NTR (being cuckolded), albeit not entirely unwelcome if it involved Rita...

The two continued strolling leisurely until they reached a relatively spacious area outside the exhibition hall. Several cosplayers were active here, and some bloggers were filming videos, making it only "relatively" less crowded.

As Ana and Bianka appeared, numerous gazes were drawn towards them.

"It's getting late; it's time for you to awaken from this dream," Ana suddenly stopped, turned around, and spoke earnestly to Bianka.

Bianka's presence was akin to a consciousness possession, influenced by her original self in the Honkai World. Knowing Bianka well, even when tired, her sleep patterns were always consistent.

"Yes."

Bianka nodded, noticing that the once clear crowd around her began fading into white. Soon, the world would consist of only Ana and herself—a sign of impending departure.

"When dreams must end, fear not. No matter the cost, I will ensure this era transcends Finality and reaches the future we envision," Ana declared solemnly.

"I believe in you," Bianka responded with a nod, a smile gracing her face.

Bianka nodded with a smile.

"Just as you proved among the Pioneers."

"Your knight, forever by your side."

With that, Bianka performed a knightly salute to Ana.

"How truly absurd! I clearly remember saying you were my queen back then..." Ana shook her head, smiling wistfully.

However, Bianka did not respond; she merely smiled, turned around, and walked away. Watching Bianka's figure gradually recede, Ana also turned and silently headed in the opposite direction.

In that moment, it felt as though her presence merged with her counterpart from the Honkai World, becoming one entity.

This was the path she had chosen—a path akin to Otto's and Kevin's. She would bear all burdens alone, striving for the future everyone longed for.

The onlookers nearby captured this scene, mistaking it as a playful act between two lesbian lovers, unaware of its genuine significance. Nevertheless, they shared the footage in groups and on social media platforms, spreading it widely.

"Young Lady."

Suddenly, a familiar loli voice emerged. Cang Luan, dressed in her mature Onee-san attire, appeared beside Ana unnoticed—though unfortunately, her voice remained distinctly youthful.

As Ana descended into this world, her attendant Cang Luan naturally accompanied her arrival. In this realm, Cang Luan served as both Ana's personal bodyguard and maid.

Cang Luan playfully stuck out her tongue at Ana, conveying that she was not merely a figment of imagination but had truly descended alongside her mistress.

"Let's go!" Ana commanded mildly, the Herrscher aura flickering in her eyes. Her demeanor shifted from cute and gentle to that of a cold, majestic beauty atop a lofty peak.

"As you wish, Young Lady," Cang Luan responded respectfully. She then draped a coat over Ana, further enhancing Ana's queenly presence, which made Cang Luan's eyes sparkle with admiration.

Wahh, her mistress is just too cool! I adore her so much! Simultaneously, Cang Luan held up a parasol for Ana, elevating her regal air to its zenith. Alas, Iron Sister hadn't been conceptualized yet; otherwise, their ensemble would have strikingly resembled Kafka's.

In this regal state, Ana continued strolling through the comic convention. Due to her queenly aura, others on the path instinctively made way for her, creating quite a spectacle at the event.

However, this time, Ana simply wandered casually without engaging in any promotional activities or interactions. After all, she wasn't there as a cosplayer; she was just being herself.

Meanwhile, on the internet, Ana's popularity surged at an unimaginable speed. Yet, once it reached its peak, it swiftly declined.

This decline was due to the intervention behind Ana - a blend of familial protection and the world's Correction Force at work. Moreover, Ana herself had no need for such fame, as it held little significance.

Setting aside the Honkai World, within this parallel Earth, she already enjoyed a life of wealth and privilege. For someone like her, gaining attention held minimal value.

After all, if they desired, they could effortlessly manufacture their own popularity.

Let's take a simple example: donating millions personally to the nation under one's name, followed by some strategic publicity, would effortlessly skyrocket their visibility. This approach is far more reliable than buying trending topics.

For Ana, this day proved immensely enjoyable. As the sun set in this world, casting its golden rays, Ana and Cang Luan vanished from this realm, returning to the Honkai World...

In the Honkai World, Ana's eyes snapped open, and before her, she found herself back in familiar Tianqiong City, just as abruptly as when she disappeared. The surrounding scenery appeared unchanged.

However, Ana knew deep down that everything had fundamentally transformed.

While she was in the parallel Earth world, this realm did not remain stagnant. The flow of time between both worlds seemed consistent, at least it was so when she left.

This wasn't necessarily a bad thing; in fact, if such opportunities for real-world intervention arose again, it could serve as a golden advantage. In moments of danger, she could simply activate the descent to another world, taking refuge there for a day, akin to having a personal sanctuary from certain novels—only even more advantageous.

Unless facing entities like Black Commander or Aha from the Miiverse, there would likely be no way to track her, considering that world exists within a separate universe of the multiverse, making it virtually impossible for ordinary beings to trace her.

It certainly presented intriguing possibilities.

"Are you there, my old friend?"

Before Ana could ponder further, her communicator suddenly lit up with an incoming call request—it was naturally Otto. Moments later, his holographic image materialized in front of Ana.

"Heh heh, it seems, dear friend, you have quite some leisure on your hands."

Observing Ana's surroundings, Otto casually remarked, "I must say, the view from Tianqiong City's sky is indeed quite pleasant." Thanks to the Ideal Fluid, Ana had also furnished this space with some amenities like beds and sofas. Although they floated mid-air, they were actually more comfortable than those on the ground. Privacy was ensured as well, just by shielding against satellite surveillance.

"Compared to you, I still have a long way to go," Ana replied nonchalantly. She could tell that compared to their previous communication, Otto appeared much better now—no longer disheveled but back to his composed self as Bishop Otto.

"Let's skip the meaningless pleasantries; feigning conversation is simply too amusing," Ana said mildly. At that moment, she couldn't help but recall a foul-mouthed kid from another game. While she didn't particularly like him, his lines were undeniably intriguing and sharp.

"Get straight to the point! Rita has arrived, hasn't she?" Ana asked.

In truth, there was no need for Otto to mention it. As one who controlled the Ideal Fluid, Rita's movements couldn't escape her surveillance, albeit slightly delayed.

"Yes, I've already informed Rita. If any exceptional circumstances arise, she should seek your assistance."

"Speaking of which, my friend, why did you refuse the position of Schicksal Bishop?"

"Because I don't want to work for five hundred years just for this insignificant role and still not obtain what I truly desire..."

Otto fell silent, as Ana's blunt statement struck precisely at his vulnerable spot.

Indeed, Otto had served as a bishop for half a millennium, all with the goal of resurrecting Kallen. Yet, significant progress only began within the last forty years. In other words, he essentially wasted 460 years of labor without any tangible results.

"So, with your capabilities, why haven't you created a puppet or proxy? At the very least, you could have groomed Void Archives to handle these tasks," Ana remarked, puzzled by this aspect.

It was true; Otto had only trained Amber as his secretary, and even that happened due to Theresa's kindness.

"..."

Otto maintained his silence, genuinely questioning his choices now. Honestly, as the Schicksal Bishop, many duties didn't require his direct involvement.

Furthermore, achieving his goals didn't necessarily demand the bishop's status... Perhaps it was solely out of guilt towards Kallen? To clear her name?

In truth, Otto himself couldn't fully comprehend his past decisions anymore. While being a bishop certainly provided conveniences, someone like him might have been more effective behind the scenes, playing the role of a mastermind.

Truthfully, even now, Otto couldn't fully grasp what he was thinking back then. While being a bishop certainly provided him with numerous conveniences, someone like him might have been better off operating from behind the scenes as a mastermind.

"Alright, Mr. Otto, if there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. Take your time pondering over it."

Without waiting for Otto's response, Ana casually ended the communication and began whistling cheerfully.

A daily tip to breach Otto's defenses - study well, observe closely.

After a brief rest, Ana rose from her plush cloud-like bed, gazing down at Tianqiong City from above, focusing on a cluster of buildings reminiscent of ancient Egyptian architecture—Divine City Pharmaceuticals.

"Hmm, perhaps it's time to consider when would be most appropriate for my grand entrance..."

"Ah, I should've learned more from Fu Hua about being a reliable mole earlier."

Now, Ana found herself struggling to determine her true role.

What identity should she adopt when reuniting with her beloved Senti?