Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players-Chapter 218: The Final Trial: Ana and Kiana, Master versus Apprentice Battle

Chapter 218 - 218: The Final Trial: Ana and Kiana, Master versus Apprentice Battle

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As players awaited with anticipation, the preview for Version 6.3 "Symphony of Truth" arrived.

Of course, although the previous version had generously expanded the storyline, in reality, these two updates introduced too many new elements at once.

It seemed like Honkai Impact 3's developers were rushing things, but it was unclear why. Both the planners and scriptwriters appeared to be in haste.

Honestly, even Ana couldn't fully comprehend this urgency.

She wasn't hurried about her grand performance, having given ample time for actors to showcase their skills and participants to explore thoroughly.

However... who could have predicted that in the real world, the scriptwriters and planners would proceed this way...

Was it for revenue figures? It might be possible, but...shouldn't it be different now? In her previous life, such behavior from the official developers made sense, but what about now?

In the real world, Ana herself had spent quite a bit on Old Mi, making it illogical.

The only explanation she could settle on was attributing it all to the world's Correction Force.

The Correction Force exists and has always been present. Fortunately, she had fully merged with Ana, and even that previously useless System played a significant role in mitigating its effects. Once she crosses the threshold of Finality, the Correction Force will no longer matter.

At its core, this force preys on the weak and newcomers, but honestly, those who can traverse worlds typically possess some form of a system or advantage.

Yet now, it's being utilized in such unexpected ways, leaving one torn between laughter and tears.

In the Version Preview, the same few updates were highlighted. However, for the upcoming release featuring Truth Duck, there was no animated short film; only a character PV existed, which, frankly, wasn't of particularly high quality.

Most importantly, the recent changes to newbie benefits significantly impacted the earnings of veteran Captains. Whales might not care, but truthfully, in a game like Honkai Impact 3, the majority of players are casual gamers or monthly pass holders. This update essentially backstabbed the most loyal fanbase.

This timing reignited another wave of controversy. One could say that without causing several blunders throughout the year, game developers wouldn't be true to their reputation.

In the Honkai World, despite the slow progression of updates in reality, things moved at a much faster pace within this realm. After all, what took several days in the Honkai World equated to just one update cycle in the real world.

And as anticipated, events unfolded precisely as expected in the Honkai universe.

When Raiden Mei left the Garden of Eden, she carried with her a seed of Primogenitor origin. Similarly, Ana from the past had also taken such a seed.

However, for Ana, the significance of that seed was minimal. In contrast, under Raiden Mei's influence, it blossomed brilliantly, enabling her to achieve another Ascension—transforming into the Herrscher of Origin.

To genuinely stand against Kevin, Kiana embarked on the most arduous quest. Though to observers in another world, this seemed inevitable, the actual perils and challenges she faced were far more complex than could be conveyed simply.

Within the realm shaped by her Authority, Kiana walked alone on a path—the road to Finality. As she journeyed, it felt as though she was reminiscing about her past.

Then, she saw a gravestone inscribed with one word: "Ana."

No surname followed; compared to her extraordinary achievements, House Schariac's legacy paled in significance. This wasn't meant to diminish Cecilia's standing either, as people similarly remembered her by name rather than lineage.

"Ana-sensei..." Kiana gently caressed the ice-covered gravestone, envisioning the Valkyrie who had always guided her forward—her cousin.

Despite being from the same era, Ana consistently outpaced everyone else. When others couldn't comprehend, she achieved what no one else could.

In this world, she stood uniquely alongside the Schicksal Bishop, Lord of the World Serpent, and Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader—a testament to her unparalleled influence.

"Sigh..."

Kiana softly sighed. To this day, all mourned her departure. However, it seemed...there might be a glimmer of hope emerging.

Just as Kiana was about to leave, a gentle voice softly echoed.

"You've arrived."

Kiana's pupils contracted, and she swiftly turned around. The gravestone had vanished, replaced by a figure standing there—none other than Ana, embodying the Herrscher of Winter.

She was like a rare night-blooming cereus flourishing amidst ice and snow, an immaculate snow lotus representing humanity's indomitable fighting spirit. A human who willingly became a Herrscher, mastering her Authority entirely with a mortal body—the Herrscher of Humanity.

These titles were all things Kiana heard from Raiden Mei, but for her, Ana was simply her teacher, the one who cared for her most dearly, her beloved cousin.

"Ana-sensei!" Suppressing her emotions to keep from crying, Kiana felt her body trembling slightly. She never expected to see Ana-sensei here.

"Kiana, what lies ahead is fraught with peril. Are you certain you wish to continue?" The Herrscher of Winter ignored Kiana's greeting and asked gently instead.

"Yes!" Kiana nodded firmly. Although unsure why Ana-sensei would appear here, it must be part of this trial. Determined not to falter, she stood resolute.

"Since you're determined, demonstrate your resolve to me!"

As Ana spoke, she raised her hand, and the tranquil surroundings instantly transformed into a raging blizzard. Amidst this storm, Ana stood like a sovereign over nature itself.

"Yes," Kiana affirmed, gripping the Greatsword of Blazing Flame, ready for any challenge.

"I won't burden you too much; consider it a test from your teacher. Endure within this snowstorm for 45 minutes, and I'll deem you successful."

Ana gazed at Kiana with a gentle smile.

"Just one class period? Don't underestimate me, Ana-sensei!" Kiana's eyes sparkled as she chuckled lightly. Undoubtedly, the time limit was deliberately set by Ana.

"Is that too easy? How about adding another 45 minutes?" Ana responded with a soft laugh.

Kiana's enthusiasm wilted immediately upon hearing this. Well, what could she say? She meant it as a jest, just a polite remark, not expecting Ana-sensei to take it seriously!

"All right, I'm not here to tease you. Let's make it 40 minutes instead. Hold on, and once you endure, you'll pass this trial!" Seeing Kiana slightly flustered, Ana smiled reassuringly.

With those words, Ana's figure dissipated amidst the swirling wind and snow.

Seeing Ana depart, Kiana sat down and began circulating her Taixuan Sword Qi. Despite being within an icy environment with both wind and ice Authorities affecting her, Ana refrained from employing Ideal Fluid to create vacuum-like conditions or direct attacks.

Instead, she utilized these Authorities to simulate a Herrscher-level setting, essentially providing cold resistance training tailored for someone at that tier. In essence, Ana showed considerable leniency.

The reason behind her restraint was quite simple: More rigorous trials awaited ahead, orchestrated by none other than Ana herself. This initial challenge served merely as a warm-up for Kiana.

Ah, what a truly exceptional teacher she is!

Unfortunately, Kiana remained unaware of Ana's considerate intentions; otherwise, she might have struggled to face this mentor differently.

Enduring 40 minutes amidst the blizzard posed no significant challenge for Kiana, the Herrscher of Flames. In fact, it felt remarkably effortless. Utilizing Taixuan Sword Qi further eased her experience.

Upon completing her rest period, she noticed the storm had subsided. Calling out Ana's name yielded no response, only a quietly appearing gateway. Suddenly, a hand emerged from behind Kiana, swiftly grabbing her and throwing her through the portal.

"Uh...ah..."

After being tossed out, Kiana chuckled sheepishly and dusted herself off. She immediately recognized Ana-sensei's hand at work. Rather than feeling upset, it stirred a sense of nostalgia within her.

During their school days, Ana-sensei had never been this forceful. Perhaps she simply managed to suppress the urge all those years?

"So, I really did cause quite a bit of trouble for you back then, Teacher," Kiana said with a wry smile, shaking her head as she continued walking.

Soon, Kiana entered a church where she spotted a statue of Bishop Otto. There, waiting for her, was another version of Ana-sensei.

Kiana and Ana locked eyes for a long moment. Throughout, Ana maintained a smile, hinting at a playful amusement.

Despite both being named Ana, there were clear differences between them, representing distinct aspects of her character.

The Ana present here naturally embodied the one from the Elysian Realm—the Ana who embraced contentment and found happiness. Consequently, her demeanor carried more playfulness.

After all, she was well aware of the trials posed by the Herrscher of Winter.

"We do have our distinctions."

Ana rose from her throne.

"I believe Raiden Mei must have already shared my story with you. I hail from the Garden of Eden, not merely the Herrscher of Corruption unique to this era but truly the ultimate victor."

"However, victory and defeat hold no significance for me anymore." Ana paused momentarily before continuing.

"To pass my trial and gain my approval, reveal your true strength!"

"The Herrscher of Corruption!"

Kiana's pupils contracted; Raiden Mei had only briefly mentioned the events of the Garden of Eden, yet she knew there existed a memory fragment of Ana-sensei within it.

What she didn't expect was that Ana-sensei's memory fragment could become the final Herrscher of Corruption. If so, then the mysteries surrounding Ana-sensei must be even more profound than previously thought.

But that's alright, Kiana would unravel them one by one... So, Ana-sensei, wait for us!

"It seems you're prepared now."

As Kiana's expression grew increasingly resolute, a smile appeared on Ana's face.

Naturally, this couldn't be her true self; it is part of Finality's trial, making her presence here merely a projection. However, Ana herself wasn't overly concerned about that aspect.

Honestly, Ana had grown tired of all those discussions about power levels and combat strength in her previous life regarding Honkai Impact 3. Now, she finally had the chance to assess it firsthand.

As for the standards, they weren't crucial; Ana could perceive and judge based on her own senses. And concerning Divine Self... as before, if everything relied solely on its omniscience, her existence and actions would lose all meaning.

"Let's begin!" With that, Ana casually drew a katana.

Truth be told, facing off with a greatsword using only a katana puts one at a slight disadvantage, but it didn't matter. This battle was more for show anyway, and this projection's sole Authority is Corruption.

The Corruption Authority is indeed potent, particularly against data-based entities, where it reigns supreme. However, when dealing with consciousness, Cognizance Authority proves superior. Of course, there are exceptions if the opponent is entirely ignorant or untrained.

But such naivety is rare in this world.

Naturally, the dream realm created by Project Stigma works effectively against the Herrscher of Corruption, which likely explains why Project Stigma was initiated after defeating the Herrscher of Corruption. Although, there isn't any definitive explanation for this correlation.

The battle between Corruption Ana and Kiana was purely focused on raw physical strength. Neither used their Authorities: Kiana refrained from utilizing hers, and similarly, Corruption Ana did not employ hers either.

For Kiana, she relished this battle and savored every moment.

As for Ana, well, upon facing Kiana, she felt inclined to hold back—and indeed, she did so. However, she didn't anticipate that Kiana was also going easy on her.

Thus, what could have been a prolonged fight dragged out in this manner.

Nonetheless, both enjoyed their combat immensely. Yet, Ana couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for Kiana.

While Ana could afford to go lenient against Kiana, it wouldn't be the same when confronting Him.

The Divine Self's Ana, despite sharing memories, operates with absolute rationality as a transcendent divine entity. Therefore, during the trials He sets for Kiana and others, there likely won't be any leniency.

Facing His version in the Divine Self would pose a challenge akin to pitting children against gods—such is the immense disparity, leaving little room for doubt.

This battle continued for a long time, until Ana's projection exhausted its energy completely.

"Well then, farewell, Kiana!

"If Raiden Mei misses them, she's always welcome to visit the Elysian Realm. Rest assured, everyone will gladly receive her."

"And you too."