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

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The Version 2.9 update "Swift Snow Welcomes Spring" left many Ana fans unsatisfied. Although they learned some backstory and context related to Unnamed Locomotive, they didn't get to see as much desired affectionate interaction between the characters.

From the omniscient perspective of players, Ana, as the protagonist of this side story, often found herself playing more of an observer's role. However, it was unmistakably her side story, not Durandal's, yet the developers provided no explanation for this discrepancy.

Moreover, Ana wasn't even the primary focus of this update. The plot primarily served to bridge events from previous android-centric arcs. On the character front, Rita's initial S-rank armor, Argent Knight Artemis, made its debut.

Due to the storyline developments in the last version, Rita's popularity surged—after all, who could resist a maid character who understands you so well?

At the same time, the game's designers addressed player concerns about enhancing older characters by introducing the Ascension of Raiden Mei's Assault Suit. While power-wise it was significant, what piqued players' interest more was the accompanying suit skin.

Unfortunately, unlocking the new skin or battle outfit required upgrading the Ascension Core's star level. In terms of strength, these characters naturally had their merits.

At its release, it was indeed the strongest. The subsequent decline of Assault Suit's popularity was inevitable, as it was a grindable character. However, having the opportunity to shine brightly again for some time can be considered quite commendable.

Regarding the main storyline experience, it validated Ana's words at the end of the previous chapter, leading players to coin the phrase "Heed not Ana's advice, face consequences swiftly.".

So far, anyone who disregarded Ana's counsel paid a corresponding price, further elevating her status among players.

Some even regarded Ana as a quasi-deity within Honkai Impact 3rd, leaving prayers and seeking omens under videos featuring her two Valkyrie Armors—a phenomenon akin to cyber-fortunetelling that became one of Ana's defining traits.

As Ana's ultimate fanboy, Brother Cake took things to another level by creating a miniature shrine dedicated solely to Ana, treating her with reverence similar to worshipping Hatsune Miku Buddha.

Understanding the entertainment value, fellow viewers often joined live streams en masse, including casual passersby, to seek blessings from Brother Cake. In turn, he occasionally selected a few requests amidst these pleas and fulfilled them.

It didn't matter; as a wealthy second-generation heir, money was no issue for him. Helping others brought joy and accumulated good deeds, contributing his part to Ana's cause. At least, it made her wishes feel genuinely attainable.

Thanks to Brother Cake and the actions of other netizens, Ana mysteriously earned the title "Cyber Buddha." Fortunately, she remained unaware of this development.

Later, during the live stream, Brother Cake provided explanations on some remarks Ana made in the side story, along with certain details.

"Actually, I think everyone should try putting themselves in Ana's shoes. Perhaps, this character is specifically designed to bridge the gap between us and the game's protagonists," said Brother Cake earnestly after re-watching the side story once more.

"You'll notice that many of Ana's statements seem as if she already knew everything beforehand, akin to having an omniscient perspective. Her decisions appear risky on the surface but are actually well-calculated."

"She shares similarities with Otto's style, but while Otto always has backup plans, Ana exudes confidence without any reservations. Interestingly, every gamble she takes pays off."

[Whoa—chilling when you think about it!]

[Seems plausible indeed!]

"I feel like the writer is playing a strategic game with us, and Ana's character serves as a key thread throughout this fractured narrative."

Brother Cake paused momentarily before clicking on a side-story video from Bilibili.

"Look at this dialogue with Su! The 'she' mentioned here clearly isn't referring to Bianka or Ana herself. So, who could these instances of 'she' be?"

"Let me make a bold guess—it's highly likely that they refer to two female characters among the potential upcoming Thirteen Heroic Spirits, specifically The Thirteen Flame-Chasers. There's a significant chance they'll join the ship!"

"Furthermore, having only two women among the Thirteen Heroic Spirits is not just reasonable; it's actually quite underrepresented!"

Brother Cake meticulously analyzed the situation. Surprisingly, his prediction turned out to be accurate. However, due to its precision, some viewers found it hard to believe.

[Brother Cake, don't speak too definitively, or the official reveal might betray your theory.]

[Exactly, exactly! It wouldn't be good if you get proven wrong!]

"Haha, folks, I play games for enjoyment. After all, every game inherently involves winning and losing. Making these predictions brings me happiness, and moreover..."

"I hope the official team designs even better plot twists to prove me wrong; that would make me even happier."

"But if they resort to forced betrayals just for the sake of it, then I'll lead the charge against them!"

Although as a streamer, Brother Cake's influence wasn't particularly significant, he still voiced his stance boldly. He declared fearlessly that he didn't care about potential backlash; what truly concerned him was any reckless mishandling by the developers, which could tarnish his favorite game.

"Lastly, let's discuss this character's role," Brother Cake continued.

"This time, the officials have explicitly stated: this character is meant to be a firefighter, essentially becoming the hero for other characters without overshadowing them."

"So everyone, feel free to invest your interest. The officials won't write off this character or anything similar, otherwise..." Once again, Brother Cake raised his fist emphatically.

"I will lead the charge."

["Alright, alright, based on Brother Cake's words alone, I'm in!"]

["I hereby announce the establishment of Ana Gate today! Long live Archbishop Brother Cake!"]

["Count me in too, brothers!"]

["If anyone tries to stir up trouble outside again, they'll face my wrath because I stand with the brothers of Ana Gate behind me!"]

["Nope,楼上, we should prioritize harmony and then... strike decisively!"]

"Let's not engage in stirring drama out there; after all, our favorite character isn't one to seek trouble!"

"But guys, don't you find the idea of becoming a hero among heroes quite romantic?"

[Definitely!]

[Yup, no matter how prominent others may see you, knowing I remain your cherished ideal is truly satisfying!]

[But wouldn't it be incredibly difficult to become a hero among heroes?]

A viewer raised this concern, instantly plunging both the live stream audience and the streamer into silence.

Indeed, it was exceedingly challenging. Saving Wendy hadn't been arduous for Ana, but rescuing Himeko required her utmost effort.

She first tried verbal persuasion, ultimately leading to confrontations with three Valkyries of Schicksal and even opposing Otto himself.

If not for Ana's meticulous planning, she might have met her end there. After all, if Schicksal truly deployed three Valkyries against the Herrscher of the Void, capturing her would be a foregone conclusion.

Yet, with such a terrifying lineup, Ana single-handedly outwitted them. Even Otto's shameless sneak attack failed to succeed. It simply speaks volumes about how incredible their beloved character is!

In terms of narrative impact, our devoted fans knew that Ana had already achieved far too much.

As Brother Cake passionately spoke, his private messages suddenly lit up. Upon opening it, his eyes widened instantly.

"Wow, he works fast!"

"Bros! I gotta go now, no time to chat. See you guys later!"

With those words, Brother Cake swiftly ended the stream, leaving behind a bewildered audience.

What could make Brother Cake abruptly cut off his live broadcast? Naturally, it was because—the artist had finally completed the fanart comic as requested.

Previously, due to reports, the artist had been forced into hiding for quite some time. Now cautiously reemerging, they needed to tread carefully.

This time, at Brother Cake's insistence, the esteemed artist agreed to meet offline.

Version 2.9, "Swift Snow Welcoming Spring," concluded abruptly, and swiftly approaching was Version 3.1, "Sea Abyss Mirage."

In this update's main storyline, following the previous tumultuous events, Theresa's group planned to head towards Seasource City. However, with the Gem of Desire now in Ana's possession, their original mission shifted. Instead, they focused on safeguarding crucial Soulium materials and specific resources within Seabed City.

Naturally, this meant Ana had no role to play as she remained in Tianqiong City at that time.

Regarding characters, the success of the Assault-class buffs in the last version enticed the developers. Consequently, they introduced Yae Momo's Ascension Armor, "Drive Kometa." To create new monetization opportunities, they also launched ELFs, a feature long-awaited by players.

The first two released were Red Kite Wings & Replica Judah, both ELFs. Notably, Red Kite Wings could be obtained through gameplay grind, while Judah' strength was average, making it not a must-have item.

The developers tread cautiously with ELFs due to past controversies causing concerns. Hence, they opted for a gradual rollout to manage potential backlash around this monetization aspect.

However, Red Kite Wings' introduction did bring about some changes in gameplay. Firstly, Divine Prayer's prominence diminished to a certain extent. For casual players struggling with coordination, Divine Prayer was often indispensable.

With Red Kite Wings now providing additional healing capabilities for teams, the reliance on Divine Prayer decreased significantly. Nonetheless, it hasn't yet led to a complete shift due to the lack of more efficient support options.

The new map also offered players a fresh experience, further heightening their anticipation for upcoming characters. The cliffhanger at the end of the previous storyline only intensified this excitement.

Coupled with the release of the Honkai side story during the same update, players generally agreed that the serpent encountered by Welt must be Kevin.

After all, following Su's demise and the transfer of control over Unnamed Locomotive, the constraints on Kevin were naturally lifted, leaving him still within the Sea of Quanta.

Now, as Einstein and Welt Yang conducted experiments entering the Sea of Quanta, the entity they encountered, causing such a strong reaction from Welt, could only be humanity's most powerful warrior—Kevin.

Unaware of the developments outside the world, Ana could only surmise the current situation—a rare moment of tranquility for her amidst these turbulent times.

She had sent Rita back to Headquarters, knowing Bianka needed her assistance there. Without her help, Bianka might become overwhelmed within a few more days.

With Rita gone, Ana found herself alone in Tianqiong City.

Saint Freya Academy was not an option; returning would mean facing that infuriating Otto. Ana knew he likely hadn't made significant progress in his research yet, but it didn't matter.

The best state for Otto was when he was occupied with something; otherwise, he tended to meddle and stir up trouble.

As for Divine City Pharmaceuticals, Gray Serpent had temporarily left Tianqiong City. Ana understood that his plan had succeeded, and he was now heading towards Seabed City. Gray Serpent had been in contact with Cocolia for quite some time.

According to Gray Serpent, Cocolia was the ideal partner, which indeed seemed true from his perspective.

With Gray Serpent gone, only Ana remained in Tianqiong City, along with Kiana—who had disappeared somewhere—and Jackal, as well as...

Yes, there was also Himeko.

Instantly revitalized, Ana sat up from her plush bed. Over these past few days, she continued staying in the presidential suite, enjoying a taxpayer-funded vacation.

Although Rita wasn't around, the suite was regularly cleaned by staff each day, so Ana didn't have to worry about maintenance.

She opened a communication channel and began contacting Jackal.

"What is it?" Soon, Jackal appeared on the screen, but only partially from the back, suggesting he was likely in his laboratory based on the background.

"Has Himeko's Stigmata transplant surgery been completed?"

"Such a minor procedure? It's long done." Jackal continued his busy work, responding nonchalantly. Indeed, implanting Stigmata into a Valkyrie wasn't considered significant. If not for the need to study Jilin's Stigmata, he might have finished within a single day.

"All right, then how is Himeko doing?"

"Don't worry; your Valkyrie is doing splendidly. Her combat prowess is quite impressive now—by Schicksal's standards, she could be considered an S-rank Valkyrie."

Jackal wasn't exaggerating.

Himeko's primary issues stemmed from age-related decline in overall abilities and her inherent weakness to Honkai energy. However, Ana has addressed both concerns. With Himeko's extensive battle experience and relentless determination, she indeed qualifies as an S-rank Valkyrie.

"Can you restore the Red Knight?" Ana continued.

When sending Himeko over, Ana also provided Jackal with some fragments of the Red Knight. After all, this Valkyrie Armor was based on the Key of Blankness, making it highly valuable.

Unfortunately, finding another Gem of Haste for Himeko was no longer possible. Naturally, Himeko wouldn't want one either, at least not verbally.

However, the Gem symbolized immense power—who wouldn't desire a formidable trump card to protect themselves?

"Hmm, almost done restoring it. It's just the Key of Blankness, and the World Serpent does have relevant data."