Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players-Chapter 168: The Final Trial: Ana vs. Raiden Mei

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"I believe Durandal could be the true Kiana."

After observing the intense debate among viewers in the bullet comments, Brother Cake finally spoke up. As a prominent streamer, his insights were always carefully considered. The reasons behind his theory had been discussed numerous times before, so there's no need to reiterate them here.

"Firstly, Durandal chose her name and birthday arbitrarily, making age irrelevant as evidence."

"Secondly, the voice actress for young Kiana also voices Dumb Goose currently."

"And if they do introduce the genuine Kiana later, it's unlikely she would just suddenly appear out of nowhere. Overall, the possibility seems quite high."

As he explained, Brother Cake winked subtly.

Prior to this, many theories speculated that the real Kiana might be Amber, Otto's secretary. However, Amber turned out to be Theresa's sister, a clone, rendering those speculations invalid from the start.

"However, dwelling on these speculations now doesn't really serve much purpose. Eventually, the official reveal will clarify everything," Brother Cake added at the end.

His words might sound insignificant, but they were indeed necessary. Over the years as a streamer, particularly during his recent stint with Genshin Impact, Brother Cake had learned to tread carefully and avoid controversy.

Let's put it this way: The game's popularity was immense, yet so were its potential pitfalls. There was another battle royale streamer from a neighboring platform who initially thrived but ultimately self-destructed due to past missteps, failing to correct them. Now, he's virtually ruined by the backlash.

Then there were those other "saintly" figures. It taught Brother Cake that caution is paramount in streaming, even if it wasn't his primary source of income. Losing one's job wasn't the issue; rather, excessive pressure could lead his family to force him to stop streaming altogether.

After all, not everyone can afford to bear such public scrutiny like Wang Sicong or have parents with similar influence.

["Indeed, we're just speculating now. Let's not fuel unnecessary debates."]

["Agreed, for our precious treasure of a streamer!"]

["So, Brother Cake, when are you sending out those red envelopes?"]

["Red envelopes! Red envelopes!"]

"Wow, bros, do you really think I'm just here to shower money on you?"

Seeing the uniform bullet comments, Brother Cake felt somewhat helpless but also relieved internally. After witnessing the online drama, he had become hesitant to speak freely, fearing both cyberbullying and potential repercussions from higher-ups.

"How about this, guys? I'll take on a couple of sponsored ads, and once I earn some cash, I'll send it all back to you as red envelopes—consider it your own earnings."

Brother Cake declared generously with a wave of his hand.

As a popular millionaire-level streamer with strong fan loyalty, securing sponsorships was relatively easy for him. In fact, offers were constantly coming his way, but he usually declined them. However, now, for the sake of his viewers, he decided to accept a few.

"When the time comes, I'll post sponsored videos, so please give them some support. Don't worry, I won't betray your trust; I only endorse quality products!"

[Cool, cool, we're waiting for those sponsored posts. This way, we can contribute to our own earnings too.]

[Brother Cake is truly genuine. Accepting sponsorships is fine—you've been giving out too many red envelopes every day!]

Unlike reactions to other streamers taking sponsorships, Brother Cake's fans were quite accepting. After all, if there was any ulterior motive behind his persona, considering he had been streaming for years, he would have capitalized on his fans long ago.

Moreover, sponsorships didn't directly involve fans' money; at most, they encouraged support without obligating anyone to purchase anything. These were merely advertisements, not direct sales pitches.

Of course, this main storyline wasn't the primary focus of this update. After all, during the version preview, it was only briefly mentioned towards the end. However, as a plot enthusiast, Brother Cake naturally paid closer attention to these narrative elements.

Nevertheless, even as a plot-oriented player, he couldn't completely ignore the unfolding story within the Elysian Realm. For today's stream, though, Brother Cake chose to primarily showcase the initial exploration of this new storyline.

In the Honkai World, within the Elysian Realm.

Inside the Hall of Heroes, specifically the resting area, there were currently only two individuals present.

Elysia, as always, lounged comfortably on the sofa, appearing relaxed and carefree. In contrast, Ana stood nearby, her eyes slightly closed, devoid of her usual gentle demeanor. Instead, she exuded an enigmatic aura.

Shortly, Raiden Mei briskly approached them.

"Elysia, I'd like to discuss something about Mobius with you."

"Hmm, I knew it," Elysia replied in her typical casual tone before sitting up from the sofa. Meanwhile, Ana remained silent, her eyes still softly shut.

To be honest, within this Elysian Realm, Mobius is considered an exceptionally intricate presence. Her complexity transcends any single aspect, making it difficult even for Ana to fully grasp her essence.

In fact, truly understanding Mobius might require confronting the genuine version herself.

Nevertheless, among all Heroic Spirits here, she is undoubtedly the most dangerous. Her danger differs from Kalpas; he is straightforward and open, always declaring his intentions if he plans to act.

Mobius, on the other hand, employs cunning words and various deceptive tactics—essentially, the methods of a manipulator. However, these traits do not wholly define her either.

If pressed, one could compare her approach to Otto's: unscrupulous in achieving her goals. Yet paradoxically, she does possess principles despite appearances.

"How much have you learned about her so far?"

Ellie hesitated.

"Elysia, I need Mobius's memories."

As expected, after their conversation, Raiden Mei made this request.

Elysia glanced subtly at Ana. In a way, before Raiden Mei arrived here, they had placed a bet. Now it was clear that Ana had won.

"Hmm... Considering how earnestly you've asked, how could I possibly refuse?"

"Alright, prepare yourself; let's begin!" Ellie chuckled softly, then paused with a more serious expression on her face.

"I will guide you to where Mobius resides, but it will be a turbulent journey. To confront her, there are certain trials you must overcome."

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Finally, after being guided through various stages, Raiden Mei entered the final trial's location. No one else was present; however, the surroundings felt eerie, reminiscent of a graveyard.

Raiden Mei cautiously scanned her environment and heard steady footsteps approaching from nearby.

In truth, she didn't even need to look to know who it was—none other than Ana.

Appearing before her, Ana wore practical combat attire and held a blade at her waist, mirroring Sakura's stance—a shared legacy between them.

Elysia's figure did not materialize, making it clear that Ana would be Raiden Mei's opponent for this trial.

"Ana-sensei." Raiden Mei bowed respectfully towards Ana standing in front of her.

"I made a bet with Ellie, and as the outcome suggests, I emerged victorious, thus earning me the chance to oversee this trial," Ana explained nonchalantly.

"Mobius is unlike ordinary Heroic Spirits; her memory fragment also differs significantly from others. When facing Mobius, you must remain fully alert, giving it your utmost concentration."

As Ana spoke, a hint of reminiscence flashed in her eyes.

"Mei, you know, as one of Saint Freya's instructors, I've never really taught any of you directly. I must admit, it feels like a failure on my part."

"No, Ana-sensei, you've already done more than enough for us," Raiden Mei hastily responded.

Indeed, Ana had not personally tutored them in combat techniques. However, to Raiden Mei, each time Ana intervened felt like receiving invaluable support during dire moments. This assistance far outweighed any insignificant combat training and simply couldn't compare.

"But since we have this opportunity today, let me guide you in your swordsmanship and Authority!"

"I'm eager to learn from you, Ana-sensei."

Raiden Mei understood well; she wasn't naive. In the Present World, such guidance would be unattainable, but here in the Elysian Realm, she could benefit from Ana-sensei's instruction.

This mentorship was beyond mere teaching—it carried immense significance. Consequently, Raiden Mei resolved to give her all.

As soon as she finished speaking, Raiden Mei vanished from her spot. In the next instant, she appeared beside Ana, swiftly striking with the Key of Castigation in hand.

However, Ana showed no intention to evade; instead, she raised her hand and caught the blade with bare fingers effortlessly.

With this simple move, Ana effortlessly deflected Raiden Mei's strike without breaking a sweat. For someone like Ana, it was hardly surprising, given her vastly superior numerical stats compared to Mei.

Nevertheless, Raiden Mei never expected to succeed with just one attack. She had a clear understanding of Ana-sensei's capabilities, knowing even at full power, gaining any advantage would be challenging.

This trial was about testing herself, not defeating her mentor.

In truth, despite some progress since Coral Island, Raiden Mei hadn't significantly increased her strength. At that time, Ana had already been overwhelmingly dominant against her.

Rapidly withdrawing her sword, Raiden Mei unleashed a burst of lightning, generating electromagnetic waves—an imitation of the Staff of the Underworld's effect from before.

These electromagnetic waves could influence Herrscher Authorities, including within the Elysian Realm.

Previously, they had somewhat affected the Herrscher of Winter, albeit minimally. Even for entities on par with the Herrscher of Winter, if influenced at all, it merely caused brief moments of stiffness.

For Ana as well, it proved effective but not entirely so. It merely created a fleeting moment of opportunity, which was more than enough for Raiden Mei.

"Hah!"

Raiden Mei gathered her strength once again, channeling vast amounts of Authority into the Key of Castigation. Against Ana-sensei, many of her moves held little significance.

Her use of Authorities was suppressed, and relying on Conquest to overpower Ana wasn't feasible. Therefore, Raiden Mei could only depend on her mastery of swordsmanship and her ability to seize opportunities.

With that, she unleashed another strike. This time, due to the Staff of the Underworld's electromagnetic wave, Ana experienced a brief moment of stiffness. Consequently, she could barely manage to employ her swordsmanship to deflect the blow.

The Key of Winter's Cold clashed with the Key of Castigation, sending shockwaves rippling through their surroundings. The space around them subtly warped under the impact—a testament to the clash between two Herrschers.

It was evident that Ana was holding back; otherwise, this single strike would have mirrored her encounter with Kalpas. Based on recorded memories, her combat prowess seemed calibrated to match that previous battle.

The overwhelming force reminds Mei of her previous confrontation with Kalpas. Surprisingly, Ana matches Kalpas' power effortlessly.

It catches Mei off guard, considering Ana appears much more delicate and hasn't imbued her sword with as many Authorities as Mei has done with hers.

Of course, this is because Mei lacks understanding of Ana's true strength.

As one who has conquered Authorities, Ana's output can reach the peak Herrscher level, instantly saturating the Divine Key she wields.

Moreover, while Mei's Key of Castigation is also a Divine Key, it naturally falls short compared to the intricately designed weapon crafted by Vill-V herself. In terms of equipment alone, Mei is already at a disadvantage.

However, as previously mentioned, this is merely a test meant for participants to pass. Analogizing to a game, despite the challenging fight, theoretically, any monster can be defeated once its health bar starts depleting.

Securing a successful hit, Raiden Mei swiftly retreats. She realizes that defeating Ana based on combat experience or raw power seems impossible now. But since this is a test, what exactly is Ana assessing?

It became clear that there was only one remaining possibility: Willpower.

Thus, her approach shifted. Facing an invincible enemy with no intent to kill, how could she prolong the confrontation for as long as possible?

Raiden Mei chose to flee at great distance.

Observing Raiden Mei's actions, Ana's eyes flickered momentarily, and a faint smile curved the corners of her lips.

How should I put it? The strategy itself was correct, but evidently, it wasn't suitable for Ana. Her goal was to test and push Raiden Mei to her limits, ensuring she wouldn't falter unexpectedly later on.

If Raiden Mei simply kept running, the mental exhaustion would be minimal, delaying the completion of this assessment indefinitely.

Therefore, Ana vanished from her position, reappearing in the next instant to strike towards Raiden Mei once more. This sword slash held unmatched power; in that moment, Mei felt as if an ancient deity were cleaving down upon her, leaving her with no escape route untouched by its reach.

This blow was unavoidable. Confronted with such a strike, her sole chance of survival lay in mustering all her strength to face it head-on!

With this realization, Raiden Mei gritted her teeth, focused intensely, and channeled all her energy into the blade in her hand...