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

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In the Honkai World, Coral Island:

Chen Tianwu gazed at the shimmering necklace in his hand but ultimately lacked the courage to place it on Ana's memorial grave. Instead, he handed the necklace to Bianka as a keepsake, returning a memento of Ana to her family.

Following this, Raven took Chen Tianwu away, and both factions—the World Serpent and Schicksal—parted ways.

Durandal led the Valkyrie forces back to Schicksal, while Raiden Mei headed towards the nearest World Serpent base.

Although neither Ana nor the Herrscher of Winter had gone all out, Raiden Mei still sustained significant exhaustion and injuries.

Next came reporting to the Lord of the World Serpent.

As they gazed at the holographic image of the man before them, both remained silent, without uttering a word.

"..."

For Kevin, this silence itself was, in a sense, high praise. The Queen of Wind, Herrscher of Winter, Ana Schariac, achieved something even he could not accomplish.

With meticulous planning and strategic moves, she succeeded entirely on her own, without any external assistance. This reminded Kevin of his former companions.

Back then, weren't they much the same?

No, this Goddess of Wind's feats were even more extraordinary. Unlike his comrades, who benefited from Fire Moth's resources, relying on the support of all humanity.

And indeed, Ana achieved this feat on her own.

If only Kevin had managed to bring her into his alliance earlier, becoming a companion of the Serpent, perhaps... Project Stigma might not have been necessary at all.

Despite disliking such baseless conjectures, Kevin believed that with Ana's potential, it could have been possible.

"Lord of Snakes, is there no way for you to break through this impasse?" Raiden Mei asked coldly, expressing her discontent both for Ana and herself—as well as for Raven.

This mission was fraught with peril; without Ana's strategic planning, they likely would not have survived. However, they had Kevin, their Lord.

As the strongest human warrior, reason dictated he should have intervened and saved Teacher Ana.

Kevin did not respond immediately but maintained his silence for a moment before calmly stating:

"Return."

"I demand an explanation," Raiden Mei insisted firmly, refusing to back down.

Raiden Mei stood her ground, confronting him head-on.

"I'm not..." Kevin sighed softly, preparing to explain his reasons. However, just then, the communication signal became erratic and abruptly cut off.

He never managed to finish, but the implication was clear.

Kevin knew he wasn't Ana's match, nor could he defeat the Herrscher of Winter. Yet, for this unseen friend, he chose to trust that they would handle the situation effectively.

If their efforts proved insufficient, Kevin's only recourse would be to execute the final plan: preemptively suppress the Herrscher and bring an end to this era.

It sounded utterly insane, even to Kevin himself. But he had no other choice. He fervently wished to grant ample time for the Spark Project to succeed, which is why he willingly remained sealed within the Sea of Quanta for so long—he genuinely believed in it.

However, despite his faith, it couldn't deter the execution of Project Stigma.

After all, if the Spark Project failed, considering restarting Project Stigma would be too late.

Frankly, he had already granted ample time to the Spark Project, nearly several millennia.

However, due to Chiyou's emergence in Shenzhou, the development of the Spark Project was hindered, forcing it to halt for thousands of years. In reality, at that time, Red Kite Immortal should have continued pushing forward with the Spark Project, albeit in some sense.

Accelerating Honkai's arrival might not necessarily be detrimental, given that the timing of Finality is predetermined. Of course, this approach was also a gamble, betting on humanity of that era being able to overcome Herrschers like the Herrscher of Reason, among other Former Sequence Herrschers.

"Huh?"

Raiden Mei wanted to hear what Kevin said last, but the communication abruptly cut off.

"What happened?" The Raven beside her asked, puzzled.

"...The connection broke. This...isn't signal interference; something unexpected occurred!"

"The base is in trouble!"

Meanwhile, aboard Anti-Entropy's Hyperion, Theresa had also received news of Ana's untimely demise.

This time, she didn't display her usual shock but fell silent instead. To others, this silence might seem like a sign of helplessness, and indeed it was to some extent.

Yet, it also represented growth—instead of weeping inconsolably, it was better to work quietly, channeling emotions into motivation.

Moreover, as the backbone of their group, any visible distress from her would inevitably worry the others. However...

With Himeko's fate uncertain and the ever-active Ana departing forever under such circumstances, Theresa felt overwhelmed.

She recalled how not long ago, Ana appeared in Nagazora City, providing crucial assistance to Kiana. Despite her sharp tongue, Ana consistently supported them. This time, it was even rumored that she took down two formidable Herrschers.

But compared to these remarkable achievements, Theresa wished more fervently for the return of that perpetually smiling figure—the one who sternly rebuked their foolishness.

Theresa gritted her teeth and slammed her fist onto the console. In that moment, her only response was this impotent rage.

However, Theresa seemed to have forgotten that she wasn't alone.

Bronya stood beside her, quietly observing. She took note of everything Theresa did, including the incoming message.

"Principal, my condolences."

Ana's passing also deeply saddened Bronya. However, among the main trio, she had the least personal connection with Ana, making her grief somewhat less profound compared to others.

But Bronya possessed a unique trait: she never forgot those who treated her kindly, and Ana undoubtedly belonged in that category.

She recalled how during history classes taught by Teacher Ana, the teacher often praised her, always expressing hope for Bronya to smile more, let go of the past, and enjoy the present moment.

Teacher Ana truly...was kind to everyone.

When Ana initially kidnapped Kiana, no one at Saint Freya Academy could believe her betrayal. They all felt there must have been some compelling reason behind her actions.

But now this teacher had left, all to defeat the Herrschers of Ice and Stars.

She clearly...didn't need to sacrifice so much.

"Bronya, don't tell Kiana," Theresa said solemnly after a moment, raising her head.

Kiana was currently at a critical juncture in mastering her newfound power. If she learned about Teacher Ana's passing—especially considering Ana had just appeared in Nagazora City to assist her—

Kiana might blame herself for putting Ana in danger due to their assistance.

Although Kiana deserved to know; as Siegfried's acknowledged daughter and Ana's cousin, she had every right to be informed.

However, what Theresa didn't realize was that Kiana, who should have been meditating at this time, was instead outside the bridge cabin door due to the butterfly effect caused by Ana's actions. She had already overheard the conversation inside.

Despite not knowing exactly what transpired, Kiana could hear Ana's voice and piece together the situation from their conversation. Despite her usual scatterbrained demeanor, Kiana's intellect now reached its peak potential.

A thought struck her mind like a bolt out of the blue.

Although Fu Hua had always been by her side, supporting her, Kiana sensed there might be more to Class Monitor's story.

As for Teacher Ana...

Initially puzzled by her, Kiana gradually understood as she witnessed Ana's sacrifices in Tianqiong City. Even during her slumber in Nagazora City, Kiana wasn't entirely oblivious to her surroundings.

She could feel that at that moment, Teacher Ana, gritting her teeth, poured her blood capable of neutralizing Honkai Energy onto Kiana.

But then, unable to stand up, Kiana missed the chance to truly see Teacher Ana.

Their final encounter was back in Tianqiong City, where Ana chose to provoke Kiana verbally to help her resist the Queen's influence.

At that moment, overwhelmed by her emotions, Kiana couldn't even properly look at Teacher Ana.

To be fair, for much of their time together, she harbored resentment towards Ana, seeing her as the ultimate villain. Yet, Kiana had forgotten that Teacher Ana was only slightly older than herself—barely more than a peer.

Teacher Ana should have been a carefree Valkyrie; there was no need for her to concern herself with Kiana's struggles.

Indeed, Ana often overlooked this fact, constantly comparing herself unconsciously to Kevin, despite him being a powerhouse from the previous generation.

Siegfried, Theresa, and Himeko were all elites of the past era, while Ana clearly belonged among the rising stars of the current one, needing time to grow and develop. Instead, she chose to forsake that path and assume the role of Chessmaster.

She took on burdens not meant for her shoulders. Despite not yet being a Herrscher, she willingly embraced transformation solely to guide her unworthy student onto a better path.

Now, having achieved such remarkable accomplishments, Ana has met her untimely demise.

Yet despite being protected by her, Kiana still struggled to control her own Authority.

"Teacher Ana... Why didn't you take away my Authorities...?"

Kiana leaned against the door, sobbing softly.

Fu Hua had explained that if Ana had so chosen, she could have completely stripped Kiana of all her Authorities—or at least taken one or two from her.

But she hadn't. Despite being contemporaries and emerging victorious, she willingly handed every opportunity over to Kiana instead.

Whether it was Teacher Ana, Teacher Himeko, or Class Representative Fu Hua, they all made sacrifices for her sake.

And yet...

As this thought crossed her mind, Kiana's eyes glinted with determination and hatred. She would no longer wallow in self-pity, but she vowed to remember these debts. One day, she would make Honkai repay double-fold for what her teachers sacrificed for her.

Just then, the bridge doors suddenly swung open.

Without support behind her, Kiana stumbled backward and fell onto the ground with a thud.

Seeing Kiana before her, Bronya's face betrayed a hint of helplessness. Then, somewhat awkwardly, she turned to glance at Theresa standing farther away.

"Principal, it seems we don't need to keep this from her anymore."

"Kiana..."

As Theresa looked down at Kiana lying on the floor, she reached out a hand, wanting to say something but unable to find the words. Even with all her years of experience as an educator, she had never encountered such a situation.

"You...don't blame yourself... It wasn't your fault."

"I'm okay, Auntie. Really, I'm fine."

But Kiana's reaction was unexpected. She swiftly wiped away her tears, sprang up from the ground like a fish leaping, and managed a smile.

"Don't worry about me. How much longer until we reach Class Monitor's Taixuan Mountain?"

With that, Kiana quickly walked over to the porthole and gazed outside at the vast land of Shenzhou, trying to hide her sorrow.

"Hmm, not long now. To be precise, 8 hours, 7 minutes, and 42 seconds," Bronya promptly responded, understanding Kiana's intent.

Theresa was at a loss for words. In Shenzhou, there's an old saying: "No sorrow is greater than despair; no grief more profound than silence." This sentiment seemed to encapsulate her feelings perfectly.

Theresa understood Kiana's pain well. Compared to herself, these students had an even deeper bond with Teacher Ana, who had always been dedicated to guiding and teaching them.

Now, this young teacher gave one final lesson by sacrificing her life.

In the Honkai World, the concept of "The Last Lesson" from that animated short film doesn't exist. Ultimately, Himeko's last lesson was meant specifically for Kiana outside the game context.

However, Ana's passing truly delivered a poignant lesson to nearly everyone in the Honkai World.

She wasn't a Herrscher, nor did she ever wield a Divine Key. Her innate talent wasn't among the highest amongst Valkyries. Yet, she was young, charming, beautiful, possessed a kind demeanor, and her reputation spread far and wide.

Such a Valkyrie, known intimately by organizations like Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and even the World Serpent, made her final sacrifice the most impactful lesson—the true "Last Lesson."

Himeko's last lesson primarily resonated with players outside the game, focusing on Captain and Kiana.

Outside the game, Captains also witnessed Ana's final lesson, and her tragic demise at such a young age struck deeper than Himeko's passing as an elder Valkyrie.

After all, facing death head-on with calm acceptance is far easier for a seasoned Valkyrie like Himeko compared to a youthful and exceptional one like Ana. This observation isn't meant to diminish anyone but simply reflects reality.

Ana wasn't recklessly courting death; instead, she played against fate itself, staking her life on the barrel of destiny solely so others wouldn't have to confront their own mortality...