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

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In New Mexico, USA, utilizing the power of Godslayer Armor Ichival Moonlit Sky, Ana secretly arrived at her destination. This operation remained entirely covert; no organization could have anticipated that Ana would stealthily traverse from Tianqiong City across the ocean to the United States.

Such is the might of the Herrscher of Wind, even though not one of the fundamental forces, its Ideal Fluid nature transcends scientific comprehension, making it undeniably formidable.

Previously, Wendy's use of Authorities was rudimentary. By slightly enhancing these powers, Ana effortlessly defeated Anti-Entropy's MSR-7 Wotan. Later, by unlocking Ichival Moonlit Sky's restrictions, she achieved partial Herrscher transformation, easily countering three S-rank Valkyries clad in Godslayer Armors alongside Otto wielding the Void Archives—a mere glimpse of her capabilities.

If Ana could fuse with the Gem of Desire and become the Herrscher of Wind, her power would undoubtedly reach new heights. At that point, she might genuinely have a chance to contend against Kevin—

Alright, just kidding.

Facing regular Kevin wouldn't be an issue, and likely even the Fallen Karmic Demon Kevin wouldn't pose much challenge. However, for anything beyond that, it seems she'd need to attain the level of a Transcendent Queen like the Herrscher of Truth.

Okay, let's not get too far ahead here.

Honestly, Herrschers are truly overpowered. Thankfully, Honkai doesn't target exceptional individuals; otherwise, if early Sequence Herrschers were chosen from scientists on par with Einstein, humanity might as well surrender immediately.

Consider the Herrscher of Reason, Herrscher of the Void, Herrscher of Wind, Herrscher of Flame, and Herrscher of Ice—armed with sufficient scientific knowledge, any one of them could effortlessly annihilate this world without needing additional enhancements.

"Is this some form of Cocoon's trial protection?" Ana murmured, shaking her head slightly. A faint blue glow reappeared in her pale pink eyes as Ideal Fluid enveloped her, propelling her towards Anti-Entropy's experimental base.

Thanks to the power of Ideal Fluid, Ana moved incredibly swiftly. So fast, in fact, that the laboratory instruments couldn't detect her presence until she had already infiltrated the lab. To these sensors, all they registered was a mere gust of wind.

Indeed, wind is merely the final manifestation of Ideal Fluid's presence. As air, another fluid, surrounds it, their interaction inevitably creates ripples, resulting in gusts.

In essence, wind serves as an observable consequence of the Herrscher of Wind's Authority rather than its inherent power itself. To put it differently, wind is just a byproduct; the true force of the Herrscher lies within what accompanies the wind.

When Ana materialized beside the two men, they remained completely oblivious to her presence.

"Siegfried, I've come for the agreed item," Ana politely stated.

Her sudden appearance startled Raiden Ryoma, who was unfamiliar with Ana. In fact, even Anti-Entropy's records contained very little information about her.

After all, Ana had indeed risen unexpectedly onto the scene.

"Don't worry, Ryoma, she's family." Siegfried intervened, preventing him from sounding the alarm abruptly.

"This is Schicksal's S-Class Valkyrie - Ana Schariac, whom I've mentioned to you before."

"Oh, it's her," Raiden Ryoma realized.

As fathers who couldn't be by their daughters' side yet tirelessly protected them from afar, they shared many common experiences and often engaged in casual conversations. Naturally, Siegfried had already briefed Raiden Ryoma about Ana's situation.

"I am now the head of the Far East Branch, working collaboratively with Mr. Otto," Ana added with a smile, spreading her hands out slightly.

"We initially had a falling out, but Mr. Otto's thick skin truly deserves commendation for achieving such great feats." Ana couldn't help but lightly tease.

"That's certainly true," Siegfried nodded in agreement, then reached out to gently pat Ana's head.

"Hahaha, imagine my surprise! In just this short time, you've become the head of the Far East Branch. If Theresa knew, she'd probably throw another fit, crying and all."

"I wish she'd cry and throw tantrums instead, but this truly embodies what it means to be a Principal."

"Really? It seems our little Teresita has grown up. Cecilia would've been so relieved," Siegfried said with a smile.

To Ana's delight, there was no trace of melancholy in Siegfried's eyes this time; only contentment shone through.

"As for Kiana, I'll do my utmost. It is both my duty as her elder sister and teacher. You need not worry."

"Additionally, you can always trust the Red Kite Immortal, just like during Singapore." Ana spoke deliberately.

She hesitated to reveal too many details to Siegfried, fearing he might feel excessively indebted to Fu Hua. After all, Fu Hua had sacrificed her physical form to link her consciousness with Kiana's.

"Thank you, then. I leave it in your hands." As Siegfried spoke, he unbuckled Judgment of Shamash from his waist and handed it to Ana.

"Yes."

With reverence, Ana accepted Judgment of Shamash. As Honkai Energy flowed into it, its appearance transformed into the familiar Cleaver of Shamash known by many.

However, Ana showed no intention of stopping, prompting Siegfried to hastily intervene.

"Don't continue; it will harm you!"

"Don't worry, Mr. Siegfried."

Ana lifted her head with a faint smile on her face. Beneath the Godslayer Armor, the crimson Stigma on her back reactivated once more. The Kaslana bloodline and Stigma ignited simultaneously, emanating waves of chilling energy around Ana.

This was Ana's first time unleashing the Stigmata and bloodline rewards obtained from the system. Yet, she felt remarkably comfortable wielding them, possibly due to her prior experience activating holy blood or because these abilities were inherently hers all along.

In Ana's hands, Judgment of Shamash transformed, igniting with blazing flames—the very symbol of civilization. Although not wielded by its original owner this time, it was held by one destined to shape the era.

Judgment of Shamash—Might of An-Utu!

"It feels even simpler than I imagined," Ana remarked as she raised the greatsword ablaze with roaring fire. Gently biting her finger, she infused her blood into the weapon, causing Might of An-Utu to surge with power. Amidst the golden-red flames, a hint of pale pink flickered.

The sensation made Ana yearn to swing the sword, eager to test its might. Unfortunately, surrounded by laboratory equipment, she had to restrain herself. Instead, she extinguished Might of An-Utu, transforming it back into Heaven's Fire Dual Daggers.

Feeling it was relatively simple to wield now made sense; her initial perception had been influenced by seeing Siegfried struggle with Might of An-Utu in comics. In reality, controlling Judgment of Shamash's Unlimited form wasn't fundamentally different from Black Abyss Lily EX.

Judgment of Shamash isn't inherently more prestigious than Black Abyss White Flower; its superiority lies solely in the Divine Key's core, which amplifies its damage potential.

Originally, there was another Divine Key even more powerful than Judgment of Shamash: Hibernate All Living Things, which Vill-V modified into the Key of Stagnation.

Hibernate All Living Things initially meant the extinction of all living beings, unlike its current purpose as a safeguard for civilization's kindling.

In terms of destructive power, the Herrscher of Ice should be comparable to the Herrscher of Flame, given their similar Authorities, albeit affecting different aspects.

"You..."

Watching Ana effortlessly control Might of An-Utu rendered Siegfried utterly speechless, feeling like he'd been overtaken and left behind by the next generation.

While he struggled to harness artificial destabilization forces, Ana ascended swiftly, mastering Herrscher powers, and now directly wielding the might of An-Utu. How could this former prodigy compete?

Recalling his past vows, Siegfried could only let out a bitter sigh and a resigned laugh.

Indeed, as Ana had suggested, it was time for this generation to pass the torch to the younger ones. The girl before him was destined to be inscribed in history, becoming its brightest star amidst these glorious times.

Well, considering she's still family, there wasn't much reason for disappointment. Moreover, that must have been the Kaslana bloodline, evident within Ana herself too. Reflecting on the historical knowledge he possessed as the Kaslana family head, Siegfried found solace.

In Western Medieval times, those who understand know what implications that holds.

If one were to delve deeper, they might uncover more Kaslana relatives, though with her already being connected to the Schariacs, it didn't matter much. After all, he had just one daughter, but...

"Then, I'll take Judgment of Shamash now, Mr. Siegfried."

Ana looked up at Siegfried, her gaze seeking his approval.

"Yes," Siegfried nodded, placing unwavering trust in Ana. Even without considering their bond, Ana could have simply taken it by force; there was no need for her to ask permission.

"Yes, let me give you both some advice."

Ana turned her gaze towards Raiden Ryoma.

"Mr. Ryoma, the two doctors should currently be at Seabed City, correct?"

"Hmm." Raiden Ryoma nodded, confirming this wasn't sensitive information; with Schicksal's extensive intelligence network, obtaining such details would be effortless.

"In that case, I suggest abandoning this outpost.

"The entity Mr. Welt sealed and obstructed with his life was none other than the leader of the World Serpent, their Lord Kevin.

"As far as I know, serpents have infiltrated various locations already. Once their Lord returns, he will undoubtedly strike here first to announce the serpent's resurgence."

"So, that's why you came for Judgment of Shamash..." Raiden Ryoma realized, understanding instantly. As a seasoned Enforcer of Anti-Entropy, he was no fool and possessed knowledge of many secrets.

"Yes, I have connections with the serpent faction. Regardless of whether they make a move or not, I can ensure the safety of Judgment of Shamash. At the very least, I could inflict significant losses on them.

"But you cannot underestimate an organization that has existed since the beginning of our civilization era, even if it operates from the shadows. Their power surpasses your imagination. You stand no chance against the Serpent," Ana stated gravely.

Ana spoke solemnly.

"If possible, Siegfried, please stay hidden as much as you can. As his only cherished descendant, you will undoubtedly become his target."

"In this era, only you have the potential to follow his path."

"However, if people learn about Project Stigma, I fear no one would willingly risk their lives for him!"

"Project Stigma is our last resort, a passive choice—it should not be our preferred option while we still possess such significant power."

With that, Ana casually tossed a hard drive to Raiden Ryoma.

"This contains some information on Project Stigma from my investigations. If there's any chance to disrupt it, let's try. What we need now is time; the spark of civilization must be nurtured and ignited."

Ana took a deep breath, then looked at Siegfried with a hint of guilt and apology on her face.

"Actually, I had planned to take you along, but afterward, I have something incredibly crucial to attend to—something only I can accomplish. Therefore, I cannot bring you away with me."

"No worries!" Siegfried hastily waved his hand.

"As someone who has received immense help from you, our elder, it would be utterly embarrassing if I couldn't contribute anything myself! Ha ha ha—"

"On the contrary, I believe only you can achieve this," Siegfried replied with a smile, showing no sign of anger.

Ana sighed and crossed her arms, gazing at Siegfried steadily. "From what I know, the Kaslanas are all hot-headed fools: Kiana, Kallen, and Theresa included."

"But then, doesn't that make you one too?"

Siegfried's response remained calm and smiling.

"I belong to the House of Schariac; my connection to their lineage is rather insignificant, merely an added bonus. In fact, I could entirely do without it."

Ana wasn't joking either. The Kaslana bloodline was indeed a reward from the system, and when granting it, the system had clarified that originally, this reward should have been a choice between holy blood or the Kaslana lineage. Since Ana had already chosen the holy blood, receiving the Kaslana lineage afterward felt more like an unnecessary embellishment (though it seemed unclear why the system offered both).

Upon reflection, it made sense.

Ana was destined to become a Herrscher, making the path of becoming a Fusion warrior completely redundant for her. If not for the perilous circumstances upon her arrival through transmigration, she wouldn't even need the holy blood.

Naturally, the holy blood has been invaluable, ensuring her comfortable development thus far. Now, let's see what benefits the Kaslana bloodline offers: artificial destabilization, Stigmata, and Ice Pig physiology. As a Herrscher, why would she need artificial destabilization or additional Stigmata? Isn't her current set already sufficient? And regarding Ice Pig physiology, does it imply that the power of the Herrscher of Ice is inferior to an Ice Pig?

It seems genuinely useless, with perhaps the only potential benefit being to establish a closer connection with Kevin.

However, whether Kevin would even appreciate such an approach remains uncertain.

"Oops, I should have asked the system if there was an option to decline the Kaslana bloodline enhancement."

This thought crossed Ana's mind, but indeed, there's no remedy for regret in this world—not that she particularly needed one.