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Despite the playful banter, Brother Cake knew that delivering quality content was paramount for his stream.
In this game, players could temporarily leave during certain scenarios, and he opted to do so now. Ana's Remembrance Stone had filled up, allowing her to unlock new memories—a feature newly introduced in this version.
However, instead of another animated short, this time it presented a monologue:
"Just watching?"
"What else should I do?"
"You're Kiana's teacher; your guidance helped her reach where she is today."
"As one of those responsible for Herrscher of the Void's return, you can't simply abandon your duty now! Are you trying to escape responsibility, pretending everything is honorable?"
"..."
"What choice do I have then?"
"There's much you can still accomplish!"
"For instance?"
"For example...you've already experienced the power of the Gem of Desire, haven't you? Hehe, why don't we conquer it together?! That way, with more knowledge at our disposal, we'll be better equipped to assist our beloved students!"
"Agreed."
"I shall conquer the Gem of Desire and become the true Herrscher of Wind...Kiana...wait for me."
"..."
[...]
This memory was brief and straightforward, yet these few lines revealed a long-standing issue among Captains: Although Ana possessed the Gem of Desire, as both a Valkyrie of Schicksal and the family head of House Schariac—a lineage with a storied tradition of fighting on the frontlines against Honkai—there seemed no logical reason for her to become a Herrscher.
Yet now, Ana chose to embrace becoming the Herrscher of Wind, all for Kiana's sake.
As for labeling her a sinner, attentive Captains understood well that Sirin awakening within Kiana was a consequence involving everyone.
It couldn't solely be blamed on Ana, but her role in the process could not be denied either. Ideally, given her intimate knowledge of Honkai and steadfast commitment to combating it, she should have nipped the problem in the bud, much like Cecilia did by sacrificing herself for justice. However, she didn't choose that path.
Of course, with Otto involved, there truly wasn't any optimal solution available.
Regardless of what Ana had done at that time, the Herrscher of the Void would inevitably awaken—it was a foregone conclusion.
As a teacher at Saint Freya Academy, she was arguably the least closely connected to it among its staff. Indeed, she could have distanced herself and disregarded the Main trio' concerns.
However, ultimately, she chose to become a Herrscher for Kiana's sake.
Considering her previous arduous journey to rescue Himeko from Virtual Space, this decision seemed quite reasonable.
One can only say, truly fitting of Ana indeed.
"I never would've guessed that Ana became a Herrscher for Kiana's sake; so touching."
"Pfft, as if Kiana needed her to become a Herrscher? What hypocrisy! If she wanted to be one, she should just admit it! So fake!"
"Hey, commenter above, do you really think our Ana cared about being a Herrscher? Even before becoming one, she could take on four opponents simultaneously, including Otto. Do you think she valued that bit of power?"
"Alright, alright, enough trolling, give it a rest."
"Playing the cyber-mom card now, huh?"
"Did anyone else notice they mentioned 'conquering gem'? Conquest... isn't that Raiden Mei's gemstone?"
"Uh, I doubt that's what they meant... The official team wouldn't make such a mistake in their text."
"I believe this indicates that Ana's Herrscher of Wind is even more exceptional."
This time, Brother Cake unusually glanced at the bullet comments. With so many viewers flooding the stream, the chat moved rapidly, making it impractical for the streamer to follow every message closely. However, if there were highly discussed or recurring topics, they would still take notice.
As for Brother Cake, his intense focus on gaming meant he wasn't considered among the top-tier streamers. Yet, his generous spending abilities outclassed ninety-nine percent of them. Additionally, his streams always delivered engaging content.
Engaging content didn't necessarily require constant interaction with the audience.
"Comparing Wendy's Herrscher of Wind with Ana's version is like comparing apples to oranges," Brother Cake continued but quickly shifted gears. "However, even without becoming the Herrscher of Wind, Ana surpasses Wendy, making it hard to draw direct comparisons. After all, the official lore around Herrschers hasn't been fully fleshed out."
Indeed, this was somewhat disappointing. The developers had never systematically organized the information, leaving it fragmented and often contradictory, riddled with retcons, which proved quite troublesome.
Of course, the current Captains have become more laid-back about such inconsistencies. For instance, the introduction of the Elysian Realm alone, filling gaps related to Fire Moth and the Fallen Heroes, was already commendable.
"It's just unfortunate for Ana; I never expected her transformation into a Herrscher to stem from such circumstances."
[So heartwarming!]
[Awwwww...]
[Huh? What's so touching about that?]
Following the internet connection, at Shanghai University's international student dormitory, Ana popped a chip into her mouth and skillfully typed out this response. At first glance, it might seem like trolling, but it genuinely reflected her reaction.
How should she put it? Back then, she merely felt compelled to set an example and gain some experience for herself and Kiana, so she acted accordingly without overthinking it.
But oh well, MiHoYo decided to add a brief inner dialogue reminiscent of Fu Hua's True and Ideal Selves, which amused her quite a bit.
She didn't consider herself that noble; her primary concern was always her own interests. After all, "self-preservation is paramount," as they say. However, while prioritizing herself, she did spare some thought for others, albeit only incidentally.
Alright, admitting this might be hard for people to believe, especially considering her ultimate sacrifice. Yet, truthfully, she didn't lose anything significant and instead gained numerous benefits.
"Ah—"
Watching the scrolling bullet comments on the screen, Ana shook her head with a sigh.
"The world sleeps, but here I am wide awake!"
Within the Elysian Realm, Ana and Elysia had returned to the Golden Courtyard's lounge. Elysia made several speculations about Raiden Mei and Mobius's interaction.
"Hmm, dear, what do you think?" Elysia asked coyly, almost flirtatiously, towards Ana.
"Two rational individuals together won't lead to much happening. However, given Mobius's habits, she might likely take forceful action, but it probably wouldn't hold any significant meaning," Ana responded somewhat helplessly, unable to resist Elysia's charm.
Indeed, Elysia was well aware that Ana couldn't withstand her playful flirting. In truth, within this Elysian Realm, few Heroic Spirits could truly resist her allure - perhaps that's the essence of Elysia's magnetism.
"But it's not entirely without significance. At least, it allows her to step out from those shadows into the light, doesn't it, Mobius?"
As Ana finished speaking, she lifted her head, gazing towards the distant entrance of the Elysian Realm.
"Yes, indeed, Ana," replied a seductive voice echoing from within the realm. Moments later, Mobius emerged, dragging someone behind her-it was none other than Raiden Mei.
"It seems you've made some initial progress."
Ana glanced at the unconscious Raiden Mei and remarked nonchalantly.
"Yes, I owe it all to you, Ana," Mobius replied, maintaining her original voice. Honestly, this tone was quite persuasive; if Ana weren't so familiar with Mobius, she might have been swayed indeed.
Hmm, aiming to conquer one's inner demons, only to be conquered oneself (not literally).
"I haven't done anything wrong, though. Besides, your plans alone won't suffice if you truly wish to leave here. The resistance you'll face is greater than you imagine." Ana chuckled softly, her words measured.
To be honest, he did find the idea intriguing - seeing a different Mobius escape from this place and venture into the outside world. Of course, should Mobius actually make it out, his true self would undoubtedly have already devised ways to exploit her value.
Well, how to put it? This may be the most likely world line for Mobius to depart the Elysian Realm, but simultaneously, it's also the world line where she becomes the protagonist. In any case, regardless of circumstances, she cannot evade her predetermined fate.
Honestly, as one of the Garden of Eden's memory fragments, Ana still preferred Mobius not to leave. The butterfly effect was genuinely bothersome; if the Herrscher of Corruption were to return, she might have no choice but to rely on her true self for assistance.
And at present, she wasn't entirely sure about her true self's situation.
According to Raiden Mei, the true self had actually died? How could that be possible? Ana found it hard to believe. If this were true, faking death would complicate matters significantly when trying to contact her true self.
For now, all she could do—as always—was take things step by step and see how they unfold.
Yes, just like that, Ana swiftly regained her composure. Her mental brainstorming took less than a second, highlighting the convenience of being a memory fragment. In an instant, she arrived at the desired conclusion.
As a memory fragment, using logical deductions based on memories effortlessly led her to the outcome.
"Relax, I haven't done anything to her. There's no need for such vigilance, Elysia," Mobius spoke indifferently. Her attitude towards Elysia seemed somewhat uncharacteristic, though for Ana, it felt quite typical.
Mobius was known for her insincere words, often using harsh language to mock or belittle even her allies, leading them to isolate themselves from her. It's safe to say she had quite a knack for putting her foot in her mouth.
However, Elysia didn't mind; it was simply part of who she was.
"Alright, try not to be so rough next time. I don't have many students, you know." Sighing softly, Ana walked over and gently laid Raiden Mei on the sofa in the resting area. Now all that remained was to wait for her to regain consciousness.
It truly is ironic. Despite my efforts to train Raiden Mei, she still couldn't resist Mobius' power - the Infinite Engravings. How should one put it? Perhaps fate cannot be overcome after all?
"Why indeed? I just never expected dear Dr. Mobius to appear here. I thought you only frequented those verdant locales," Elysia remarked after briefly checking on Raiden Mei's condition.
"Verdant locales..." Ana repeated quietly before bursting out laughing. Even though she anticipated this remark from Elysia, hearing it spoken aloud still brought amusement to her.
Ana softly murmured before bursting out laughing. Even though she anticipated Elysia's remark, hearing it firsthand still made her unable to suppress her amusement.
"Elysia, no one would mistake you for mute if you just kept quiet!"
This time, unlike the original storyline, Mobius seized the opportunity to respond, particularly irked by Ana's laughter, which further fueled her discontent.
Honestly, it was hard to tell whether Elysia intentionally provoked others or not. Sometimes, her words could indeed be infuriating, yet they never felt like riddles meant to confuse.
"Oh dear, my apologies, I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that I've missed you terribly."
Elysia maintained her smile, unfazed.
"I...I'm back in reality now? But why?"
As this conversation unfolded, Raiden Mei also regained consciousness nearby. Looking around at the familiar surroundings, she appeared somewhat bewildered.
"Just what happened there...?"
"You fainted while receiving the Infinite Engravings; your current self can't fully handle that power."
Ana's voice resonated at the right moment, providing Raiden Mei with a sense of calm. However, within the next second, she instantly became cautious again.
"Oops, you woke up quite quickly, dear."
"!!!!!" Raiden Mei froze, startled by Ana's unexpected remark.
But just as swiftly, the tense atmosphere eased, thanks to Ana once more breaking the silence:
"So, Mobius, how do you manage that hairstyle? Teach me!"
"Huh, Ana, what are you talking about? I've always been like this," Mobius replied pitifully before turning her gaze towards Raiden Mei. "Right, big sister?"
Raiden Mei remained silent. Although Ana's words had somewhat alleviated her initial fear, she still felt wary around Mobius. Instinctively, she stood up and edged closer to Ana for reassurance.
Ana raised an eyebrow at Elysia, but Raiden Mei didn't notice their exchange.
"Why are you afraid of me, big sister...?"
"How did you end up here?"
"Huh? Didn't you bring me here, big sister? Thanks to you, I'm able to appear now."
"..."
"Why do you obstruct me?"
"Obstruct? How so? Perhaps you fell unconscious too quickly and missed my final words? The destination you seek is precisely where your journey begins now."
"Nonsense..."
"..."
Ana didn't respond verbally, but her eyes betrayed a thoughtful expression.
In a way, it wasn't entirely incorrect to say that from the beginning, Raiden Mei had already approached or even obtained the answer. All that remained was deciphering its meaning.