Chapter 127: The Herrscher Awakens

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So, does our esteemed Bishop Otto truly know everything happening?

The answer is no.

Otto is merely human, not a deity. Ana had meticulously avoided his attention, fearing the unpredictable trouble he could cause. However, unfortunately, she underestimated Otto's ambition, as he has now set his sights on her.

But even with his focus locked on her, Otto stands little chance of gaining anything valuable, much like during the Second Honkai Eruption when events spiraled beyond his control.

For Otto, this situation was entirely unprecedented. Whether it be the enigmatic Lord of the World Serpent or the inscrutable Ana, both were formidable adversaries he couldn't easily confront. Yet now, he dared to scheme against Ana's power, showcasing his unwavering courage once again.

Reflecting on past events, one might wonder why he didn't take more risks with Kallen, perhaps being even more romantic. Had he indulged her whims, things might not have escalated so drastically...

Due to these circumstances, when faced with Durandal's report, Otto could no longer muster the same boldness to stake everything as before. He needed to remain here and continue studying the Void Archives. However, he still had to involve himself in matters concerning Ana somehow.

In essence, Mr. Otto found himself in an incredibly conflicted state, but ultimately...

"Durandal, I entrust the situation at Coral Island entirely to you. Ensure Schicksal's interests are safeguarded during this event! If necessary, request additional troop support and firepower assistance."

With these words, Otto set the tone for his mission.

This marked a compromise from Otto; regarding Ana, he could only temporarily fan the flames while discreetly probing their adversary. After all, on paper, his strength indeed fell short compared to these two formidable figures.

Despite this, Otto did not abandon hope.

After all, turning small advantages into significant gains was familiar territory for him; it's how he had risen to power throughout his journey.

"Yes, Lord Bishop," Durandal responded respectfully. Neither Rita nor Durandal were surprised by Otto's reaction, as he harbored some apprehension towards the World Serpent.

As for Ana, they didn't give her much thought. Who could have imagined that she possessed such unimaginable power? It seemed utterly implausible.

The communication ended, leaving them both standing there, silently gazing at Coral Island in the distance.

However, silence was not a solution. Eventually, it was Rita who broke the stillness.

"Lady Durandal, what do you plan to do?" she asked.

Although Ana had already issued warnings earlier, mere warnings couldn't deter them. As friends and family, they couldn't simply stand idly by while Ana fought alone without offering any support.

"Rita, take command of the Valkyrie forces. Based on the situation, request reinforcements from the Lord Bishop when necessary." After a moment, Durandal replied slowly, her voice carrying an unmistakable authority.

"And what about you?"

Rita anticipated this response. Her true concern lay with Durandal's decision. Additionally, she understood that to Durandal, Rita would only be a burden.

"I will re-enter Coral Island to find Raiden Mei. At least, we should share our intelligence with them."

Durandal referred to the Owl situation.

As for why communication wasn't feasible, it was clear that the World Serpent team likely faced similar illusions, possibly even more advanced ones.

If Ana truly orchestrated all of this, then the World Serpent's involvement must have been within her expectations. Moreover, Ana's understanding of both Raiden Mei and the World Serpent far exceeded theirs. Even the inclusion of Chen Tianwu, a high-ranking officer, seemed part of her calculations.

In a sense, Durandal didn't wish to go herself, but she also considered the possibility that even their discovery of information on Chen Tianwu might have been anticipated by Ana—perhaps another piece of her grand scheme?

Regardless, Durandal resolved to enter Coral Island and investigate. With her familiarity with illusory realms, even if danger arose, she was confident in her ability to escape unscathed.

"Alright, I understand."

Rita was unsurprised by Durandal's choice; there was no way she could dissuade her. Silently supporting Durandal and fulfilling her own duties were now all Rita could do.

At the heart of Coral Island, on the central platform, encased within solid ice, Ana lay dormant like Sleeping Beauty. Though her body remained unconscious, her consciousness was fully awake.

Currently, she found herself locked in combat with her Herrscher Aspect, completely unaware of events unfolding outside.

"Ha ha ha ha! You cannot succeed, Usurper!"

With access to multiple powers, Ana effortlessly suppressed the Herrscher Aspect. Yet, it persisted in its defiant rantings, displaying sheer madness akin to a demonic frenzy.

This made Ana furrow her brow deeply.

She couldn't simply destroy the Herrscher Aspect outright.

Unlike the Herrscher Aspect from when she was the Herrscher of Wind, this aspect represented her negative personality traits, existing since the beginning—it was the true Ana's dark side.

Although Ana had now become the genuine self, due to this connection, she could not entirely eliminate the Herrscher Aspect without negating her own existence. And that was absolutely unthinkable.

Thus, Ana had only one option left: confronting and overcoming Heart Demon—her inner demons. But what exactly were these inner demons? They stemmed from the sobbing little girl during the Manila Honkai incident years ago.

During the Major Honkai Eruption, young Ana had been terrified and focused solely on her own escape, neglecting to respond to the little girl's plea for help. This incident became a deep-seated pain for Ana.

Even after Ana descended, replacing her original self, she saved numerous lives and ultimately killed the source of that Honkai event. Yet, it did not alleviate this anguish. To completely vanquish Heart Demon, one must...

Gazing at the defiant Herrscher Aspect before her, Ana's eyes flickered as golden chains emerged from her body, binding the Herrscher. These were the powers of Commandments bestowed by Aponia.

While not as fundamental as the Staff of the Underworld in controlling Herrschers, their potency was no less formidable. In certain aspects, they even surpassed it.

"Please... do not leave Coral Island."

With this Commandment, Ana issued another layer of safeguard. As long as the Herrscher remained confined within Coral Island, everything would be under her control. Even if she failed, this restriction would limit the Herrscher's actions.

"Listen, I'll give you a chance: If you choose to accept me, I won't destroy you."

"Hahaha, who do you think you are? An Usurper! Can you even kill me?" The Herrscher Aspect laughed hysterically.

"Never mind."

With a soft sigh, Ana shook her head. As expected, there was little she could discuss with the Herrscher Aspect; each knew the other's every secret intimately.

As a Herrscher formed from accumulated negative emotions, Ana had considered: if left unchecked, might this aspect seize control over the Authority of Dominance?

In truth, it seemed highly plausible.

Indeed, if Fu Hua hadn't sealed Senti away, she would have been invaluable against the Herrscher of Dominance. With her unpredictable and assertive nature, Senti embodied the essence of being "Herrscher of a Thousand Souls," rendering the actual titleholder powerless.

"Since you call me an Usurper, I shall relinquish everything to you. Let's see what wonders you can achieve."

With that final glance at the Herrscher Aspect, Ana turned and departed.

In reality, as the Herrscher Aspect herself, she lacked the standing to label Ana an Usurper. The negative emotions and memories within the Herrscher Aspect also included those of Ana, meaning they were intricately connected.

If Ana is indeed an Usurper, then does that mean her Herrscher Aspect isn't one either?

Ultimately, the world did not reject them, indicating they both truly are Ana—there's no such thing as an Usurper here. It merely suggests that amidst countless parallel universes, due to unique circumstances, this particular possibility emerged.

Deep within her consciousness, Ana halted and gathered her inherent Authorities, with the Wind Authority being paramount. Even if the Herrscher Aspect controlled her body, utilizing the Wind Authority still had to adhere to Ana's rules—a benefit conferred by the Conquest Authority.

This also meant that even if she failed in the struggle, unable to complete Ascension, she would have ample time to harness her own Authorities and ensure mutual destruction with the Herrscher.

Simultaneously, Ana could tap into a portion of the Ice Authority, which was crucial for her plan.

It has been mentioned earlier: absolute zero, the extreme limit of cold, can freeze time, while Shunra's Instant Sword Technique can tear through space. Combining these two abilities creates a technique capable of traversing across both space and time.

Now, Ana intends to use this move to cross dimensions, returning to the moment filled with her deepest regrets, aiming to alter the past.

However, there lies a significant question: Can the past truly be altered? If it is changed, what impact would it have on the future and present?

For now, Ana isn't dwelling on these concerns. Her immediate priority is to test whether time-space traversal is feasible; only if possible can she consider the implications afterward.

As it turns out, her attempt seems successful.

With the temperature reaching absolute zero, Ana unleashes the Instant Sword Technique. As time and space shatter, a rift appears before her—a fissure connecting the past and present.

Through this crack, Ana glimpses her past self, precisely at the moment she had hoped for.

Without hesitation, Ana steps directly into the rift.

Following Ana's departure, the Herrscher of Ice within the solid ice opens her eyes. The once-pink irises turn black, reflecting icy patterns, while a layer of cold, dark mist envelops the pure yet frigid ice.

The Herrscher of Ice awakens anew, fully transformed after Ascension—now complete with the wind authority. Henceforth, she shall be known as the Herrscher of Winter!

Cracks appeared on the solid ice enveloping the Herrscher, and soon, the maiden broke free.

The Herrscher's ceremonial attire underwent a transformation as well. While still resembling a robe, it now evoked the style of an executive from Mi Corp's other game, Genshin Impact, specifically from the nation of Liyue. However, the color scheme was predominantly black, with a pure white crown adorning her head, symbolizing the supreme Authority of the Herrscher. Visually, this Herrscher felt akin to a blend between mara-struck Jingliu and Herrscher of Sentience.

With a wave of her hand, a throne of ice and snow materialized behind her. As she took her seat upon it, an immense icy imperial palace rose majestically around her.

Seated on the Throne, ice coalesced beneath, lifting it high above.

She closed her eyes, a hint of annoyance flickering across her face.

"Tch, such a tedious restriction."

Indeed, she had already detected the barrier Ana had set up. However, constructed with the power of Commandments, even the formidable Herrscher of Ice could not dispel it. The true might of the Winter Herrscher lay within Ana, who had temporarily departed.

Ironically, despite sounding humorous, the Herrscher born from the Herrscher Aspect was seemingly weaker than the Herrscher of Human, who ascended through her own will.

The Herrscher opened her eyes and lifted her hand.

A mirror-like sheet of solid ice appeared before her, reflecting two scenes: one showing World Serpent's situation and the other depicting Schicksal's actions.

Being inherently derived from the Herrscher Aspect, she possessed anti-human and antisocial tendencies. Although confined by Ana's Commandments on Coral Island, she held no patience for these invaders.

However, she didn't intend to simply kill them outright.

True, she was a Herrscher now, but she also inherited Ana's emotions, which evoked unique sentiments towards certain individuals depicted in those reflections.

Moreover, as a newly awakened Herrscher and a true Empress, being trapped within this frigid imperial palace naturally led her to seek some form of entertainment to pass the time.

As for everything else, she'd wait until that usurping bastard returns to settle accounts properly!

With this thought, a faint smile crossed the Herrscher's face. Compared to Ana, her gaze was even colder, carrying a hint of madness rather than any gentleness—a stark contrast indeed.

"Struggle with all your might! Entertain me! Ha ha ha ha—"

Amidst the Herrscher of Winter's deranged laughter, the main storyline for Version 4.1: "Winter's Arrival" officially came to a close. As expected, Old Mi maintained his signature style, leaving another intriguing cliffhanger!

In reality, the revelations from this update indeed required some time for Captains to digest.