Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players-Chapter 217: Bronya Ascends, Duck Fans Tear Up!

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Soon after, the preview for Version 6.2 arrived, titled "Time Sails Home." Prior to this, they had already released Ai Mei's character trailer, revealing her weapon as a ring blade.

Honestly, living within the Honkai universe, Ana found herself speechless about the weapon designs and choices in the game Honkai Impact 3. It clearly highlighted the stark differences between video games and reality. This issue is even more pronounced in its neighbor, Genshin Impact.

For players, it wasn't much of a surprise. However, for someone like her, who had practically assimilated into this world, it was indeed somewhat... hard to contain her emotions.

Naturally, the most discussed topics surrounding the version preview revolved around Raven and Ai.

Given their previous meme status and similar roles within the game, they were often considered interchangeable alternatives. Nevertheless, in terms of gameplay strength, Raven's SP limitations and subpar feel made her underwhelming. Thus, her replacement was generally welcomed by all.

However, considering Raven had been with Captains for quite some time and possessed a memorable personality herself, there was still significant sentimentality among players. Yet, none of these sentiments criticized the character itself.

Some characters remain steadfast, enduring without easy replacements or shifts over time, while others quickly fade from relevance. In Raven's case, her departure was understandable.

As a free-to-play character, how could she compare to Azure Empyrea?

Still, it was surprising that Raven would be phased out even faster than Azure Empyrea. Despite vocal criticisms, many Captains had become proficient at utilizing Raven's combat strategies.

With these direct optimizations now, it's clear that processes will undergo changes. However, it's hard to gauge whether this is for better or worse.

In this latest preview, there was minimal information released about game storylines, which could be seen as further building anticipation among Captains.

During this period, Fu Hua and Senti were the most discussed characters. It's quite unfortunate for them, as compared to the Main trio, they remain outnumbered two against three.

Moreover, their future seems uncertain, with a constant sense of impending doom, given their inherent vulnerability to tragic outcomes.

Of course, these are merely speculations from the Captains. Little did they know, in the upcoming version's storyline, a character immensely familiar yet entirely different would make an appearance.

From a narrative perspective, the content of the new version indeed caught many by surprise, although some elements were predictable, considering the early teasers about the Main trio had been circulating for a while.

Despite revealing only silhouettes without detailed illustrations at first, fans naturally began making educated guesses about their characteristics...

In the Honkai World on the moon,

Regarding Kevin's posed question, Fu Hua's choice was evident without needing further context; players were primarily concerned with the outcome.

And as for the result:

Although Kevin transformed into Sinful Demon mode, wielding Might of An-Utu, he never truly attacked Fu Hua.

They were old friends, each representing distinctly different beliefs and perspectives. However, there was no direct reason or necessity for them to become adversaries.

With only the two of them present, even if they engaged in combat, it wouldn't lead anywhere significant.

At most—Fu Hua might lose her fighting capability, akin to how Kevin preserved Fu Hua's consciousness within Fenghuang Down earlier. Unless absolutely necessary, Kevin would not resort to lethal force.

It could be said that throughout their encounters, Kevin has essentially been playing along all this time.

Despite having the power to crush his opponent outright, he consistently acknowledges and praises her strength, refraining from delivering fatal blows. Truly, it's heart-wrenching!

Instead of attacking, Kevin continued conversing with Fu Hua. Frankly speaking, while not eager to disrupt Ana's script entirely, Kevin hoped his old friend wouldn't waste her efforts fruitlessly.

To that end, Kevin explained the Authority of Finality and recounted their shared past.

Although these past events may not hold much significance now, they did genuinely occur. However, despite Kevin's subtle hints, Fu Hua... It wasn't that she was inattentive; rather, as a stubborn individual, her thoughts never veered in that direction.

Meanwhile, the Main trio encountered Hare, who briefed them on Project Stigma. Following this, they confronted Kevin together.

There isn't much to say about this battle; the absolute disparity in power cannot be overcome by sheer will or determination alone.

As expected, following the original storyline, Fu Hua and the Herrscher of Sentience stepped in temporarily to protect the Main trio.

Of course, Kevin had no intention of going all out, nor was there any need for it. This confrontation is part of the script and serves as a test for the Main trio.

Attempting to challenge Kevin with just three ordinary Herrschers, not even at their full strength, could only be described as overly naive.

Next came the Ascension of the Herrscher of Reason.

Essentially, the entire arc revolves around the Herrscher of Reason's Ascension, although it also delves into Hare's backstory. Unfortunately, this Hare is not the same one who initially interacted with Bronya's mother; instead, she is a transcribed version, displaying less emotional depth than before.

The transcribed version of Hare, compared to her original self, exhibited even more detached emotions. For Captains, however, the most significant aspect was her resemblance to Cecilia.

Cecilia has always been immensely popular among fans. While Hare's introduction somewhat diverted some attention from Cecilia, it also sparked dissatisfaction among players.

Because Hare is not Cecilia.

Cecilia was known for her unparalleled gentleness, often referred to as the "mother-in-law," and had a profound impact on both Sirin and Kiana.

Now, Hare possesses Cecilia's appearance but behaves entirely differently, which naturally stems from being Hare rather than Cecilia herself.

However, there's no doubt that Captains didn't see it this way.

Long before, rumors circulated about the "mother-in-law" joining the game, yet nobody anticipated such a character. Initially, people speculated that Cecilia would be resurrected, only to find themselves disappointed by this outcome.

Of course, the most crucial issue lies with Hare's unlikable personality. She exudes an air of superiority, seemingly saying, "I know everything, but I won't tell you; just watching fools amuse me." freewebnσvel.cѳm

Comparing her to the Herrscher of Finality... Of course, in reality, there's no real equivalence; their power levels have a significant gap.

In summary, Hare's introduction was quite impactful, instantly capturing the attention of Captains but also garnering widespread disdain.

She wasn't intentionally cryptic and appeared genuinely sincere, yet her words were undeniably peculiar, stirring inexplicable frustration even when receiving gifts from her.

The general sentiment could be summed up as: "Stay away from me!"

Naturally, this reaction seems deliberate by the scriptwriters, effectively generating animosity. Thankfully, they weren't fools, ensuring that the Main trio remained unimpressed with Hare's demeanor.

Before Bronya completed her Ascension, many Captains suspected Hare might actually be a villain.

However, once Bronya ascended and became the Herrscher of Truth, Hare swiftly distanced herself, adopting an aloof stance, leaving no opportunity for anyone to confront her.

It can only be said that although she grates on people's nerves, she indeed knows how to manipulate situations, whether it's the Main trio or the Captains.

The emergence of this Herrscher of Truth was anticipated and eagerly awaited by everyone.

However, it's crucial to pour some cold water on expectations: In reality, the first-generation Herrscher of Reason had already achieved this state long ago. Becoming the Herrscher of Truth indeed enhanced Bronya's power, but even then, she still couldn't be considered among the top-tier Herrschers.

Nevertheless, Hare offered her assessment:

"As far as I know, your Ascension proceeded smoother than any other Herrscher's."

Indeed, that was true, primarily due to the unique nature of the Herrscher of Reason. From a certain perspective, this smoothness wasn't necessarily advantageous.

A seamless Ascension often signifies weaker strength. Consequently, despite starting from a lower point compared to other ascended Herrschers, the Herrscher of Truth remains at a disadvantage—an indisputable fact and a current situation that cannot be altered easily.

At present, Bronya has merely caught up with her companions' progress.

The issue lies ahead, though; Kiana and Raiden Mei will both experience further growth, meaning... poor Duck indeed.

Of course, these concerns pertain to the future, which the current Captains cannot yet fathom.

Regardless, this storyline version seems quite satisfactory—if... we completely disregard potential changes in future iterations.

Beyond the moon, amidst the boundless starry sky, The Cocoon of Finality hovers suspended above the cosmic ocean. Originally, it should have reached Earth by now, but due to Ana's power, its progress has halted, serving as nourishment for another deity's birth.

Standing before The Cocoon of Finality, Ana gazes at the distant moon. Despite the considerable distance, it holds no significance for her.

Everything unfolds precisely as she planned.

However, what she provided to Kevin and his allies was the original script, which did not include her role. In other words, when this narrative deviates depends solely on her intentions.

In truth, Ana has been patiently waiting for a specific moment - awaiting...His arrival. Even Ana herself cannot pinpoint the exact time of His descent; she can only estimate roughly.

Once He arrives, it will mark the conclusion of everything...

Until then, she remains a spectator, confident in World Serpent's acting skills. Should their charade falter, it matters little.

After all, she already wields unrestricted control over the Authority of Finality, and the Honkai plan is progressing smoothly. Everyone is captivated by Project Stigma, unaware that it serves merely as a facade, designed solely to advance the Honkai agenda.

In the real world, as the story concluded, Brother Cake let out a long sigh of relief.

"This is indeed the growth I hoped to see. Our Duck has finally reached this pivotal moment - it's truly Truth Duck!"

"However, that Hare is genuinely revolting!"

[Absolutely disgusting! Makes me want to give her a good beating!]

[Aaaaah, why does she have Cecilia's face? Were they too lazy to create a new model?]

[Duck, my Duck, turns out you're just an ordinary person after all, how rare!]

The live stream filled with various bullet comments, while Brother Cake couldn't help but express his mixed feelings. He understood Hare's perspective to some extent, but understanding didn't equate to acceptance.

It was indeed unsatisfying that they hadn't given Hare a thorough dressing-down in the end.

However, upon reflection, if it had escalated into a real fight, it could have been quite intriguing.

Hare... technically counts as Bronya's aunt, right? That would've been domestic violence!

"In the next version, Herrscher of Truth should be implemented, but..."

Brother Cake's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of confusion on his face.

This time, there was no final animated segment. In other words, it seemed like the potential short animation and theme song might also be absent. However, Duck still had one Angel Reconstruction left...

But surely not... Isn't this against tradition? If even these elements are gone... what's going on?!

Of course, these were just Brother Cake's speculations. If he voiced them prematurely and nothing materialized, it could lead to unnecessary drama. His current streaming setup was working well; he preferred avoiding such controversies and didn't see any need for them.

In summary, up until now, the atmosphere remained positive and engaging.

Soon, the video trailer for Herrscher of Truth arrived, and the comments beneath it were overwhelmingly positive.

[Duck!! Hurry up and get implemented already!!]

[The new Duck is a spear wielder, so I hope Herrscher of Truth's abilities are like this:

Desperation - Lock-on Skill: You skip the draw phase; your hand size remains at 4 cards constantly.

Dragon Soul - Your cards can be used or played according to these rules: Hearts as Peaches; Diamonds as Fire Kills, Clubs as Dodges, Spades as No Response.

Slaying Generals - During the Preparation Phase, if Qinggang Sword is on the field, you may obtain it.]

This comment was from a Three Kingdoms Killer player. Honestly, seeing a direct reference to Three Kingdoms Killer under Honkai Impact 3 videos is quite rare.

[Duck Armor, let's go! (´▽`)ノ?]

However, some users did notice potential issues, albeit with humor.

[Hanser has been singing "Angel Reconstruction" for years now. Is it time for a new song?]

To be honest, the schedule for this final Chapter does seem rushed, lacking the previous leisurely pace. Nonetheless, currently, everything still appears to be thriving.

All Captains eagerly anticipated the Herrscher of Truth's arrival, despite it seemingly happening earlier than expected and without considering the crystals players held...