Chapter 73: Legacy Chapter, Ana's Calculations

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Due to Ana's exceptional performance both in-game and as a character, the feedback for Version 2.8 has been largely positive. Although there were concerns about power creep and character balance, especially since Ana's support capabilities far surpassed all other auxiliaries.

Thankfully, with three characters required for Abyss battles, otherwise—no, even considering Ana's current strength, she could probably carry a dog through it, much like Herrscher of the Void before her.

Moreover, any discerning player could see that while the Queen might wane in popularity, Ana certainly would not. As a steadfast support amidst ever-changing carries, the Queen lacks Ana's exceptionally powerful assistance abilities. Only Snow Grace, another Ana armor from the past, could provide equally impressive support across both physical and elemental aspects simultaneously.

However, with each version update, Snow Grace's stats inevitably became somewhat inadequate. Still, they remained sufficient for this particular release. Undeniably, the introduction of Lunaris the Moon Knight exacerbated the issue of stat inflation.

This was unavoidable, given that as the strongest Godslayer Armor wielded by the most potent Valkyrie, a lack of power would only create cognitive dissonance among Captains, leading to dissatisfaction.

A similar example was seen later with Genshin Impact's Zhongli controversy, where players reacted strongly due to such discrepancies, inadvertently accelerating the game's power creep.

Moreover, this version's storyline clearly offered more content for players.

While watching the Tianqiong City arc, Brother Cake, being Ana's biggest fan, had a delighted grin throughout—it was just too sweet, truly heartwarming.

Even the renowned artist who previously created fan art featuring Ana returned to action, announcing plans to draw doujinshi for both characters. They had temporarily disappeared from the scene due to overwhelming popularity and scrutiny.

In Brother Cake's live stream:

"What? The artist is back? I must definitely support them again!" Upon hearing that the popular illustrator had resumed their work, Brother Cake was thrilled. Although he could easily commission custom doujinshi himself, as a character enthusiast, he preferred supporting like-minded creators.

Money can buy you any friendship, but genuine camaraderie based on shared interests is rare indeed.

"Brother Cake, Brother Cake, what's your take on the current plot?" someone asked in the bullet comments. Since Brother Cake's previous predictions proved accurate, coupled with the internet's short memory, many Captains began trusting his insights once more.

"Not much to say here; there's definitely something off about that android," Brother Cake casually replied. Even his favorite character, Ana, voiced concerns, yet Theresa still didn't believe her—sigh, opportunities were handed to you, but you just couldn't seize them!

"In the next update, either Ana will continue her role as a firefighter, intervening at critical moments, or she'll disregard these events and remain in Tianqiong City. However, I suspect it might develop into dual storylines," Brother Cake stated seriously.

If there's indeed an issue with the android, Anti-Entropy won't receive Kiana's intelligence updates. Consequently, during this period, both Anti-Entropy and Theresa's group would need to find alternative activities, necessitating parallel plotlines.

[Leech: Tsk tsk tsk, truly impressive, Brother Cake! Your insights rival ten years of studying!]

[Fam: Wow, even I think Brother Cake makes a lot of sense here!]

"Hey mods, mute that guy for a bit, just look how logical my explanation is!" Brother Cake grumbled, somewhat discontented. Of course, his request to "mute" was merely a jest; he didn't actually intend for anyone to be silenced. The atmosphere in his live stream had always been pleasant, except for those brief periods when idiots stirred up trouble, forcing him to appoint moderators.

[Wahh wahh wahh, Brother Cake is bullying me.]

"But let me put it this way—if Ana doesn't feature prominently in the main storyline of the upcoming version, I hope Old Mi considers giving her a side story or something." Brother Cake expressed sincerely to the camera.

[Ha ha ha ha, Brother Cake, stop dreaming! Even Raiden Mei hasn't gotten a side story yet!]

"This case is different," Brother Cake chuckled, shaking his head.

"Characters without side stories typically have well-established roles from their initial introduction, with rich character development. On the other hand, Ana was introduced abruptly. Although she appeared in the official comic, it was minimal compared to even Durandal's presence."

[Hmm—seems like you've got a point.]

[Yup, I agree. The romance feels too thin and rushed, despite genuinely liking the character!]

[Hoping the developers will add more depth!]

"Therefore, truthfully, I'd rather not see any new Ana-related plotlines in the upcoming version." Brother Cake sighed softly.

This epitomized a true fan of a character: loving them means desiring proper attention and deserved elements for their storyline, rather than arguing online about how exceptional they are compared to others.

[Bros, let's include this suggestion in the feedback survey!]

[Ah, too bad it's year-end now. If it were June or July, we could request additional content for Ana during college entrance exam breaks.]

[666, dude, what makes you so sure you'll be the first out of the exam hall?]

[I'm already guaranteed admission through early acceptance, okay?]

[Wow, seriously impressive! Respect, respect!]

Perhaps sensing these players' demands or following their pre-existing plans, in version 2.9 "Swift Snow Welcomes Spring," the official update not only introduced new main storyline content but also released Ana's side story arc titled "The Legacy Chapter."

Although Ana wasn't the central character of this chapter, her prestige had significantly risen. Now, Ana fans finally received what they were most interested in and eagerly desired—the side story.

In the Honkai World, Ana sat at a table while Rita stood beside her, serving as a dutiful maid and offering tea and refreshments—a glimpse into Ana's lavish life in Tianqiong City.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Ana lifted her head and gazed towards the sun above.

"Has that part of the story finally begun?"

"What seems to be the matter, Lady Ana?" Rita curiously asked from nearby. Over this period, their bond had grown strong, akin to glue, allowing Rita to gain a deeper understanding of Ana.

Despite being younger than Rita, Ana pondered matters typically reserved for bishops, piquing Rita's curiosity even further about her.

It was common knowledge that when one person takes keen interest in another, their affection naturally intensifies. So, to spice up life, it never hurts to create some pleasant surprises.

"It's nothing..." Ana shook her head with a smile and nestled deeper into Rita's embrace. "Just...missing Bianka a bit."

"Hmm, Lady Ana, I miss Lady Bianka as well... Perhaps..."

"Let's not bother her," Ana replied. "Bishop Otto still needs her assistance. I can't leave him without any support."

At Schicksal Headquarters on the floating island...

Seated in her office, Bianka suddenly sneezed.

"Are you alright, Lady Durandal?" Amber looked up from nearby, concern evident in her gaze.

"I'm fine; let's continue working."

"Yes, ma'am."

Gazing at the mountain of paperwork piled before her, Bianka sighed. She had once mocked Ana for this very situation, but now she found herself becoming the same clown. It wasn't Bishop Otto left without authority—it was Bianka who ended up overwhelmed while Otto attended to matters at the Far East Branch, leaving her to handle the mess at headquarters alone.

Recently, there had been the awakening of the Second Herrscher and Anti-Entropy's invasion, necessitating countless repairs and rebuilds. The workload far exceeded what Ana had faced during her time here.

The only silver lining was that Otto hadn't taken Amber along. However, he frequently contacted Amber with instructions anyway!

That day marked the first time Bianka contemplated leaving Schicksal.

In the fall of 2015, just two weeks after locating the Unnamed Locomotive, Otto eagerly initiated experiments with it. On that day, all three S-rank Valkyries of Schicksal were present at the testing site, and apart from Ana, both others donned Godslayer Armors.

This experiment marked the most serious and meticulous endeavor in years.

As the Unnamed Locomotive activated, a virtual gate appeared overhead in the test field. Upon investigation, this gate connected to a world bubble.

Suddenly, the Unnamed Locomotive began rapidly absorbing Honkai Energy, causing vibrations throughout the surrounding space.

Even Otto was momentarily stunned by this sight.

He had suspected there might be a trap within the Unnamed Locomotive, but never anticipated one like this. Consequently, he found himself unsure how to react.

"Everyone, retreat to the second safety zone immediately! Keep your eyes closed!"

At that critical moment, as the commander of the Immortal Blades and Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, Lady Durandal swiftly made the correct call.

Upon hearing the order, Rita and the other members of the Immortal Blades promptly withdrew.

Only Ana remained standing aloft, silently observing the Unnamed Locomotive above her. Fully aware of what was happening and already at a safe distance, she naturally had no cause for concern.

At the forefront, Bianka suddenly furrowed her brow as a gentle and serene voice whispered in her ear: "Fear not, Miss Bianka. Come, step into this boundless light..."

In that instant, it seemed like Bianka lost her ability to think, and the Abyss Flower slipped from her hand onto the ground.

Her figure was engulfed by the radiance, disappearing before everyone's eyes.

"Lady Durandal, where are you?"

Rita gazed at the fallen Abyss Flower, anxiety etched across her face. However, aware of her own limitations, she dared not act recklessly.

Suddenly, a figure emerged behind Rita, swiftly picked up the Abyss Flower, leaped, and plunged into the fading glow.

"Bianka, I'm here to save you!"

Everyone present from Schicksal heard only this cry. Turning around, they discovered that another S-Class Valkyrie, Lady Ana Schariac, had vanished alongside them.

Meanwhile, in the control room on the other side, staff members were urgently investigating.

"Lord Bishop, we detected spatial fluctuations near the Second Divine Key just now."

"After those fluctuations, we lost the location data for both Lady Durandal and Lady Ana."

"Damn it, we've been tricked!" Otto slammed his fist hard against the console and hastily issued orders.

"Hurry! Redirect energy from the other floating islands immediately! Prepare to activate the Second Divine Key once more!"

The Divine Keys connect to world bubbles, created by the Harbinger SU from the previous civilization's MANTIS program. These bubbles were used for executing the Desert Crossing Plan, allowing observation of parallel worlds.

Within one such bubble, Lady Durandal and SU engaged in a "friendly" exchange. Ultimately, Durandal prepared to decline SU's "generous offer," harnessing the power of her Stark Drive to leave the world bubble. In response, SU boldly intervened, preventing Durandal's departure.

After an intense "discussion" within the world bubble, SU ultimately utilized the Second Divine Key's strength to pull Durandal into his memory realm.

However, instead of retracting the Unnamed Locomotive after accomplishing this, he looked into the distance.

"Come out, Miss Ana, you're the unpredictable variable beyond my observations."

As Su spoke, Ana emerged from behind the tree symbolizing the Imaginary Tree, holding the Abyss Flower which faintly glowed in her hand.

Clearly, Ana was ready for battle against Su.

"The Abyss Flower, I see. It appears your affinity with it surpasses even that of Miss Bianka." With closed eyes, Su calmly assessed Ana's situation.

"Although you share the same bloodline, yours is purer, as if you were born specifically for the Abyss Flower, much like how it resonates with her."

"Is that so? However, I doubt I'm quite as extraordinary as she is," Ana replied mildly. Despite her words, her vigilance remained unwavering. The presence of the Abyss Flower granted her the ability to stand against Su; its Withering Authority was not easily countered by Su's Karmic Wheel.

"You even know about her existence? Truly, you are an exceptional being," Su remarked calmly. What should have been astonishing came across as rather unremarkable from his tone, as if it held little significance.

"In my observations across numerous worlds, there have been similar cases of variables akin to you, but none managed to bring about significant change."

"That would be their inadequacy. Besides, don't forget, I also have a truly unique presence on my side?" As Ana spoke, she glanced towards Bianka standing nearby.

"Hmph—indeed... In that case, you now qualify to undergo the trial." With these words, Su opened his eyes, revealing a peculiar gleam within them.

As Ana met his gaze, her consciousness began to waver, entering a profoundly mysterious state. Under Su's control, the power of the Unnamed Locomotive surged towards Ana.

Despite possessing the Abyss Flower, without the ability to activate it, its potential remained meaningless to Ana, especially for a spirit perception-type MANTIS like Su. Consequently, Ana inevitably fell unconscious.

Watching the now-unconscious Ana, Su sighed softly and closed his eyes, sitting amidst the fallen grass littered around him. Unbeknownst to him, just before fully entering the illusory realm, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Ana's lips.

Hmph, this is all part of my plan! Bianka... heh heh, here I come!