Although there was still a considerable difference between the two right now.
But to be able to create a new move that was not only powerful but also a complete improvement, just by using his technique as a reference...
One had to know that most so-called innovations made in a short period were purely detrimental improvements. Being able to maintain the original standard was already difficult enough.
Yet, someone like Hoshimi Miyabi had simply made a direct leap...
Could this be what is known as a legendary genius?
Andrew remembered when he was a green college student learning to open the blade edge from the old master for the first time; it took him a full day just to successfully open the blade. And how long did it take Miyabi?!
Now, it was Andrew's turn to be curious about exactly how long it would take her if she wanted to learn all those moves completely.
At the same time.
As if she had remembered something, Hoshimi Miyabi carefully took out the section of scabbard she had broken off earlier from within her lapels—the piece Andrew had snapped to prevent Wuwei from going berserk during the battle.
It still retained a trace of Hoshimi Miyabi's body warmth.
The pure white, spiral-shaped shell remained unharmed even after the battle ended, thanks to her incomparably careful storage.
She turned her head to look at Andrew.
Although she was a little reluctant to part with it, she still handed it to Andrew and said seriously:
"Andrew, this is a part of your weapon. Now that the battle is over, I should return it to you so that your weapon can be restored to its complete state."
Regarding this matter suddenly mentioned by Hoshimi Miyabi, Andrew, who had actually forgotten about it, finally remembered.
Indeed, due to the urgent situation earlier, he had directly ripped a piece off Icebrink.
However, in the subsequent battle, Andrew hadn't felt affected in the slightest.
When he took Icebrink out again to examine it, Andrew discovered that the section of shell he had snapped off earlier had already quietly repaired itself at some point unknown.
Seeing this scene, Andrew couldn't help but rub his chin.
It self-repaired?
However, Andrew wasn't particularly surprised that such a situation occurred. The only surprise was that the repair speed was so fast this time.
As for why Icebrink could repair itself so quickly, Andrew had a rough guess.
After all, anyone who has fought the Incandescent Dragon knows.
The material used for the white parts of this Tachi was the white shell from the Incandescent Dragon's body, which could constantly regenerate and recover.
And its true core, or rather its main body, should be the black part wrapped inside.
So, as long as the main body in the center didn't suffer any damage, the destruction and wear of the white shell were just consumables that could self-recover in a short time, provided there was energy.
Thus, Andrew simply held Icebrink horizontally in front of Hoshimi Miyabi, showing her the blade body that had completely recovered to its original state, and said:
"It looks like that piece of shell is no longer needed. Since that's the case, take it as a gift from me to you. How about that?"
"Besides, in order to prevent Wuwei from going berserk so easily later, you can have your father use this fragment to further reinforce Wuwei's seal when upgrading the scabbard later."
"Consider it a material gift."
Giving a fragment of a sword as a gift.
Normally speaking, such a gift given to a normal girl would likely be disdained, but Hoshimi Miyabi was no normal girl.
As a martial arts fanatic.
She, who inherently loved swords and blades, had actually held a considerable interest in Andrew's Icebrink since they first met.
And the subsequent few times it actively suppressed the berserk Wuwei made her interest in Icebrink rise drastically.
So, this gift from Andrew, for Hoshimi Miyabi, struck right at her heart.
After seriously putting it back into her clothes, Hoshimi Miyabi nodded solemnly and said:
"Understood. I will definitely cherish this gift greatly in the future."
Only then did she react with a delayed realization, saying:
"However, so your sword can actually achieve self-recovery, Andrew?!"
Looking at Icebrink, which had truly recovered completely to its original state, Hoshimi Miyabi's eyes first revealed a touch of surprise, followed by lingering envy.
"Doesn't this mean... the time needed for maintenance after every use of this sword of yours, Andrew, can be drastically reduced?!"
"Swords... still need maintenance?"
Andrew was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then asked back subconsciously.
"Wait, Andrew, you..."
Now it was Hoshimi Miyabi's turn to lose her composure. She couldn't help but speak in astonishment:
"You haven't never maintained your own sword from start to finish, have you?"
Seeing Hoshimi Miyabi, who had always been extremely calm, reveal such an agitated appearance for the first time, Andrew scratched his head subconsciously.
Although he was a little embarrassed, he still chose to tell the truth:
"When weapons get blunt, don't you just use a Whetstone to grind them a bit and they can be used again? Maintenance... what is that?"
For a moment, Hoshimi Miyabi was a bit speechless.
Could it be that this was the arrogance belonging to people whose weapons could auto-repair?
Then what did her hours of sword maintenance every day count for?
But seeing such an excellent weapon being used by Andrew in such a casual manner...
Even knowing that Icebrink, with its self-repair ability, was extremely durable, Hoshimi Miyabi couldn't help but feel a wave of discomfort in her heart.
After taking a deep breath, Hoshimi Miyabi said seriously:
"In that case, after I finish asking for your instruction later, I will help you maintain your weapon as well."
"I feel like there shouldn't be a nee... cessity... right?"
Before the words of refusal were even halfway out, he discovered Hoshimi Miyabi staring fixedly at the Icebrink in his hand without saying a word, her brows knit together at some point.
Andrew immediately chose to change his tune:
"Alright, since Miyabi says so, then I'll leave the future maintenance to you."
As for Icebrink's weight...
When Miyabi does the maintenance later, he better assist from the side.
Hoshimi Miyabi nodded with satisfaction only after hearing Andrew change his tune. Thinking that she could come into contact with that unique and massive Tachi for a long time later, her footsteps became lighter as well.
And accompanying the footsteps of the two.
Although they had consciously slowed down, since the total distance was only so long, it didn't take long for the two to return once again to the original defensive line.
Compared to the original battle line, this place was now a scene of peace and victorious bustle.
The death of a massive amount of ordinary Ethereals, coupled with the complete death and dissipation of the powerful Ethereal leader Nineveh, had successfully taken away a massive amount of Ether energy from Hollow Zero.
Even for Hollow Zero, which had the most massive volume and the most abundant Ether energy...
Under the circumstances of losing such a massive amount of Ether energy at once in such a short time, it would also have to take a breather for a while before it could recover to its original state.
And now.
In this brief period of peace, the Ether energy readings in the outer periphery of Hollow Zero had dropped to the closest gap with the conventional environment outside the Hollow.
Under these circumstances, the spawn probability of Ethereals also dropped drastically.
And this was the main reason why this battle line could become so peaceful now.
Brief, yet rare.
When Andrew and Hoshimi Miyabi arrived at this battle line again, the two encountered two figures, one tall and one short, who had long been waiting here.
It was none other than Tsukishiro Yanagi and Meow-Da.
Looking at Tsukishiro Yanagi in front of her, Hoshimi Miyabi nodded seriously and said:
"I'm back, Yanagi."
At the same time, Meow-Da, standing beside Tsukishiro Yanagi, had already started jumping up and waving continuously with incomparable excitement upon seeing Andrew.
Subsequently, he put his hands on his hips and said with incomparable pride:
"Boss! The mission you gave me earlier has been completely finished by me, meow! And I over-fulfilled the mission, meow!"
Looking at Meow-Da, who looked like he was begging for praise, Andrew asked with some curiosity:
"Over-fulfilled the mission? In what way over-fulfilled?"
And regarding Andrew's question, Meow-Da didn't hesitate to reach his hand directly into his Item Bag and fumble for a moment.
The next moment, a bead that was perfectly round like a jewel, but visibly contained extremely massive energy inside, was taken out of the Item Bag by Meow-Da.
Then he said with incomparable pride:
"Boss, look what I dug out for you!"
Looking at this uniquely shaped jewel in front of him, as a Hunter, how could Andrew not recognize what this thing was?
Snatching it from Meow-Da's hand in one go, Andrew exclaimed with incomparable pleasant surprise:
"A Gore Magala Gem!"
Looking at Meow-Da, who was waiting for praise in front of him.
The excited Andrew didn't hesitate to reach out with both hands and directly began to stroke his fluffy head rapidly. At the same time, his mouth immediately began to praise rapidly:
"Yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi! Well done! Very well done, Meow-Da! You really were a huge help this time! You are simply the best Felyne!!!"
Feeling Andrew's incomparably skillful petting technique on his head and the praise without the slightest concealment, Meow-Da couldn't help but narrow his eyes comfortably and let out a purr of comfort.
"Purr purr purr~ Hehe, I-I'm not that good, meow~"
At the same time.
Feeling the soft tactile sensation of cat fur coming from his hands, Andrew, who was vigorously rubbing Meow-Da, subconsciously compared it in his mind with Hoshimi Miyabi's head he had just petted not long ago.
The final conclusion drawn was—each had its own merits.
Meow-Da's texture was the softness and warmth he had long been incomparably familiar with, while also carrying a hint of the unruliness belonging to a hunter since he had been living in the wild.
Hoshimi Miyabi possessed the exquisiteness and smoothness that would only appear after feminine meticulousness and careful grooming, so much so that when petting, it felt like stroking a piece of extremely high-grade and smooth silk.
Although each had its own merits, both could be said to be of a degree that made one unable to put them down.
However, just as Andrew was immersed in petting the cat and unable to extricate himself, the conversation between Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi suddenly coming from the side made Andrew's hand stiffen in place instantly.
"Meow?"
Although he was a bit confused why Andrew suddenly stopped petting, the Boss must have the Boss's reasons for doing so.
Subsequently, Meow-Da blinked his big eyes and looked to the side, silently pricking up his ears while tacitly making no sound.
Meanwhile, after Hoshimi Miyabi greeted Tsukishiro Yanagi, she immediately discovered something.
Although the expression on Tsukishiro Yanagi's face in front of her looked very normal, the originally very neat and complete attire on her body had developed several damages caused by Ethereal attacks at some unknown time.
And the bloodstains soaking the clothes indicated that these damages were not simple material damage.
Undoubtedly, she had not been unscathed from start to finish in the interception battle just now.
She was injured, and in more than one place.
When Tsukishiro Yanagi noticed where Hoshimi Miyabi's gaze landed, she realized what Hoshimi Miyabi was worried about.
In order not to let her show unnecessary worry, Tsukishiro Yanagi waved her hand and took the initiative to explain:
"No need to worry. These are just some flesh wounds I had to take in the heat of the moment to save a squad of the Defense Force from a Level 4 Ethereal that suddenly rushed out."
Saying this, Tsukishiro Yanagi directly lifted the part of the clothes soaked with bloodstains, revealing several long and narrow but not deep wounds.
Undoubtedly, Tsukishiro Yanagi had not lied.
At the same time.
These wounds, which were not deep to begin with, were even healing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. It wouldn't take long for them to heal completely, leaving not even a scar.
Regarding this situation, Tsukishiro Yanagi added:
"Thanks to the help of the powdered medicine scattered by Meow-Da, the Felyne Thiren who came with the Hunter, these injuries will heal completely on their own in just a little while."
After observing the wounds silently, Hoshimi Miyabi confirmed that Tsukishiro Yanagi was telling the truth.
Seeing that the other party wasn't forcing herself, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Subsequently, Hoshimi Miyabi, recalling what happened with Andrew earlier, took the initiative to speak:
"Yanagi, just now when I went to find Andrew, he taught me a method that can accelerate healing. Do you want to... Mmph...!"
Before Tsukishiro Yanagi could react.
Before the sentence was finished, Hoshimi Miyabi's mouth was directly covered by the quick-eyed and quick-handed Andrew.
Subsequently, Andrew gave an awkward smile to Tsukishiro Yanagi, who still wasn't clear what exactly Hoshimi Miyabi was talking about. Then, with the fastest speed, he pulled out a bottle of Healing Potion from his Item Bag and slapped it into her hand with a thud.
He said:
"Cough, this is the method Miyabi mentioned that can accelerate healing and recovery speed. No need to thank me, I'm just a Good Samaritan."
Then, without waiting for Tsukishiro Yanagi to react, Andrew covered Hoshimi Miyabi's mouth with one hand and directly scooped her up with the other hand, saying:
"By the way, I still need to borrow your Section Chief for a moment to speak. Wait a moment, I'll bring her back immediately after I finish speaking."
"Eh?! Eh?!!"
The next moment.
Accompanied by the surprised sound Tsukishiro Yanagi subconsciously let out after just regaining her senses, Andrew directly carried Hoshimi Miyabi and ran off into the distance like a puff of smoke.
In the cold wind, only Tsukishiro Yanagi was left messy in the wind.
Tsukishiro Yanagi, having regained her senses again, shouted futilely at Andrew's back, which had completely run far away:
"Wait a minute! The combat result report with the higher-ups is in a few minutes; I haven't synchronized the intelligence for the subsequent combat report with the Section Chief yet!"
Tsukishiro Yanagi's somewhat broken shouting echoed on the battle line:
"At least, at least let me synchronize the intelligence that needs to be reported to the Section Chief!!!"
____
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