"..."
"I shouldn't have hesitated for that moment."
Hoshimi Aya covered her forehead, feeling speechless.
But she couldn't really blame herself. That injury, which was almost a waist-severing blow...
If that could heal, then nothing was impossible.
But it didn't matter. Just two more cuts would do it.
Seeing this, Hoshimi Aya leaped up and sliced off the massive gear, which had merged from the excavator, letting it fall beside the others.
"I'm sorry, this time it was my fault."
"I didn't expect it could recover from that kind of injury."
"I thought it was just its death throes."
Hoshimi Aya spoke with an apologetic tone, after all, if it weren't for her carelessness, these three machines might not have been lost.
"It's fine, we didn't expect it either."
"As long as you're okay, that's all that matters."
Koleda didn't mind; as long as the person was safe, it was fine.
"Hmm, but it seems that Prototype Unit wasn't integrated into it."
"It should still be among these stone fragments."
Hoshimi Aya surveyed the Etherals that had merged the three machines. Was it because it lacked an intelligent mechanical component?
So the Etherals subconsciously overlooked it?
"It seems so. I haven't detected any components similar to the Prototype Unit in its body parts."
Ling chimed in.
While the few people were chatting, the Etherals, perhaps from its tail structure or some other part, condensed a beam of light and instantly fired an energy cannon toward Koleda.
It was too fast, and Koleda didn't have time to dodge.
Seeing this, Hoshimi Aya instinctively shielded Koleda, resulting in both of them being blasted into the stone wall from which the Etherals had emerged.
"Cough, cough, cough!!!"
"Aya! Are you alright?!!!"
Koleda patted the dust off her body and asked.
"I'm fine too. My clothes are just shredded, and I have some minor abrasions."
"It's nothing serious."
Hoshimi Aya checked her condition and found she only had some minor scrapes. She just looked a bit like a battle-damaged version.
"Really?"
"You don't look like you only sustained light injuries."
"You took the brunt of the damage for me just now."
Koleda looked doubtful.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
"It just looks a bit serious."
"Other than the torn clothes, nothing else is seriously wrong."
Hoshimi Aya shook her head. Although her clothes were ripped, her underwear still covered the crucial areas.
The only wound on her body was likely from scraping against the stone when they were charging in. It was just a surface scratch.
Perhaps because it was instantaneous, the damage wasn't very significant. After all, in games, there was usually a charge-up time.
"Koleda, are you okay?"
Hoshimi Aya asked in return. After all, Koleda had acted as a cushion for her. Although she didn't think she was heavy, such a powerful impact surely would cause injury.
"What are you talking about?!!!"
"You blocked most of the attack for me. How could I be injured?"
"You're the one who looks seriously hurt."
Koleda frowned looking at the battle-damaged Hoshimi Aya.
"I'm fine. I'll go out and take care of that Etherals first."
"You rest here for a while."
With that, Hoshimi Aya walked outside.
Not long after, Hoshimi Aya emerged. This was a special Etherals; even with one arm severed, it was still troublesome.
The people from Bai Zhi Heavy Industry were already struggling in the fight.
"Mei Can Xue!"
Hoshimi Aya rushed forward, swinging her sword with all her might. Red sword light flashed around the Etherals.
Soon, it was chopped into fragments. That half of the Etherals was also cut away, and this time, without any incident, it turned into Aether energy and vanished.
"Is everyone alright?"
Hoshimi Aya asked the group.
Hearing Hoshimi Aya's words, the others looked at themselves, then back at Hoshimi Aya. Shouldn't they be the ones asking that question?
"Aya!"
"Are you okay?!!!"
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Ling looked at Hoshimi Aya's body covered in wounds, with bloodstains on her clothes, and asked with concern.
Moreover, judging by the extent of the damage to her clothes, she looked severely injured. The exposed skin where the clothes were torn almost all showed wounds.
"I'm fine."
Saying that, Hoshimi Aya twisted her body and stretched her legs.
There really wasn't any major issue. It was just some scraped skin.
But when Hoshimi Aya twisted, Anton awkwardly coughed and turned his head away.
"Maybe we should send Aya back first?"
"She looks pretty badly hurt."
Anton took off his cloak and handed it to Hoshimi Aya.
Hoshimi Aya was stunned by Anton's action, then realized what was happening. She quickly took the cloak and draped it over herself, covering the large expanse of fair skin revealed.
She had almost forgotten she was a woman right now, and there were men present. She forgot to mind her privacy.
Suddenly, a white machine popped out—it was the previous Prototype Unit.
"Huh?!"
"It's already resolved this quickly?"
Koleda, inside the cockpit, looked at the mechanized fragments in shock.
She had been hoping for a cool entrance.
She didn't expect it to be resolved so fast.
"Koleda, you're alright!"
Grace asked with concern.
"Of course I'm fine."
"Aya blocked most of the damage for me. I only suffered some impact damage, nothing serious."
"Since it's resolved, let's head back."
"Aya looks seriously injured. Let's take her back to get checked out first."
Koleda jumped out of the Prototype Unit and looked at Hoshimi Aya.
Although the Prototype Unit could be driven, it definitely couldn't make it back due to insufficient energy.
So they would have to walk back.
"Alright, we'll deal with this place later."
"Let's take Aya back first, and we can talk more when we return."
Grace nodded in agreement.
After all, Hoshimi Aya's injuries looked quite serious. Even though Hoshimi Aya claimed they were just scrapes, they wouldn't know for sure until she was examined.
The others unanimously agreed with this idea.
...
At a certain hospital
Hoshimi Aya was wrapped up like a mummy by an incompetent doctor.
Almost every visible part except her head was bound with bandages.
The scraped skin on her small face was also coated with ointment and covered with gauze.
No matter how you looked at it, it seemed extremely serious.
"Zhe, isn't this a bit too exaggerated?!!!"
Hoshimi Aya sat on the chair, looking confused.
She was certain she only had scrapes, but after being bandaged, it looked incredibly severe!
"I don't think so?"
"Aya, the doctor must have his reasons for doing this."
"We should just listen to the doctor."
Zhe looked at Hoshimi Aya.
The doctor had just left to prepare the prescription for Hoshimi Aya.
Since it was still early for Bai Zhi Heavy Industry, they were preparing to transport the Prototype Unit and the pile of fragments, so they left after bringing Hoshimi Aya over.
"... I really just have scrapes."
"Could this be a quack doctor?"
Hoshimi Aya asked with some doubt.
"What are you talking about?!!!"
"This is a famous Grade A Tertiary Hospital. How could the doctor be a quack?"
"Just rest well here."
Zhe comforted her.
A moment later, the doctor returned with a slip of paper and handed it to Zhe.
Zhe then took the prescription, got the medicine, and brought Hoshimi Aya back home.
After all, the doctor's instructions were for her to rest at home, take some medicine, and return in a couple of days to have the bandages checked and changed.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.