Why was she subdued by Andrew like this?
Could it be that the berserk state outside a Hollow is different compared to the berserk state inside one?
Compared to before...
This time, not only did she not enter a frantic slaughtering state that constantly drained her stamina, but did she also hold back her full strength out of worry that Andrew might get hurt?
Or was it that she had become weaker?
Could it be because the Ether energy outside the Hollow wasn't abundant enough?
There were too few samples to reference, so Hoshimi Miyabi didn't know if her guesses were right or wrong.
After all, even counting this time, she had only experienced entering a berserk state due to the Demon Blade's erosion twice in total.
Especially considering that the last time, she was only a teenager, and now seven years had passed.
Seven years later, no one could say for sure what changes might have occurred during this period.
Although, because she had fallen into an illusion earlier, Hoshimi Miyabi didn't actually know how Andrew had accomplished it, but possessing incomparably sufficient confidence in her own strength, Hoshimi Miyabi still subconsciously thought:
It must be because my strength weakened during the berserk state that led to me being restricted like this, right?
After all, in Hoshimi Miyabi's heart, everyone had things they were good at.
It was very common for her to be inferior to others in various other aspects, but in martial prowess alone...
In the aspect of her own strength, she had incomparably sufficient confidence in herself.
And this confidence was all-encompassing.
Feeling her waist forced to bend by Andrew's hold, and the crook of his arm firmly locking her arm and neck...
Rather than feeling the shame of the posture, she was currently feeling a trace of competitiveness being ignited.
To be able to restrain her like this—even if her strength had slipped due to entering a berserk state from No-Tail's erosion—the opponent's strength must certainly not be underestimated.
At this moment, Hoshimi Miyabi's soul of a martial arts fanatic was involuntarily burning fiercely.
It just so happened that in this rather ungraceful posture, where she couldn't let Andrew see her face and thus realize she had already recovered, Hoshimi Miyabi subconsciously prepared to use her strength to break free on her own.
It was also a perfect opportunity to have a small contest.
However, since it was just a contest, Hoshimi Miyabi subconsciously didn't use her full strength at the very beginning, but instead attempted to probe a little.
After all, she wasn't in a state of being subdued by an enemy.
But she soon discovered something.
Accompanying her exertion of force, even though Andrew was only using one hand to restrain her, and it was a state of restraint relying purely on brute force without any skillful leverage...
Although she hadn't used her full strength just now, when she struggled against him, she didn't shake the opponent in the slightest.
Undoubtedly, she had underestimated the opponent's strength just now.
And the moment she realized that Andrew's strength was very likely much, much greater than she had anticipated, the nature of the matter changed.
At this moment, Hoshimi Miyabi was ready to start trying to get serious.
But as the strength she used gradually increased, what exceeded her expectations was that Andrew's arm remained as motionless as a monolith.
It was as if the strength she had just increased wasn't trying to move Andrew's arm, but attempting to push a mountain.
Hoshimi Miyabi's originally calm gaze became involuntarily sharp as she exerted force.
Although she had encountered people stronger than her before, a gap of this magnitude was truly unheard of.
Speaking solely in terms of physical strength, this could be said to be a situation where she had no power to fight back.
Things having reached this point, how could Hoshimi Miyabi not understand?
The reality when she fell into the illusion just now was definitely not as she had analyzed before; it was a true, forcible subduing.
Sure enough, that giant Ethereal she encountered in the illusion earlier, which had suddenly appeared and firmly pinned her down within just two moves...
However, after realizing this, Hoshimi Miyabi actually breathed a sigh of relief subconsciously.
As a Void Hunter, whether for the Hollow Special Operations Section 6 or the Hoshimi family, her strength was undoubtedly at a level that created a gap between her and others—unrivaled.
This not only allowed her to be a blade that was successful in every endeavor, punishing evil and eliminating vice, but also made the backlash generated by No-Tail—a ticking time bomb that could cause her to go berserk—incomparably dangerous.
It could be said that Hoshimi Miyabi's greatest opponent was Hoshimi Miyabi herself.
In all these past years.
Aside from the scabbard made by her father, Soichiro, which could seal No-Tail serving as insurance, the only one she could rely on was herself.
The unceasing cultivation was not only for remembrance and habit but also to temper her will, so that this ticking time bomb that could explode at any time would never detonate under her firm will.
But now, because of today's accident, there was another insurance—a method that truly targeted the consciousness hiding within No-Tail.
Of course, this wouldn't make Hoshimi Miyabi give up on tempering herself.
After all, no matter what, preventing danger from happening was always the safest method.
It was just that knowing Andrew could subdue her...
The feeling that this ticking time bomb had an extra layer of insurance made her heave a light sigh of relief.
Looking at Andrew, who was restricting her movements with one hand while his other hand already gripped the giant Tachi he carried on his back, staring at the Tachi in her hand in full battle array to prevent No-Tail from breaking out of prison again...
Hoshimi Miyabi knew.
If Andrew hadn't been present, the destruction caused by her berserk self would definitely be more than just this bit of broken pavement under her feet and a spot of scorched black on the wall.
Given that the two were currently in the city center.
If she were uncontrolled, countless innocent citizens would likely have been hurt in an instant by her, controlled by the Demon Blade.
Just thinking of this possibility made Hoshimi Miyabi shudder involuntarily.
Even if she died, Hoshimi Miyabi didn't want such a future to actually happen to her.
Realizing this, Hoshimi Miyabi gave up on continuing the contest. She gently patted Andrew's arm and said gently:
"Andrew, I have recovered."
Hearing Hoshimi Miyabi's words, which had regained their clarity of consciousness, Andrew realized she had completely recovered and immediately let go of the hand clamping her down.
As for Hoshimi Miyabi's previous contest?
Andrew's evaluation was: the most peaceful strength confrontation ever.
Looking again at Hoshimi Miyabi, whose hair, originally combed incomparably smooth and neat, had become somewhat messy because of the clamp just now.
Andrew scratched his head and said with some embarrassment:
"Sorry, because of me, this sword went berserk again. And since it happened suddenly just now, I could only do this."
Freed, Hoshimi Miyabi still had a face of indifference, not showing the slightest meaning of displeasure.
She shook her head and said with a serious face:
"No, in this aspect, you are the victim. And without you, the consequences would have been truly unimaginable, so I should be the one thanking you."
After the two, who both considered the other to be the victim, exchanged a wave of apologies full of regret...
Although the No-Tail in her hand was now very well-behaved, Hoshimi Miyabi still immediately attempted to perform a rough check based on her experience.
Although she knew nothing about the electronic equipment on the scabbard that served as the seal, she was very familiar with the main body of the Demon Blade, No-Tail, which she had used for so many years.
Regarding the scabbard.
Hoshimi Miyabi could only see that the seal had become somewhat precarious because of the two breakthroughs. If it were usual times, it would have long entered a high-risk state where it could go berserk at any time and couldn't be drawn.
But this time, No-Tail was shrinking inside the scabbard, incomparably well-behaved, as if only inside the scabbard could it feel safe enough.
If before it was the scabbard sealing No-Tail, now it was the reverse.
It was No-Tail actively staying inside the scabbard.
Furthermore, Hoshimi Miyabi just discovered that even if she made contact with Andrew, No-Tail didn't dare to directly break through the seal and run out like before.
Although she didn't know how long this state could last.
But judging by the current situation, in the absence of other extra, very intense stimuli, there was at least no risk of going berserk again in the short term.
This also made Hoshimi Miyabi breathe a sigh of relief.
And after hearing Hoshimi Miyabi explain No-Tail's current condition, Andrew also subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, it was still within a controllable range.
However, given this situation where the Demon Blade seemed to be conscious rather than just sealed, Andrew, who felt from start to finish that he bore a share of responsibility for the things that happened today, said seriously:
"If you don't mind, during the time before your scabbard is repaired, let's maintain a state of acting together."
"Mn."
Seeing that there was still some time before Hoshimi Soichiro's meeting ended.
Knowing that in this situation safety should be the priority, Hoshimi Miyabi did not refuse Andrew's proposal.
After all, under the circumstances where Andrew could subdue both her and the Demon Blade, being with Andrew was the safest state.
This way, even if she fell into the Demon Blade's illusion again, she wouldn't have to worry about causing any irreversible events.
So she nodded gently and agreed.
As for right now.
The two, having temporarily ensured there would be no danger, prepared to first gather Meow-Da and Soldier 11, who had originally run off in separate directions.
While sending their location and waiting for Meow-Da, who had just taken Soldier 11 to run in another direction, to come and rendezvous, the two people who both felt guilt towards the other looked at each other.
For a moment, the air became a trace silent.
However, compared to Hoshimi Miyabi's nature of not speaking much to begin with, being quietly silent was very habitual for her.
But for Andrew, it was not.
Soon, regarding this situation of staring at each other, Andrew began to feel a bit like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Seeing that Hoshimi Miyabi had not the slightest intention of speaking, Andrew attempted to strike up a conversation to open a topic:
"That situation of yours just now, was it completely unconscious? Or did you feel like you entered another world, falling into an illusion?"
Although Andrew's question was a bit sudden.
But after Hoshimi Miyabi tilted her head subconsciously, she still answered truthfully:
"An illusion."
Upon hearing 'illusion', Andrew instantly got a bit interested.
Could it be that No-Tail produced something like the Infinite Tsukuyomi?
He immediately asked with some curiosity:
"An illusion? What kind of illusion was it?"
"Just now, when I was being influenced by No-Tail, I felt myself being pulled into a void space that was pitch black all around, and then..."
"And then?"
Speaking up to here, Hoshimi Miyabi couldn't help but feel it was a bit embarrassing to mention.
But under Andrew's curious gaze, she still opened her mouth and continued:
"And then I was directly and forcibly pinned down by a suddenly appearing Farbauti. Even resisting didn't have any effect."
"Farbauti?"
Andrew was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.
However, following Hoshimi Miyabi's line of sight, he discovered that when she was talking about this matter, her eyes had been gazing at the arm with which he had just locked her.
He instantly understood what the original body of the Farbauti Ethereal she saw in the illusion was.
Recalling the appearance of a Farbauti, Andrew felt his defenses crumble a little in an instant:
"No?! What does this illusion mean? Why is my image a big muscle-head who works out but skips leg day? Could it not be some other, more handsome Ethereal image?!"
One had to know, the image of the Ethereal Farbauti, composed of that incomparably huge upper body and two slender legs, was the living ultimate form of a gym-goer who only trained the upper body.
Now Andrew was unconvinced.
"Damn it! I clearly have a perfect, symmetrical physique trained all over!"
Saying this, Andrew suddenly realized something. He turned his head to look at Hoshimi Miyabi and said suspiciously:
"Respected Miss Miyabi, you wouldn't think that a person capable of subduing you in terms of strength would at least have to have a body type like a Farbauti to do it, right?"
Seeing Andrew's suspicious look, Hoshimi Miyabi subconsciously averted her gaze and told a rare lie.
"I... I don't know."
To be honest.
Before today, Hoshimi Miyabi had never thought that one day she would be forcibly subdued by someone like this.
After all, since she started learning weapons at the age of four or five, she could easily wield heavy weapons with ease, and her strength had been steadily improving ever since.
And the image of Farbauti was the image of the imaginary enemy she had fantasized about back then when simulating in her brain how to respond when encountering an enemy whose strength she couldn't match.
As a result, this time it was actually used on Andrew in the illusion.
It was just that such truth, even for someone as robotic as Hoshimi Miyabi, couldn't be spoken when she felt Andrew was angry.
But her past habits and requirements for herself didn't allow her to lie either; not saying anything like now was already the limit.
Thus, in order to prevent Andrew from continuing to question her, she immediately tried to change the subject:
"This time out has been a bit more unexpected than anticipated. It has already completely exceeded the usual morning training time, so I need to explain my current situation to my intelligence officer, Yanagi."
"Alright."
Andrew, who hadn't expected at all that his teasing questioning would be taken as anger by Hoshimi Miyabi, naturally had no reason to refuse Hoshimi Miyabi's proposal.
But after nodding, he found that Hoshimi Miyabi was still standing straight in place looking at him, without any movement to make a phone call. He immediately looked at her with a bit of confusion and asked:
"What's wrong?"
Regarding Andrew's query, Hoshimi Miyabi took out a mobile phone that had long since turned into a brick due to no battery with a bit of embarrassment and said:
"Sorry, I was too engrossed in my cultivation yesterday and forgot to charge my phone."
____
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