In the Archangel's hangar, as soon as the Strike Suit's cockpit opened, the prepared staff immediately assisted Lu Tianming out and summoned the on-site physician for an emergency blood transfusion.
Lu Tianming wasn't squeamish about blood or needles, so he had no resistance to receiving a transfusion... but being surrounded by a large crowd watching the procedure did make him feel slightly awkward.
Aside from him and the physician, numerous people had gathered in the hangar upon hearing about his injury to show their concern. Naturally, Murrue and Badgiruel from the Bridge crew were present... and Kira's little group showing up was equally expected. But what was Lacus's Haro doing here?
Lu Tianming clearly spotted a small pink Haro mixed in with the crowd. Most likely, Lacus had heard the news but couldn't leave her room to avoid causing trouble, so she'd sent the Haro as her substitute.
Seeing this, Lu Tianming felt both amused and warmed. Everyone on the Archangel was showing their concern in their own way, and this feeling was quite nice.
Eventually, even the physician couldn't take it anymore and insisted that the injured needed quiet rest and further examination, prompting the crowd to disperse.
Since the medical bay on the Archangel offered conditions similar to a private room, Lu Tianming returned to his own quarters to rest after the check-up. The number of people assigned to care for him was reduced to just one, with Badgiruel currently in charge.
"Instant cerebral ischemia and blood reflux caused by sudden acceleration and braking, resulting in ruptured facial capillaries and bleeding from the nose and eyes."
"Excessive G-forces beyond the pilot suit's buffering limits placed extreme stress on the body... leading to muscle fatigue?"
"...Why does it feel like the cause analysis in your injury report doesn't quite match the specific injuries?"
Badgiruel looked at Lu Tianming with a helpless expression... The causes and the injuries were remarkably disproportionate. It gave off the impression that Lu Tianming was some kind of ultimate survival king.
Lu Tianming offered an awkward smile:
"Maybe I'm just lucky?"
He actually had some idea about his condition. During the Self-Link, the generated energy was primarily used not only to repair that mysterious Physical Carrier and for output but also stored within his body.
With cheat-like power... being durable was inevitable.jpg
Though he had no idea what this "cheat" actually was. Lu Tianming initially thought it might be some strange system, but the first sensation upon connecting told him otherwise.
For now, he couldn't be bothered to think too much about it... Whatever, as long as it works. He'd have time to compare notes with Xia Chuan later.
"Hey... are you even reflecting on this? You absolutely cannot perform such dangerous maneuvers again. Otherwise, whether it's cerebral hypoxia, hemorrhaging, broken ribs, or displaced organs—just pick one and wait to die."
Badgiruel waved her hand in front of Lu Tianming's face, pulling his attention back to reality. Seeing his indifferent expression, she shot him an exasperated glare, her tone laced with concern as she scolded him.
Lu Tianming sighed softly and nodded. Truth be told, if he were to be completely honest, the most severe consequence of this risky maneuver wasn't any of the things mentioned above.
It was what the mysterious text had previously mentioned... Consciousness Dissociation.
Lu Tianming hadn't realized what it meant when his Self-Resonance went unnoticed and the resonance rate dropped below 100%... Only now did it dawn on him—this indicated that, given his mental state at the time, he was already trending toward a collapse of self-awareness.
The consciousness that should have been operating his physical body was redirected through the link to control the Strike Suit, leaving his own body unattended, thus leading to Consciousness Dissociation.
If the battle had lasted a little longer back then, he might have ended up in a vegetative state.
"Speaking of which... when the Strike Suit malfunctioned earlier, it was you who ordered the Archangel to charge straight in, right?"
Lu Tianming shrugged, feeling that keeping the conversation focused on himself was a bit passive. After a moment's thought, he changed the subject.
"You... how did you know?"
Badgiruel was surprised. The Strike Suit shouldn't have been able to pick up communications from the Bridge at that time.
"I just figured it had to be you... Miss Murrue's tactical style wouldn't involve taking such risks."
Lu Tianming said with a laugh. At the time, only Murrue and Badgiruel could have made the decision, and this kind of strategy clearly aligned more with Badgiruel's personality.
"Are you implying... that I'm some kind of reckless person?"
Badgiruel raised an eyebrow, pretending to be a bit displeased in her response.
But inwardly, she was quite pleased. The fact that Lu Tianming could recognize her tactical style... gave her a sense of being acknowledged.
Seeing that Lu Tianming seemed a bit stunned and at a loss for words, Badgiruel didn't press him further and smoothly moved on to the next topic:
"Speaking of which, you refer to Captain Ramius and Lieutenant Flaga as 'Miss Murrue' and 'Mr. Mu'... Why is it that when it comes to me, you either skip the address or use my position or Military Rank?"
Badgiruel recalled this question and asked, somewhat puzzled. This clear distinction in addressing made her feel a bit strange, as if... there was a sense of greater distance on her side.
"Because, in my impression, Lieutenant, you're the type who places more emphasis on rules and order. If I had used the same way of addressing you when we first met, you'd probably have thought I was some frivolous character, right?"
Lu Tianming shrugged as he answered. Badgiruel nodded upon hearing this... It did seem that way.
Once a form of address is set initially, it usually doesn't change without reason. And during their first meeting... the circumstances weren't ideal, and she had even been suspicious of him. Naturally, she wouldn't receive the same treatment as the other two.
But even so... being the one singled out for special treatment left her feeling somewhat awkward.
Perhaps sensing Badgiruel's hesitation, Lu Tianming thought for a moment and tentatively suggested:
"Well... should I change how I address you from now on... Miss Natarle?"
As soon as the words left Lu Tianming's mouth, Badgiruel felt as if an electric current had run through her, a tingling sensation spreading in her heart. She waved her hands repeatedly:
"N-no, that's not necessary. Being called that feels a bit... too intimate..."
Badgiruel herself didn't quite know how to explain it. Stammering as she spoke, her face flushed red to the tips of her ears. Lu Tianming's tentative tone when he said "Miss Natarle," paired with his somewhat playful smile, made it sound to her almost like flirting.
"Lacus called her that before too... why does it feel different this time?"
But then she seemed to remember something, speaking with a hint of regret in her tone:
"Besides... with the Eighth Fleet rendezvous approaching, most crew members aboard the Archangel will likely return to their original posts."
"At that time, whether we'll have another chance to meet again... is hard to say."
Hearing Badgiruel's words, Lu Tianming was momentarily stunned, roughly understanding what she was worried about.
Yet at this moment, he couldn't properly comfort her... after all, he couldn't exactly play prophet and reveal that the Archangel would be descending to Earth, could he?
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