The Stigmata Hua Yi possessed were all the beneficial type. Aside from raising his physical stats across the board, they even gave him a slight degree of control over external Honkai Energy.
Although Himeko's Artificial Stigmata didn't come from his Supply System, he had already used Coins to repair one. After spending a full 10,000 Coins, the effect had to be more than just pain relief.
After all, in the Supply System, it only cost 1,000 Coins to max out a one-star Stigmata, and 5,000 to evolve it to two stars. While these different methods couldn't be compared directly, spending 10,000 Coins to fix an Artificial Stigmata was no small sum.
Hua Yi's words caused a flicker of doubt and surprise in Himeko's eyes. She led him into a vacant room and began operating the instruments herself.
"Don't give me too much hope. Otherwise, I'll start thinking I'm dreaming."
"Before, you were worried I'd give you hope only to disappoint you. Now you've graduated to self-doubt? That's some delightful progress."
"..."
Himeko couldn't find a way to refute that.
He truly had brought her hope. A change that previously only existed in her dreams was becoming a reality through his help.
Himeko began using the advanced equipment in the room to check her various vitals. Noticing Hua Yi watching her, she explained.
"My previous condition couldn't be exposed, so checking my vitals and looking for medicine was always done in secret. After being sick for so long, you eventually learn to be your own doctor. I've become quite self-taught. I'll be the one giving you your check-up later, so don't even think about hiding anything."
"There's nothing wrong with my body. There's no need to hide."
"That's true. When you were heavily injured before, the Medical Department gave you a comprehensive exam. Even then, most of your physical data exceeded that of a normal person.
You were even beyond an A-Rank Valkyrie who wasn't wearing a Battlesuit. It was bizarre. If the Principal and I hadn't stepped in, the medical staff might have wanted to dissect you. I'm exaggerating, of course."
"In the future, it might actually become that extreme."
Feeling his physical constitution strengthen again over the past few days due to his Stigmata enhancements, Hua Yi murmured to himself, imagining the results of long-term accumulation.
Himeko didn't hear him; she was busy finishing the operations on the machine. Since Hua Yi wasn't familiar with the advanced equipment at St. Freya Academy, he didn't volunteer to help and simply watched quietly from the side.
About ten minutes later
"My cell vitality... it actually increased? And all these other indicators... they've significantly improved compared to before?!"
Looking at the results, Himeko let out an incredulous gasp.
The data showed that her health was recovering. Hua Yi's act of repairing her Artificial Stigmata hadn't just maintained the original buffs; it had actually enhanced them. Aside from the pain relief, indicators that usually only appeared in the dying were showing various degrees of improvement.
This massive surge of joy hit Himeko so hard it made her head spin.
Hua Yi, standing beside her, also smiled. Spending those 10,000 Coins really hadn't let him down.
"Since there are no negative side effects, let's not waste time and fix the remaining two Artificial Stigmata."
"No. Like I said, I have to check your condition first. If your stats have dropped compared to when you were injured, then we stop right here. You aren't going to tell me that you've been training like a madman in secret and made your health worse, are you, Hua Yi?"
Hua Yi wanted to improve Himeko's health as quickly as possible, while Himeko was worried about his.
This reality made Hua Yi shake his head, torn between laughter and tears.
"Even if I wanted to train that hard, it would be difficult to replicate the effects of non-stop combat. Just give me the exam. Once you stop worrying needlessly, I can help you get rid of the side effects of your Artificial Stigmata once and for all."
Get rid of the side effects entirely...
Himeko's eyes glazed over for a brief second before she snapped back to attention and began Hua Yi's check-up.
Just as he said, his condition was better than anyone could have imagined.
It was truly beyond imagination. His data was more than a level higher than when he was first admitted with heavy injuries. If this were translated into combat strength, his rate of progress was simply too fast.
It was unscientific!
Himeko looked at the results of Hua Yi's physical and fell silent for a moment. Then, she tossed the paper into a nearby shredder to ensure no one else saw those exaggerated numbers.
Originally, Himeko thought Principal Theresa was abnormal enough. She looked like a cute, petite child, but she had lived for decades and possessed unreasonable strength, running around with the hundred-kilogram Oath of Judah on her back.
But judging by Hua Yi's current physical state, he could probably dual-wield the Oath of Judah and swing them around like plastic toys.
Was she just too ignorant, or was the world becoming increasingly abnormal? These two were monsters.
Himeko's silence lasted for quite a while, prompting a confused Hua Yi to speak up.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No problem."
"In that case, hurry up and change. I'll help you repair the rest of your Artificial Stigmata."
Those words made Himeko's heart tremble.
With Hua Yi's help, the repair of just one Artificial Stigmata had brought such a massive change. If all three were fully repaired, Himeko couldn't even begin to imagine what her future would look like.
It seemed her future would hold much more than just an escape from pain; it was already deviating wildly from her original expectations.
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