Corvina was already prepared and tossed a small terminal towards Yoruichi's direction, "It was easy to figure out which clan it came from with an available sample at hand. What took time, however, was searching for possible member presence within the vicinity of the Draconic Deus."
While listening to her, Yoruichi also took a look at the terminal and summarized the document she was presented, 'Qira Clan. A nomad clan that roams through the whole Etoulde territory and experts of poison-type spiritual abilities. They are under the direct orders of the Holy Family but their members would sometimes take an outside commission under the table.'
Yoruichi couldn't help but click her tongue, 'This is going to be harder than I thought.' In addition to the document about the Qira Clan, there's also a note at the bottom of it, 'To cure their poison, one has to use the antidote from their members. As there are multiple types of poisons, getting the antidote from the attacker will yield better chances of success. If one can't find any of its members, the alternative is a soul surgery which can only be done legally if performed within the Holy City with an accredited Spirit Doctor and at least three witnesses from the Etoulde High Court.'
'What the heck is this?' Yoruichi asked herself after reading that note, 'I wasn't sure at first since it's hard to find relevant records but could it be that their technology regarding souls is even more primitive than that of Soul Society?'
If that's really the case, then Yoruichi just dug her own pitfall, 'From all the data I've gathered and this note, I can be pretty sure that research about souls and their link to spiritual abilities are banned or a taboo. Is it to protect the sanctity of their unique abilities? If so, I just showed them something very illegal and something that violates their moral code. F*ck.'
As if confirming her thoughts, Yoruichi heard a metal clicking sound and when she turned around, she saw Adrenna placing a thick metallic collar around Stralit's neck and as soon as it locked, the leaking Spiritual Power from her immediately disappeared. Yoruichi knew the significance of Adrenna sealing Stralit's Spiritual Power, 'You don't have to do that. Benihime won't be able to act without the girl calling her name.'
Nevertheless, she still has to try to settle things peacefully. Yoruichi turned back to Corvina while reorienting her body towards the door, "Now that I'm done here, I'll be taking my leave. I won't bother you anymore but I'd like you to give me a call when the girl wakes up for further checks."
But as soon as she took a single step, Yoruichi noticed that her shadow started moving and formed a tiny cage surrounding her in an instant, "...I knew I'd been rude, but I still saved your daughter. Isn't this too much?"
"I don't care about your etiquette and am truly grateful for your help and saving my daughter, however, as a head of the Luxeux Clan and a part of the Etoulde race, I just can't ignore what happened."
"Such as?"
"Please don't act ignorant. While new, you've been dealing with information business so even though you're from Draconic Deus, you should already have some idea of the gravity of your actions just now."
Yoruichi was silent for a moment and seemingly waited for Adrenna and Stralit to take some distance from her, "I'm ignorant, alright. But even if I'm aware, I don't think your codes apply to me? Draconic Deus is not part of your territory nor I'm an Etoulde. So why should I answer to your governing body? And isn't this done in secrecy? Couldn't you just let me go and pretend that nothing of this happened?"
Corvina was silent for a moment and considered Yoruichi's words and the fact that she saved her daughter even though she had a feeling it was her group's fault that something like that happened to Stralit in the first place, "I apologize, but it's not something I could ignore."
Yoruichi's poker face turned into a frown. She was about to force her way out when all of a sudden, Corvina started moving and took out her personal terminal and the moment she pressed its screen, a holographic image of a pretty woman with deep dark red hair and eyes of the same color, [Good day to you, Luxeux matriarch. It has been a while.]
Corvina frowned, "Gwenn Yarwood... I would like to know how you got my personal contact, but I'm quite busy right now and won't be able to entertain you."
[I apologize for the sudden contact. I pestered my father nonstop for a few days to talk to you.]
"I understand, but whatever it is, it's inconvenient for me right now."
[Because of Yoruichi, isn't it? She showed you something amazing and you now see her as a threat.]
Adrenna was stunned and Corvina's frown grew deeper. The latter was silent for a few seconds before replying, "It would seem that you're here to vouch for her."
With a big smile, Gwenn nodded, [That's exactly what I'm here for.]
"You of all people should know how dangerous this is."
[Of course. But confining her would just delay the problem. You do know that there's another person like her within Draconic Deus, right?]
"But that doesn't change the fact that she's roaming around with that kind of technology and abilities. As long as we're not sure that the Evies won't be able to replicate this, we can't let her go."
At that point, Yoruichi finally understood Corvina's concerns. She was not worried that Yoruichi is going to be hostile towards her and might cause her irreparable damage but the possibility of her falling into another influence, more notably, the Evies, 'I see. She thinks that I shouldn't be running around when I look like a piece of meat surrounded by predators.'
[Which is why I'm here to request you to let her go if you think she's strong enough to protect herself.]
"..." Corvina went silent once again.
But Gwenn didn't wait for her answer and raised her voice, [Yoruichi, you can hear me right? I'm sorry but this is all I can do. If you want to convince this madam, just go ballistic. That's more of her language anyway.]
Under the veil, Corvina was smiling. But when Adrenna saw that, she shuddered because her smile didn't reach her eyes, "Are you perhaps implying that I'm violent?"
Even Gwenn in a different location couldn't help but be nervous, [Of course not. I'm just giving regard to the brightest star that decimated millions of Evies in a war a few hundred cycles ago all by herself. I figured that you'd rest easy once it's proven that she won't be captured by just anyone.]
'I guess the conditions have been set. Well, I'm also curious about the Luxeux [Quasar].' Yoruichi sighed and for the first time since she started exploring the Evie Etoulde side, she released all her seals, instantly flooding the whole room with her suffocating Spiritual Pressure and crushing the cage made out of shadows that's surrounding her.
Editors:
28th00: Ah, so they are honourless luddite traitors! Meatheaded ones at that. I didn’t have a high opinion of them at the start, but it’s sorta just plummeting more and more each chapter. They’re “Holier than Thou” types too… ugh.
The gush of Spiritual Power originating from a few points of Yoruichi's body transformed into an almost tangible force. This force weighed down directly on everyone's souls and instantly broke several seals that protected the room from outside influence.
"So she can release this much... Have you seen this?" Corvina calmly asked Gwenn while gesturing to Adrenna to shield Stralit and herself in the corner.
[Yes, but the same as the first time, I'm still in awe now that I'm seeing it again.] Gwenn replied with her eyes shining.
Corvina glanced at Gwenn for a few seconds before returning her sights to Yoruichi, "I see. And what did you see back then? Knowing you from the stories I heard from your father, you probably kept this a secret because it's interesting, right?"
[...I don't know what that nosy old man told you, but you're partially correct.]
And while they were talking, Yoruichi finally fully released her seals, giving her access to her entire strength, "Shunkou, Raijin Senkei(Flash War Cry, Thunder God Battle Form)."
Corvina and Adrenna's eyes went wide and the both of them hurriedly dived into their shadows, escaping the vicinity.
The next instant, a large column of lightning engulfed the whole room, eradicating it down to its foundation.
A few seconds later, Corvina, Adrenna, and the unconscious Stralit reappeared a few kilometers away. Since the security features of the room were already broken before Yoruichi completely exploded, they were able to travel through the shadows. And even though they managed to get away, they still could see the large column of lightning that pierced through the sky and could feel the immense pressure she was releasing that no normal being could stand up against.
[...A radically different way of Spiritual Power utilization.] Gwenn's voice rang out from Corvina's terminal, [I've seen it twice but I still can't believe that something like this is possible. It wasn't just absurd, it was completely idiotic, inefficient, and frankly speaking, suicidal. If an Etoulde tried that method, their own Spiritual Power would burn them to a crisp before they could even make use of it. Of course, I'll keep this a secret! Forget about explaining it to anyone, I'll completely lose my reputation if I even alluded to this fantasy-like situation!]
Having to listen to Gwenn's rant while watching Yoruichi emerge from the disappearing column of lightning with a circle of dense electrical energy behind her, Corvina replied, "Now that I see it too, perhaps you can now tell me what you're seeing?"
[There seems to be gateways that allow her to release her Spiritual Power like this on her wrists which is probably directly connected to her soul.]
"What a surprise to hear that from you. Probably?"
[Her Spiritual Power is moving too fast for my eyes to see anything clearly. I can't even estimate the amount of Spiritual Power she has but if I were to guess, just a bit less than yours.]
"Hooh?" Corvina let out an impressed tone as there are only a few among the many Etouldes that match her in terms of Spiritual Power.
[Not just that, she's also utilizing Ki which, I'm just guessing, is what's keeping her body intact.]
"Is that clever or her just forcing it to use Spiritual Power this way?"
[That I can't make an assessment. These two types of energies are intricately woven together so it must be doing something more. As I've said, I'm just guessing and to add, trying to make sense of what I'm actually seeing.]
Yoruichi was looking around, observing her surroundings. Corvina knew that she wouldn't be attacking immediately because instead of her home planet, they were actually on a completely different one. A rocky and barren planet perfect for hiding things underground, 'That room and Shadow Gate was an expensive investment and it was destroyed just like that.'
"So I just have to block her wrists to completely stop her?"
[Nope. If it was that simple, then there's no way she'd be doing this. Besides, I'm still trying to figure out how she's manifesting this phenomenon. It's completely opposite of how we-]
At this moment, however, Yoruichi is done observing and suddenly appears in front of Corvina via a bolt of lightning.
"!?" Corvina jumped back but the speed that Yoruichi showed was unexpected so she couldn't completely dodge and could only cover her skin with her shadow.
With a fist containing dense lightning, Yoruichi burnt Corvina's shadow itself and sent her flying back while also obliterating the terminal in her hand.
Yoruichi didn't immediately follow up and instead asked, "Still not convinced?"
The arms that Corvina used to block Yoruichi's fist were scalded, nevertheless, it was not even a minor injury and her shadow soon regenerated to cover her skin, "Interesting and intriguing to say the least. However, still far from satisfactory."
Yoruichi couldn't feel Corvina's Reiatsu like she normally would with other Spiritual Power users. The movements of her Spiritual Power were very subtle, almost to the point of perceiving it as completely inactive. Even then, Yoruichi knew that something big was coming.
She tried getting away, but the darkness was faster. It was already too late for Yoruichi to realize that Corvina's shadow extended all around her, painting her entire world black. Much worse, Yoruichi was actually already acquainted with this darkness, 'How the hell could she just explode like this!? This is cheating!' Yoruichi internally screamed as she tried regaining her senses back but to no avail. It was the same darkness that she went through to reach the secured room, but this time, the guide was actively trying to harm her.
Yoruichi completely underestimated Corvina after seeing Stralit and Grenlan's files and how they use their [Shadows].
'She might be a monster on the cusp of reaching Transcendence.'
Editors:
28th00: I just genuinely dislike them as a character. She’s just a worse Tosen though.
Goyya: Prideful characters that tend to believe that they are always right aren’t exactly likable when they are introduced. Aizen is an exception and such a unique character shouldn’t be replicated.
The problem is that Corvina is supposed to be part of the ‘good guys’ and she’s like this. Aizen, at least, is a true and unforgiving villain.