Chapter 9: Good Riddance

"How about you two head to City Hall and ask the magistrate directly who she's looking for? That should clear things up," Yangyang suggested.

Her tone was calm, suggesting a peaceful resolution, but her eyes hinted at an unspoken question. "Besides," she continued, "I believe both of you have great potential and are welcome in Jinzhou, even if not as this special guest."

Rover hesitated. Though she hadn't initially minded going to the city, doubts had crept in.

"I—" Rover began, her voice wavering as she tried to voice her unease. But DEVA stepped in smoothly, her tone steady and firm. "Boss and I are willing to cooperate." She glanced at Kyorin, a bit surprised that he seemed so agreeable, given his usual scepticism.

Her mind flashed back to their earlier exchange. When Yangyang asked about meeting Jinshi, DEVA immediately sought Kyorin's guidance.

"Boss, what's our next move? Do we meet this Jinshi, or avoid the city altogether?"

Kyorin's eyes had grown icy as he made his decision. "We meet her," he'd conveyed, his silent words laced with a sharp resolve. "But not on her terms."

DEVA had looked at him, puzzled by his sudden determination. "Hmm?"

"What's wrong?" he'd asked, noticing her confusion.

"I didn't know you were so willing," she'd replied, a bit taken aback by his willingness.

"We've already gone through too much trouble to turn back now," he'd said, the edge in his thoughts unmistakable. "As much as I'd like to avoid dealing with some city ruler, I'd hate it more if all our efforts were for nothing. Besides..."

His eyes had narrowed, a faint, almost dangerous smile playing on his lips. "It's been a while since I've felt this riled up." He said, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "That little girl Jinshi is playing a big game, and I at least want to enjoy some of it after lying dormant for so long." Kyorin expressed.

"A game, huh?" DEVA mused, her lens focusing into the distance, contemplating his words. "So, what do you think, Boss? Are we just pawns, or do we have some leverage?"

"We still have that 'special guest' status to play with," Kyorin answered, his eyes narrowing further in contemplation. "But it's a volatile card. I'd rather have a more stable option that allows us freedom of movement."

Still processing his plan, DEVA asked, "So, what do we do then? Can we even trust her?"

Kyorin's gaze hardened like steel. "Trust is a luxury we can't afford. We go to the meeting but on our terms. We'll assess the situation and decide from there."—*sigh*—He sighed beneath his mask before adding, "Honestly, it's quite bothersome, so I'll just convince them that Rover is their special guest."

"Wouldn't that make us lose all our standing, turning us into mere pawns?" DEVA questioned, her tone cautious.

"More like bait," Kyorin replied grimly. "She might see us as a way to bolster her position, either by using us for protection or as scapegoats if things go wrong."

"Boss, this sounds risky," DEVA warned, a trace of concern seeping into her otherwise logical demeanour.

"Always bet on your boss, DEVA. Or do you not have faith?" Kyorin countered, his confidence almost unnerving. {A/N: I should be careful with the frequent JJK references; I might risk a copyright strike. Or is it entertaining?}

Without missing a beat, DEVA answered, "My cold logic says I'm crazy, but let's do this, Boss."

Their conversation had been brief, but by the end of it, they had already crafted a strategy for handling the city's officials. Kyorin's plan was a dangerous gamble, but one he felt would pay off if played right.

Back with the group, Yangyang nodded at DEVA's response before turning her gaze to Rover. "And you, Rover? What do you think?"

Rover took a deep breath. "I believe it's the best option," she said, signalling her agreement.

"Before we go, though..." Baizhi interjected, her tone cold and distant, yet laced with curiosity. "I'd like to ask, Miss Rover, what exactly is your Resonance ability? Is it absorbing Echoes like we saw earlier?"

Rover tilted her head slightly, contemplating the question. 'It doesn't feel right,' she silently concluded, as this power didn't feel like a resonant ability, but more like an inherent one.

"Yeah, what's with that? I have never seen a Resonance Ability like this," Chixia's voice suddenly rang out behind her, causing her to whip her head around. Chixia was scrutinizing Rover from head to toe as if she were a rare specimen.

"Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? Like consuming an entire Tacet Disord? Or grilling Echoes alive?" Chixia posed some bizarre questions that rendered everyone speechless.

Unaware and hesitant, Rover explained, "That wasn't my Resonance Ability." This caused Chixia to be even more curious as she pondered aloud, "It wasn't your Resonance ability? Hmm..." she hummed trying to make sense of what Rover just did.

While Chixia was contemplating what Rover's strange ability might be, Yangyang approached Rover and asked, "Rover, are you alright? Did absorbing the echo have any toll on you?" she asked, concern lacing her voice. Rover shook her head, feeling rather refreshed, than feeling a toll after absorbing the echo.

Yangyang was concerned about Rover, unsure of what had just transpired. She glanced at Baizhi and asked, "Could there be an unseen side effect of absorbing that Tacet Discord?" Her speculation was filled with flaws, but it was the best she could muster at the moment.

"Baizhi, can we take Rover to the Resonance Medical Department at Huaxu Academy for a check-up?" she requested. "I am fine," Rover immediately interjected, but Baizhi glanced at her and hummed, "Hmm."

"Baizhi?" Yangyang called again, seeking confirmation. Baizhi made a contemplative expression before responding, "Absorbing Echoes with the human body is not entirely unprecedented," she explained, crossing her arms.

Yangyang picked up on Baizhi's implication and muttered aloud, "With the human body...?" A brief flash of realization struck her as she continued, "I remember reading in the Comprehensive Mirrors for Historians, in the Huanglong section's openings..."

She glanced at Rover and elaborated, "...A celestial being descended, commanding Qián Kūn's (乾 坤: Heaven and Earth) boundless power." Her gaze shifted to the Etheric Sea as she continued, "Assuming mortal form, they condensed the primordial essence, creating Pangu. Cleaving heaven and earth apart, they aligned the celestial."

Beneath the mask, Kyorin's expression furrowed slightly at the mention of "Celestial", as a distant muffled echo began to resound in his ears.

She then continued to mutter words under her breath that no one seemed to catch except Kyorin: "They aligned the celestial and the terrestrial, their radiance encompassing the four corners. Thus began the illustrious annals of Huanglong, whose first provinces were demarcated."

Kyorin's eyes narrowed as he processed Yangyang's words, but something shifted his attention. A strange voice whispered in his mind, carrying an otherworldly resonance.

"You see, Kyorin... there are mortals, immortals, celestials, gods, and then... there is my master—the one and only Supreme."

The voice carried a tone of reverence and adoration as it spoke of its master, sending a shiver down Kyorin's spine. "May I ask who you speak of so reverently, OO?" he inquired cautiously, his mind reaching out to the unseen presence.

In response, the space around Kyorin warped and bent, as if reality was folding inwards. He found himself confronted by an entity of indescribable size, a vast silhouette whose very shadows hooded the cosmos.

Its form was nebulous and ever-changing, a presence that seemed to embody destruction and preservation simultaneously. The sheer magnitude of it was overwhelming, its existence suffocating.

As Kyorin caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, he noticed a forked tongue and thousands of silhouettes of hooded heads cascading down toward him.

Each head's presence felt more suffocating than the last, with one, in particular, exuding a weight that threatened to cause cosmic disruption.

The entity's mouth opened, and Kyorin felt the burden of countless worlds pressing down upon him.

But just as the colossal being appeared ready to answer, its mouth parting wider, DEVA's voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere.

"Boss."

The cosmic vision shattered, reality snapping back into place. Kyorin jerked his head towards DEVA, his expression darkening. Irritation seethed in his eyes as he glared at her.

"What is it?" he snapped, his voice low and laced with impatience, the remnants of the vision still clawing at the edges of his mind.

DEVA tilted her head slightly, unperturbed by Kyorin's distant expression. "You zoned out for a moment there," she noted, her eyes narrowing. "Just wanted to make sure you were still with us."

Kyorin exhaled slowly, his mind racing. "I just had a vision of my past," he replied curtly, his thoughts still scattered, lingering on that immense presence.

DEVA, taken aback, studied him briefly with a piercing gaze. "What was it? You look a bit rattled. It must be important," she observed, concern creeping into her voice as she sought to understand what had happened.

"I would have known if it weren't for you," Kyorin said, his tone sharper. Realizing her misstep, DEVA looked away and whistled lightly. "Well, it shouldn't be important, like all those other times you recalled your memories," she joked, but Kyorin dismissed it.

"No."

DEVA glanced at him, sensing the implication. "What did you see then?"

"Remember, I once told you I'd seen bigger creatures before?" Kyorin began.

"Boss, please, enough of your fantasies. I can't envision a serpent large enough to encircle the world, let alone a creature larger than that," DEVA stated, somewhat exasperated. Yet, driven by her curious nature, she persisted, "But still, how big was it?"

"Big enough that its shadow could hood the cosmos," Kyorin replied, and DEVA lost her composure.

"Alright, Boss, I think we should get you checked out when we reach Jinzhou," she said.

"Don't touch me," he shot back, turning away as he mulled over the words "hood" and "forked tongue."

As he mused over those words, a series of silent phrases slipped from Kyorin's lips: "A cobra with a thousand heads."

Contemplating the existence of such a being, he overheard Chixia speaking to Rover. "Whether it's true or not, that tale hails from a time long before Jinzhou even existed."

Kyorin observed the group from a distance as Chixia began to weave yet another wild theory. "Could it be that Rover is like the great-great-great-great-great-grandmommy of us all?" {A/N: Kuro games thought they were slick with this dialogue}

*Pft*—Rover nearly choked at Chixia's outlandish conjecture. 'I-Is Is she implying I'm an old hag?' Rover thought, narrowing her eyes in indignation at Chixia.

Realizing the conversation could spiral into chaos, Baizhi interjected, "Let's not jump to conclusions without proper data and analysis."

'Thank you.' Rover silently expressed her gratitude to Baizhi, feeling her sanity teetering on the edge due to Chixia's outrageous speculations.

Yangyang sighed at the unfolding chaos before turning to Kyorin. "Mr. Kyorin, if it isn't too much to ask, would you mind sharing your Resonance ability?"

Kyorin remained silent, but a thought echoed in his mind: "Snake." DEVA, linked to his thoughts, caught on and sighed. "Boss, do you perhaps have a fondness for snakes?"

Snapping out from his reverie, Kyorin asked, "Sorry, I was a bit lost. What did that lass Yangyang ask again?"

DEVA sighed again, then inquired, "Was Medusa your wife in a previous life, Boss?" {A/N: Don't look down on the Queen DEVA.}

Kyorin coughed, feeling embarrassed. "No, I don't think I had any spouse, but I'm not sure why."

DEVA, her tone filled with mock pity, replied, "So you were maidless, Boss? Don't worry; I'll help you find the best bride."

"Shut it, or else I'll shut you," Kyorin snapped at DEVA, who replied, "Alright, alright. Subject Yangyang asked about your Resonance ability." 

"I don't know," Kyorin said, responding to DEVA's relay. "My boss is a bit unsure; he also awakened due to desperation."

"Hmmm, how about undergoing a 'Forte Examination Report' once we're in Jinzhou?" Chixia suggested. Kyorin merely wondered, 'What is that?'

Yangyang, aware that Kyorin might not know, explained. "It's a report that evaluates a Resonator's status and determines their rank."

She paused momentarily, letting the information sink in before adding, "The rankings range from one to five stars, with one being the baseline and five representing the crème de la crème of Resonator prowess. I myself am a four-star Resonator."

Gesturing toward the mark on her forehead, Yangyang explained, "Each Resonator has a distinct Resonance Ability, commonly known as a Forte, symbolized by their Tacet Mark."

Kyorin nodded, grasping the significance. Yangyang continued, "Still, there is an additional critical element that influences all aspects related to a Resonator's Forte."

Kyorin strained his ears, recognizing that this was the key point. "Each Resonator has unique Resonance Spectrum Patterns that dictate their abilities and relate to their Attributes," Yangyang elaborated.

She paused briefly before elaborating, "These patterns are classified by their Rabelle's Curve into one of the following categories: Natural, Mutant, Congenital, or Artificial. According to experts, a Resonator's abilities are often influenced by their past experiences and subconscious mind."

Yangyang's gaze grew more serious as he continued, "The Forte Examination Test will reveal a Resonator's Resonance Spectrum Patterns. This is essentially a Resonator's trump card, as it provides significant insights into the nature of the Resonator."

"But..." She paused, locking eyes with Kyorin. With a hint of hesitation, she asked, "...Mr. Kyorin, will you proceed with this examination?"

Kyorin pondered Yangyang's words. Honestly, he couldn't care less about others' opinions of him, and that was the only confirmation needed. "I don't see any problem," he replied dismissively as DEVA relayed his words.

Yangyang's expression softened, a flicker of approval brightening her eyes, mingled with a hint of relief. "Very well," she said, her tone warming as she added, "Let's go to Jinzhou."

With that, they set off toward Jinzhou, which wasn't too far away. Along the way, they encountered numerous Tacet Discords. DEVA and Rover quickly vanquished them, and as they relinquished Echoes, Rover assimilated them, gaining strength with every battle.

Meanwhile, Kyorin absorbed one to prove that his terminal—DEVA—worked, but they stumbled upon something unexpected.

"Boss, I think I can recover more if I assimilate some more of these Echoes," DEVA suggested. 

Kyorin simply replied, "Hmm, don't bother with those weak ones; it would take ages to recover. Let's hunt for bigger ones after we've had our audience with the little magistrate."

"Understood, Boss," DEVA replied, allowing Rover to assimilate the weaker Echoes they encountered. As they marched on, every one put in the effort to defeat the Tacet Discords, demonstrating their Echo abilities.

Kyorin, however, remained passive, which might have seemed like a poor showing for a man while the women did the heavy lifting. However, he couldn't care less who fought; he was an advocate for gender equality.

However, this further made the group part form DEVA what his resonance ability was. But soon they had reached Jinzhou.

"Alright!" Chixia exclaimed, extending her arms with a bright smile. "Welcome to Jinzhou."

The group of six stood on a slope, mere meters away from the gates of Jinzhou.

"After we descend this slope, we'll be able to enter the city," Yangyang explained as the group began their careful descent.

As they descended, something caught Kyorin's eye—a faint glow emanating from the underbrush to his left. "!!?"

Curiosity piqued, he made a quick detour to investigate. Pushing aside some foliage, he discovered a yellowish cube softly pulsating with an otherworldly light. 'This might be valuable,' he thought, picking it up and rejoining the group.

"Did you find something?" Rover asked, noticing his brief absence. Kyorin extended his hands to present the enigmatic cube, its surface glistening in the fading light.

"A Sonance Casket," Chixia exclaimed, her eyes widening in recognition. "These are quite rare." She examined it closely before suggesting, "You should hang onto it. I know an old acquaintance who is a relic collector. He's quite knowledgeable about artefacts like this." She then added, "I'll take you to visit him once we get to the city."

Kyorin nodded as he instructed DEVA to store the Sonance Casket in her pocket dimension. The group continued their descent down the slope when suddenly—*stalk*—Kyorin sensed a presence nearby. It wasn't directed at him, but he could sense it.

Kyorin connected with DEVA. "Go investigate who it is," he instructed. 

"Alright, Boss," DEVA replied, silently hovering away to probe the unknown presence.

As the rest of the group approached the city gates, Rover was about to step through when—*stare*—"!!?"—a shiver ran down her spine. She felt an unsettling gaze upon her and turned back.

"Rover?" Yangyang inquired, noticing her pause. Rover shook her head and continued into the city.

Meanwhile, a short distance from the gate, a figure concealed among the foliage atop a tree watched with an enigmatic smile. The mysterious woman's eyes gleamed with a curious delight. "Hehe. There you are. My dearest..."

"Seed of fate..." she whispered, tracing her lips with her fingertips as if savouring Rover's presence as a rare delicacy. However, her expression shifted abruptly when a shadowy voice emerged from behind her. "It seems you know something of significance. Mind sharing some?"

"—!!?" Immediately, the girl spun around, her movements a blur as she aimed to strike the unseen assailant. But before she could connect, a forcefield made up of energy blocked her attack.

"This stalker cat has quite the temperament, huh?" DEVA remarked her tone a mix of amusement and mild reproach.

"Who are you calling a stalker? Who are you?" the girl retorted, distancing herself from the mysterious orb. DEVA's lens assessed her with keen interest. She was dressed in a striking ensemble of pure white, accentuated with intricate patterns of red, gold, and black.

Her white hair, streaked with black, was styled into twin tails and decorated with red ribbons and vine-like accessories in a black-red gradient. Her dark grey eyes, with their red diamond-shaped pupils, were both captivating and unsettling.

Yet, the most arresting feature of her appearance was the pattern of black flowers that adorned her attire, giving her a mystical aura.

'Hmm, she must be affiliated with some faction,' DEVA mused inwardly, noting the peculiar black flower motifs. While the possibility of them being merely ornamental was there, their distinctiveness suggested a deeper significance. Regardless, it was wise to remember every detail, even if only as a precaution.

"Tch," the mysterious girl snarled as a reddish glow emanated from her. Vines shot up from the ground, encircling her before she remarked, "Don't appear before me again," and retreated, the vines retracting alongside her.

'I'll have to report this to Boss,' DEVA mused as she silently returned to the group. Once she reached Kyorin, she relayed the information about her encounter.

Kyorin didn't say much in response, but he made a mental note of the girl and the unsettling aura she had projected.

"Alrighty, what's our next move?" Chixia inquired, her tone alight with anticipation. "How about we grab something to eat?"

Rover suggested, "Perhaps we should start with a visit to the city hall."

"I need to return to the academy," Baizhi informed the group. "My presence is required there."

She began recounting the strange phenomena they had encountered. "The anomalies at the Gorge of Spirits, the resurgence of that Tacet Field, and the many Waveworn Phenomena occurrences... I must report these quickly." She then looked at Kyorin. 

Kyorin noticed her gaze and raised his hand, signalling her to speak.

"Mr. Kyorin, how about you accompany me? Your Forte Examination Report might help us determine your standing," Yangyang suggested.

"Boss is asking: 'Are you sure you're not just trying to extract more information from me?' " DEVA relayed Kyorin's thoughts.

Baizhi sighed, exasperated. At this point, she was impressed by Kyorin's stubborn mistrust and independence. 

His solitary demeanour made her wonder, 'Does this guy hate socializing? Or is his forte Antisocial?' Her guess wasn't far from the truth.

Kyorin's aloofness and reluctance to have faith in others piqued her curiosity. She found herself pondering the experiences that had shaped him. Yet, she chose to respect his boundaries, recognizing that some individuals simply felt more at ease alone.

"Mr. Kyorin, please. You may proceed with any non-disruptive actions once you have gone through the Forte Examination Report.," Yangyang insisted.

"Very well," DEVA replied in Kyorin's stead, earning another exasperated sigh from the group.

"Alright, I'll go submit our report and prepare the documents needed for Rover's registration while I'm at the Pioneers Association," Yangyang declared, a determined smile gracing her lips. She turned to Kyorin, a hint of concern in her gaze. "How about you also create new documents, Mr. Kyorin?"

DEVA interjected, "Boss says it sounds bothersome."

Yangyang suppressed a sigh, her shoulders drooping slightly. Kyorin's overly independent attitude grated on her, creating a barrier that made cooperation feel nearly impossible.

*Pull*—Rover gently tugged on Kyorin's sleeve, her touch light yet insistent. As he turned to her, DEVA chimed in, "What's the matter, Subject Rover?"

"You know," Rover began, her voice soft but firm, "you'll come off as suspicious if you keep rejecting other people's goodwill." Her disapproving look held genuine concern, causing Kyorin to frown slightly. Inwardly, he thought, 'Who does this woman think she is to tell me what to do?'

Kyorin maintained his air of self-dependence, while DEVA replied, "It's not that Boss is ungrateful for their kindness; he just thinks it's unnecessary to burden others with his personal affairs." Even DEVA felt weary of Kyorin's stubbornness.

Rover's eyes flashed with determination as she countered, "Isn't that just you being a stubborn donkey?" Her question hung in the air, and she rested her hands on her hips, a disapproving frown etched on her beautiful visage as she challenged Kyorin's viewpoint.

There was a back and forth, their voices rising and falling like waves in a stormy sea. Watching the exchange, Chixia edged closer to Yangyang and whispered, "You know, they kind of look like my mom and dad when they bicker."

"You shouldn't say that," Yangyang replied softly, a faint smile touching her lips as she nudged Chixia gently. Yet, despite her gentle scolding, she couldn't deny the accuracy of Chixia's remark. Kyorin and Rover's current behaviour indeed bore a striking resemblance to that of a typical marital spat, albeit it wasn't Kyorin but DEVA who spoke.

"It's not like I'm asking for a lot," Rover insisted, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "All I want is for you to acknowledge that working together might help us all."

Kyorin huffed beneath his mask, crossing his arms together as DEVA relayed his remarks: "And I'm saying I don't need your help. I can handle myself just fine."

"Handling yourself just fine doesn't mean ignoring the strengths of others!" Rover shot back, her voice rising. "Sometimes, it takes a team to get things done."

Kyorin narrowed his eyes, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. DEVA, now almost bored, didn't even bother sugarcoating Kyorin's words: "I do not need a lecture on teamwork from someone weak."

"Tch" Rover clicked her tongue in irritation. "Well, maybe you should listen for once!" she shot back, her exasperation evident in her tone.

"You think I care about your opinion?" DEVA relayed Kyorin's words, which were laced with annoyance.

Rover stepped closer, her expression unwavering. "It's not about caring; it's about understanding that people are stronger united. You can't keep pushing everyone away and expect to survive."

Kyorin scoffed inwardly, still crossing his arms as DEVA's mechanical voice rang out: "Survival isn't about playing nice. It's about strength, and I have plenty of it."

"Strength without strategy is just brute force," Rover countered, her voice firm. "And sometimes, being strong means knowing when to rely on others."

As their banter continued, the tension between them seemed to shift, punctuated by moments of frustration and reluctant understanding. Kyorin kept his arms crossed, maintaining his demeanour of indifference, while Rover's determination only grew stronger.

Observing from the sidelines, Yangyang, Chixia, and Baizhi had made themselves comfortable on an inclined bed, seemingly enjoying the banter while holding popcorn in their hands, and adorning sunglasses on their face. Yangyang commented, "It's like watching a soap opera!"

Chixia giggled, whispering in response, "I wonder if they might end up together?"

"Jinzhou would be quite loud if that happens," Baizhi commented in her usual tone, though a hint of amusement could be detected in her voice.

Chixia leaned closer, a teasing grin forming on her face. "Should we call them 'Mr. and Mrs. Stubborn'?" she whispered, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Yangyang stifled a laugh, shaking her head. "Let's not provoke them further," she replied, though the warmth in her voice betrayed her amusement, as she muttered inwardly, 'Good Riddance.'

Meanwhile, Kyorin and Rover were oblivious to the spectators, locked in their world of verbal sparring, each refusing to back down.

To be continued...