Sovereign Weakness

Veymars Headquarters Lab

Inside the sterile, high-security lab, Koni Dio stared at Kimichi, the head doctor. "You know what this means, right?"

Kimichi nodded gravely. "Shizen Kenmochi's blood is the weakest—1st rank Sovereign Blood. But his father and mother were Veymars, though unawakened."

Koni Dio's eyes widened. "Impossible. Veymars can't reproduce with other Veymars."

"When they awakened," Kimichi explained, "the strong blood caused them to die, leaving Kenmochi as the only survivor."

"What were their ranks?" Koni Dio pressed. "You tested their blood too, didn't you?"

"I did," Kimichi said. "I tested every drop spilled that day. Lina Kenmochi—K Kindled Blood."

"GOD DAMN IT!" Koni Dio roared, the ground beneath him trembling.

Kimichi flinched. "Calm down, Koni! You'll destroy this place!"

Dio steadied himself. "What about his dad?"

"kinata kenmochi " Kimichi replied. "1st rank Sovereign Blood."

"Two Veymars reproducing" Dio muttered, vanishing in a flash, leaving a trace of blood on the floor.

Kimichi sighed. "Koni, my dear boy, don't look into this too deep."

Headquarters Buffet

At a bustling table, Tatsumi, Kenmochi, Konatsu, and Gintama dug into lunch.

"Hey, can someone help me find a fork to eat?" Kenmochi asked. "And can you tell me where the plate is?"

Tatsumi grabbed his hand, guiding it to the fork. "Oh, thank you," Kenmochi said. She took his other hand, leading it to the plate.

Konatsu smirked. "You're awfully nice, Tatsumi."

"I just feel sorry for the little guy," she replied coolly.

Kenmochi tilted his head. "Oh, by the way, how old are you guys?"

Gintama laughed. "Haha, I'm the oldest here—19 years of age."

"I just turned 18," Konatsu added.

"I'm 17 myself," Tatsumi said.

"I'm 17 as well," Kenmochi said. "I thought Tatsumi was an old woman."

Tatsumi's fork bent in half, her grip tightening. Konatsu and Gintama burst out laughing. "Hey, Grandma! That's a nice nickname for her, haha!"

Restraining herself, Tatsumi asked calmly, "Why would you think that?"

"Well," Kenmochi said, "you called me 'kid' earlier and now 'little,' so I figured you were old."

Tatsumi stood abruptly, plate in hand, and stormed off.

"Tatsumi?" Kenmochi called after her.

Konatsu waved it off. "Don't worry about it, dude. She's pissed. Better leave her be."

Kenmochi shifted in his seat. "So you guys are powerful, huh?"

Gintama flexed his bicep. "Well, that's pretty much it."

Konatsu flexed too. "Yeah, we're pretty much a big deal around here."

"Wow," Kenmochi said. "I'm honored to be on your team. Oh, and by the way, how strong is Koni?"

"You don't know?" Konatsu asked, surprised.

"Know what?" Kenmochi replied.

Suddenly, Koni Dio appeared before them. "Heyyy, you guys missed me!"

"You were gone, like, five minutes," Gintama said dryly.

"Ah, time sure does fly," Koni Dio chuckled.

"What's going on, Dio?" Kenmochi asked.

Koni Dio grinned. "We figured out your blood, kid." Then, with a laugh, "You're the weakest there is—1st rank Sovereign Blood. Sorry, kid."

Kenmochi's heart sank. "So that's it. I'm done for." He was about to break down when a gentle touch landed on his shoulder.

"Calm down," Koni Dio said softly. "You might not be able to restore your vision, but I can help you see."

"What does that even mean?" Gintama asked, baffled.

"This guy's a total bird brain, I knew it," Konatsu muttered.

"Hey, I'm not!" Koni dio said. "Trust me, Kenmochi, I can help."

From the back, Tatsumi's voice cut in. "Just do what he says."

Kenmochi took a deep breath. "What do I do?"

"Every Veymar can manipulate blood at some level," Koni Dio explained. "If you can constantly manipulate your blood in your eyes, you'll see—but only someone's blood, this will help u see the person u are speaking to or fighting and only with a blindfold. If the sun or dust touches your eyes, it won't work. You can also use your blood to enhance your ears, make them sharper, or your skin to feel things around you better. These are techniques you can learn."

Gintama added, "we often use this technique if we are blinded and can't see, this allows us to track the opponent,"

Tatsumi scoffed. "What worth does he have if he can't use Crimson Arts?"

"What's a Crimson Art?" Kenmochi asked.

Koni Dio leaned in. "Crimson Art is a special ability every high-ranker can use. It gives us unique powers only a high-ranker can use the crimson art. It's impossible to learn another Veymar's Crimson Art."

Tatsumi added. "every Veymar's Crimson Art is different and unique.

Koni dio added. "that's right u have to have at least third rank blood to use crimson art, the stronger You're blood the stronger the Crimson Art is.

Konatsu said. "nahh i don't belive that I've seen a third ranker defeat a fourth ranker before."

Koni dio added "that is also correct, third ranker can defeat a fourth ranker, if the Third rankers Crimson Art is more usefull. "

Tatsumi walked up to the table and said. "there are Crimson Art's that are not used for a battle." 

"If someone can use a Crimson Art," Koni Dio added, "it doesn't mean that's their only Art. Some Rare individuals can use multiple Arts."

"This Art defines a person," Tatsumi said. "So we don't just show it around to anyone."

"Well, none of that really matters," Kenmochi said with a weak laugh. "I don't have strong blood, haha."

"I feel you, dude," Konatsu said. "I can't use it either."

"Same here," Gintama chimed in. "I can only use basic techniques."

Konatsu grinned. "Don't worry—just focus on mastering the techniques. If you master them, you might defeat an Oni that can use Crimson Art someday."

"Well, these two bozos definitely will never use Crimson Art," Koni Dio said, nodding at Gintama and Konatsu. "But you might be able to."

Tatsumi frowned. "Don't put dreams into his mind."

Koni Dio turned to her, his face deadly serious. "I'm not. We i strongly believe that Kenmochi can evolve further than his current rank"

To Be Continued…