Oni said, "If that's how things are, then I'll be happy to eliminate you together with this miserable Veymar."
The figure said, "My name is Devi Okawa. What is your name, if I may ask?"
Oni said in surprise, "Are you stupid or something?"
Devi Okawa stamped his foot. A shockwave tore through the building, cracking the floor beneath them and sending dust and debris flying into the air. "I said, What is your name.
Oni thought, Such power… at least a 3rd Ranker. Then he said out loud, "No matter how much strength you possess, you can't beat me."
In an instant, Devi appeared before him. The ground trembled with his speed, and a blur was left in his wake.
"Up close, you look like a bug I can easily squish," Devi said.
Oni backed away quickly, eyes narrowing. "Such speed… no matter.
Then, as quick as lightning, Oni blurred around Devii's body so that dust swirled in chaotic circles around them. There's no way he can keep up with this, Oni thought, grinning. "What do you think of this, huh? Can't keep up? Haha!"
Oni suddenly launched himself upward, his body crashing into the ceiling with a thunderous impact that sent tiles and debris crashing down. He used the broken ceiling as a springboard, aiming a strong kick right at Devi from above.
But Devi caught Oni's leg easily and flung him across the building like a ragdoll, and the walls crumbled, beams shattered, and dust swirled.
"He really was weak," Devi muttered.
Oni hit the ground, coughing up blood. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"You're still standing? Surprising, " said Devi calmly.
Oni roared furiously. "Fine! I'll take you seriously. Behold my Crimson Art—come forth, Blood Doll!"
From Oni emerged a huge, grotesque figure of raw energy, rippling and shimmering the air around it.
"That's a cute doll you got there," said Devi.
"Shut the fuck up," Oni snapped.
The Blood Doll shot a beam at Devii. He met it head-on. The resulting blast reduced the building to a mass of flying rubble in all directions.
When the smoke cleared, Devi was unharmed, but behind him, the captured Veymar huddled, shaking with fear.
"W-what is this? Not a single scratch?" Oni stammered.
The doll was ready for another attack, but Devi said, "I have no Crimson Art, but umm," and swung his fist.
"Um… Air Fist."
The punch caused a gigantic shockwave that flung Oni and the doll right across the ruins.
Devi freed the captured Veymar. "Are you okay? What's your name?"
"It's Akari Shidou… never mind me. You gonna let him get away?"
"Why would I? He's dead," said Devi.
"D… dead?
"Yep. Never mind him. Let's get you back to the base."
Akari nodded. What division is this guy from, and what's his rank?
VEYMAR HEADQUARTERS
"Ahh, Devi! You have returned. Welcome back," Koni Dio said.
"Yeah," Devi replied.
"Still depressed? I see," Koni Dio commented.
"I'm okay. It's nothing," he said.
"There's someone I want you to meet, if you don't mind," Koni Dio said.
"I don't mind," replied Devi.
Koni Dio reached out and touched Devi, and instantly they teleported to Kenmochi. "Hey, how have you been, Kenmochi?"
Startled, Kenmochi said, "D… Dio?"
"That's right. Where are the other troublemakers?"
"They're resting after the incident," Kenmochi replied.
"Ah, right. They already know Devi, so I'll introduce you," said Koni Dio.
"Devi?"
"Yes, this is Devi Okawa. He's a Veymar, just like yourself."
"H… hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Shizen Kenmochi," Kenmochi said.
"Likewise," said Devi.
"Devi here is one of the strongest Veymars around," added Koni Dio.
"Really???" Kenmochi asked, wide-eyed.
"That's right. His blood is 1st rank," Koni Dio said.
"1st rank? I thought the stronger your blood, the stronger you are," Kenmochi said.
"That's true. Usually, the rank reflects the amount of Crimson Blood in your body. 1st rank has 10%, 2nd has 20%, 3rd has 30%, 4th has 40%, 5th has 60%, 6th has 80%. Blood Arts use Crimson Blood, while techniques use regular blood. High ranks can use Crimson Arts; low ranks usually can't. Not even a high rank can go beyond their maximum Crimson Blood. Understood?"
"Y… yeah, I guess," Kenmochi said
"So, here, Devi is the lowest rank, but stronger than some 4th rankers. Would you happen to know why?
"I… have no idea," said Kenmochi.
"Neither do I," Koni Dio replied with a shrug.
"He's physically stronger than 70% of all living Veymars. Rank doesn't matter. And to this day, we don't know why," Koni Dio explained.
"Interesting. So despite his rank, he's stronger," Kenmochi said.
"Exactly. He started as a weakling who got his heart broken. Now he's strong… but still heartbroken," Koni Dio added.
"Heartbroken? What do you mean?" Kenmochi asked.
"Oh yes… our poor Devi. He was never popular with the females— "
Devi reached out, clamping down on Koni Dio's mouth before he could finish.
Scared, Kenmochi asked, "Is everything alright?"
Koni Dio disappeared from Devi's grasp; a streak of blood was all that was left of him, to reappear behind Kenmochi. "What a big meanie, getting rough with me. As I said, he's had his heart broken many times. You can imagine what that's like."
Takada froze, the weight feeling heavy on his chest. "It's no big deal," he mumbled.
"So he's depressed," Kenmochi whispered.
Each of those words cut through Devi like a knife. "I'm… leaving," he said.
He slowly walked away, leaving Kenmochi and Koni Dio behind.
"I think we hurt his feelings," said Kenmochi.
"Yeah, probably," answered Koni Dio.
Then suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Dio, quickly!"
Koni Dio touched Kenmochi. "Let's go."
They materialized inside a Veymar headquarters laboratory.
"W…where are we? Did we teleport?" Kenmochi asked.
"We are in the laboratory. It is news about your blood, Kenmochi. Aren't you interested?" Koni Dio said.
Kenmochi swallowed hard. "Y… y-uhm." "Come look at this," Kimichi said. To be continued.