Crimson Code: Last Descent

Headquarters Buffet

Tatsumi glared at Koni Dio. "Don't be absurd, Master. That's impossible."

Koni Dio opened his mouth to explain when his phone buzzed sharply. He answered, frowning. "What is it, Takamashi?"

Takamashi's voice came through, breathless and frantic. "Koni, COME HERE QUICK!"

"Calm down," Koni Dio said. "What's going on?"

"Our students got ambushed!" Takamashi gasped. "They're fighting as we speak!"

"Where are you?" Koni Dio demanded. "Tell me your location now."

"I'm in Kabukichō," Takamashi replied. "Come to the entrance—quickly!"

Koni Dio hung up, pocketing the phone. "Sorry, kids, let's chat afterwards."

Konatsu, Gintama, Kenmochi, and Tatsumi exchanged confused glances as Koni Dio vanished in a flash of blood.

Koni Dio materialized at Kabukichō's main entrance. Screams filled the air as people fled in panic. He scanned the chaos but didn't spot Takamashi—until a shout cut through the crowd. "KONI, OVER HERE!"

Koni rushed toward him. "What's the situation?"

Takamashi pointed at a figure battling students in the distance. "That's him. He's powerful—must be a 3rd ranker or higher. Be careful."

Before Takamashi could finish, Koni Dio disappeared again.

"K-Koni?" Takamashi stammered, his voice tinged with worry.

Koni Dio reappeared between the battered students and their attacker. "I'll take it from here. You can rest now. Takamashi, take care of them."

"You got it," Takamashi said, ushering the students away. "Come here, kids!"

Suddenly, a blood blade hurtled toward Koni Dio at blinding speed. With a casual flick of his wrist, he deflected it effortlessly.

The Oni sneered. "They called backup, is that right?"

"Yeah," Koni Dio replied coolly. "Unfortunately for you, I'm here to kick your ass."

The Oni laughed. "You can't seriously believe you can defeat me, haha!"

"Entertain me if you can," Koni Dio said, smirking.

Above the Oni's head, crimson blood surged, coalescing into a storm of razor-sharp blades that rocketed toward Koni Dio. Unfazed, he strolled forward, each blade veering off course as if repelled by an invisible force—no effort, no movement, just calm deflection.

The Oni snarled and charged, the ground splintering beneath his explosive speed. Blood solidified into a jagged blade in his hand as he slashed at Koni Dio's throat. Koni sidestepped smoothly, the blade whistling past. Undeterred, the Oni hurled the weapon at him, then lunged again, a blur of fury. Each strike missed—Koni Dio danced around the attacks with infuriating ease.

The Oni leapt back, panting. "You must have strong blood. Your reaction speed and agility are impressive—but you lack power. You're no match for my Crimson Art!"

Koni Dio scratched his ear lazily. "You must be really weak."

"I'll make you regret that!" the Oni roared. He flung his arms wide, blood erupting around them. "BLOOD PRISON!"

A crimson dome sealed the battlefield. Koni Dio tapped the barrier—solid, unyielding.

"This is your despair!" the Oni cackled. "Witness the power of my blood, hahaha!"

"Blah, blah, blah," Koni Dio yawned. "Are you finished?"

"Not even close!"

Above them, the air thickened as thousands of blood-forged weapons materialized—swords, spears, axes—hovering menacingly.

Koni Dio ran on his right side.

"Running won't save you," the Oni said with a sinister grin.

"Who's running?" Koni Dio replied, stopping in his tracks.

The Oni unleashed the arsenal, a deadly rain screaming toward Koni Dio. But just as the weapons closed in, he vanished—reappearing where he'd started, unscathed.

"What is this teleportation technique?!" the Oni spat.

"Not quite," Koni Dio said, eyes glinting. "Witness one of my Blood Arts—Blood Step."

The Oni roared, summoning another barrage of weapons and charging alongside them. Koni Dio flickered through the chaos, dodging each strike with fluid, teleport-like grace. The Oni dove underground, bursting up beneath Koni Dio's feet with a vicious slash aimed at his hand. Koni vanished again, reappearing behind him.

"Is that all you can do? Just run away?" the Oni taunted, spinning around.

Koni Dio raised a severed hand—dripping with blood. "Is this yours?"

The Oni glanced down, eyes widening as blood gushed from his stump. "YOU BASTARD!" he screamed.

Koni Dio materialized inches from his face, staring him down. The Oni froze, sweat beading on his forehead. He collapsed to his knees, trembling. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please, forgive me!"

"That I can't do," Koni Dio said softly. "You've seen my Blood Art." He leaned closer, pressing a finger to the Oni's lips. "This has to stay our little secret."

With a flick, Koni Dio's hand sliced through the Oni's neck, severing his head in a blur of speed. The blood barrier shattered, raining crimson droplets over the scene.

Takamashi gaped. "Did you finish it?"

Koni Dio walked off. "Yeah, yeah. He's rotting in hell as we speak."

Koni Dio reappeared at the buffet table, brushing off his hands.

"What's happened?" Kenmochi asked, startled.

"Oh, it's nothing," Koni said casually. "Some lunatic Oni causing problems. Don't worry."

Tatsumi crossed her arms. "We don't care about some weak Oni. Finish what you were saying."

"Tatsumi," Koni Dio said, "make a blood barrier just for us. Soundproof it."

"On it," she replied, raising her hand. A crimson dome enveloped them, muffling the outside world.

Koni Dio leaned in. "In ancient times, humans with crimson blood could reproduce with each other, and their child would have crimson blood too. Back then, humans weren't limited—the weakest from that era could be the strongest in our time. Their bodies could create new crimson blood. Unlike us Veymars, they weren't bound by what they were born with. The stronger your blood, the more crimson you possess. But a pure blood born can create new crimson blood in their system."

Tatsumi frowned. "But now, Veymars reproducing is impossible. This has been known for hundreds of years."

"It was impossible before," Koni Dio said. "But in front of us, we have living proof that it's possible. Well, not possible—but a one-in-a-billion occurrence."

Tatsumi, Gintama, and Konatsu turned to Kenmochi, eyes wide with shock.

"He is a pure blood," Koni Dio finished.

Kenmochi said. "W-What?"

To Be Continued…