"I am going to die?"

"Yes, if something is not done soon," Dr. Verma replied to Anshul in a sad tone.

"But I don't understand this at all. How can something that healed me earlier kill me?"

{Exactly, isn't it that VB that saved your life? This weirdo is just overreacting!}

"I'll explain, so calm down. But first, let me ask: how much do you know about that VB?"

"I have read the documents in my father's lab, from which I know there was a civilization," Anshul answered.

"Right, so you know that after the battle between Ataru and Aruna, they tried to consume the blood but failed," Dr. Verma said.

"Uhh! I remember reading about this. So, you are saying that the VB is poisonous, and that's why I am going to die."

"Well, it is poisonous, but for some reason, it is not toxic to you, at least." Seeing Anshul's expression of confusion, Dr. Verma explained further, "If it had worked, your body would have twisted and contorted, and you would have died a long time ago."

Anshul felt a knot tighten in his stomach as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. The power within him, the very thing that had healed his wounds, was now turning into a ticking time bomb.

"For some reason, it appears that your body is accepting the VB, but your blood is not. That's the problem—the VB is starting to consume your blood, to replace itself with it."

"Can we not do something about it?"

"Well, your situation is similar to the disease Hemolytic anemia, and just like that disease, you have two ways. The first is to slow the process by consuming blood from time to time, but it will only treat the symptoms, not the disease. The second is to remove VB along with your blood from your body and replace it with new blood, but that is impossible; it's a solution in theory only."

"Is there no way? Am I really going to die?"

{Don't say things like that! You will not die!}

Dr. Verma crossed his arms and began to think. His gaze shifted towards the empty container, and his eyes widened as he got an idea.

"There is a third way; it is somehow similar to the second way. As you know, the problem is the VB in your body is replacing it, but if we encourage this process rather than stopping it, you might live."

"What? How?" Anshul was more confused than before. He had just heard that VB is poisonous and it may kill him, but rather than removing it, Dr. Verma wants to speed up the 'replacing' process.

'But how is he going to do that?'

"I know it might sound a little crazy, but it is our only option. Your body is already accepting the VB, but your blood is not, so we just have to replace it. So, what do you say?"

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

{Little? It's not just a little crazy; it is the dumbest idea I ever heard! You sure you are a scientist!!}

After thinking about this idea through, Anshul finally spoke.

"Okay, but how can we do this?"

"It's easy. Remember that the VB was divided and stored at different locations by Ataru and Aruna. You just have to find them and drink them."

"..."

{Let's just leave; this old man has gone crazy.}

'No, I can't leave. This may sound crazy, but this is my only hope if I want to live.'

"But how do we find these VB? Where do we even start?" Anshul asked, his voice filled with newfound determination.

"That you have to tell me. Only a blood can find others of its kind," Dr. Verma said.

"What do you mean-?" before Anshul could ask anything else Dr Verma slash on Anshul's arm with a knife.

Anshul winced in pain as Dr Rajiv Verma swiftly cut his arm with a knife. Shocked and confused, he looked at Dr Verma, seeking an explanation for this sudden act.

"I apologize for causing you pain, Anshul, but it is faster if I show you," Dr Verma said, his expression still serious. "You see, the blood of the Vitalizer possesses unique characteristics. When a drop of it is spilled, it reacts with others of its kind."

Hearing that, Anshul started to calm down, and the wound began to heal by itself, but not before a few drops of blood fell on the floor. When they both looked down, the drops of blood from the wound began to move on the floor.

Suddenly, something strange happened. The drop of Anshul's blood on the floor began to shimmer with an eerie red glow. Then, to Anshul's amazement, the blood started to move, as if it had a life of its own. It formed a perfect arrow on the ground, pointing towards a specific direction.

Anshul's eyes widened in astonishment, and he looked at Dr. Verma in disbelief. "What is happening?" he asked.

"Amazing, right?" Dr Verma murmured, his eyes filled with wonder and awe. "The blood of the Vitalizer carries a unique bond, linking all its fragments together. By finding one, you can trace others connected to it which will help you live!"

Anshul was taken aback by the revelation. "So, you mean to say that by finding more of these blood fragments, I might be able to live?"

"Yes, exactly," Dr Verma affirmed. "And given that you already possess a portion of the blood, it can act as a beacon to lead you to the other fragments. It will be a piece of cake!"

{If he wanted blood, then why didn't he used a injection or something like that? don't you think so too?}

Hearing the voice, Anshul ask Dr Verma "But why didn't you use an injection to take out the blood?"

Dr. Verma explained, "The VB blood within you is spread throughout your body due to its low percentage. By using the knife, I created a localized wound, which prompted the VB blood to come together for healing purposes. In the process, it also allowed us to witness this remarkable phenomenon."

"But do I have to slash or stab every time for finding the direction" Anshul asked "It's just that I don't like pain that much"

{Hahaha, little bastard is afraid of pain!} voice said jokingly

"Hmm yeah I guess that will be painful for you...oh right, this may work" saying that Dr Verma starts to find something in his cupboard "found it!"

Seeing that Anshul asks confusingly "A compass? How will this help?"

"It may be a compass but by doing this..." while saying that Dr Verma starts to disassemble the compass, he removes the needle and the glass lid after that he puts the blood on the floor into the compass and closes the lid "Tada! Now it's a VB compass"

{I knew he hasn't changed a bit. He is just like a child}

"So, with this we can start looking for other fragments" Anshul happily said.

"Well, not we but you" Dr Verma said smilingly.

"What do you mean? Aren't you coming with me?" Anshul asked

"It's not like I don't want, it just I can't" seeing Anshul's confused face Dr Verma further explained "As you know I work here, and I can't just leave as I wants"

"Is that so...then don't worry I will take care of it myself" Anshul declared.

"That's my boy!" Dr Verma said proudly.

{Again, we are not related to you Bastard}

..................

After Anshul left the lab, Dr. Verma sat on his chair and sighed, saying to himself, 'Should I have told him how painful it will be for him to connect all the fragments in his body?' Dr. Verma began to think alone in the lab, contemplating the challenges that lay ahead for Anshul.