Worm

The following article contains HEAVY SPOILERS! Read on at your own caution!

The centipede insignia of the Worm

"Where there is strife, there is the Worm."
— A phrase discovered from Yamashita Kenzo's research

The Worm (蟲 (むし) , Mushi), known as the Bugs in the English Netflix script, are a mysterious Chinese organization that lurks in the darkness of the underworld.

About

The Worm are an ancient Chinese secret society that pulled the strings in wars and politics for thousands of years; they have infiltrated almost every institution.

Worm have been researching brain-related technology for at least over 30 years, sponsoring and collecting information from scientists like Bando Yohei and Yamashita Kenzo; in the case of the latter two, mind uploading and the cyberbrain were topics of interest respectively.

While little else is known about the Worm, it is known that all who are connected to them have their centipede insignia tattooed on their body. While most of the members possess a black tattoo the ones closer to the head have a white one.

To prevent information leaks, the Worm doesn't let infiltrators know who else is infiltrating.

While a lot of why they do what they do is still largely unknown, recent events after the Kengan vs Purgatory Tournament have shone a light on a large chunk of the Worm’s criminal dealings and vested interest in niche areas like cloning, cyber-brains, and mind uploading: the current iteration of their leader, Shen Wulong aka “The Connector”, is a self-proclaimed genetic aberration in that he houses two different consciousness’, himself (the original personality), and a being known only as ‘The Tiger’, an as of yet unseen but can be speculated to be an equally powerful albeit much more ruthless version of Shen.

As a means of rectifying this situation, the Worm want to create clone bodies for both Shen and the ‘Tiger’ not only for them to be free of each other, but also for Shen to finally have an adequate “playmate” for himself. This process has, in part, resulted in successful clone bodies in the forms of Gaoh Ryuki being the ideal vessel for Shen, and Tokita Ohma being the ideal vessel for the ‘Tiger’, respectively, though the both of them having escaped the Worm’s clutches has put a considerable damper on their plans.

Another key, and arguably more important mystery to the existence of the Worm is to why they ultimately serve Shen/The Connector: do they truly view him as some sort of ideal, messianic figure destined to bring the world under his heel, or like Shen has described himself, do they view him as some kind of “avatar of vengeance”, created by the world itself to cull the weak and the numerous. From what can be gleaned in the most recent developments, it would be more towards the latter rather than the former, as not only did the ‘original’ incarnation of The Connector defeat the first leader of the Worm and unofficially start to lead them, but the Long Clan was effectively erased from history when they expressed concern over him wanting to pursue cloning technology to attain, in essence, biological immortality.

Regardless of their ‘end goal’ or even their true motive, the Worm are a truly terrifying and sinister force to be reckoned with, on account of their blatant disregard for human life, willingness to engage in illegal and dangerous activities, numerous and far reaching agents, and sheer, zealot-like commitment to their cause.

Hierarchy

The hierarchy of the Worm

The head of the Worm, Xia Yan is the one who controls the entire organization. Yan is also a close associate with Shen Wulong.

Below the head there are two kinds of high-rank subordinates: the Direct Subordinates (like Naidan Mönkhbat), who are recognized by their white centipede tattoo and report directly to the head, and the Officers, who are in charge of the various branches of the organization (i.e. Xia Ji is the Far East Branch Chief).

Below the officers are the Senior Combatants (like Jadamba Sumyabaazar), who indoctrinate the Medium and the Junior Combatants to the cause and train them. The Junior Combatants have various subordinates themselves. Lower-ranking members of the Worm can either be combatants or saboteurs and are the only ones who engage in "impersonation". They are also known to use reconstructive surgery on their members to aid in infiltration and replacement impersonation. On the other hand, Senior Combatants don't fake their identity; for this reason they are harder to expose than other members.

It's possible for someone like a Junior Combatant to be promoted to become a Direct Subordinate.

Individuals like The Other Tokita Niko and the Westward Faction of the Wu Clan are seen as allies to the Worm and not de facto members.

There had been offshoot organizations of the Worm such as the Wowang Syndicate and currently the Death Dealers.

Notable Members

Xia Yan (The Head)

"The Dragon" (The Connector)

"The Tiger" (The Connector)

Naidan Mönkhbat (Direct Subordinate, Deceased)

Lu Tian (Senior Combatant, Deceased)

Xia Ji (Officer)

Fei Wangfang (The Tiger's Vessel, Deceased)

Long Min (Unknown Rank, Deceased)

Yuzaki Mumon (Unknown Rank, Deceased)

‎‎

Fu Zhan (Leader of Direct Subordinate)

Consecutors

Shen Luohan (Traitor)

"Lucky-boy"

"Scarface"

Notable Allies

Alan Wu (Deceased)

Edward Wu (Deceased)

Gilbert Wu

The Other Niko (Traitor)

[[File:|link=Nicholas Le Banner|center|120x120px]]

Nicholas Le Banner

Other Members

Direct Subordinates

Tenjin
Tenjin (天神) Tenjin was the codename of a direct subordinate of the Head of the Worm and a clone of Fu Zhan. He and his partner Ogi were the ones who found Xia Ji and brought him to meet with Xia Yan and Shen Wulong, before being ordered and named by the former to spy on Ji and kill him if required. He and Ogi were eventually ordered to stand down after Ji was taken into Kengan Association's custody. Tenjin is seen again later in the "Inside" looking for Gaoh Mukaku and Gaoh Ryuki. After Ogi is killed by Mukaku, Tenjin and two of his subordinates confront Mikazuchi Rei and Nameless. Tenjin is eventually defeated by Rei but takes poison and kills himself to avoid being captured. Tenjin is rather knowledgeable on certain topics, such as Yan's and Ji's Superman Syndrome and Ji's aptitude with Martial Arts. He views the members of the Worm as cells of an entire body, and thus consider themselves replaceable, including himself.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	天神
	Status:	Deceased
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 151
	Image Gallery

Ogi
Ogi (扇) was the codename of a direct subordinate of the Head of the Worm. He and his partner Tenjin were the ones who found Xia Ji and brought him to meet with Xia Yan and Shen Wulong, before being ordered and named by the former to spy on Ji and kill him if required. They were eventually ordered to stand down after Ji was taken into Kengan Association's custody. Ogi is seen again later in the "Inside" looking for Gaoh Mukaku and Gaoh Ryuki. He eventually finds Mukaku in the contested zone of the "Inside". After a brief talk, Ogi engages Mukaku, but is swfitly deposed of by the latter, whom completely obliterated Ogi's skull with a simple overhead punch, sending his head into his own rib cage. Ogi appears less knowledgeable on certain topics, such as Yan's and Ji's Superman Syndrome and Ji's aptitude with Martial Arts.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	扇
	Status:	Deceased
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 151
	Image Gallery

Hiruko
Hiruko (ヒルコ) is a direct subordinate to the Head of the Worm and one of its intelligence agents. She infiltrated the Kengan Association under the guise of Kimishima Mana, Nogi Hideki's secretary. Unlike other operatives, rather then kill Mana, Hiruko instead only came in whenever Mana was not around, as an impositer would eventually slip up. This temporary impersonation allowed Hiruko to remain undetected within the association for two whole years. During that time, she unintetionally found out of Ohma and Ryuki were clones, something that shocked her. Two years after the tournament, she met with Xia Yan in the "Inside", Hachio Ward, where she asked the Head who the two were clones of, only to be intimidated by Yan and told to forget about it. Hiruko is also a smoker.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	ヒルコ
	Status:	Alive
	Gender:	Female
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 84 Chapter 169 (Named)
	Image Gallery

Senior Combatants

Jadamba Sumyabaazar
Jadamba Sumyabaazar (ジヤダンバ・スミヤバザル, Jiyadanba Sumiyabazaru) was an upper-class combatant of the Worm and Naidan Mönkhbat's master of mongolian wrestling. Taking many students under his wing, he taught Naidan, the only one left, how to train his Khüch and his Eye of The Sky. After making Naidan complete his training, Jadamba challenged him to a fight only to be killed with a single throw by his student.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	ジヤダンバ・スミヤバザル
	Romaji:	Jiyadanba Sumiyabazaru
	Status:	Deceased
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 84
	Image Gallery

Francis Thomas
Characteristics
Status:	Deceased
Gender:	Male
Affiliations:	Worm
Omega Debut:	Chapter 134

Unknown Rank

Kashio Toru
Kashio Toru (樫尾 亨, Kashio Tōru; "Toru Kashio")is a former employee of the Kengan Association's Fighter Employment Department who served as one of the witnesses for Narushima Koga's fighter employment exam, alongside Sugawara Yutaka. It was later revealed that he is also one of Xia Ji's students infiltrating the Kengan Association (by impersonating the real Kashio Toru). After his cover was blown, he ended up brutally killing Sugawara Yutaka. He was later given the task to eliminate Koga and Yamashita Kazuo, after the latter put his nose where he shouldn't. He was eventually killed by Kure Raian after the latter had arrived with Tokita Ohma to save Kazuo.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	樫尾 亨 (かしお とうる)
	Romaji:	Kashio Toru
	Status:	Deceased
	Age:	30
	Height:	181cm*
	Weight:	72kg*
	Birthday:	September 14th*
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 35
	Image Gallery

Ranjo
Ranjo (蘭城, Ranjō) was one of Hayami's high-ranking Guardians. During the coup, he managed to trounce Kono Haruo; even considering Haruo's injuries, Ranjo is still quite powerful with his favourite attack being "thrust". Like Tokita Ohma, he was able to use Possessing Spirit. Ranjo had a centipede-like tattoo signifying it on his left pectoral. After his defeat to Ohma and subsequent capture, Ranjo was assassinated by Xia Ji.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	蘭城 (らんじょう)
	Romaji:	Ranjō
	Status:	Deceased
	Age:	31
	Height:	187cm
	Weight:	86kg
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Ashura Debut:	Chapter 175
	Image Gallery

Saka Koji
Saka Koji (坂麹, Saka Kōji; "Koji Saka") was a Worm agent who impersonated an employee of a Kengan Association corporation being a IT Department Head. His Id number is 11T2TS19. The fake Saka Koji was murdered by Gaoh Ryuki.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	坂麹
	Romaji:	Saka Kōji
	Status:	Deceased
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 29
	Image Gallery

Terumi Kanji
Terumi Kanji (かんじ てるみ, Terumi Kanji; "Kanji Terumi") was a Worm agent impersonating an employee of Muji TV's Human Resources Department and Kengan Association member. The fake Terumi Kanji was murdered by Gaoh Ryuki.
	Characteristics
	Kanji:	かんじ てるみ
	Romaji:	Terumi Kanji
	Status:	Deceased
	Gender:	Male
	Affiliations:	Worm
	Omega Debut:	Chapter 33 (Mentioned)
	Image Gallery

Notes & Trivia

• For some reason Naidan Mönkhbat, before dying, labelled Gaoh Ryuki as the Connector. This is because Ryuki is the clone of Shen Wulong.
• While the reasons for it are yet unknown, they have been keen to capture both Tokita Ohma and Gaoh Ryuki.
• According to Hayami Katsumasa, it was the technology given to him by the Worm that enabled him to "create" Hayami Masaki, a clone of the late Meguro Masaki.
• Yamashita Kenzo infers that the Worm are trying to create "something" using the brain research they have gained over the decades.
• Two years after the Kengan Association vs Purgatory tournament were the existence of the Worm was made public, at least in the underworld, the Worm detonated many bombs around the world, having earned a place as a public enemy.