DxD:BattleFront

Chapter 10

The month following the Great Burning had been eventful for Issei. Between balancing his supernatural training, school, and recovering from the emotional trauma of watching his worldly possessions go up in flames, he had barely managed to stay afloat.

Today was the day grades would be posted, and Issei found himself nervously pacing the hallway with his friends. But oddly enough, he wasn't the only one on edge. Standing by the window was Victor Cross—or rather, Victor von Reinherz, his stoic and ever-composed classmate, friend, and occasional tormentor in the supernatural arts.

Victor's back was drenched with sweat, his hands clasped tightly over his mouth as if trying to contain some deep, existential dread. The sight was jarring, to say the least. The man who had guided Issei through grueling training sessions and could obliterate supernatural foes with ease now looked as if his very life depended on the outcome of these grades.

Issei couldn't help but think back to the conversation they had a month ago. Victor had promised that someone more adept at teaching control and focus would be coming to train him soon. Yet, so far, there had been no sign of this mysterious mentor.

Distracting himself from his nerves, Issei turned to his three friends. Their usual chatter about anime and games was oddly comforting, though it stung a bit when they joked about his supposed "hard drive crash" due to a power outage. He hadn't told them the truth, of course—how Valerie had nonchalantly burned all his prized possessions in a backyard bonfire. Just thinking about it made him shudder.

Still, it hadn't been all bad. Since that night, Issei had thrown himself into his training with renewed determination, pushing his limits further than ever before. He had even asked Valerie to increase the gravity magic she had placed on him. Currently, he was moving under the pressure of 5G—a feat that would have crushed his normal human body before his awakening. Now, he could function almost as well as he had when he was a regular person.

However, there was one thing that continued to puzzle him. Despite awakening his Balance Breaker that fateful night, he hadn't been able to access it since.During his nightly meditation, he had asked Ddraig about it,as well as why when he first awakened the boosted gear he could use the boost instantly while there is a timer now? and the dragon had explained that what Issei had achieved was closer to a Pseudo Balance Breaker.

"At that time, your emotions pushed you past the usual limits,same as when you were using the full fledged balance breaker" Ddraig had said. "You managed to tap into one of the Balance Breaker's features—boosting without any cooldown or delays. But you're still not fully there yet. You'll need more training and experience to unlock it completely . Same with balance breaker you were barely there because of the sheer intensity of the emotion using it on a full fledged battle is still a no go as you lack control"

Now, as lunch ended, Issei found himself walking toward the bulletin board where the grades were posted. He couldn't shake the gnawing anxiety in his chest. This was it—the moment of truth.

On his way, he was intercepted by Victor, who looked surprisingly animated.

"Issei," Victor said, his usually deep and composed voice laced with an unusual excitement. "You can come to our house today. We'll be having cake."

Issei blinked, stunned. Victor—the Victor von Reinherz—was practically skipping back to the classroom. The man who rarely displayed more than a stoic expression now looked like a kid who had just been promised a lifetime supply of candy.

"Uh… sure," Issei replied, still processing what had just happened.

As Victor disappeared down the hall, Issei finally reached the bulletin board. Taking a deep breath, he scanned the list for his name. Relief washed over him as he found it:

Hyoudou Issei – 60%

He exhaled deeply, his shoulders relaxing. He had barely scraped by, but at least he wouldn't have to deal with summer school.

Curious, he decided to look for Victor's name. Given how nervous Victor had been, Issei assumed the big guy might have been struggling more than he let on.

He started at the top of the list, expecting to find Victor's name among the highest scores. But it wasn't there. Frowning, Issei moved further down the list.

"No way…" Issei muttered as his eyes reached the bottom.

There, just barely above the failing line, was Victor's name:

Victor von Reinherz – 52%

Issei stared at the score in disbelief. This was the man who had trained him in supernatural combat, who spoke with the wisdom of someone far older and more experienced. And yet, here he was, teetering on the edge of academic failure.

For a moment, Issei was at a loss for words. Then, a single thought crossed his mind:

You really can't judge a book by its cover, huh?

As Issei nervously approached Victor's house, he adjusted his school bag and knocked on the sturdy wooden door. Before long, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from within. Issei pushed the door open slightly, peeking inside before calling out, "Sorry for intruding!"

The house's interior radiated a sophisticated warmth. A soft golden light from an elegant chandelier illuminated the entryway, casting shadows across polished wooden floors. The faint aroma of freshly brewed tea and faint traces of cologne filled the air.

Issei stepped inside and made his way to the dining room, where he found Victor seated at the table, casually holding a wine glass with his usual stoic demeanor. Across from him was a man who immediately caught Issei's attention.

The man had a sharp, refined appearance, clad in a dark navy-blue shirt unbuttoned just enough to project an air of effortless confidence. His dark, slightly tousled hair framed a face that held a knowing smile, as if he were always a step ahead in any conversation. His posture was relaxed yet deliberate, leaning against the wall with an almost feline grace, holding a glass of wine that sparkled under the warm lights. His eyes, cool and sharp, seemed to observe everything around him with an amused detachment.

Victor looked up and gestured toward the man, breaking the silence. "Issei, meet Steven Alan Starphase. He's a member of Libra and a practitioner of the Esmeralda Blood Freeze Style."

The man raised his glass in a casual greeting, his smile widening slightly. "You can call me Uncle Steven or Senpai if you prefer," he said, his voice smooth and tinged with playful sarcasm.

Issei blinked, processing the information before blurting out, "Wait... when did I join Libra?"

Victor, who had taken a sip of his drink, calmly set the glass down and replied, "You joined the moment you asked for training."

Issei's eyes widened in disbelief. "I thought I was joining your house!"

Victor tilted his head, his expression unchanging. "Only family members or servants can join the Reinherz noble family. Unless you wish to become a butler, I wouldn't recommend it."

Before Issei could protest, Steven chuckled and leaned forward, resting an arm on the back of a chair. "Victor isn't wrong. Libra isn't just an ordinary club—it's a secret organization within Europe. We exist to maintain the balance between Earth and the Moonlit World. Think of us as guardians of order in a chaotic supernatural world."

Issei stared at the two men, his head spinning. "A secret organization? And I'm in it now?"

Steven gave him an approving nod. "Congratulations, kid. Welcome to the real world."

Victor adjusted his seat and folded his arms, his eyes locking onto Issei. "The Esmeralda Blood Freeze Style is one of the most advanced Blood Arts. It focuses on controlling your blood to manipulate temperature and create frost-based attacks. It's as beautiful as it is deadly. Uncle Steven here—" he gestured toward the man leaning nonchalantly against the wall, "—is currently the best practitioner of this style in Libra. His control is unmatched, so expect great teaching from him."

Steven chuckled softly at the compliment, swirling the wine in his glass. "Oh, don't set the bar too high, Victor. I'd hate to disappoint the kid," he said, flashing a sharp grin. His gaze then shifted to Issei, his expression turning thoughtful as his eyes scanned the young man from head to toe. "Hmm... you've got a solid foundation," he remarked. He set his glass down and crossed the room in a few long strides, stopping just in front of Issei. He grasped Issei's arm firmly, turning it this way and that, as if examining every inch of him.

"When did they modify you?" Steven asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

Issei blinked in confusion. "Modify me? What do you mean?"

Victor interjected, his voice calm but firm. "They didn't modify him at all. Issei's body is completely untouched because he's incompatible with Blood Arts. If anyone tried to modify him, his body would reject it, and he'd likely explode on the spot."

Steven raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Really? No modifications at all, and yet he's got this kind of foundation? That's rare. You're one lucky kid."

Still lost, Issei waved his hands to get their attention. "Wait, wait, hold up! What do you mean by 'modifying'? And why would I explode?!"

Victor leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he explained. "Most users of Blood Arts, or Fang Hunters as they're sometimes called, are genetically and artificially modified. These modifications are designed to enhance their physical abilities and give their blood specific properties that align with their chosen art. It makes mastering the Blood Arts much easier, but it comes with significant risks."

"For example," Victor continued, raising his hand, "I was modified with aspects of Incarceration and Destruction, which gave my blood the ability to imprison and destroy anything it touches. It's why I can use techniques like the Unbreakable Cross Shield or crush barriers with brute force."

Steven nodded, picking up where Victor left off. "In my case, my blood was modified with Frost properties. That's why I specialize in the Esmeralda Blood Freeze Style. But there's a price to pay for this kind of power."

He placed a hand on his chest and smirked, though there was a trace of bitterness in his tone. "I have to maintain absolute control over my blood at all times. If I lose focus, even for a moment, the frost in my veins could kill me. And yes, that includes when I'm asleep. My concentration has to extend into my dreams. It's not just a technique—it's a way of life."

Issei's jaw dropped. "You mean... you're always this focused? Even while you're sleeping?"

Steven chuckled again, shaking his head. "Welcome to the world of Blood Arts, kid. Mastery isn't just about talent—it's about sacrifice. If you're not prepared to pay the price, you might as well stay on the sidelines."

Victor gave Issei a reassuring look. "Don't worry. You're not compatible with Blood Arts, so you won't have to deal with any of that. But you'll still benefit from Uncle Steven's training. His ability to control his power is second to none, and that's exactly what you need to learn right now—control and focus."

Issei nodded slowly, taking in everything he'd just learned. He glanced at Steven, who had returned to his relaxed posture, leaning against the wall with a faint smile. The man's demeanor was calm and casual, but now Issei understood the immense effort that lay beneath that nonchalant exterior.

"Well," Steven said, raising his glass once more, "shall we get started?"

"Food,Now" Victor growled

The soft clinking of silverware against porcelain filled the air as the group began their meal. Victor sat at the head of the table, his posture straight and composed, cutting into his steak with precision. Steven, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, balancing his wine glass between two fingers as he took a slow sip. Issei, sitting between Valerie and Steven, was cautiously chewing on his food, his curiosity bubbling to the surface.

Steven was the first to break the silence, swirling his wine glass as he glanced at Issei with a smirk. "So, kid, you've been pretty quiet. Bet you didn't think you'd be dining with a man who single-handedly destroyed an entire vampire faction, huh?"

Issei blinked, lowering his fork. "Wait, what? Victor destroyed a vampire faction? When did that happen?"

"Ah, so you really don't know the whole story," Steven said, his grin widening. "Let me enlighten you, then."

Victor gave Steven a side-eye glance but said nothing, continuing his meal in silence. Valerie, meanwhile, looked a little uneasy, but she stayed quiet, focusing on her plate.

"See," Steven began, leaning forward slightly, "Victor here escaped from the Tepes faction years ago. You've probably heard about how they used him as a blood bag for their precious princess, right? Well, what you might not know is that after he got out, he didn't just leave things be. Oh no, he came back. And not alone."

Issei tilted his head. "Not alone?"

"That's right," Steven said, taking another sip of wine. "Victor joined Libra, the organization I'm part of. We've been fighting vampires for decades—keeping the balance between their world and ours. But when Victor joined? Things changed. For starters, the man has this insane ability to seal vampires without needing their true names, something that's nearly impossible for most of us."

"How does that even work?" Issei asked, leaning in.

Steven set his glass down, his tone becoming more serious. "It doesn't work unless the vampire is weakened and restrained long enough. Most of us wouldn't even dare to try without a true name—takes too much blood, time, and risk. But Victor? He doesn't need to worry about that. Thanks to Valerie's… let's call them enhancements, he's got unlimited blood. That, combined with his holy aspect from the Excalibur experiments, makes him a perfect counter to their kind."

"Enhancements?" Issei echoed, glancing at Valerie, who winced and looked away.

Steven chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "We'll get to that. Anyway, Victor's sealing ability was a game-changer. He led Libra into the heart of the Tepes faction, and together, we wiped them out. The vampires never saw it coming. But the highlight of the whole thing wasn't the faction itself. No, the real fight was between Victor and Dracula."

Issei froze, his eyes widening. "Wait, wait, wait. Dracula? As in, the Dracula? The King of Vampires?!"

Steven's voice dropped slightly, taking on a dramatic tone as he gestured with his hands. "Imagine this: a moonless night, the air thick with tension. The battlefield? A desolate plain surrounded by mountains. On one side stood Dracula, an imposing figure cloaked in shadows, his eyes burning like twin suns. On the other side was Victor, armed with nothing but his blood and his will to win."

Issei gulped, completely engrossed.

Steven continued, his tone growing more animated. "Their fight began with a bang—no, more like an apocalypse. Dracula summoned blood thralls by the millions, each one a twisted, crimson abomination. They poured toward Victor like an unstoppable wave. And Victor? He stood his ground, calling down crosses as big as mountains, each one burning with holy energy."

Issei's eyes widened. "Wait, mountain-sized crosses?!"

Steven grinned. "You heard me. Those crosses slammed into the ground, obliterating everything in their path. But Dracula wasn't fazed. He retaliated with blood constructs so massive they dwarfed entire castles. Their clash leveled mountains, split the seas, and even tore holes in the sky. I wasn't there to see it in person, but the reports from Libra agents on the scene? They said it was like watching gods do battle."

"Holy crap," Issei muttered, unable to hide his amazement.

Steven's tone grew somber. "But here's the thing, kid: Victor wasn't just fighting Dracula's power—he was fighting Dracula's immortality. Vampires like him don't go down easily. Their regeneration, their strength, their mastery over blood—it's almost impossible to beat them in a straight fight. But Victor had an edge."

He glanced at Valerie, who was quietly sipping her drink. "Thanks to Valerie and her Sephiroth Graal, Victor's blood was infinite. No matter how much he lost, no matter how much he used, it kept replenishing. That gave him the endurance to outlast Dracula. And, more importantly, Victor's blood had a holy aspect, thanks to his experiments with Excalibur fragments. That holy attribute was what tipped the scales. "

Issei's jaw dropped. He turned to Victor, who continued eating as though the conversation had nothing to do with him. "Are you serious?! You fought Dracula and lived?!"

Victor finally looked up, his expression calm. "I didn't just fight him. I sealed him."

"That's putting it lightly," Steven said, shaking his head. "The only reason you won is because of your holy aspect. Without it, you wouldn't have been able to weaken him enough to seal him."

Issei's head was spinning. "Okay, hold on. How did you even seal him without his true name? I thought that was impossible!"

Steven smirked. "Not necessarily. You can seal a vampire without their true name, but it's a pain. The process takes a lot longer, and the amount of blood required increases exponentially based on the strength of the vampire. Normally, it would've been impossible. But with Victor's infinite blood and his ability to heal himself, he could keep going indefinitely. Still, it helped that we did figure out Dracula's true name eventually."

"How?" Issei asked, his curiosity insatiable.

Steven chuckled. "Trade secret, kid. Let's just say Libra has its ways."

Issei crossed his arms, pouting. "That's not fair."

Valerie finally spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "The fight was dangerous, Issei. Even with all the advantages, Victor barely made it out alive. If he didn't have the Sephiroth Graal's enhancements, he wouldn't have won."

Here's a revised continuation with Steven explaining Victor's fight with Dracula instead:

Victor leaned back in his chair, waving a hand to signal the end of their current discussion. "Enough talk for now. Let's eat. We'll need the energy for what's coming."

As they all gathered at the table, Issei couldn't shake his curiosity. "Victor, you've mentioned Libra and your fight with the Tepes faction, but you're holding out on the juicy details. What really happened? You didn't just wipe out the Tepes faction alone, did you?"

Victor paused mid-bite, glancing at Steven, who smirked knowingly. "You've got good instincts, kid," Steven said, leaning back in his chair. "Victor didn't take down the Tepes faction by himself—Libra played a big role. But the part he did do alone? That's a story worth hearing."

Issei's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You mean... his fight with Dracula?"

Steven nodded, his smirk widening. "Exactly. The King of Vampires himself, the strongest vampire to ever walk this world. Victor's fight with Dracula wasn't just any battle—it was a clash that shook the very fabric of reality. Let me set the scene for you."

Steven's voice dropped slightly, taking on a dramatic tone as he gestured with his hands. "Imagine this: a moonless night, the air thick with tension. The battlefield? A desolate plain surrounded by mountains. On one side stood Dracula, an imposing figure cloaked in shadows, his eyes burning like twin suns. On the other side was Victor, armed with nothing but his blood and his will to win."

Issei gulped, completely engrossed.

Steven continued, his tone growing more animated. "Their fight began with a bang—no, more like an apocalypse. Dracula summoned blood thralls by the millions, each one a twisted, crimson abomination. They poured toward Victor like an unstoppable wave. And Victor? He stood his ground, calling down crosses as big as mountains, each one burning with holy energy."

Issei's eyes widened. "Wait, mountain-sized crosses?!"

Steven grinned. "You heard me. Those crosses slammed into the ground, obliterating everything in their path. But Dracula wasn't fazed. He retaliated with blood constructs so massive they dwarfed entire castles. Their clash leveled mountains, split the seas, and even tore holes in the sky. I wasn't there to see it in person, but the reports from Libra agents on the scene? They said it was like watching gods do battle."

"Holy crap," Issei muttered, unable to hide his amazement.

Steven's tone grew somber. "But here's the thing, kid: Victor wasn't just fighting Dracula's power—he was fighting Dracula's immortality. Vampires like him don't go down easily. Their regeneration, their strength, their mastery over blood—it's almost impossible to beat them in a straight fight. But Victor had an edge."

He glanced at Valerie, who was quietly sipping her drink. "Thanks to Valerie and her Sephiroth Graal, Victor's blood was infinite. No matter how much he lost, no matter how much he used, it kept replenishing. That gave him the endurance to outlast Dracula. And, more importantly, Victor's blood had a holy aspect, thanks to his experiments with Excalibur fragments. That holy attribute was what tipped the scales. It weakened Dracula just enough for Victor to seal him."

Issei leaned forward, his excitement bubbling over. "Wait, so how did he seal Dracula? Don't you need a vampire's true name for that?"

Steven smirked. "Not necessarily. You can seal a vampire without their true name, but it's a pain. The process takes a lot longer, and the amount of blood required increases exponentially based on the strength of the vampire. Normally, it would've been impossible. But with Victor's infinite blood and his ability to heal himself, he could keep going indefinitely. Still, it helped that we did figure out Dracula's true name eventually."

"How?" Issei asked, his curiosity insatiable.

Steven chuckled. "Trade secret, kid. Let's just say Libra has its ways."

Issei crossed his arms, pouting. "That's not fair."

Valerie finally spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "The fight was dangerous, Issei. Even with all the advantages, Victor barely made it out alive. If he didn't have the Sephiroth Graal's enhancements, he wouldn't have won."

Issei frowned, his mind racing. "Wait a second... if the Sephiroth Graal is so powerful, couldn't you just use it to fix my foundation? Why go through all that torture?"

Victor's expression darkened slightly, and he set his fork down. "Because the Sephiroth Graal isn't something to be used lightly. Every time Valerie uses it, it takes a heavy toll on her—mentally, physically, and spiritually. And besides..." He glanced at Valerie, his voice softening. "The Grail is broken now."

Ddraig's voice rumbled from within Issei. "Broken? How does a longinus forged directly by GOD himself break?"

Victor sighed, his shoulders slumping. "After enhancing me, Valerie fell into a deep coma. I was furious when I found out because she did it without my permission, while I was asleep. She didn't just enhance my physical capabilities; she used the grail to get me an almost immunity to all status effect a high resistant to all sort of damage as well as increase the effectiveness of spell used on oneself by 500% and decrease the spell effectiveness on others by 50%, it was an over the top enhancement. At the time, I thought sealing the Grail would stabilize her condition. I used Form 999 to lock it away, hoping to undo the damage later. But when I finally released the seal..."

He trailed off, his gaze distant.

Steven picked up the explanation. "When the seal broke, the souls trapped in the Grail manifested. They thanked Victor, then moved on to the afterlife.With their departure, the Sephiroth Graal was purified, losing all its power. Now it's just a fancy cup."

Ddraig chuckled dryly. "A glorified chalice, huh? Shame. Hey, Victor, any chance you could seal me up and purify me too?"

Issei immediately shot back, "Hell naw! I'm not dealing with whatever nonsense that would unleash!"

The table erupted into laughter, even Steven letting out a hearty chuckle. Victor shook his head, his lips curling into a rare smile. "Ddraig, you're stuck with Issei. But don't worry—you two make a good team."

As the laughter died down, Victor leaned forward, his gaze steady. "Now, let's finish eating. You'll need your strength for the training ahead. This is just the beginning, Issei."