Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Blood Blockade Battlefront. This story is written purely for the purpose of entertainment. The general plot and characters, with the exception of the plot of this story and some characters within the story that are of my own design, are the sole property of its creator Yasuhiro Nightow and adapted into anime form by Studio Bones and licensed by Funimation in North America.
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Prologue: Hellsalem's Lot, formerly known as New York City. Three years ago, the border between this world and the next was destroyed in an event known as the Great Collapse. The city was torn asunder as the two worlds collided and a mysterious fog enveloped the city and all matter of otherworldly beings spilled out. Thankfully due to efforts on both sides the Great Collapse was halted but in just one night everything changed. Now the city exists as a place where the world of humans (Huma) and the Alterworld intersects. In this city there also exists a secret society of super humans known as Libra, which works in the shadows to preserve the fractured balance of both worlds. Together they also fight against all matter of vicious criminals, terrorists, seedy Underworld organizations and vicious creatures known as Blood Breeds, which threaten both the city and everyday life for those who live there.
Chapter 1: Another Day in Paradise (Or Not)
Darkness. That was all the young man could see as he blinked his eyes open. The faint light of his own globes was his only source of light as he scanned the area around him. It was quiet, almost overbearingly so. He went to voice his concerns to whoever could hear him but nothing escaped his lips. Once more he tried but was met with the same result. A cold chill ran down his spine.
"Where am I?" he thought. "Why am I here?" Before anything else could occur a loud throbbing sound palpated through the darkness as he doubled over in pain clutching his head. He snapped his eyes open, activating his eyes in doing so to try and scan the area for signs of life but once more another audible throb tore through his core and he cried out in agony before collapsing to his knees. As he shook from his efforts to pull himself together the darkness began to slowly recede as an unnatural reddish light began to filter through the void, almost as if a large, unseen fire was starting to grow in size and intensity. Looking up from his kneeled position the young man could vaguely make out the faint shape of a humanoid form just a ways before him but was unable to discern any sort of features due to the unnatural light silhouetting its shape. Unable to decide whether he should feel afraid or relieved, he could only observe the figure until a bright crimson aura began to burn from it as it grew and shaped itself into wings that swirled in an unseen wind through the darkness.
"That color! That shape! That's a…" However before he could finish his thought the area erupted in a flash of white light as a loud screeching permeated the air around him into an annoying series of buzzes.
Startled awake by the sound of his alarm clock going off, Leonardo Watch's All-Seeing Eyes of the Gods snapped open having been semi triggered by the adrenaline rush of the dream as he panted from the depleting surge of energy.
"Just a dream," Leo mumbled with a sigh slowly beginning to settle himself down. He closed his eyes back into his usual squinting manner as he allowed the remnants of the lingering nightmare to slowly fade from his mind. With a groan he rolled over to slam his hand down on the power button before forcing himself up. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and got out of bed not even bothering to remake it. Yawning he mindlessly went into the usual mundane tasks of getting ready for the day. He made his way over to his apartment's closed window and pulled the cord to open the blinds and reveal the city landscape for that morning. However no sooner had he done so did a large Alterworld creature looking like a cross between a pterodactyl and an octopus coincidentally pass just outside his window roaring a warbled cry as it's many waving tentacles flailed through the air. Leo didn't so much as bat an eye, far too used to such things now, before he went to the small fridge in his apartment's tiny kitchen nook to see what meager scraps of food he could scrounge up for breakfast. Not finding anything of interest, Leo sighed again as he closed the fridge door. He rustled his shaggy dark reddish-brown hair in contemplation before looking to the digital clock on his nightstand, which read 7:02 am.
"Today's meeting doesn't start till 8:30. I guess I can stop some place and grab something cheap to eat. Donuts sound good and I can grab some for the meeting to share with everyone else." Leo said aloud to himself as he grabbed his clothes and headed towards the bathroom to get washed and changed.
Twenty minutes later Leo was dressed in his usual baggy blue and white sweatshirt with goggles hanging around his neck and matching blue sweat pants and sneakers. He locked his apartment door behind him before proceeding out his apartment building to his motorized scooter that was chained in the apartment complex's mini garage outside. On his way he waved to his landlady who was busy sweeping the walkway with her cat napping on the outside windowsill. She was a short, elderly pale pink Alterworldly being with squinted eyes almost similar to Leo's but with a downward slanted mouth and two blunt protrusions running down her face along her jaw line looking almost like upside down horns. She also wore a wool knit cap and a green sweater along with a long brown skirt and black slippers.
"Good morning miss Landlady," Leo greeted politely.
"Oh good morning Leonardo," the Alterworldly woman greeted back with a smile. "Heading out already?"
"Yeah," Leo replied with a small smile. "I just have some errands to run before work."
"Is that so," the landlady replied before giving a kind smile to the young tenant. "You certainly are quite the busybody, even if you don't always pay your rent on time." Leo stiffened at that and let out a sheepish chuckle.
"S-Sorry, I'll try to be more mindful about that."
"I should hope so," she replied a bit curtly before softening her tone. "In any case, I'll let you get back to what you were doing. Have a nice day."
"You too." With that she proceeded back to the sweeping as Leo took that as his cue to unlock his scooter. With his helmet on and goggles securely in place he started his motorized scooter's engine and drove off. As he drove down the typical bustling, overcrowded city streets he took in the usual strange sights he had become accustomed to.
"It's hard to believe it's been over a year now since I first came to Hellsalem's Lot. It kind of feels like it's been way longer than that," He mused internally as he observed the various people both Human and Beyondian alike before letting his mind wander a bit. "I wonder what kind of donuts I should get. Maybe a variety pack so everyone has a better chance to get something they like. Then again I'm pretty sure that Zapp would eat anything provided he doesn't eat the whole freaking box. Maybe I should get more than one box if they're on sale. That sounds like a good plan." A red light caused Leo to slow to a halt giving him a chance to pause in thought for a second before his mind went back to the nightmare from this morning.
"That dream from this morning was a bit unusual from the ones I usually have. I wonder if I've been working so hard that reality is starting to bleed into my dreams. Maybe I should ask for a day off so I can take it easy for a change." Leo shook his head slightly to clear his head of that idea. "No, I've still got rent to pay and I still have to send what I can back to Michella. Even though she and Toby got married and he's agreed to help pay her medical bills I still have to send what I can, even if it isn't much. Besides, its just a dumb dream." The light turned green and Leo sped off in the direction towards the bakery deciding to put an end to the matter for the time being.
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After selecting a couple boxes of cheap pastries of various flavors (all while trying to steer clear of the more questionable, creative and, in some cases, living Alterworldly pastries) Leo then made his way to Libra's office building headquarters. He pulled off the road into the typical nondescript alley and parked before shutting off his engine and discreetly wheeling his vehicle towards where the office's hidden entrance was. After hiding his scooter in a safe spot behind a nearby dumpster, he grabbed the pastry boxes that were safely strapped down to the back from his scooter and made his way to the unassuming doorway, entering the elevator and closing the door behind him. He rode the intricate elevator up to the main level as the gears of the building turned and clacked above him, the elevator doors dinged and opened allowing Leo to step out into the hallway leading to the office.
Leo approached the office door with pastry boxes in hand, pausing for a brief second to mentally prepare himself for the usual shenanigans that had a tendency to wait on the other side. However as he twisted the doorknob and opened the door he was pleasantly surprised to only see Klaus at his desk to his left typing away on his computer and Gilbert who was watering the office's plants in Klaus' stead on the other side of the spacious and luxurious room. Upon hearing the door open Klaus glanced up from his screen to see who had come in.
"Ah Leonardo, good morning," Klaus Von Reinherz greeted in his usual gentlemanly manner. Klaus was a rather large, well-muscled man (especially compared to Leo's own height, which barely passed five feet) standing well over six and a half feet tall with rich, red hair and side-burns with bright green eyes behind a pair of rectangular glasses and a distinct fang-like under bite. He was wearing his usual white long sleeve shirt with a red tie under a black waistcoat, as well as black pants with white and brown dress shoes.
"Good morning Klaus," Leo replied with a small smile. "Good morning to you too Gilbert," he also added looking to the elderly Combat Butler who had also gazed towards the door's direction.
"And a good morning to you as well Master Leonardo," Gilbert F. Altstein replied with a polite nod and bow before he finished tending to the last of the plants. Gilbert was an older male with wavy gray hair and a mustache clad in typical butler attire with the exception of the bandages that covered most of his face save for his eyes, nose and mouth.
"You're here earlier than expected," Klaus declared as he saved the file he was working on his desktop. "The meeting isn't supposed to start for another half hour."
"I decided to stop by the bakery on 43rd and get some donuts for the meeting," Leo explained as he held out the pastry boxes reading Crimpy Crème to show Klaus. Setting the watering can down Gilbert approached Leo and took the boxes from him.
"That's quite thoughtful of you," Klaus said as he stood up from his desk and came around it making his way over to the young man. "That would go quite well with some coffee and tea as well."
"Indeed, I shall prepare some right away," Gilbert declared before setting the doughnuts down on one of the side tables near the center of the room and began prepping the coffee maker.
"I wasn't sure what everyone likes so I just got a large variety," Leo stated as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"It's quite alright," Klaus assured as he took a glance at the delectable pastries. "There's certainly nothing wrong with trying anything new." At that moment the door from the opposite end of the office opened and Steven A. Starphase walked in with a hand stuffed nonchalantly in his pocket. Steven was a tall man (though still naturally shorter than Klaus) with short black hair and a thin scar running down the left side of his face and a barely noticeable, red tattoo (of what Leo was unsure) running up the side of this neck. He was wearing his usual dark grey suit, blue shirt and a yellow tie and custom shoes with gem-studded crosses on the undersides. Immediately Steven noticed the other occupants in the room and a mildly surprised expression graced his features.
"Oh, so I'm not the only person here," the middle-aged man uttered.
"Steven, good morning," Leo greeted.
"Morning," Steven greeted nonchalantly as he shut the door and approached his colleagues. "It's actually pretty quiet in here for a change so I thought everyone hadn't arrived yet. Is anyone else here?"
"Not quite yet," Klaus replied. "But I agree it is quite a nice change of pace for things to be so peaceful." Unfortunately that peace was short lived as the doors Leo had come through swung open swiftly and Zapp Renfro unceremoniously swaggered in barely suppressing an obnoxiously loud yawn. He was a lanky though well bodied, white haired man despite clearly being in his mid-twenties with tan skin. He wore a black, long-sleeved muscle-shirt under a white vest suit and matching shoes.
"Ah man am I starved," Zapp announced before his eyes fell to the boxes of doughnuts on the table and made his way over to them. "Crimpy Crème donuts? Must be my lucky day," he commented with a smirk. However before he could even reach out to take one Leo quickly darted over and physically got in between him and the pastries outstretching his arms to shield the pastries from the white-haired male.
"Don't even think about it Zapp! I brought these for the meeting and they're for everybody. So you're just going to have to wait," Leo firmly declared with a hard stare.
"Huh?" Zapp drawled incredulously. "And why should I do that Pube-head. It should be first come, first serve right? And since I'm the first one here I get dibbs!"
"Don't be greedy!"
"Oh yeah?" Zapp retorted before grabbing Leo in a headlock and proceeded to grind his knuckles into his head. "Well what are you gonna do about it huh? Mr. Lord of the Pubes." As Leo squirmed in the older man's grasp while verbally protesting and cursing him out a figure suddenly materialized out of thin air and landed with feet planted firmly on Zapp's back causing Zapp to relinquish his hold on Leo and face plant hard into the ground skidding forward a couple feet.
"Ugh, I thought I landed on something disgusting and sure enough what do I see," Chain Sumeragi deadpanned. Chain was an attractive young woman with short black hair and clad in her usual black suit over a white dress shirt. She observed Zapp struggle underfoot for another second before nimbly leaping off him and Zapp immediately got to his feet fuming.
"What kind of crack was that She-Bitch?" Zapp snapped at the Invisible Werewolf as a bright red friction mark from the tile was clearly visible on his face and a trickle of blood ran from his nose from the hard impact. "You think you can just use people as your own personal doormat and just get away with it? Do you really wanna die that badly 'cause I'll be more than happy to help you with that!"
"You're welcome to try it if you can Turd Monkey. Or better yet, why don't you just go eat shit and die," Chain retorted coldly. As the two glared daggers at each other another voice came from the office's second story landing.
"Must you two be so noisy this early in the morning?" Leo, who wordlessly observed the typical banter between Zapp and Chain, turned his attention towards the direction the voice came from to see Zed O'Brien as he walked down the metal spiral staircase. Zed was a fish-man hybrid with yellow eyes, blue skin with black markings adorning his head & wrist-blades that extended backwards like fins. He wore a black, sleeveless form-fitting muscle-shirt, fingerless gloves & green cargo pants with metal sneakers with his usual breathing pods around his neck looking almost like sleek headphones.
"Hey Zed. Good morning," Leo greeted the merman as he approached.
"Good morning to you too Leo," Zed returned with a nod before redirecting his attention back to the still hostile Chain and Zapp. "So what kind of trouble has Zapp caused this time?"
"HUH?" Zapp shouted directing his attention away from his and Chain's glaring contest. "What makes you think I'm the one that started it?" Leo, Chain and Zed merely gave him the same inscrutable expressions.
"Did you seriously just ask that question with a straight face?" Chain deadpanned.
"Honestly if I had ten zeros for every time you started any kind of trouble, I'd easily be the richest being in Hellsalem's Lot," Zed added.
"Oh screw you Fish Face! You too She-Bitch!" Zapp shouted flipping both Zed and Chain off. As Zapp hurled a flurry of insults towards the two Libra members, Leo took the opportunity to glance back to Klaus and Steven who were now seated on the couches just beyond Klaus' desk (effectively ignoring the ranting Zapp) discussing matters most likely regarding work while Gilbert poured them steaming cups of coffee. Leo gave a content smile at the usual scene.
"Just another typical day in paradise huh?" Leo thought inwardly. Just then a large explosion from just beyond the office buildings in the surrounding area slightly rocked the office and easily caught everyone's attention as they glanced towards the large bay windows.
"What was that?" Steven queried as he and Klaus approached the balcony to take a look. Gilbert handed Klaus a pair of binoculars so the larger man could scope out the cause.
"It seems as though we'll have to hold off on our meeting for the time being," Klaus declared as he passed the binoculars to Steven who gazed through the smoke and spotted a large horde of pale, red colored demon-beasts the size of a decently-sized truck with robotic limbs, giant gnashing teeth that encompassed the entirety of their faces and no eyes, tear apart the city below them as civilians ran for their lives.
"This has the King of Depravity written all over it," Steven deadpanned before the office's TV suddenly turned on by itself and sure enough a familiar mug graced the screen.
"HELLO ALL! Did you miss me? It's your friendly, if not somewhat megalomaniacal, but with a touch of charismatic charm, ruler of Hellsalem's Lot the King of Depravity, F-E-M-T!" The self-appointed King crooned practically mugging the camera with different poses and tones of arrogance as his assorted crew in the background commenced in their usual chaotic merry-making. Aligula, the Queen of Monomania, was also present in the background as well cackling and swinging her legs out from her spot on one of their larger minions shoulders clearly soaking in the revelry herself. Femt was a tall, thin Alterworldly humanoid with long limbs & blonde hair who wore a steel mask to hide his upper face along with a black suit & white gloves and an expensive lab coat over his suit. Aligula on the other hand was a short female Alterworldly humanoid who also wore a metallic mask over her face much like Femt however her mask was able to open in the middle to allow for her cyclopean eye to peer out. She had pink hair tied up into a ponytail with a pink bow as well as wore a simple black Lolita styled dress as well as black boots and white gloves.
"Speak of the devil. Damn I wish I could slug that bastard in the face," Zapp growled as Femt continued with his speech.
"As I'm sure most of you are aware at the moment, I've just concocted a new horde of demon-beasts with a bit of a new twist this time. Instead of eyes these cute little buggers possess the keenest sense of smell able to detect even a single drop of blood even from half a block away and go into quite the feeding frenzy. Which might be a problem for a certain group of my favorite entertainers, who I'm quite positive are listening to this." Everyone within the office shot the television screen hard glares as the madman continued.
"Oh well, I look forward to seeing how you all survive this time. Hopefully you can provide me with some decent entertainment. Oh and one more thing, I'd take care if this fast if I were you because when they reach the end of their lifespan—" Another explosion came from outside followed by a plume of smoke. "They have a tendency to take out everything around them. That's all for me for the moment. And remember folks, ONE FOR NONSENSE, ALL FOR NONSENSE!" Femt cackled madly before the screen turned itself off. Klaus turned to the rest of the gathered Libra members.
"Emergency Summons! We have to put an end to this before there is any more damage to the city!" Without a word the group rolled out as Leo just sighed and gave one last thought before filtering out after them.
"Yep, just another typical day alright."
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Author's Notes: Whoo! Finally, after a nearly four months of prepping and plotting, I've finally gotten enough done to start posting the first chapter. I absolutely love this series and want to do it and the characters justice, which is partially why it took so long to finally get it out (the other big reason being having the time to actually write). Unfortunately I'm only about two and a half chapters into the actual story as a whole and still have more I want and need to crank out before I edit and upload the next chapter so this means that updates will be slow and often sporadic because as I said, I want to do this story right (though I might take some liberties with a few things so please bear with me, I promise I'll do my best to stick to the original source material). That being said I hope this story catches the eye of readers and hope to get some constructive feedback about what you think of it so far. About the story itself, I'm sticking mainly to the anime version rather than the manga version of the series and have dropped the Japanese suffixes used by the characters such as –san and –kun since Hellsalem's Lot is technically located in America instead of Japan. With all that out of the way, I hope to see you all next chapter where more insanity is sure to follow! (P.S. If anyone can tell me how to properly do the line breaks in Doc Manager I'd really appreciate it. I haven't posted anything in quite a while and can't for the life of me remember or figure out how to do it or spacing properly and it keeps defaulting on me when I try and save any changes)