After being cursed by Aži Dahāka, Vali entered a possibly eternal dream of living the life he truly wanted. Having siblings he can get along with as well as loving parents who aren't afraid and had never abandoned him as a child, Vali nearly gave in to living in the fake world created to him despite being aware of it.

[Vali!]

Issei's voice, however, got him to wake up. Not long after, Vali's father came and everything else around him turns dark, realizing that it was truly his father's spirit that is looking at him right now. The father then did something unexpected.

"I am sorry my son, for everything."

The sudden apology coming from him surprises Vali and is unsure whether to believe that what he said was genuine or not. Unable to respond for the moment, Vali's father continues the conversation.

"I know that you might not believe me after what happened and I don't blame you for it. I was such an idiot for doing what I did." The father laughed after giving a self criticism.

Just listening to him, however, frustrates Vali. "You've abused me and made my childhood a nightmare! I have trained all this time just so I can kill you and grandfather for what you two did! How come only now you come to apologize!? Why did you wait all these years until you are dead to do that!?"

"I was a coward back then, thinking that you were nothing more than a monster after being given such power that exceeds the original Lucifer. I should have tried to run away after realizing what my father would do and now after being killed by him, it gave me time to reflect on how I have lived. Maybe I should have taken you to your mother so that you wouldn't have to put through with all of this abuse. My regrets kept piling up as I started thinking about it a bit more."

"It's too late. This childhood was how I've lived and there is no changing the past. How can I truly believe your repentance?"

"Like I said, I don't. Not with words at least."

Lucifer's words confused Vali. "What exactly do you mean?"

As Vali tries to understand the meaning of his words, the background suddenly turns white and floating orbs resembling giant colorful bubbles begin to appear. Vali looks around until his father calls out to him, giving him an orb he grabbed.

"Go ahead, take a close inside."

Vali did as he was told and soon started hearing the sound of a crying baby before the orb started to visualize what is going on. What Vali sees next is the baby crying as he is being gently held by his mother laying on the hospital bed.

[Dear, look at our son. He looks just like you.]

The mother laughed as tears started forming in her eyes. A right hand soon shows up in the image and gently places his hand on the baby's cheek.

[Hey there little guy. For fate to bring such a feeling of joy, I think I am now looking forward to being a father even more.]

Both arms of Lucifer gently lifts his son from his wife and into his arms with the baby beginning to cry.

[Shhhh...shhh...it's okay, I am your daddy. We are going to be a family now, understand? We are going to make sure you grow up big and strong.]

The father gently rocks the baby until he falls asleep. After giving his baby son back to his wife, the latter looks up at her husband.

[What do you think we should name him?]

[Considering that he is a Lucifer, I've actually had a name thought up for a while. If you don't mind, I would like to name him Vali.]

[Hmm? You couldn't think of a cuter name?]

[Hehe. Well we need a name that Devils would take seriously if he is going to be a Lucifer. I truly believe that Vali is an appropriate name for our son.]

The wife smiled at him then looks down at her newborn son.

[Alright, Vali it is then. Welcome to the world my son.]

The clip then disappears, leaving the orb crystal clear. Vali then immediately realizes that the orbs contains memories from his father's point of view from when he was alive. He then lets the orb go, allowing it to flow upward. Witnessing his father's memories of his birth caused him to become very emotional.

"We could have become a great family! Tell me, how did you turn into someone that treats his own son as if he was a monster!? Why didn't you continue what you were doing at my birth!?"

"We loved you very much at the time of your birth Vali, but a lot of things went wrong for the both of us are very hard for me to say. If you really want answers, try looking at another."

Vali then grabs the orb closest to him and when he looks inside, another one of his father's memory clips begin to play.

[Ugh! Ugh! GAAH!]

The mother grabs her stomach in pain, forcing Lucifer to grab their son as he checks on her wife.

[Hey! Are you okay!? What is going on!?]

The doctors immediately rushed in and try to calm her. One of them escorts Lucifer and his son out, much to the former's protest.

[Why are me and my son getting kicked out!?]

[She might have complications from childbirth. We need to treat it right away so we need you to step out sir.]

[Is she going to be okay?]

[We don't know sir. That's why we are treating her immediately so please wait out here.]

Lucifer reluctantly did as he was told and went to the lobby with his son, who is asleep.

[We better try to stop the bleeding first before the operation.]

The Doctors' voices can be heard as Lucifer got out of the room. After a couple of hours, the doctor came to the lobby calls the father out.

[I am sorry sir, but your wife passed away. She had internal hemorrhage as she was given birth and had already lost a huge amount of blood before we started the operation. It was too late.]

Lucifer becomes distraught at the thought of losing his wife and having to take care of Vali alone.

[No...It can't be... my wife...]

[Sir I am sorry, but-Sir!?]

Vali was immediately put on the doctor's hands as his father attempts to make his way to the operating room. As soon as he gets there, the only thing he saw was his wife's lifeless body on the hospital bed. Grabbing her cold hands, Lucifer begins to shed tears as he mourns his loss.

[No no no...please don't leave me...I can't do this without you...please...]

The doctors then get into the room to gently get Vali's father out of the room as the clip ends. Tears came out of Vali's eyes as he lets go of the orb. Looking at his father, he made a gesture that is saying to grab another, but out of concern for his emotional state, the father raises his right hand, telling Vali to halt.

"If its too much for you Vali, then please don't force yourself."

"As painful as it is, I still need to find answers to why my life ended up the way it did. Let me continue."

Vali then grabs another orb and another memory clip begins to play. The first part of the clip shows Vali's father, carrying his son back to his mansion, which is around the same size as the Gremory's main house. Once he gets inside, he was immediately greeted by his servants, consisting of both male and female Devils.

[Welcome home Lucifer-sama.]

One of the maids greeted, but Lucifer remains silent. A male servant notices Vali being carried by his father.

[It looks like your son is born successfully. Wait, where is your wife, Lucifer-sama?]

He gave his son to the male servant before he attempts to explain what happened.

[My wife...passed away after childbirth.]

Lucifer then wiped away some tears from his eyes as his servants looked at him out of concern after hearing the news.

[I am sorry to hear that Lucifer-sama. Is there anything we can do for you?]

[Just please get my son to his room. I want to be alone right now.]

The male servant nods and takes the baby to his already prepared bedroom, leaving Lucifer to continue grieving for his deceased wife. His servants made several attempts to comfort him, but he continues to dismiss them throughout the day, even refusing to eat anything served in front of him. Eventually, the sky became dark and the father is now all alone in the living room, wondering what he is going to do without his wife helping him to care for his son.

*Cries*

Vali soon started crying, causing his father to snap out of his grief. Realizing that the crying won't stop if nothing is done, he reluctantly gets up from the couch and heads to Vali's room. After getting inside, he saw his baby son crying in bed and gently picks him up to rock him.

[There there...]

Lucifer gently rocked his son until he falls asleep before putting him back into his crib. Seeing Vali's sleeping face, he finally realized that he needs to be there for Vali in place of his mother and that grieving will not help him grow up to be the child he wanted his son to be.

[Don't worry, I will be here from now on.]

He nudges his son's cheek before turning back to leave, only to find Rizevim standing at the doorway all of a sudden. Lucifer then becomes hostile and summons a western-style sword from a magic circle, pointing at his father.

[What the heck are you doing here father!?]

[Calm down my boy, I am just here to check how you and my grandson are doing, especially since I've heard that your human wife passed away. Its too bad you didn't marry a Devil, otherwise she could have easily survived this.]

Rizevim said in a light-hearted tone, frustrating his son to the point of having the edge of the blade touching his neck.

[Don't ever mention my wife in a bad name!]

[Now now, calm down my son. I am not here to fight, I am here to tell you that your son will be your greatest fear. Soon that fear will turn to hatred and eventually you will learn to hate him.]

[I don't think so! I made a promise to my wife for him to grow up to be strong! I will not be corrupted by your words!]

[Well, even if you don't believe, that fear will show itself eventually. Good night my son. Uhyahyahyahya!]

Just like that, Rizevim disappeared from his sight, leaving Lucifer anxious as he turns back to look at Vali.

[What the heck does he mean?]

The clip finally ends with the orb moving upwards. Vali then turns back to his father. Lucifer decides to explain the aftermath of Rizevim's visit rather than having his son grab another orb.

"Over the next couple of years, I tried to raise you the best way I could to make sure you grow up to be a great Lucifer. I even tried to educate you before you can even speak in hopes that you can understand and have it stick with you until adulthood, but everything changed not long after you turned two."

"What happened after that?" Vali asked, but his father became hesitant.

"Father, what happened!?"

Lucifer is still unable to answer back due to guilt, forcing Vali to reach for another orb.

"Wait Vali, I don't know if you are ready to see this!"

"I told you, I want answers regardless. I want to understand and it is only through your memories I will finally see why."

Vali grabs the next closest orb, allowing another memory clip to play in front of Vali. The clip starts off with Lucifer walking towards the direction of his son's room. When he is only twenty feet away from the door, an explosion suddenly occurs in his son's room, knocking the door across the hallway.

[Vali!?]

He then ran towards to Vali's room. Upon seeing what happened inside, the first thing he sees were two bodies of his servants attending to Vali and next saw that the entire room is on fire.

[What happened here!? Vali, are alright!?]

Lucifer reached the bed Vali was sleeping in only to find him curiously looking around. Out of relief, he hugged Vali, but soon wonders why he and his bed were unharmed from the explosion and put out the fire with his magic before looking around the room.

[An explosion that killed everyone in the room except for my son. What could have happened?]

As he explored what is left of Vali's room, his eyes suddenly met Rizevim again, causing him to step back.

[Hehehe, didn't I tell you that such a thing will happen? My grandson will become your greatest fear.]

Lucifer goes into denial.

[There is no way. You are saying my son could have done this? He is only two and has not even been taught any magic yet. There is no way he could have done this.]

[Why don't you take a look closely before deciding whether my words are false. Take a look at what is happening now.]

He then reluctantly turns back to his son that is laying in bed and saw that his back is starting to glow, causing him to frantically examine Vali's body to make sure he isn't sick or wounded.

[There is no wound or illness on that boy. He just happens to wield a Longinus, Sacred Gears that have the power to kill God.]

[A Longinus? My son has one?]

Rizevim then moves closer to take a look at Vali.

[The boy's presence was felt at his moment of birth. The death of your wife didn't occur by a normal complication, it happened because her body was slowly being ripped apart from the inside as it couldn't handle the power of the Sacred Gear. She must have been bleeding internally as she died.]

The reaction of Lucifer was exactly what Rizevim had hoped as the former goes into a state of disbelief.

[In other words, your son was responsible for your wife's death! Ahahaha! Oh how things changed so quickly for you my son!]

As Rizevim laughs, his son drops on to his knees in despair and grabs his head out of anguish.

[NO NO NOOOOO! My son! He couldn't have killed her! He couldn't have!]

[Oh, but he did and now you are going to decide whether to avenge your wife or continue living with her killer.]

Rizevim still shows his sadistic smile as his son remains unsure of what to do.

[So tell me, what are you going to do now?]

With his mind finally succumbing to his father's manipulation, he summons a knife behind his back and slowly approaches Vali.

[Yes, that's right! Kill him to relieve yourself of your fear and avenge your wife while only losing your son as a price!]

Rizevim's son then tells the young Vali to close his eyes, which he did along with laying back on to his bed, not knowing what is going on. Lucifer then takes out his blade and prepares to end the young boy's life.

[For fate to bring such a feeling of joy, I think I am now looking forward to being a father even more.]

As he looks at his son's face, he is reminded of the words he said when his wife was still alive, smiling at the two of them. Remembering that he still has the same face from when he was a newborn, yet is revealed to be the one accidentally killing his own mother, the father remains conflicted, deciding whether to kill Vali or not as Rizevim is losing patience.

[Come on. He is just in front of you.]

As he struggles to make a decision, he then heard something unexpected.

[Daddy?]

Vali's voice was heard for the first time, causing his father to break down in tears and drops his blade.

[Well that's disappointing. Good luck living with the one you now fear the most.]

Rizevim then disappears as his son weeps. Afterwards, more of Lucifer's servants came and were shocked to see what happened to the room.

[Lucifer-sama, what happened here!? Are you and Vali-sama alright!?]

One of the maids panicked and rushes in to check on the two, only to find her master still crying as Vali looks on in confusion.

[Are you alright, Lucifer-sama!?]

A butler who accompanied the maid asked.

[...Take Vali away from me.]

The servants looked at him in confusion due to his sudden request.

[Sir!?]

[Take him away now before I lose myself! He killed my wife!]

Lucifer screamed, forcing the butler to take Vali away.

[Huh? Daddy?]

[Come on Vali-sama, your father needs some time for himself.]

As the butler tries to take Vali out of the room, he tries to reach his father, not wanting to be separated from him.

[Daddy! Daddy!]

Vali screamed, but the butler pulled him away. Out of desperation, Vali bit the butler's hand holding him, releasing him from the grip and runs towards his father, but was hit as soon as he reaches him. The toddler then begins to cry, much to his father's anger.

[Get away from me you monster!]

He then grabbed his crying son and locked him inside of the closet, much to the surprise of his servants. The sound of Vali's hits were heard from the door alongside his crying.

[Sir, have you gone mad!?]

The butler yelled in dismay.

[Take him away from me! Every time I see him, I will have the urge to kill him! I want him out!]

[What is wrong with you all of a sudden!? You loved Vali-sama deeply and know you are just going to kick him out of your life!?]

The maid was also equally dismayed.

[My son killed my wife! If I have to see his face again, I will kill him before his powers can!]

[Sir!]

[Get him away from me now!]

The butler then opens the closet door and got Vali out, but the sound of his crying caused his father to go berserk and attempts to charge at his son, only to be restrained by his two servants.

[I want you to take Lucifer-sama to a different room while I get Vali-sama out! We've got to make sure that they are separated for as long as possible!]

[Hai! Come with me Lucifer-sama.]

The maid dragged Lucifer to his room while Vali was dragged to another part of the house far from his father's workplace and room.

[Listen to me Vali-sama, your father has gone mad so you best better stay away from him from now on until he calms, understand?]

Considering that Vali could only say one word, he didn't understand what to do and decides to just go along with what the butler said. Despite the servant's best efforts, there are times that Vali did make contact with his father, which ended up getting him locked up or abused physically and mentally. This cruel treatment has continued on for years until Vali was old enough to finally speak and think for himself. Unable to tolerate his father's continuous abuse, he decides to run away from home, not caring where fate takes him. Vali was in tears as he continues to run as far away from home as possible. The clip finally ends and the orb travels upward.

"I remember this. All I was thinking during that time was what happened to you and why. Now I know." Vali's hands were trembling after gaining an understanding of his father's fear.

"I had originally believed that you were the cause of my wife's death after finding out that your powers were responsible, but that was a mistake on my part. I shouldn't have judged you on a situation that was out of your control."

Vali becomes angry over his father's late realization and refuses to grab another orb to continue his father's story. "My childhood was ruined out of the fear and hatred that came from these powers I never wanted! You and grandfather caused this!"

"Vali, there is more to it than that, particularly between me and Rizevim regarding you. You have already reached this far so please, give it a chance. That's all I am asking."

Vali remains hesitant, but his father continues.

"You want to know the truth, correct? Then find out the real story of what happened."

Seeing that his father was right, Vali decides to grab one more orb and the clip begins as he looks inside of it.

[Daddy! Daddy! Why do you keep doing this!?]

Lucifer is sitting down depressed in the living room as his son tried pounding on the closet door he is behind in.

[It's been four years since I've found out he had the Longinus and yet he didn't do anything since then to show it, yet every time I see him, my anger and fear gave in, because of that. I wonder if it was me who was wrong.]

He was given tea by his butler, who has been trying to get him and Vali to reconcile for the years his master became hostile while acting as Vali's father figure.

[He may have the power that could make him a monster, but whether he becomes one is completely dependent on how one is raised. Look, I know that you've might have had the happiest moments with him since you've find out the truth, but I do think is unfair since he was very unaware of his actions. He is still a little boy, you know?]

[I know. To think I blame him for my wife's death when the one who should be blame is the one who chose my son to be its wielder. Vali must hate my guts after the years of abuse and harsh treatment I've subjected him to.]

[He is still calling out to you though. It is not too late for you to make amends with your son and if you do raise him well, he will never turn his powers to you should he discover it.]

Lucifer then takes a deep breath.

[Alright, I made a promise that I would help him grow to become strong. I need to make up for nearly breaking that promise.]

The butler smiled at his master's decision.

[Then I shall let Vali-sama out.]

[You do that.]

Before the butler can get up, however, a blade suddenly came out of his chest, causing him to spell blood.

[Alivar!]

Vali's father screamed his servant's name as the blade is withdrawn, causing Alivar to drop dead at his feet. He is even more angry by the perpetrator who shows up uninvited.

[Rizevim, I thought I told you that you aren't allowed here anymore!]

[How cruel for my own son to kick me out of the family home. Well, that doesn't matter since you know I will come anyway. For you to be willing to become kind to your son again, do you not remember the danger he possesses? Did you forget about the mistakes that could happen should he live freely?]

[The only reason I feared him was because I succumbed to your mind games to keep him away! I am not going to let you be in control anymore Rizevim!]

[Come on my son. We both know that it is necessary to keep Vali's powers dormant if you want him to live.]

[Don't call me that! You are no longer part of this family! If such mistreatment continues and if Vali does awaken with his powers, he will turn it against us!]

[Unless you kill him like a suggested a few years ago.]

He shook off his father's words and took a few steps away from him.

[No! In fact, if Vali's Longinus does activate, I will raise him to use them against you if I have to! Our lives are not your toys! Vali is my son and I intend to treat him as one from now on!]

Rizevim responds with a smile.

[Well then, it looks like I will have to finish the job myself if he is going to be such a threat!]

As Rizevim got up, four magic circles appear on all side, catching Rizevim by surprise. Strings of magic soon started binding the Super Devil before he can avoid it, but his smile never wears off.

[So you have chosen death by going against me. Even if you do get away, you will have nowhere to run and these chains won't hold me for long.]

[I don't care. Anywhere is better than here.]

[Then in that case, you better tell your son to run, because if both of you try to escape, then both will be killed.]

[Ghh!]

Knowing that Rizevim is right, his son runs to Vali's bedroom to get him out.

[I am sorry Vali, it looks like I can't stop you from hating me as you grow, but what is more important is that you live.]

As soon as he gets Vali out of the room, he immediately kicks him out of the back door, much to Vali's dismay. When Vali tries to come back in, his father holds a blade right in front of him.

[You will be killed if you try to get near me.]

Confused and afraid, the young Vali then runs towards the woods behind the house, where even Rizevim won't be able to find him without destroying the area, which would alert the authorities of his presence. As soon as his son is out, Lucifer turns to face Rizevim standing behind him.

[You know, this wouldn't make a difference since Vali will grow up to hate you.]

[At least it will be better than what you have planned! Alright Rizevim, let's see what you've got!]

Trying to buy time for Vali, Lucifer launches a barrage of energy attacks from his magic circle towards Rizevim, destroying a majority of the house, but held back enough to allow the rest of his servants to escape. However, as the smoke clears, the difference of power is clear when Rizevim emerges unscathed, using a magic circle as a shield. Before Lucifer can make his next move, Rizevim impales him using merely his right hand and launches an energy blast straight through Lucifer's stomach.

[Heh, you are quite disappointing as a Lucifer.]

Before Lucifer's eyes shuts permanently, he sees a brief vision of his wife waiting for him with open arms, believing that he has been redeemed. Satisfied that he was able to get Vali out of Rizevim's reach, Lucifer smiles as he lies dying on the floor. With that, the final clip ends, leading the background to change back into darkness. Revealed that his father got him to run away to protect him, Vali collapses to his knees as his tears started dropping.

"And with all of that shown, now you know the truth."

"You've had me kicked out to protect me from Rizevim..."

"Yes. I wanted to do more Vali, but Rizevim was going to kill you. Having you run away to protect you from him was my only act of redemption even though I knew you would grow up to hate me. Despite this, however, I ended up in a different place from your mother and have been stuck here since. Even though I can leave, I have been afraid to go back to her after everything that had happened."

"All this time I wanted to fight strong opponents in hopes that I would fight you and Rizevim so that I can make you both pay for what you did and yet...it was only him all along."

"And me for not being strong enough to resist. I share the blame for succumbing to my weaknesses that put your childhood in disarray. That's why I shall remain."

"No father. We are both victims of Rizevim's scheme. You attempted to kill me when Rizevim manipulated you and yet you couldn't. Afterwards, Rizevim attempted to kill me himself back then, but now he is way too overconfident with his Sacred Gear that he no longer considers me a threat. I will make him pay for the both of us."

Lucifer smiles at his son's goal. "I am glad that you have ended up with someone willing to accept you. I will be watching over you from now on and hope that you will live a good life."

Vali shook his head. "No father. Go back to mother. I am sure she wants you to be there just as much as you want to be with her."

"Vali, you know I can't."

"The only reason you are stuck here is because you have doubts and regrets over what happened to both of us. You shouldn't anymore, because Rizevim is truly the one to blame. Father, I am your son and always will be so please, go to my mother. That is my one request as your child."

Touched that Vali finally accepted him, all of his regrets have been erased and the background starts getting covered by a bright light, signaling the end of their contact with each other.

"It looks like I will finally be able to be with your mother soon. Vali, I will leave it to you to take down Rizevim. Make sure that there are no more victims."

"I will. Take care father."

And with that, the curse within Vali has lifted, bringing him back to the Underworld.

Alright, another chapter done. This isn't as dramatic as I wanted to be, but what I really wanted was to create a more complex story of Vali's childhood, since his family background wasn't really explored that well other than the fact that he was abused and mistreated. I know that there are people who don't like battle scenes in text, but in High School DxD, that is unavoidable due to conflict between the Three Factions and Qlippoth as one of the themes so that is what is to be expected in the final chapters. I don't know what Vali's father is referred to as so I simply named him Lucifer. Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed the chapter.