It was hours before I found something relevant, at first I didn't realize how relevant it was. It was an ancient scroll that held the information. The scroll looked centuries, perhaps even millennia old.

How would something this old end up in a simple library? I asked myself when I first saw the unassuming scroll. It seemed odd that it wasn't in a museum.

I opened it gently and read it. The faded script was in Latin. I only spoke a handful of the dead language, but not enough to read all this. I scanned the rest of the scroll, looking for hints of what it said. On the bottom of the document, was an illustration that caught me off guard.

It was a drawing of my amulet.

Or rather, it was a drawing of both the amulets. I couldn't decipher anything that would tell me why this drawing was there. So I rolled up the ancient scroll and left the library. I had to find someone to translate it for me.

Of course I had to go back to the warehouse first. I couldn't risk being recognized again. I found my bandages and wrapped them around my face. I also remembered that Nox and Dies recognized Yamato as well. So I cut off some excess gauze and wrapped it around Yamato's hilt.

I then set out to find a translator. I knew it would be difficult, especially now that it was getting late. The sun had just hid behind the tall buildings and a dark shadow was cast over the city streets. Nevertheless, I asked around and was pointed to a museum, of all things. Apparently, the curator was fluent in Latin, and was even a specialist on translating ancient Latin scrolls and texts. The museum was minutes away from closing when I went in.

"You," I said to one of the guards, "Bring me the museum curator. I have business with him."

The man looked at me and sneered. His uniform was unwrinkled, and he held himself high, as if he felt he was actually important.

"Why should I be your errand boy?" he asked, with a chuckle.

I drew Yamato in a flash and pressed the sharpened edge against his throat. We stood there motionless for a moment. He trembled, and tried to stay as still as possible, afraid that I'd kill him if he moved.

"Ok! OK!" he whined, "I'll get him!"

I removed Yamato from his neck. His skin was pulsating with his heartbeat, and a thin bloody line ran over his jugular. He had no idea how close he came to dying. He ran off to find the curator.

Moments later, a stocky man in a neat suit walked into the museum's main chamber. He was nervous, obviously the guard told him what had happened.

"Is there something I can do for you?" the curator asked, "My name is Dr. Stein. I was told you had business with me"

"Yes," I answered, and held out the scroll for him to see. "Translate this."

"uh…Yes, let me see it please." His fingers trembled visibly as he reached for the scroll. I handed it to him and he immediately unrolled it and began reading. "Oh my…"

"What?"

"Th-This is…V-Very old." He began to stutter, "Wh-Wh-where did you get this?"

"A library," I answered, "Downtown, if its any of your business."

"H-How could that be?!?" He asked in disbelief, "This looks as if it has not been touched by human hands for millenia!"

Stein began to read the text. As he read, he began to pace around the room. My eyes followed him, but I didn't bother to move. Minutes passed before he finally reached the end.

"This is amazing!" he exclaimed, "Its magnificent!"

"What does it say?" I asked, impatient.

"It speaks of a way to enter the Underworld!" Stein said, "No! It mentions several ways, but only goes into detail for one!"

"Why is that important to you?" He was making me suspicious. No normal man would be this excited to read this.

"This tale is very significant to me" Stein answered, "A piece like this is very rare indeed. Please! Let me purchase it from you!"

"No." I answered flatly. He was visibly disappointed. "Tell me what it says and you can have it."

He smiled greatly.

"As you wish," he began to read from the scroll. " 'There are two sides of the world that we know of. In the light, there is peace and tranquility. In the light there is man, and the earth. But where there is light there must also be darkness. In the darkness, the demons dwell. This is necessary fo-'"

"Get to the point." I interrupted. "Tell me about the way to enter the demonic realm."

"Your impatience will be tolerated because of your generosity." Stein said with a bow. "I shall give you what you seek."

"It reads: 'There are different ways to enter it, the world of darkness and demons. Some are unknown, however. The nature of the Hellgate and the Tower are not known to us. But the nature of the Tree is. The Tree of Death it is called. For Shadow spawns from it, and Death devours any man that is unworthy. Only by defeating Death can the tree be controlled. The Tree feeds on despair, and sorrow. It feeds on death and pain. As it grows, the blood inside it flows like a river. The Blood the bursts forth from its boughs will give new life. The Blood that flows from its roots will serve as the gateway.'"

He stopped for a moment and showed me a diagram next to the ancient text. It was nothing but a circle with various intricate designs inside it.

"This is what must be drawn with the Tree's Blood." He explained, "But even that is not enough. This means that the tree must grow on the despair of someone before its' mature enough to be effective for this spell. But again, even that is not all."

He continued translating.

"'One thing we know about all the methods of entering the Realm of Darkness is the one common element. The Amulet depicted here must be present. Whether all methods require it to be whole or not is unknown, but the portal to the Demon Realm cannot be opened without the two halves being present.'"

"That's all I needed to know." I stated. I turned around and walked away.

"B-But!" He ran after me, "There's more!"

I stopped and waited.

"Once someone enters through the portal, it cannot be closed!" He exclaimed, "I have a s-s-s-suspicion that you intend to enter this portal!"

I turned around slowly to face him.

"Yes," I answered, "I do."

"You can't!" he yelled, "The whole world will be destroyed once they find out the portal is opened!"

"So?"

Dr. Stein was getting angry. He stood up tall and glared at me through his round glasses.

"I cannot allow this!" He said, "What do you hope to accomplish?!"

I smiled briefly and approached him.

"I go to my destiny." I replied, "This world means nothing to me."

I turned and left the building. Dr. Stein knew there was nothing he could do to stop me. To tell the truth, I had lied about my feelings on the fate of the world. As I walked back to the warehouse, I thought about how I'd really feel.

If this world ends, then where shall I rule?

The answer seemed obvious. The Demon World. I could defeat any demon that would cross my path. If my father did it, I could do it, too. But then…what if there was someone important to me? With my father's power, I could protect them from the demonic invasion.

I felt a strong pain in my chest. My sorrow pushed through my mind and invaded my own heart. Sadness overwhelmed me. The image of my mother, and of Elizabeth overcame me. I pushed the thought away, and recovered.

No…I could not stand it. Love does not matter anymore. All that truly matters is Power.

******

I didn't sleep that night. I just paced around the warehouse, deep in thought. I had shed my bandages and absent-mindedly fingered my amulet. He had his, my brother Dante. He had his half of the amulet with him, I just knew it. Dante was even more attached to our mother than I was. I knew he would never leave it behind. He would never give it up.

That was the problem. Even if I did find Dante, I wouldn't be able to convince him to relinquish his half of the Amulet….But perhaps I could convince him to join me... Dante is my brother after all. Perhaps he feels the same as I do.

That idea intrigued me. Two brothers could rule both worlds together. Both of the Sons of Sparda would reign over all life! After all, its only fitting that Sparda's sons should inherit what he fought to protect.

I shook the thought away. I clearly remembered Dante's cowardice, and his unwillingness to avenge my mother's death.

If I ever see him again, I'll make him suffer as much as I did! I gripped my amulet tightly as I reveled in my anger. Then I'll take his amulet from him! He doesn't deserve to rule over the entire world.