Chapter 4: Preparation.

A few days after talking to Shiva, I had asked team DxD to come to my house so I could explain everything.

"So Rosswiese and I have finished earlier than expect," I explain to everyone. "But I do not think its enough. I asked Ajuka to find me some artifacts that might help. He didn't come up with much, sadly. So it's now up to us, Griselda will be taking me to heaven. So I will be working with Heaven and the church for a few. Sorry Dulio for taking command of your team again."

"Its fine," he reassures me. "It's your plan, so you should lead."

"Bennin," i turn to the soul reaper girl. "This is a lot I am about to ask you. Since Hades controls Samael's seal. I need you to try to convince your father to get me some of its blood. I will use it to forge a new sword." I suddenly feel two people glaring at me. I look to see Ophis and Lilith glaring at me. "I am not using it on you both. I respect the infinite twin dragon girls."

"I am to assume you need me to go to Gorgori?" Akeno asks me.

"No," I answer her. "I already have all the research I need from them. Your father gave it to me earlier. Rosswiese already plans to head back up and research Norse items that might help. So if any of you come up with anything. I would like for you to look into and give me the results after."

"Why are you going with Griselda and not me?" Viv complains. I sigh and cover my face with my hand.

"Viviane," I say with an annoyed tone. "I love you but you annoy me. The truth is you changed the minute I married you." She looks at me in shock and frowns. "Griselda, can we go before I get read the riot act?" she nods.

We arrive in heaven. I look around and sigh. The damage is still being repaired. I will try to think of a way to fix this. She takes me to the research level. The angels there begin to show me everything they have.

"It's a shame so many heaven and church artifacts are missing," I comment. "Did you ever find the original Excalibur's handle?" one of the angels shakes her head. "That is a shame; I could have forged a new sword with it." I am reading more of the information when i spot something. "That will work." I get up and point to an image of a shield. "I am actually surprised you recovered it."

One of the angels leaves and comes back a few minutes later holding the holy shield. I walk up to it with a smile. "What do you plan to do with it?" Griselda asks me.

"The Holy Aegis," I am in too much of amazement to hear her. "The holy shield of god himself that was stolen by a traitor before the battle with the red and white dragon, some say this was also one of the reasons he died." I touch it and slide my fingers down it. I can feel some pain but I can bare it. "It's broken." The angels look at themselves and then at me.

"What makes you say that?" Griselda asks me.

"My hand should be engulfed in holy fire but its not," I explain. "I only feel minor pain. It seems there a very important piece missing." I place my hand on the center of the shield. "There is supposed to be something here in the middle of the cross." I frown.

One of the angels goes back to the computer and starts looking into what is missing. I can hear some frustration in the angels but they start to pray for guidance. The shield gets placed on a table and more look into the missing piece. I am over come with a desire to help the angels of heaven, I walk to a window.

"Gods children can experience love but God's creations cant," I comment to myself. "It seems unfair." The system must change, his creations, his angels must be allowed to love someone safely. The system starts to freak out and look around to see the angels in shock. It stops after awhile.

"Well that was strange," Griselda comments. "It seems they found the missing piece." I walk over to the display. "It looks like a diamond."

"It's not just a diamond," I smile and start to explain. "It's the blood of Christ that has been turned into diamond form. It needs to be found. Also please try to find the handle of Excalibur." I turn to Griselda. "I have everything i need. I will be joining Rosswiese now; you go back to Dulio and explain what is going on." She nods. Then we both disappear.

Part 2

I arrive in Asgard and I notice two people that seem to be waiting for me. It's Vidar and Rosswiese standing there, so I walk up to them with a smile.

"You must be Vidar," I say and bow. "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you finally Cartil," he says to me. "I hear you are looking into artifacts that might help you on your mission. I don't know what we have that can help but you are free to look into our system to find it."

"Thank you," I say to him. We start walking to the armory. "I am not sure what i am looking for, i just know once I see it."

"Going off of instinct I see," he says with a chuckle. We arrive at the armory and we start going through the system. "So what did you find in heaven?"

"The Holy Aegis," I inform him. He and Rosswiese are shocked. "I am just as shocked as you are, though it seems to be broken so they are looking into the missing piece." I am reading the list of artifacts and weapons. "Lots of promising things but nothing solid sadly. Vidar, have you guys ever been able to find Loki's research?"

"Sadly no," he answers me with a sigh. I sigh.

"Maybe I can help with that," a male voice says. A grim reaper appears from a teleportation circle. "I am the grim reaper known as Sig. It's been awhile Cartil. Anyway after Loki's attack last year a division of the grim reapers started looking for his research. We believe we have the location. So Vidar, i will give the information to you. It is a Norse matter after all. I also come with a warning; Hades is planning something and will strike soon. So you better free those leaders as fast Cartil. I will take my leave now." He hands Vidar the information. He waves and steps back into a teleportation circle.

"That seems too easy," Vidar comments. I laugh.

"Sig is part of my group," I explain to him. "One of the things I did in my exile was recruit someone from every mythology, mostly for shared information but I can call upon them during wartimes."

"So you created a circle before the 3 great powers started making peace?" he questions me.

"Yes but nothing important was shared," I explain. "It was mostly movement information so fights could be avoided." I look away. "The three great powers making peace and then making peace with other mythologies, made me happy. I begin to think I would be able to return home as myself at some point."

"Well you did go home and made quite the scene," he says with a laugh. "Issei, Vali, and you are going to be ones to watch." I smirk.

"My next 2 tricks will make everyone watch me," I state to him. "I will be either someone they want to recruit or destroy. The lines have been drawn and I have already picked my said." I turn to Rosswiese. "Have you gotten everything we need?" she nods. "Well Vidar, we will be going now. Good luck with the Loki thing." I wave as Rosswiese and i leave.

I arrive in Greece and Rosswiese has gone back to the Hyuudo residence. I feel uneasy here for some reason. I think i am being watched. As i am walking i am looking around at the sights. "It's been a few years since i have been here," I comment to myself. I continue walking down the street.

I stop after awhile and go into a restaurant. I order some food to go and I look around as I wait. I still have the feeling I am being watched. Someone has figured out my movements and I do not like it. There is only one of two people that would try to stop my plan, Indra or Hades. After i receive my food and pay for it, I leave. I continue down the street. I leave the city and head for the country side.

I arrive at a field with a beautiful view. I sit down and finish my food. I still feel like someone is watching me so I contact Ajuka for permission to use the dimension field again. After getting permission, I smile and turn to where I get the feeling from.

"You are not very good at tailing someone," I yell out. "Despite you lowering your aura I could still sense you." Two men walk out from the shadows and get close to me. One of the men is carrying a spear. "Cao Cao and Indra i presume. I am guessing you want to talk to me about something."

Indra steps forward and begins to speak, "It's about your plan. I would you to stop trying to free them so I can have a war with Shiva." Of course that is what he wanted.

"You and Hades are the stupidest gods I have ever met," I comment. "I will not stop. Shiva doesn't even want a war with you. He has better things to worry about." He sighs. "Its cute how you are trying to recruit Issei by training him, too bad it won't work. He will always pick a side wanting peace over a warmonger. Peace allows him to have sexy time with his women. I am on Shiva's side and nothing you can say with change that. You are wasting your time. Just leave." I turn my pack to them.

"Cao Cao," Indra says. I snap my fingers and we appear in another dimension. "It seems you expected this."

"I was trained to expect everything and plan accordingly," I inform him. "Now Cao Cao, i believe you were order to attack me. What are you waiting for?" I can sense that he is charging me and flip into the air. As he is gets below me, I change my rotation and slam my fist into his back. He staggers forward and I land. He turns and charges with a flurry of attacks. I dodge them as I watch for an opening. Once I spot it, I hit him in the stomach with my knee. I knock the spear out of his hand and grab his arm. I throw him onto the ground.

I jump back and look over at Indra. He doesn't look like he is happy so i smirk at him. Cao Cao gets back up and picks up his spear. He looks over at me. "What was that?" he asks me.

"I will probably be the faster person you will ever face," i inform him "i was trained by the strongest knight in the underworld. I can go faster just to let you know. Though you probably want to use that stupid ball trick or the balance breaker now that you are getting beaten, I think. I would not use it yet if I was you. Indra, I think you better consider a new bodyguard." I hear feet kick off the ground and i hold just a finger up. I turn my head and smirk. I stopped the spear with just my finger.

"How?" he questions in shock. "You are a devil; light is supposed to hurt you."

"It seems you didn't try to fully research me," I say to him. "Out of everyone, i am the one who knows about the Sacred Gear the most. There is a very big reason for it, in which you will learn in the future. The reason it didn't hurt me, is that I have sealed the powers of the Holy spear for a short time." I knock the spear up and punch him hard into the stomach. "You will recover from that. As for you Indra." I turn back to him.

"What is it?" he asks me as Cao Cao staggers back to his side. I kneel down and touch the ground. A summoning circle appears, then a handle to a sword. I grab the handle and as i slowly pull out the sword so many chains am wrapped around it. I stop before it completely comes out.

"This sword is one you will live to fear," I start to explain to him. "Though it is unfinished, it still will damage a god drastically. This is the unfinished god slaying sword i have created. Once I have it finished, it will kill any god." I glare at them. "So pick your next actions carefully."

"We will be going then," he tells me. I snap my fingers and we return. They leave and put the sword back into its dimension. I sigh and sit down.

A few minutes later Apollon shows up. "Oh good I found you," he says to me. "Ajuka contacted me and said something was going on."

"It seems Indra is trying to stop me from freeing the leaders," i inform him. "Though with this altercation, he will probably try to get the Tournament started back up sooner rather than later. After i free the leaders i am setting my sights on Hades and Indra. I don't care about the repercussions anymore; if they want to start stuff then i will end them." Apollon puts his hand on my shoulder.

"It seems they have angered the wrong person," he comments. "I thought Issei was but now I think it is you. Anyway i have gathered the information you needed and Hephaestus is working on a new weapon that will work for you."

"Thank you Apollon," I say to him and stand up. "Not everything should rest on Issei's shoulders. It's not fair to him." He nods. "Well it's been fun, until we meet again." I step back into a teleportation circle.

Part 3

A few hours later after informing Ajuka what had happened; I started talking to brother and Zeus.

"Things are getting way too out of hand out there between Indra and Hades," brother comments.

"I am afraid I have to agree with you, Cartil," Zeus says to me. "Hades will have to be dealt will soon; his paranoia will only make things worse."

"I am sorry it's come to this Zeus," I apologize to him. "He has target members of my family so he must die. It looks like I will be forced to finish the God slayer sword after all."

"Do what you have to do," Zeus tells me before going back to fight Trihexa.

"Is something on your mind?" Brother asks me.

"Just worrying about the future," I inform him. "I am trying to make a better future for my daughter and the next generation but once i reveal that power it's going to get worse before it gets better."

"It's the nature of things," Michael says as he appears. "Life is strange in that way. There will always be tests for ones resolve."

"Michael there is something I want to talk to you about after I free you," I tell him. "I have seen the state of heaven and it makes me sad."

"It does for me as well," he comments. "There is so much more I wish I could do."

"Soon Michael you will be able to help," I tell him. "A great change for heaven is coming. I must go now. I have an artifact piece to recover soon." I leave as Ajuka talks to them more.

Part 4

Days later I am going over the research I got from Apollon and Vidar. I sigh and hit my head on the desk. "None of this will help," I mumble to myself. "My only hope is the shield and finding that handle."

Nivana walks up and sits down behind me. She wraps her arms around me and places her head on my back. "You will succeed," she tried to reassure me. "Last night was so much fun."

"Well you did seduce me," i comment. "Though it seems you are trying to do it again, it's very easy to tell when you are not wearing clothes. You should put some one before any company shows up."

"If the master wishes it," she says teasing me. I sigh and stand up. I pick her up and walk to the bedroom. I toss her hand to the bed and then crawl up onto the bed. I pin her to the bed and she smirks.

"You changed the meeting time didn't you?" I ask her and she nods. "Someone is being a naughty girl." I then kiss her deeply.

A few hours of fun later, I am sitting at the table talking with Griselda and Dulio. "So we are going to the Vatican?" I ask in amazement.

"It seems they may have a lead on what we are looking for," Griselda informs me. "Them agreeing for you to see the forbidden vault seems suspicious to me."

"They may be wondering about your knowledge of holy Artifacts," Dulio says to me. He seems oddly serious today. "Strada said he will be joining us as well."

"Well I guess we better go then," I say to them. They nod and we get up. We set up a teleportation circle and step into it.

We arrive outside the Vatican church and Strada walks up. "You have finally arrived," he says to us. "Come, the pope wishes to see you first and then he will take us to the vault." We nod and follow him. We walk into the church and i look around at everything. It feels strange to me to be allowed in such a holy place. The pope walks up.

I bow to him. "I may be a devil but it is an honor to meet you," I say to him.

"You must be Cartil then," he says to me. "You have a surprising knowledge of the church and heaven's artifacts."

"Understanding potential threats to my kind is all I was doing back then," I explain to him. He nods. He turns and signals for us to follow. We follow him to a hidden hallway. We follow him down the hallway and down a set of stairs. We arrive at a big room and my eyes go wide. "I can feel the holy energies and this place. It stings a lot." I walk around the room looking at everything.

"It seems this vault was locked until recently," I can hear the pope explaining to the rest in the distance. I come across a box. I open it and stare at what I have found. I shake as i reach into the box and pull out something.

"What did you find?" Dulio asks after he gets over to me. I pull out the object.

"It's the handle to Excalibur," I answer him. "It should be hurt me but its not. It seems the power in it is sleeping. One step closer to it." Dulio smiles at me. Everyone else joins us, and we continue walking around. I stop when I hear something call to me. I walk closer to it, this time it the box appears to be made out of stone. I slide the top of it off and i freeze.

"What is it?" Griselda ask me. I grab the object and when I pull it up, it starts to admit. I can see over on the wall to my side that my shadow is not my normal shadow. It's the shadow of the form i haven't shown yet. I place the object into a pouch. "What was that?" It seems she saw it.

"Don't worry about it," I try to change the subject. "We have everything we need. It was the crystal. So we can fix the shield. We leave.

I hand the crystal over to Griselda so she can take it back to heaven and fix the shield. Griselda and Dulio leave to heaven. "I understand now," Strada says to me. "I know what power you are hiding and i can see why they hid your true self."

"Just don't tell anyone," I plead with him. "I already plan to show that power soon enough." He nods and smiles. "Truth is you are slightly correct. Now I must go to my lab. Enjoy the rest of the day Strada."

Part 5

I am at my lap and I am working on creating a sword from Excalibur's handle. I am going through my materials. "None of these will work the way I need them," I say to myself. "If i use any of these it will change the aspect of the sword. I don't want that. I may have to force a new metal for it." I grab a few metals and place them on the table. "Well crap, i am out of dragon scales."

"It seems you will have to ask tannin for more," Kronus chimes in.

"I agree," I say to him. "I am sorry I haven't talk to you in awhile friend, my mind is so scattered right now. There is so much going on."

"I understand," he says to me. "We are talking now, so it's good." I sit on my chair and spin it to face a wall. In front of the wall are five glass cylinders with sword all chain up.

I contact Tannin and he arrives a few minutes later. "It's been a long time," he says to me as he places down a box.

"I am sorry I didn't contact you sooner," I apologize to him. "My scattered mind right now is making me a bad friend." I look down.

"You are starting to worry too much like Yin does," he comments with a laugh. "So this is the handle?" I nod. "It also seems like your going to work your magic and create a new metal that can handle the power."

"Yes I am," I say as I am going through the box. I find the perfect scales. I set them on the table and turn to tannin.

"I will say this again," he begins to say. "You may be a devil but you have a heart of a dragon."

"Thank you tannin," I say with a smile. "Can you light the forge while your here?" He walked over to the forge and lit it. He left shortly afterward. I put all the materials into the melting power and set it in the forge. I close my eyes and take a nap.

Over the next few days I created two new swords, one for the handle of Excalibur and the other from the blood of Samael I received. I am now at the Hyuudo residence because my sister called me because something has happened. When I got there Ajuka and Shiva were there.

"We come with bad news," Ajuka begins to tell us. "It has been decided that the Tournament will restart in 5 days."

"That is way earlier than I expected," I say in complete shock. "So you are basically telling me i have only 4 days to finish preparing and free the leaders?"

"Sadly yes," Shiva says to me.

"I am not ready yet," I say panicking. "Heaven hasn't even finished the shield and my new swords haven't had time to settle from the forging."

"You can do this brother," Rias says as he places her hand on my shoulder. "Remember you promised Grayfia." I nod.

"Ajuka," i look at him. "When the time comes can you show everyone what Issei and I see every so often. Can you create a way to show it in the Hyuudo viewing room for everyone to see? When i mean everyone, I mean all of team DxD along with mother, father, Grayfia, and Milicus."

"I can try to," he tells me. "I would normally object but I understand your reasoning."

"Thank you Ajuka," I say to him.