Chapter 5 ~ The Truth Revealed
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Whilst Kratos continued answering the pleas of his Spartan brethren, his brothers in arms, and they continued conquering city after city, the Goddess of Peace hid away in her own room, unable to meet the eyes of the man he loved so dearly. She did not have the words, nor the heart to tell him the truth about what had happened. How could she tell him that she destroyed his whole life? His family, gone, because of her own selfishness and impatience. 

She realised she would never be prepared for the eternal hatred addressed her way. But what was worse, she wondered - Being forever away from your beloved, or having them hate you for an eternity? That is a question which had a much feared and dreaded answer.

In her endless fear, she became blind to the man’s unseen struggle, and chose to blindfold herself to the rage engulfing him. There was nothing she could do to aid the suffering of the people from the mortal realm, as Kratos would destroy city after city in his incomprehensible path of conquering.

This is why, secluded in her own chambers, with only Hermes to sooth her worries, she became jaded and ignorant to the unwinnable war that the Ghost of Sparta was having against the Colossus of Rhodes - Or, worse, against Zeus, who had impaled the God of War with the Blade of Olympus, after the latter  imbued all of his Godly Powers into it.

“By the Gods… What have I done…?” Katrina gasped, unable to grasp her mind around the news that were delivered to her by her husband. “Hermes - You cannot be tricking me - That is… That is simply cruel!” she exclaimed, reproaching him for such an act - Yet his usual jovial self was solemn. He was not jesting.
“Would I be making a mockery of the man that I know you agonise so much over? I do not need to add fuel to the fire and damage you any further - You do so perfectly well, without my aid.” the man sighed, his heart melting as he stole a peek at the gleaming eyes of the grief-stricken Goddess. “Alright, alright, my sweetling - That is enough, I shalt not be teasing you any further. Come on over, join me in bed, and I shalt be playing with your hair, I know you like it so. Or, perhaps it is a lyre melody you wish to hear, to sooth your worries?” the Messenger God guided his wife to sit on the edge of the bed, and bent from the waist, raising her chin as to look at him. “Now, now - Have I not told you? A beautiful lady such as yourself should only smile in this life. Worry not about that Spartan, you know he can handle his own against the forces of - Well - Anything, really. Did you not leave the Domain of the Dead a little time ago? Or should I remind you that no one ever came back alive… Let alone, after having killed a God that was there before our Father was even created.” even after so many years, Katrina could never understand how Hermes had such a silver tongue, and could always lull all her concerns. “My love, that brute man you love runs on pure spite and rage - There is nothing that would destroy that meat-head any time soon. Now, come along - I found this poem which I wanted to recite for you.” thus, the worry about the God of War were forgotten away, and the two lay down. 
“Thank you, Hermes. You always know how to make me happy when I need it the most.” her sweet, shy smile was the only reward the Messenger God needed in return.

Thus, she was completely unaware that, the only night she did not watch over the God of War, the man had lost his Godhood and all of his powers. Gossips, however, are fast-flying, and the next day, she was all but caught up to date with all the awful deeds that had happened.

But, what hurt Katrina the most was… That not even once, had he called out her name. It is true, she had no true value in battle, nor could she win against all of the Gods of Olympus - But had she lost all of her worth? Had she meant so little to him, despite her whole self being his and his alone?

Even when she started looking for him, did she not find him. O, wherever was this fool hidden away and what mischief was he trying to achieve? What beings was he going to offend and what new dead bodies would topple over the endless mountain of corpses he had created?

There was no way to know that he was far away, stealing Typhon’s Bane, killing frost titans, or that he was freeing Prometheus from his never-ending torment by burning him alive, only to get the Rage of the Titans as a reward. The man was all alone, save for the swarm of enemies he had to defeat, up there, on the snowy mountain that was the desolate wasteland of frost he was in.

But the man could hear a warning voice - He was not used to this voice, but it held caution and good advice. He was to behold the Island of Creation - Home to the Sisters of Fate. It is here that the path to his true destiny shall begin. The island is fraught with danger, for it was created to prevent all from reaching the three Sisters of Fate. The power of the Sisters shall allow him to return to the moment of betrayal from the Father of the Pantheon, when he killed the Spartan - It was his only chance at revenge and at regaining his Godly powers back - Thus changing his own fate, and of everyone else.

Though this voice was there for him, he could not help but recall the reticence and hatred that the woman that was once his companion held for these three women that can toy around with everyone’s fate. She said they destroyed the Marked Warrior’s life - And truly, Deimos lived not a life, but a lie. If need be, he would get his revenge on them as well - But his main focus is killing Zeus, and soon.

This is how, on the back of the very same Pegasus on which he flew before, Kratos arrived at the Temple of Lahkesis, the younger sister, who embellished the Threads of Fate. From here, he was to find his way across to the very island, for there lies his path to the Sisters. It is this way that he learnt the reason Gaia, the Earth Mother, wanted to aid him - They shared a common enemy in Zeus. As she told him the story of revenge - After Cronos, the mighty titan, ate child after child that he had with Rhea - Fearful of the Oracle’s prediction that his own children would rise against him - That he decided to imprison all of them in his belly. The mother could only stand by and watch as her children were being devoured, one after another, but she was powerless before him.

However, when it came to the last of her children to be eaten, she tricked Cronos into eating a stone. She was unable to bare another such loss, and devised this diversion to save baby Zeus. Rhea commanded an eagle to secret her son away - He was taken to an island far beyond the watchful eyes of Cronos… Even so, it was Gaia who had once cared for him and kept him safe, and nurtured his desire to free his brothers and sisters from their father’s imprisonment, yet her foolish act of compassion would come to haunt the Titan-race forever. In sparing Zeus, they allowed him to return with vengeance in his heart, and no mercy. He betrayed all of the titans, for the sins of just one - The sins of his father, Cronos. 

It was here, on this Temple, that he was able to control the Steeds of Time, not before defeating Theseus for daring to interfere in his quest - But compared to many of his other enemies, he proved little to challenge. He was all bark and no bite, as expected. In controlling the great steeds, Kratos was able bring forth the great Island - And it is here that he found a relic, rendering him able of stopping the time as his will - Ability that shall prove useless in his perilous path forwards.

Once he was risen on the palms of a statue of Lahkesis, he found himself being spoken to by the Primordial being, contacting him the same way Athena once did. “Hear me, Fallen God. None defy what the Fates decree. That is how it must be. Only death awaits you at the end of your journey." 
"My death is what began this journey.” Kratos spoke back with no fear. 
“The Fates have not deemed victory for you. Your soul will never find peace for what you have become - And you have only that selfish, impatient little flower girl who claims to be a Goddess for that. Has she not told you yet of her sins?” her provoking were angering him, the same as any other God.
“I am what the Gods have made me! And leave her out of this! This is MY revenge! My fate is forged by me alone!” taking out his blades, he wrecked the statue’s head, throwing it out of the large window, thus making a way outside. 
“We will never let you change your fate, Kratos.” the fallen head kept taunting him - But he was immune to all this foolery. “You cannot change your destiny, mortal.” she continued on. “We will never allow you to reach our sacred temple, Kratos.” but her taunting only fueled his rage. 

And this is how he reached Destiny’s Atrium, where he needed only place two shielded statues where the head of the Primordial Being’s eyes were emanating two beams of energy that made for an impassable wall - Thus, reflecting the energy back and making his path towards the Bog of the Forgotten - In the distance, he could see the Spire - There, deeply within, lay the Sisters - They control the Threads of Fate. If Kratos is able to gain control of his own threads, he would be able to return back in time, to the moment of Zeus’s betrayal. 

In his deep contemplation, he almost pissed the sound of a horse trotting - Only to be attacked by his once mortal enemy - The Barbarian King who was once so close to taking his life - Just before he had pledged a life of servitude to the God of War. “By the Gods, it IS true! I have fought my way through to the guardians of Hades and drove my way out of the Fires of Torment and changed my fate - And for my efforts, the Sisters shine their light upon me! Delivering the very object of my vengeance - Kratos!” the half-dead, half-alive King Alrik shouted into the murky skies. His laughter was taunting the mortal. “The servant of Ares - Do you remember that day, Spartan?" 
But how could he ever forget the awful day that sealed his fate and drove him down a downward spiral of guilt, revenge and hatred.  "This time, Ghost of Sparta - I will have your head!” Kratos looked up at the hammer he wielded during that day - But this time, it would turn against his user, for the once God of War was easily able to overpower the undead Barbarian King, taking his hammer, and beating him back into his second death - This time, one from which he would never have a chance of return. 

Though he held the weapon of his arch nemesis into possession, he would never use the hammer - Kratos hated it with all of his might, and would have never wanted to see this grim reminder again, as long as he lived.
Still - It was because of this arm that he felt nostalgic and melancholic, and his heart ached for the old times. He wanted to call out Katrina’s name and make sure the Olympians were not being cruel to her just to spite him - But if she arrived, would he be able to protect her, from all the atrocities he had to endure, just to get to the Sisters of Fate?

How did she manage to get there in the first place, it had absolutely bewildered him. It seemed to him like the most arduous, hellish journey he had ever embarked on, against the strongest of the Olympians, the whole pantheon, and against three primordial beings that play with fate as they wish - Though his convictions were absolute and he had no fear of death - Revenge was his only goal in mind, and it will not falter in the face of danger. The Goddess of Peace needn’t know of any risks and perils he would face ahead.

Thus, he reached the Temple of Euryale, from which, after passing several life-threatening traps, discovering some fellow warriors who were defeated by cerberi and reclaiming the Golden Fleece from the monster that had eaten Jason the Argonaut alive, gaining the power of reflecting back the attacks sent his way - He had finally reached the Gorgon Euryale and decapitated her. Now, he could turn his enemies into stone. Perhaps he was ready for what was to come in the near future - Though, he doubted such a trick would actually work of the powerful primordials. His brute strength and tactical strategies have always been the way to win every war he faced. 

Once he faced a challenge where he had to swim under water, he almost chuckled, remembering how miserable the Goddess was, soaked in sea water when they had gone to Atlantis. Though a bittersweet memory, he had to admit, it was a comical sight - Like a wet cat, hissing in anger, wanting to be let inside the house, near the hearth. Good thing she was not there, for she would complain more about her ruined outfit, or the tangled mess that her beautiful hair was.  

His path was confusing and oft misleading, for, after so long, he was brought back from where he had begun - Destiny’s Atrium - But he could see reason behind it, for paths seldom are liniar. Sometimes, you walk a vicious circle, and once must break the cycle that is doomed to repeat forever. Or so, Socrates would theorise, perhaps.

Sometimes, Kratos wishes he had more time to learn from the Goddess who loved studying so much - She had taught him many-a-poems and theater plays, but also, sciences that would be deemed abstract by most - But she knew, he was smart enough to comprehend the complicated ways of factual calculus and physics. Arts, however, always touched his heart more - Not only because Lysandra would sing to him, but also because Calliope, named after one of the muses, was such an immaculate flute player and even composed her own melodies - One, which she had dedicated to him, on his name’s day. Katrina, on the other hand, would play the lyre for him, and would hum soothing melodies that would lull him into falling asleep - Something that only the Goddess of Serenity would be capable of achieving, despite all the haunting nightmares and whipping visions. 

Though his mind wandered far, his feet continued getting him to his next destination - The Hall of Atropos - Where, to his shock, noticed the familiar cascade of red hair, up on the bridge that went to the eye-sight of the ugly, grimacing statue. “Katrina?! What are you doing here?! I thought - I thought you were safe, in Olympus. Had Hermes betrayed you?!” a sense of nervousness seemed to creep up Kratos’s spine, but for a little while, he thought the woman was just a willful vision - A mirage of what he wished he would see. Being surrounded by enemies alone, in such a lonesome journey, could play tricks on one’s mind. However, the silhouette abruptly turned around and looked down at him - Her face was dead set for a little time, before she sighed with all of her might. “Why, Kratos?! Why, of all places, we had to meet here, in the Hall of Atropos, the most vile, disgusting, wretched being in existence?!” her wail seemed more like a child throwing a temper tantrum. “She destroyed me! She is the reason behind everything bad happening to us! If it were my way, she would be tortured for all eternity - THAT IS RIGHT, ATROPOS! I HOPE YOU HEAR ME, YOU OLD, NASTY, SMELLY BITCH! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE AGAINST YOUR WRINKLED HAG FACE AND THAT ROTTEN BREATH OF YOURS!” the woman shocked the Spartan with her anger, as she threatened the skies - Only to settle down and sit on the bridge, dangling her feet like a child. “I am better now. But I did not lie. Atropos is, by far, the worst. I hope we get to kill her - And that we make it as painful as possible. She deserves it.” the way she spoke so casually of such an evil subject put doubts into the cautious general.
“Who are you and why have you taken the form of a Goddess?” but the way she tilted her head, o so innocently, made him feel almost guilty for disbelieving her.
“I suppose I may not blame you for believing I was a farce - After all, you did not call out my name, therefore, how am I here? You see, the answer is simple.” motioning to the man, the Goddess jumped from the bridge, was was effortlessly caught in the mortal’s strong hands, placing her on the ground as carefully as possible. “The short answer is - Hermes told me.” it did make sense to the Spartan, at least, on a ground level. “If there is any rumour flying around, I am sure to hear it from him. I cannot mask my sadness, as you had not wished to see me, even once, after what Zeus did to you… But I also understand why you would not want to lay your eyes upon my very being. I must be a concealer of truth to you. A liar. The one who deceived and manipulated you, yet gave you no concrete response as to why am I keeping quiet. You had to endure enough lies from Athena… I never wanted to lie to you. I was always genuine with you, Kratos… But like I told you many-a-time, I am still a God, and Gods are ALL selfish… And in my selfishness and fear of losing you, I lost the straight path that led me to a consensus between my mind and my heart. Our relationship was built on truth and communication, and I have severed them both. Of that, I am sorry. I should not have let my fears to cloud my judgement. May you ever find it in your heart to forgive me, Kratos?” though sheepish and embarrassed, the Goddess admitted her own wrongdoing, to which Kratos could only gawk in sheer surprise - It almost felt akin to a revelation, her words sent him into a mute stupor, and at first, he first blind to her timid attempts of reaching out her hands to touch his own, only to retract them and step away. “I understand. I respect your decision, Kratos. I will continue aiding you in your quest, yet you may pretend I am not there.” she turned away, masking her disappointment and stepping further to the middle of the court.
“Wait.” his loud voice hit like a lightning bolt. “I… Do not resent you. I will forgive you. But I must have my answers.” his answer was resolute, and though he could see the pensive look in her green eyes, shining like emeralds, the desolation was at hand.
“Well… I suppose you cannot hate me any more than you do. If you want to kill me, you may do so - Only after we have killed the Sisters of Fate. I want to have what little satisfaction I can salvage from this cruel life.” her pragmatism felt like a bucket of ice-cold water being thrown on his face in the morning, but he could not help but grunt in approval. Was he finally going to get the answers he’s been waiting for, for so many decades?
“I promised I would not hate you. I am a man of my words.” her sardonic smile, however, spoke more than words.
“O, you have not heard the truth. Speak only after you know the facts… But where should I even begin? I suppose, with the very beginning… Many aeons ago…” the Goddess took off her sandals and began taking light steps around the court - Kratos noticed it was an activity that would clear her mind and helped her focus, so to speak the right words and not stutter. “You must already be aware by now, that since I was a child, I was never the most… Popular God in the pantheon. In a society that cherishes only war, beauty and banquets, one that is neither would be cast away. Look at how they always forget about Hestia, who was the only one that I saw akin to a mother. Ah- Forgive me, I digress. What I meant to say is - That the way I am treated now, is the same as when then - And that is because I would only spend my time in the forest, with the animals and flowers, and would go on and on about meeting one day my fated love.” once again, the woman sighed, defeated. “Thousands of years passed, and no God, nor mortal would even look my way, and I began questioning my self… My worth. Was I not good enough? Was I not helping enough? Was I not deemed worthy of my status and magic? Question after question began eroding at my heart, to the point that I would close it to anyone who dared approach me. I felt… Poisoned. Until Anteros found me, and befriended me - And ultimately, with Aphrodite as well, but that is a whole other story.” Katrina looked away, and Kratos wondered, where would this story lead to, anyway? She had revealed broken bits, on certain occasions, yet barely anything would fit together in a perfect puzzle. “Anteros promised me that I would one day find my soul mate, and thus, he cast two arrows in the sky - One that hit me, and the other… That remained stuck in a cloud, able only to move when my destined one was to be born. Considering how long ago this happened, you can only imagine how many years I spent in solitude, with only the forest to caress my bitter soul.” the story was long and detailed, but the Spartan had no time to dwadle on trivia.
“Get to the point.” he ordered, only to see her shaking her head.
“I was getting there. Do not be impatient, otherwise, nothing shall make sense. Moving forward in time, exactly a hundred years before your birth… I was having a most dreadful day - And Anteros, tired of seeing me in such agonising solitude, proposed that we pay a short visit to the Sisters of Fate, where I would ask them to reveal to me, if not the man, at least a time line of our meeting.” Kratos’s eyes widened from shock at the words uttered by the woman before him.
“You sought an audience with the Sisters of Fate? And you were received?” he could not help but ask out loud.
“O, yes, of course. If only I had not been received, how better our lives would have been! If that moment of weakness… Of vulnerability had just been ignored, like every other time… If I had not fallen prey to my own fears and impatience… If I were not selfish in that moment… I would not have gone to seek the future… Alas, I was foolish. Arrogant. I was obsessed with finally finding the meaning of mine own happiness - And where did that get me?” the misery was painted on her face. “I was promised a beautiful love story with no problem - A Spartan general, strong like no other, that would make his country proud, and would love me with all his might - But no, Atropos thought it a joke! She made a mockery of my blissful life! She took my thread for Clotho’s hand, and threw it to Lahkesis, and bewitched her younger sister into making my life a tragedy. I was to see my man have a family, made out of love, and I was to bare the jealousy of being forever forgotten by the world. I was wrong. I admit - I was awful. I was selfish. I do not deserve happiness - But they were not content with destroying my life alone - They had to interfere with his as well.” and suddenly, the story began to take shape and colour, and it became familiar.
“The Marked Warrior…?” his voice came as a whisper, but confirmation was a curt hum from the woman before him.
“They found joy in toying with a mortal’s life. How sick is that? A cruel joke that only the omnipotent can play. I have always hated the Gods, for they do not aid the mortals in need, for request plenty out of them… But this… This destroyed me. Were it not for Hermes, you would not have seen me. Probably. I do not know. Those three work in mysterious ways.” though he was not an expert in art, he knew very well that humans were fond of the latest Greek Tragedy plays - But if they were to live it, they would not be so happy about them.
“You told me about the life of the Marked Warrior, but Deimos is dead and did not live any of those events you spoke of. Maybe the Sisters of Fate only tricked you into thinking they ruined your thread.” in that instant, the woman turned to face him, and her face showed an emotion he had never seen before, nor could he decipher.
“Are you stupid? Or are you purposely acting that-a-way?” she blinked her long, pretty eyelashes at him. “After everything I told you - Do you still believe that the Marked Warrior was Deimos?!”
“But Zeus took him –” his answer was cut off by the red head who made her way in front of him.
“It wasn’t Zeus who directly chose Deimos! He had no way of knowing who the Marked Warrior truly was! It was Ares who chose Deimos, not Zeus. Have you forgotten Thanatos? He told you, Ares picked the wrong brother. Now, must I remember your life, Kratos? Who became the greatest Spartan General? You did. Who had a loving family? You did. Who is marked from head to toe? Look at your tattoo. Look at your ashen skin. Look at the scar on your face, left by Ares from when you were a child - And the large gash on your belly after Zeus impaled you. Even after all this - After the whole pantheon turned against you - Do you still truly believe that the child of the prophecy was Deimos?!” the sky was dropped on Kratos’s head and a harsh realisation hit him like a horse-drug carriage.
“How could this be…?!” for once, the Spartan was entirely speechless.
“The child who would overthrow Olympus. Who would kill Zeus. Godslayer. Are you not that person, Kratos?” the mortal could only look up and take a deep breath.
“By the Gods…” he muttered in complete disbelief. “If you knew all this, why had you kept it a secret?”
"I… May have lied to myself.” the Goddess admitted bashfully. “When you were a child, I did not imagine that Ares would make a mistake. I did not think twice about the idea that maybe he was wrong… And everything I wished you to become, is what I had heard from the prophecy.” she explained, her head hung. “The reason I felt that my soul mate was still alive… It was not because I felt Deimos’s existence. And after his death, when I insisted that he was still alive… I told you… I could feel the living energy of the very man, still going strong. I could not admit to myself that I would be just a replacement for the one that I love with my whole being, so I wanted to believe that he was dead. Instead… The very person that I was bound to… Has always been… In front of me. Living a happy life with his happy family… Until it was all gone… Because of me. It is not easy, confessing to the person you love that you are the reason they are miserable and in pain. But there you have it, Kratos. Now you know. This is the whole truth - Or at least, the one that I know. Whatever it is that you decide to do in the future, is entirely up to you.” it was never Deimos, but him - If Ares had not picked the wrong brother, they may not have ended this way. This story, this twisted prophecy, unleashed an endless river of possibilities and what ifs, to the point that the Spartan could not but forcefully stop himself from imagining.
“And since the moment you sought the aid of the Sisters, you became the laughingstock of Olympus. That was your selfish moment. The reason why the Oracle said you help my quest out of guilt. Why Gods and Titans alike deemed you a liar before me. A traitor. Is that all?” the woman nodded, dejected.
“To those who are not affected, it might seem like a silly story - But we must live with the consequences of our own actions, no matter how foolish or detrimental they seem. What was supposed to be an innocent question, became a life-sentence for many lives. Gods are awful, Kratos. Never trust them.” the conclusion was resolute, at least in her heart - But Kratos now realised the meaning behind that feeling that surged through his veins, the moment he first laid his eyes on the Goddess. It was during that time, that their hearts had connected. He tried to hate her, to find fault in her ways. He tried to blame her for everything that happened in his life - But no matter what thought went into his mind, he could not hold grudge nor hatred against her.
“I… Could not hate you.” those fateful words brought life and hope back into her green eyes.
“…Do you…. Do you mean it?” incredulous, she was almost afraid to step any closer to him.
“I mean it.” though it was painful to think about every tragedy that happened to him, it was not by her hand that they happened - In fact, she tried to alter that fate, multiple times. That was more than anyone else could claim to have helped. “We must bare the consequences of our own actions. It was not you who called down Ares. It was not you who forced me to pledge my life into his eternal servitude. It was not you who killed my family. Fate is something that should not be toyed with, and the fault rests solely on the Sisters. We create our own fate.” his sage words made the Goddess feel lighter, almost absolved of the guilt and remorse that was eating away at her soul.
When she did not answer back, he cast his sight to hers - Those vulnerable emotions that she always showed him seemed to overflow at the moment, and before he knew it, she had thrown herself into his arms, clinging tightly onto him.
“O, Kratos, I was so afraid. I could not live with the idea of you hating me. There is nothing more painful to me, than not having you in my life.” he had no words with which he could explain the way he was feeling, and for that, he stood silent. Instead, his hand found its way into her velvety cascade that her hair was, caressing it, while the other was on her lower back. When he felt her trembling lower down, he had touched his forehead to her own, and took a deep breath.
“I could never hate you.” he admitted, not only to her, but to himself as well. He still loved Lysandra, and he still loved Calliope. They were his family. But if he were to objectively think about the love his family had for him, he knows, they would want him to seek happiness and resolution… They would not want him to continue on this miserable path of self-destruction. It was him who needed this revenge, not them - They are dead. But his heart was not.
“Then - Let us continue on this journey - Together, this time. Together, we can make our own future, unbound by the rules of the Fates or the Gods.” with a grunt, he agreed and let go of the woman, so that they may venture forwards towards the Fates.

Katrina guided him through the intricate levels of the temple, which were as cruel as Atropos herself - But that, which surprised the both of them, was the presence of Perseus in a chamber filled with water that almost reached the knee level. He was desperately angry for  having the only way out blocked by the two, until he managed to convince himself that this was a test from the Sisters, and used his helmet to keep himself hidden. A cheap trick, considering his steps were seen in the water. The Goddess needn’t intervene, for the fight was fast and Perseus’s shield was taken away, so that the ugly face of Atropos can be destroyed. On the other hand, Perseus’s body was thrown on a hook and it fell to the ground, the chain serving a proper way down for the two. As Kratos went in front of the beaming energy from one of the eyes, holding the golden shield in one of his arms, Katrina created a reflective shield from her own nature life energy, and together, the two were able to easily destroy the statue’s face, and with that, so did the wall holding them away from the broken bridge that would lead them on the other side. 

There, Kratos found a double-ended magic spear, which he gladly took, as a precaution, yet would never use, just like the hammer he confiscated from his old enemy. After helping Katrina up on the leaning bridge, he used the time-stopping relic and picked her up in his arms, jumping towards a safer end of it… But it was all so fragmented that the crossing of lowlands looked more like a gymnastics probe at an olympic decathlon. “Hold onto me tightly and do not let go.” the man warned the Goddess that latched onto his back, looking at the crossing of the Lowlands with a sort of dread.
“Well… I suppose we have faced worse odds.” she muttered, bracing herself for the continuous jumping around, dangling and swinging from falling pillar to another ruined wall.
“Are you going to explain how exactly did you manage to reach the Fates, all by yourself?” the man asked, waiting for her to get off.
“I was expected… And wanted. That, in itself, made it far easier for me to find a route that did not involve even half of the journey you trailed thus far.” she explained, and it made sense. The Sisters did not want him there, thus, his road was longer, and more dangerous. Were you welcomed, you might as well end up with a portal right in their chambers.

The conversation was cut short, however, as they reached the Great Chasm, and an elderly, worn out man, slightly crazed by life and dorning a large set of wings, was warning them to head back. “Go back! Go back, warrior! There is no passage here! You will never make it across! You think you can - But you canNOT!” he stuttered.
“…Icarus?” Katrina gasped his name, remembering him as a little babe… And now, what had he become? A mad man. 
Kratos did not listen to the ramblings of a lunatic, and stepped forward. “Do you hear me?! It is my wings that will make it across! It is MY test!” the Spartan simply pushed him out of his way, not wanting to bother with the lunatic.
“Did you not hear my name?! The Goddess called it for me! The… The Goddess? The Goddess aids you! It is not fair! Why do you have help, and I do not?! It is I, Icarus! It is my fate to make it across! My test! And I shall succeed - Me, alone, just me! The Sisters - They will grant me an audience, not you! You will die, white warrior! You will die! And you - Silly little Goddess - Greedy little Goddess - Did you think a mad man would not know of your deeds? O, I have been told! I have heard of you and your greed, little Goddess!” the crazed one kept skipping around awkwardly, almost tripping - But his mind was long gone.
“I will reach the Sisters of Fate. And I will use your wings to do so.” Kratos grabbed the skeletal man’s shoulder.
“The Sisters will not allow you, a Fallen God, to bathe in their light!” Icarus screeched as he climbed on Kratos’s back, making the two free fall together, to the ground.
“Why do we always end up this way?” Katrina sighed is dismay, though she knew very well, Kratos would find a way on the other side. One way or another. He was resourceful and intelligent.

Thus, the Goddess made a bridge out of moss and liana and went on the other side - She recalled with dread, this palace… The Palace of the Fates. She remembers how she stepped inside, anxious, with only Anteros and his beautiful butterfly wings as a comfort. She remembers blocking the spike-mechanism by blocking the doors, dragging the great wooden log outside, without moving a single step. More than anything, however, she remembers there being a bridge that connected the two parts of the palace. Now, the bridge was retracted and did not allow for safe passage, if one had not succeeded in solving the challenges at hand.

Realising she could help Kratos by solving some of the puzzles, she went inside the building to the right, easily killing whatever stray foe she encountered on her way to the Auditorium of Lahkesis. There, she saw a book - But she could not read it. She needed a blood sacrifice. Though she hated the very idea of bloodying her hands, for Kratos, and for her own revenge, she would do so. Using the liana coiled around the translator’s body, she dragged him all the way to the fated book and forced him to read. No matter how much he pleaded to her, his begging fell on deaf ears. “I know you may not forgive me. But you devoted your life in servitude to the Gods and the Fates. You should have known better. Mortal lives mean nothing for a God.” though she did not believe in the same creed she spoke of, the truth was just that - If you devote your life for a higher being, you will end up as a sacrifice for them, one way or another.

The transcript of the book read as follows ’Hear me, Sisters who control the Threads! Another searches for what only the Sisters may give. As proof that he is worthy, accept this sacrifice of my own blood!’ as soon as the scholar read that line, Katrina’s vines bashed the man’s head into the book, splattering it all over like an artisanal fountain in the town square. Before her very eyes, the wings of the giant statue started to spread, half-way through. And so did the man’s blood, all over the ground, into the golden crevices engraved into the white marble on the ground that depicted a bloody phoenix.

Behind her, she felt a presence, all too familiar. Turning around, the floating vision of Lahkesis appeared before her, mocking her with a praise. “Well done, Goddess. With this sacrifice, you have proven your resolve to seek out the Sisters of Fate. Your ambition knows no bounds, even while faced with more obstacles than the first time around. However, this is but a small step in your quest to gain an audience with us.” despite her words, Lahkesis opened the ram-embellished door for the Goddess to pass through, and making her way down the corridor, she ended up back from where she began, in the middle of the Auditorium.

It mattered little to her. Katrina ventured further into the left wing of the temple that was now unlocked, thanks to Lahkesis’s help. Though, as soon as she stepped inside, she was faced with a death-trap that had only one way of escaping - Defeating all the enemies thrown around her. As if that would prove to be a challenge. Katrina’s determination knew no bounds - Though she could not help but find the Sister’s resolve rather… Contradictory. Lahkesis opened two doors for her, only to claim neither she nor Kratos would ever reach the Temple.

Once she escaped the cramped corridor, she reached a round chamber, surrounded by God statues. How annoying, Katrina thought. She remembers the Garden of the Gods, but of course, she was never important enough to earn her place there. As soon as she noticed Athena’s statue, she used her spear to destroy it. She did not want Kratos to be poisoned by her lies anymore.

Further along, she had to make yet another sacrifice - This time, by fire - And with ease, she bound the sirens that appeared before her and pulled the lever. She felt her heart ache for their lives, and she knew, should she voice her contradictory resolution, she would be deemed a hypocrite, without the possibility of refuting. Thus, she remained quiet. 
Reaching a small puzzle with a frozen bird statue, she used her vines to move around the mirror so that the beaming light from the ceiling would hit the ice, thus, melting it away. Then, the Goddess pulled on the lever to melt away the ice that sealed away the door - And thus, she could pass onto the next chamber. Still, she hoped dearly that Kratos would get there already. Though she did not find it difficult to pass the challenges presented her way, the solitude was almost terrifying.

Thankfully, she finally found the end of the left wing, and there, another translator was awaiting her, not so eagerly. “Goddess? It was foretold that you would be followed by the Ghost of Sparta - No matter! I will not let you reach the Sisters!” the old man  threw himself off the edge of the balcony, but silly man, did he not know the powers of the Goddess? Without batting an eye, a liana was already coiled around his ankle, and brought back on the ground, forced to read the next transcript of the book. ‘Hear me, Noble Sisters, who forge our destinies. Another seeks an audience to change their fate. As proof that he is worthy, I give my blood to illuminate the way!’ read the forsaken passage - And, once again, another man had to die. Once, Katrina was afraid of even seeing blood, let alone be covered in it. This time, the cause excused the means - Or that is how she lied herself. It mattered little. This bloody phoenix was formed as well, as so did Lahkesis visit her again. 
“Katrina. Like the fiery Phoenix who is resurrected from his ashes, so you and Kratos too, search for a second chance at life. Of what you had long lost. Find these ashes and free the Phoenix. Only then, will you find the path to the Temple of the Fates.” once more the Fate opened this door for the Goddess, so she could continue venturing ahead - It was not until she reached a certain puzzle that she realised it might be well beyond her prowess capacity. 
“Well, this is… Less than optimal.” looking up, she noticed the spiked ceiling - Ceiling that would fall on her, should she not bring down the ground by using brute force, dragging onto the large chain in the middle. “Might as well rest, then.” thus, the Goddess sat on the ground and created a liana long enough that it would go all the way to the beginning, in the middle of the auditorium, so that Kratos would follow along without getting lost.

Thankfully, the reunion took place not after a long wait. “You… Beat all those challenges, all by yourself?” though he was impressed, he also felt guilty, seeing the blood tainting her beautiful tunic.
“I did earn a lot of time to spare. And you - You received a blessing from Atlas. How quaint. May it serve you well. Shall we?” with help from the man, she went to her feet and explained the labour before them - With Kratos dragging the chain and Katrina destroying the forming skeletons, they were easily able to escape yet another death trap. On the other side, it was the Phoenix Chamber. Here, they had to reach the urn with the ashes and place it into the lava, so that it may be reborn. 

The Sisters seemed to be blindly in love with spiked floor traps and fire-based sacrifices, but they were getting annoying by the minute. Still, retrieving the urn and delivering it to the fire was one of the easier things they had done since the beginning of their journey together - Be it that of getting revenge on the Sisters of Fate, or the many previous ones. A large fire bird emerged gloriously from the lava, through the ceiling - Then flew on the other end, where the bridge should have gotten them, waiting patiently, perched on the fire of the large torch.

There was one last wing remaining, that on the upper floor of the west side - But there, they encountered something other-worldly. Something completely unimaginable, that made no sense for either of them. On a dark, cramped corridor that was barely luminated by the grey light from the outside. A man, desperate in his voice, had attacked them - This human was strong, but he was no match for the great Spartan Warrior. Once thrown outside of the corridor, and into the blinding Sun that engulfed the Auditorium, Kratos realised that the one in which his blades were impaled was none other than Atreus, his second in command. His friend and brother is arms. The one he left in control of Sparta. “You?!” he could not believe his eyes - Was he cheated by some spell? A vision, mayhaps?  “I told you to return to Sparta! Why do you leave Sparta unprotected?!” the general reproached his dear friend that was close to dying. 
“Wait, Kratos - Let me try to heal him.” she quickly held the man in her arms and covered him in dewy musk that quickly healed his injuries. 
“Sparta… Is no more.” Atreus spoke with a heavy heart. “Zeus… He came under the cloak of darkness into Sparta. The people cried out for you. They begged for their God to save them. But you did not come. I was left with no choice. I had to seek out the Sisters to change the fate of our beloved Sparta… For I am all that is left.” though the story he told was that of sorrow, for once, Katrina’s healing was able to save a life. But what shall become of it, as they further on in their endeavours, while he is to remain here, at the Temple, with no way of returning… Nor a place to call a home.
“Atreus - Worry not, for that you may live. We are seeking the Sisters for the same reason as you. Though you shalt not remember the events of this day, believe your Lord and his strength. He WILL save Sparta. Alright?” the woman helped the man up - And much to his surprise he felt… Rejuvenated in his entirety.
“You are the only one who can protect our home, Atreus.” Kratos spoke, shaking a brotherly hand with his friend.
“Yes, My Lord!” Atreus knelt before his Lord, before running away the same way he came there. Though the general spoke naught, she knew he was grateful that at least his friend did not have to die by the hand of the Gods.

Their only way to the other side was blocked by a nasty kraken, which the two easily defeated, and with the Spartan pulling the level, the open mouth of the monster served as the mechanism that blocked the bridge in place. Once they reached the Phoenix, the Goddess shuddered. She never liked the fire. Alas, she seemed to constantly be surrounded by it. Thanks to Kratos’s reassuring hand on her shoulder and a bit of leftover courage that Atreus offered her, the two rode on the back of the majestic bird and ended in the flooded Temple of the Fates. It was almost as wet as she remembers. Almost, only.

Destroying the stone statue of Lahkesis head, they were able to reach her Throne… And, unfortunately, it looked every bit as intimidating as before. “Kratos, ready your weapons. This place… This is the throne room of Lahkesis… And that elder sister is always nearby.” Katrina’s worry seemed based, and Katros did as instructed. He could not understand the need of the mirrors, at first. Just as the first time she saw her, the younger Sister floated down, from above, garbed in her glorious white and gold tunic, her helm and the scepter she never let go of from her grasp.
“We have been expecting you.” she spoke mystically. “Katrina, are you here for another fateful love reading?” that jab was uncalled for, and had she not have had any self-restrained, she would have ripped her throat out. Not that she could, per se.
“Out of my way.” Kratos tried to step aside, but was unable to.
“Your resolve is admirable - Even if it is… Misguided. None can change their destiny, Kratos. You should ask your dear friend for that confirmation. It was I who deemed that the Titans lose the Great War and I who have allowed you to come this far. It is not your destiny to kill Zeus!” Lahkesis grabbed the man’s shoulder, only to be shaken away.
“You no longer control my destiny.” the Spartan claimed with great conviction. 
“I see Gaia has filled you with her lies.” Gaia? Katrina thought. So Kratos went from being lied by the Gods, to being a pawn for the Titans. A common enemy did not necessarily mean you can a common ground to stand on as well.
“I have warned you! Let me pass!” the general grabbed the Sister by her throat - But it was in vain. She merely laughed at him, as if he was a child. 
“You have always amused us, Kratos. You should have seen how pitiful your little friend was, crying, when we told her that! When we tore you away from her! She was horrified at the prospect of you being a source of entertainment for us!” she mocked the Goddess with every breath she drew. Kratos did not take the mockery lightly. Not when it came to his life and future. “Know this, mortal. There is NO power greater than the Sisters of Fate. If you challenge us - You will die.” Kratos was the first to launch his attack upon the younger sister, with his lover following close behind.
“Kratos, be on high alert! Atropos might come at any moment! She is the one who cuts the Threads!” came the warning for the Spartan.

Though the battle with the Sister who embellished the threads was not as difficult as he had expected, especially with the aid of the Rage that Gaia gifted to him, Katrina’s fear came to fruition, and the elder sister arrived to rescue Lahkesis. From a great darkness, the ugly one appeared, cackling like an old hag and threatening to cut their thread. Though she flew around in an attempt to capture Kratos, Katrina pushed him to the side and commanded her spear to attack the elder sister, controlling it with every twitch of her fingers.

“O, but I am scared of a little flower girl! Tell me, silly girl, how was it, seeing the love of your life marry another? Did it break your heart? Did you want to kill yourself? I am sure my sister made it so!” that haunting squack-like laughter was making the Spartan overspill with anger to the brims. “Or, mayhaps you cried another river? Did you name it yet? Is it bigger than the previous one?” all those taunts, though painful, worked naught in her attempt to make the Goddess lose her focus. “Ah, you remained as boring as ever. Cutting your thread is going to serve as a blessing, rather than a curse for you. Be surprised no further than none of the Gods like you, O, prosaic one!” her mockery had no end, but her cockiness was going to become her downfall. Atropos, for the first time, saw her own blood being spilled to the ground, after the Goddess managed to land a clear cut across her face. “NO! You URCHIN! How DARE you maim me?! You and that Ghost of Sparta will pay for this!” working in tandem, Lahkesis was able to trap Kratos in a corner and Atropos was ready to take him inside one of her mirrors - But the Goddess of Nature was not about to let that happen. Summoning the vines to grab onto the arms of the elder one and drag her away, Atropos became blinded with rage by the constant challenge of the Goddess, and began an attack - Attack that she had not foreseen.
“KATRINA! NO!” Katros yelled as he noticed the spear being recalled… Through the bodies of Katrina and Atropos. The serene look on the Goddess’s face made it obvious that she had this planned for a while - But the Fate was having none of it. She tried to trash around, hoping to escape, but was bound by the vines holding her body on the long polearm. 
“Shall we see what memory of the past you wanted to visit, Atropos?” with another flick of her hand, Katrina sent the spear flying towards the mirror that was readied for Kratos. She would not allow anyone to torment him any further.

She had not expected that old memory to be the time of the battle with Ares - And she was on the Blade of the Gods, throwing attack after attack aimed at the banshee-like Fate. If she had known defeating her was this easy, she would have gotten her revenge long ago. Alas…
“Katrina! Here!” Kratos, in an attempt to save the Goddess, had jumped inside the mirror - In front of him, he did not see only the red haired woman on the sword, but their old, great selves - He was on the ground, clutching onto her flower while she tried desperately to fend off the God of War. So this is how that happened, he realised. What an awful memory to re-live, Kratos thought. Still, for someone like her to stand up so bravely against a war-seasoned warrior, it took a lot of courage. Now, he had to do the same for her. 
In a flurry of moves, he ran by her side, slashing at the pesky Fate as to disorient her, before bringing Katrina out of there - And trapping her on the other side of the mirror. It was the perfect outcome, and it allowed the woman enough time to heal her wounds. 

“I am through playing games with you, Kratos! This power was never meant for a mortal like you!” it had only taken the two a second of misplaced attention to become separated - Lahkesis used her scepter to throw Kratos away, only to be dragged into a mirror by Atropos.
“Kratos!” Katrina called out to him, unsure of what to do. Lahkesis was ready to break the mirror, and if that should be done, Kratos would be unable to leave whatever that memory was, but Atropos would just find another mirror. “You are awful! Why did you have to be so cruel, Lahkesis?! Everyone always called you the benevolent one of the three Sisters! Could you not just have let me go that day?! None of this needed to happen! Olympus, the mortals, the titans - Nothing would have gone into complete disarray, were it not for your morbid need of constantly seeking amusement in destroying the lives of men and Gods alike!” the red haired woman reproached the younger sister, who merely shook her head.
“Some events are just fated to happen - And so will Kratos learn, once he sees that through which you have gone, out of sheer desperation and selfishness.” it did not take much more explaining for the green eyes woman to realise where Kratos was trapped in.
“Why – Why there? Why him?! That is not a memory that could kill him, no less - What will you gain out of that indirect torment?!” that which she had learnt pained her so.
“Merely a chuckle, mayhaps. It all depends on the actions taken by my sister.” but Lahkesis used the short time frame as an opportunity to attempt and destroy said mirror - Attempt failed, as the Goddess was far too angry to let go of this derision.
“Mayhaps it is time for you to read your own fate, Lahkesis. Who knows - Some events might be altered.” protecting that mirror with every ounce of strength she had in her body, she only prayed that Kratos would escape that memory already - And be well.

On the other side of the reflection, however, Kratos was forced to witness the sobbing of the Goddess as she was told the pitiful, altered fate of her beloved. The humiliation and agony she must have felt were only a fraction of what she depicted during her earlier confession. To know that you may mean nothing for the one that your heart is bound to must be tearing. Having Lysandra taken away was the most painful tragedy of his life - But if Katrina were to be torn away from his life, he would feel the very same - Distraught to the very brink of madness. 

“ENOUGH! Enough games! I am done playing games with the Sisters of Fate!” he could do nothing to deviate that memory - The damage was already done, and he could not undo the weaving of the Thread - What he could do, however, is make wiser choices and protect the last remaining dear one he had alive. He did not listen to the taunting cackled from the old hag - Instead, he threw he blades at her once more, slashing her away with ease, before jumping through in his own realm of the present.
“Are you alright, my love?!” Katrina called out, relieved to see him being alive and well.
“Let us end this foolishness already.” with a nod of approval, the two began breaking the last remaining mirrors, so that Atropos would be unable to escape the past, forever to linger there, trapped in her own cruelty and misery that she created - And, in the end, the two were able to throw the younger sister into the last mirror, breaking it before they could escape.

It had been a long battle, but a worthy one.

After catching her breath, Katrina hurried to his side, holding his face in worry. “Kratos, I–” she wanted to apologise - He could see that she held knowledge of that which he had witnessed - But there was no need for any regrets. Instead, the man had kissed her dearly, all fear that she would dissipate into the air brought into that shared emotion.
“Do not apologise. What I had seen - I now understand. Blame yourself no further and rid of your guilt.” looking into her sparkling eyes was better than counting the stars on the night sky, that was how dazed he felt, gazing into her lovestruck expression of hers. Some said the eyes were the mirror into one’s soul, and though he paid no mind about such a saying, he could not see - There was no need to express love. You could see it, clearer than the spring water. “We are close to reaching our goal. Let us proceed further and end this, once and far all. Are you with me?” but the melting smile of her sweet lips was enough of an answer.
“I will always be by your side, Kratos. Be that in life, or in death - It makes no difference for me, as long as I can hold you in mine arms.” that smile - Kratos knew he had to protect that smile at all cost. It was the only thing keeping him alive. Revenge was his fuel, but the love he held was what was keeping him still sane, despite all that he had gone through.

The next chamber was by far the largest one, and everywhere you could see countless threads, akin to spider webs. Clotho, the middle sister, also the neutral one, was in her giant silkworm form. She always held her work as sacred, and never took a break from it. “It is through my threads that all life is born.” despite being a creator of life, in a way, akin to the red haired Goddess by his side… He could not help but feel disgusted by the grotesque imagery before his eyes. “You must not tamper with destiny, Kratos. You will destroy everything.” no. It was not him that destroyed everything - It was the very hand of Fate that put this imminent Deicide into motion. It mattered little that it was by his hand, or another’s - The events that were taking place were bound to happen, sooner or later. It was all a result of the Gods’ endless greed. “You will never control your thread, Kratos!” Kratos was deaf to all of her warnings - He was going to control the mirrors of fate that were going to help him travel through time and stop his death caused by the betrayal of Zeus.

Climbing up the body of the Silkworm Fate was by far their easiest task yet, Kratos realised, as they hurried in great haste to the top level that held the head and front pair of arms. With the help of a well aimed giant blade into her temple, the Ghost of Sparta killed the last of the Fates easier than he had killed any other enemy of his.
“You have done it, Kratos! This is wonderous! Up there, there is a lever that will reveal the threads. Go pull it and wait there, in front of the mirror. I will search for your thread, and once it is found, you will jump into the mirror. I will await you here, my love. Will you be alright by yourself?” the woman asked, touching her forehead to his - Their special means of showing their love for one another.
“Of course. About time I finally show Zeus that of which I am made of.” Kratos spoke, stealing one last kiss from the beautiful Goddess before him, as he ran up to the fated mirror. With great ease, Katrina was able to find the Thead and wove it, finding the exact moment needed for Kratos to return in the past.

As the Spartan jumped on the other side, he ran at Zeus, pushing him away from his past self. “How can this be? The Sisters of Fate have aided you. Unexpected…” Zeus seemed genuinely surprised by such a divine intervention. Alas, he was wrong.
“The Sisters are dead.” Kratos spoke solemnly, grabbing the Blade of Olympus from the ground.
“Hmm, I have underestimated you. A mistake I do not intend to repeat.” Zeus, calling his lightning powers, brought Kratos on an arena somewhere above the skies, where the two had fought to the last bit of their strength - But much to the dismay and horror of the great Leader of Olympus, Zeus was losing, upon the Summit of the Sacrifice. He was thrown around, had his head bashed on rocks and pillars trampling over his body - Yet just before he had almost been killed - When the Blades were impaling his hands onto a boulder, the Blade of Olympus digging deep into his belly - Athena appeared out of thin air, using her two swords to drive Kratos away from the Father God. “You cannot do this, Kratos!”
“You DARE stand against me, Athena?!” the Spartan growled at the Goddess of Wisdom who has wronged him so many times before.
“I do not wish to fight you, Kratos! But I WILL defend Olympus!” Athena was capable of keeping Kratos at bay - But not for long.
“Know this, my son. You have started a war you cannot possibly win. That flower girl alone will never be able to help you overthrow the reign of the Gods.” within the time Athena bought him, Zeus was able to stand up and walk away from the commotion. “The Fates have already deemed ME victorious!”
“No, Kratos! Stop!” in his rage, Kratos pushed past the Goddess of Wisdom - But he did not foresee her jumping in front of the blade, sacrificing herself, just to save Zeus.
“Athena! No!” though she wronged him endlessly, Kratos was never able to hate her. He did not intend to kill those who did not stand in his way - And Athena was a victim in all this. Taking the sword away from her body, he caught her in his arms and lay her down, allowing enough time for Zeus to escape. “Why do you sacrifice yourself?” he asked, filled with misery at having to kill yet another innocent one.
“To save Olympus.” she replied - The same answer she always had for him.
“I do not seek to destroy Olympus. Only Zeus.” Kratos explained - But it was meaningless. 
For once, Athena’s words were true. “Zeus IS Olympus!”
“Zeus brought this upon himself.” the man sneered, holding onto the disappearing form of the dying Goddess.
“Because of fear, Kratos. A fear felt by his father, Cronos. A fear that wrought the Great War. A fear that drove Zeus to kill you.” she explained with her last remaining strength. “His own son.” she spoketh, her hand on his face, making sure he looks her deep in her eyes when she reveals the truth.
“His son?!” he was flabbergast from this knowledge.
“Katrina did not know - Do not blame her for not telling you. Hermes was forced to swear secrecy from her, in fear that she may inform you.” her voice was getting weaker with every word she uttered. “Just as Zeus was compelled to destroy his father, Cronos, you are compelled to do the same. No son should destroy his own father!”
“And a father should never have to bury his own child, Athena - Yet not only did I have to do so, but he would have me die, for his fear.” he was angered at the audacity the Goddess had, protecting a man who would murder his own child out of sheer paranoid fears. “No, Athena, I have no father.” he had his family, and they were no more. He needn’t any more members. 
“God after God will deny you, Kratos. They will protect Zeus. Zeus must live, so that Olympus will prevail.” were her last words, before he faded away into emerald specks that flew into the breeze.
“If all on Olympus will deny my vengeance, then all on Olympus will die.” was Kratos’s oath to himself. He did not come this far, to turn back. Even if he did, Zeus would chase him to the ends of the world to kill him - That was no life, nor was it the life he wanted for Katrina. He did not want to endanger her anymore. He will end this cycle once and for all, and with it, so will his life of revenge, and hopefully, he would be allowed, with due help, to embark on a path of redemption. “I have lived in the shadow of the Gods for long enough. The time of the Gods has come to an end!” this was a declaration of war, and by far, the one that the Spartan felt strongest in his heart.

With that, he went back to the mirror, only to see the temple beginning to cumber down. “Hurry, Kratos! This place will go down any second!” the Goddess holding tightly onto his thread called out to him.
“Roll back the thread until I tell you to stop. Reach out here and I will pull you with me. Are you ready?” he called back, staring deep into the murky mirror.
“Understood!” she proceeded to weave the thread further and further on, until she heard the signal - Once sent, she used a liana to get to Kratos’s location faster, and from there, she was dragged inside the mirror without as much as having time to see where they would be transported. It did not take long to realise, however, their time and space coordinates. The chaos they were brought in was none other than the Great Titan War.
“Gaia!” Kratos called out to the Mother Titan.
“You. Are. Crazy.” Katrina’s eyes were wide, and for once, she was truly speechless, standing before the mighty Titan of Earth who was bending down to their minuscule level. She felt intimidated and afraid, thus, hiding behind Kratos’s fearless body.
“We have been expecting you, Ghost of Sparta. The Gods are far too powerful for us to defeat now.” the titan informed.
“All Olympus tremble at my name! Zeus is weak. Ares and Athena are dead - And I wield the blade! We can win the Great War - But not in this time!” Kratos spoke the same as back then, as a renowned Spartan General. Still, the notion that Athena was finally gone, unable to poison Kratos’s mind was a source of happiness for the Goddess - With the small exception that now Gaia and whatever Titans were left, would take her place - Perhaps, even worse. “Together, we WILL destroy the petty Gods, and we WILL see Olympus crumble before us!” he truly was a leader worth following, if even cowards like Katrina were compelled to follow him into battle, whatever the outcome. “Come with me, Gaia. Return to my time! Victory awaits!” a strange lighting armor engulfed the Spartan, and with such power, they were transported in their own time, along with many of the titans present - Only to find themselves climbing up the Mountain of Olympus.

Holding with dear life onto Kratos, who was keeping himself upright by clinging on a tree on Gaia’s back, Katrina could not help but look with worry at her beloved. “Kratos… Promise me. No matter what, you will think twice before trust anyone, be they Gods or Titans. Can you do that?" 
"As long as Zeus dies, I care not for such things. Allies and a steady army are vital for a victorious war.” he informed, scorning up at the cloud-hidden kingdom.
“Yes - Allies. An army. You may use them against a common foe - But do not believe that they may never betray you. Remember Athena. Remember Ares. Remember all the Gods you put your faith into - And do not repeat the same mistake ever again. Can you promise me that, my love?” with a caress of her cheek, the man grunted in approval.
“I will exercise caution against any who is not you. Fear no further, I shall not give you reason to worry. Stand by my side, so that I can protect you. Understood?” was his command, which she followed with a smile.
“Understood, General Kratos.” her light-hearted comment was enough to embolden the rage-filled Spartan even further - Upon seeing the top of the mountain and the horrified faces of the Olympians, Kratos was ready for his official declaration of war.

ZEUS! YOUR SON HAS RETURNED! I BRING THE DESTRUCTION OF OLYMPUS!

In the end… 

There will be only chaos.


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