God of War: Search for Salvation

Chapter 1: The Bargain

Kratos lay in a pool of his own blood, feeling the life slip away from him. This time, Kratos would not fight death. He had suffered and lost too much. Now, at long last, he would be at peace.

Then, unexpectedly, he felt his life returning. He could feel his wound healing, feel his strength replenished.

No! he thought. Why can't I die? Why must I continue to live and suffer?

Then, Kratos heard someone cackling behind him. Leaping to his feet, Kratos turned towards the source. To his surprise, he found himself facing a strange figure. It had the appearance of a wiry man dressed in dark garments, but its hair was acid green and its eyes were a piercing blue with slit pupils.

The creature continued its cackling. "That was a close call," it said. "I was afraid I had lost you."

Kratos was about to reach for his Blades of Exile, when he remembered that he had thrown them away when he had killed Zeus. Kratos adopted a fighting stance, preparing to clash with whatever the thing was.

"Who are you?" Kratos demanded.

"Someone with an eye for talent," it replied. "My name is Ziradus, and I must say, you are a talented warrior, Kratos."

"How do you know me?" asked Kratos warily.

"Oh, I've known about you for a long time," said Ziradus. "I've been watching you battle your way through the years and I've never seen a more impressive record." He began to tick off his fingers. "You've killed Ares, Athena, Poseidon, Hades, Hermes, Helios, Hephaestus, Persephone and last but most certainly not least, Zeus himself. Not to mention some titans, the Sisters of Fate and hordes of lesser opponents."

"So you are familiar with my feats," growled Kratos. "What do you want of me?"

Ziradus grinned. "Right to the heart of the matter. I like that." He began to pace about. "I do indeed require your…service in a small matter. There are two items that I've been wanting for a while. They exist in another dimension and are objects of great power. I want you to retrieve them for me."

"Why should I?" demanded Kratos.

"Because," Ziradus said, "I will return to you something dear that you lost years ago." He looked Kratos dead in the eye. "Your family."

Kratos felt as though he had aged fifty years. Could it be? Could he, the Ghost of Sparta, cursed with the nightmares of slaughtering his wife and daughter, finally have what he craved most? It seemed too good to be true, and Kratos was wary of that fact.

"I've been promised such things before," said Kratos, "only to be betrayed once I had finished my task. How can I know you won't do the same?"

Ziradus smirked. "A valid point. I suppose that you have been lied to one time too many. Very well, a show of good faith then." Ziradus raised a hand and a silver mist gathered. The mist twisted and merged until it began to take the shape of two human figures, a girl's and a woman's. Soon, the mist formed before Kratos's unbelieving eyes into none other than his daughter, Calliope and his wife, Lysandra.

Calliope looked around at her surroundings, clearly startled. Then, her frightened eyes fell upon her father. "Daddy?" Lysandra hugged her close and said, "Kratos, what's happening? Where are we?"

Kratos stepped toward them and fell to his knees. He reached out and took his daughter in his hands. Her skin felt smooth and warm, just as he remembered. His breath came out in ragged sobs. "Calliope? Lysandra? Is it really you?"

"They're real," said Ziradus. "Flesh and blood. Anyway, that's the deal: bring my item back to me, and you get your family back." He raised his hand again and the two flew backwards with a scream. Kratos leapt up in rage and roared, "Give them back!"

Ziradus calmly rested a hand on each of their shoulders. "All in good time, my friend. First, bring back what I want."

Glaring at the smug humanoid, Kratos growled, "And what are these things you want?"

"They are called Soul Edge and Soul Calibur," said Ziradus. "They are weapons of great power. And evil. It is said that whoever wields the cursed swords will be utterly corrupted by them. Only someone with a strong will can resist them."

"Then I assume you have a weak will," said Kratos scathingly.

Ziradus bristled. "Be careful, Ghost of Sparta, or you'll find yourself with a new nightmare haunting you." He gripped Calliope's neck and she let out a small shriek.

Features thick with rage, Kratos snarled, "I warn you, Ziradus; if you so much as scratch her, I'll make you beg for death!"

Ziradus just laughed. "Ah, Kratos. That's what I like about you: always so eager to kill and maim." He released his grip on Calliope. "I assure you, I'm very strong-willed. I just need you to fetch them because there are…certain individuals I'd prefer to avoid in that dimension."

Kratos continued to glare at Ziradus. "And if I complete this task, then you will give me my family back?"

"Of course, Kratos," said Ziradus silkily. "So, do we have a deal?"

Kratos retreated within himself for a moment to think it over, weighing the possible benefits and consequences of what he would have to do. He looked back at Ziradus. "Weapons are only good for one thing. What do you plan on destroying with these two swords once you have them?"

"What does that matter to you?" asked Ziradus and Kratos noted that his voice sounded a little strained. "My goals will not affect you or your family. Now, do we have a deal?"

For a minute longer, Kratos thought it over. In the end, his desire to have his family back outweighed anything else.

"We have a deal," said Kratos. "But be warned Ziradus: betray me, and whatever plans you have will never succeed. I will see to it that you will not live long enough to put them into action."

Ziradus smiled broadly. "Excellent!" He looked over at Kratos's discarded Blades of Exile and the Golden Fleece. A bright light flashed in his eyes and the items flew back to Kratos. "You'll need these. I've restored power to the Fleece, just so you know. I can't have you dieing on me, though I hardly think that anyone in that dimension will pose a challenge for you."

Kratos put on the Fleece and took back his blades. "Where am I to find these weapons of yours?"

"I do not know where exactly they are," said Ziradus, "for they are each currently wielded by someone. All I know are their names; a man named Siegfried wields Soul Calibur and a creature called Nightmare wields Soul Edge. You'll have to find them yourself." His eyes flashed again and a swirling vortex appeared. Ziradus looked back at Kratos. "This portal will take you to the dimension. Best of luck, Spartan. Not that you need it."

Kratos looked at the portal and then at his family. Ziradus gave him a repugnant smile. "Don't worry about your family Kratos. I'll take good care of them."

With a last look back at his family and a glare at Ziradus, Kratos stepped through the portal. As he flew through swirling colors and sounds, Kratos felt adamant determination fill him.

Calliope…Lysandra…I will find the swords and I then I will finally be reunited with you both. Nothing will stop me! NOTHING!

And so, Kratos began another quest in the hope of at long last finding salvation from the nightmares and memories that continually haunted him. Woe to those that would stand in his way.