Kratos. Ancient Greece had never known a more vicious, deadly and bloodthirsty warrior. Known as the Ghost of Sparta, Kratos had singlehandedly taken on the armies of Demons and Monsters from Tartarus, and slaughtered the Gods and Titans. Now, the Spirit of Athena, the former Goddess of Wisdom, demanded that Kratos give her what 'she rightfully deserves': the Power of Hope. However, Kratos was no fool.
"My vengeance…ends now." Kratos raised the Blade of Olympus, and for a moment appeared to be attempting to strike down Athena. Athena quickly backed off, but she didn't have needed. Kratos drew back the Blade of Olympus and, with a look of grim determination on his face, drove the Sword through himself.
"You fool! What have you done?" Athena screamed, pure shock and horror etched on her face.
Kratos roared to the heavens as the Power of Hope was released to the world in a blinding column of white light. The light mushroomed out, expanding until it had completely covered and dispersed to the entire globe. The Blade of Olympus ceased its glow as Kratos fell to his knees, weak from exhaustion and blood loss, the Sword still plunged through his torso.
"That was meant for me! Mankind will not know what to do with it!" Screamed Athena. Kratos gave a weak chuckle.
"You've lost, Athena. With the Power of Hope, humans will be able to rise and prosper without your rule. They will no longer need selfish Immortals to dictate and oppress them."
Athena's Spirit drifted towards Kratos, whose head was bowed down. She yanked his head up painfully, and spoke coldly, "You disappoint me, Spartan." Kratos gave a grim snort in defiance. Releasing his head, she yanked the Blade out of Kratos and drifted away, somewhat nonchalantly. Kratos was left, a giant hole through his torso, still spurting torrents of fresh blood. Unable to hold out any longer, the Ghost of Sparta, the former Great God of War, collapsed, his eyes shut.
Little did Kratos know that his actions were being watched by another. A God among Gods. A God to …. Pretty much everything in the universe. Up in Heaven, above all the planets, above all other Pantheons of Immortals, The Almighty watched Kratos collapse.
"He has a good heart. He has simply been consumed by anger, hatred and vengeance. With a second chance, he will prove valuable in the fight against evil."
With that, God channeled his power into a ray of Holy Light that descended down from Heaven all the way to where Kratos was lying, motionless. The Light enveloped Kratos for a while, and then vanished, along with the Ghost of Sparta.