Krakoom!

Thunder reverberated across the snowy forest as the winds whipped and whistled. The clouds blotted out the sun, just as they had so many times in the three-year winter. In the middle was a humble wooden cabin built from the white trees around it. In front stood a man over six feet tall, the gusts blowing his cloak around, revealing a hammer upon his belt. It's handle was only long enough for one hand, but the head glowed a bright blue revealing the runes expertly carved into it.

Baboom!

Another flash of lightning and thunder shook the woods. The next sound came from the door to the cabin slamming open. From it a man ran out. He was of similar height as the hammer-wielding stranger and wore a cuirass and armored leggings. The wrinkles and greying beard on his pale face indicated his age and experience. A long red tattoo streaked across his body's left side, ending at his left eye. In his hand was an axe with gold and runes etched into it. His forearms were bandaged with chains leading to two sword swords made of stone sheathed on his back. On his belt swung a red, goat-horned, bearded head; its eyes glowing yellow and blinking. Running out behind the man was a boy with nearly shaved hair covered in furs. On his back was a quiver of arrows and a bow which he summarily drew.

"Who are you?!" The bearded man shouted at the stranger. With two hands, he pulled back the hood to reveal a blonde man with bright blue eyes and a thick beard looking as if it were spun from gold. The head's eyes grew wide. "Oh, no..."

"Nice to see you too, Mimir!" The stranger's voice was boisterous. "Father has missed you! Stabbing a body that doesn't scream is like lightning without thunder; it's just not satisfying!" He punctuated the end with a bolt of lightning crashing behind him. "Mimir," the boy whispered to the head. "Is that really...?"

"Aye, lad. Thor: god of thunder. Although it's rare to see him sober during the day."

"Father," the boy looked up to the tattooed man. "If that's Thor. I mean the Thor, do you think we can-?"

"Do not doubt yourself, Atreus." He commanded. "He is not the first storm god I have fought."

"Kratos, please." Mimir looked panicked. "I know you've got a good track record, but this is Thor! You don't know what he can do!"

"Quiet, head." Kratos ordered before looking back at the unwanted guest. "Are you here to avenge your sons?!"

"You mean Magni and Modi?! Ha! You did me a favor! Three years of not having them whine at me during my meals has been a wonderful vacation. The Allfather sends me for him." He pointed at Atreus who quickly tensed up. "What do you want with me?!"

Thor let out a hearty laugh at the question. "Look around you, boy! The three long years of winter you and your father started is ending. Do you know what that means?"

"Oh, shit!" Mimir cursed. "It's as I feared, it's the bloody beginning of Ragnarok!"

"Yes! Fucking Ragnarok! We figured we'd have a century or two before someone figured out how to kill Baldur, but you had to be persistent. Now I'm gonna be nice. Hand over the boy," the thunder god put a hand on his hammer. "Or there will be trouble."

"No." Atreus' father growled, his grip tightening on his axe.

"Is that so?" Thor unfastened his cloak letting it get carried by the winds. "What a shame. But to tell you the truth," The hammer flew from his belt to his palm. "I was hoping you'd say that." With a malicious smile Thor wound up and loosed his weapon. "Down!" Kratos and Atreus barely rolled out of the way as the hammer flew like a shooting star, demolishing their house and, from the sound of it, anything within a mile away. Seizing his chance, Kratos pushed out of the snow and charged, letting out a war cry. Just as he brought down his axe, the hammer returned to Thor's hand.

Clang! The mythic metal in the two arms let loose a wave of energy, blowing the snow around them away. Kratos struggled to break through Thor's one handed guard, his scowl bringing him to the edge of snarling. "So, that's the Leviathan Axe I heard sooo much about," Thor smirked. "Guess those two bastards learned how to make a weapon for us with two hands."

"Father!" Coming from the side, Atreus began a rapid assault of blue arrows aimed at Thor's face but the god managed to block with his shoulder. Most of them were deflected save one that sunk into his flesh. "Grah!" With his free hand, he grabbed Kratos by the neck and sent him flying into a few trees. He turned to Atreus, breaking the arrow. "You little shit!" He walked swiftly, blocking arrows with Mjolnir at an alarming speed. When he was close enough, he grabbed the boy by the neck. "If Odin didn't want you, I'd cave in your skull like a sparrow's egg!"

"Let me go!" Atreus cried as he desperately clawed the god's arm. The look of rage Thor had turned into one of sadistic glee.

"Kratos!" Mimir called to the warrior. "Get up!" Thor's hand grew tighter as Atreus' movements slowed. "Ha ha! Come on!" Thor mocked. "Is this really the best you've got?!"

"Atreus!" Kratos flew forward and threw his axe at an even greater speed. It wasn't fast enough; Thor simply deflected the blade with a wave of his hammer. However, as Kratos was a few feet from his target, he leapt high and held out his hand. In a second, the axe returned to him which he swiftly brought down. Thor was so off guard, he couldn't stop the axe from sinking into his bicep. "Argh!" The blond god roared in pain as he dropped his captive. The youth recovered swiftly and drew a knife from his pocket. "Enough!" From the sky, a thunderbolt struck Thor, the shockwave knocking Kratos and his son away. The warrior caught the ground with his hands and looked to the right. His son had rolled a bit but was still conscious. "Boy, get up!" He shifted his gaze back to his enemy. "Uh oh," Mimir remarked. "He's gettin' serious now." The head was right. The thunder god was now coursing with lightning, bolts pouring from his arms, legs, beard and glowing eyes. "Well I was hoping to avoid this, but I'm sure father will forgive the mess."

"Woah," Atreus stared at the juggernaut of power in front of him. "Are you sure we can take him?"

"In my opinion, I'd suggest a tactical retreat-"

"Quiet, head!" Kratos interrupted the councilor. "We will not run." From his arms a red glow spread like fire across his body.

"Or we could lay waste to all of Midgard, your choice."

"Atreus!"

"Sir!"

"Be ready."

"Got it!" The youth readied his bow.

"All right, old man!" Thor called as he took a step. "I hope it was worth being turned into a stain across the forest!"

"Now!" Kratos launched himself out of the snow with a battle cry, the red glow becoming a streak while Thor became a blue copy. Midway, Kratos drew his axe and held it in two hands, at the same time, Atreus leapt into action behind his father. "Yaaahhh!"

"Graaahhh!"

"Rrrr!"

Atreus jumped, apparently planning on using his mentor as a stepping stone. At last, the axe and hammer clashed. The noise was unlike any heard before, a sort of warping sound as the two legendary arms clashed with an incalculable force. With it a blinding light flashed and within it, Kratos was launched faster than thought possible, his son caught in the path and brought with him. "Atreus!"

"Father!"

Kratos twisted his body and caught his son, the two clasping each other for what seemed like an eternity.

The light disappeared leaving no trace of the forest they were in.

"Oof!" The two skidded on a rocky shore, eventually stopping on sand. After a few seconds, Kratos slowly rose to his feet, his son soon followed. He looked around; the two were on a beach, the gentle waves lapping at the shore while it reflected the stars above. "Where are we?" Atreus asked. "Mimir?"

"Pffft, just hold on a bloody second." The head was busy spitting out sand he got in his mouth after the landing.

"Head!" Kratos demanded.

"Fine, pthht, hold me up." The warrior complied, turning to give Mimir a good scan. "I, um, I'm not sure, brothers."

"What?"

"Well if that blast was as powerful as I think it was, we could be anywhere in the nine realms! Course there's no fog or lava so I guess Muspelheim and Niflheim are off the table."

"Hey!" Atreus pointed behind. "I see buildings, maybe somebody knows something there!" The boy dashed off before his father could respond. "He's right, you know," Mimir conceded.

"Quiet. Atreus!" The boy disappeared behind a ridge and Kratos begrudgingly followed. "Atreus!" When he finally caught sight of his boy, the youth's bow was drawn. "Atreus?"

"Listen," he whispered. "Do you hear that?" Kratos looked around and nodded before slowly drawing his axe.

"Show yourself!" From the trees stepped out were people in light armor and straw hats. Atreus' eyes widened in curiosity when he saw their faces. Their skin was a shade he'd never seen before and their eyes were slanted. They surrounded the two strangers with spears, leaving a few archers behind to cover them. "Omae!" One of them shouted. "Tabemono? Kane?"

"Head, what is he saying?"

"I, I don't know."

"What?"

"Well I might be the smartest man alive but it doesn't mean I know everything."

"Hayaku dashinasai!" Another shouted.

"I think they want our stuff." Atreus pointed out.

"Ima!" The man continued. Instead of complying Kratos calmly stepped in front. He looked like a steadfast lion in front of a desperate hyena. "Leave. Now." As the man was about to jab Kratos with his spear, he grabbed near the end and snapped the laquered wood like a twig. Seeing his weapon broken, the bandit jumped back and made some distance. "Temee..." The archers began drawing their bows and took aim as Kratos reached for his axe.

"Rrahhh!" The stand-off was suddenly interrupted by a hissing growl and one of the archers tackled by a humanoid creature. The light revealed it to indeed appear human, but it's skin was sickly green with glowing eyes and an extremely malnourished body. On it's back was a pick axe and in its hand a rock which was hitting its victim's skull again and again. "Yokai!" One of the bandits screamed, "Hayaku! Nige- aah!" A walking skeleton dressed similarly impaled the man with a sword, ripping it from his neck and shrieking. Soon more of them were coming from the forest, prompting all but Kratos and his son to flee. The creatures slowly took the place of the bandits, surrounding the two. One digger went down on all fours like a feral animal and leapt at Kratos. Mid flight, Kratos' gauntlet expanded into a shield on his forearm.

Wham! He slammed against the digger and knocked it square into a skeleton, its bones breaking from the impact.

The rest of the monsters then jumped them. Kratos swiftly grabbed his axe and in one swift motion slammed the axe head into the ground. A blast of frost erupted, instantly freezing the attackers. Which ever ones didn't shatter on their own quickly were by both Kratos' axe and Atreus' arrows. When the last was finished, Atreus took a breath. "What were those things? Draugr?"

"I don't think so, lad," Mimir answered. "I mean, there's definitely some similarities, but they're not draugr."

"Regardless," Kratos interrupted. "We must be prepared. There will likely be more."

"I'm afraid you're probably right, brother."

The two walked past the ruins of wooden buildings, given the nets and boats this was most likely a small fishing village. Now there was neither hide nor hair of any inhabitants. They eventually made their way to a strange red gate which Kratos pushed opened. On the other side was a larger village, some buildings set on fire. "What do you think happened here?" Atreus asked. "Was it those creatures?"

"Most likely." Kratos stated.

"Do you think there's anyone left?"

"No."

"Oh," Atreus answered dejectedly. At the end of the village, they faced the sea with a large ship docked on the shore. "Father, look!" From it, they could see flashes of light from inside. "Maybe someone's alive!"

"Wait!" Before Atreus could get a good start, something burst from a nearby house. It looked like a demon with red skin, a fanged mouth and two glowing horns. It tackled Kratos, knocking him to the ground. The demon roared before winding back a punch. "Leave him alone!" Atreus jumped to its back using his bow to hang on and choke the beast. Kratos seized the opportunity, rising to his feet and punching his attacker in the face. After a solid uppercut broke its jaw, the warrior broke off one of its horn and slammed it into its eye. Atreus climbed off before it toppled backwards. "You think that's it?" Atreus asked.

"Grraaahh!" A gutteral roar rang through the night. "Guess not."

"Come, we must fight it."

"I'm sorry, what?" Mimir questioned.

"If it is like these other creatures, it will come for us eventually. It is better to face it now while we are prepared."

"Okay...that makes sense."

The duo reached the end of the village where a large ship was docked. "Hey, Mimir. Have you ever seen a ship like that before?"

"Well-"

"Graaahhh!"

"To answer your question, lad, no. But I think you've got bigger problems right now."

"Look!" Atreus pointed towards the bow of the ship, his sharp eyes catching a glimpse of a stranger going down into the hold. "You think he's the cause of it, or that he's got the same idea as us?"

"I do not know," Kratos answered without looking. "But if he is an enemy, we will end him as well."

As the two climbed up onto the boat, it suddenly started shaking while the roar from before pierced their ears. The two quickly found the stairs and barrel led down it. Waiting for them was the stranger, his back turned to the new arrivals and his sword drawn. He wore light armor like the bandits, but his hair was long and blonde with a short beard. Staring him down was a demon similar to the one Kratos had killed only four times as big; so much so it's horns reached the ceiling. It was chained by the wrists to two massive metal balls that were maybe a quarter of it's size. Once Kratos took a step, the stranger took notice and turned away from his foe. "What the hell are you doing?!" His voice had an accent to it. "Get out of here, now!"

"Grrr!" The monster lifted his arms and brought them down, the two anchors following suit. Before they came crashing down, the stranger rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding getting crushed. Before Kratos could acknowledge this new individual, an arrow flew from next to him right at the beast's face. "Atreus?!" His son had already ran into a steady assault. "We gotta help him, father!"

"Wait!" It was too late, the demon noticed the boy coming closer and waved horizontally, the chain about to trip the boy's legs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it, just narrowly hopping over it in time. He was so preoccupied that he didn't realize that he was within distance of the monster's arm. "Gyarr!" Atreus held up his hands to shield from the monster about to slam its palm.

Shing! The stranger sliced through the demon's Achilles' tendon, making it buckle in pain. It turned its cheek which was soon slammed into by Kratos' fist. The beast tried to counter with a punch but Kratos parried with his gauntlet's shield, following with a strike of his own. This time however, he broke the creature's horns clean off. As soon as he had, the monster drooped as if it had lost the will to fight. The stranger quickly took notice and jumped back. A red dog jumped to his side and howled, its apparent master's sword growing a red extension twice its size. With a jump and a battle cry he lifted his new weapon overhead and brought it down on the beast's neck.

The hull was quiet for one long second before the monster's head fell down to the wooden floor. The body soon followed as a golden dust came from both the head and neck. As it spilled, the remains disappeared.

"Father," Atreus looked at the swirling dust. "Do you hear that? It sounds like crying." The boy was right, the crying of a man echoed in the wooden walls along with speech that was similar to the bandits. "He sounds like he's in pain."

"Aye, he was," the stranger noted. "It makes sense. To turn into such a monster, he must have gone through something horrific."

"Do you know what they are?" Kratos questioned.

"More or less. Before I answer that, would you mind telling me what you and a boy are here? Along with a head swinging on your belt?"

"Ah, my apologies, the name's Mimir. I take it you've met Kratos and his lad, Atreus."

The stranger was quiet, probably hiding the shock of seeing a talking head. "I'm William. I take it you've not seen a man named Kelley, have you?"

"No," Kratos stated.

"Why are you looking for him? Atreus asked.

"He took someone from me." William put his hand on pendant around his neck. "I thought that these beasts might have been his handiwork."

"Wait, he makes these things?!" Atreus' curiosity was piqued.

"Aye, using Amrita. That's why he took her here, to Japan."

"Hold on!" Mimir interrupted. "Did I hear you right?! We're in Japan?!"

"Head. What realm is Japan in?" Kratos rudely asked.

"I've only heard about it from Tyr's travels! We're not in any realm! This is an entirely different world!"

"What?"

"Don't ask so surprised, brother. After all, we know you were in a similar position in Midgard." A huff was all Kratos gave.

"If you don't know about Kelley," William walked towards the exit. "Then I best be off." He soon headed up the stairs and out of the hold.

"Come." Kratos harkened the boy before holstering his axe on his back.

"Right."

As the duo surfaced, they spotted William standing in front of a newcomer. His face was like the bandits' but had absolutely no desperation. Most of his body was in a black silk suit and his black hair was held up in a tube. "Father?" Atreus asked readying his bow. His father responded by holding a hand up. Atreus nodded and lowered his weapon. The two cautiously descended to solid ground and walked to William's side. "Who are you?" Kratos asked.

"Call's himself Hanzo Hattori," William answered for the newcomer.

"Indeed. I was making an offer to your companion," the man seemed to have subtle trouble with the language. "I will help with your search if you lend me your skills in fighting oni."

"Oni? Is that what those things are called?" Atreus spoke up.

"We only met this man now." Kratos clarified rather harshly. "His quest does not concern us."

"Now hold on, let's not be hasty." Mimir interjected. "If you know about the area, I'd say a few dead, er, oni would be a fair trade."

"Head!" Kratos growled.

"Kratos, we're in a new land. I'm sure you had someone show you the ropes when you came to Midgard eh?" The warrior closed his eyes in thought for a second.

"Very well." He conceded.

"Good," Hanzo reached for something in his coat. Both William and Kratos dug their feet in preparation for an attack. They went at ease as it turned out to be a cat. "Come," Hanzo checked the cat's eyes. "Dawn is breaking." He turned and walked, his new companions followed.