A/N: I'd like to comment to my most recent reviewer, questioning about how Calliope managed to improve so much in half a day. You have to take into consideration that she has the blood of a demigod, is the daughter of a former God of War, who managed to destroy Olympus, kill the main trinity of Olympian Gods, defeat Chronos and the Sisters of Fate. Anyway, thank you to all of you who still enjoy this story, despite its author's incompetence at updating...
Chapter 4: Artemis' Task
Olympus, Chamber of Athena, a few days later…
The Goddess of Wisdom sat on her throne, watching over the mortals in her city. When she had some of the servants clear out Ares' chamber after his death, they had found schematics and plans to take over all of Greece using the Spartan-turned-God as his General. Athena had given the schematics to Kratos, who after reading through them, then nearly destroyed the Olympic Battle Arena.
The Spartan's wife had managed to calm him down, and Calliope had then spent time training with Kratos again, once more using the dual blades he had gifted her. The young girl progressed fairly well, nearly landing a hit on her father after being blocked and countered countless times. After their training had ended, Kratos left to go skulk the halls in anger, threatening servants and lower-class Gods who bumped into him or attempted to talk with him.
Dionysus had met up with the God of War, his eagerness a great annoyance to Kratos, and led the Spartan to a large room that contained a table with two chairs and was stocked full of wine. "What is this place, God of Wine?" Kratos asked as the larger man motioned to the chair. "My private wine store, I wish to converse with the newest addition to the Gods while having a drink." Dionysus explained with a smirk.
"Why?" the other God asked, glaring at the drunkard. "Because no man is an island, Kratos. You may believe that you stand alone in this world, but you will always have allies." Kratos sighed. "Allies who will only betray me in the end, yes. Sparta is my home, my family. One does not betray family, therefore Sparta will be loyal to me, as I will be loyal to them." He told the larger man.
"All of the Gods, excluding myself and a few other Risen Gods, are blood family, Kratos, yourself included." Dionysus shot back. "And yet Hades plots the death of Zeus." The God of War rebounded. The Wine god had to give the Spartan an agreeing nod. "True as that may be, with the right attitude and by appealing to the other Gods' tastes, you may find yourself with enough allies to hypothetically overthrow our glorious King." Dionysus tried. "I am not implying for you to do so, but merely that you must befriend the other Gods, and your duties as God of War will become far less tiresome."
Kratos became interested in the drunkard god's babbling. "Explain?" Dionysus smirked. "If you manage to appeal to the Wind Gods, you'll be able to request favourable winds for Sparta's ships. If you appeal to Hephaestus, you might gain a glorious suit of armor to inspire those who worship you, and if you appeal to the food-related Gods and Goddesses, you may acquire better living conditions for your beloved Spartans." He explained.
The bald man thought over his newfound information for a bit before speaking. "What you speak seems liable. How would I go about, acquiring the appeal of the other Gods?" The God of Wine laughed. "By completing tasks, challenges and giving them gifts, Kratos! We Gods are known to have great appeal to those who praise us." Kratos snorted. "Ah, yes. So even with my new title, I must do tasks for the Gods? Bah!" he waved his companion off.
Dionysus shrugged. "It is not a requirement, Kratos, you do not need to do tasks for the Gods, but you may if you so wish. It'll only help you in the end." The pale man nodded and stood up, finishing off his goblet. "I will consider your words, God of Wine." He said before stomping out of the Chamber and back to his own.
Calliope was in the Great Library with Athena, who took it upon herself to teach the young girl at her half-sister-in-law's request. The Goddess of Wisdom had bonded with both Lysandra and her daughter fairly quickly, as they questioned what happened to Kratos in his previous timeline.
The family had quickly learned about how, after Ares had tricked Kratos into killing them, he had gone on a quest to find the Box of Pandora, which he then used to kill Ares with, resulting in him becoming God of War. But with the opening of the Box, it had resulted in the Gods betraying Kratos, bringing forth their own destruction.
Athena was showing them the last part of the tale through a vision.
"Gaze upon the destruction you have wrought, Ghost of Sparta. Look upon what you have created in your lust for Godly blood." Athena's Ghost spoke behind him.
"I have no need for your petty words, Athena. You are the last one who should speak, for you were imbedded with the sin of Greed. You wish to use the power I wield for your own evil intent." Kratos spoke, never looking back at her. "That power was placed in the chest by me, Kratos! IT BELONGS TO ME!" Athena yelled as she lunged at the pale man. He merely stepped to the side, causing her to plunge off the cliff, falling down towards the chaos below.
The Ghost of Sparta sighed and turned around, walking back into the ruins of the once mighty city of the Gods.
"I see you have shown them what would have occurred." The trio looked up to see Kratos looking at them. Athena nodded in response. "Yes, Kratos. They requested to know the whole story." The warrior sighed and walked closer to his family. "And what do they think of me, now that they know what happened?" he asked.
Lysandra smiled and shook her head, walking closer to give her husband a kiss. "I swore to always love and follow you, Kratos. Why would that end, knowing you killed the Gods to avenge your family?" Calliope nodded and hugged her father in agreement.
Kratos gave them a grateful smile and broke the hug. "Thank you, Lysandra, Calliope." He turned to Athena. "Athena, do you know of any of the other Gods who require tasks completed?" the Goddess of Wisdom contemplated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I believe Lady Artemis has a challenge for you, Kratos."
The God of War nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Athena. Then I shall go converse with her immediately." The warrior left the women to their conversation again.
Chamber of the Huntress, Artemis…
Artemis gazed through her own prayer pool, watching as a group of hunters sent her a request for a good hunt. "I shall grant you your hunt. Perhaps I will observe it as well." She muttered, working her praise down to the group of mortals with a small smirk.
She sat down on her throne just as the doors to her chambers were kicked open by the one Olympian she still wished to speak with.
"Well, Lord Kratos…" she sent him a smirk. "What brings you to my throne?" Kratos sighed before he stood before her and nodded as a sign of respect, removing the blade he had forged himself shortly after becoming God of War.
It was a light weapon, something used much like his own chained weapons, but it was a single sword rather than his two medium-sized blades. "I come bringing you a small token of my appreciation as a fellow warrior, Goddess of the Hunt." Kratos stated, slamming the blade's tip into the ground before him. "I also come offering my service to any possible favours."
Artemis' expression became one of amusement as she glanced over the blade before looking to the God of War himself. "You wish me to become an ally, do you not?" she asked. Kratos nodded. "I…conversed with Dionysus. The drunk fool spoke some sense, so I took his advice." The goddess stood up and walked over to the man, pulling the weapon out of the ground and swinging it around, getting a feel of the weapon.
"This is wondrous craftsmanship, Lord Kratos." She praised the weapon. "I have one task I believe you might complete." Artemis turned around and motioned for the man to follow. The two gods walked to a map of the world which was painted on a wall. The goddess pointed to a small island of the coast of south Greece.
"I have sent a group of Amazonians to clear out the island of Gorgons, Wraiths and Undead, seemingly planted there by an unknown being, since Lord Hades denies any involvement and Ares was focussed on Athens." Artemis explained. "My favour will be granted to you if you managed to aid my sisters and clear out all of the creatures there."
Kratos smirked. "As you wish, Lady Artemis. I will leave immediately." He nodded before making his way back to his chambers, where he grabbed the Blade of Olympus, The Barbarian Hammer and the Spear of Destiny before teleporting himself to his desired location.
Small Island, South of Greece, Mediterranean Sea
The God of War stood proudly as he scanned across the sand shore of his destination. Seeing no opponents, he marched into the woods.
Kratos followed a dense-covered path until he managed to reach a clearing, where he spotted a trio of Gorgon Assassins slithering amongst each other. He smirked viciously and unsheathed the Blade of Olympus from his back.
Seeing as how they hadn't spotted him yet, the God of War used a burst of Godly Speed to rush forward and swung the blade, severing the head of the first Gorgon and coming to a skidded halt. The other two barely flinched at the death of their comrade and immediately set out to attack the warrior.
The first sent a flash of Gorgon Sight at him, only to have him avoid it by moving behind the second, turning it to stone instead. Kratos smirked and bashed the hilt of the Blade against the stone, shattering it thanks to his strength.
He then leapt over the last Gorgon and grabbed her behind her head and stomped on her tail before beginning to pull her head. The Gorgon strained and snarled, flailing her arms as it tried to escape the God of War's grip, only to screech in pain as her head was torn from her neck.
Kratos ignored the flailing body and simply dropped the head before continuing on his way.
The God of War went on, cutting through Undead Soldiers, Wraiths, Harpies and a Cyclops with ease, until he managed to find the warriors he was sent to aid.
He stepped out onto a small clearing and noticed a group of thirteen women, dressed in furs and wielding clubs, swords, axes and spears as they fought against a group of Wraiths and Undead Sentinels. Kratos simply unsheathed his Blades of Exile and rushed forward, into the group of Undead, leapt into the air, charged his Blades with crimson energy and slammed them into the ground, the resulting shockwave sending them flying. Without a moment of hesitation, he jumped again and cast Poseidon's Rage. "I am the God of War!" he exclaimed as the creatures around him were electrocuted by oceanic blue lightning bolts.
Kratos swung his blades the moment his feet touched the ground again, slicing through three Sentinels before he executed a Wraith and a Sentinel in a row.
Once all the creatures were defeated, the God sheathed his Blades and turned to see the leader of the group of warriors, a young redhead with crimson tribal paint on her face, walked up to him. A large halberd was strapped to her back.
"Greetings, Lord Kratos." The woman spoke, her voice firm and commanding. "I am Electra, Queen of the Amazons and Servant of Lady Artemis. She informed us she would send aid, however we were not expecting the God Slayer."
Kratos frowned. "I came here as a favour to Artemis. I have no other reason as to help you. Nor do I fear any repercussions should…I…kill…you." He threatened.
"Now, now." Electra smirked. "There is no need for threats, Lord Kratos. We are thankful for the aid, but you may return to Olympus now." She pointed to the small path into the forest. "Our destination is just down this path." The God of War nodded and turned around. "I shall inform Lady Artemis of your aid, Lord Kratos." Electra said before leading her warriors into the forest.
Kratos sighed and closed his eyes as he teleported back to his chamber.
Olympus, Chamber of Kratos…
The warrior glanced around his chamber before smiling softly once he spotted Calliope sitting at the foot of his throne, playing a soft melody on her flute. "Father!" she smiled when she noticed Kratos walking closer to the throne.
He smiled and ruffled her hair. "Good evening, Calliope. Where is your mother?"
The girl set her flute down in her lap. "Mother said she was summoned by Lady Athena for something." She replied. Kratos frowned before nodding and sitting down on his throne and patting the armrest.
Calliope climbed onto the armrest and began playing another melody, lulling her father into a state of calm he had not felt in a long time…