Hello, everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in, like… seven months. Well, I hope someone is still reading this, because I still have a lot to update. A lot of lot of things to update. Anyway, here's the story!

Kratos raised a hand over his eyes to block out the sunlight. He had been walking along the river for all night and was slightly tried. In fact, when he thought about it, when was the last time he slept? The only time he ever rested was when he was knocked out by some colossal force.

Kratos shook his head.

I do not need sleep. My vengeance has fueled me…

Kratos suddenly had a thought.

What will I do now with the gods destroyed and the earth in ruin? No, I should not think like that. My main goal now is to escape…wherever I am.

Kratos finally made it to a waterfall. From his viewpoint he could see a beautiful valley with a breeze of flowers and a peaceful stream.

It reminds me of Elysium…it reminds me of…

Kratos' usual frown deepened. He looked for a way off of the cliff. He could use Icarus' Wings, but they would dispel before he reached the bottom.

Looking over the edge, he saw vines growing over the cliff. Pulling out his Blades, he lowered himself on the edge of the cliff. He then stuck his Blades into the vines and climbed down.

When he reached the bottom, he saw that there was a cave beneath the waterfall. He thought against it, though, in the end.

It would be a perfect place for an ambush, thought Kratos. Instead, he saw what else there was to explore.

There was a little island in the stream and what looked like a village. Kratos decided to search the island first due to that the villagers (if there were any around) may attack him.

Even tribes knew of the terrible tale of the Ghost of Sparta.

So, using his Wings, he jumped over to the small island. But as soon as he did, Grublins appeared out of the ground. These things had small skin like things between their arms. The Wyverns (for that is what they were called) attacked Kratos. He swung his Blades and decapitated two of them. The other two screamed at him.

The sound made him clutch his head in agony. Shaking it off, he grabbed one and tore it apart like paper. The last one he finished off with three strokes of his chain-swords. While Kratos put his blades away, he had no idea he was being watched…

Wyvern Whacker

Three villagers were watching him right behind a bush beside the village. They had bows slung across their backs and swords in their sleuths. Their names were Jagwire, Willow, and Burch. They had seen the warrior on top of the cliff and decided to hide. They watched as he fought the Wyverns by himself.

"What do you think it is?" asked Burch, looking at the two for an answer.

"I don't know," said Jagwire. "It looks as though it's a male."

"Well, I know that, but what is it?"

"Maybe it's a new type of Grublin," said Willow.

"Yeah, a Grublin that kills other Grublins," said Jagwire, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

"Well, what do you think you should do with it?" asked Burch.

"Well, although he looks like a powerful warrior, he's looks like to much trouble," said Jagwire.

The other two nodded in agreement.

"So, who will shoot the arrow?" asked Burch.

"I'll do it." said Willow as he took out his bow. Putting an arrow in it, he strung it back and aimed at the pale skinned thing…

Kratos heard a whizzing sound coming straight towards him. Looking around, he saw an arrow fly at him. Immediately, he raised the Golden Fleece to block it. It flew straight at the armor, turning the arrow into power. Kratos used that power to shoot it back at the foe that cast it. It turned out to be three things behind a bush. The golden orb struck the one in the middle. It got up, and, with a look of horror on its face, fled into the village. The other two soon followed it. Kratos thought about going after it, but decided it wasn't worth his time. Turning around, he continued his search out of this place.

Jagwire, Willow, and Burch ran into the village, where Chief Prowlus was waiting for them.

Prowlus saw their expressions and asked, "What's wrong? You've looked like you've seen a ghost."

It was Burch that spoke up.

"No, this is defiantly scarier."

"How's that?" asked Prowlus.

"Because he took out four Wyverns in about eight seconds!"

"But that's not the scariest part," said Willow. "When I shot a bow at it, it merely absorbed it and threw back a gold orb!"

"And why, per say, did you shoot at it?" asked Chief Prowlus, expecting an answer.

"Um…well…" said Willow, but Jagwire intervened.

"Because he's bad luck! I can just feel it!"

Chief Prowlus stared at them, and then sighed. "Alright, I send out a team to bring him back. But I hope for your case that he's not simply a traveler who wanted to protect himself. Understood?"

The trio nodded, and made a slight blessing to those who had to bring it back.

Kratos had arrived at the end of the valley. After fighting the monsters, he had made it to what seemed like the end. But there was no exit, except for the river between the rocks, but Kratos wasn't sure that route was the safest. But upon looking around, he saw what seemed to be a rock labeled with a paw print. But it was covered with branches that would not cut.

It looks as though I have to burn it like bramble, he thought. He then sighed. I wish I still had the bow of Apollo with me.

He turned around to look for a fire source, but as soon as he did, he was confronted to what appeared to be two cheetahs in clothes. One of the cheetahs spoke to him.

"Chief Prowlus said that you must come back to the village with us."

"And if I refuse?" said Kratos.

The cheetah hesitated, than said "If you do not come peacefully, we will have to take you by force."

Kratos' eyes narrowed. "Just try."

The cheetah begun to pull out its sword, but before it was even done, Kratos grabbed it, lifted it up in the air, and tore it apart.

"Holy shi-!" was all the other cheetah got to say before Kratos killed it with five light attacks ending with a heavy attack. Seeing the two corpses, Kratos decided it was time to visit the village now.

Prowlus was surprised to see the thing some into his village without the scouts he sent to retrieve him.

"Where are the scouts I sent to find you?" asked Prowlus. He didn't like the answer.

"They're dead," said Kratos, "and you will be too if you don't tell me how to get out of this valley."

Chief Prowlus was shocked. "You attack one of my warriors, kill my scouts, and threaten me in my own village, and you want me to tell you way out? I must now refuse your request."

Attack one of his… Kratos thought before he realized what he was saying.

"They attacked me first!" shouted Kratos.

"That may be," said Prowlus, eyes glancing at Willow, "but that does not merit killing my villagers."

"Tell me how to get through the rock or my blades will taste your blood!" Kratos pulled out his Blades of Exile to show he meant business.

Prowlus pulled out his own sword. "If it has to come to this, so be it."

The villagers made a circle around the two, anxious for the fight that was to come.

Prowlus lunged at Kratos, but Kratos sidestepped it and kneed him in the stomach. Prowlus slashed and connected, but it only made Kratos stagger back. Kratos then drove his sword into Prowlus at a distance. He than threw Prowlus over into a pole. Prowlus got up and charged at Kratos, but the Ghost of Sparta was ready. He grabbed Prowlus' sword and kicked him back into the pole. Grabbing the sword with two hands, he broke it like a twig. He than walked over to Prowlus, grabbed his neck, and smashed the back part of his cranium into the pole.

"I'll give you one more chance," said Kratos, "how do I get through the rock!"

Prowlus coughed, and then said, "I'll never tell you."

Kratos shook his head at the foolish answer.

Drawing out one of his Blades, he stabbed Prowlus three times in the chest, spilling blood with each stab. When it was over, Prowlus wasn't breathing anymore.

The villagers were shocked, but shocked turned to anger as they drew their own weapons. Kratos pulled out his other Blade. This wasn't going to be an easy way out.

Ten minutes later, Kratos had killed all the villagers- except for one, which he was holding over his head in one hand.

"NOW, TELL ME, HOW DO I GET THROUGH THE ROCK!" It was clear that Kratos was now feed up with all of this. And Meadow (whom Kratos was holding) could see it.

"S-speak to the H-hermit," he said through gasps of air. "H-he'll tell y-you what you need to know."

"Where is this Hermit?" asked Kratos.

"N-near a waterfall, beneath a rock with a paw print on it."

Kratos threw Meadow to the ground. "Let's hope for your sake I find this Hermit of yours." He then exited the village, going to look for the other rock.

Meadow waited until Kratos was a good deal away, and then sped towards the cave behind the waterfall. Prowlus might have not stopped him, but he knew someone who could…a cheetah called Hunter.

Village Razer

Kratos emerged out of the tunnel he was in. The cheetah had been right after all.

He saw that there was a river below him and vines on the wall across from him. It would look like he would have to navigate a series of vines to reach the end of this valley.

Pulling out his wings, Kratos flew to the other edge. He than pulled out his blades and leapt onto the vines. Climbing up it, he leapt across to another patch of vines and onto the other one. Above him he could see scratch marks on the rock. It would seem like he would have to wall run to get to the platform. Charging up the Boots of Hermes', he ran across the rock face and barely made it. Seeing a platform too far for him to jump, he would have to climb on the ledge to get to it. Dropping down onto the ledge, he skimmed to the other platform and continued on to the next on. Seeing scratches on the rock again, it seemed he would have to wall run and jump off. Charging up, he ran across and jumped before he reached the end.

Seeing vines, he knew he would have to climb. Sticking a blade in the brown vines, he began to climb up. But before he could jump over to the green vines the brown ones he was on gave out. Falling down onto the ground, he once again climbed up, but he was faster this time. He leapt over to the green vines and down onto the platform. He glided across to the second platform and finally onto the end of the valley.

Looking around, he shouted, "Come out, Hermit! I have come for you!"

The hermit, being the creepy old dude he was, emerged out of the shadows.

"And why," he said, "are you looking for me?"

Kratos turned around to face the cheetah. "I seek a passage out of this valley."

The Hermit laughed. "Do you now, Kratos?"

"How do you know my name?" said a perplexed Kratos.

"I knew all about you ever since you entered this valley," said the Hermit, "and, to answer one of your questions, you are not in your world."

Kratos gritted his teeth. "What do you know of me, hermit?"

"I do not know everything of you," said the Hermit, "But I do know your greatest sin: how, in a fit of blind rage, you murdered your own wife and child."

The Hermit just pressed a button in Kratos, and that one was labeled, 'Do not press this button unless you want to commit suicide'.

"SCILENCE!" shouted Kratos, but the Hermit just shook his head and said "tsk tsk".

"You're just like the dragoness, Cynder,' he said, "You will never truly change. You will always have the mark of your deeds on your skin, Ghost of Sparta."

The Hermit was kind of like the Oracle and that is why Kratos hated him so much. So he did something very simple: he plucked the staff out of his hand, pushed him to the ground, and stabbed the staff though his chest, spilling blood onto the ground.

"Never…change…" said the Hermit, and he closed his eyes for good.

Kratos let go of the staff and walked towards the edge, where the wind was blowing. He pulled out his wings and leapt into the wind. Although most of the Hermit's words were nonsense (nonsense that got on his nerves), Kratos did jolt one name down in his brain: Cynder.

Kratos was on his way back to the village to confront the cheetah who gave him the advice to see the Hermit. But while he was walking, he noticed a cheetah on an island with a large square rock on it. The cheetah also noticed him and promptly shot him with his bow. Kratos evaded the arrow and it shot into a tree. Instantly, the tree was set aflame.

Those arrows, they must be made of fire, thought Kratos. Then he added two and two together.

If I have that bow, I can burn down the bramble!

So Kratos glided onto the island with the cheetah on it. He didn't notice it, but Meadow was watching them both on top of the rock.

"So," said the cheetah, "have you come to lay down your life for your crimes?"

"No, I have come from your bow," said Kratos.

"Is that so?' asked the cheetah. "Now, can you tell me your name before I kill you? My name is Hunter, by the way."

Kratos drew out his Blades. "Remember this while you rot in Hades: that you were killed by the God of War!"

Hunter drew back his bow. But this was no normal bow. Past down from chief to chief, this bow had the magical ability to make fire arrows without normal arrow, meaning that you would never have to draw an arrow. You did have to wait for it to recharge, however.

Hunter fired a volley of arrows at Kratos. He used the Golden Fleece to deflect the arrows right back at Hunter, but he hardly noticed the damage. Kratos tried to get near Hunter, but he leap back. This happened every time Kratos tried to get near him, so the Ghost of Sparta had to think differently. Hunter shot a dozen arrows at Kratos, but he invaded them. While Hunter had to wait for his bow to recharge, Kratos grappled near him and slammed into him. Hunter was knocked back, but not out. He shot a bow at Kratos, and this time it connected. Kratos was engulfed in fire for a second, and then it was gone. This went on for a minute until Hunter changed his strategy: he now added a charged up arrow with his other arrows. These did double damage to Kratos if it connected. But Kratos managed to survive the onslaught of arrows that Hunter threw at him.

Finally, there was his chance: Hunter had rested for a bit because of his wounds. Kratos grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the rock. If one could listen closely enough, they could hear Rage of Sparta playing, foreshadowing what was to come.

Kratos kneed him in the stomach, making the warrior cough up blood. He than punched his head back into the rock. Kratos then turned Hunter around and began to smash his face into the rock wall. One…two…three…he did it about ten times before he threw Hunter near the river. The cheetah tried to crawl away, but Kratos came upon him, grabbing the back of his head before submerging it in the river. Hunter struggled for a moment, and then he gave out, the last spark of life leaving him.

Kratos stood up and sadly shook.

I know why you did it, he thought, but nothing must stand in my way back home.

Kratos then took Hunter's Bow and stored it in the place we will simply call his 'inventory'. Using the Bow, he could now burn the bramble and get out of here.

Use the bow once belonging to the cheetah Hunter to incinerate your enemies.

Hunter and Hunted

Meadow was shock at what he saw. This man had killed even Hunter. Now there was only one option left: he would have to go to the Dragon Temple and warn the others. Meadow shook his head. He prayed for the fool who would what to go against this man.

Wyvern Whacker: You have killed your first Wyvern.

Village Razer: You have destroyed (another) village.

Hunter and Hunted: You've killed Hunter and took his bow.

Wow…sorry for the long chapter guys, just want to be as detailed as possible. Oh, and if your asking how the Hermit knew about what Kratos did, the explanation is that his magic ball thing could see into people's memories.

And to all of you that liked Hunter and the cheetahs, don't be sad. I have a plan, but you will have to wait and see what it is.

Now Kratos is off to Warfang! Review or Kratos will burn you alive!