A/N: And I finally manage to return with another chapter for this story. My inspiration has granted me this blessing as I can finally continue. Perhaps there might be a chance that I see this story through to its end, though I'll hopefully scrounge out about five or so chapters before that one arrives.
I hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 7: Brother in Arms
Kratos was subtly aware of the raging war surrounding him, though all of his senses were exclusively focused on the heavily-scarred man before him.
"You were the one who did this?" the God asked, briefly motioning to the flames around them with a nod of his head.
Deimos smirked viciously. "What better way to insult you than to set ablaze the very thing you were always so proud over?" he asked. "I consider this only the first stepping stone to my complete vengeance." He clutched the halberd in his left hand. "First, my brother, the one who abandoned me in my time of need."
"Then, Ares, the one who dragged me away and left me to rot in the depths of Thanatos' Domain." Deimos continued. "Afterwards, Athena, for aiding Ares, and Thanatos, for all the years of pain and torment he brought me." His gaze hardened as he looked to his brother again. "And finally, the Grand Oracle who spewed the pathetic prophesy that caused all of this."
Kratos frowned and tightened his grip on his blades.
"Deimos…I have fought for over twenty years to secure my family by my side." He stated calmly. "I foolishly served the Gods in the hope of reviving my family after Ares had deceived me into murdering them, when I replaced Ares the first time, I sought out what truly happened to you, only to have you die by Thanatos' hand."
Deimos frowned in confusion at the revelation.
"When I finally discovered that my real father, Zeus, was the one who had orchestrated it all, I began attacking all the major cities under the Gods in hopes of drawing him out for a battle." Kratos sighed. "He stole my Godly power and I had to seek out the Fates, whom I slew in order to defeat him."
"When that failed, I used the power of the Fates to summon the Titans from the Great War and lead them into a siege against Olympus itself." The God of War shook his head. "In the end, all the Gods and Titans lay dead at my feet, and the world had dissolved into chaos."
"So I sought out to find the way through which I could prevent all that had happened. I returned to my last battle as a General of Sparta and used my gained magic and weapons to slay the Barbarian King." He continued. "I then returned to Sparta before Athena summoned me before the Pantheon."
"I slew Ares there and took his place." Kratos concluded.
"Now, with my family by my side and my position as God of War secured with an alliance I intend to forge with all the gods, I can ensure that I live out the rest of eternity." He smiled before pointing his right hand blade at the man. "I do not intend to have any of that tarnished, not even by you, Brother."
Deimos roared in anger before swinging his halberd over his head and lunging at the God.
Kratos steadied himself and blocked with his own blades, deflecting the weapon before landing a swift kick to his brother's side, sending the mortal flying back into a broken pillar.
The God swung his left-hand blade once before flinging it in the direction of Deimos, hearing him scream out in pain as the blade tore a chunk of flesh from the mortal's shoulder.
Deimos leapt back onto his feet before charging again, this time bringing his blade down on Kratos' shoulder, only to be surprised when the blade ricocheted off the chainmail of his brother's armour.
Kratos replied by grabbing the mortal by his shoulder and flinging him back again. "Cease this foolishness, Deimos!" he demanded angrily. "You could not best me when we were children, what possible hope could you have now that I am a God?!"
The mortal man hesitantly got back onto his feet and glared back. "I have spent too long suffering to surrender, even to my own brother!" he replied determinedly.
"Then you will die again." Kratos sighed before sheathing his two blades.
Deimos hesitated and observed his opponent cautiously.
The God of War held out his hand and summoned a large spear with a purple crystal on one end and a curved blade on the other. With a growl, Kratos gripped the spear and charged at his brother.
Deimos dove out of the way of the blade, only to scream in pain as shards exploded from the spear, flinging him away once again.
The man panted as he looked down to where he'd been struck, seeing several purple shards sticking out of his side.
"You've definitely become more powerful since last we spoke." Deimos commented as he stood back up. "But that will not deter me."
"You are being foolish, Deimos." Kratos told him once again. "I am an entity of Fate, the Godslayer and the God of War." He stated. "If there exists a being that can defeat me, it must be stronger than even the Gods and the Titans."
Deimos growled and readied his halberd again. "Then I suppose I will die where I stand, or I will become even more renowned than you were."
The bald man sighed and began swinging the blade in his left hand. "Then I truly hope you do arrive in the Elysian Fields, Brother." He replied calmly.
As the human charged forward, Kratos flung his blade, the momentum from the swing sending the blade towards its target, godly magic radiating as it entered the blade.
With a sickening thud, Kratos stared as the blade tore through the armour and into his brother's chest, before its momentum threw the human into the stone pillar once again, where it slumped down.
The God of War slowly walked forward, before coming to stop in front of the slumped form and bending down to grab hold of the blade's hilt. His brown eyes gazed into his brother's own with remorse.
"I truly did not wish for our first reunion to end in this way, Brother." Kratos said softly. "But I can see your mind has been broken by the years of torment under Thanatos." He gripped the hilt tighter and pushed forward, sending the blade deeper into the man's flesh.
"Consider this death an act of my mercy." He finished before pulling the hilt upwards, the blade slicing clean through the man's chest, throat and head.
Standing back up, the God of War glanced at the corpse briefly before turning his focus towards the battle raging around him.
With a feeling of pride, he noted that the Spartan army was quickly overpowering the intruders now that their leader had been defeated and their morale broken.
"Lord Kratos."
The god looked to his side to see a Spartan General approach him before he kneeled hastily. "The invaders are retreating, my Lord." He stated, keeping his head bowed.
Kratos nodded. "It appears so." He replied. "I will speak of this with the other Gods and see if action will be taken for this. I expect the workers to start repairs on the city once the fires have all been extinguished."
"Of course, my Lord." The general answered. "We will work in haste to repair everything." He glanced at the dead body of the enemy leader. "And what of the body, my Lord?"
"Leave it be. I will return for it later."
The god stated before teleporting himself back to Olympus.
Olympus, Kratos' Chamber…
Kratos sighed as he sat back on his throne, resting his head on his hands as his mind replayed the events carefully.
"Kratos!" he heard a cheerful, booming voice he really did not want to hear presently.
With a snarl, the God of War spoke. "Lord Dionysus, I would suggest you remove yourself from my hall this instant, or I might contemplate a second being to bloody my weapons with." He stated coldly.
Dionysus frowned as he halted his stride towards the other god's throne. "You are upset." He stated in return. "I have an easy ear and a good heart, Kratos. I can listen to your mind's burden if you would just allow me."
"I do not care for your petty attempts at kindness, Wine God!" Kratos snarled as he leapt to his feet. "I see many ways you would profit from an allegiance with me, yet I find little ways of my own profit!" he began venting, his blades creating a subconscious itch as he spoke. "You come barging into my chamber in the aftermath of my brother's death at my own hand, only to come offer your pity?!"
The God of Wine was silent as the other god spoke.
"I can, for a reason that escapes me, not identify the profit you specifically seek from an allegiance, and it angers me as much as the Gods' betrayal to me did in the past!" Kratos exclaimed.
"So I command you." Kratos said softly. "Leave my chamber or find yourself in the darkest pit of Erebos."
Dionysus observed the other man's face for a moment before sighing. "I can see you have faced many hardships up to this point, Kratos." He commented sadly. "I will leave you be, then."
With that, the God of Wine turned around and marched away silently.
"Father?"
Kratos' head snapped to the side, where he noticed Calliope staring at him with shock and a hint of fear.
Seeing the emotion in his daughter's eyes immediately caused something to snap within Kratos. Mutely, he collapsed back into his throne and held his head in his hands once more.
Concerned, Calliope moved up to her father's side.
She noted his sadness and immediately pulled out her flute and began playing a soft, peaceful song for her father.
Kratos could once again feel all the anguish and sadness leaving him as if it was the grime washed from his body after a difficult siege. He knew his daughter had always been blessed by the Muses with her talent on the flute, and he was always grateful when she blessed him with her songs.
"Kratos?"
The god once again raised his head to see Lysandra now standing before him. "Lord Dionysus has informed me that you are upset." She stated softly.
"He merely spoke to me at a bad time, Lysandra." Kratos replied.
Lysandra frowned, knowing her husband had rarely called her by her name in the way he did unless urgency or anger were apparent.
"Do you care to speak of it?" She asked, cautious not to rouse his anger against her. Not that she feared him, no. She knew her beloved would never strike her, but it usually did not leave their surroundings unharmed.
"My brother." Kratos stated. "My brother, Deimos, was the one who led the assault on Sparta." He looked up to note her frown of confusion.
Lysandra, knowing he'd speak of it, intended to ask questions. "But, did you not say he died when you were young?"
"He was taken by Ares and imprisoned within Thanatos' Domain." Kratos explained. "I assumed he had died, as no child could possibly survive in such a place."
The Goddess of Victory nodded. "And you were forced to end his life." She stated softly.
"Yes."
Lysandra frowned for a moment before speaking again. "Did he give you a choice to keep him alive?" she asked. "Did he not threaten to repeat the very mistake that you had made in your past life? Did he not threaten the safety of Olympus?"
Kratos looked at her with a calculating frown. "What do you mean?"
"You were forced to kill him, in order to ensure the safety of the Pantheon, of your wife and your child." She explained. "You removed the threat before it could bring any form of harm to those who reside upon Olympus, is that not so?"
"Be clear with your words, Lysandra." He demanded softly.
Lysandra smiled, resting her palm against his cheek. "You did as you swore when you wedded me, Kratos. You kept myself and our child safe, even from your own brother." She stated. "You protected your family."
Kratos' eyes widened as the memories of his family's corpses flickered in the back of his mind, before he rested his forehead against hers, softly. "What have I done to deserve one such as you, Lysandra?" he asked before kissing her passionately, while their daughter's melodies echoed through the chamber happily.