His mind went in and out of darkness, he saw the florescent lights above moving and people talking.
"He lost a lot of blood!"
"He severely dehydrated too!"
"How is he ever still alive?"
He went back into darkness.
"Impossible! How are you still alive?" Said the Pharaoh backing away.
The man approaching him was twirling a curved sword, a Khopesh, in his hand.
"You cant do this! I'm the Great ruler of all of Egypt!"
Then the Khopesh was strung and the Pharaoh intestines fell out of his body.
"Are we ready?" The blonde woman was now wearing surgical scrubs and face mask.
"Yes, Doctor Bowman, everything is ready."
He slipped back into the darkness.
Right before him stood a giant red Torii with a strange man under it wearing tiger printed robes and wearing a giant straw hat that cover his head.
"You shall not pass me, mortal." The man warned and pulled out a giant spiked club.
He pulled off his straw hat and showed that he was not a human.
Blue skin, tusk coming out his mouth and a single horn in the middle of his head.
An Oni. "You will pay for crimes against the heavens."
The warrior pulled out his own weapon, a Kusarigama, that emitted a ghostly glow.
The warrior spoke back to the Oni.
"You do not decide the way I go, beast."
The oni growled and charges straight at him.
"Alright, the shrapnel from chest." Said one the doctor. She held it between a pair of surgical pilers.
"Shit! It must be five inches long!" Said another surgeon.
"Doctor! His heartrate is going down!" A nurse said.
A monkey with crimson fur and wearing golden armor, twirling a black and gold pole smiled happily at the warrior.
"You!" the monkey said pointing at his new opponent "You are the first one in thousands years who has ever given me a proper challenge."
"Doctor were losing him!"
"His heart its failing!"
"Quick get the defibrillators!"
The warrior was surrounded by roman legionnaires. His body was cover in blue celtic tattoos and held a spear in each hand.
Already he standing on pile of roman bodies. The praetor of this legion step out from the army carrying a staff with a golden eagle on it.
"In the name of Mars and the Great Roman Empire you will fall, barbarian!" The praetor yelled and his army gave a battle cry and closed in on the warrior.
"Clear!"
Thunk
"Clear!"
Thunk
The warrior stood with a young boy next him.
A beard on his face and an axe on his back.
"Father?" The boy said, "where are you from?"
He didn't answer, it would be awhile before he told his son where he was from and what they are.
"Clear!"
Thunk
A god was on his knees, bleeding golden blood. His red eyes glow like weak charcoals.
"That day I just wanted to make you a great warrior." The god said weakly.
The warrior pulled back his sword and stabbed the god.
"You succeeded."
He did the impossible, he killed a god.
Then he would kill so many more.
He was surrounded by darkness, his body as weightless as air.
'Who am I?' His thoughts echo around him.
'What am I?' He looked up and saw a white light above him. Another light glowed right beside him, he turn look and see what was.
He saw himself, standing in the middle of a battlefield, hold a chained blade in each hand. His eyes filled with anger. He letted a cry of rage and launch himself at his enemies swinging his blades with furious assualt, brutality killing those who oppose him.
Another light appear, this time he was older, he swung a battle axe at his opponent, hacking it in two.
Then light appear, and another, and another.
Soon he was surrounded by lights, each one a different life he lived, a different woman he loved, children he father, challenges he completed, people he killed, worlds he destroyed, and then his own death.
'What is this?' He thought said aloud.
'I lived all these lives, what am I?'
The first light was the brightest, he turned back to it.
He saw himself talking to a man with pure white hair and glowing blue eyes.
"You are here by the new God of War." The man said.
'What? God of War?' He couldn't believe what he was seeing, there he stood in the middle of gigantic throne as the being applauded him as he took his new title.
"Welcome Kratos, welcome to Olympus."
It felt like sky fell on top of him. That right, he was the god of war.
Kratos, his true name was Kratos.
"Clear!" He heard a voice.
What was that? He looked back up at the highest light. He saw himself laying on operating table with a doctor shocking him with a defibrillator.
"Doctor! Were losing him!" One of the nurse exclaimed.
"What?" He saw the highest light was growing dimmer. It all hit him, he was dying again!
Kratos began moving toward the light, his weightlessness made it feel like was swimming underwater.
The light grew smaller and smaller, he was going die again.
No! Not again, he was going to live. He fought harder and made it closer.
"Doctor, his vitals!"
He has to know what is happening. Why had he lived so many lives? Why couldn't he stay dead.
The light had grown small, the size of spark. He felt the weight of the nothingness around him intensified.
Kratos reached out his hand and grabbed the fading spark.
"Doctor Bowman, his vitals, they stabilized!" The nurse said.
Doctor Bowman let out a sigh of relief, they did it, he was saved.
The surgeons and nurse began congratulating one other for a job well done.
"Alright everyone, good job, now let get him-" she stopped when her patient suddenly sat up.
Everyone jumped back in shock.
Impossible this guy should unconscious, not just from the anaesthetic, but from the stress he been through from the last couple of days.
The patient groaned and put his hand to his head, then he looked around the room.
He eyed Doctor Bowman and remembered seeing her earlier. He threw off the blacket covering his waist and hop off the operating table.
Bowman backed away in complete shock of what was happening.
He had her cornered and ask,
"Where am I?" And she didn't answer.
"Where am I?" He asked again, still no answer, he notice her face was bright red. He looked down and saw that was stark naked with his sword and shields out for all to see. The only thing on him were surgical bandages.
"Don't stare, it's rude." The patient said, and Doctor Bowman snapped out her trance for moment,
"Oh! Yes! Sorry! Sorry!" She said rapidly. She was clearly flustered. Her eyes going up and down his body.
"Where am I" he said with clear annoyance in his voice.
"Your in the hospital wing of São Paulo," one other doctors said still shaken,
"US Naval Support Detachment," the patient said.
"Correct sir!" The same doctor replied even more surprised how clear the patient mind is.
The patient looked around again and saw the exit and made his way to it.
"W-wait a minute!" Bowman said and quickly got in before him, the patient stop and literally looked down on the doctor, he a foot and half taller than her.
"What?" He said.
Bowman felt a shiver go through her body, his amber eyes went right through her.
One of the other doctors in room stepped up, "Sir please, you just had an operation, you need to rest."
The patient turned to the doctor, "I feel fine." The predator like eye were now reexamining everybody in the room.
"Yes, but-"
"I feel fine!" It was clear they could do nothing to stop him. The doctor gulped and stepped back.
The patient turned back to the exit and Doctor Bowman was still blocking his path.
"Please move." He said/warned.
"I-I can't!" She said nervously.
"Why not?" He said clearly irritated.
"Well, um, you see, you are, um, naked, and well, um," she stuttered.
"I see, may I have some clothes then?"
Bowman eyes quickly darted up and down his naked physique again.
"S-s-sure." She stuttered again. "Just wait right here." Then she and rest the medical staff left him alone in the cold room.
He was given a pair of grey sweatpants and black t-shirt double xl, even then it fitted tighty around his muscles. A cheap pair of foam sandals and sock were also given.
He was guided to room by Doctor Bowman, who's face still had a hint of red.
As they walked by, other began staring at the small, blonde doctor that was being follow by a beast of a man.
She still couldn't believe what was going on, did this guy have some sort of healing factor? He was walking so casually, it was as if he was never injured in the first place.
They came to the room and enter. The doctor turn on the lights showing a single bed with a curtain around it, a tv on the wall and a small dresser.
There was also a full bathroom on the left.
"Here you go," she said "we have also made contacted with General La Rue."
She gave a smile and wait for his response.
"Who?" He said.
She gave him a puzzled look, "I was told that you wanted a message to be sent to him."
He didn't look at her, his mind focused on a different subject.
"I see," he said "Thank you Doctor, this all I'll need."
"Oh, ok, but here a map of the base in case you need to get around," she hand him the map, "I marked my office, the cafeteria, the general stores and the game room," she smiled.
He was quiet again and then said,
"Thank you, I like to rest now."
"Yes, of course, there a nurse station down the hall if you need anything."
He nodded and she left him alone.
Kratos went into the bathroom and splash water on his face. Bathroom has a it own shower. He couldn't use it yet, needed to keep the bandages on for a few days.
He dried his face and then stared in the mirror and looked at himself.
Kratos was now a man in his mid to late thirties, with pale skin, and fierce, amber eyes. He also had a black trimmed beard and... hair?
Short, spiky black hair.
He had hair on his head. He ran his finger through his dense hair.
"I have hair?" From his past lives he was completely bald, even as a child.
He didn't like it. It felt wrong to his scalp cover. He felt almost insulted.
Kratos took off the shirt it was too tight and he felt restricted. He also want look at his current physicality.
He stood back and looked at his body. His muscles were in top condition, they radiated with masculinity and power. He was tall too, six foot five, no, six foot six. Maybe two hundred and forty pounds of pure muscle.
He had two tattoos, one was the word Infidel in bold word across his left bicep and second was Semper Fidelis across his right pectoral.
The big, red spiral tattoo he got in honor of his brother was gone. He felt incomplete without it, he wonder if there was a tattoo artist near by?
He body also had a great deal of scars on him, must have been the previous missions. One was a vertical, that went down his right eye.
"I still have this scar though?"
He turned around to get a look at his back and he was surprised to that looked like someone fail attempt to his back into a crossword puzzles.
The scars zigzagged all across the entirely of his back. He focused on the scars and a old memory of this life appear. When he was twenty years old, he been taken prisoner by the Taliban and was interrogated for three weeks, and interrogation was just torture.
They whipped his back until bone was exposed, when he got free he pay them back tenfold. The sound bones break were fresh in mind.
Knock-knock
He left the bathroom and went to the door and open it, a young woman in nurse garbs holding a paper bag was waiting for him, she had long black hair, tanned skin and a cute, innocent face. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the shirt man before her and blush spread across her face.
He on the other felt a familiar primal instinct returned.
"Um, sorry, I came to bring you these," she held out a paper bag, "Those are pain killer for, um, you know," she was clearly intimidated by him. That made the desire grew.
'Your sick.' The voice said.
'You.' He thought.
'Me.' The voice replied.
"Thank you." He took the bag and the nurse nodded andleft.
'Were you going grab her and-'
'Be quiet. ' He took out one the bottle and read the label. He could handle pain, but right he didn't feel like dealing with it, so he follow the directions and took his medication.
Kratos wanted to know what was going on, but right now he needed to rest.
He turn off the lights and laid in bed and allow himself to sleep.
Doctor Emily Bowman has seen many strange things in her life. But seeing a patient wake up immediately after surgery and began moving around on his own was a new one.
She was finishing her reports, and stretched her arms out. He was still on her mind. How could he just get up like that? The fatigue alone would be enough to keep him immobile, yet he got up like he just taken a nap.
She remembers many strange things, and she was a strange person herself, she wasn't entirely a human, well half human.
Emily Bowman is what you would call a demigod or half-blood. She is the daughter of a Olympian god; her father is Apollo, the Sun God.
When she was twelve years old she was sent to a special place for kinds, a training camp called Camp Half-Blood. There see she saw many strange things.
Satyrs, nymphs, centaurs, and cyclops were just a few creatures she witnessed. She met other half-blood with unique abilities and talents. Emily also learned the harsh reality that was being a demigod.
She remember those who never returned to Camp Half-Blood, siblings and friends whom were killed by monsters.
She was claimed by her father after two months at the camp. Ironically, her last name was Bowman. Also ironic was that by Apollo cabin standards she was their worst archer, she couldn't wear a blindfold and aim backwards like the rest of siblings.
Interesting enough's she became the best medic, she successfully reattached her first arm at age twelve and did open heart surgery at age thirteen.
She always did her best to save her follow half-blood, their be time when the Fates were cruel and there was nothing she could do.
Half-blood were far more durable than regular mortals, she had seen one daughter of Demeter get lit on fire and was fine the next day.
A son of Hermes once got his skull crack open and after a bit surgery, he was fine, though he did started speaking with a french accent.
Was the man she operated on a half-blood too? His sheer endurance was well beyond any mortals.
And his muscles! The were the finest muscles she had ever seen! Emily felt her cheeks become warm again. His nude image invade her mind again.
She shook her head and went back to her report when her office phone began ringing.
Ring-Ring Ring-Ring
"Hello, this is Doctor Bowman speaking," she answered.
"Greeting Doctor, this General Clarence La Rue, I hear you have one of boys," the General said.
She knew the General was most likely talk about her patient, but to be on the safe side.
"Can you clarify General? Just to make sure everything in order?"
"Yes, of course, he was drop off at your base two weeks ago for a classified operation, he a tall, scary looking fellow with amber eyes,"
The General said.
Those predatory eyes still haunted her, like he had already thought of killing her.
She shocked her head again. "Yes, we have him, he just got of surgery a few hours age."
"Surgery? What happen? He is going to alright?" General La Rue voiced his concern. "I know that doctor-patient confidentiality is a thing, but can you tell me happen to him?"
She decided to tell him, "He had been shot twice; one in his left hand and one in his right shoulder, his left femur was broken, a five inch piece of shrapnel was lodged in chest, he has several lacerations and require over seventy eight stitchs, he also contracted malaria from several insects bites," she said, the General was silence for a moment, "Anything else?"
She continued, " he was also severely exhausted, dehydrated, and suffering from heavy bloodloss, his feet were so swollen we had to cut off his boots and has a bite mark from which I believe to be from a jaugar." She stopped.
The other end was silence, then laughter erupted from the General, "Yeah that my boy alright," the laughter continued for a minute before it died down, "He a real fighter isnt he?"
"Yes, woke up immediately after his surgery, scared everyone in the room," Bowman said.
"That boy always finds a way to survive, trust me when I say that he been through worst," said La Rue.
"How so?" She said curiously.
"When he was still green, the Taliban caught, tortured him for three weeks straight," he said "when we came to rescue him, it was too late, he already save himself, he didn't spare a single one."
Bowman felt a lump in her throat, she had seen many who were tortured for information. The sickening imagination of those who are so willing to inflict pain on others.
"You might have seen the scars on his back, Doctor," The General sighed.
she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Yes, he may be that toughest person I may ever meet," she said.
"Yep, when we found him, he was cover in red," La Rue said.
"I seen" Bowman stomach twisted a little, then the General continued,
"It was like stepped out a spaghetti sauce factory that just exploded,"
"Yes General, I-"
"I mean just covered in blood, like he was slasher in a horror movie,"
"Ok General La Rue!" She didn't want to hear anymore, that man scared her enough already.
"I'm very sorry Doctor Bowman, it been a long day for me, and this old man tend to rattle on," He said apologetically.
"It ok General, it been a long day here too." She leaned back in her chair.
"So when can I come and get him?"
Bowman leaned forward and thought for a few seconds. He seem ready to leave, heck, he literally hop off the operating table. But he also might suddenly collapse or his wounds might reopen.
"If it all right with you, I like to keep him here two or three day, just to make sure he ready?"
"That be fine Doctor, I just swingby the end of the week then."
"Thank you General, you have a good day now." She said.
"You too Doc, Thank you very much."
Right before they hang up she remember one more thing.
"Just a moment General," she said quickly.
"Yes Doctor?"
"This is embarrassing but, um, what his name?" She asked.
"You dont know his name?" He question. He was a little amused, "you never asked him?"
She was quick to answer, "Well, when a soldier on secret mission and then need surgery, you really don't get a chance for names,"
General Clarence just chuckled, "Well why didn't you ask his name when woke up?"
Emily face felt hot again. "When someone wake up immediately after their surgery and not in a few hours, once more names are the last you think about." She didn't want mention that he was naked and had corner her.
"Alright Doc Alright," General La Rue laughed, "it's William's, Jacob Williams."
Kratos eyes automatically open, he stared at the pale gray ceiling. Light from window was leaking into the from behind the curtains. He just laid there with not a single thought in his head.
He just got up and went up to the window and open the curtains.
Light flood the room and outside he could see base. He could see that port with several military vessels docked and dockworkers repairing or preparing each boat.
He felt his bandages stiffened and knew that soon they would needed to be changed.
Kratos went back to the and sat down, staring out the window.
'Why can't I stay dead?' He wonder, his mind went through several different memories of past lives each time he was a different man with a different name who lived a different life.
But he his first life was as Kratos, the God of War, the rest of his lives he couldn't tell when one started or another ended.
He put head in his hands and sighed, 'Great, just great,' he thought, his stomach growled and remembered that mortals needs food to survive.
Also his last meal was raw snake meat he ate four day ago. It was ok, but not great.
'Might as well get something to eat.' He put back on his shirt and pick the base map the doctor gave him.
As he left his room and made his way to the cafeteria once again he felt eyes on; doctors, nurses, soldiers and patients all turn his way.
'Great, I'm here barely a day and they looking at me like I'm freak.' Kratos thought.
'Your more of a monster than a freak.'
The voice said to him.
He got lost several times before he found the cafeteria, which the doctor had fail to tell him that it was a in entirely different building.
Once more when he enter eyes were on him, Kratos felt great annoyance and was begin thinking of plucking out everyone eyeballs.
Somehow they got the message and returned to their meals or conversations.
He pick up a tray and collected two double, bacon cheeseburgers, two large fries, six ribs, four chicken legs, three pork chops, two bowls of mashed potatoes with gravy, a plate of bacon and eggs, four apples, and large cup of coffee.
Meat was a delicacy for Spartans, only used for celebration. Now he could have all the meat he wanted.
He took his time to savor his meal because for he knew that next few days to years could just be endless fighting and slaughter with only the taste of iron in his mouth.
He finished off the last of his food, burp into his fist and enjoy the last of coffee.
'How did I ever survive without coffee?' Kratos wonder sipping the bitter, black exlir. He then lean forward and rest his arms on the table.
'Ok, what should be my next move?' He thought, Kratos was deep enough in his thoughts that actually let his guard now.
"Um, excuse me, Mr.Williams?" He didn't even notice that Doctor Bowman show up behind him.
'Need to figure out how been reborn so many times," Kratos thought.
"Mr.Williams?" She said again.
'Why did the arm dealer have altar to Ares? He's dead, I kill him,' the thought of his old master cause his blood to boil.
"Mister Jacob Williams?" Doctor Bowman raised her voice enough to get his attention, he turned and stared right through her.
She froze like a deer in highlights, like an actual truck was about run her down.
"Yes Doctor?" He brought her back to reality. "May I sit with you?" She asked."
"If you wish." He replied in a neutral tone. She quickly made her way opposites of him and sat down.
Bowman took quick notice of clean, stacked plates in front of him. He took another sip of coffee.
'Wow he really was hungry,' Bowman thought, 'Of he have a big appetite, look at the size if him.' She said mentally to herself.
"So? How are you today Mr.Williams?" The Doctor asked kindly.
"Who?" He said.
That made her concerned. He doesn't remember his own name. She made heard that some soldiers experienced memory after some missions due to adrenaline rushes, the action make everything blurry.
But to forget his own name, that was worrisome. Doctor Bowman proceeded with caution.
"Your name is Jacob Williams isn't?" She said in calm tone.
Kratos was motionless, he realized that this new life had a name of it own. Jacob Williams, it was an alright. He knew that he would also have to go with this new name. He had a feeling that the name Kratos was out of date.
In Greek names had power, and he hope this name meant something.
He saw that the Doctor was waiting for him, concern was in her eyes.
"Yes, yes it is." Jacob said. The concern in her eyes went down a little. She was still worried.
"Mr.Williams-" she started but cut off.
"Call me Jacob." He had to get use to being call Jacob, he couldn't just started addressing himself as Kratos.
"Alright, um, Jacob, I would like to ask you some questions," Doctor Bowman said, "if you are willing of course?"
Jacob knew that would be wise to answer, he was aware that the Doctor had concerns about him. The last thing he needed was some lady doctor to cause him problems.
"Ok." He simply said and waited for the first question. She pull out a pen and notepad out her lab coat.
"Alright then, Jacob are you aware what has happened?" She said pen ready to write.
"Yes." He said. She didn't write anything down. "Could you give me a little more detail?"
He sighed, women they wanted every single last detail.
"I was on a mission, I was injured, and you fixed me." Jacob said adding more details.
Bowman was hoping for a little more, but she understood that was probably the best was going to out of him.
"Do you know where we are right now?" She asked after she wrote his answer.
"The cafeteria." Jacob said.
"Um, yes, but what is our exact location?" She said.
"Table E-4, across from the vending machines." He said point to said vending machine.
Bowman felt a little annoyed at the man literal answer. "No, what is the name of the base in which we are at?"
"You should have been more clear then." Jacob sipped his coffee again.
Now she was annoyed. Men, why do they have to be so simple minded?
"Ok, now do you-" she was cut off when he suddenly stood up.
"Gonna get some more coffee, be right back." Bowman was beginning to wear thin now. Jacob pour more coffee into large styrofoam cup and came back.
"You may continue Doctor." He said sitting down. She took a deep breath and continued. "No sugar or creamer?"
"I don't like sweets." Jacob said.
"How are you feeling?" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Alright, I guess." He said.
"You guess?" She raising her left eyebrow. "Are you taking the pain medication?" He sipped his coffee and said, "Yes."
She continued with a few more questions and he gave simple yes or no answers.
Bowman didn't care for his blunt attitude and simple response. As a child of Apollo she didnt care much for simplicity, emotions and flare that was the Apollo cabin way.
"That all for now, thank you Mr.Williams." Bowman finished her notes.
"You also wanna know my shoe size Doctor?" He said. Doctor Bowman couldn't tell if he was joking or serious.
"No, were good now," she got up from her seat and tucked her notepad into her lab coat, "But if you have any questions, come find me and I'll do my best to answer then."
Jacob watched as Doctor Bowman walk away, he did have questions, she wouldn't the answers. He stared into the dark brown liquid in his cup and could barely see his own reflection, just a silhouette staring back at him.
Jacob drank the rest of his coffee in two gulps. He began thinking about his next step. Questions began filling his head.
How is the world not fallen into chaos?
Who in control of the world?
Why was he reborn over and over?
How many lives has he lived?
Why now has finally become aware of of his predicament?
He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
He caught the oni club with the chain of his Kusarigama and with godly might pulled out of the blue skinned beast grasp.
"What! No!" The monster spoke in disbelief. The oni charge and attempted to tackle the warrior, but he was struck with his own club and sent flying into the right support of the torii.
As the oni raised up he felt a great force hit his left and knocked him to the ground.
The warrior began repeating the hit until the oni was broken and bloody.
He stopped when he saw that the beast would not get up again.
Satisfied he putted away his Kusarigama and his new club.
He walk through the torrid and continued his journey.
He watch as the pharaoh city burned to the ground.
They got what they deserved. He saw a red skin man appear and applaud him. It was Set, the god of Chaos.
"Thank you for avenging my priest."
The red god said.
"What of the other gods?" The warrior asked.
"Don't worry, I have a plan for dealing with them, especially my brother, Osiris." The red guy cackle and disappeared.
The pile of legionaries had only grown larger, the praetor head was in the warrior hand. The headless body was impaled with the golden eagle staff.
"The judgement of rule, huh?" He said to the head, "disappointing." He took the head and putted it on pike for all to see.
His battle with the monkey seem endless, neither seem weaken by the continuing battle, both gave it there all. The heaven shook with their might and the universe itself felt their power.
The battle was finally ended with a pair of divine hands splitted them apart.
"So I'm a man like you?" His son asked. He putted his hands on the boy shoulder and look him in the eyes.
"No, we are far more and the responsibility are far greater, and you must be better than me."
He saw the world he destroyed, everything thing was falling apart and he wanted nothing more than for his pain to end.
He was the Bane of Olympus, and he had gave his judgment upon them.
Death and destruction.
He final destination was unknown and he didn't care and proceed to throw himself off a cliff and into nothingness.
He his eyes and looked around the cafeteria, people still eating or talking. He looked back into the empty cup that only had a drop of coffee left.
He knew what he had to do. All the lives he lived and he didn't stop.
He will find the answers he was looking for.
And nothing will stop him. He now may be Jacob Williams, but he was still Kratos destroyer of Olympus and killer of gods.
He made his decision and nothing will stop him.
END OF CHAPTER TWO.