Delphi, Patron City of Apollo.

Delphi was not just one of the most beautiful cities, it was the wealthiest city in Greece. It was unreal by even the standards of the Gods.

Streets paved with gold, people walking around wearing clothes made of the finest materials. Chinese silk, Egyptian cotton, and exotic animals pelts from all over the world.

It was always sunny in Delphi, each day was a beautiful summer day.

Golden statue of Apollo we're everywhere. Offering we're left at every statue. Almost statues of his beloved sister and mother, Artemis and Leto, were scattered across the city as well.

The City gains its wealth from multiple sources.

Priceless paintings, pottery, jewelry, and statues were made there. Traders and merchants came from all over to gain these valuable items.

The medical treatment was unparalleled, even those on death doorstep had the highest survival rate than anywhere. The Spa treatment was to die for. The average life of the mortals was about one hundred years.

The Grand Priest of Apollo had served his position for over a hundred and nine years.

There was a saying in Delphi 'Even the poorest man in all of Delphi was one of the richest in all of Greece.'

What the famous feature in Delphi was the Oracle, a young maiden who could foresee the future!

People from all over made their way to Delphi to know their future. Even people from foreign lands would travel to meet the Oracle. Even some of the wealthiest kings and queens had to make appointments years in advance just to see the Oracle. One

But today the Oracle was troubled, she could no longer see in the future.

The young maiden was kneeling praying before fifty foot tall, golden statue of Apollo, Patron God of Delphi, and the God of Prophecy.

"Still nothing my child?" The Oracle looks over her shoulder and saw the Grand Priest.

"No Elder, still nothing," Oracle look at her God, "Maybe I did something that has anger Apollo,"

The Grand Priest put his hand on her shoulder, "You? Non-sense, since the day you were born, you brought love and joy to everyone meet, patience child and Lord Apollo will reward you."

The Oracle stood up, "My only wish to use the Power of Prophecy to help those in need,"

The Elder smiled, "And that why you're my favorite Oracle... For now,"

The Oracle gasp and playfully slapped the Priest's shoulder, the priest held his in defense, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding, you will always be my favorite."

The Oracle playfully pouted, "Damn straight!"

Suddenly she felt something, a new presence has entered the temple.

"Elder, a God has arrived!" She gasped.

"Who child? Who?"

"I'm not sure but we better greet them!"

The Grand Priest and Oracle raced their way up to the main worship room.

A crowd had already formed around. Making their way through they found who had visited them.

Kratos the God of War.

What was he doing in the Apollo temple of worship?

Kratos scowling face looked around the audience, "Where the Oracle?"

A young woman in a white and gold robe came out of the crowd.

"That would be me, my Lord," she bowed, "How may I help you?"

Kratos got a good look at her, so young.

She was only fifteen years old.

"I have a message for Apollo."

"And what is this message, Lord Kratos?" She asked.

Kratos took a deep breath, and then breath out, "First I am sorry for this,"

"What is it?"

"This."

Kratos swung his right hand and like a blade, it took the Oracle head clean off her body.

Her head landed several away, the crowd began screaming and running away.

The Grand Priest held the Oracle's body, her blood staining his robes.

"What have you done!?" He sobbed.

Kratos ignored him and pick the head and left.

BREAK.

Apollo was bored, very bored. He laid in a gigantic bed with three of his lovers, Two women, and a man, wondering what punishment he would be given for killing Kratos servant.

Hopefully nothing bad, it was the red nymph's fault anyway, rejecting his offer, how dare she.

Apollo gives you something, you say, "Thank You, Lord Apollo!"

She was better off dead anyway, better than working for Kratos.

Then Apollo felt a shock go through him. Something was wrong.

In Delphi! Oh No, His Oracle.

He pushed his naked lovers off him and got dressed.

He hopped into his sun chariot and flew off. When Apollo got to Delphi he found a giant crowd in front of the temple of worship.

"It's Lord Apollo!" Some yelled, all the mortals turned, and immediately bowed down.

"Yes, yes, I love you all, now where is my Oracle!" Apollo made his way through and into his temple.

"Lord Apollo," Apollo look and saw his Grand Priest, covered in blood, stagger over towards him.

"What is the meaning of this! Why are you covered in blood?" Apollo demand, The Priest fell to his knees and began crying uncontrollably.

"He killed her! He killed her!" The Priest sobbed.

Apollo wanted answers. "Who killed who?' Apollo grabbed the priest by his collar and lifted him.

"Tell me now!" Apollo demand.

"Put the man down, Apollo."

Apollo's ears burned when he heard his voice.

Kratos was leaning against a column and took a bite out of an apple. Too sweet for his likely. He prefers something his apple sour than sweet.

Milo always knew what apples to pick for him.

He tossed the apple away, and let splat against the floor.

The veins in Apollo's head throbbed.

"Kratos! What have you done!"

Kratos didn't say anything, he suddenly threw something at The Sun God who caught it. Apollo saw he caught; the head of his Oracle. Her eyes had been removed.

Apollo bit his lip hard enough to draw ichor. "You bastard! YOU BASTARD!"

Kratos summon a knife and beginning cleaning his fingernails.

"Do you have any idea what you have done? Do you know who you just kill?"

Apollo yelled his aura as the sun rose with intensity, the temperature has risen over a hundred degrees.

Kratos vanish the knife after cleaning his nail. He was not bothered by the pressure Apollo's presence was emitting.

"I do Apollo, I kill her on purpose, and now we are even." Kratos walks up to a window and saw a massive crowd outside. Mortal being drawn to the essence of the Gods like buzzards to a corpse.

"Even? Even! For what? The Nymph?" Apollo barked. He dropped the head and marched up to Kratos.

"How dare you! You dare compare that red runt to my Oracle! She could see into the future! She had the Power of Prophecy!" Apollo yelled, "Do you know how long it will take for me to replace her!"

Kratos was listening, he notices the crowd moving away from the temple, the intense heat was becoming too much. The Grand Priest fell to the ground clutching his chest died from the overwhelming heat and the shock of the Oracle's death, it was too much for his old heart to handle.

Kratos looks back at the raging Apollo, "You killed Milo, my only servant, and I in return killed your greatest servant. We are even."

Apollo's eyes glowed like with overwhelming light. "Oh no, we're not! You killed a great symbol of mine, you invade my sacred city, and I am very angry!"

"I notice," Kratos said.

"I demand one hundred Spartans Solider in training! And five hundred Spartan civilians and one thousand Spartan soldiers! They will serve my people, and-"

"No, you're not getting anything from me, or Sparta," Kratos warned.

"Who the hell do you think you are!" Apollo yelled. "You can't do whatever you want and not face the consequences!"

"And you can?" Kratos said.

"Yes because I am Apollo, I am an Olympian, and I am Zeus' favorite son. You! You are a bastard who doesn't his place!"

Kratos didn't say anything.

"I was born a God! Ares was born a God! You are a mere mortal who was gifted with a false title! A pawn who stepped out of line! A bug who is beneath me!"

Kratos still didn't say anything.

"Well say something! Come on Ghost of Sparta!"

Kratos look at Apollo with his amber eyes. "Are you done? Your starting to bore me," Kratos said in an unamused tone.

"Huh? Bore you?" Apollo was still livid, but now he was a little confused.

Kratos took a long exhaled, "I never understood why people worshipped you, you haven't earned anything, you're a spoiled child that handed everything to him, and from the moment I met you I been left unimpressive."

Apollo couldn't understand what he was hearing. Him? Boring? Unimpressed? He was Apollo!

Apollo didn't respond to Kratos's claim of boredom. He instead rushed at The God of War and punched him straight through the roof of the temple.

In the center of the city was a giant water fountain, made of alabaster white marble and gems, it was about seventy-five feet tall. Crystal clean water flowed and created rainbows for all to enjoy.

A young mother and her son sat next to the fountain enjoying the day.

"Mother, what that?" The boy said pointing at the sky. The mother focus on what her son was pointing at, what was that? I look like a man falling from the sky.

BOOM!

The crash was felt throughout the city, the beautiful water fountain was destroyed, and in its place was a gigantic crater. The mortals who were too close were obliterated by force.

Kratos pulled himself out and look around, the mortal looked at him in a slack jaw manner.

Kratos then dodged Apollo's next strike. The Sun God sent a barrage toward The God of War, Kratos dodged and parried every strike.

"I'll kill you!" Apollo continued his attack, "I kill you and become the next God of War, I'll be Apollo God of the Sun and War!"

Apollo struck Kratos several times in the chest and face, shockwaves from each hit caused small tremors throughout the city.

"How does it feel Sparta! Knowing you met your superior! My power and cunning are unmatched!" Apollo continued his attacks.

Kratos grabbed Apollo's forearms, pulled him forward, ramming his knee into his stomach.

"You still talk too much."

Apollo staggers backward and spits out some ichor. "You bastard! That hurts!"

Apollo wipes the ichor off his mouth. Kratos injuries were already healing. Apollo on the other hand felt a throbbing pain spread on the left side.

"Damn it your tough one, good I like a challenge!" Apollo raised his fists.

Kratos kept his guard up, Apollo rushed throwing punches, Kratos either dodged or parried. Kratos swung his left foot into Apollo's ankles and knock him off balance. Kratos followed up with a left hook into Apollo's injured side.

Apollo choked. He fell to his knees and cough up a mouth full of golden blood.

"I-I get it to know," Apollo panted, "Your, not a God, your a monster plain and simple, that why none of us can stand you,"

Apollo stood up and summon his bow and quiver full of arrows. Arrows made up pure sunlight. "I'm going put you down like the rabid beast you are. Apollo God of the Sun, God of War, Son of Zeus and Leto, Brother of Artemis, Slayer of Python,"

Apollo pulls an arrow out of his quiver and loaded it, pulling the bowstring back, he was aiming for Kratos heart.

"Killer of the False God Kratos,"

Apollo fired and the arrow hit Kratos, he fell backward.

He was proud, arrogant, a complete narcissistic prick. But he was no idiot.

"Get up Kratos," Apollo had another arrow ready.

Kratos stood back up, and pull the arrow out of his forearm.

Kratos snap the arrow in two. He summons his weapons, The Blades of Chaos.

Apollo felt a bitter taste. He made a mental note to, after killing Kratos, destroy those blades once and for all.

The cursed blades lit up with flames. The black chains began to move on their own ready for battle.

The mortal watching this felt their survival instinct take over and ran as fast as they could.

Apollo fired a barrage of arrows, arrows made of pure golden sunlight.

Kratos swung his blades, creating a dome of fire and metal. The defensive was successful in blocking all of Apollo's arrows.

"Bastard! Apollo growled, he charged his next arrow with more power and shot it. The charged arrow met one of the chains and disrupted it.

There! An opening! Apollo fired three arrows straight into Kratos's left shoulder. The God of War grunted and took a step back. He rolled to his right and avoid the next wave of arrows.

At a moment's notice Kratos attempt to remove the arrows with his right hand only to have two arrows pierce his palm.

Kratos let out an annoyed grunt. He gripped his hand and broke the arrows.

His left shoulder still had the arrow stuck in it and two holes in his right palm. He felt Apollo's next incoming attack.

Kratos stomped on the ground and a giant rock pop out and shielded him.

"You think that will protect you?" Apollo fired another charged arrow and obliterate the rock.

But Kratos was gone. The rock was a mere distraction.

Apollo put his guard up waiting for the Spartan. he didn't see him, but he knew Kratos wouldn't flee, he had to be somewhere.

Kratos wasn't around him and he wasn't above him, then Kratos must be,

"Oh no," Apollo fell to the ground as horrible burning pain travel ups his legs. The chains of the Blades of Chaos we're wrapped tightly around Apollo's ankles.

Kratos arose from the ground. Apollo tried to fire another arrow but he was swung up into the air and slammed back into the ground.

Kratos began spinning and Apollo with him. A cyclone formed around them as Kratos continued.

Then Kratos loosen the chains around Apollo's ankles and sent the Sun God flying.

Apollo became an arrow, metaphorically, and crashed through Delphi, destroying every buildings and statue, and any unfortunate mortal who was in his way. Their bodies became a fine red paste.

Apollo crash through the giant wall that protects Delphi, it only slowed him down. Apollo crash-landed on the far outskirts of his city.

Apollo finally slowed down and bounce a few times before finally crashing.

"Aaah," Apollo got up and put his hand to his head. Ichor was pouring down the side of his head. He looks at his bloody hand.

The Sun God heard his city screaming. Dozens of buildings began collapsing, and a massive fire was spreading. The mortals were salvaging what they can.

Thousands had already died. The damage had already been done, and that giant hole in the wall left the city vulnerable to invasion.

Apollo forced his injuries to heal. He had a lot of work to do after he kills the Spartan.

Out of nowhere, Kratos sent his fist into the back of Apollo's head and push him back on the ground. Apollo rolled away before he was stomped on. Summoning his bow Apollo began firing.

Kratos charged either swatting away the arrows or allowing himself to be hit. The Blades of Chaos were swung horizontally and sliced Apollo's chest, a horrible burning pain tore through the god's essence. Apollo bites his lower lip and works past the pain. He spins kicked Kratos's face harder enough to draw the War Gods' golden blood.

Apollo spun again for another kick. He tricked Kratos into blocking his upper body, Apollo kicked Kratos's knees and brought the Spartan down. Grabbing him by the head Apollo began kneeling Kratos right in the face repeatedly.

Ichor began flowing out the Ghost of Sparta's nose. Waiting for the right moment Kratos pulled back and headbutted Apollo's knee. Kratos rolled back and swung his blades, Apollo backed flipped and began firing.

"It doesn't matter, Spartan!" Apollo announced as he fired a holy shower of his arrows, "It can all be replaced! My Oracle! My City! My people! I can replace it after I kill you!"

Kratos serpentine his way towards The Sun God, he felt many arrows pierce his body but his closed the gap between them. Apollo panicked, "Face the Wrath of The Sun!"

Apollo glowed and unleashed the very power of the sun, creating a supernova on the earth landscape. Whatever was left of Delphi was now wiped out.

The land was turned into a barren burnt desert. Magma and toxic gases leak out the cracked ground.

Apollo looks for signs of the Spartan. He couldn't sense him anywhere.

"Did I finally kill him?" Apollo said looking for his answer.

"No." A blade stabbed Apollo in his gut and pulled him toward Kratos. The Sun God freed himself and leap back, Kratos swung his blades and sliced Apollo up and down his body.

Apollo unleashed another Sun Blast. Once more Kratos disappeared.

"I'm getting real tired of this shit!" He cursed.

"You and me both." Kratos leaped out with both blades in him. Apollo didn't have time to fire another arrow, he held up his Bow as a shield.

The clash of the bow and blades caused a worldly shockwave. The Heavens and the Underworld felt the power of the two Gods.

Kratos and Apollo pulled back, Kratos brought down his blades back down on Apollo. The Sun God held up his Bow once more, Kratos pressed on with more power.

Kratos pulled back his weapons and brought them once more on the Bow.

For Apollo, it was a time stop, he saw his Bow break as The Blades of Chaos finally slice through his sacred weapon.

Apollos Bow of the Sun was one of his most sacred items. Feeling it broke awoken something in him; Fear.

The truth was Apollo had always feared Kratos. It was his pride and ego that prevented him from feeling this.

The day Kratos killed Ares, his fellow Olympian, and half-brother, what would stop Kratos from killing him or the rest of the Olympians?

Apollo's ego has now sentenced him to death. If had just put his ego aside and left Kratos alone, maybe he would live to see another day.

Apollo held out his hands in surrender, "Wait! Kratos, wait!"

Swish! Swish!

In an instant, Kratos swung his Blades of Chaos and cleanly severed Apollo's hands-off.

"GAAAHHHH!" Apollo screamed. Gold blood gushed from the stumps and Apollo fell to his knees in horror and pain.

Kratos puts his blades on his back and walks up to the defeated Sun God.

"You're right, Apollo, it can all be replaced; your Oracle, your temple, your city," Kratos said standing before Apollo, "It can all be replaced."

Apollo did not like where this was going.

"You too can be replaced."

Kratos grabbed Apollo by his head and began squeezing. The Sun God squirming and kicking, trying desperately to free himself.

The pressure grew and tiny fractures spread across The Sun God skull. His left eye was slowly moving outward.

Kratos added more pressure, Ichor squirted from the top of Apollo's head.

Finally, Apollo's left eye popped out of his skull, his head being reshaped like dough, his teeth began loosening and falling out. The cracks began growing.

Kratos added more power and squeezed more. Apollo's right eye popped out. Ichor gushed out his nose, mouth ears.

SQUISH!

Kratos's hands met together. Apollo's headless body fell to the ground. Kratos was covered in golden blood. Apollo's teeth and eyes laid on the ground.

Next Apollo's body began to glow brightly. An explosion of golden light erupted from the body. The sky became dark and cloudy, the sun became a weak flame.

Diseases began spreading uncontrollably, music and poetry became dull, and the power of prophecy was lost.

Kratos endured the explosion not moving. He didn't care what will happen to him. All that matter to Kratos was that he got vengeance.

Today was the day that he killed the Sun.

BREAK.

Helios was put in charge of the sun. Hermes was given the position as the new God of Healing and disease.

Apollo's funeral was being held at his former temple. What was left If Apollo was wrapped in a gold cloth on top of a funeral pyre.

Hades was giving Apollo his final rites.

"May you find peace in your eternal slumber young Sun God, may you find peace within Chaos."

The pyre was lite. Leto, Apollo's mother, was sobbing uncontrollably, "My baby, my baby boy," Artemis held her mother tightly, her sliver eyes bloodshot from crying as well, she vowed revenge against Kratos.

Zeus himself shredded tears over the loss of his son. Apollo was a brat but that was still his son.

The only God who wasn't there was Kratos. He was on his throne in the Olympian throne. He waiting for his trial for murdering Apollo.

Soon the rest of the Gods appeared. Artemis had pure animalistic rage in her eyes. Zeus stood before Kratos.

"Kratos, how do you plead?"

Kratos's grim face didn't change, "It doesn't matter, I kill Apollo, and I have no regrets."

Artemis jumped out of her throne and with her bow loved with a sliver arrow aimed straight at the God of War. "You murderous bastard!"

Kratos knew that Artemis would want revenge. He didn't flinch when Apollo was aiming at him, why would he flinch before Artemis.

"Pathetic," Kratos said, Artemis shriek with rage and fired her arrow. It might have hit Kratos had not Athena blocked the arrow with Aegis Shield.

"Stand down Artemis," Athena said gently. Artemis nearly popped a blood vessel, it was true Athena did love Kratos.

Zeus wanting to end this sent Artemis into her temple. The Moon Goddess spent the next several hours banging on her door and howling for blood.

Eventually, she stopped. Artemis sat and waited to be released. After some hours her doors open and Athena was on the other side.

"Well?" Artemis asked.

Athena looked at her sister, "Not guilty, but you don't agree do you,"

Artemis got up, she summoned her quiver full of arrows made of pure moonlight. Her blade was summoned as well, a large sliver blade with a purple aura, sharp enough to skin the toughest of hides. Artemis eyes had determination in them. Athena knew Artemis was ready for a hunt.

Artemis changes into her hunting armor and walks past Athena.

"You won't win," Athena said. Artemis stopped, "You don't believe I can kill him?"

"No." Athena said, "whether you try to fight him one on one or ambush him, he'll kill you,"

"I can't let him get away from killing Apollo, he has to pay," Artemis growled.

Athena sighed, "You did then, you're not strong to fight him, even you brought your entire hunt with you, he slaughter you all."

Artemis gritted her teeth, "Why are you against me sister? Why do you side with that man?"

Athena shrugged her shoulder, "I just telling the truth, fight him and you'll die, give up your revenge, it's simply not happening,"

Artemis gripped her till her hand bled.

Artemis was so angry. No, she was anger in her entire existence! Men! It was always men that drove her nuts!

Kratos was going to drive her completely insane. He murders Apollo and turning Athena against her. She already lost Apollo but maybe she could save Athena.

Right as Athena was going to leave, she had her back turn and was walk the doors.

"He won't love you, Athena!" Artemis yelled, Athena stopped. "That monster is incapable of love, what you had plans for he won't work! Help me! Help me kill him, and- Gahh!"

Before Artemis knew it Athena grabbed her by the lower jaw and lift her off the ground. Artemis struggled to get free as Athena's grip tighten.

"Now, I know you are upset by the recent events that have occurred," Athena's voice was calm, like ice on top of a lake.

"But you shouldn't take your frustration out on me like that, learn your place Moon Goddess,"

Athena's iron grip tighten, Artemis felt her teeth loosen, she felt her jaw was about to be shattered when Athena dropped her. Athena dusted off Artemis and straight her hair.

"Now be a good little Moon Goddess and behave, your poor mother is already grieving the loss of her son, we want her to lose her daughter as well, do we?"

Artemis didn't say anything.

"Well?" Athena asked.

Artemis nodded in defeat. Athena patted her sister's head. "Good now excuses me but I have a busy schedule, take care of yourself Arty."

Athena left Artemis in her temple alone, her jaw throbbing with pain and the bitter taste full of her entire being.

Artemis realized that she lose Athena a long time ago. She lost a long time ago.

BREAK.

Kratos stood on a top hill, a vast field of milo grass was stretch over to the horizon. The same shade of red as Milo's hair.

He could still hear her voice.

"Lord Kratos!"

"Milo doesn't want a bath!"

"Can Lord Kratos play with Milo now?"

"Lord Kratos, Milo loves you!"

He avenges her and killed Apollo, got away with it. And yet he only felt defeat.

Kratos turns his back to the milo field and went back to his temple on Olympus, he began observing his Spartans gearing for another war.

War. That is what he needed. He was the God of War. He was going to show them what the true God of War was capable of.

BREAK.

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, And Hades were discussing Apollo's death at Kratos's hands.

"Zeus, we have to renounce Kratos Godhood he becoming too Dangerous," Hera said.

Poseidon stroke his beard, "Hera right, he killed Apollo over a servant, what happens if find out what happen to his brother,"

Zeus had a lot of regrets, so many regrets. The other Marked One was being held in the realm of Thanatos, God of Death.

"Zeus, we need to get rid of Kratos, he only grows stronger and stronger, how long until you can't control him, how many more must die?" Hades said.

"Are you questioning my authority Hades?" Zeus' eyes began to glow.

"Yes Zeus, I am." Hades eyes glowed as well, "The Furies, Ares, Apollo, and, ... my wife," Hades said.

"She didn't love you anyway Hades and she nearly destroyed the world," Zeus respond.

"I know! Zeus! I know, Kratos has escaped death, if he is truly the Marked Warrior, We come all be looking at the very end of our days."

Zeus look at his wife and brothers, "Enough for right now, Kratos has not fully turned against us, we do not need to be plotting against him,"

"At least not yet," Zeus said.

They were right. Kratos has not turned on them yet.

But when he learns what happened to his brother Deimos, that will be the final strike.

END.