Hell

Southern Plains

Kratos kept his gaze out the window. Blitzø was driving. "Soooo...", he said to break the silence.

"What exactly are the nuts and bolts of your plan to get this guy?"

Kratos responded, "I must observe how he fights first. Know how to best face him. I will approach him alone first. You will come later."

Moxxie asked, "Why are we here if you're going to talk him down alone?"

Kratos said, "I know how difficult it is to talk down someone blinded by rage. If that fails, and we have to fight, your aid will be needed. But if it succeeds, I must ensure he knows where not to aim his fury."

The faint coughs of cordite were heard in the distance. Deep growls followed by sloshing and crushing of torn up flesh.

"Stop here."

Blitzø brought the car to a halt. Kratos exited the vehicle and looked around. There were high plateaus surrounding the source of the sound. He said, "Moxxie. If you positioned yourself on that plateau, would you be able to watch my flank?"

Moxxie nodded. He said, "I'm not sure how I'm gonna get up..."

The next sound heard was Moxxie's scream echoing through the canyon as Kratos threw him through the sky. Moxxie skidded against the top of the plateau, gun still in hand. Moxxie grunted as he regained his footing.

Millie shouted, "Moxxie! You OK?!"

Moxxie shouted, "I'm fine, Millie! But please tell him not to do that again!"

The three began walking towards the sounds.

Looking down into a gorge, they saw him.

His armor resembled the Master Chief's. But with more jagged ends and rounded muscles. His helmet was clearer, showing his scowl. He was somewhat hunched over and there was a retractable blade on his left arm. He held a shotgun in his hand that he blasted against legions of grey imps sent by Shinnok. In spite of his massive stature, he moved imperceptibly fast, with agility that let him leap incredible distance while blasting at the demons. From seemingly nowhere, he drew out a chainsaw, carving a demon in half from the head to its groin. It vanished as he pulled out his shotgun once more, blasting the final one.

"SLAYER!", Kratos screamed. The Slayer lowered his weapon as he turned to Kratos. His stance softened. He then walked off to the distance, seemingly paying Kratos no mind.

Kratos dropped down. Kratos said, "Slayer...wait!"

The Slayer looked back. Kratos said, "Do you speak?"

The Slayer said nothing and stared.

Kratos said, "I...am the Ghost of Sparta."

The Slayer softened even further. He recognized that title. He stowed the shotgun.

Kratos said, "Are you...hunting Shinnok?"

The Slayer tilted his head in confusion. Kratos said, "Shinnok is the mad god sending these demons after you. He holds the key to me returning home. To my son."

The Slayer stared at Kratos a little longer before giving a small nod.

Kratos said, "There is something else. These demons. There are those oppressed under Shinnok's heel. They are not the monsters you hunt."

The Slayer's open hand clenched into a fist. He was angry at what the Ghost of Sparta was implying.

Kratos said, "I know your anger. I understand I am asking a lot of you. Shinnok deposed the previous ruler of Hell. He could be the key to returning home. But I cannot face Shinnok alone. I need your help. Please."

The Slayer pumped his shotgun, and prepared to leave.

Kratos rushed up to him and grabbed the Slayer's shoulder while saying "Wait!"

The Slayer whipped around and landed a blow to Kratos' face knocking him back. Kratos skidded against the ground on his feet, quickly regaining his footing. The Slayer turned his body back to Kratos who shook his arms out to alleviate the ache.

Kratos said, "I do not want to fight you. But I will not let you walk this path."

The Slayer stowed the gun on his back and turned his head to crack his neck. He wasn't looking to kill. But he was looking to maim.

He charged, tackling Kratos. They tumbled on the ashen rocky floor. Kratos threw the Slayer off who skidded back as he rushed to his feet. He charged with his fist held high. Suddenly a bullet cracked against his shoulder, knocking him back. He looked in the direction of the bullet. A small shine of a scope caught his eye, followed by another crack of a bullet. It was Moxxie. He began moving side to side, evading the bullet at his incredible speed before grappling with Kratos again.

Moxxie watched through his scope, unable to fire again while he was so close to Kratos.

Kratos was mostly defending against the Slayer's punches, dodging and blocking the rapid blows. He was clearly trained well. His movements were stiff but controlled. Specific. Kratos guessed he must've been former military. What boosted his strength to match Kratos' was unknown.

The two grappled, hands in hands pushing against each other. A massive axe hit the Slayer in the back, weakening him for Kratos to push against him and tackle him. Millie had swung the axe, hoisting it over her back. Kratos pinned the Slayer's head to the ground by his helmet with his knee on his back. Kratos yelled, "Master yourself! Are you man or a beast?!"

The Slayer's eyes locked with Kratos'. Kratos saw the animalistic rage of his younger self peering through those eyes.

Blitzø appeared, gun pointed at the Slayer's head. He said, "Listen chunky. I don't know or care what kinda shit made you pissy. But you've got 5 seconds to take it down 10 notches before I pump you full of-."

Kratos shouted, "Imp! Quiet!"

He turned back to the Slayer and said, "You are a man! You are a soldier of men! Master yourself!"

The Slayer thrashed against Kratos' grip, somehow letting out no scream or grunt. But the thrashing began to subside. The Slayer's only sound were his heavy breaths, growing heavier as he slowed down. Kratos slowly released his grip, helping the now placated Slayer to his feet.

The Slayer kept his eyes locked on Blitzø as Kratos spoke. "He is not of Shinnok. He does not seek war or conquest. None of them do. Help us kill Shinnok and they will remain here."

Kratos extended his hand. The Slayer slowly turned to Kratos, keeping his eyes locked on the imp the entire time. Eventually he took his eyes off and grasped Kratos' hand.

Blitzø stowed his weapon and said, "Alright then ash-hole. What's next?"

Kratos said, "We take the fight to Shinnok and his sorcerer."

Blitzø yelled, "And we murder the FUCK out of them!"

The Slayer released Kratos' hand, reaching behind his back to grasp his shotgun, cocking it.

Midgard

Crota appeared from a black orb, his army flanking him. He held his hand out to the falling snow, amused by the site of it melting against his hand. He marched through the forest, looking for a nearby human settlement.

"CROTAAAAAA!"

Crota, cracked a small smile. He remembered that voice well. He turned to his left, seeing Atreus. He brandished his knife, holding it in the air. The light of the sun reflected against it, creating a notable brilliant shine.

"I'm calling you out! For my father!"

Crota tilted his head and said, "It seems this boy has a death wish."

Crota summoned his sword. And he pointed it forward, sending his army. He charged with the army, going after Atreus.

Atreus sheathed his knife and began running. His eyes started to glow as he leapt into the air.

With a flash of light, Atreus transformed into a grey wolf.

Crota was startled by this transformation. He said, "He can change his form...I will claim his head."

Crota broke into a full sprint, his army lagging behind, causing them to get strung out.

Atreus' wolf form barely kept away from Crota. Crota swung his sword, letting out shockwaves that unsettled Atreus' footing.

One strike landed true, sending Atreus into the middle of the frozen lake. He tumbled against the concrete-like ice, slowly reverting back to his human form. He coughed as he regained his footing.

Crota jumped into the clearing as well. He said, "Call me out for a fight, then run away? Where is your warrior spirit?"

Atreus brandished his bow. "Fight me without your backup? Where is your battle smarts?"

Crota said, "Do you think you can take me on alone? You'll fare no better than your father."

Atreus smiled and said, "Who said I was alone?"

Crota suddenly said, "What?"

A pair of swords pierced his left shoulder. He turned to see the moss head himself, Roronoa Zoro grasping the swords digging into his body.

He reached his sword to swing against Zoro, but several strands of water began gripping against his other wrist. He turned to the side to see Lapis and Katara bending water from the falling snow into the strands. He dropped the sword, aiming his hand towards the two, firing a blast that knocked them back, releasing their grip.

Freya charged from above, stabbing Crota's other shoulder. Mimir was on her belt facing backward.

Crota yelled out, a pulse exploding outward and pushing Zoro and Freya off his shoulders. Fire burned outward from the wounds, cauterizing his wounds. He smiled as he looked around at those surrounding him.

Crota said, "The boy, the lady, and the head. You've gathered quite a crew...It won't be enough."

Laser blasts began flying by them.

Zoro said, "Damn it. They came quicker than we thought. Hold them off!"

Atreus began firing arrows against the ice as Crota's army crawled out of the woodwork.

Atreus shouted, "Skjalfa!" and green blasts exploded from the arrows, shattering the ice and exposing the river deep underneath. Lapis rushed to the water throwing her hands to the air. Water exploded upwards, forming into a massive humanoid body similar to her in shape. She sprouted a pair of water wings from the gem on her back, flying into the center of the body. She took control of the body, forming a spear out of the water and hardening it into a weapon of ice. She swung it downwards, sending a wave of thralls flying back.

Katara began waving her hands towards Lapis' water titan form. Tentacles began forming from the titan's back. Lapis hardened the tips with ice, and Katara began shooting them out in a flurry of whips and pierces that threw the army into disarray.

Lapis' titan shouted out, "Bring it on!"

Zoro charged Crota, his third sword in his mouth, jumping up to strike at him again. He swung both swords downward. Crota was prepared, blocking both swords with one sword raised overhead. He pushed Zoro back. Freya sprouted a pair of birdlike angelic wings from her back flying upwards. Zoro charged for Crota's legs while Freya went for his head. He shrunk himself down to Zoro's size avoiding Freya's attack while clashing with Zoro.

Crota said, "I've never witnessed a three sword style before. Now I'll have three trophies. What is your name boy?"

"Roronoa Zoro."

Zoro twisted his swords, pressing Crota's sword down before swinging the sword in his mouth towards Crota's neck. This momentary pause allowed Atreus to charge from behind with a powerful roundhouse kick, striking at the underside of Crota's head. He was sent rocketing backwards sliding against the ground. He recovered almost immediately, charging forward before clashing with Zoro.

He twisted his body around Zoro, overturning the swords before delivering a back kick to Zoro's mid section. Zoro rotated his body swinging his swords high. Through the gritted teeth from grasping his sword handle he yelled out, "1080 pound PHOENIX!"

He swung his swords downward and a blast of air pushed Crota back. Crota stabbed the floor, holding against the wind. He looked up to see Freya gliding against the wind with her wings, slashing against his eye. He howled in pain. Freya cast a magic spell on the ground in front of her, creating a glowing rune on the ground. From it sprouted vines that wrapped around Crota, throwing him towards a pile of rocks and wood.

He tried to charge again, but Zoro and Freya were immediately on him, clashing all of their swords against his and pushing him.

Freya said, "Atreus! NOW!"

Atreus pulled out his key of Yggdrasil, holding it to the rocks and wood. At once the pieces shifted together into a doorway, pulled open to reveal a rift on the other side.

Crota shouted, "What is this?!"

Atreus said, "Helheim."

Mimir said, "Hope ya brought ya sweater ya teal bastard!"

Zoro and Freya pushed and pushed against Crota, inching him closer to the rift. His foot slowly crossed into the doorway. He could feel the blistering cold on the other end.

Atreus fired more of his special sonic arrows into Crota's mid section, weakening his body.

Crota looked around desperately for a way out. His army was being torn apart by the girls bending water, his sword was locked in place by these powerful warriors. The blasts from the child weakened his frame.

Then she came. A mighty screech and a blast of flame that knocked the three of them away.

Omnigul descended, helping Crota to his feet.

Crota said, "You...came for me."

Omnigul said, "We have a lot to discuss. But you are still my Will. And I'll always fight by your side."

Crota smiled as he raised his sword, fire igniting in Omnigul's hands.

Atreus regained his footing and readied his bow as Freya and Zoro did the same and readied their swords.

"Then let us tear them apart."