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Chapter Text

The humid air of Midgard graces his nose as he enters the Norse Pantheon’s domain. Flying down upon his Somersault Cloud at extreme speeds, the fall-winter scenery blurs past him as he settles down on the humble forest floor. Looking around him, he recalls just a bit earlier, he saw a shimmering golden film surrounding a large part of the woods. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be some sort of protection spell, similar to the one he used on Xuanzang all those years ago, drawing a circle around him and his younger brothers to protect them from demons.

This was not much different, but he was impressed nevertheless when he saw it, because the sheer size of the spell was enormous, he had honestly never considered ever surrounding a forest with a protection spell. But now, as he thought about this presently, he was seriously considering surrounding his home Huaguo (Flowerfruit Mountain) with one.

The air was light, and within the stave, it was oddly peaceful. To be completely honest, Wukong just came here on a whim, he was bored out of his mind despite becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha, and additionally, the Norse Pantheon had it’s fair share of vicious gods. If Erlang’s description was anything to go by, with the things he saw with his third eye, he was inclined to believe him.

A gentle wind blew through the trees, ruffling his fur. Now Wukong, wasn’t exactly the tallest creature around, he was a monkey. Now obviously, quite a handsome monkey, and he had his other powers to make up for the vertical challenge. As of this moment, he was in his regular form, around 5’5”. Of course, he could turn much bigger if he wanted to, but meh.

Craning his neck upwards, he stared at the colorful leaves up above, letting in beams of sunlight from above. After staring for a considerable amount of time, he figured that standing around would do absolutely nothing for him, and he wouldn’t be able to find much out about this world. So he sets off, walking. Which slowly transitioned to swinging through trees and hooting and hollering like the good old days.

Wukong had done a lot of walking and exploring. For how long, he didn’t know, for all knew it had been days or weeks, but it didn’t matter. All he knew now was that it was foggy, and he wanted to sit down. He settled himself on a rock, then scratched his chin hairs in thought.

Now to be honest, he’d done quite a bit of exploring by this point. Jumping off cliffs and diving into rivers for no apparent reason, but now he was concerned. He’d explored nearly every inch of the area, including that beautiful lake a few paces away nestled between some mountains, but he hasn’t seen any human at all.

That was unnerving…a leaf blew past his nose making it itchy- annoying. Of all the places he’s been, and he’s been to a lot, there was never this severe of an absence of humans. In fact, even after taking a recent visit to the Greek Pantheon, the humans seemed to be recovering from some unspeakable disaster. This silence was eerie, and he did not like it.

The wind blew, ruffling his fur once more, he sighed. Taking in the breeze, he appreciates its feeling as a simple part of nature, something that Xuanzang taught him long ago too.

He got up slowly, and decided to walk for a bit, slowly this time. He took in the forest at a ground level, from the perspective of maybe a dog? The forest was still mesmerizing anyway, even though the forest at Huaguo was way better of course. The leaves crumpled under his feet, making a satisfying crunching sound. But for the first time since he came here, the feeling of protection felt off. Looking up, his fiery golden eyes snapped to life.

They were always disorienting after a while of not using them, but they revealed everything to him, nothing was hidden, not even fate, or objects, or secrets. He focused in on the protection stave he caught a glance of earlier, and to his surprise, it was fading. Ever so slowly as parts of its spell got taken down. This was confusing, did someone cover the spell with dirt or something? Wukong shook his head and laughed aloud, that would not get rid of the spell.

He heard a menacing growl come up from behind him.

He figured he was being watched. With all the noise he made, plus, he was a monkey on the ground. Now if he were any other monkey he would’ve been in danger. But he’s already located the apparent predator and when it was going to attack, and actually, he’s a bit relieved. Despite learning how to appreciate nature, it was getting boring.

In a flash, the animal jumped out, barking loudly. A wolf. Wukong grinned and side-stepped the wolf’s lunge easily, sighing to himself as he felt the growl of another one behind him. Who viciously attempted to snap him up. Somersaulting straight over the move, he yawned mockingly, despite knowing that the wolves would not be able to understand them.

Then, giggling slightly to himself, he slapped one of the wolves in the back. The unfortunate wolf collapsed under the pressure and strength. Violently hitting the floor with a yelp. Wukong retracted his hand, looking at it for a moment.

“Whoops.” he said cheekily.

The other wolves growled at him, and for the first time, he looked at them properly.

There were six of them, not including the one whimpering on the floor. And they were…sickly. Wukong was actually slightly disgusted in fact. Their fur was littered with some puke green color, their eyes a venomous yellow, and their breath. The less said about that the better. Wukong felt a pang of sympathy for these animals. They were sick, and desperate, no wonder they were hunting him.

The wolves growled viciously, saliva dripping from their mouths. Wukong sighed and muttered a few magic words.

“Freeze.” the wolves were frozen, as if in ice. And he walked up to them, patting them down this time, observing them and trying to figure out their ailment. It appeared to be a form of poison, probably one that lingered in the air. It was potent too, despite being immune to poison, as he ran his hands through a wolf’s fur, he could not help but feel apprehensive.

“Unfortunate wolves…” he murmured, before grinning, “Guess the Great Sage will have to help you out then!”

Wukong concentrated for a moment, then from his great memory, pulled forth a potent cleansing spell. Muttering the words, he glided his hands over the wolves and from his hands, golden chi emanated forth.

He watched, satisfied, as the poison left their bodies. By this point, he chose to undo the freezing spell he cast on them earlier. The wolves stopped growling, their pain was gone…Wukong smirked as they all barked happily and licked his face in gratitude, before leaving to find their next meal.

…

“There it is!” A young voice called out excitedly, Wukong perked up slightly, wondering who those people were.

“HOLD-” a much deeper, gruff voice called out insistently. Wukong heard an arrow fly, whirling through the air and hitting that deer that just bounded past moments before. The animal let out a cry and ran away, footsteps telling the monkey this.

“What are you doing?!” The gruff voice shouted angrily, “Now it’s guard is up. Only fire-” the voice calmed down, he heard a deep breath. “Only fire…when I tell you to fire.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Do not be sorry, be better.”

“Find it.”

Moments pass.

“Find. It.”

He winces, the tone reminding him just a tad bit of his master before the Journey to the West. He heard their footsteps getting farther and farther away, and after much debate, he followed them. Bounding across the trees and observing from above. He managed to get a better look at the two.

One of them was a small child, no more than twelve, wearing furs and had a quiver of arrows strapped to his back. So that was the young one…his eyes held a fiery light that reminded him of his youth. Meanwhile, the man.

The man was an ashen gray, chiseled, absurdly muscular, with a glorious beard that covered his chin. He had a crimson red tattoo running from the left side of his face, and from what he could tell, down the man’s back. But his leather shoulder pauldrons and clothes stopped him from seeing where it truly went. Wukong assumed this warrior was the boy’s father, and that eventually, he would notice the Great Sage.

Not even taking three steps, a horrifying zombie corpse creature leapt out of the rocks flanking the wide path they were walking on. Wukong had to do a double take and closely observe whatever the hell that undead thing was.

“My bow!” he heard the boy shout,

“No!” the man said, “You are not ready yet!”

The man’s axe lit up with frost magic, the temperature itself growing cold. Wukong’s eyes widened in surprise as the tall man went hacking and slashing at the undead creature. Reducing it to a pile of limbs within a matter of seconds, then moving on to another one, which had just jumped out of the wilderness. One by one he hacked them down and decimated them.

Wukong wanted to go down and fight as well, but figured, for once, he would have some form of restraint.

Then the man threw his axe, and the axe flew back to his hand. Wukong was surprised once more, that was not a regular weapon. Few weapons could be called back to one’s hand, even throughout the pantheons. He has heard of a few, Mjolnir, his Ruyi Jingubang obviously, and that axe.

The battle continued, and he observed the creatures that fought, their forms seemingly driven by the poison that plagued those wolves earlier. The warrior parried with his shield, and attacked with precision Wukong hasn’t seen in many warriors before. He was impressed.

He wanted to fight whoever that man was. Maybe later though…

Very quickly, the pair ran off towards the temple farther up ahead. But for a moment, the man stopped, turned around and looked for a presence he was sensing. But when his gaze stopped on Wukong, the monkey was gone, invisible. Wukong smiled, the man was sharp.

He followed them through the temple, outside into an icy pond. And continued onwards, looting a copious number of chests and tombs along the way.

Time passed, lots of time passed. Wukong was getting a bit bored.

Eventually the pair found the wounded deer again, whimpering behind the trees. The man gave the boy his bow back.

“Father, look.”

“Wait for my mark.” the man’s gruff voice said, “Relax. Do not think of it as an animal. It is simply a target, clear your mind.”

The boy drew the bowstring far back towards his shoulder, nocking an arrow. Taking aim at the deer. Slowly, the man, or father, at this point, guided the boy’s hands towards the weak point. It appeared the boy had found it, and the father nodded.

“Exhale, and release.” The arrow flew, straight and true. Hitting it’s mark for good this time. The white deer let out a few cries of pain, before collapsing to the ground.

“I got it!” The boy whispered excitedly

“Good.”

The pair ran towards the deer, Wukong was surprised one arrow was able to make its way through the sheer muscle and fat the large deer possessed. These two were not normal humans, that was for sure.

“It’s…still alive.” The boy said,

“Your knife.”

The man handed a crafted knife to the boy, who looked up at the man imploringly.

“No, finished what you started.”

Wukong looked on sympathetically as he watched the boy struggle to kill an animal. Now for him, he would not have hesitated, back then, he wouldn’t have hesitated to take any life. But now, things were different, he understood the difficulties and weight of taking a life. He touched his head for a moment, remember all the times he got his head crushed by that cursed loop.

“I can’t…” the man slowly took the knife and guided the boy’s hands into the deer’s neck. The two silently sat there, no words were spoken. Wukong felt something off, but watched as the father tried to comfort the boy and sighed.

A growl.

A gigantic hand.

A giant troll grabbed the deer with one hand while throwing the boy off the ledge.

“Atreus!” the man called, ah so that was his name. Wukong watched a bit longer. Atreus was sent tumbling to the floor, rolling through the grass violently. But the boy got up quite easily, while spitting up grass and clobs of dirt he swallowed, and gagged. Then, Atreus ran to his father’s side.

“We’re going to fight that?!!” the boy shouted, panicking

“We have no choice.”

The troll grumbled some gibberish the monkey could barely discern the troll pounded the ground violently. The entire area shaking under the force. Unexpectedly, he fell out of the tree. He let out a shout of surprise, before deftly spinning himself upright and landing heavily against the ground. His very weight creating a crater. The Ruyi, I forgot…

The ashen warrior spotted the monkey land. And narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him, Wukong could feel his stare glaring straight through him and looking upon his soul. He got some form of chills after this, and smiled to himself in amusement. He was out in the open, therefore he should do something now.

He crouched down, grinning, as the ground crumbled beneath his feet. Bursting into the air at tremendous speeds he extended his hand. With a bright golden flash in that split second his Ruyi Jingubang was summoned into his hands. A regal crimson red staff capped off with golden tips that weighed an unholy amount. Smiling, Wukong casually raised the staff over his head and brought it down quickly on the troll’s head like the way his teacher used to smack him on the head.

At the moment of impact, the sound was equivalent to thunder. An wall of wind blasted Atreus backwards, while the man struggled to stand on his feet, he reacted to Atreus being blasted back and grabbed him quickly with a hand. They could only watch as the blast of wind knocked down weaker trees, blew away stones and rocks, and toppled the previous stone pillars that surrounded the clearing.

Smiling, Wukong somersaulted over the troll and landed just as the monster violently slammed into the floor with a loud thump. Denting the ground and making a troll-shaped crater in the floor.

The man and Atreus were silent as they watched the monkey laugh to himself.

Kratos had no idea what to make of the monkey. The initial blast of wind that monkey created from his downslam was absurdly powerful, much more powerful than anticipated. That monkey must have been the person who was following them. Kratos grunted to himself, that monkey…

There was no time to think about the monkey, for now, he did not seem to be a threat. Yet.

The troll slowly got up, staggering, each step shaking the ground. Before letting out a desperate roar, pounding the dirt like a petulant child, each slam knocked Atreus off balance. Picking up it’s weapon of choice, a gigantic pillar of stone.

The monkey laughed at the sight, Kratos grumbled.

“Ready yourself, boy.”

The monkey decided to speak, “This should be fun!”

The troll attacked first, swinging his stone pillar in a gigantic arc towards the trio in a vicious swing. Air whirled around it as it made it’s way towards them. Atreus could barely react in time as the monkey tackled him out of the way while Kratos dodged perfectly. Each of them now a safe distance away from the weapon.

There was no time to ask the monkey questions, the troll swung again and again, over and over. Giving the trio no time to stop and rest, Atreus was yelling and shouting as the stone pillar nearly lopped his head off. The monkey appeared to be having the time of his life, somersaulting gracefully over each and every attack. Grunting, Kratos ran forward straight at the beast, letting out a powerful roar of determination.

Leaping high into the air, he swung his axe high above his head for a vicious overhead slam, which the troll managed to clumsily block. His axe bounced right off the stone, and Kratos tumbled downwards, landing roughly. Kratos got up quickly and asked,

“What is that stone made of?”

The monkey answered, “It clearly has magical runes and protections carved all over it, without the runes it’d just be a regular stone pillar. But with the magical protection, it becomes powerful.”

Kratos nodded curtly, that block would not happen again. Rushing forward, the fight wore on, Kratos commanding Atreus to shoot arrows at opportune times, while the monkey seemed to be playing. Slapping the troll off balance from time to time when Atreus was in danger, or when he was unable to dodge an attack and had to block.

The god of war was a bit rusty, but this fight was shaking the dust off his bones. The troll eventually got withered down, Atreus was sweating profusely and on his face was the image of anger. Kratos noticed this for a brief moment, but turned his mind back to the fight, the troll was about to fall. Covered in large bruises, arrows, and deep gashes, the troll stumbled. Each step thundering, but weak.

Kratos roared and ran forward, heavy footsteps carrying him forward, he raised his axe over his head as he bounced straight off the stone pillar. Up onto the trolls head, swinging down and embedding the Leviathan straight into the troll’s skull. Swinging upwards with it, and knocking the troll of balance, he ripped to axe out, blood flying everywhere. Before he could finish, Wukong dropped his staff onto the troll. The troll promptly collapsed, it’s head burst open under the weight of the magical pillar, blood spurting everywhere. Kratos’ eyes widened slightly in surprise as he observed the monkey easily pick up the staff as if it were nothing.

Atreus let out a shout of anger.

“That’s what you get! Think I’m afraid of you?!! You’re NOTHING to me!” slashing the troll multiple times with his mother’s knife, over and over, without end. Kratos was about to step in when the monkey dragged him away from the troll.

“Hey, hey, calm down bud. The troll is dead.” The boy breathed deeply, Kratos sighed inwardly in relief. But then Atreus broke out into violent, hacking coughs. Deep from the throat, and caused him to double over many times.

Wukong was slightly shocked, and stepped back. When the boy removed his hand from his mouth, there was blood. The Monkey King was surprised if nothing else, what sickness could plague someone with that strength the boy displayed earlier.

Kratos’ worried expression closed up rapidly, and then he said firmly, grabbed Atreus by the shoulders, Wukong watched from the side.

“You are not ready.”

“What?” Atreus asked dumbfounded, panting heavily, “I found the deer, I proved myself. How am I not ready?”

“We are going home.” Kratos responded, but there was still that monkey to deal with.

Standing up slowly, Kratos approached the aloof monkey with lumbering steps. Asking slowly, deliberately, “Who are you?”

The monkey smiled and gave them his name, “Why, I’m the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!”

Chapter Text

Kratos decided off the bat, the monkey was annoying. He was too talkative, had wild stories, and too loud. He wore these golden yellow robes and a black sash, which off put the god even more. But he was powerful, extremely powerful. If that display from earlier was anything to note, it was that at the very least, his weapon was of immense power. Despite this, he decided that the monkey could stay, for now. As of this moment, he had not done anything to harm Atreus, and even with his sound judgement of character, Kratos could not see any ulterior motive. Which should have been more concerning, what sort of god would come to these lands just for the fun of it.

The walk back to their cabin was uneventful for the first few minutes. The trio trudged through the gently snow-covered woods. Wukong was regaling an excited Atreus about his exploits back home. The boy was dejected earlier, but the stories appeared to have brought his spirits back up.

“So guess what happened next?” Sun Wukong laughed to himself,

“What?” Atreus was excited.

“We peed into three large jars, and convinced the three demons it was holy water!” Wukong could not stop laughing to himself, while Atreus tried not to laugh, he began to anyway.

This…was too much. Kratos stopped in his tracks, “Enough.”

“Aw man, someone’s a party pooper.” Wukong commented. “Oh well!”

Atreus nodded, and they continued forward. Kratos continued to loot whatever treasures he could find, and Atreus found this normal, so Wukong followed out of interest.

“Do you really loot every chest you find?”

“If it will help, then I will.”

Silence.

As they made it closer and closer to the cabin, corpses, which he learned on the walk back were draugr, popped out of nowhere. Roaring, seething, and growling to the point where Wukong got annoyed. Before Kratos, or Atreus could even react, Wukong tossed his staff at the numerous draugr. It spun with a mind of it’s own, a red gold blur as it sent bits and pieces of the draugr everywhere. Splatting on walls, the floor, even the trees. The staff flew back to Wukong’s hand and he blew some bits off it.

Kratos watched. Then decided to move, that monkey was powerful.

“Come, boy.”

The two walked towards their home, Atreus made his way inside, while Kratos went over to the pyre to collect his wife’s ashes. As he did, he stared at them sadly, remembering Faye and who she was, closing his eyes. Lamenting, he was not ready for the path ahead. He could not do this without her.

“Who was that?” the monkey asked, in his annoyingly cheeky voice.

“That is none of your business.” Kratos replied, then moved towards the cabin door, “Do not enter our home.”

Wukong blinked, “Sheesh, alright then.”

Kratos moved to open the door, and stepped inside, closing the door swiftly behind him.

Well, now Wukong was alone. He shrugged to himself and looked at the clearing the cabin was built in. It was quaint, and nice, the Monkey King wouldn’t mind living here if he ever retired.

He sighed, called his Somersault Cloud, and reclined on it, hands cradling his head. Whistling to himself as the minutes went by. He figured Kratos was talking to Atreus about control or whatever. He didn’t really care, but he understood why.

As he looked up to the sky, he saw a gigantic flying creature get closer. Each flap of its wings shaking the very air around it. The Great Sage squinted, was that…it was a dragon. And on top of it, rode a god. He was wearing no shirt, had wacky tattoos, and was powerful in his own right. Maybe similar to the level of Kratos back in the cabin.

Wukong sighed, maybe this guy would give him a good fight. Plus, the monk always taught him to protect anyway. The shirtless skinny god on the dragon didn’t look like a reasonable person. So Atreus’ home was in danger. He’d have to be ready for a fight.

“I haven’t been sick in a long time. I’m better now.” Atreus said quickly.

Kratos did not believe his son, but decided to give him a chance.

“Fine.” he stepped forward, kneeling in front of Atreus’ simple fur bed. And lifted both his hands up, open.

“Come on then.”

“You want me to hit you.”

“I want you to try.”

Atreus went for a halfhearted punch, that was swiftly swatted to the side with no effort by Kratos.

“Ow!” Atreus tried again and got swatted, he got up quickly and stepped forward.

Inwardly, Kratos sighed, he was losing control again. He was not ready.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Too slow.” Kratos responded bluntly, “Try again.”

“Weak, again.”

“Stop it!”

“Again, again!”

Atreus let out an angry shout and went for a sloppy punch. Promptly falling over into the fire pit and onto the wooden floor. Kratos got up, and swiftly walked over in front of Atreus, pulling him roughly up by the arm.

He was worried. If Atreus ever got lost in the same anger again…flashes of his past cycled through his head. No. It would not happen.

“Your anger…you can get lost in it. The path ahead is difficult.” Atreus tried to get away, Kratos yanked him back.

“And you Atreus, are not ready.”

Overhead, the rumble of a dragon flying across the cabin shook the very earth, with it landing somewhere in front of their home.

“What was that?” the boy asked, alarmed.

“QUIET.” Kratos whispered harshly.

The dragon growled and rumbled to itself. And then Kratos heard the monkey, muffled through the door.

“Hey! Shirtless guy! What’re you doing here?” the Great Sage asked loudly.

“Eh? A monkey? The hell do you mean? I’m just a guy trying to find…a friend.” his voice growled at the end.

The monkey spoke again, “You don’t seem like the type of guy to have many friends, why dontcha come and talk with me?”

The stranger outside laughed to himself, “Come on now, you’re a damn monkey how are you supposed to talk to me? All I’d hear is a bunch of chattering gibberish.”

“…Well, now you’ve gone and done it.”

“Oooooohh, hohoho, the monkey is maaadddd.”

“I’ll have you know I’m the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!”

“Means nothing to me.”

“Fine.” There was a long, and extremely tense silence.

A loud grunt and a crash, the entire area shook from the impact. Kratos walked to the door immediately.

“What’s going on?” Atreus whispered quickly,

“Boy. Beneath the floor. Now.” Kratos commanded,

“But you told me never to go down there-” he walked towards Kratos. “What’s going on?”

“I do not know.” Kratos muttered, “But the monkey is out there-”

A gigantic slam shook the entire cabin once more, the stranger grunted in what seemed to be pain. The monkey laughed in amusement.

“Fighting.”

“Will he be okay?”

“I do not know.” Kratos opened the trapdoor on the floor of their cabin, “Get IN.”

Atreus obeyed, quickly getting inside the surprisingly deep compartment and the darkness covered him as Kratos closed the trapdoor over top of him.

Wukong slammed the mystery man into the ground from hundreds of feet in the air, creating a massive crater far in front of the home. He aimed deliberately, trying to keep the battle away from Kratos’ home. Hundreds of meters away, lay a gigantic crater, in the middle of it, the strange god. From what Wukong could tell through the moments in battle, first off, this god was powerful. More powerful than the average celestial soldier, nearly on par with the Illustrious Sage Erlang Shen. Alongside this observation, he noticed the shimmering magic, the powerful magic, lining his skin in the form of foreign runes that he hasn’t seen before. With time he would probably be able to decipher them, but not now.

Unfortunately for the stranger, back in another time, he would’ve given Wukong a genuine run for his money, maybe even fatally wounding him. But now, he’s grown, much stronger, poor old Erlang wouldn’t be able to fight with him now.

The air thundered as Sun Wukong burst forward at tremendous speeds, pinpointing the strange god’s location, zeroing in. The god rolled away just in time, Wukong narrowly missed as his foot pierced the earth, cracking it, rending it to pieces. Another loud impact rang throughout the woods, sending torrents of air outwards in a violent blast.

The foreign god got up, spitting blood out of his mouth. The god was lanky, yet muscular, with runes running throughout his body like tattoos. Once again, he sported a full, luscious, ginger beard. It was not as expansive as Kratos’, but it was impressive nonetheless.

“What the hell are you?”

Wukong spread his arms out wide, “The Great Sage,” bowing, “At your service!”

The god growled and burst forward at high speed, blurring into an afterimage straight at Wukong. The Monkey King smirked and closed his eyes, hands behind his back, and sidestepped the god. The stranger blasted straight past the monkey into a rocky ledge. Wukong laughed in amusement. Before retaliating himself, dashing forward at an unseen speed, the god could not react as a fist embedded itself into his gut.

He crumpled, Wukong’s fist sending him backwards through multiple cliffsides, far away. The stranger let out a cry and burst forward towards him. Wukong grinned, his eyes flashing a bright gold while his fist emitted an ethereal golden light. In a split second, the god attempted to hit the monkey, it missed. Wukong ducked straight under and extended his fist upwards, straight into the god’s chin with the speed of a thousands of lightning bolts.

Another loud blast, the stranger was sent thousands of meters into the air instantly. He could hear the Monkey King laugh, laugh as he ascended high into the sky. It angered him to no end, this annoying ape, overpowering him somehow. It hurt his pride.

From the ground, the Monkey King was doubled over laughing, he heard lumbering footsteps behind him and saw Kratos running full speed towards him.

Wukong sprang up and greeted him “Hey!”

Kratos grunted in acknowledgement, “Where did the stranger go?”

Wukong pointed up at the sky, towards a tiny loud speck that was slowly getting closer to the ground. Screaming obscenities that Kratos would not let Atreus hear, yet.

The god of war nodded, “I will handle this from here.” Wukong looked hesitant,

“This one is strong.” for once in his life he sounded mildly serious.

Kratos nodded once more, no words needed to be said. The stranger screaming once more, seething with power as the air responded to his rage, blasted downwards with the power of a meteor. Kratos growled at the sight, while Wukong stepped forward,

“Let me step in just one last time, I’ll leave the guy to you, promise!”

The Spartan grunted, Wukong smiled. And stepped forward, grinning towards the angry visage of the stranger. Clenching his fist one more time while it hummed with divine energy, timing it perfectly, it slammed into the side of the god’s face sending him tumbling straight into another cliffside, rending the earth and changing the landscape in a blink of an eye.

Wukong chuckled, “He’s all yours.” before blipping seemingly out of existence, “I’m gonna check on your son. To keep him safe.” He was invisible…

Kratos stood at the ready, waiting for the stranger. The monkey was gone seemingly, strangely, despite not completely trusting him, he knew that Atreus would be okay with that ape at his side. With that comfort in his mind, he was fully ready to face whoever this god was. The said god let out a guttural roar, blasting towards Kratos with a fist arched back.

Kratos himself roared in kind, winding back his muscular arm, clenching all his muscles and driving all the power within his arm straight into his fist. The two clashed, Kratos’ punch immediately rendering the stranger’s momentum to nothing. The shockwave blasted the rock away, the trees apart, the snow into oblivion.

“WHERE THE HELL IS THAT DAMN MONKEY?!” the stranger screamed in anger.

“Your fight is with me now.” Kratos growled

“DAMN YOU!”

The stranger slammed his fist into Kratos’ stomach and burst forward, “Guess I’ll have to settle for an old timer then.” Kratos raised his guard and took the punch head on, before completely returning the force. Sending the stranger spinning through the air.

When the stranger landed, he began asking questions.

“So you’re the man from the house?”

Kratos grunted.

“Come with me, no need for this to get more violent than it already has. That monkey has bought more than enough time for you to think this over.”

“Who are you?”

The stranger guffawed, “That’s nothing important.”

“Then I will not come.”

“Fine then, let’s play it that way.”

The events became a blur. The stranger’s backhanded comments, his mocking, all went in one ear and out the next. Kratos swung his axe every direction, precisely, with power behind each strike. The frost landed, freezing him, but every hit his tattoos seemed to shimmer in response, as if negating the fatal damage. Kratos’ eyes narrowed the first time this happened, but there was no time to think about that in the first place. Fist met fist, each clash sending massive shockwaves everywhere, wind blowing, earth cracking. There was only one interaction that had him shaken to the core.

“I know where you came from! You can’t hide it!”

Kratos had stopped for a brief moment,

“You came here to hide from your past, your mistakes!”

“I wonder…” the stranger continued, “What you’re truly hiding.”

Shouting, the god of war unleashed a devastating punch wreathed with fire. The atmosphere around them was crimson red and furious, signified by that ring of fire that ignited when Kratos let out his rage. The fiery punch sent the stranger flying once more, straight into a gigantic painted boulder and then straight through it. Not letting up, with a mighty leap, Kratos was on top of the stranger again. Battering him everywhere, with swift punches to the head, abdomen, and back to the face.

The stranger’s neck snapped everywhere, and through it all he still laughed manically, which unnerved the god of war. The stranger landed a surprise hit to Kratos’ chin, which sent him flying into the air. Grunting as he landed roughly in the snow, Kratos roared, bursting forward, intending to end this.

Swinging his axe powerfully, the stranger simply swatted it away as the frost dissipated, Kratos slammed his fist into the stranger’s face instead and got behind him. Getting the stranger into a devastating headlock. Struggling, struggling, the stranger put up a decent fight, but ultimately, the wet snap of his neck breaking rang true. Echoing through the forest.

Kratos took a deep breath, covered in blood and wounds, pushed the stranger down the cliff they made while fighting. As he got up, he groaned in pain as his wounds mended themselves. If not for that monkey, they could have been in much graver danger. Their home was not safe anymore that was certain.

That was what worried Kratos, he did not know how to guide Atreus properly by himself. Faye would know better than he, she seemed to always know.

“Who..was he?” he stumbed forward, “Did he know my past…? How did they find me…after all this time?”

Kratos opened his hand, calling back the Leviathan Axe.

“Faye…” he murmured, “What do I do? Our son is not ready to scatter your ashes to the top of the mountain.” Kratos stumbled, falling to his knees. Using the axe for support he got up, his wounds finally recovering. And walked towards the cabin door.

“…and neither am I. I do not how to do this without you.” he paused, “But we cannot stay here.”

The door swung open. Kratos went down to the trapdoor and opened it to find that Wukong was watching a distressed Atreus, a formerly distressed Atreus. His face lit up when Kratos looked through the trapdoor seemingly okay.

“Boy. Monkey.”

“There was so much…I thought…” Atreus looked at his father, “You’re alright…”

Wukong chuckled, Kratos waved his hand casually, “I am alright.”

Atreus hopped out of the hole, Kratos was tempted to close the trapdoor on Wukong, but…that would not work unfortunately. Wukong hopped out as well.

“That was one crazy fight, eh?”

Atreus nodded. Kratos spoke,

“Gather your things. We are leaving.”

“Thought I wasn’t ready.” Atreus replied.

“You are not. But we have no choice now.” A pause, “Prove me wrong.”

“Yes sir.”

Wukong cheered, this was always nice to see, “Alright! I guess I’m coming with you guys on this adventure!”

Kratos stared at him harshly, before deciding to allow the monkey to come after much thought.

“Fine. Come then.” he gestured at the door with his head, the monkey hooted and walked out the door with the boy, who smiled at the monkey.

“You’re coming?”

“Yup! The big daddy said so.”

Kratos grunted in response. The trio’s adventure had finally began, and Wukong could not be more excited for the journey.

“Well it’s going to be a LONG trip.”

“Yes. But an important one.”

Wukong stared out at the wreckage in front of the home and whistled in congratulations.

“You did all of this?” he looked up at Kratos, impressed, “That’s some strength!”

Atreus nodded as he observed the destroyed surroundings in awe. He walked, as if in a trance, past the towering trees into the ravine that Kratos had seemingly created with the previous battle.

“Hey, it’s okay if I ask right? What’s the journey for?” Wukong asked,

“We’re going to spread our mother’s ashes on the highest peaks in all the realms!” Atreus responded too quickly for Kratos to tell him no.

Kratos sighed, and nodded. Wukong looked solemn for a moment, “What an endeavor.”

The scenery was beautiful even as they walked through the destroyed landscape. As they navigated the perilous cliffs, Atreus began to ask questions.

“What did he want with us? We’re nobodies.”

“Huh? What are you talking about, you guys-”

“Quiet.” Kratos interrupted, Wukong looked at him inquisitively, but stopped nevertheless.

Atreus continued anyway, “Did you kill him?” he asked plaintively.

“I did what had to be done.” The trio leapt over a chasm.

“You could’ve died…both of you.”

“I thank you for your concern, young one. But, the Great Sage won’t be taken down that easy!”

“Please…father, never leave me alone again…all right?”

Kratos quietly affirmed this, “All right.”

Wukong smiled to himself as they approached the cliffside, marked weirdly with paint. He looked at it for a moment, before shaking his head. And began climbing ahead of the father and son duo. Deftly, with one hand, or maybe feet.

As Kratos climbed, Atreus continued to talk,

“You’ve had to kill people before haven’t you? You’re used to it. Both of you.”

Wukong remained silent, while Kratos responded.

“We do what we must to survive.”

“Animals I get, they’re food. Draugr, they’re supposed to be dead. But people…they’re trying to survive too…”

“Close your heart to it.” Kratos responded,

“Hey, wait I don’t think that’s-” Wukong was interrupted,

“On our journey, we will be attacked by all manner of creature. Close your heart to their desperation. Close your heart to their suffering. Do not allow yourself to feel for them.”

Wukong listened in silence, “They will not feel for you.” Kratos had a point there, Wukong had to admit.

But still, with what Xuanzang had taught him, instilled in him. Those words rang uncomfortably in his mind.

Chapter Text

The cave was moist and damp, dark and dreary, with lone torches lighting their way. Their walk was slow and uneventful, with Kratos on a constant lookout for potential enemies. Atreus himself wasn’t scared at all, with father and the Monkey King by his side it felt like they could do anything. Despite the fact that a few minutes earlier the stranger nearly decimated their home, they came out on top, through his overwhelming power too! As the trio went further and further into the cave, after climbing up a wooden ledge, the cave opened up expansively.

Atreus opened his eyes wide, as he took in the large structure before him just sitting in the middle of an abandoned cave. It was a huge wooden structure that was elevated perfectly in front of the exit far above. Gears seemed to be connected to the bridge, and on both sides were platforms that led to offering buckets to Odin and Thor.

Atreus stood back and watched quietly as Kratos stared at the puzzle intensely, analyzing every detail, mechanism that stood in front of them. From the bridge, to the tantalizing hacksilver just waiting to be taken, and to the exit up above that was just out of reach. Looking to his right, Wukong was completely out of it. Whistling to himself, hopping around, shuffling and straightening his clothes, or straight up casting magical spells. The boy decided to just resign himself to standing around awkwardly while his father tried to get the contraption to work.

…

“Hey, kid! Wanna see my staff?”

“Huh?!”

Atreus jumped high into the air in surprise. Kratos looked back quickly to check of Atreus was okay, then upon realizing that the Monkey King had scared him out of his wits, scowled for a moment before turning back to the puzzle.

“Your staff? Why do you want to show me your staff?”

Wukong shrugged, “Dunno, I just want to. Plus, your dad is taking forever on this puzzle.”

Trying not to chuckle, Atreus smiled and let out tiny bursts of laughter.

“Anyway, might as well keep ourselves occupied, dontcha think?”

“Okay, what’s your staff like? I saw you use it against that troll earlier. You dropped it on the troll’s head and…it blew up!”

Wukong chuckled to himself and smiled at the boy, there was something in that smile. It was warm and amused, and yet at the same time held humor that threatened to break through the surface and make everyone either very annoyed or laugh hysterically.

“My staff is immensely heavy, as in like…” he puts a hand to his chin in thought, “Uhhh…how do I explain this.”

Atreus blinked, confused, “Explain the weight? You just said it was really heavy.”

“Yeah, but you don’t know how heavy…”

Wukong appeared to get an idea, and put his hand to his ear. Extending his palm open a golden flash lit up the right side of his face for a brief moment as a full length staff expanded straight into his hand. Even looking at it again, Atreus could not help but get lost in the intricate designs and carvings on the staff. Each swirl had meaning, every dragon, every carving, even those weird characters at the end of the staff: “如意金箍棒”.

As if to give the staff to Atreus, he extended his hand.

“Try lifting this up. If you can’t lift it, get your dad to come over.”

Atreus tilted his head in confusion, “It can’t be that heavy…right?”

Wukong smiled mischievously, “See for yourself!”

With one hand, Atreus attempted to lift up the so-called Red Stick in the monkey’s hands. It didn’t budge one inch. The boy looked at it confused, and then began sweating, thinking about the possibility of the monkey just casually swinging a weapon this heavy around. Atreus, now wanting to see how heavy the staff was, put both hands on the staff and pulled with all of his might. The ground actually cracked under Atreus’ force, scaring the daylights out of him.

Wukong laughed joyfully at this, “You don’t know your own strength, bud!”

Atreus chuckled nervously, “That…that’s really heavy, Wukong..”

Putting hands on his hips triumphantly, “Yup!” he turns his head violently in Kratos’ direction, “Yo Kratos! Wanna try lifting my staff?”

Kratos turned, completely blindsided by the request and utterly confused. He was just about to start solving the puzzle when the monkey called to him out of nowhere. Grumbling he walked over with heavy footsteps, each step splashing the bits of water on the cave floor.

“What do you want?”

“I want you to try and lift this!”

It was almost like Wukong didn’t think Kratos could lift his weapon. Kratos looked at the monkey in disbelief, the staff was tiny. Barely six feet in length, and about as thick as a large stick. Staring at it, he could sense a large amount of energy emanating from the magical weapon, but the god could not possibly see how in the Nine Worlds that staff would be heavy. Then a thought came to his mind. Back then, against the troll, the staff had popped it’s head like it was nothing. Kratos looked at the staff intently, perhaps the staff…was indeed that heavy.

“…do you think that I am not capable of lifting your staff?” he asks inquisitively.

“Yup!” Wukong retorted, sticking out his tongue, hands on hips. Kratos nearly dunked the monkey’s head straight into the cave’s floor. But he took a deep breath to calm himself, growling for a moment.

“Fine. We will see.”

Kratos, putting both of his muscular and toned hands on the staff, grunted to himself in preparation. He pulled upwards. And the weight of the staff sent him into a form of vertigo. Kratos could not lift the staff. It’s weight was like an entire galaxy was compressed into a single stick and then turned into a weapon of mass destruction. The staff was so heavy that it felt immovable, indestructible. Letting out a violent roar, Kratos attempted to lift the staff. Atreus even stumbled backwards in slight surprise and fear at this outburst while Wukong was trembling with laughter.

It was genuinely to the point where Atreus watched in utter and complete horror as Kratos unleashed a gigantic ring of fire in his rage, raising the ambient temperature by an unholy amount and wreathing his hands in fire. Wukong, eyes wide and concerned, looked up at a determined Kratos. The cave shook under Kratos’ power, he roared louder and the staff, it actually lifted up off Wukong’s hand.

That surprised the monkey more than anything.

“Well I’ll be, he did it!” he exclaimed, eyes wide.

Kratos was about to drop the staff. The staff was genuinely too heavy, and with a final grunt of exertion, he let the staff go. The temperature went back to normal and the sheer weight of the staff completely destroyed the wooden puzzle behind them with the shockwave it generated. Dust thrown up everywhere, Atreus coughed and covered his eyes.

“…monkey, pick up your staff.”

Wukong was doubled over laughing and crying to himself in amusement.

Kratos glared at him, “Monkey.”

Laughing.

“Monkey!”

More laughing.

“MONKEY!”

Wukong got up to his feet, wiping away a stray tear while giggling to himself, “Sorry, that was just…wow. To be honest, that was impressive, nice one Kratos.”

Kratos growled at him in annoyance, “Hmph.”

“Alright, so where’s the puzzl-”

“Gone.”

“oh.”

A long and awkward silence filled the cave, the tunnel entrance was just above their heads. Wukong stared up at it, craning his neck. Kratos looked at him in sheer annoyance. Wukong looked at him cheekily, Kratos narrowed his eyes.

“Get us up there.”

“Okay, okay! Jeez”

Wukong grabbed his staff and placed it on the floor. It then morphed, almost liquifying and transforming into a tiny gold platform attached to the cave floor. The shimmering gold sheet slid under them and then, to Atreus’ surprise, extended upwards. Lifting the trio up all the way towards the tunnel entrance. Kratos was silent, and forged forward without a second glance back, while Atreus, eyes wide could not help but say,

“Whoa! That was so cool!!!”

Wukong chuckled, “At least someone appreciates my abilities!”

“Hrn…”

The trio walked through the tunnel, and at the very end emerged outside of the cave at a ledge overlooking the entire forest. The leaves below were beautiful, covered in thin sheets of snow but despite that, still being able to see the multi-colored layers of the forest. Shades of orange, red, brown, and yellow filled their vision. Atreus was not looking at the forest, neither was Kratos, they were staring at the disappearing protection stave. The magic fading away, a line of golden energy slowly sinking downwards towards the ground from the sky, as if there was an invisible dome around the forest that was disappearing.

“The protection stave…it’s gone.” Atreus said slowly, “But why?”

“The marked trees.” Wukong answered, “You said that there were specific trees that your mother wanted cut down right? Those must’ve been the trees holding up the protective spell.”

“But why would mother want to do that?”

Wukong shrugged, Kratos spoke.

“She must have had her reasons.”

Wukong had nothing to say, so the three let their thoughts simmer in the calm silence as they looked over the forest that kept the father and son duo safe for over a decade.

“Let us continue then.” Kratos said finally, after a long silence. The other two nodded and followed Kratos up the path.

Baldur woke up. Groaning, he stood up on the precarious cliff ledge that he and the ashen man made while fighting. Looking up towards the sky, he resisted the urge to wax poetic quite obscenely with creative and intense swearing. It was sunset. Baldur groaned, it took him a whole damn day to recover his broken neck, but that wasn’t too big of a deal. For now, he had to get back to Asgard and report to Odin about what had happened.

Not many things unsettled the god, he was invulnerable to all things physical and magical thanks to his…mother. But today, there was one thing that unsettled him. The biggest one, was that ape, the monkey. For the short moments that they fought, Baldur could immediately tell the monkey was holding back. The power charged behind the ape’s fists was dense and heavy, each punch was like a damn mountain slamming into him with the speed of a meteor. And on top of that intense power, his fighting skills, offense and defense were immaculate, the monkey had been in many battles, that was for sure.

Plus, he called himself ‘The Great Sage Equal to Heaven.’ As if that meant something…at the time it had meant nothing to Baldur. But there was something about that self-proclaimed title that shook him to the core, like an intrinsic fear that had been beaten into the gods long before he was born. Despite his immense age, the name was somehow familiar, and yet foreign all at once.

Leaping up and out of the ravine, he landed on the soft snow. He felt nothing, no wind, no cold, no heat. He clenched his fist in anger at this curse his mother put on him. That triggered something else in his memory while he fought the monkey. That energy he had coated around his fists, they stung, just a little bit. Baldur was too angry to acknowledge that during the battle because that ape was interrupting his important task, but that sting. He felt…he felt something after over a hundred years.

It was decided, he had to tell Odin about this.

Looking up at the evening skies, the stars were emerging, and he called out.

“Odin! Come onnn!”

The familiar call of ravens, hundreds of them, flapping their wings, swirling at his feet. Rising quickly as they surrounded him, turning his surroundings into a moving mass of wings and caws. The atmosphere changed, and the ravens dispersed, flying off to who knows where.

Asgard. The rolling hills, a vibrant green, and the looming wall ahead.

…Odin that bastard

HE TRANSPORTED BALDUR OUTSIDE ASGARD’S WALLS.

Letting out a flurry of quick curses, Baldur made his way towards the gates.

“Well…look who finally decided to show up…” Heimdallr drawled sarcastically. “Welcome baaaackk…”

Baldur ignored the god, and stomped through Asgard all the way to Odin’s home. Odin opened the doors as if he’d been waiting there the whole time, and said,

“Ah…Baldur! Come in, come in!”

Silently, he obeyed and walked inside, as Odin walked him down towards his office he continued his questions,

“I take it that it went well?”

“No.”

Odin looked surprised, “My best tracker saying that it didn’t go well? Well then tell me, what happened?”

Odin sat down behind his large, spruce desk. As usual it was littered with papers, scrolls, inked journals and that perpetual green crack to the side.

“Do you know who the Great Sage Equal to Heaven is?”

The All-Father was quiet, his eye wide with barely concealed panic.

“What did you just say?”

Chapter Text

The trio continued on their way. Their path was soon obstructed by a thin crevice of stone that led to the other side. The crevice opening once again was marked by a golden paint that seemed to follow a similar design that all the other markings did. Wukong’s eyes narrowed at the paint, he had repeatedly seen those markings everywhere they went. That unnerved him just a bit, because it was as if some other being knew every single step that they were going to take, and where they were going to take them. Wukong shook his head and pushed that thought out of his mind, it was too much like Buddha, or Tathagata. He was the guy who punished him under the Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years, sealed with one of the Buddha’s legendary seals, preventing him from easily breaking through the mountain and freeing himself.

Shuddering at that nice thought, Wukong focused himself on the present. Kratos gestured to them with his head and towards the crevice, telling them to move through. The boy and Wukong went first, the stone was suffocating, but with Wukong’s size he didn’t have it as bad as Kratos. The poor, well built god had to shove himself through, grinding against the stone walls and appearing on the other side. Where the path expanded out into something akin to a cave entrance.

Mist hung on the ground as ice formed, Wukong took a deep breath and relished in the refreshing cool that surrounded him. Vines and other long plants hung over the stones and rocks. There was also this dead body that Wukong pointedly ignored, but Kratos sauntered straight up to the corpse and looted it. Taking it’s belongings without a second thought.

“…man is that a good idea?”

Kratos looked up as he pocketed the hacksilver.

“They are dead, this will not be of any use to them anymore.”

Wukong had to concede, that was a good point. “Just seems disrespectful that’s all,”

The god of war was silent, and they moved to the clearing.

Atreus was standing at the path’s edge, unmoving with his bow drawn back and an arrow nocked. Wukong looked at him intrigued, and followed his line of sight towards the hordes of draugr that plagued the clearing before them.

Wukong looked pained, if this was a better situation he would’ve loved to see what it was like back when this place wasn’t so empty. There would probably be humans frolicking about, the clearing itself was beautiful and secluded, quiet. There were birch trees scattered around the clearing, in the summer it would’ve been a beautiful canopy of green. Observing closer, there were overturned carts, artifacts and other belongings left to ruin. And benches that would’ve been great for relaxing in. It would’ve made a great place to meet up with friends and family to catch up. But now, with all the draugr around, it was too dangerous.

“Draugr…” Atreus whispered, “They’re just wandering around, they don’t see us…”

“Wait for my mark.” Kratos whispered back, Wukong sighed and let them be.

With a single nod, Atreus shot an arrow at the draugr, immediately alerting them to their presence as the arrow embedded itself deep within the draugr’s neck.

Wukong let out a whoop at the little skirmish that was about to happen. And ran forward quickly.

“Monkey, wait.”

The monkey ignored the god, thoroughly frustrating him. Wukong rushed into the fray with the dozens of draugr, they all focused him and he was all for it.

Deftly, under every blow and sword swing he ducked with minimal movement. Weaving in and out of the draugr’s uncoordinated attacks and blows, dancing through them like a flowing river. Occasionally pushing the draugr off balance and readjusting his stance as he observed his own fighting style and criticizing himself.

He was doing this on purpose, he wasn’t one shotting them because on one hand he wanted practice, and on the other hand he wanted to help Atreus practice. The boy had potential, and if he took away all his practice then it’d be a waste, and sad…

Plus, he discovered that as he fought in China, increasingly he found himself relying more on the power he gained than his skill and technique. Sages were known for their technique and skill that were used to overcome challenges. Wukong did value strength and fully intended to continue his training, but all at once, if he couldn’t use his strength to it’s full potential it would be the biggest blunder he’d make.

As Wukong dodged and weaved, he counterattacked easily, knocking them off balance. Looking around, he found Atreus and Kratos occupied with more draugr. Oh, so they weren’t going to help him. Okay then.

Wukong cast a charm that ignited the area on fire, the flames exploding outwards in an infernal ring. Blasting back the draugr, fire wreathing their bodies. They screeched and desperately swung their swords at him, Wukong sighed mockingly and redirected each sword slash with minimal effort. Deciding that this horde had done enough for him, he wound back a fist and delivered a straight punch. The air swirled around his fist and created a shockwave that instantly shattered the draugr he hit, violently blasting the others back and breaking them on the cliffs.

Looking around, he watched as Kratos viciously brought his axe down straight through a draugr’s torso, cutting it clean in half. Then kicking the pieces away, and watched Atreus desperately shoot arrows back and forth at draugr, dodging and weaving. He did get knocked down many times, but he got up all the same. Wukong was starting to like the boy more and more.

Though, Atreus was in a precarious situation. A draugr was more than ready to run him through with its sword, Atreus was obliviously turned around and Kratos was trying to get to him in time. Before any of them could even move another inch, Wukong disappeared. The air shifted as he left his previous place, the ground ripped itself apart.

Wukong dashed forward at tremendous speeds, finding himself directly in front of the draugr and it’s sword pointed towards Atreus’ back. Winding his fist back, it rockets forward. Instantly, shooting straight through the draugr, shattering it to pieces. Atreus let out a shout of surprise and turned around wide eyed.

“Thanks.” he panted, tired from the fighting already.

Wukong got up, smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. “I’ve got your back.”

He looked up and met Kratos’ eyes, who nodded slightly in approval. Wukong grinned, the god of war himself seemed to be tolerating his presence more and more. A draugr let out a growl and stalked up behind Kratos, Wukong was about to step in but…

Kratos’ axe swung in a wide arc, immediately bisecting a draugr in half. Freezing it at the exact same time, it’s now thoroughly dead corpse lying on the floor, dissolving into putrid energy.

…

“Did I do well?”

“It was not bad,” Kratos said, “But not good either.”

Wukong sighed audibly, but still said: “Don’t worry kid, the more you fight with your father here, the more experience you’ll get. You’ll get better with time on this journey.”

Atreus nodded gratefully, smiling slightly, and then looking to Kratos expectantly. Kratos nodded, and then he forged forwards, to wherever they were going. Wukong for once felt kind of odd, he wasn’t used to not leading the journey, scouting ahead like he always did with Bajie and Sha Wujing for danger. But now with Kratos forging ahead, he felt sort of giddy.

He.

Had.

No.

RESPONSIBILITIES.

He looked at Atreus and grinned, “So, where do you guys plan on going anyway. The only thing you’ve told me so far is that you want to spread your mother’s ashes!”

Sounds of Kratos violently smashing apart items and old wooden crates echoed through the clearing.

Atreus was quiet, “We want to spread her ashes on the highest peak in the nine realms.”

“Nine realms?”

“You don’t know-”

“Boy.”

“Sorry father!” the two hurried to catch up,

Kratos was looting a body beside the little cliff, rummaging through the corpse with no hesitation. Wukong was still a bit unnerved by the casual robbing of a dead body, but to be honest it’s not like it’s money or valuables would be used by the corpse any time soon so…

Atreus walked towards a boulder sitting by the cliff, examining the writing on it. Wukong was staring at the cliff itself, once again noticing the golden paint markings that lined the cliff, almost beckoning them to climb up. His eyes narrowed for a moment before shaking his head in confusion, these yellow markings were appearing everywhere. It still unnerved him to no end.

Wukong squinted at it, then looked at the foreign runes lining the boulder. The runes were angular, sharp, and appeared to be painted onto the stone with a residual magic. He could see the leftover magic radiating off the runes, sparkling quietly as if they were a group of fireflies. Turning his head slightly, he watched Atreus look at them intently, as if he could understand them.

“There’s a Jotnar settlement up ahead.” Atreus said,

“What’s a Jotnar?” the Great Sage asked,

“They’re giants!” a brief pause.

“You can read the writing?” Wukong and Kratos both blurted out at the same time. They looked at each other for a brief moment, Kratos frowning slightly while Wukong laughed.

“Just…some.” Atreus murmured, “Just the ones mother knew.”

Wukong smiled at the boy, and walked up to him. “Hey, that’s pretty cool.”

The boy smiled to himself, “You think so?”

“Yup!” Wukong affirmed, “To be honest, it’d take me a long time to decipher these.”

Atreus blinked, he wanted to ask more questions but before he could Kratos grunted. Atreus looked up and walked over to his father, crawling onto his back and then the duo climbed up the cliff. Wukong looked at them, and joined them up at the ledge top.

“You aren’t around here right?” Atreus asked as they walked forward, rocky walls surrounding their view and path.

“Yeah, I’m from a pretty far away place.”

“How can you speak our language?”

“Well…I know a spell or two, but those spells don’t help me read languages.” Wukong said,

“Why not?”

Wukong shrugged, “I dunno, to be perfectly honest, I’ve been working on a spell that would help me with that. But it’s been difficult. Plus sorcery isn’t exactly my thing.”

“Didn’t you cast a fire charm back there? I saw a ring of fire.” Atreus remarked

“…I guess maybe sorcery is my thing”

The boy laughed.

Wukong grinned back, “Well, I’m sure I can-” A draugr burst out from the corner they were rounding, Atreus shouted in surprise while Kratos jumped into action. Lunging forward, with one powerful axe swing, lopped the draugr’s head clean off sending it tumbling to the ground.

The Great Sage took a look at the draugr, it was colored an icy blue. Cold mist emanating from the severed head as it faded away into a chilling wind. The monkey stood there contemplating, while Atreus took a deep breath and forged forwards. Wukong looked just a bit worried for the boy, but continued forward nonetheless. When they finally rounded the corner, they found that it was a dead end. But Kratos was currently occupied with an ornate golden chest, rummaging through it and gathering supplies and little tools.

That is, until he came upon a small gemstone, brimming with frosty magic. When Kratos gripped it between his fingers to examine it, the stone slowly spread frost across his hand despite the heat. He murmured quietly, and took a look at the slots within his axe.

Wukong sauntered up beside Kratos and craned his neck upwards, trying to see the gemstone. From what he could tell, the quality of the magic was very similar to the magic the frost axe was imbued with. He took a look at the axe as Kratos slotted the gem within the hole. It fit perfectly, and when he put it in, there was a shimmering frosty blue energy that ran up and down the axe. Empowering it even further somehow.

“That axe is filled with frost energy, wanna give it a spin?” Wukong asked, Kratos nodded and clenched his fist around the axe handle.

Wukong preemptively took a few steps back as Kratos followed the call of the axe, and shoved the axe up above his head into the air. The energy coalesced from the axe into the singular point the gemstone was located, exploding outwards in a powerful shockwave of frosty air that blew back the snow and debris, sending a strong wind everywhere.

“Whoa, how did you do that?!” Atreus asked in shock, Kratos looked at his axe

“The stone. It has some magical ability within it.”

Atreus’ eyes were wide, “Wow..”

Wukong grinned, and they continued, or they would’ve. Because there was a gigantic fallen pillar blocking the path, with golden markings on it. Wukong, walked up to the fallen stone pillar and clenched his fist, before smashing straight through it. The debris flying forward at immense speeds, crashing into the cliffs and rocks up ahead.

The trio continued onward. As they passed the pillar, the mountain loomed overhead, gigantic and overwhelming. It seemed to pierce the sky, with the clouds obscuring it’s peak. Wukong could not help but feel a sense of awe at the size of the mountain, and a bit of fear thanks to Buddha. But despite that there was a sense of excitement that threatened to cause Wukong to bound up there with a single somersault. Luckily for him, he wasn’t the only one that was excited. Atreus was running ahead excitedly onto a…

…

A rickety old wooden bridge.

Both Wukong and Kratos has the exact same thought at the same time.

“Wait-” “Boy, be careful.”

“Huh? It’s fine, the bridge won’t collapse on me!” The boy jumped up and down multiple times on the bridge.

Lo and behold, the plank he was standing on broke out from under him.

“Whoa! Father!”

“Hang on!”

Wukong was going to burst forth, but Kratos had already started stepping on the bridge. Any more weight and the bridge would for sure collapse. Wukong watched tensely as Kratos made his way closer and closer towards Atreus.

“I have you.”

And then…the bridge collapsed under all of them and they fell. Shouting, Wukong jumps down with them, seemingly into a ruined trading square.

“Slow. Down.”

Atreus looked apologetic, “It wasn’t so bad though…”

“Your haste will cost us.”

Wukong laughed, ignoring the hordes of draugr statues infesting the large stone clearing they fell into. He walked towards them and tapped them both on the shoulder, turning them to look around.

“…..”

“…more draugr. But they’re not moving…are they dead?”

“Aren’t they already dead?” Wukong asked confused,

“More dead.”

Wukong watched pensively as Atreus got closer and closer to the draugr statue. Back in the day he loved touching statues because they always seemed to be immortals or demons just turned into inanimate objects. He always gave them a great scare, but that’s because HE was touching the statues. Not…Atreus.

Kratos slowly turned around, “Boooy…” brandishing his axe.

Atreus lifted a hand up to touch the draugr out of curiosity. His curiosities were snuffed out and fear replaced it as the draugr immediately roared to life, the cold fire of the undead burning in it’s body and eyes.

“Not dead, not dead!”

Wukong laughed in amusement, and leapt forward. Cleaving the draugr’s head off with one fell swoop. It’s head went clattering down the path off the ledge they had landed on under the bridge. Noticing where it bounced off into the void, this place looked like some sort of underground cliff marketplace. Boarded up and destroyed buildings lay on both sides, with carts and objects scattered on the ground.

A roar, a slash of the sword which hit Wukong on the back.

“Wukong!” Atreus shouted, but to his shock the sword broke completely in half. The Great Sage smirked in amusement and grabbed the draugr’s leg, swinging it viciously over his head and bashing it down into the ground, shattering it.

Wave after wave, draugr kept coming. Kratos and Wukong kept plowing through them like killing machines. Each swing of the staff collapsed a draugr’s chest, crushing it’s arms off, or caving their skulls in. Every slash of the axe served to decapitate and de-limb the draugr in quick succession.

Even Atreus was getting in on the fun, Wukong noticed. The monkey grinned as Atreus ran around, slowly adapting to the thrill of combat, bashing draugr upside the head, sweeping their feet out from under them. All to make it easier for Kratos and Wukong to send them flying away with a single punch.

This kept up for a solid few minutes, before it could end. Atreus was nocking an arrow and aiming at a draugr. But that’s when Wukong noticed draugr standing on a ledge up above the battleground, not even coming down. He wondered why, and that was quickly answered when fiery energy collected in their fists, and a burning fireball rushed out. Bursting forward at high speeds towards Atreus.

Wukong dashed forward, swinging his staff sideways, bashing the fireball to the side straight into the stony walls. Where it blew up, leaving a sizeable crater inside. Wukong blinked, then with a whirl and fiery crescendos of noise five more fireballs flew towards him.

Smiling, Wukong twirled his staff, batting each and every one of them away before leaping up to the ledge in a blink of an eye. Weaving in and out between the draugr, his attacks flowing into another as the projectile draugr got decimated within seconds.

By the time that was finished, Kratos had just ripped the final draugr in half, and tossed it’s remains out to the side. Atreus panting, stood up straighter. Then bent over again, panting some more.

“Was that better?” Atreus asked

“Take even more time between your shots.” his father responded, “It does not matter if you fire only once, you want your shots to be effective, not wasted.”

“That was nice.” Wukong remarked, Kratos looked at him funny and the monkey once again looked at him with a cheeky smile. Prompting the god to scowl and turn away.

The monkey spotted a large, crumbling pillar. Inscribed on it were glowing, bright blue runes that looked similar to the ones they saw earlier. Atreus saw this and walked up to the pillar.

“So, what’s it say?”

“…this place used to be a marketplace. The giants used to gather here to trade with the gods a long time ago.”

“Huhh…we don’t have that back home.”

“Well…we don’t have that anymore either.”

Kratos grunted, “Monkey, keep an eye on the boy. I will be back.”

The god walked off down deeper into the marketplace below, no doubt going to look and potentially plunder the dead bodies and chests that were scattered throughout the area.

Wukong turned to Atreus and smiled slightly, “Guess it’s you and me!”

It had been a few minutes, and a thought came to Wukong’s mind. Atreus and the Great Sage had just finished talking about their past, when the Monkey King remembered what Atreus had said about there being nine realms.

“Hey…Atreus.”

“Yeah?”

“You said there were nine realms here…?”

The boy nodded in affirmation and Wukong could not help but look surprised.

“You don’t have multiple realms back home?”

“Well..we do, but it’s just earth, the underworld, and heaven.” he paused and smirked, “And I’ve been to all of them!”

Atreus laughed quietly, “The nine realms here are different. Mother said that they all exist in the same space, but occupy a different level of existence.”

“Isn’t that how all realms work?”

“…it is?”

Wukong was silent, deep in thought for a moment, and decided to experiment with something. If each realm was in the same space, that only meant they were disguised and separated by a different wavelength of being. Something, that his Golden Eyes of Truth had no problem discerning.

“I’m gonna try something.”

“Try what?”

Wukong’s eyes glowed a luminous gold.

Baldur was trekking towards the mountain from the Lake of Nine. Grumbling to himself as Magni and Modi accompanied him, those blumbering fools.

Odin, after having a severe panicking session, which Baldur would have paid money to see, immediately shouted for them to go to where Mimir was. He sure used the ravens on them. BUT HE TELEPORTED THEM TO THE FOOT OF THE DAMN MOUNTAIN.

Baldur had asked why the title “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” was so terrifying to the All-Father. But he gave no response, and delegated himself to muttering obscure curses and plans to himself to try and figure out a plan of counterrattack. Maybe Baldur shouldn’t have told him that the monkey was traveling with the giant he was supposed to be tracking. But it was too late now.

They had to find Mimir to get more information on how to fight this Great Sage, and Baldur had nothing better to do anyway.

Wukong got dizzy for the first time in a long time. After truly observing the realms with his Golden Eyes of Truth it was almost overwhelming. Each of the nine realms was almost overlayed on each other like a wavering palette of colors. Each one unique and completely different to it’s own. But there were nine realms alright. If Wukong focused hard enough he’d be able to check out what one singular realm looked like, tuning out the static from the rest. But that was still difficult, it was like he was adapting to his golden eyes all over again.

“Are you okay?” Atreus asked worried, Wukong shrugged him off.

“Ahhh, I’m good bud. Just, getting used to the view.”

“What are you seeing?”

“All the Nine Realms.”

“What!?”

Wukong turned to Atreus, eyes still glowing, and grinned. “It’s not that bad.”

“You looked woozy though.”

“Pshh, it’s fineee”

Atreus did not look convinced, and looked at him worriedly. Wukong smiled back in response, cheeky. And Atreus huffed, before crossing his arms, causing Wukong to laugh slightly, before smiling apologetically back. Atreus pouted some more, which Wukong thought was hilarious.

He suddenly heard the lumbering footsteps from the god of war, approaching them.

“Come. We are going.”

Chapter Text

They had only been fighting this evasive mage for a minute. Kratos already found them annoying to deal with. Atreus had called them a Revenant, while Wukong visibly grimaced at the gruesome sight of what corrupt magic had done to their body. The Revenant was slippery, their magic fluid and fast, the mage was fast enough to dodge his axe swings. The hanging frost in the air barely clinging nor slowing the Revenant down. The only thing that appeared fast enough to pin this Revenant down was Atreus’ arrows, or a surprising axe slash from Kratos himself.

Grunting to himself once more, Kratos swung his axe down in a devastating overhead slash. The axe split the earth, but missed. The Revenant was already on the other side of the ruins.

“Boy!”

“Yes sir!”

An arrow flew through the air, whistling and embedding itself deeply into the Revenant’s abdomen, or…where it should have been. Kratos ran forward, not missing the opportunity and landed a massive slash on it’s arm. Sending it’s airy form tumbling backwards, perfectly into a waiting monkey. Swinging his staff in a wide arc, the Revenant exploded forward back at Kratos, a golden flash and boom ringing out as the monkey slammed his staff into it’s back.

The Revenant was on it’s last legs, Kratos could see it. Running forward, absolutely tired of this fight, he let out a roar of extreme annoyance and prejudice. Viciously grabbing the Revenant’s face, gripping hard, and then crushing it’s head straight into the ground. The stone cracked, the room shook and dust fell.

Kratos stood up slowly, and took a deep breath while taking in their surroundings. The room was relatively large, and an entrance deeper into the complex awaited them to their right. As the trio walked deeper into the cave, Atreus began to speak,

“That was a real Revenant! Never thought I’d see one up close…”

“I’m not sure if I ever want to see one again either.” Wukong responded, “I’ve never seen magic corrupt a person that badly before.”

Atreus was silent in response. The trio walked closer and closer to a ledge, across from them was a wooden structure perfect for climbing. Adorned with the golden markings from before as always.

Kratos looked at the boy significantly, then back at the wall. Atreus nodded, and Kratos jumped, clearing the expanse and grabbing onto the wooden structure on the other side. He felt Atreus grab onto his back and the pair began to climb, following the golden markings.

Wukong very soon joined them, climbing with a dexterity only monkey’s could have.

“I still don’t get why that man attacked you two at our house.” Atreus remarked

The monkey somehow managed to shrug while climbing.

“I don’t think any of us know much more than you do bud.” Which saved Kratos from saying anything else, and grunting in agreement.

The trio made it up to the top, and the area seemed to expand into many different avenues and openings. All leading to different areas, which most likely would have been used for trade. Kratos observed the bent and broken metal gates, the offering buckets overhead. Without hesitation he threw his axe at the chains, breaking them. Looting the valuables inside and placing them away.

“Where’s your dad putting all of this stuff?” Wukong asked, intrigued.

Atreus shrugged, “I dunno, it’s like he has a bag that can hold everything.”

“He probably does,” Wukong laughed out loud, “I bet your mother gave it to him.”

Kratos bristled at the mention of Faye, but continued searching for valuables, shattering barrels and crates, looting tombs and coffins. The god of war looked up and outside the area they were standing in, back at the bridge that the trio had to cross in order to continue their journey.

“I guess we have to make it back up there.” Atreus remarked, “But how?”

The monkey shrugged nonchalantly and scratched his nonexistent beard in mock thought. Kratos sighed inwardly,

“Follow me.”

Kratos led them through the area, slowly figuring out what exactly they needed to do in order to get up there. It had been quite some time since they entered the ruins. Normally, Kratos would be able to climb all the way up, but the sheer force required to make some of the jumps would knock Atreus off his back, sending him tumbling to the floor. No doubt injuring him, and judging by the way things were going now, there was a surefire way to getting up to the top.

They got into a few scuffles here and there, Wukong cleaned up the draugr efficiently with his fists. Surprisingly, the monkey had not taken his weapon out a single time after fighting the Revenant. Kratos thought nothing more of this, and finally lowering the bridge that would lead to the other side of the area, hopefully bringing them closer to the exit.

The god of war walked through the ruins, through the winding hallways. At a converging point, the trio found another one of the giant’s shrines sitting at the end of the hallway itself.

Kratos approached it, and Atreus, ever distracted, just noticed and ran over quickly.

“Boy, another one.”

The shrine was made up of worn wood, in the form of an expansive gate or door. Elaborate designs lined the upper half of the two doors, laced with gold. Meanwhile, the metal handles on both doors were worn down and dull. The Spartan opened both doors up and it revealed a painting of some sort, with many people and a single large giant in the middle. One of which he could not interpret.

“Hrungnir! Mother told me about him…” Atreus paced in front of the shrine as the monkey and Kratos watched.

“Looks like he was in a pretty big battle…Odin’s there…Thor. Even the World Serpent?”

Wukong seemed very interested int he massive hammer caving Hrungnir’s skull in.

“What a weapon…” he murmured at the gory sight.

“Yeah…Thor must’ve smashed his head apart.”

“Thor?”

“The god of thunder.”

“What is his weapon anyway?” Wukong asked as the trio moved on. An ice draugr jumped out of absolutely nowhere, the monkey leapt up, and crushed it’s head in.

Atreus stiffened, but explained, “Mother said it was called Mjolnir, a really heavy hammer that killed a lot of giants.”

Wukong silently mulled this over in deep thought, while Kratos forged ahead through the expansive ruins. Despite Kratos initially thinking the monkey annoying, he was secretly grateful that there was another person for Atreus to talk to. The Spartan personally felt that as a father, he was not enough. There was something about the way the boy interacted with him versus Wukong. So long as Wukong kept his spirits up, all was well for now.

But a part of him wanted to form a stronger bond with his son…

Kratos pushed that thought away, all that mattered now was getting to the mountain and spreading Faye’s ashes on the highest peaks in all the realms.

Another cackling laugh rang out.

Wukong visibly groaned, “Another Revenant, oh joy.”

The trio nodded at each other at the same time, and the Revenant regretted ever trying to confront the passerby.

The smell hit Wukong’s nostrils before they even entered the room. The monkey’s nose scrunched up in disgust.

“You two smell that right?”

Atreus wore a similar expression on his face as they walked down into the next room. “Eugh…yeah. What’s that smell anyway?”

Wukong looked around the foul smelling room, flies and maggots writhed all over the corpses and carcasses scattered throughout the room, on the worn stone floor. Dried, nasty blood caked the floor, and Wukong even noticed the dried excrement just laying down in a random corner across the room. People lived here.

“NOW!” As if on cue, voices rang out. Two people leapt from the ledge into the room. Ah, the first humans he’s seen in Midgard!

“Are they Hel-Walkers?”

“They’re untouched, look!”

“Someone start the fires!”

“Siegmund, your knives!” More and more people leapt down from the ledge into the room.

Wukong sighed, this brought back memories of demons trying to eat Xuanzang all the time.

“So many days…without meat.” There it is.

“Meat…wait us?!” Atreus exclaimed

“Unfortunately yes.” Wukong deadpanned, “Hopefully this doesn’t involve killing them.”

“We might just have to.” Kratos responded bluntly, “Behind me, boy.”

“What if they change like the others?”

“We’ll have to keep them alive. Strip off their meat…a little at a time.”

Atreus very willingly stepped behind Kratos, shuddering, while the god continued: “Monkey, with me, we will end this quickly.”

Wukong nodded quickly, and Kratos nodded back in kind. The both of them walking forward towards the humans.

And the carnage began. The humans were novice fighters, Wukong could tell that for sure. Judging by their pleasant breaths, their diet consisted completely of raw meat that was completely bad. If the monk was here, he’d have immediately started muttering the sutras and scriptures praying to Buddha to save these men. Wukong wasn’t as devoted to that Buddha as his master, but damn these guys needed some help.

Unfortunately for them, Kratos wanted them dead. And Wukong could not do much about that, not that he really cared. The meat and smell probably scarred the poor kid for life. Humans fell left and right, Wukong dodged easily, knocking them off balance and sending them tumbling and screaming.

Noticing a human attempting to knock the Spartan off balance with a surprise attack, Wukong tackled them immediately, sending them tumbling to the floor. Kratos grunted in acknowledgement and choke slammed another one straight into the ground.

Wukong dealt with the other one, to his credit he was quite strong for a human. But not nearly enough to fight two gods.

“Father! Help me!” Kratos and the Monkey looked up quickly to see Atreus getting choked out by another man.

“Atreus!” Kratos shouted harshly, instantly crushing the man’s windpipe. While Wukong snapped the other’s neck. To mostly Wukong’s horror, Atreus had stabbed the person choking him deep in the skull, twice, and had the man collapse on top of him. His fluids dripping above the boy’s head onto the ground. Both of them in a compromising position.

Kratos, fatherly instincts engaged, burst forward quickly, ripping the corpse off Atreus and with barely veiled panic, looked at Atreus.

Wukong decided to stay further behind. This was something that he was not supposed to handle, this was something that would be better settled between father and son. So he stayed, but could not help but feel sympathy for the broken look Atreus held on his face. His furs and tunics soaked with the man’s blood. Atreus was breaking down.

The monkey was pained, he desperately wanted to comfort Atreus. But to be honest, he didn’t know what to say.

Wukong watched, as Kratos with a surprising amount of tenderness, gently placed both his hands on Atreus’ shoulders for a long moment. Silently comforting the boy, understanding what it was like to kill for the first time as Atreus silently cried in his arms. Slowly, Kratos moved his hands to cup both sides of Atreus’ face.

Quietly, somehow sounding reassuring, the Spartan spoke, “Close your heart to it.”

Atreus nodded timidly, sniffling, while Kratos held him without judgement, supporting him. After a long silence, Wukong noticed in horror that the person Atreus had just stabbed was rising up from the dead as a Hel-Walker. Slowly, groaning and shuddering horribly as the energy of the undead filled it.

“Come then.” Kratos continued, “We have a long journey ahead of us.”

Wukong moved quickly, before the Hel-Walker could even think of touching a hair on Atreus’ head while Kratos finished that sentence, his staff immediately flashed into his hands in an instant. Glowing regally, Wukong threw it with pinpoint accuracy, the staff pierced the air, closing the gap between Wukong and the Hel-Walker instantly. Bashing straight through the Hel-Walker’s skull pinning it straight to the wall, causing it to vanish and disappear.

Before leaping towards it and handing the knife back to Atreus, who was silent. The two gods watched as the other humans rose again, undead, slowly as their energy took a more malicious form. All of them were Hel-Walkers now.

In a silent agreement, the monkey and the god of war agreed. They would end this before it started.

“Wait here, bud.” Wukong said

“We will handle this.” Kratos finished.

The Hel-Walkers turned to paste under their fists. Wukong destroyed each and every one of them again, holding no qualms about killing them this time. They were already dead. Vicious crunching and slamming rang throughout the room as the Hel-Walkers were dispatched within seconds. Each and every one them was no match as Wukong danced through the room. Bashing each of them away.

It was over quickly. Wukong approached Atreus’ side, who shied away nervously. Wukong looked at him imploringly, and Atreus stopped, looking down, pensive.

“They…came back.” he said, Wukong silently nodded,

“It is finished.” Kratos stated softly, finality in his tone. To reassure Atreus that it was all over now, and that they need not to think about it any longer. The Spartan approached them both, placing a hand on Atreus’ shoulder once more, before turning around slowly. Looting more things.

“I want to leave here…” Atreus murmured

“Then collect yourself,” Kratos responded softly, “We must find a way out.”

Wukong placed his own hand on Atreus’ shoulder, who was about his height. “You got this, Atreus. You’re stronger than you know.”

Wukong wondered if Xuanzang would be proud that he went from scaring kids with his antics to comforting them. And smiled inwardly, while smiling softly towards Atreus. Kratos had found a ledge to throw Atreus up to.

But Atreus wasn’t focused. As he made his way to the chain that would enable Kratos to climb up (despite Wukong’s confusion as to why he couldn’t just leap up), he was slow, sluggish.

“Hey, Atreus, you’re looking a bit slow there!”

Kratos looked at him disapprovingly, but nevertheless, “The monkey is right, you are in your head.”

Atreus nodded slowly, “I know…I know…the chain right?”

Kratos nodded slowly in kind, but Atreus was still slow.

“Let it go.” Kratos said, “He would’ve killed you.” That was a bit quieter.

“I know I had to do it- I do know that, I just.”

The next few words had Wukong rolling on the floor.

“Then we will go home, boy.”

“What?!” Atreus whirled around at Kratos in utter shock. Wukong looked up at Kratos with a newfound respect for his parenting skills. He had never expected him to pull that card with him. Well, he couldn’t hold the laughter in any more.

“To give up this easily, so close to the start…”

“BAHAHAHHAHAHA-”

“Wait what? No…I can do this!” Atreus stammered, “All I need to do is …you know…catch my breath!”

Wukong looked up at Kratos, smug as he saw the barely concealed smirk under the man’s beard. When Kratos noticed Wukong looking, he immediately frowned in response. Prompting the monkey to burst out in laughter and amusement. Atreus looked at him all confused while Kratos climbed the chain and Wukong leapt to the top.

The trio navigated through what seemed to be the last stretch of the ruins. The bridge up above was so close. Wukong was excited as they walked. Kratos as usual, looting chests. Wukong decided to give Atreus a bit of a talk.

“Atreus. If you wanna fight well, sometimes you gotta know when the enemy is too far gone.” Wukong remarked as they made their way up,

“A warrior must not feel for his enemy,” Kratos affirmed, while Wukong looked indignant, he was going somewhere else with this.

“Hey, I wasn’t-”

“The road is long and unforgiving, no place for a boy. You must be a warrior.” Kratos said

“Man-”

“Get up and move your ass!” A voice called out from above on the bridge. Wukong perked up in amusement.

“I’ll kick you square in the ringer if you don’t move!”

“C’mooooon!!!”

“…wow what a guy.” Wukong remarked,

“Whatcha waiting for?! C’mon already, let’s go!!!”

The trio made their way towards the voice. Wukong snuffed out another spectral raven as they moved. The Great Sage had been noticing these ravens quite a bit as they journeyed. And as always, there was this hostile binding magic that seemed to keep a soul stuck in that shimmering form. But the only problem with this, is that to Wukong’s horror, the souls were young. Too young, like children. Dispersing this energy would be nothing but a mercy to those poor souls.

The trio made their way to the bridge, which was covered in moss and other overgrowth. Sitting smack dab in the middle was a short man and his pack animal seemingly. The animal was stubbornly sitting on the bridge, all of the supplies and weapons strapped to it unmoving. They approached, and Wukong smugly noticed that he was actually taller than the short man. Who was also blue.

He was currently spewing obscenities that the Monkey King had not heard at all in his long life. So creative and absurd that Wukong could not help but laugh aloud. He approached the man with Atreus.

“So…what’s up with you?”

“Can’t get this sloe-eyed cocklump to cross the bridge! Hmph!” the man said

Wukong barely suppressed a laugh.

“It’s because she’s scared of something in the trees over there.” Atreus stated

“Eh?! There’s what now?”

Wukong looked towards the cluster of birch trees across the bridge, his golden eyes glowed and he spotted the monster, silently waiting there like a predator. It appeared that it knew the creature on the bridge was there, and was waiting for the right moment to pounce. Wukong grinned at Atreus in appraisal.

“Father,” Atreus said, “Throw your axe towards those trees.”

Kratos looked confused, but did so anyway, trusting Atreus. Wukong smiled in approval as the trees roared, and the monster seemingly scuffled away. The blue man looked marginally impressed. But deep down, Wukong knew the dude was just happy that his ride was moving again.

“Hey look at that! You were right!”

“Yes. You were.”

“Say…you must be smart or something boy.” The blue man walked up towards them. He was short and stout, his arms were strong, muscles rippling, his face adorned with a beard that seemed to be connected to the patch of hair on the back of his head. Judging by the outfit he wore, this man was a blacksmith of some sort. And with the adornments on the armor he was wearing, he was a very good blacksmith to boot.

“You are a boy, aren’tcha?”

Atreus looked confused, while Wukong watched in mild amusement. Atreus walked up towards the animal and petted her snout reassuringly. While the animal grunted softly in comfort.

“Hey, does she have a name?” Wukong and Atreus asked at the same time.

“Dunno. Rude bastard ain’t ever asked mine so I ain’t ever asked hers. HAAAAA!”

Wukong watched as the man tried his hardest to push his animal, to absolutely no avail.

“Well then what’s yours?” Wukong asked

“Brok.”

Atreus said some other words to the animal that Wukong didn’t recognize. But to his surprise, the animal slowly got up. The bridge creaking under the shift in weight, high above the cliff below, and walked forward towards the other side slowly.

Brok seemed to be very interested in the axe Kratos had on his back.

“Say…you’re not gonna believe me but uh…that axe you got, uh?”

Wukong raised an eyebrow, “You made it or something?”

Brok grunted, “Yeah, me and my brother made her. One of our best. So don’t let anyone handle her expect the two of us.”

“You are right. I do not believe you.” Kratos responded bluntly.

Brok grumbled and walked away, “There’s a rune in the shape of a fork under the grip.”

Intrigued, the three took a closer look at the axe. Observing it’s handle and blade, before their eyes finally settled on the rune.

“That was our brand, my brother and me, before we split. I got half of it right here—see!”

Kratos stayed silent as he held his axe stoically.

“Look, you want I should upgrade her or not?”

“Very well. I expect an improvement.” Kratos attempted to hand over the axe, and Wukong fully expected Brok to take it. But to Wukong’s total surprise, the blacksmith just turned around and left. Wukong laughed out loud. Loudly, in complete and total amusement, finding the whole thing hilarious.

Kratos grumbled, and Atreus smiled nervously as the trio made their way towards Brok’s workshop.

Odin had never felt this panic before. For once in his life he wasn’t in control, he wasn’t the one holding all the strings, playing with all the puppets. And he hated it. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong. The legendary demon who fought against all of heaven and won, hundreds of years before Odin was even born. And now he was HERE. Of all the places. HELPING, the people who he had to hunt down?

He didn’t know what to do in the slightest. If the stories were true, and judging by the way Baldur described the battle, they were, he was doomed if he didn’t figure out a way to trap him.

The only thing that he could figure out at the moment was throwing the monkey into the Ginnungagap, the bottomless abyss of the Yggdrasil.

The only problem was figuring out how to get the ape there. But the All-Father would figure it out. He always did, and a plan was already forming in his head.

….

but first he has to figure out where exactly the Sage was. Luckily, his best tracker was on the case.

Chapter Text

“Is the axe finished yet?” Wukong asked, bored out of his mind.

Wukong sighs. The earth beneath him was moist, the air was cool and everything was pleasantly damp. The trees swayed gently in the cold wind that blew through the clearing. This winter was an odd one. The loud clanging sounds coming from the ragtag shack Brok set up as his “workshop” was hilarious at first. Wukong at the time could not possible figure out how the dwarf would be able to work with a space as small as that. And then he was proved wrong quite quickly, as he watched the blacksmith work his way up the Leviathan, slowing rejuvenating it’s original power to what it once was.

The only problem with this?

…it was taking a long time. And the Monkey King was bored out of his mind. Everything seemed to get dull as they waited, each minute felt like an hour, and he even watched the sun slowly move it’s way towards the horizon. The sky taking on a slight orange glow. Normally, Wukong would enjoy the sunset, but all rational thought had been purged from his mind while they waited. Atreus was fidgeting with his quiver. The poor guy had taken it off, then put it back on, then turned it into something that Wukong could not describe, before finally resigning himself to just shuffling awkwardly.

“Think you can fucking rush perfection?” Brok’s gravelly voice asked harshly towards Wukong. The Great Sage sighed in sheer boredom.

“Boy, Monkey, go find us food. It is getting late, and the dwarf’s work is going nowhere.” Kratos decided to speak up.

“Hey!” Brok yelled indignantly.

With a terrifying leap, Wukong desperately clamped his hands on Atreus’ ears. Brok was spewing obscenities and curses so creative that Xuanzang would’ve collapsed on the floor in terror. And Atreus did not need to learn any of them. The yelling echoed through the clearing and Wukong led them off to find an animal’s footprints.

When out of earshot from Brok and Kratos, Wukong finally spoke, “The Monkey King is concerned for the dwarf.”

“Why? He seemed….” a long hesitation, “nice?”

“The foul things that spewed from his mouth were too absurd for me to even laugh at…”

Atreus seemed to let that sink in, and somehow found that slightly funny. The Monkey King wasn’t laughing at something that was mildly humorous? That was something interesting.

“What?” Wukong asked confused

“Nothing! Nothing.” Atreus shouted as he fought down a smile. “Anyway, father asked us to hunt…but what are we hunting for?”

Wukong watched as the boy got lost in his thoughts, and looked upwards at the sky. Plucking a hair off his head and blowing on it, the hair turned into a fully fledged Monkey King clone, handsome as always! Wukong admired his own self for a few seconds and then the clone and the original nodded to each other.

“WHOA!”

The two Wukong’s bristled, turning to look where the sound came from.

“There are two of you now?!!!!”

“Yup!” The two monkeys said in unison, “I’m gonna go talk to your dad real quick, the Great Sage will be back in a flash!”

Presumably, the original zipped off. Disappearing as a powerful gust of wind signified his exit, blowing leaves and sticks off the ground everywhere. While the clone smiled at Atreus,

“Hey, don’t worry, I’m just as capable as the original! Have you found anything yet?”

“…” Atreus allowed himself a little smile, “Just deer.”

The clone grinned in excitement, “Perfect.”

“Hey look, the monkey’s back.” Brok remarked, Kratos whirled his head around and looked down. To see a monkey standing there.

“Monkey.” Kratos growled, “Where is Atreus?”

Wukong grinned and shrugged, “Ahhh, don’t worry about it I’ve got a clone handling the situation!”

“…clone?” Kratos asked utterly confused

“Yup! Clone! Man this is one of my favorite ways of dodging responsibility!”

“Show me.”

“WHAT? But-”

“I do not believe you”

Kratos’ beliefs and concerns were quickly altered when an exact carbon copy of Sun Wukong popped into existence beside the original, and then poofed out in a puff of golden smoke. Wukong smirked smugly.

“You believe me now?”

“…yes.” Kratos grumbled, “What do you want?”

“It’s about Atreus.” Wukong responded, for the first time, serious.

Kratos turned to look at Brok, who was pointedly ignoring their conversation and banging away at the Leviathan Axe. The god of war turned to look at Wukong, eyebrow raised, and the two of them walked a bit further away to have a heart-to-heart.

The two approached the edge of the clearing near a cluster of towering birch trees. Wukong nimbly hopped onto a large rock covered lightly with snow and looked Kratos in the eye, his face for once in his life completely serious. At least from Kratos’ point of view.

“You’ve gotta let the kid feel emotions at the very least, you can’t just tell him to close them away. That’s what gets people riled up and crazy in the first place.” the Monkey King stated,

Kratos’ somewhat intrigued expression rolled closed like a storm window. As his mouth was set in a harsh line, his mouth moved little. Yet his voice carried authority and finality.

“Emotions only distract us from our goals, and this goal, to spread Faye’s ashes. He is too distracted, not knowing the dangers the world poses, emotion keeps him weak to other people’s wants and needs. When they have nothing to do with him in the slightest.”

Wukong spread his hands widely, “Just keep that in mind. From my experience, it’s hard to convince someone when they’ve already had their mind set.” he chuckles as he remembers Xuanzang insisting that he didn’t brutally murder humans.

His eyes glimmered mischievously, “I’ll have to let the world do the talking then! You’ll come around!” Bounding away he laughs to himself, then in a gigantic puff of golden smoke, the monkey was replaced by an eagle, flying away at rapid speeds.

“The fuck was that?” he rasped as he coughed the golden smoke.

“…..” Kratos was silent, he processed these words for moments. Before shoving them far back where he would not acknowledge them for a long time.

“Alright bud.” The clone murmurs quietly, with a cheeky grin on it’s face. “You see that deer over-”

Atreus looked at the clone, “Why’d you stop?”

“The original’s back!” it grinned, “See ya, Monkey King number two out!” in a gigantic puff of golden smoke the clone pops out of existence as the real Monkey King from up above the vast forest, whoops in eagle form and somersaults straight onto the ground. Hooting extremely loudly.

“Atreus! Hey, I see you’ve found a deer to hunt, nice!”

Atreus looked at Wukong with a straight up deadpan, the Monkey King wondered what that was all about. Then realized that the deer was now long gone, scared by the noises that Wukong had made.

Not caring too much, Wukong smirked in amusement, looking around, his golden eyes flared to life as everything faded to a luminous gold. Focusing, tuning out the nine-layered realms in his mind he focused his vision on this specific plane of existence. Searching through the forest his sight found the deer in mere moments.

“Don’t worry Atreus, The Great Sage’s got this!” he proclaimed, before pointing in the direction of the deer, “They’re over there.”

Atreus nods quickly and bounds off into the forest, vaulting straight over a fallen log in front of them. Wukong smiles at this, noticing that the boy was getting used to the wilderness and it’s obstacles, and leaps up into the trees, laughing loudly as he swings alongside Atreus from up above.

Each tree was a minor stepping stone he used. Each swing brought Wukong throttling forward high and far into the air at tremendous speeds. Up and down, over and over, in perfect arcs. The sheer force of his swings bent the trees themselves as he propelled himself into the air. He saw the deer still running away, from an Atreus that was chasing it with a big smile on his face. Golden eyes glinting, Wukong became a flash of golden light, rapidly descending straight in front of the deer with a gigantic slam. The shockwave rumbling throughout the forest violently, shaking the trees, cracking the earth.

Cracking his knuckles, he tilted his head, “Hey there! Sorry about this…”

The deer fainted.

…

“Oh. I’ve never seen any animal do that before.”

“Me neither.”

“I guess…that makes it easier for us then?”

“Yup!”

…

Wukong after a long silence, gestures to Atreus with his hand. “Okay, you should kill it.”

“Wait what? Why?”

Wukong flicked out his staff, laughing, dropping it. The entire forest shook violently under the weight of the Heavenly Staff itself. Atreus gulped and nodded, “Ah…you’d just turn the deer into a stain.”

“Yup!”

Atreus took a deep breath, once, twice, again. Wukong watched silently as Atreus slowly took out his knife. Going for the neck of the deer, presumably. It wasn’t exactly where the neck was, based on Wukong’s observation. But it would still kill the majestic animal. Without much of the hesitation he displayed earlier, Atreus gently stabbed the deer with the knife, covering it with blood, and the deer’s breathing slowly died out. It’s heartbeat fading away with the wind.

Wukong nodded with satisfaction, “Let’s take it back then.” The boy looked at Wukong confused, but the face was thoroughly snuffed out when the Monkey King hoisted the entire deer over his shoulders and began walking towards the clearing where Kratos and Brok were waiting. Atreus blinked in utter confusion,

“Hey, wait up!” but ran after him all the same.

Eventually, the two made it back to the clearing after navigating back and forth around the forest. Emerging from the forest itself, Kratos nodded at Wukong, moving over and taking the deer effortlessly from Wukong’s hands. With his axe out, he began brutally butchering the deer then and there. Splattering blood everywhere.

“Hey! Careful where you’re butchering, I don’t want deer blood on my magical tools. It’ll ruin ‘em!” Brok yelled over the counter.

Wukong laughed in amusement, Atreus had to turn away from the sight.

The Monkey King patted Atreus on the shoulder, “Alright, I’m gonna go collect firewood, if your dad asks, just tell him that.”

Before bounding off into the woods. Leaping high into the air, Wukong quickly spotted many pieces of wood that would be suitable for the fire. Grinning, he dived down grabbing each piece, leaping high into the air and searching again. Eventually, collecting all the wood needed, dashed straight back to the clearing and dumped all the wood down, right as Kratos had finished cutting the deer up into nice neat cubes.

The god of war stood up, stared at the wood and grumbled in mild approval. Moving over, he began carving the wood with his axe. Viciously. Arranging it into a fire pit he created a spit with the spindly sticks Wukong had brought. The Monkey King himself was just sitting back and relaxing on a stray rock. Laying down while he listened to the sizzle of meat cooking on the fire. Looking up, Wukong watched Brok trudge over, asking Kratos if he could have some of the meat, holding up the Leviathan Axe, which impressively was somehow flowing with an intense amount of frost energy. Even more so than earlier.

Kratos grunted and nodded, Brok settled himself around the fire, while Atreus warmed his hands. Wukong got a bout of nostalgia watching this play out. Thinking back to the days of their Journey to The West with Bajie and Wujing. Eating food, laughing at Xuanzang’s refusal to eat meat and then finally going to get fruit so he wouldn’t starve.

Wukong grinned and walked over himself. The meat was ready, and despite lacking seasoning. Tasted quite good.

Before he could fully immerse himself in the enjoyment of meat, which Buddha would probably toss him back under the Five Finger Mountain for, a low growl echoed through the trees.

“…I think that monster ya scared off?” Brok began, “They’re back for seconds.”

Atreus, despite killing that deer so easily before, looked to Brok imploringly, “You think there’s room for me to hide behind the table?”

Brok grunted, “So long as you don’t break nothing.”

Wukong lazily got up, looking miffed that eating time was interrupted. His hands flashed golden and the oil and fat on his hands vanished completely, with flecks of meat gone. He glared at the beast that stalked out of the forest. A hulking draugr, much thicker than normal. Limbs the size of tree trunks and a body almost like a boulder.

Smiling slightly, his staff flashed into his hands, standing up. In the side of his vision, he watched Kratos ready his Leviathan Axe, frost emanating from it’s blade. And at the same time, watching Brok follow Atreus straight back behind his shop, hiding and waiting.

The draugr let out a shout, and dozens more hulking draugr leapt out of the woods. Wukong blinked, pleasantly surprised. Smiling deviously, he burst forward as Kratos roared, dashing as well. The poor hulk draugr that first jumped out was immediately decimated. Wukong slammed straight through it’s head with a single swing of the staff, sending it flying as mush. While Kratos cleaved the entire creature in complete half. The body laying limp on the floor, the rest of the draugr roared and rushed at them.

Wukong smirked as he blasted towards the closest one. Leaping straight over the lazy swing of it’s arms, somersaulting behind him. He kicked it straight backwards right when another attempted to punch him. Over and over, he dodged and weaved back and forth. Throwing up dirt, slamming draugr together with immense force. Leaping over a stray draugr, his staff came down on it’s head, bashing it and caving the top half of it’s body in.

Slam, bash, dodge, destroy. Each draugr went through the same process in quick succession. Each time a golden residue of chi and energy was left behind in beautiful trails. Turning Wukong’s whole exchange with the dozens of draugr into a mesmerizing dance that even had Kratos mildly impressed.

He grinned at a group of draugr stalking towards him, screeching and roaring. Wukong held his staff to his waist, shrunk it to the size of a sword. And vanished. The air blasted violently around him as he disappeared, reappearing behind the group. The staff flashed away and the draugr suddenly got battered by hundreds of phantom hits. Sending them crumpling to the ground, dead.

Kratos just finished tossing a draugr far over the forest line into the sky. And looked around, bodies laid everywhere. Slowly dissolving, releasing their undead energy.

Wukong smiled once again in satisfaction. The fight was enjoyable, though the enemies were outclassed sadly…

“Well kid, looks like you’ve got yourself surrounded by two certified killing machines.” Brok commented

“I guess…”

“You gonna learn how to do that too?” the dwarf asked,

“I’m not sure.” Atreus said quietly.

Wukong stood back idly, watching as Kratos walked up quickly to Brok and inquired about the path ahead. Brok affirmed that it’d lead up to the mountain…relatively.

The Great Sage laughed at this. Kratos silently stalked towards the gate on the other side, and began pulling the chain down to open it.

“Brok.” Atreus asked after a while.

“The fuck else you want?” he asked.

“Why does your brother have the other half of your brand?”

“’Cause I ain’t in a working relationship with that foot-licker no more.”

“What happened?” Wukong asked intrigued

“Don’t matter, the point is that we didn’t want the other using the brand. So the only way to solve that was to split it. Fifty-fifty, straight down the middle.”

Wukong observed Brok, there was a sense of regret that was deeply tucked away. He noticed this, but decided to stay silent.

“Guess that was the last thing we saw eye-to-eye on.”

Kratos watched silently, waiting for the pair with a mildly annoyed look on his face.

“Come, monkey. Do not delay the boy.”

“What did I do?” Wukong asked confused. But eventually complied and followed Kratos straight through the gate, onwards towards the mountain.

The night was young, and the moon was just coming up. Wukong figured that they should probably sleep…

Chapter Text

Wukong watched in amusement as Kratos barrelled through the now opened chained gate. Brok was heard hammering away behind them loudly, grumbling to himself about some weird intricacies that weapons had. Which Wukong couldn’t really care less about. His prowess with weapons mostly boiled down to swinging them with finesse and accuracy. Man, if his master saw him saying this he’d bonk the poor monkey on the head with his stick. Chuckling to himself at the thought, he stared off into space further for a couple minutes.

Before realizing that all eyes were on him.

“What? The Great Sage enjoys looking at nature.”

The god of war narrowed his eyes and grumbled, “Monkey. We are going.”

Atreus was standing pensively to his side. It was clear there was a form of tension between the two. To be frank, Wukong had no idea what. Yet. He’d figure it out eventually. He eventually began to move, stepping through the metal gate. Kratos recalled his axe, and the entire gate fell to the ground with a loud clang. Atreus flinched and covered his ears.

Behind the gate, was a wall of stone and rocks, and a very small crawl hole illuminated by torches and a generous helping of skeletons. Wukong shrugged, assuming they were going through there and immediately walked in. The headspace was pretty sparse, but because the Monkey King was relatively short it was not as bad as it could’ve been.

He laughs at Kratos, who looks at him inquisitively, eyes sharp, and continues moving.

Atreus was silent even then. His smile barely reaching his eyes. Wukong looked concerned, giving Atreus a significant look, but decided to continue moving through the space.

“…you left us to fight alone.” Kratos said harshly,

“I did.”

“It wasn’t that big of a deal!” Wukong huffed in amusement, “We could handle it by ourselves.”

“Yes. We did.” Kratos looked at Atreus harshly, “Boy, it does not matter whether or not you are surrounded by companions who can fight. You still need to learn how to fight, and that cannot happen if you stand in the sidelines doing nothing.”

“Yes sir…” Atreus murmured, nearly stumbling over a skeleton. Wukong crawled out the other side easily, bounding energetically to his feet and was greeted by a wooden wall of spikes.

“Don’t sweat it too much, Atreus!” Wukong waved his hand casually, “You can leave the people to us, but fighting everything else you should be able to do.”

The god of war nodded silently at this remark, and watched Atreus nod. Before grunting with a hint of approval. Wukong kicked the wooden door out of the way, his foot caving in the spike he touched, and sending the door flying off it’s hinges clattering straight into the next spiked door. Which was promptly also sent flying, shattering against the stone hallway wall on the other side.

Wukong continued forward, bounding with energy he stopped dead in his tracks. Eyeing the gigantic behemoth of a spiked ceiling in front of them. With spikes on another wooden door.

He sighed, “…I’m going to have to talk to the guy who made this. What a crazy man, thinking of such a spiked contraption!”

Shrugging to himself, the trio made it through without much of a problem. Wukong and Atreus watched as Kratos, as usual, looted everything in sight. Including an expensive looking chest that was sealed with magical runes.

“What’s that?” Wukong asked lightly

“Oh! That’s a Nornir chest.”

“…” Wukong blinked, “what are Nornir?” his voice utterly confused.

“They’re the people who determine the fate of all people.” Atreus explained, “There are three, the past, present, and future.”

The Monkey King’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t like them already.” he muttered,

“Why?” Atreus asked, walking after Kratos who was silently listening to their conversation and walking outside of the cave they just entered.

“Fate, what a ridiculous concept!” He proclaims, having Atreus confused, “Destiny is something you write for yourself, not something people can control.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your ‘destiny’,” Wukong made finger quotations, very exaggerated and mocking, “Is a result of your own actions! As my second master liked to put it.”

Atreus looked contemplative, as the group trudged towards the cave exit. He nodded carefully, as Wukong grinned. Nodding appreciatively as they finally left the cave. Revealing the massive mountain looming so close to them now. The tip piercing the clouds as the fog settled at the mountain base obscured everything below.

Wukong watched and chuckled as Atreus rushed forward to stand upon a rock, staring in wonder at the mountain. So close to them, yet so far.

“Wow…”

Wukong laughed, “I have to agree with you there.”

Atreus smiled, “I’ve never been this close to the mountain before.”

“Well, it’s majestic, isn’t it.”

The boy nodded enthusiastically, as Kratos slowly walked up behind the pair. Atreus saw his father and his face lit up, Wukong watched and turned his head towards the mountain instead. Taking in the snow, the forest below and the trees stripped of their leaves. The animals walking around, the wind rustling his fur.

“It looks so big…” Atreus murmured, “I wish mom was here to see it.” he said to himself as he stared at the mountain.

Wukong nodded slowly, turning back to the boy, then something Kratos was doing caught his eyes. He was slowly moving his hand, trying to put it on Atreus’ shoulder. But his eyes held so much conflict, not wanting to yet wanting to comfort his son. Wukong grinned, and with a flick of his wrist, golden magic surrounded Kratos’ arm. The god of war blinked in surprise as his arm was forced onto Atreus’ shoulder, gently, slowly. His hand was now firmly planted on Atreus’ shoulder, who looked back at his father. Enjoying the peaceful moment.

Though, Kratos was shaken to the absolute core.

Wukong whistled in feigned amazement, “What a good dad…” he murmured cheekily as he continued up the path, purposely slow. He could barely hold back his laughter.

The god of war grumbled darkly as he took his hand off Atreus’ shoulder quickly after. Looking at it significantly while Atreus watched, the god of war took a deep breath.

“Come boy.” he murmured quietly, before walking to where Wukong was and continuing up the path. When Atreus followed, the Monkey King could not stop himself and burst out laughing.

“Is something funny?” Kratos asked, the rising tone in his voice conveying a warning.

“Nope, nope! Nothing’s funny!” Wukong was rolling on the floor. Finding it hilarious that Kratos took physical contact so harshly.

The god of war turned around harshly, and walked forward. The trio entered a large clearing. The entrance of the cave seemingly covered by a messed up, rusted metal circle door. Each side flanked with odd creatures wearing flowing robes.

A sand bowl sat a couple meters in front of the door. Wukong waltzed up to it and peered inside. The runes were still near unreadable to him, but his eyes began to pick up various patterns of the foreign alphabet.

Atreus walked up to the sand bowl and eyed the riddle inside it. “Can you read it?” he asked.

“Nope! I’m slowly getting there though.”

“Wow…you learn fast.”

“It’s a gift…” Wukong murmured quietly, remembering the simpler days back at Subodhi’s temple atop a mountain. Learning each and every one of his scrolls and teachings at alarming rates. Surpassing all of his students in weeks and then furthering his power and knowledge.

“Boy, what does it say?” Kratos asked gruffly, Atreus jumped slightly, before looking down at it.

“As we are, we two, we three. As I alone can never be.”

“A riddle.” “Ooh, a riddle!”

The Monkey King and god of war spoke in unison. Wukong grinned and began to think, “I wonder what the answer to it is…”

He leapt high upon one of the two statues flanking the supposed cave entrance and began to think very deeply. Meanwhile, Kratos wandered the area, observing the door, exploring, looting corpses, and finally clambered atop a ledge overlooking the clearing.

Wukong continued to think deeply to himself, sometimes getting bored, hanging his feet off the edge of the statue’s head and swinging them back and forth, looking up at the sky. Playing with his staff.

Kratos yanked the lever at the top of the ledge, and suddenly the door clanked loudly. Sending Wukong, with a yelp of surprise, tumbling down the statue. The split second the monkey realized he was falling, he began to chuckle as he face planted hard in the stone floor. Sending up dust flying everywhere.

“Are you okay?!” Atreus watched in horror, Wukong got up without a scratch, and a monkey shaped crater was left in the floor.

“Yup, the Monkey King is fine!” he says, “It wasn’t that bad of a fall.”

Wukong scrutinized the now turning panels of the door. Eyeing the gears inside the cracked holes of the turning circuits, and then observing the runes of the door that seemed to have been split methodically.

“Hey, don’t those look like runes?” Wukong asked casually,

“Oh yeah!” Atreus looked back at his father, who was eyeing the gears himself, and threw his axe at them perfectly timed with a hole appearing. Stopping one of the rotating rings.

“Looks like your father’s got the right idea!” Wukong laughed.

The puzzle was simple, and within a few seconds, the Spartan had lined up all the runes together to make a simple word.

“What does it say?”

Atreus looked at it closely, “It says, ‘family’.”

“That must be the answer to the riddle.” Wukong said, impressed.

Atreus nods, “That makes so much sense! What I alone could never be…” the boy stops and looks up in confusion, then back towards Wukong and Kratos. “What do we do?”

“Write the runes in the sand bowl.” Kratos stated.

“Really?” Atreus asked, slightly surprised, but nevertheless moving to write the runes in. After a couple of long moments, the metal door dropped heavily to the ground. As it’s magic unsealed the door from the opening, and rolled away to the side out of view.

Wukong whistled impressed.

“It worked!” Atreus exclaimed, and ran inside.

As the trio ran through the cave, Kratos continued to ransack anything he could find.

“I’m happy we met Brok…” Atreus said, “But I’m happier to be leaving this place.”

Wukong silently realized that he was happy to be leaving the place where he murdered another living, breathing human. And, a bit more sentimental than usual, nodded quietly.

“It is behind us now.” Kratos said resolute.

“Yup, out of sight, out of mind!” Wukong added, as they navigated the cave. Wukong leapt up the ledge in a single bound and stopped, where Kratos was waiting for them. Kneeling down and looking at a pair of tracks.

With a wave of his hand, “Boy.” he commanded, Atreus came bounding over. “These tracks…”

“What do you think?” Wukong asked.

“Hm…it might be a boar? Not sure, but I’ll find it.”

Kratos nodded, “Go.” Atreus nodded and ran forward, outside the cave.

Wukong looked outside the cave exit, spotting large rocky pillars obscured by fog. Covered with moss and other plants, looming ahead, there was a large clearing up ahead…

“It is important for a warrior to keep his skills sharp.” Wukong nodded approvingly at this statement, and followed the boy excitedly. Leaping instead of running, somersaulting rapidly and jumping off the crags and pillars of rock that seemed to curve upwards like a set of ribs.

A roar suddenly rang out harshly through the gigantic clearing. Wukong grinned, spotting a troll, wreathed in magma. Stomping forward as he shook the ground, killing draugr that were wandering the area. Before rapidly turning and letting out a devastating roar.

“Here we go!” Atreus shouted, as the three of them rushed into battle.

Deciding to go a different route, Wukong leapt straight at the troll into it’s face. Causing it to grunt in surprise, quite comically, and take a step back.

“Gruh?”

Wukong laughed, then whispered, “Hi.” before beaning it straight in the face with his fist. The impact let out a loud boom, a light shockwave rippled violently through the clearing, space bending slightly as the ground shook from the punch. Sending the troll flying heavily into the stone walls surrounding the clearing. The troll roared in pain, surrounding itself with gigantic amounts of magma, clearly charging up some sort of attack.

Before it could even do anything, an axe immediately lodged itself onto the troll’s face. Frost blazing up and down it’s body, canceling out the magma attack. The troll ripped the axe off it’s face and roared again, pounding the floor and knocking Atreus off balance. Who, in a display of skill, nocked an arrow and shot it straight at the troll. The troll blocking it with a quick swing of the pillar.

Wukong chuckled and seemingly leapt off a wall of air towards the troll. Releasing another shockwave of pure power, as he vanished. The pair watched as the troll’s literal stomach caved in suddenly. As another massive shockwave blew them back, with the troll rocketing into the cliffside again. Kratos grunted and ran forward. Despite being slower, the troll was actually roaring in mild fear and anticipation. Kratos swung his axe powerfully, as the troll met it with a wide swing of the pillar.

They clashed. Sending waves of frost and fire everywhere. Kratos let out a roar and pushed forward, causing the troll to step back slowly.

Atreus nocked an arrow, releasing it straight into the troll’s eye. The troll lost all sense of concentration. Wukong grinned and laughed in approval, clapping Atreus on the shoulder. The boy smiled brightly in response.

Kratos, with a grunt, cleaved the entire stone pillar in half with the Leviathan. Another massive wave of frost exploded outwards and instantly negated the seething magma stored inside the pillar. Freezing it over and releasing massive amounts of steam that made the fog even harder to see in.

Draugr eventually walked into the clearing, quickly and menacingly. Kratos noticed this, and took out another jewel of that was seething with frost energy. Socketing it into the axe, both jewels roared with power. Humming and vibrating the air around them, lowering the temperature instantly to subzero temperatures.

Wukong watched, impressed, as Kratos leapt into the air and brought down the axe like an anvil. Sending a massive torrent of frost and ice, blazing out and instantly freezing the troll over. The draugr stood no chance, and shattered.

Wukong blasted forward, and took out his weapon. The Ruyi glowing bright gold, leaving an ethereal trail of energy. He swung it hard and fast. Smashing clean through the troll, who was attempting to melt through the ice. Shattering the troll in half, and sending out a shockwave so powerful it sheared the stone off the pillars, collapsing them.

With everything dispatched, Wukong let out a sigh of satisfaction.

The Spartan explored their surroundings and found yet another Nornir chest. Walking up to it slowly, he murmured,

“This is a chest of the Nornir, correct?”

“Yes. The fates.”

Kratos grumbled, “No good comes from them.” Wukong nodded incessantly as Atreus wondered why the two disliked fate so much.

Despite his dislike of the fates, Kratos opened the chest anyway, hitting the rune bells and taking out a luminous green apple. Taking a bite, it shimmered and disappeared.

The trio wandered through the clearing, exploring it thoroughly and robbing it completely. Finding prayers to Odin, who was supposedly the head honcho of the Norse realm.

They stumbled upon an abandoned outpost of homes. Decayed corpses and belongings littered the area. The Monkey King found this tragic, that the people here got no chance to live out lives in such a harsh environment. And promised himself that one day, he’d march up to wherever Odin was, and fight them head on to make their realm whole again. He made this known to Atreus, who explained that Odin had an army of einherjar and other Aesir gods.

Wukong smirked at the fact, explaining his great heavenly invasion.

“So then, I fought all of heaven on my own. Hundreds of thousands of gods fought me all at once, and I beat them all!”

Kratos was startled, the monkey had actually done a similar thing to him. But it appeared to be on a completely different scale.

“….that’s insane.” Atreus murmured.

It took quite a while, but Atreus managed to track the boar down, with it standing in a clearing filled with snow caked grass. Wandering around and foraging for food.

The immediate thing that caught Wukong’s eye was the magical runes and markings on the boar. The second thing that caught Wukong’s eye was the fact that the boar was a transformation. His golden eyes shimmered slightly as it revealed the illusion, it was actually a man that had transformed into a boar. For what reason? He had no idea.

Before he could capitalize on this knowledge, Kratos and Atreus had shot the boar.

“Hey, wait I-” Wukong suddenly deadpanned, “…you shot the boar already.”

Atreus blinked, “Is there something wrong?”

“Well! It doesn’t matter now.”

Atreus nodded and ran excitedly after his game, dropping his knife on the ground as he dashed straight into a maze of rocks and cliffs.

Wukong glanced at the knife on the floor, Kratos knelt and picked it up.

“Atreus should be more careful!” he remarked, Kratos nodded silently, flipping the knife deftly and putting it away. The pair ran after Atreus into the heavy fog.

“Where did he go?” Wukong asked confused,

“Hurry guys!” Atreus’ voice echoed, “I found him!”

The pair ran quickly through the foggy mess of a maze, tension building and rising as Atreus continued to call.

“Please hurry!”

“Atreus!” Kratos shouted,

“He’s slowing down!”

“We gotta hurry.” Wukong said quickly as Kratos nodded, and the pair ran ever faster. The pair ran through a cave entrance and continued forward.

“Wait for us, boy!”

“I’m over here! Where are you?”

The pair continued running quickly, worried. Wukong was surprised he was worried at first, but wiped that thought out of his mind quickly. The priority was finding Atreus first, then figuring out what his brain was doing.

“WHAT DID YOU DO?” A female voice called out in anger and horror, the pair bristled as they heard this.

“ATREUS!!” Kratos called out, Wukong immediately leapt straight into the sky in the direction of the sound, blazing through the air and leaving Kratos behind. Who was currently running forward at top speed. Nearly shattering the crack of rock in his rush to get through to the boar.

Wukong landed heavily in the dirt where Atreus was, leaving a crater in the ground. Immediately at Atreus’ side, he spotted a woman, clearly a goddess, looking at Atreus in panic and frustration. Barely even acknowledging the Great Sage. Normally this would’ve miffed the Monkey King, but he ignored that.

Quickly taking in his surroundings, he noticed red trees peaking atop a wall of extremely thick, gnarled and tangled vines. The woman wore simple garb, sleeveless dress-like tank top fusion? With a glorious sword strapped to her back. Two braids flanked each side of her face.

“You shouldn’t have done that!” the woman said, “Do you understand what you’ve just done? He was the last of his kind!”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know!”

“Last of his kind of what?” Wukong asked confused, “The boar is a transformation.”

“A what?” Atreus asked utterly baffled. The woman was silent, not responding, proving Wukong’s point.

“A transformation, I was gonna tell you guys that it was a guy in there but…you already shot the boar!”

Kratos came barreling out of the maze like a rhino, stumbling forward and skidding to a stop and walking forward slowly, silently relieved that Atreus was okay.

“This boar is a person.”

The woman nodded, “And my friend.” Atreus looked devastated and was trying to help the boar.

“The boy was following my command.” Kratos stated,

“Then help us.”

The woman took something out of her pouch, and Wukong watched intrigued as she infused it with a healing magic balm. Rubbing it over the arrow wound.

“The last of his kind in all the realm, and you shoot him.” she said harshly, continuing to try and close the wound. Wukong stepped over and kneeled on the ground.

“You needed food?”

“Target practice.”

“what.”

“I’m so so sorry…” Atreus said quickly.

“No, the blame is mine, I should’ve kept a closer eye on him.”

“Yeah, why is he running around as a boar anyway?”

The woman glared at him slightly, before continuing to rub the salve.

Observing the arrow lodged deep inside the boar, he lifted his own hands. And they glowed a luminous gold. The woman harshly grabbed his hand, meaning to stop him.

“What are you doing?”

A spark of magic sent her hand flying off his, Wukong smiled with a slightly angry look in his eyes, “I’m helping.”

A glaze of chi covered the boar and immediately rejuvenated him. Stabilizing his breathing and stopping the bleeding immediately. Though, the only problem was the arrow still firmly lodged in it’s side.

The goddess looked surprised. And stood up quickly, “We can’t finish the healing here, we need to take him back to my home, it’s just beyond these vines.”

Wukong nodded, standing up himself. “Here, let me help just a bit.”

The Monkey King’s body was engulfed in a puff of golden smoke that seemed a bit too large for a monkey. Instead, he had transformed into a gigantic elephant. Kratos clambered on top and set the boar down gently.

“Whoa!” Atreus leapt on, “This is so cool.” he murmured quietly.

The elephant Wukong walked forward, after the woman who murmured some magic words and the thick tangled vines rolled away.

“Cool huh?” Wukong asked cheekily, the elephant himself speaking.

Atreus nearly fell off in surprise, and the elephant rumbled with laughter as the group trudged forward after the woman.

Chapter Text

Wukong was so cool!

Riding atop the back of a gigantic elephant, Atreus felt like he was on top of the world. Or at least, close to it. Everything looked so small, and father was even sitting on the elephant with him! The witch led them through the colored forest. Vibrant orangey yellow grass swayed gently in the wind, lavender flowers scattered amongst the grass as red leafed birch trees formed a path that the witch followed. The path itself was well worn, a clear dirt trail leading deeper into the vast forest beyond the vines. Meaning that this witch, or other people, had walked along this path many times over.

With the gentle breeze, the elephant, and an odd aura of life and sheer power emanating from somewhere, even the boar was relaxing too. It was like that aura was stabilizing, or at least calming them down.

The group followed the witch, who eventually clambered onto Wukong the Elephant’s back as well. And began pointing in the correct direction from time to time, before turning back to check on the condition of the boar. Shuffling over, closer to both Atreus and Kratos to observe.

“How did your friend know Hildsvini’s true form?” she asked quietly.

Atreus started for a moment, jerking his head quickly to the witch in surprise. Wukong was right about the boar’s true identity. That surprised Atreus, he initially thought the remark was a bit of a joke.

The elephant rumbled with laughter below them.

“The Great Sage is right, yet again!”

Atreus couldn’t help but smile, “Hildsvini? So that’s his name..” he murmurs, before looking guilty. He shot him. A person…or boar, for food when he had his own life, was this witch’s friend.

“Sorry..again” he says quietly.

The witch shook her head, “It’s fine. My home is just coming up around the bend. We’ll heal him there. But, you didn’t answer my question earlier.” she says with a hint of teasing.

“He does not need to answer your question.” Kratos interjected.

Wukong rumbled beneath them, “I’ll explain. Considering I was the one who figured it out!”

“Go on.” the witch encouraged.

“They’re called the Golden Eyes of Truth!” he continues, a bit boastful, “I can see through all illusions passively, and with focus, I can see all things hidden.”

“Wait what?!” Atreus exclaimed, “That’s…amazing!”

“Why thank you.”

To say Atreus was surprised would be an understatement. That sort of power would be incredible to have. He wondered what he would be good at in the future. Other than with the bow and arrow.

The witch had another question. “What are you three doing in these parts? I haven’t seen you around before.”

“We’re taking mother’s ashes to the highest peak in all the realms.” Atreus murmured quietly. “It was her last wish…”

The witch was silent for a moment, before speaking quietly, “I’m sorry…for your loss. I wish you luck on your journey.”

Atreus nodded gratefully, but silently began to fall into his own thoughts. The peace of the forest, the colors and vibrant hues gave him peace.

Atreus was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. Jolting violently as the witch spoke,

“We’re here.”

The boy’s eyes went wide in wonder. Amidst the beautiful red-leaved trees was a massive oak tree with roots that wrapped around a shell. Said shell was slowly rumbling to the surface, rising further and further into the sky as the ground shook. The turtle let out a low rumble, shaking the air, vibrating everything. The house itself looked like it was built by hand, wooden strips weaved together to make the railings near the front, the door was large and oaken. Worn down. Everything looked incredible…

The turtle’s face itself was worn, covered with moss and massive in size. His eyes carried a wisdom that seemed to go beyond his years. Calm, collected, and observing the odd elephant walking towards him with a few people on his back.

“Whoa!” Atreus exclaimed excitedly, “That’s so cool..”

Elephant Wukong whistled from his trunk, which turned out to sound more like a gigantic horn roaring violently. The elephant laughed in amusement before approaching the door. The witch leapt off the elephant back and rushed inside.

Hello there little one. Atreus blinked in surprise, the animal was speaking to him! My name is Chaurli.

“Chaurli?” Atreus asked in surprise. Kratos and the witch had already moved off the elephant and were walking inside. His father looked up at him intensely,

“Come, boy.” Atreus was snapped out of his stupor and immediately nodded quickly. Sliding off the elephant and landing roughly on the dirt path leading up to the house porch.

“Yes sir.”

The boar started to screech and shoot out phlegm violently all over the entrance. Slime and mucus splattered everywhere, Atreus inwardly grimaced and reluctantly walked forward. Kratos did not react in the slightest.

“Quickly! Place him on the stave there.” the witch walked swiftly into the home. A barely veiled panic that even Atreus could see as she went over to her shelves of magical ingredients up on a shelf to the right.

Atreus watched from the side, desperately wishing he could help in some sort of way.

Wukong jumped casually into the room and was blindsided. He blinked in surprise and stood there completely still. The magical energy inside the room was everywhere. Staining the walls, floating in the air, coming from the shelves. Even from the fireplace that was gently crackling to the left of the entrance. The house itself wasn’t nice looking from a surface level. But the rugged design, the handmade supports and shelves, with pots and pans hanging from the walls gave it a cozy feeling. Wukong smiled slightly, he liked it.

His eyes wandered as the witch and Kratos attempted to save the boar’s life. He picked a tooth with his nail, casually. He trusted the witch’s ability to save the boar, or the person. Hildsvini was his name.

Golden eyes glowing gently, he eventually finds himself gazing at the intricate stave carved up and out on the floor. He sauntered over to a stray table that was off to the side and plopped himself atop the surface.

The stave was…to say the least immensely complicated.

The witch went over to help the boar out. Wukong looked at the carvings, the runes, his eyes discerning the magical energy that emanated off it in waves. Disguising itself with the atmosphere.

The stave was supposed to bring balance and support, to stabilize. Which made sense, why else would the witch tell Kratos to put the boar there.

Completely bored out of his mind with nothing much more to do. He could not help but notice the wary glances the witch sent his way. Her eyes seemed to look at him with a slight fear, tension, wariness. Once, he caught her eyes and grinned mischievously back. Baring his teeth slightly and eyes happy. The woman flinched back and continued to work.

The Great Sage laughed happily while continuing to ruminate.

“I need two more things.” the witch said, “Fresh red root grows just behind the house. Can you pull a cluster?”

Atreus nodded quickly as Kratos looked up at him, and the boy ran out the side door towards the back garden.

There was something weird about the way she asked that question. Wukong watched Atreus run out the door.

“I know you’re a god.”

Oh.

He looked back, Kratos was immediately on guard. The witch had her hands spread out placatingly.

“Not of this realm, but there’s no mistaking it.”

“Hey!” Wukong said indignantly, “You didn’t say I was a god yet!” he sounded offended.

The witch looked at him and stopped talking for a brief moment. Panic in her eyes, thoughts rushing through her head.

Wukong wondered what had gotten over her. She looked overly cautious of Kratos, but she looked scared of him. He blinked, “Something wrong?” he asked with mirth.

“No.” the witch said, “Nothing’s wrong.” before looking back to Kratos, “He doesn’t know does he? About your true nature—or his own?”

Wukong was surprised. He bounded off the table and leapt to the other side of the room, hanging on one of the roof supports, as a monkey would. Kratos walked quickly after the witch.

“That is none of your concern.” he says harshly.

“The gods of these realms don’t take kindly to outsiders. Trust me, I know.” The witch glanced at Wukong, before turning back to Kratos. “When they find you—and they will—they will make things difficult. You need to tell the boy soon.”

“That will be my problem.” Kratos growled.

Wukong got bored. He bounded off the table, flipping to the floor with a flourish and grinning. Before swinging his feet comedically out the door, closing the door behind him.

Stepping out in the garden, the first thing he noticed was the rejuvenating air. The smells, aromas, and the small river trickling down out back mixed together harmoniously, creating an atmosphere that was calming. He took in a deep breath and smiled to himself. His old “bashed himself into heaven” self would’ve never appreciated this feeling. And now he feels kind of sad, what other moments in time could he have missed?

Out in the garden, he could hear Atreus struggling, tilting his head in question he strolled all the way to where he was. The garden was primitive, yet effective. Small rows of plants lined the dirt troughs up and down towards the river bend up ahead. The gentle breeze blew past, ruffling his fur. Wukong grinned and sauntered over.

“Now…” he begins lowly.

Atreus immediately leaps ten feet into the air in surprise.

“AH!” he shouts, “Wukong? What are you doing here?”

“The Great Sage thought the adult talk the two had in there was getting boring so I came outside!”

Atreus’ mouth quirked slightly upwards in a smile. Wukong bared his teeth in return jovially and knelt down beside him. As they were of a similar height, he observed the red root that was firmly stuck to the ground.

“Having trouble?” Wukong asked playfully.

Atreus sighed and looked down, “Yeah…I can’t get the red root out, it’s just too stuck.”

The Monkey King deftly plucked a hair from his head and tossed it into the air, said hair flashed golden and morphed directly into a dagger. Worn and well crafted, sharp and perfectly balanced. Wukong flipped the dagger into his hand, playing a few tricks, whirling it around before holding it by the blade.

Handing it out to Atreus, the boy’s eyes flash with recognition, and then a memory.

“Oh no!” he says in a panic, “My dagger, wait, it’s gone!”

Frantically he pats his tunic all over, rummaging furiously through his utility belt and quiver filled with arrows. Over and over again, mumbling to himself, cursing himself for being so stupid and forgetting his mother’s dagger.

“Nonononono…no!” he laments,

The dagger Wukong made flashed away, and the Great Sage sat their quietly, placing a gentle hand on Atreus’ shoulder.

“Hey bud.” he starts upbeat, “Don’t worry about it! Your dear ol’ dad has the dagger, found it right when you dropped it.”

Atreus’ sigh of relief could be equated to a gale rushing through a forest. Wukong laughed and fell over at the sheer force of the relief rushing over the boy’s body. The Monkey King grinned, “Your father should be coming out any time now…”

As if on cue, Kratos came stomping out of the house through the side door, muttering darkly about something. The Great Sage tilted his head in slight intrigue, but turned his attention back to Atreus, who looked small. Guilty about losing the dagger so dear to him. For Wukong, this resonated. Back when he had the Ruyi Jingubang stolen by some dastardly treasure a demon had on their Journey to the West. The Monkey King was in a frenzy trying to get his beloved weapon back, and would stop at nothing to make sure it was with him again.

“Don’t worry Atreus,” he says as an attempt at reassurance, he isn’t good at this, “Just remember to keep track of all belongings when leaving a place. It will do you no wrong.”

Atreus nodded timidly as Kratos walked over at a blistering pace. Flipping a dagger in his hands, gripping it by the blade, Atreus’ eyes lit up as he saw his mother’s dagger. Wukong stepped back and watched from a respectful distance.

Kratos looked at Wukong significantly, immediately reading the atmosphere and grunting in acknowledgement.

“The monkey has already reminded you then?”

“Yes sir…” Atreus said quietly

“Good. Then see to it that you will not forget the dagger in the future.”

Atreus nodded, relieved as he took the dagger and went to work on the red root.

The red root and lamb’s cress was given to the woman inside. Wukong watched intently, his golden eyes glowing softly as he watched their magical properties get turned into a tangible salve. Rubbed all along the arrow wound, it somehow cauterized it without burning, and wrapped it in a film that promoted life and energy. Incredible. Learning something new everyday.

“So he’s gonna live?” Atreus asked

“Yes.” the woman replied.

“Woohoo! Great news.”

Kratos was already walking away. “Then we are leaving.”

“Wait.” the witch said, lifting her hand placatingly, telling Kratos not to leave just yet. “Not without thanks.”

“Oho!” Wukong said, “What do you plan on giving us?”

The witch walked swiftly over to a bowl brimming with energy, and put a salve on the tip of her fingers. Which promptly began to glow with an ethereal light, she got close to Kratos, and moved to rub the salve on his neck.

As Wukong expected, she was stopped, harshly.

“Whoa, it’s fine man.” Wukong piped up, “She’s just got some concealing magic on that salve. It’ll hide you guys from the gods.”

The Monkey King stopped. “Huh. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?”

Kratos blinked and hummed in permission. The witch rubbed the magical rune on both Kratos and Atreus’ neck. When she moved to put the seal on Wukong’s neck, the Monkey King declined.

“Ah, The Great Sage has his own ways of concealing himself.” Energy began to gently coalesce around him in a sealing ritual, murmuring a few choice magic words, a concealing spell was placed over him. The witch seemed to understand.

“Oh, I see. It appears your friend is adept in the ways of sorcery as well.” she remarked, before turning away to the door. “Heimili!”

The entire house shook. Wukong rocked on his feet and blinked in surprise. They were moving down.

The door swung open, and confirmed his assessment. It opened up to a cave system that seemed to extend far and away.

“There’s a shortcut below the house that leads safely out of these woods.” the woman stated as she walked to the door to see them out. “Follow this path down, and head towards daylight.”

Wukong was impressed, and walked through the door slowly with the father-son duo. “Thanks lady!” he said, “What’s your name?”

The witch stayed quiet, looking away for a moment. “Freya.”

Wukong smiled, “Well then, thanks a million Freya.”

“Will we see you again?” Atreus asked.

Freya smiled quietly, “As much or as little as you’d like…now get outta here.”

The trio stepped out of the home and into the cave, ready to tackle the new stage in their adventure.

That was until a horrific shriek reverberated through the cave.

Chapter Text

The Leviathan Axe pierced through the air, embedding itself firmly into the nightmare flitting through the air. Who let out a terrifying shriek of pain before dissolving into a mass of malicious energy. Frost igniting in waves everywhere, in a chain reaction blasting away the nightmares that seemed to rush through in droves. Kratos deftly moved around the path that left little space to maneuver, especially with Freya’s home behind them. Whirling around he threw his axe once more, embedding the axe blade square into the putrid lone eyeball of the nightmare.

It’s tentacles hanging out of it’s bulbous, writhing core wriggled harshly in the resulting agony before vanishing into yet another plume of ragged smoke and energy. Letting out a roar, Kratos vaulted off the floor powerfully, leaving behind a small aftershock of air and brought the mighty axe down, slashing with deadly precision through the remaining creatures.

From the edges of his vision, he could see the monkey almost dancing gracefully through the nightmares. Hands behind his back, eyes closed, laughing, giggling, whistling. Kicking the nightmares into bits, shattering them with a golden gleam.

Meanwhile, Atreus fought. Clumsily, without focus, and with hesitation. Kratos had to admit he was improving, but not fast enough. Letting out a shout he razed a nightmare into nothing, and took a deep breath as the nightmare directly in front of him was run through with a crimson staff, pinned to the wall and vaporized.

Breathing heavily, Atreus put an arrow back into his quiver and put his bow away.

“Nightmares…” he murmured, “Mother used to talk about them.”

“They’re unpleasant.” Wukong remarked, “Kicking them made my toes tingle.”

“Don’t you have a big staff?”

“Yeah, but why would I use it against balls of nightmare fuel?”

“….didn’t you use it though?”

Wukong was silent. Before laughing, “You got me there!”

The Spartan listened quietly to the monkey and Atreus banter, before finally sheathing the Leviathan Axe, shuffling his things around, and the magic bag that was used to store their things.

“Enough, let us continue on our way.” he commanded,

Wukong bowed before straightening into a mock salute, “Sir yes sir!” and sauntered down the path presumably towards the in-cave riverbed. Kratos bit back a sigh, looked at Atreus significantly, and the trio continued onward.

Atreus followed his father down the left path in the cave. The floor damp and moist, with water dripping from stalactites onto the floor. Their footsteps echoed within the underground cave system as father took them through the pathway, where he eventually set his eyes on a gigantic cart filled with a huge block of mineral. Atreus watched as father looked at the block with scrutinizing thought. Before Atreus could get any more words in there was a shriek behind him that startled the boy slightly.

He looked behind him, whirling around and came face to face with a draugr. Leaping back with slight panic he shouts, “Here we go!” and shoots an arrow square into the draugr’s skull. The draugr, unperturbed roared again and mercilessly trudged towards Atreus anyway. Before it was immediately blindsided by a frosty axe that shattered it’s body to frozen pieces. The axe hummed in the air, stopped it’s flight and flew back to Kratos’ hands.

Atreus sighed and followed as his father explored the cave system for longer. Looting various chests and breaking every single barrel he could find. Glancing over at Wukong, the Monkey King trailed behind the pair lightheartedly, seemingly taking joy and entertainment from the smallest things. Smiling and chuckling to himself as they walked along.

There was a loud sound as Kratos kicked down a red sap like substance that was blocking a path, crackling with volatile energy. Atreus just stood there waiting for his father to come up with presumably more materials.

The trio made a few more rounds before finally arriving at a rickety wooden elevator. Atreus walked up to the lever and pulled it down with some considerable effort. As they descended, Wukong decided to speak,

“So you think I can jump into the water?” he asked casually

“I don’t see why not…” Atreus murmured in response, the water was black and weird looking sure, but-

“Monkey. Do not jump into the water.”

“oh.”

Wukong smiled slightly in amusement as they made their way to the docks, where Freya had told them the boat was. Atreus smiled in excitement. They were actually going on an adventure. A far cry from being confined to his bed all the time, sick and coughing. He could actually see the world this time, the sea, the sky, the mountains.

He hopped into the boat excitedly, while Kratos and Wukong followed suit. Kratos stepping in, he picked up the oar sitting in the small boat and began to row.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this…” Atreus said in slight awe,

“Oh really?” Wukong asked

“Well yeah….I mean, I used to think that I’d never leave our woods…or even my bed sometimes.”

“Huh wait-” The monkey stopped, “Your bed for what? Were you sick?”

Atreus silently nodded, “Yeah.” There was a slight pause, “Sometimes it got so bad I wouldn’t be able to eat anything the whole day. I’d wake up some nights and throw up everywhere too..”

“…shoot” Wukong murmured quietly, “I’m sorry Atreus.”

“Thanks.”

“But we’re doing this now.” Atreus said much happier, “So that’s good at least.”

“Yes.” Kratos finally said, “It is.”

Wukong didn’t even make a comment. Atreus was shocked internally as father rowed the boat onward through the underground river, further out into the fog.

The Monkey King languidly enjoyed the little boat trip, there was something about the lapping water that brought some weird peace to his little brain. Watching the rocks and water flow by, relaxing in the boat as he did absolutely nothing, watching Kratos row the boat and Atreus looking upbeat. He sighed, this gave him a bout of nostalgia.

Well…at least after he got busted out of the Buddha Mountain by Xuanzang all those years ago and starting on a new journey that he could’ve made in a single somersault or less.

Ahead, the fog seemed to spread out onto a gigantic sea, with top quarter of a statue poking out of the water holding a massive hammer.

“That’s gotta be Mjolnir right?” Wukong looked on ahead,

“Yeah! That’s Thor, holding Mjolnir.” Atreus replied

“Thor…” Kratos murmured, “The God of Thunder.”

“That’s right!” Atreus said surprised, “I never thought you listened to mother when she spoke of the gods.”

“Ohhhhh????” Wukong said teasingly, “Kratos listening????” he let out a fake gasp, “Shock….”

“….” Kratos grunted, “You would be surprised.” he growled lowly.

The trio rowed past the statue and continued on their way through the foggy water.

“So Thor’s an Aesir god then?” Wukong asked after a bit,

“Yeah, he’s the son of Odin.” Atreus responded as he stared off into the distance.

“Odin…” Wukong murmured,

“The King of the Aesir.” Kratos said quietly in thought.

“Sounds like a swell guy.” Wukong chuckled, looking into the fog, “You guys think we’ll find any-”

“I see something up ahead! Just sitting there in the middle of the lake.” Atreus exclaimed.

Wukong stared at the glowing statue expectantly as they rowed closer. The fire burning brightly where it’s head should be would’ve given it a majestic grandeur that was ruined by the fact that it was nearly submerged in water and covered with barnacles. It seemed to be holding an old musty shield and a spear, and on it’s chest were runes that he still could not read yet.

“I see runes there on it’s chest…” Atreus murmured, “Can’t quite make it out.”

Wukong squinted as they got closer before Kratos brought the boat to a stop in front of the statue. The waves gently crashing against their boat, Atreus stood up and took a look. The Great Sage decided that he would have to learn this language one way or the other. He studied his own language for a couple hundred years anyway, another one on his belt would be pretty doable.

“Sacrifice your arms to the center of the water.” Atreus read aloud, “Awaken again the cradle of the world.”

The boy sat back down in thought. “Wonder what that means. We…throw our weapons into the water?”

The Spartan silently sat there in contemplation while Wukong mused as well. “Guess that won’t be a problem for the two of you…” Atreus chuckled.

Kratos looked at the Monkey King.

“Nuh uh, you do it.”

The god grunted and stood up, “Mmm.” his axe thrummed with frosty energy and he gave it a mighty throw. The Leviathan Axe cut through the air at a critical speed, spinning rapidly as it ascended quickly. Before descending just as fast.

Wukong had a hand on his forehead as if looking to the horizon and the sun was in his way. “Wow…what a throwing arm!”

The Monkey King laughed and sat back down, watching as Kratos called the axe back. An awkward silence permeated through the group as the expected humming of the axe returning was not heard at all.

“The axe did not return.”

“See this is why I didn’t throw my staff. I’m sure you’ll get it back some way.”

“…we will see”

As if on cue, the waters began to rumble. Wukong looked into the mountains in surprise, which quickly melted into excitement as he saw a gigantic coiled creature easily the size of a mountain begin to move it’s body. Making a deep, rumbling noise that sounded ancient, and powerful. More pressing though, was the fact that the water was starting to churn.

“Hang on tight guys!” Wukong shouted in excitement.

“Okay!”

Kratos silently hung on, protectively shielding Atreus from falling off the boat while Wukong was splashed from all sides by water. “Woohoo!!!!”

They were violently thrown everywhere as the water seemed to take a life of it’s own. Spraying their faces and giving them a thorough shower. Wukong looked ahead anyway, sensing a massive presence in front of them that seemed to extend far beyond the horizon. His perception was all but confirmed when a gigantic, looming shadow blacked out the clouds and sun. And an eye opened.

“Holy Jade Emperor’s undies…” Wukong murmured,

“It’s the World Serpent….” Atreus said in awe.

The gigantic snake’s head alone rivalled the mountain range behind it. Unable to even see the rest of it’s body, Wukong got a bit too excited. He didn’t even notice the snake give back The Leviathan Axe. Or the fact that it didn’t even look like the snake wanted to fight. All the Great Sage wanted to do was…

…

Wukong was going to fight the snake.

“OH YEAHHHHH” The Great Sage shouted excitedly as he leapt straight off the boat. A golden energy exploded around him into a heaven-piercing pillar of light that extended far beyond the clouds.

“Let’s do this!” And he grew in size. Expanding rapidly as his energy coalesced into his body once more, growing his form. Growing from building size quickly to challenge the mountains. Into a gigantic form that rivalled the World Serpent. Legs that could pass as sheer cliffs, a body that seemed to reach the sky. And a menacing golden glare that cleared the fog around them.

The Ruyi Jingubang itself pierced the clouds, an all encompassing celestial axis. Wukong smiled and took one big swing. The staff moved and the earth shook with terror. The skies trembled and the waters became violent. The World Serpent roared in defiance as the situation escalated out of control. The snake backed away from the staff as far as it could and was immediately blindsided by the sheer force that backed up the swing. The concussive force around the staff sending the entire snake tumbling into the nearby mountain, hurt but conscious. Fear was radiating from the World Serpent’s eyes as it stared down the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

The Monkey King stopped his swing and turned towards the snake. Terrifyingly. His gaze was a luminescent golden that looked like it could pierce mountains, stop the flow of a thousand rivers. He grinned with excitement but then stopped. The snake did not want to fight, he could sense it’s intent now through all the adrenaline that pumped through him earlier at the prospect of fighting a strong enemy. Wukong stood there quietly, the world now deathly silent. The waves gently lapping against his legs as Kratos and Atreus looked up at him in awe and slight fear.

The Great Sage sighed, clearly conveying his intentions to the World Serpent, illustrating his awkward apologetic demeanor. The World Serpent silently watched him in fear still, even as the Monkey King shrank.

Kratos was angry.

His rage was palpable as he watched the monkey shrink down from his tremendous size. The waters reacted to his size change and lowered dramatically as he grew smaller. There was a gigantic monkey-head shaped hole in the skies as Wukong shrank further, further.

The god of war’s thoughts though, were whirling violently. This fool had exposed their position completely in the excitement to fight. His gigantic size would no doubt alert the stranger’s allies to their location. The Monkey King plopped back into the boat silently, watching the World Serpent retreat. Wukong’s eyes were filled with a sort of apprehension as he looked on.

“What. Are. You. Doing?” Kratos seethed through his teeth, the air seemed to ignite around them. Atreus shrank back in slight fear as his palpable anger seemed to tear through the atmosphere itself.

“My bad.” Wukong murmured slightly, “I got too excited.”

The Spartan couldn’t even say anything to that. The monkey knew. “You have exposed our position. You have compromised our safety.”

Wukong smirked slightly.

“This is NOT a laughing matter.”

“I’ll just fight them off.” The Great Sage responded resolutely, his words seemed to echo through the bustling wind. “If you don’t want to fight with me because of what I did, just don’t. But I’ll just have to make up for what I did.”

The Spartan sat there silently. “Do as you wish. Whether we fight with you or without you is not your business.”

Wukong shrugged, “That’s fine by me! I’ve come along this journey to help the two of you and that’s what I intend to do!” he chuckled

Kratos did not respond. Meanwhile Atreus tried for a smile and responded, “Hey…look!” he says trying his best to look excited, though the actual excitement had been snuffed out by his father’s wrath. “There’s a dock over there near the flag!”

“Hrn.” the Spartan nodded in acknowledgement and began rowing towards it.

Wukong quietly took in the sights of the vast lake. Currently they were rowing towards a massive algae seaweed covered temple that seemed to span the entire area. With a gigantic central circular megastructure that was tastefully, or would’ve been tastefully colored red and gold. With accents long faded due to years of erosion. The statue that had told them to sacrifice their arms to the water remained above the dock, centered in front of the circular building. Standing proudly now above the water level. To the left there was a massive sea serpent relief that was inlaid along the wall. The dock itself was connected to what seemed to be a bridge, which itself went across the entire lake to a tower far and away from where the trio was rowing.

“Do you know of that serpent?” Kratos asked out of the blue,

Atreus responded, “Yeah, he’s one of the Giants.”

Wukong chuckled, “Whoa that’s crazy.”

“He’s so big that he’s wrapped around the whole world and bites his own tail!”

The Monkey King was silent for a moment. “…holy smokes.”

“That is an exaggeration.” Kratos stated, “Only to emphasize it’s size.”

“….I dunno, it looked pretty big to me.” Atreus murmured.

The trio clambered out of the boat as they reached the seaweed covered docks. Soaked with puddles and riddled with kelp. Wukong stepped onto the dock casually, sighing as he looked up the set of stairs that greeted them. Leading to the top of the massive bridge.

“Well…” Wukong began, “I don’t think the World Serpent can actually wrap itself around the world. Mostly cuz I got a pretty good view of it’s actual size.”

“Oh really?” Atreus paused, “Oh.” remembering his gargantuan transformation. “Well how far did the serpent stretch out?”

“Just barely beyond the horizon!” he responded cheerfully, “Though…it was coiled around and around a couple of mountains so the guy’s still pretty dang big!”

“Wow….”

Wukong bounded ahead and leapt up the steps to the top of the bridge. And was greeted with a marvelous view. A mountain range surrounding the vast lake, with the entire bridge itself pointing towards the highest peak. Their goal.

The bridge itself was both amazing and run down. Particularly, a gigantic golden arch above the bridge, with a platform attached to it with a quaint ancient horn that Wukong would NEVER be able to convince Xuanzang to blow. Down the bridge, bronze statues lined each side, leading towards the tower at the end of the bridge. With the floor itself being engraved with beautiful designs, swirls, and shapes and colors.

The Great Sage sighed with satisfaction. Enjoying the foggy sights and the sound of the waves.

“Is this the way to the mountain?” Atreus asked in awe as he took the final step, pointing towards the highest peak.

“So it would seem.” the Spartan responded.

“Well then let’s go!”

Wukong was already well ahead, and was waiting for Kratos and Atreus to catch up. That was until a gruff voice rang out from behind them. Piercing and loud, Wukong was immediately offended.

“If it isn’t the monkey midget and his friends, the bearded-beefer and his sac-seed! Have I got something for you.”

“YO HEY WHAT?!”

Atreus tried not to laugh. “Brok???”

“Whoawhoawhoa that was UNCALLED FOR.” Wukong was quite chagrined. Walking over aggressively towards the massive sliding doors that Brok had just forced open. “You’re literally SHORTER than me!” the Monkey King said angrily. Then a thought seemed to cross his mind.

“How did you even get here?”

“Ah that’s none of yer fuckin’ business. Now get in here! I’ve got something for ya. Now…don’t go making pig eyes at my spot. I saw it first!”

“what- okay.”

Atreus watched as Sun Wukong sauntered through the door. Stepping over the seaweed and algae scattered everywhere. Brok grumbling as he trudged ahead into the temple. The boy had to try his best not to smile and laugh. Wukong seemed to get over the slight to his height reaallly fast. It looked like he just forgot all about it.

His father above shook his head in annoyance and tilted his head forward quickly in a gesture for Atreus to move ahead. So he followed. Jogging ahead to catch up with Wukong and Brok, stepping slowly through the gigantic sliding doors that seem to extend upwards at least twenty feet. Atreus took note of the people illustrated on the doors, pulling the doors open with rope. And the swirling snake-like designs all over the door accented in a faded golden color.

Inside, there was a lively furnace crackling away to the left. The fire casting a warm light through the dark room, With a forge setup under tarps which hung from the ceiling. Multiple torches integrated into the wall were also lit, providing much needed light inside. To the right of the room, a pile of rocks occupied one corner, with a rustic shelf built and seemingly placed there for no reason. All in all, the area was cozy and actually a pretty cool place for a blacksmith shop to be set up. The real estate was incredible!

Wukong was standing at the counter, leaning over like a would-be customer. “Sooooooo.” he began, “Ya wanna take a look at ma staff?”

Said staff immediately flashed into his hands. “Hell yeah!” Brok replied immediately attempting to grab the crimson golden capped staff. Before realizing he could not move it.

“The fuck?”

Wukong had to laugh, “Ah I forgot to mention, this thing weighs at least ten tons.”

“THE FU-”

Wukong laughed even harder, “Don’t worry about it! I’ll just charm it so that it doesn’t crush your work table there.”

Atreus approached even closer as the two bantered back and forth. Getting a better look at the back of the forge, obviously there was a furnace burning away. But there were shields, axes, spears, leaning haphazardly everywhere to both sides of the furnace. A grindstone sat to Brok’s left, who was facing towards them. With tools thrown onto a table slightly behind the grindstone itself.

Brok’s eyes were currently fixed on Wukong’s Ruyi Jingubang. Said Monkey King was watching in amusement as Brok’s muttering became incessantly quick.

“…the craftsmanship on this one…she’s incredible…the magical integrity and precise forging…how in the shit did they get such a perfect cylindrical shape??????”

“She’s amazing huh?” Wukong smirked

“WHERE IN THE FLYING FUCK DIDJA GET THIS THING????”

“Ah it’s a secret.” the Great Sage winked conspiratorialy.

The temple was not quiet for quite a long time.

Chapter Text

Laughing, Atreus watched as Wukong keeps leaping around the dilapidated and humid temple room away from Brok, who is currently attempting to get the staff for inspection. Brok’s obscenities knew no bounds, and that only served to make Wukong laugh harder as he leapt from ledge to ledge, swinging from the kelp and seaweed all over the room, and leaping even behind Brok’s workshop tucked into it’s snug little corner.

“HEY GET BACK HERE, LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT ‘ER!” Brok shouted and then cursed again.

Wukong stuck out a tongue and continued to saunter and leap everywhere. Atreus was trying his best to not lose it for at least the thirteenth time that day, but it was all for nothing. Since he could feel his laughter threatening to bubble out of his throat. Everything seemed to lose focus as he could only feel his hysterical laughs boiling close to the surface. And then the dam broke.

He laughed so hard he could barely breathe.

Rolling around on the floor as Brok continued to curse and splutter, with Wukong running all over the place while the blue dwarf lumbered after him as fast as he could. Shouting about the magical quality and intricacies of the staff and practically begging to take a look at it. Out of all the people to ever beg, the last thing Atreus had expected was for the swearing blue dwarf to be the first one to do it.

Atreus laughed so hard he began to cough violently. His father was by his side in an instant.

“Atreus.” he said firmly, “Atreus!” he places a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Laughs combined with hacking coughs rang out as Atreus let out a strained chuckle and smile. “Yeah, I’m okay.” he pauses, “It’s fine.” as his face split into a grin. That grin stopped after he could visibly see Kratos frown through his beard.

Atreus watched as his father rose up slowly after assessing his condition. The Spartan took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Monkey. Stop this foolish playing now.”

The Monkey King was immediately stopped in his tracks as a poor Brok ran straight into his staff and fell over. Which prompted said monkey to begin laughing hysterically at the sight, rolling all over the floor.

“Fucking stupid putrid wet floor.” Brok cursed as he got up and took a look at said staff. Which Wukong conveniently left standing stock-still, completely straight and proud, in the middle of the room.

Brok’s eyes seem to light up. “By the gods…” he murmured, before trudging quickly over to his workshop and plucking a plethora of tools out of their places. Running back and scattering them all over the floor with an unceremonious cacophony of sound.

The Monkey King was still laughing hysterically while Atreus and Kratos watched in confusion. Atreus couldn’t help but smile slightly, but judging by the sheer annoyance his father was feeling. Atreus didn’t really keep that smile for long and set it back to a more serious expression.

“This…this is magic that I’ve never seen before…” Brok murmured, “It’s genius! The interwoven magic between the metal, the grooves, the weapon. Whoever made this turned this damn staff into weaponized magic with a solid form.”

Atreus was confused as Brok continued to ramble on and on about some weird magic-metal properties and laws as well as odd bits of knowledge the eccentric blue dwarf had.

“Hey monkey!” Brok shouted, “You know who made this thing? I’d like to meet ‘em.”

“Nope!” Wukong replied jovially, “I have nooo ideaa.” he laughed, “I just plucked it out of the undersea palace and left!”

The dwarf was speechless.

“YOU STOLE THIS????” Brok yelled indignantly.

Wukong put up his hands in amusement, “No, nonononoo, they said that if I could lift it they’d give it to me. I did, so I left!”

The entire room went silent.

Atreus could even tell his father was surprised by this revelation.

Wukong strutted over and picked up his staff. It shrank down immediately and flashed away to wherever it went. “You got everything you wanted?” he asks cheekily.

Brok grumbles, “Yeah, yeah I did.”

“Alright! That means we can go and explore this glorious lake! Hey Atreus, let’s go!” the Monkey King laughed as he sauntered out of the temple and into the great unknown.

Atreus smiled and ran after him. “Wait for me, Wukong! Father come on let’s go!” as he bolted straight out the doors.

Kratos took a deep breath in and out to control himself.

“Leavin’ already?” the dwarf asked

The Spartan gave no response as he opened the heavy double doors and stepped out into the open. The doors slammed shut behind him as he vaguely heard the dwarf’s fading indignant grumbling. He stepped out onto the damp floor, taking note of how slippery the floor felt. With water glistening ever so slightly in the bright sun alongside the seaweed that was scattered all over the metal floor.

Kratos looked up at the mountains surrounding the lake, took in the lapping waters below and the seagulls overhead. His gaze fell upon Atreus, who was happily bounding forward with the monkey towards some odd platform. The Spartan made his way closer, past statues flanking each side of the wide bridge path and found his way to the platform.

The monkey grinned up at him from below.

“You’re just in time! I was just about to turn this lever!” he said cheerily, one hand on the lever.

“Do not pull the lever, we do not know what it-”

The lever was very much pulled.

Kratos took a deep breath in and out as he waited for the worst. But instead was met with a loud clank as some mystery mechanism below the floor whirred to life. To the Spartan’s mild surprise of course, as the temple itself had seemingly been under the water for decades, if not hundreds of years, nothing should have worked. Despite that, the platform ascended slowly, filling up the ring above them and giving a much wider view of the lake below. Kratos looked around at the elaborate, yet ruined golden designs.

The monkey’s eye seemed to immediately be caught by the horn. And he looked at it, it was too intense for the Spartan’s comfort…

“Monkey.”

Said monkey was jolted out of his stupor. “Aw c’mon, it can’t hurt to blow the horn just once….”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“N o.”

“…….yes”

“Can we blow into it??” Atreus asked,

“We do not know what will happen.”

Wukong blinked, “This is coming from the guy who smashes everything in sight!”

“…that is because I know what will happen. We do not know what the horn might do.”

“But it’d be fun!” The monkey replied brightly.

“No.”

There was a long, tense moment of silence. Kratos stepped over to the lever and pulled it completely deadpan. Staring straight at Wukong before stating, “We are going back down.” The platform lowered slowly towards the floor once more.

“Darn…” Wukong said dejectedly as he looked up longingly at the horn, “Well whatever you say SIR!” he saluted playfully as he fell into stride beside Atreus and the Spartan. The trio walked forward silently.

As they approached the building on the other side near the shore, the monkey seemed to perk up as if sensing danger. Kratos noticed the same, begrudgingly once again acknowledging the monkey’s exceptional senses. The two of them were ready by the time the draugr leapt out of the shadows. Viciously, roaring as they drew their corrupt blades all the while dripping disgusting energy everywhere.

Atreus jumped in surprise, “Whoa! Draugr up ahead!”

“Hey nice observation!” Wukong replied, “You up for a fight?”

“I’ll try my best!”

Kratos drew the Leviathan Axe from its sheathe and channeled its power. A surge of frostbound energy traveled through the Axe blade and handle, chilling the air around them rapidly. The Spartan’s senses fired up to life as he took in the number of enemies.

The monkey had already engaged in combat while Atreus stood near him, looking for openings, alert, and ready. Looking much more like a warrior than he did before. Good, that meant he was improving.

Letting out a grunt of exertion, Kratos swung his axe in a vicious arc. Chopping straight through an unsuspecting draugr, bisecting it completely, sending the corpse tumbling into the ground. A draugr leapt at him from the right, rolling out of the way the Spartan charged straight back in, bodychecking it with lethal force straight into another.

Slashing over and over again with deadly and cold precision, he cut through their corpses with ease. The Leviathan Axe destroying all obstacles that came in their way. Atreus slammed a draugr on the head with his bow, which sent it reeling backwards straight into the deadly swing of Kratos. The Spartan nodded in acknowledgement, and Atreus couldn’t help but smile back. Kratos looked away and focused on the battle.

The draugr he just slashed to pieces flew everywhere, body parts careening into oblivion. The fight was short, as the last one got punted straight off the bridge by one well timed kick from the monkey.

Wukong smiled satisfied as he retracted his foot.

Without skipping a beat, Kratos looked at the tower, “…with luck, that tower leads straight to the mountain.”

“Alright! Let’s go then!”

The Spartan jogged straight past the monkey and went for the chest. Looting it, before running around the place looking for materials and then began to make his way down one of the elevators on the bridge towards the docks. He heard the two follow in confusion,

“Hey wait what are we doing?” Wukong sounded confused.

“Wait do we get to explore the lake?” Atreus asked excitedly

Kratos silently entered the boat waiting for them, nodding, and motioned for Wukong and Atreus to hop in. He waited, then pushed the small boat off the docks, rowing the boat out into the open water.

Wukong didn’t know what was going on in the Spartan’s head. But he wasn’t about to complain either. Not after his Journey to The West. That journey got him quite attached to nature. The call of the birds in the sky mixing with the gentle wind billowing over the water. Despite the sky being covered by a thick fog with mist rising from the lake surface, Wukong appreciated it all the same. At least if he was alone, he would’ve spent all his time hiding in the fog and jumpscaring any unfortunate passers. But now that he had company, just simply sitting back and ambiently taking in the sights and sounds of the lake was all he needed.

Kratos rowed the small boat along. The oar gently paddling the water around, yet propelling the boat at an unnatural speed, Wukong noticed. He vaguely noticed Atreus and Kratos exchanging a few words. Stories maybe. The Monkey King was a bit too preoccupied with the lake itself. Experiencing it from the ground was a lot different than in the sky. He recalled when he first arrived in the realm, flying in on his Somersault Cloud.

Flying over the lake, eyeing the mountains, the odd snake-like thing coiling out of the lake. With the lake’s shores being exposed like this, he simply got more excited. There were new things to explore, new experiences to discover. And the Great Sage smiled.

Snapping out of his reverie, he focused back on the conversation.

“Father? Could mother fight?” Atreus asked,

“She could.” the god responded wistfully, “She fought beautifully. With grace and strength.”

Wukong nodded appreciatively, “I would’ve loved to meet her!” he remarked, “She sounds like one great fighter.”

He watched in slight amusement as Kratos nodded slowly. Still rowing the boat along at that unnatural speed.

“Yes…she was.” his voice was unnaturally quiet.

“…I wish I could’ve seen her outside our home.” Atreus murmured, “But I was sick all the time, so I didn’t really get much of a chance.”

“That was not your fault.” Kratos responded, “Your sickness was something none of us anticipated.”

Wukong was quietly thinking to himself as they traveled atop the lake. “Do you know what caused it?”

“No.” Kratos responded, “It simply happened.”

The Great Sage did not seem that convinced. But he didn’t pry or ask any further, he’d have to figure it out for himself later. But in the meantime, he pulled his focus back towards their potential destination. Which honestly, Wukong had no idea where they were going.

Kratos was looking around as well, scanning the shorelines and it looked like he was trying to make a decision on where he wanted to dock.

“When the water dropped, new beaches were exposed.” the Spartan began, “We should search them for resources.”

“This isn’t an excuse for exploring right?” Wukong asked teasing

“No. We are here to improve our equipment, now that the dwarf is here we can take the resources we find to him.”

“Ohhhhh that makes sense.” The Monkey King truthfully wasn’t that used to upgrading or maintaining his equipment. Only because his equipment consisted of his magically maintained superstaff and his magic itself. Where he could also conjure up equipment.

The trio continued rowing across the lake and approached a Viking longboat, one that looked like it was cleaved in half by some unknown force long ago. Sitting derelict in the lake, with wooden planks floating lazily in the grey water. The figureheads on either side of the longboat once majestic, now dull and covered with seaweed and barnacles.

“What happened here?” Atreus asked curiously

“Shipwreck.” Wukong couldn’t help but laugh violently at this deadpan answer from Kratos. Rolling over and nearly off the boat.

“Wow who woulda thought?” he replied while chuckling.

Kratos growled quietly.

Atreus couldn’t help but smile a little bit at Wukong’s jovial demeanor. And the Monkey King continued, “Ah well can’t blame him for pointing out the obvious. Poor guy can’t talk about anything else.”

“I do not talk about anything else because it is not necessary.”

“Suree big guy. One day you’ll find that talking about anything else is actually fun!”

The silence following this was very loud. But Wukong didn’t really mind all that much. He couldn’t help but smirk a little bit when Atreus spoke up a bit desperately.

“SO…” he began, Wukong perked up in response and looked at Atreus while Kratos kept himself focused on rowing their little boat.

“Father, do you have any more stories to pass the time?”

Wukong feigned a look of hurt, “Aw and you didn’t ask dear old Wukong for stories?”

“Oh wait I didn’t mean to leave you out.” Atreus frantically apologized, “You can tell a story too!”

The Great Sage smiled and shook his head, “It’s all good Atreus. Though, I’m actually kinda interested in what stories the big guy has. Do you have one in mind?”

Wukong watched as Kratos thought about it for a brief moment before nodding nearly imperceptibly. Which had Wukong’s eyebrows achieve orbit in surprise.

“Hm.” the Spartan paused, “There was one that concerned a tortoise and a hare.”

“WHOA- you know that one?” the Monkey King asked in surprise.

“Is it a popular story?” Atreus asked confused, wondering what sort of story would be popular enough for someone like Wukong to know.

“…I do not know.” Kratos replied before quickly returning to silence.

“So what happened next?”

“They wager on a race between them. The hare is too confident of victory, and foolish. While the tortoise is steady, disciplined.”

Wukong’s jaw is wide open. He cannot believe Kratos is butchering the story into two sentences.

“The tortoise wins.”

….

Wow.

The Monkey King blinks in shock as he looks to Atreus for his reaction. Which is more reserved, but he can tell they are thinking the exact same thing.

“You…haven’t told many stories have you?”

“No kidding. That story was wayyy more exciting than that.” Wukong remarked indignantly, “I should know, because I WAS THERE-”

“You were?!” Atreus exclaimed in surprise.

“You’d be surprised bud,” Wukong laughed, “I’ve seen a lot of crazy things in my lifetime. And the tortoise racing the hare was one of those things. Didn’t really talk about it though, ‘cause it became such a well known tale there wasn’t much point in talking about it.”

Kratos grumbles a bit, “Tell this story then.”

The boat continues to cut through the water gently as the Monkey King continued.

“Alright so it all starts with a hare and a tortoise and a race!”

“Yeah. Father already talked about that.”

“Okay but think of it this way. How shocked would you be if you heard that a tortoise was seriously challenging a hare?”

Atreus sat there for a moment. “Pretty shocked…”

“Exactly! When the Great Sage first heard of it, I was shocked.” The Monkey King paused, “More laughed for half the day and then went over to check it out for myself.”

Kratos silently listened as well. Doubting the credibility of the story.

Wukong continued brightly, “There were so many animals there. And some demons…nobody from heaven came to watch because it wasn’t worth their time. And the race started. The finish line was actually pretty far away from the start. Probably the entire expanse of the valley the race was held in.”

“It spanned a whole valley?!” the kid shouted in surprise, “How did the hare lose?”

The Monkey King laughed, “That was the funniest part. The hare from the start blasted off into the distance. Far and away, out of sight.”

Atreus nodded and listened intently.

“The tortoise continued slowly, and some animals even began to laugh and holler at it. Of course the tortoise ignored them and continued on.”

The Great Sage laughed, “The spectators walked ahead of the tortoise and found where the hare was. The hare was a good way towards the finish line. SLEEPING beneath a tree. Now I wouldn’t blame the hare for that, especially being so far ahead, but this hare was actually crazy.”

Atreus blinked, “Wouldn’t the tortoise take at least the whole day to get to the finish line?”

Wukong nodded. “Yup. It took the tortoise the entire day. And guess what, the hare slept through it all. When said rabbit woke up he was SHOCKED. The look on their face as they made a mad dash towards the finish line. But it was too late, the tortoise won.”

Shaking his head, the Monkey King smiled a bit, “The hare got teased into oblivion for losing that one!”

Atreus was shaken, “No kidding…”

Wukong chuckled, “And then the tale spread like crazy from there. Now even your dad knows about it!”

Kratos looked vaguely uncomfortable, but focused on bringing the boat to shore. Wukong looked around. Huh, guess he found a place to dock.

The boat was expertly maneuvered over to a dilapidated dock. Messy, covered with seaweed and rotting. The ropes and nails holding the entire dock together looked like they’d been there for years. Much to Wukong’s amusement, it also looked like the dock was ready to fall apart.

Further ahead, the little dock lead into a quaint little cove. With some of the area covered by an outcropping of rock jutting out from the cliffs and mountains that surrounded the entire lake. Wukong leapt out of the boat onto the dock, creaking extremely loudly as the Monkey King plodded onto the black, muddied sand. The very first thing he noticed was the large stone brazier smack dab in the centre of the cove. Oh, and with a nice corpse covered with armor leaning beside it.

“Wonder who’d put this here?” Wukong squinted his eyes as he attempted to decipher the runic language of these lands scrawled onto the brazier in an eerie glowing bluish paint. But to no avail.

Atreus approached from behind, “I dunno…” he murmured, “should I light this brazier?”

“Why not! Let’s see what happens.”

The boy shrugs, “Alright then.” pausing for a moment, “Kveikja.”

Standing there beside Atreus, Wukong immediately felt a shift in the sands below as the brazier lit up with no regular fire.

“Oh boy…” he said in anticipation

“Huh? Oh. Whoops.” Atreus realized it wasn’t Kratos calling.

Wukong looked around alert as a horrific screeching echoed through the cove. Disgustingly putrid green fog erupted from nowhere in the air, as nightmares exploded into existence. Casting a foul presence into the air as draugr laced with the rotting energy of the undead rose out of the ground. Clawing violently as they took hold of their swords coated with foul poison.

“Nightmares!” Atreus called out, “and draugr.”

The trio leapt into action.

Wukong pounced straight into the air, golden energy radiating from his hands as he grabbed straight onto the tentacles of a nightmare. Feeling the terrible energy flowing everywhere as the culmination of the horrors in dreams enter his mind. Wukong pushed it out and pulsed chi straight into it.

The nightmare let out a bloodcurdling screech and blew up. With no time to spare, the Monkey King blitzed past the next nightmare, leaping straight off the air, sending parts flying everywhere. As he moved on to fight the draugr with practiced precision and grace. He spotted Atreus fighting with more sharpness than before. But there were a few things that the Monkey King could comment on as pointers.

A sudden chill in the air signalled to him that Kratos was going to attack with one of those gems that he socketed into the axe.

Wukong and Atreus backed away as the Spartan shouted. Frostbound energy channelling straight through the axe as it froze the very air and bent the atmosphere. Kratos slammed the axe down violently into the ground as a devastating shockwave of a glacial disaster exploded outwards. Freezing all the draugr completely solid as the cove shook.

The Monkey King whistled in appreciation at the power the attack held. Before sauntering over to each and every draugr, poking them happily as if he were a child. And watching in satisfaction as each draugr shattered into hundreds of pieces. This time truly dead.

“Well fought you two!” A disembodied voice called out to them as Wukong whirled his head around. It did not sound like something of this world. And he was right.

“What was that?” Atreus asked curiously.

“A spirit.”

“The ghost of that dead guy over there.”

“It’s talking to us!” the boy said in surprise.

“And it hears you as well.”

“Oop.” Wukong smirked, “It doesn’t sound happy!”

The trio approached the spirit and Atreus stepped forward cautiously, but curious.

“It’s…dead?”

The spirit chuckled with mirth, “You’re very perceptive! And reckless.”

“Eh??? What do you mean?” Wukong asked confused, “How’s Atreus reckless?”

“Well you are as well.” the spirit said deadpan, “Lighting these braziers will cause you many problems. Seiðr and Helwalkers will swarm to those flames like moths.”

The Monkey King indignantly looked at the spirit.

Said spirit ignored this look and continued, “I assume that we have you to thank for freeing us from this watery grave.”

“Us?” Atreus asked confused.

“Other spirits. The Lake of Nine is full of ‘em!”

“That kinda sucks…” Wukong remarked, knowledge of spirits coming back into play, “Poor spirits can’t even move on.”

The spirit nodded in agreement. “Not until our affairs are in order, until our wishes are fulfilled. Perhaps you three can help them as well?”

“We have no desire to help you, Spirit.” Kratos responded harshly.

“Ah but you already have! I only wished to see the sky again.”

“Oh wow.” Wukong said, “That’s a nice wish! So you’ll be heading off then?”

The spirit nodded, “Yes I shall depart.”

“Welp see ya.”

“Farewell.”

Wukong watched as the spirit descended to the underworld of this realm. Curiously wondering if it was possible to go there himself.

“Aaand there he goes. Off to the land of the dead!”

“He…disappeared!” the boy said shocked

“That’s what spirits do!” Wukong was about to launch into a long speech about how he’s able to detach his spirit from his body but was sadly interrupted.

“Monkey, do not distract him.” Kratos called from the boat, “Focus.”

“WHA- Sir yes sir!” The Monkey King jumped into the boat rocking it violently as Kratos scowled at him. Wukong grinned as Atreus stepped in.

“So, we should probably keep an eye out for other spirits.” Atreus said as he sat down.

“What did I say about distractions?”

“But it sounds like they need help.”

Wukong chuckled a little bit, “They’re spirits. Kinda cheeky and usually looking for stuff they want other people to do.”

Kratos silently agreed, “They do not need help. They only want it.”

Shrugging, the Monkey King continued, “But honestly helping them doesn’t sound that bad. It’d be a lot more fun compared to just walking around aimlessly for cool stuff.”

Atreus cracked a bright smile as Kratos leveled a violent glare at Wukong.

“…aw did I say something wrong, big guy?”

The Spartan almost threw the Monkey off the boat.

Chapter Text

Kratos grumbled to himself as he shook off the lingering annoyance that he harbored towards the monkey. He did not mind him as much as he had before, but just his presence bothered him. All of that immense power in that small body, with a personality that could just fly off somewhere and flatten an entire mountain on a whim.

The Spartan had yet to see any considerable thought from the supposed Monkey King. But slowly but surely, he could see that the monkey had a more reserved side to him, a side that appreciated the journey, even if they were not progressing towards their goal.

As the little boat rowed quickly across the Lake of Nine, Kratos couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander. The quiet splashes of the water as his oar tore through the surface of the lake did little to quiet his worried thoughts for Atreus. Despite his improvement he still wasn’t ready for the journey ahead.

If the stranger that appeared in front of their cabin was any sort of foreshadowing, this journey to spread Faye’s ashes atop the highest peaks would be dangerous.

“How do spirits even exist?” the boy’s voice piped up as the boat continued onward

The monkey bounced in his seat to face Atreus, “Usually it’s cuz of unfinished business! Some people just don’t know when to stop.”

The Spartan lowly hummed in agreement, “When a life is severed, the cut isn’t always clean.”

“Wait so have you two met other spirits before?”

“Yup!” the monkey responded brightly, “So many…” his voice trailed off as if meeting that many spirits was a painful experience

Kratos decided to stay silent, letting the stories the monkey told of spirits to fade away into the background, bringing his mind back to the task at hand he focused himself on rowing their boat across the foggy lake. Ignoring the way the fog clung onto his skin and the way the water seemed to be nearly pitch black, he scanned the shores for potential beaches to search for more resources.

“Wow…” Atreus murmured in awe, “Did you really have spirits just come and take yours out of your body?”

“Yep. Can you imagine their audacity? I was trying to party with my fellow monkeys and just fell asleep on a rock! The spirits just came for me and dragged me down to hell!”

“Whoa.” the boy responded, “That’s messed up. What did you do?”

The monkey gave a cheeky grin, “Well! The Great Sage just beat his way out of hell! Not after making myself and my subjects immortal of course.”

Kratos visibly reacted to this information, surprised by this revelation. How had this monkey found immortality? Normally, immortality was gifted by the gods themselves. What rules did he break?

“What.”

“Oh?? You wanna know how I became immortal?” Wukong asked curiously, as if becoming immortal wasn’t a big deal.

“…yes.”

The monkey looked surprised, chuckled a little and spoke, “Hm…well after yours truly was dragged down to the underworld. Understandably I was pissed!”

“Huh, why? If you weren’t immortal before then wouldn’t dying be part of living?” Atreus asked, slightly confused.

“Yup! Except back in my day, I didn’t wanna die. I spent nine years sailing the sea before this searching for methods of becoming immortal!”

The silence following this absurd statement was palpable. Kratos himself was blindsided by this information. This entire time, there were ways humans could become immortal without the influence of the gods. He pushed down the bitterness threatening to swell up. But he still couldn’t help but wonder, if he instead took that training the monkey did, would he have needed to sell his soul to Ares.

“I found the method of course, I just had to climb the Mountain of Heart and Mind to get to the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars!” he paused, “…forgot how long names were back home.”

“Okay, so what’d you find up there?”

Wukong’s eyes looked off far into the distance, as if recalling an old memory that brought him yearning for the simpler times of the past.

“My first master! Subodhi. He taught me so many new abilities, some I used to prank the celestials.” The Monkey King laughed as the boat forged onward.

“I ended up causing too much trouble according to my master. Showing off was bad apparently. Who woulda thought.”

“What happened next?”

“Enough.” Kratos interrupted, the boat had just reached shore. “You can continue another time.”

“Once again we have been struck by the party pooper!” the monkey declared brightly as he laughed and hopped out of the boat onto land.

The Spartan ignored this remark completely.

Wukong spun around to take in the new beach they landed on. Mossy cavern walls rose up high on every side. Water dripped down onto the sand below, the sound constant and somehow soothing to the Great Sage. He smiled through the fog, satisfied.

Looking around some more, another ethereal crow caught his attention. His piercing gaze locked onto the bird, flying around above them. Watching the three of them, as the Great Sage soon realized. It’s flight pattern was odd, it kept circling by a rotten crane structure that jutted off the top of the rocky walls and in a massive circle around all of their heads.

As he continued to watch the crow, he quietly noticed the odd sense of revulsion coming from his body. There was something off about the crow, something wasn’t completely right. It felt like a soul was trapped in a cage, an innocent sou-

The crow then was unceremoniously vaporized by a frosty axe tearing through the air.

This jolted Wukong out of his thoughts and he looked at Kratos and Atreus, who were already standing by the cave entrance.

“Wukong?” Atreus asked, “What are you thinking about?”

The Great Sage pondered for a moment, a couple more pieces were putting themselves together in his head about the nature of magic in this realm but he shrugged.

“No idea!” he replied, “Let’s keep going.”

The two looked at him for a moment before turning into the cave.

Squeezing themselves through a narrow entrance at the end of the smaller cave gave way to a much larger cavern. Fog pierced through the area as seaweed and kelp clung to the walls. The Monkey King sauntered forward with Atreus as they heard smashing and crashing sounds from all around them.

Kratos as per usual was destroying everything he could find for resources, Wukong didn’t think that’d ever get old.

Spotting a massive stone tablet attached to the ground, the pair approached it curiously. The tablet was well over twice Atreus’ and his height, sporting teal runes that glowed somewhat eerily in the cave’s atmosphere. At the very top of the tablet was an oddly placed hole neatly carved into the stone. Sensing magical power coming from these words, Wukong attempted to make out what it said.

He was getting more used to the runic alphabet this realm seemed to possess, but he still felt like a baby trying to run on one leg. The one name he did recognize was Odin.

“Wonder who wrote this?”

“What’s it say?” Wukong squinted as he tried to make heads or tails of the words, “I can barely make it out…”

Atreus scritched down the last bits of the text onto his notebook and looked at the writing apprehensively.

“It’s a prayer to Odin, asking for his help.”

The Monkey King blinked as he looked around the dilapidated and completely worn down surroundings, “Looks like he didn’t hear them at all, huh. What a swell guy.”

“Yeah.” Atreus replied quietly, “Definitely someone I’d wanna be friends with.”

Wukong laughed in response, “Oooh sarcasm, that was good.”

The pair of them watched as Kratos forged onward towards the deeper parts of the cave. Leaping off a small ledge onto the floor below and walking into the dark.

Honestly, the cave sorta reminded him of the cave leading up to the cavern in Flowerfruit Mountain. Dark, moist, watery. Kinda. Of course the cave was far and away from the beauty of his home but this reminder made him slightly homesick.

“Ooh, a gap.” Wukong remarked as he casually bounded over it with a hop and onto the other side. Only to be met by a wall with a crawlspace underneath it. Adorned with golden markings that clearly told them to go down.

“Hey, do you hear that?” Atreus asked as they navigated their way through the small tunnel, “The sound of hammers?”

“Yes.” Kratos responded, “I do.”

“Huh. Wasn’t he just at the temple?”

Wukong crawled lightly out of the space and stood up. Stretching intensely, to the point where the shivers ran through his entire body. He sighed and then bounced a bit on his feet before looking at an unexpected sight.

Brok, the dwarf who liked his staff, forging away at a makeshift blacksmith’s workshop.

“Good!” the blue dwarf said gruffly, “Now that you lot are here, I got a favor to ask.”

“Aw, no greeting?” Wukong asked teasingly, “I thought we were closer.”

“What is it dwarf?” the Spartan asked pointedly,

“There’s this alchemist, Andvari. been workin’ outta the Volunder Mines.” Brok paused as he thought for a moment, “Haven’t heard from him in mebbe, uhh I dunno…a hundred winters or so?”

“Hey, you sure the poor guy’s still alive?” Wukong asked, “Working down in the mines for a hundred years does things to a person. Plus who knows what’s down here!”

“Ah, he’s probably dead.” he replied, “Maybe you can find ‘im though.”

Wukong chuckled in slight amusement as Brok continued.

“He’s Dwarven like me. Wears a fancy green ring and owes me a favor. You look?”

“If it is on our path.” Kratos stated.

Brok looked a bit vexed at Kratos’ short response. But to his credit he got over it fast.

“I see how it is, not a sumthin’ for nuthin’ type are ya?”

The Spartan grunted in response.

“Finee,” the dwarf conceded, “If ya find Andvari, I’ll make him whip you up somethin’ special. This entry stone oughta get you lot inside those mines.”

Brok carelessly tossed them a silver stone engraved with golden runes in a ring by the bottom of it. Smooth and well crafted, Kratos caught it in his hand without hesitation and examined the stone before staring at the door to the mines.

Wukong grinned, “Aw, thanks so much. I oughta let you take a gander at my staff some more.”

“Eh, wait really? Wasn’t even talkin’ to you, was talkin’ to the big guy.”

“Yeah, why not.” Wukong shrugged, “Not a big deal.”

Brok looked visibly more satisfied and Wukong chuckled.

“The Volunder Mines are right through these doors, why dontcha go in and take a look?”

Wukong shrugged in response and strolled up to the well preserved metal doors. Carved with intricate designs and locked shut by a robust looking metal seal. Looking around, he spotted Atreus approaching a set of glowing runes carved onto a rock to the right of the doors.

“Can you read it?”

“Uh…these runes read ‘Death Inside.’”

“Pshhh, it’ll be finee.”

Kratos placed the entry stone into the altar looking receiver by the door and the trio watched as the metal seal whirred and whirled around. Interlocking rods in the door shifted out of the way with a satisfying metal swoosh as the door slid open smoothly.

Wukong whistled, impressed with the craftsmanship of the door to be able to slide open like that.

“You dwarves really know how to make good doors.”

The Monkey King laughed as he heard Brok’s fading retort about how dwarves were the best craftsmen and blacksmiths in all the realms and of course they could make a good door.

As they walked into the mines, Atreus couldn’t help but feel a bit reluctant to go in. He shouldn’t feel this way, but there was something about the way the tunnel looked.

The wooden support beams haphazardly holding up the rocky ceiling with debris littering the floor around them as they forged onward. Cobwebs lined the columns and torches that dimly lit the path forward and rotten planks of wood covered several other tunnel systems branching out from the main line.

Yep, all in all it was pleasant.

“So Brok said that his friend was Dwarven like him, and wearing a green ring.” Atreus said finally as they walked into the old mines. Wanting to help, he couldn’t stop himself from bringing the subject up to his father.

“Look for him if you wish, I will be gathering resources for our journey.” was the response amidst the racket of destructive noise courtesy of the Leviathan Axe.

“You don’t wanna help him?

“No.

“Why not?”

“Because I do not run errands for Dwarves.”

Thankfully, Wukong piped up, “Don’t worry Atreus, if this hunk won’t help then I’ll just have to keep an eye out for Andvari with you!”

“That works right, Father?”

Kratos grunted in response, “Yes, and if the monkey can’t handle the search I will step in.”

Wukong dramatically placed a hand on his chest indignantly, “Oh, how could you say that I’m incapable!”

Atreus almost thought he saw his father smirk in response.

Walking into one of the spaces carved into the left side of the main tunnel. A desk with a working light was shoved into the far wall as a chest was snugly tucked in the right side.

He spotted a charred Dwarven corpse laying dejectedly to the left of the space. Kratos without hesitation reached in and took the hacksilver pouch it possessed before moving on to the rest of the area. Scanning it for resources.

Kneeling down, he observed the corpse. Wukong walked up beside him to take a look as well.

“Dwarven.” Atreus said, “But no ring. One of his crew?”

“Poor guy,” The Great Sage remarked, “Look at his body and the wall.”

“Scorch marks.” his father cut in, “Along the floor as well.”

“Weird. I guess we keep looking.”

“Yup, onwards!” Wukong declared.

Leaving the space they turned left back into the tunnel, Atreus followed Wukong and Kratos as they effortlessly leapt across a deep gap. Using a lot of his strength he grunted as he made the leap, nearly tumbling through the wooden planks blocking the end of the tunnel.

Kratos steadied him with one arm before letting go briefly and smashing through the planks in their way.

The tunnel opened up to a larger cavern with old tunnels covered messily with wood on the other side. Separated by a lower floor between the ledges on either side, with that path leading to a metal grate gate to the right.

Atreus, seeing absolutely nothing wrong with the rocky cavern, cobwebs, and wood scattered everywhere bounded forward but was summarily stopped by his father.

Looking around confused, even Wukong stopped moving. The two warriors were looking at an odd rock formation by the metal gate. He couldn’t see anything wrong with it, until it moved.

The pile of rocks ignited from the inside. A fire burning from within like a furnace coming to life. Craggy rocks took the shape of a humanoid object with legs and arms as the chest opened up to reveal the heart of the creature, completely set ablaze. The heat emanated through the air towards Atreus and his heart skipped a beat as he recognized what it was.

Wukong looked intrigued at this new creature while Kratos looked ready for a fight.

“What’s that thing?”

“That’s a Soul Eater! If that kills us, that’s it. No Valhalla. No Hel. No afterlife. Ever!” Atreus frantically whispers,

“…what a creature!” Wukong remarks

“We don’t have to fight it do we?”

“Not yet at least.” The Great Sage responded as the Soul Eater stomped towards the metal gate and opened it with one hand. Stepping through and out to the other side.

“Oh.” Atreus sighed in relief, “…Mom made Soul Eaters out to be more dangerous than that.”

“Then do not drop your guard.” Kratos responded, “Come.”

Taking a deep breath, he and Wukong followed Kratos through the upper part of the cavern as the Spartan gathered resources.

Leaping down to the lower level, they were greeted by an unholy shriek as nightmares and draugr clawed their way out of the earth.

“Draugr and nightmares!” Atreus shouted, “Behind you, father!”

Whirling around, Kratos backhanded the nightmare that was rocketing towards his head.

It’s wriggly tentacles flailed in the air as it let out a shrill sound and smashed into the wall. Splattering everywhere.

Wukong laughed, “I was wondering when we were gonna fight!”

Immediately, Kratos reached back and brandished his axe. Frost ran through the handle and imbued the blade with cold power. Looking up, his eyes hardened as the rest of the enemies closed in.

From his right, a draugr lashed out violently with it’s sword. Ducking, Kratos countered with a slash of his own. Cutting through the air itself from the sheer force, the Leviathan Axe cleaved the draugr’s sword in two and embedded itself deep into the undead’s body.

Shouting, Kratos cleaved the entire draugr in half and moved on to his next victim. The sounds of fighting rang through the cavern as Kratos parried and countered with his shield and axe in perfect tandem. Frost imbued attacks took down draugr and nightmares left and right as the undead’s numbers grew smaller.

From the corner of his eye, he could see the monkey’s hands glow with a golden light as he purified the nightmares with a single hit. The glow filled the cavern for a brief moment before fading away just as fast. Flitting back and forth through the cavern, leaping off walls with the agility only a monkey could have. Wukong looked like this fight was just yet another walk in the park. A bit of playtime.

Atreus meanwhile fought, it was better. His shots were more sure than before and he remained ever focused. He felt a small rush of pride at the sight, but that was quickly overshadowed by his focus on the fight.

The draugr and nightmares increased in number now. The Spartan channeled energy through the special stones socketed into his axe as the temperature dropped rapidly. Frost coated the air as he let out a roar and leapt several feet upwards.

Bringing his axe down like a hammer striking an anvil a giant explosion of cold blasted outward indiscriminately. Hitting every single draugr and nightmare that dared to sit in it’s blast. Sending draugr flying and splattered them across the walls in frozen chunks.

He heard the monkey whistle in acknowledgement and then a thundering clap.

A violent shockwave of air followed the aftershock of the monkey’s attack and blasted through the tunnels and knocked out the remaining draugr while nearly blowing the Spartan off his feet. The monkey laughed cheekily as he raced towards the last draugr.

This draugr held a mysterious, putrid glow as if another entity dwelled within it. Kratos lunged in at the same time as Atreus shot an arrow that hit the draugr straight and true.

The monkey’s first hit resounded through the cavern once again, sending a shockwave that shook everything. His fist sent the draugr flying into a wall. But it didn’t shatter.

Instead it expelled a nightmare, hissing and spitting acid everywhere as it was deprived of it’s host. Wukong swung his tail like a whip, splattering the nightmare on the wall, while Atreus tackled the draugr with all his might.

Kratos charged into the draugr in tandem and crushed its head with a stomp, ending the scuffle.

“We did it!” Atreus said satisfied

Wukong watched amused as Kratos, without hesitation, looted another Dwarven corpse. Taking the hacksilver and materials the Dwarf had before they died.

“No ring.” The Spartan remarked, “Not him.”

“Hey, I thought you didn’t care.” Atreus said in question

“I simply noticed the lack of ring on the body.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry, Atreus. Your dad’s caring in his own way.” Wukong added teasingly.

Kratos growled slightly in response but he didn’t disagree which caused the Great Sage to laugh.

“He does care!”

Atreus held back a smile as Kratos pointedly walked towards the metal gate. Bending down and shoving it upwards to open it.

Wukong and Atreus scurred through while Kratos followed them behind.

The tunnel continued onward and as the Monkey King bounded ahead he noticed something very annoying.

“Oh boy. It’s a revenant.” Wukong annoyedly stated while standing there.

The laugh of the magical abomination echoed through the cave as the Monkey King ran further down the tunnel and into a gigantic cavern much bigger than before with bridges leading to different tunnels above and below. Stalactites and stalagmites hung from the ceiling and jutted out from the floor as he burst onto the path.

“Here we go!” Atreus shouted as he nocked an arrow. The revenant sent a flurry of poison magic, traveling through the ground as a menacing mist.

Wukong lunged forward at tremendous speed. Cracking the stone beneath him as his feet propelled him forward in a blur. A massive boom shook the floor as the Great Sage tried grabbing the revenant.

The hunched hag reeking of horrible magic let out a sound akin to a fearful shriek and immediately turned into a pungent mist that invaded Wukong’s nostrils before flowing away to a safe location.

Wukong immediately changed course as he heard Kratos command Atreus to release an arrow.

“Nista!”

Overwhelmed by a steamrolling Wukong and an arrow flying towards the revenant’s face, it got hit in the head. Stunning it as the Monkey King violently grabbed the revenant by the neck. Whirling around and viciously throwing the poor thing into Kratos.

It was over in seconds after Kratos swung his axe in a deadly fashion, a burst of frost erupted over the revenant’s body. Freezing it from the inside out and with a final cleave from top down, the revenant shattered.

Wukong took a deep breath and then looked around the even bigger cavern they found themselves in. Spotting another Dwarf corpse he walked up to it and examined it’s body.

With the burn and scorch marks surrounding it, Wukong got an inkling of an idea that the Soul Eater probably did this.

“No ring either…” Atreus murmured, “We aren’t gonna find Brok’s friend alive, are we?”

“Doesn’t look like it.” Wukong replied, “Looks like this guy fell to that Soul Eater too.”

“Mhm.” Kratos grunted in response as he chopped through the lid of a chest and looted its contents.

Stopping at the end of the path, Wukong kicked down a gold chain that perfectly reached the bottom. Glancing at the distance, he stared back at the chain and then leapt off the ledge towards the floor below. Landing easily and waiting for the other two.

The Great Sage watched as Atreus hitched a ride on Kratos’ back and slid down the chain to the bottom.

The cave seemed to extend farther and farther the more they walked. Wukong didn’t mind even as he looked at the almost circular area they landed in. Walking towards the large chest which Wukong was convinced was actually a coffin, he was greeted by two nightmares.

Their screeching irritated his ears.

“More nightmares!” Atreus shouted, “Wukong watch out!”

“Don’t worry bud, I got it!”

The Great Sage grabbed one by the tentacles and used the nightmare to smack the other one. Sending them both tumbling into each other and instantly disintegrating on impact. Brushing his hands off the trio continued on their way.

Absentmindedly, Wukong followed the Spartan and Atreus up the path. They winded under a wooden structure which was thoroughly destroyed by Kratos as he blew up an explosive vase to get more hacksilver on the other side of some piles of golden debris.

The path wound up at another clearing below them. A large area with piles of rock and minerals lining each supposed corner. Two lit explosive vases were placed in questionable positions and a mildly confused Kratos. Earlier he had found a stone Nornir door and the Spartan managed to destroy two of the three seals required to open it, but the third one was nowhere to be found.

Leaping down towards the clearing he stumbled upon a metal gate to the right and chuckled before calling to the others,

“The Great Sage has found the other seal!”

“Oh, that’s great!” Atreus responded as the father and son jogged over to see the seal behind the metal gate.

Kratos easily lifted the gate for Wukong and Atreus to step through.

“My hero~” Wukong teased before kicking the seal to pieces and then staring beyond the gate.

“Oh look!” Atreus exclaimed, “There’s Andvari’s ring on the severed hand…”

The pause and silence was palpable.

“Attached to the Soul Eater….”

The Monkey King couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You were right, Wukong.” the boy murmured, “At least we know what happened to Andvari now.”

Wukong hummed in agreement as he stared at the Soul Eater.

“We can go back and tell Brok, no need to fight it right?”

“No. We will fight it.”

Atreus’ face immediately became confused and slightly scared, “But why?”

Kratos was silent as Wukong filled in for his response. The Monkey King noticed how the Spartan somehow expected him to respond for him and gave a lopsided smile before saying, “Cause you’re scared of it. It’ll be great character building to fight your fears!”

“Oh…”

“It’ll be fine! You’ve got us here to help out.” Wukong reassured Atreus as Kratos walked out back into the clearing. It seemed to work.

Wukong followed the warrior straight into another ambush.

Undead creatures forced their way into the living world. Shrieking, roaring, clicking and drawing their rotten weapons. Wreathing the area with a terrible green light they attacked all at once. Nightmares scattered in the air around them as draugr of different sizes lumbered towards Wukong.

“Nightmares! And a lot of them!” Atreus shouted in the background as the Great Sage grinned.

“So many parties today!” Wukong cheered, “Let’s get this one started.”

Kratos was already fighting. Slashing and hacking away with pinpoint precision at the numerous undead creatures. Roaring, he leapt towards several draugr and engaged them all in close-quarters combat. Frost hung in the air as Kratos brought winter down into the cave.

Arrows flew past Wukong’s head as Atreus provided covering fire as draugr approached him. Sending some staggering back in what would’ve been pain had they not been undead.

The Monkey King grinned at Atreus and gave him a thumbs up, “Thanks for the assist.”

Atreus had the presence of mind to smile back briefly before continuing to shoot arrows. Eventually, he himself even ran into battle. Tackling a draugr about to hit Kratos from behind and grappling with it on the draugr’s shoulders.

The Great Sage made his move. Planting his feet in the ground he ducked under a swing from behind and in the same motion, dashed forward toward his own group. Feet hitting the ground running he extended a hand back and delivered a heavy palm strike to a draugr.

Without missing a beat as his strike let out a massive boom, whirled around to easily catch a draugr’s massive polearm. Snapping it on his leg and whirling the business end of the polearm around. Impaling a chunkier draugr straight through, twisting harshly and sending the undead warrior crumbling to the ground with a hiss.

Whirling around he weaved in and out of attacks from all sides as the draugr and nightmares swarmed him without mercy. Grinning as the heat of battle intensified. Although this was nowhere near enough to make him break a sweat, exercise was always appreciated.

This thought ran through his head as he gripped a nightmare by the tentacles, snatched another one like a toddler grabbing for a toy and let out a bark of laughter as the nightmares began to experience circular motion.

They spun around at deadly speeds, sending their horrible magic everywhere, slamming into the draugr violently as makeshift maces. In a twist, Wukong had been reinforcing the nightmares with chi to make sure they didn’t break before he decided they could.

“There’s only a few left!” Atreus shouted

“Keep your focus!” Kratos replied

Each gigantic smash sent loud shockwaves flying through the cave as the flurry of swings grew faster and faster. The nightmares hollered and shrieked as the Monkey King used them as weapons. Slamming them into draugr without stopping or slowing down, the Great Sage decimated a dozen of them before throwing the two nightmares at a draugr looming over Atreus.

The poor nightmares couldn’t even handle the energy the Monkey King was channeling through their bodies. Without Wukong stabilizing their form, they blew up on the first moment of impact with the draugr above Atreus’ head.

Golden light exploded outwards, engulfing everyone and knocking down all the draugr and nightmares to the floor.

The God of War took advantage of this opportunity immediately. Eyes glinting, he raised his axe high into the air and channeled massive amounts of glacial energy into the blade. Slamming the axe down into the floor, the energy coalesced into a single point before exploding outwards as an unrelenting wave of ice that crushed the enemies in one fell swoop.

Wukong crossed his arms satisfied as the others recovered.

“Did I do well?” Atreus asked hopefully,

“It was not bad, you are getting better.” Kratos replied, “Come, we will fight the Soul Eater next.”

Wukong saw Atreus’ reluctant look. Nevertheless they continued onward. Making their way to the now opened Nornir door and towards the dreaded Soul Eater.

Kratos pushed the Nornir door open. Wrenching the two stone parts of the door out and letting the monkey and Atreus through. The heat from the Soul Eater emanated even all the way to where they were.

Entering the tunnel, he could feel Atreus’ nervousness even as they walked passed through harsh stone walls and past corpses and piles of minerals.

“This is crazy!” Atreus said finally as they made their way through, “How are we supposed to kill something made of rock?”

“Be strong Atreus, stay focused.” he responded, “And look for a weak point.”

“Yes sir.”

“Usually these sorts of monsters have a pretty glaring weakness despite their hard shell.” Wukong supplied, “Especially this one, you’ll see soon enough!”

“…what do you mean?”

“The huge hole in-”

“Quiet. Let him figure it out on his own.”

“YES SIR!” Wukong mock saluted as they walked towards the end of the tunnel.

Turning left they stopped at the ledge overlooking where the Soul Eater prowled.

It walked back and forth menacingly through a wooden floor that merged with stone. Piles of random debris and mining waste were stacked up in the right corner with an explosive vase ignited between them. A large stone pillar was planted on the right side of the area and as Kratos swept his eyes over it, spotted yet another explosive vase.

“You ready?” Wukong asked Atreus quietly, Kratos spotted the boy nod timidly from the corner of his eye and looked forward. Leaping down first, he looked up and beckoned Atreus down.

Catching his son gently he placed him on the floor as the monkey followed quickly after.

Kratos approached the Soul Eater without fear. The stone humanoid rumbled as it noticed the Spartan and began to shake. The sound of an avalanche rang through the area. Each stomp shook the ground as the massive creature turned to face them.

“Be ready.”

“Was born ready!”

“Here we go.”

The Soul Eater opened its chest. Heat exploded from it and blanketed the area, it almost felt like they were covered with fire. The heart charged up further and further with a symphony of noise.

Fireballs exploded from the chest of the Soul Eater over and over again. Blasting the floor, shaking the cave, and sending debris flying.

Kratos heard Atreus shout and dive out of the way as the fireballs viciously blew up on the floor. The Spartan readied up and smashed a fireball away with his axe and ran forward on the attack.

With a massive swing of the axe, he brought it down with a thundering slam. Dust flew everywhere as the cavern shook, but the Soul Eater proved to be more durable than expected. Shoving the God of War off, it swung its massive stone hands towards the ground.

Leaping out of the way, the Spartan rolled. The ground cracked and tore under the impact of the monster’s attacks as arrows bounced off its back to no avail. The Soul Eater did not stop its onslaught and pushed towards Kratos further. The Spartan roared and grabbed both of its stone limbs and pushed against the monster. Forcing the two of them in a deadlock.

The stone cracked beneath their feet as Kratos grappled with the monster, Atreus kept trying to frantically get the Soul Eater off his father. Kratos was just about to get the upper hand when the monster opened its chest and roared. Heat rose to its climax as the flames within the monster grew brighter.

Kratos immediately switched tactics. Grabbing the monster and flipping it straight over his head. Sending it crashing into the cave wall.

Out of nowhere, the monkey rocketed into the Soul Eater with the speed of transient lightning. The air exploded in response to his power as the Soul Eater was smashed deeper into the wall with a single kick to the chest, forcing it open to fire a volley of fireballs everywhere in an attempt to get the Great Sage off it.

The Monkey King leapt back gracefully, bouncing off each of the fireballs and redirecting them harmlessly away.

The fight wore on. Kratos and Wukong kept slamming it back with their power. Smashing it from all sides and blocking the incoming fire. Ducking under a swing, Kratos took another powerful swing and knocked the Soul Eater’s arm away. The Soul Eater was durable, able to stand against multiple sustained hits from the monkey and Kratos.

It just turned into a dance of strikes. But they were getting nowhere. Everything changed when the Soul Eater seemed to have enough. Power shook the atmosphere around them as the heat ignited the air. The Soul Eater’s chest let out a horrible sound as it fired a concentrated blast of pure heat towards Atreus. Who had been pelting the stone hide of the monster with arrows endlessly but to no avail.

“Atreus!”

Wukong was there in an instant with his staff out. The crimson staff defiantly glowed in the light of the flames. Shimmering with power as it blocked the earthshaking blast of soulfire with no problem. The beam split violently into streams of power that razed the ground around the Monkey King.

Atreus scrambled out of the way towards Kratos and panted heavily,

“What do we do?!”

A massive explosion rattled their ears as Wukong parried the beam of fire with his staff. Sending it careening into the cave system and exploding violently.

Wukong engaged the Soul Eater in combat once more, slamming its limbs aside with perfect technique. Each parry and counterattack sending thundering shockwaves that bent the air outwards everytime. Golden light littered the room as Atreus caught his breath.

Kratos pointed at the Soul Eater. “Look at it. Tell me, what do you see.”

“A Soul Eater attacking Wukong?!”

“Look beyond that. The monkey will be alright.”

Blow after blow, the Monkey King effortlessly held his own against the monster. Stone Monkey against Stone Soul Eater.

As the Monkey King fought, Kratos watched as Atreus’ eyes truly took in the details of the Soul Eater. Looking at the body, the cracks, the limbs. Kratos could not help but feel some satisfaction as Atreus came to the conclusion.

“Its chest!” he exclaimed, “That’s its weakness!”

“Good.” Kratos said, “Let us join him then.”

Atreus nodded and smiled, “Yes sir!”

The monkey laughed happily as he knocked the Soul Eater back once more, “There we go! He figured it out.”

With renewed strength, Atreus ran into battle without fear for the first time. Knowledge of the Soul Eater’s weakness gave him energy, the knowledge of victory gave his son the resolve to continue. The rest of the battle did not take long.

It took two blows to get the Soul Eater vulnerable.

Knocking the Soul Eater back onto the ground with Wukong, its chest opened in retaliation. Kratos shouted to Atreus,

“Now!”

Atreus nodded and released an arrow straight into the Soul Eater’s now open chest and hit it’s mark perfectly. The Soul Eater stumbled, stunned still and crumpled to the ground.

Taking his chance, Kratos roared and charged forward straight onto the Soul Eater. Harshly gripping it by the openings of the cavity, he stomped viciously into the flames. Ripping apart and crushing its insides with no mercy.

Plunging his hands in, he grabbed the Soul Eater’s heart and with a roar, ripped it out.

The Soul Eater let out a final hiss as it was robbed of its energy. Dissolving into nothing but a pile of rocks and ash.

“We did it! I can’t believe it.” Atreus exclaimed in shock,

“Believe it. You are stronger than you know.”

Wukong smiled and pat Atreus on the shoulder,

“Thank you father. Let’s see if that’s Andvari’s ring.”

Wukong picked it up and examined it. “Definitely green and nasty. It’s got some magic in it too.”

His father took a look, “Dwarven inscription.”

“Where’s the rest of him?”

“Ashes most likely.”

“That makes sense…the Soul Eater must’ve got him.”

Wukong nodded, “Well all that’s left is to bring this ring back!”

The pair waited for Kratos to finish scouring the area for resources. The Spartan came back with another stone brimming with power and transferred it into the Leviathan Axe, socketing it into the first slot and taking out the first stone.

“What’s that one do?” Wukong asked, “Don’t be shy show it off!”

Kratos grunted in response and brought his axe down to his side. Frost magic converged into a point at the axe tip as the Spartan swung. Sending a gigantic ring of all encompassing frost attack exploding outwards in a violent surge.

“Whoa.” Atreus said, “Did you get another one of those special stones?”

“Yes.”

The group made it up another path and stumbled across more runes. From Atreus’ passing glance it looked like they were hastily written.

“Can you read it?” Kratos asked as they approached.

“Sir!”

Atreus took a closer look and squinted in thought, “These runes were written fast. It spells I Gimsteini….”

Wukong blinked, “That’s weirder than usual.”

“I don’t know this one either.”

“We will ask the blue one.” Kratos replied as he hopped onto a zipline that connected this path to the other side.

“Now you’re interested?” Atreus asked

“We found his alchemist, he promised a reward.”

“What a charming guy.” Wukong remarked as Kratos leveled a glare at the Monkey King.