2026-02-06 21:53:40
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CONVERGENCE
[Kratos]The northern passage was a nightmare of ice and darkness.Kratos ran through it with single-minded focus, ignoring the pain screaming through every muscle, ignoring the cold that had spread from his chest to his extremities. His left arm hung useless at his side now, completely numb. His vision blurred at the edges, frost forming on his eyelashes.None of it mattered.Atreus was ahead. In danger. That was all that mattered.The passage twisted and turned, sometimes opening into vast caverns filled with frozen pillars, sometimes narrowing to gaps he had to force himself through. Everywhere, the walls were covered in those same scratch marks he'd seen before—frantic, desperate, as if something had been trying to claw its way out for centuries.Or claw its way in.Kratos pushed the thought aside and kept running.A sound echoed through the passage—singing. That same wordless melody, but different this time. Multiple voices, overlapping, creating harmonies that shouldn't be possi
SEPARATED PATHS
[Atreus - Earlier]The deeper passage had been a mistake.Atreus realized this about thirty seconds after leaving his father behind, but by then it was too late to turn back. The sounds of battle echoed from the cave entrance—ice shattering, his father's roars, the inhuman screams of the creatures. Every instinct told him to go back, to fight beside Kratos like they always did.But his father had ordered him to run. And despite everything, despite his growing power and confidence, Atreus was still a son who obeyed when it mattered most.So he ran deeper into the darkness, bow in hand, golden light flickering weakly from his palm to illuminate the way. The passage was narrow, forcing him to squeeze through gaps that would have been impossible for Kratos. Maybe that's what his father had meant—this was a path only he could take.The tunnel descended sharply, twisting and turning in ways that felt deliberately confusing. More than once, Atreus had to backtrack when he hit dead ends or dr
THE DESCENT
The passage sloped downward at a sharp angle, forcing Kratos to brace himself against the walls to avoid sliding. Ice coated everything—the floor, the ceiling, the jagged rock faces that pressed in from both sides. His breath came out in clouds so thick they obscured his vision.Behind him, the sounds of the creatures had faded. Either they'd given up the pursuit, or they were following silently, waiting for him to weaken further. Both options were equally likely.The cold in his chest pulsed with each heartbeat, spreading like roots through his body. His left arm had gone almost completely numb. He could barely feel his fingers anymore, could barely grip the axe properly. Soon, he'd lose the ability to fight altogether.Soon, but not yet.The passage opened abruptly into a cavern so vast Kratos couldn't see the far walls. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like teeth, each one gleaming with that same pale luminescence he'd seen in Vetrblod's chamber. The floor was smooth ice, reflecti
THE FROZEN WASTES
They traveled for three days without rest, pushing north into territories where even the hardiest Norsemen refused to venture. The landscape grew increasingly hostile—trees twisted into unnatural shapes, their branches reaching skyward like skeletal fingers grasping at clouds that never broke. The snow here wasn't white but grey, ash-colored, as if the land itself was dying.Kratos felt the cold in his chest spreading with each passing hour. It had moved beyond his ribs now, creeping down his arms, making his fingers stiff and unresponsive. He hid it as best he could, but Atreus noticed everything.The boy hadn't spoken much since the encounter with the silver-eyed girl. He walked beside Kratos with his bow perpetually ready, eyes constantly scanning, jumping at shadows that might not be shadows at all. The fear was changing him, hardening him in ways that made Kratos's chest tighten for reasons that had nothing to do with Vetrblod's curse."We need to find shelter," Atreus said as th
WHISPERS IN THE SNOW
Night fell quickly in the north, swallowing the world in absolute darkness.Kratos and Atreus made camp in the hollow of a massive fallen tree, ancient and half-buried in snow. It wasn't ideal—too exposed, too cold—but they needed rest. Even gods had limits, and Kratos could feel his approaching fast.The fight with Vetrblod had taken more out of him than he'd admitted. The cold still lingered in his chest, a foreign presence that made each breath feel like inhaling broken glass. He'd hidden it from Atreus, forcing his breathing to remain steady, his movements strong. But alone in the darkness, with only the crackling fire between them, it was harder to maintain the facade."You're hurt," Atreus said quietly, not looking at him. The boy was sharpening arrows, hands moving with practiced efficiency."I'm fine.""You've been favoring your left side since we left the village. And your breathing—it's wrong. Shallow."Kratos said nothing. There was no point in lying, not to someone who kne
THE WITCH'S COUNSEL
They walked for hours through the frozen forest, putting distance between themselves and the ruined village. Neither spoke. There was too much to process, too many questions without answers.Kratos's body ached in ways it hadn't for years. The cold from Vetrblod's grip had sunk deep, settling into his bones like poison. Every breath hurt. Every step required concentration. But he didn't slow down, didn't show weakness. Atreus needed to see strength right now, not doubt.The boy walked beside him, bow ready, eyes constantly scanning the treeline. He'd been quiet since they left—too quiet. Kratos recognized that silence. He'd worn it himself many times, in the years after Lysandra and Calliope. The silence of someone trying to make sense of horror."We need information," Kratos finally said, breaking the oppressive quiet. "Someone who understands what we're facing.""You mean Freya," Atreus said."Yes.""She's not going to be happy to see us.""She doesn't have to be happy. She just has
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