Chapter 8:Spoils of War

A bonfire can be seen from a distance. As General Kratos and Mikel closed in on the back gate of Laccnia, they can sense something wrong. The gates were shut tight and there were no guards on patrol. Kratos glanced at Mikel and they both shared worried looks.

"Let's pick up the pace."

Kratos' horse broke into a gallop and Mikel followed suit.

"OPEN THE GATES!I AM KRATOS!ACTING COMMANDER OF LACCNIA!"

When no reply came, Kratos dismounted.

"Just WHAT is going on?"

Barbaric war cries echoed through the forest.The last remaining streaks of colour drained from Kratos' pale face.Mikel looked alarmed.

"Commander!"

"We are under attack, no doubt."

"Should we pass through the hills to the other side?"

"No, by the time we do that, Laccnia would have fallen."

Kratos eyed the walls of the fortress and drew his Blades of Chaos.

"Grab unto me."

"What?"

"Just do it, that's an order."

Mikel awkwardly locked his hands around Kratos' waist. With a fiery look in his eyes, Kratos swung his blades towards the top of the walls. The blades extended and hooked themselves on one of the watchtowers.

"Time to climb."

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A huge blade flashes before his eyes and misses his neck by mere inches. Raphael was engaged in a heated duel with Heracles. The size of Heracles' sword betrays its speed and agility. Perhaps it was Heracles' seemingly inhumane strength which made the huge sword look light. Heracles was wielding it using only one hand!Raphael focused intensely, if not to defeat Heracles then to avoid death.Heracles took a huge swipe at Raphael who dodged it by rolling out of the way. Instinctively, Raphael raised his shield to meet the second attack.

Heracles' sword came down with the force of a minotaur and upon impact shattered Raphael's metal shield as though it was made of wood. However, Raphael was thankful that the shield did manage to absorb most of the sword's damage or his hand would have easily been severed. Before Raphael could move, Heracles struck him with the fist of his free hand, sending Raphael flying towards the fortress walls. He slammed against it and fell to the ground like a rag doll.

Heracles closed in on Raphael, dragging his gigantic sword after him. Raphael quickly pretened to be unconscious. As Heracles used both hands to raise his sword, Raphael quickly slashed at Heracles' knees. Heracles stumbled and Raphael tried to get out of harm's way.A crushing blow and Raphael fell face first to the ground.Heracles had countered by slamming his arm into Raphael's back.

As Raphael turned on the ground, he saw Heracles standing over him. When he fell, Raphael's sword flew out of his hands, he was defenseless. Suddenly, Heracles screamed as roars emerged from the fortress of Laccnia. Someone had slashed Heracles from behind, but who?Who could have gotten close enough to even touch him?Showing anger more than pain, Heracles turned around and Raphael saw General Kratos standing at the fortress gates, two crescent shaped blades lying in the floor, hanging from the chains which extended from his wrists.Heracles laughed.

"Kratos!The Ghost of Sparta!"

Ghost of Sparta? Of course, Kratos' pale skin!

"It is such a pity, that you chanced upon meeting me, Ghost of Sparta, now I will send you to Hades!"

"We shall see about that!"

General Kratos moved with incredible speed, perhaps even faster than Heracles' assasins. Kratos evaded every slash of Heracles' blade. He dodged, jumped and rolled, frustrating Heracles everytime he managed to escape death. Unfortunately, somehow Kratos had managed to roll himself into a perilous position. His back was now against the fortress wall and Heracles stood in front of him. He was cornered.

Heracles took a huge swipe at Kratos. Most battles and duels are decided by one moment of excellence and for Kratos, this was it. Before the blade came into contact with his body, Kratos jumped up and landed on the huge blade!As Heracles stared in disbelief, Kratos ran up the blade and jumped over Heracles in a sommersault motion but not before plunging his blades deep into Heracles' shoulders.Kratos ran forward and the chains on his wrists extended. Heracles was pulled to the ground on his back.

Kratos stopped running and pulled his right hand with all his might.The blade dislodged itself and as Kratos turned in a full circle, it beheaded several barbarians standing nearby. Kratos brought the blade down upon Heracles' abdomen. Heracles jerked in pain as he struggles to break free.Kratos then pulled his left arm and the other blade broke free. In one fluid movement, Kratos dislodged the other blade, jumped in the air, and plunged both blades deep into Heracles' chest, killing him.And if that wasn't enough, using his extended blades as leverage, Kratos lifted Heracles' body and tossed it into the very heart of the barbarian army.

The barbarians froze with fear. Kratos retracted his chains and placed his blades back in their scabbards. He picked up Heracles' huge sword.

"The Blade of Artemis. A fearsome weapon. This belongs to the Gods!"

Kratos plunges the blade deep into the forest ground and as everyone watched the blade shattered and turned into blue sparks which rose into the night sky and floated towards the moon.

Kratos walked towards the remaining barbarians.

"Go back and tell your king that his son is dead! Tell him that we will take Hispanic and his head. We offer him a choice, to die a slow, horrible death, or surrender and we promise a quick death.GO!"

And to emphasize his point for good measure, Kratos grabs an axe from a nearby barbarian and splits his head.Seeing this, the barbarians quickly retreated back to Hispanic.

Kratos turned to look at Raphael.

"You're still alive? I'm impressed. Come, we must treat your wounds, I hope they aren't serious, I can do without another injured soldier."

Kratos and Raphael reentered Laccnia to the sound of deafening cheers from the soldiers, heads held high with victory.