As Kratos heard the sudden knock echo against the cabin door, he immediately turned his head toward both of his sons. Zelos caught the meaning in Kratos's eyes instantly, reading the silent command with no hesitation.
He raised his hand and cast a protective barrier around the entire house, a carefully layered spell designed so that nothing could destroy the structure from outside, while also ensuring that no one could enter without the family's permission. The magic sealed itself invisibly, humming faintly against the wood, unnoticed by Atreus but clearly felt by Kratos.
With the cabin secured, Kratos stepped forward, his heavy footsteps pressing into the floorboards. He placed a hand on the door, then opened it slowly, leaving both Atreus and Zelos waiting inside, as he had decided to confront the visitor alone.
The cold air rushed in as the door swung outward, revealing a lone figure standing outside. The man was thin and wiry, his pale skin covered with black tattoos that wound across his entire body. He wore almost no clothing—only a pair of short, crude coverings that barely concealed him.
The stranger's piercing eyes immediately locked on Kratos. His expression shifted in interest as he inspected him, tilting his head slightly. Kratos did not return a word. Instead, he stepped fully outside and shut the door firmly behind him. Inside, Atreus waited nervously while Zelos, through his eagle summons, circling the cabin, observed every movement.
His birds provided him with an unbroken view, and with their shared vision, Zelos studied the magical currents flowing through the stranger's body. The intricate spellwork embedded into his veins confirmed what he suspected: this was Baldur.
'Finally, a spell worth my time,' Zelos thought with a faint grin forming. 'I've been getting bored with simple tricks. His immortality is fascinating. I'll take it apart, improve it, and erase the flaws that keep him from feeling.'
Outside, the silence between the two gods stretched. Kratos and Baldur stood face to face, each sizing up the other. Kratos was cautious, his eyes cold and unreadable, while Baldur was relaxed, brimming with arrogance, relying entirely on the invulnerability that had carried him for centuries.
"I thought you'd be bigger," Baldur finally said, his voice sharp yet amused. "But you're definitely the one. Long way from home, aren't you?"
"What do you want?" Kratos asked bluntly, his voice carrying no emotion.
"Oh, you already know the answer," Baldur replied, his tone filled with disdain and misplaced confidence.
"Whatever it is you seek, you won't find it here," Kratos said, turning slightly as though to re-enter the cabin. "Move on."
Baldur laughed harshly, his voice echoing through the trees. "Hahaha. And here I thought your kind was supposed to be enlightened. So much better than us. So much wiser. And yet here you are, hiding out in the woods like some coward."
Kratos paused, then turned back to face him fully. He stepped forward, towering over Baldur. "You don't want this fight."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure I do," Baldur smirked, before driving his fist directly into Kratos' jaw.
The blow landed cleanly, but Kratos did not move, not even acknowledging the strike.
"LEAVE MY HOME!" Kratos roared, his patience breaking as anger crept into his face.
"Ohh, you'll have to kill me for that," Baldur shot back. He struck again, punching Kratos several times in rapid succession.
Kratos absorbed every blow, unmoving, until he caught Baldur's fist mid-swing. With a sharp twist and a counterpunch of his own, Kratos launched Baldur backward, his body crashing hard against the frozen ground.
"No, no, no, no, no…" Baldur muttered rapidly, his voice twitching, repeating the word like a mantra as he scrambled back up.
"I warned you several times," Kratos said coldly as he advanced. "You are not listening." He reached down, grabbing Baldur by the arm and lifting him from the dirt with one hand.
"Fine," Baldur hissed, grinning as if enjoying himself. "My turn." His fist slammed into Kratos' chest with immense force, sending the Spartan flying back across the yard. Baldur leapt forward instantly to follow, pressing the attack.
"You're disappointing," Baldur mocked, his voice carrying a strange amusement. "I expected more. Show me more."
The battle escalated, each clash of fist, shield, and axe shaking the ground beneath them. Kratos swung the Leviathan Axe with precision, cleaving into Baldur's flesh, yet the god's face never changed.
His wounds sealed as quickly as they opened, and there was no sign of pain. Baldur retaliated with brutal punches, hammering against Kratos' shield. Each strike resonated like thunder.
Kratos slammed the axe against Baldur's head, forcing him down, but Baldur only answered with a powerful uppercut, launching Kratos high into the air. His body smashed through the roof of the cabin.
As Baldur followed, he paused briefly when he noticed something strange. Through the broken hole, the cabin's interior was invisible. Instead of wood, furniture, or firelight, there was only a flat white glow, a blank emptiness concealing everything inside.
"Huh? That's new. What is that?" Baldur muttered, momentarily distracted.
Kratos seized the chance, striking with a sudden punch, seizing Baldur by the arm, and hurling him down to the ground in front of the cabin. Kratos followed quickly, landing atop Baldur and unleashing a storm of fists.
Each blow was heavy, deliberate, cracking the dirt beneath them, yet Baldur's expression remained maddeningly unchanged.
Finally, Baldur caught one of Kratos' fists and shoved him off, rising to his feet. His body was bloodied, yet within moments, the flesh sealed, the blood vanished, and he stood as though nothing had happened.
Zelos, still watching through his summons, felt his excitement grow. This was exactly the kind of magic he had wanted to see.
"Hahahaha!" Baldur laughed, stretching his arms wide. "If you had simply told me what I wanted, this could've ended already. But no, you just had to be prideful. Now, I'll kill you… and after that, I'll walk into that cabin and see for myself what that mysterious light really is."
Baldur readied himself again, and Kratos lowered into his stance, axe in hand. The fight was about to resume, and both gods were prepared for another clash.
But before they could strike, the sound of creaking wood broke through the silence. The cabin door slowly opened. A figure stepped out calmly into the snow. Zelos emerged, walking toward the two warriors as though he had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Gentlemen," he said with a faint smile, his tone steady and casual. "Let's get ready to rumble."
Baldur turned his head, curiosity flashing across his face. Kratos, however, did not react—he remained silent, for he knew his son's capabilities better than anyone.