High above, a rift opened in reality like a cosmic curtain. Eon appeared as a towering translucent figure, hundreds of feet tall, all swirling fractals and radiant eyes.
Eon: "Observe, mortals. Strike down these puppets if you must. It changes nothing. The tapestry will always weave anew."
Kratos and Asura locked eyes—and without speaking, lunged at the same Guardian, smashing it apart in perfect unison.
Pushing Toward the Core
Mithra staggered forward, pointing toward an ascending bridge of shifting platforms.
Mithra (shouting): "The Axis Core is at the summit! That's where Eon's rewriting the timelines!"
Kratos: "Then we climb."
Asura: "I'll clear the way!"
Climbing the Axis
They raced upward as platforms spun and rearranged beneath their feet. More Guardians rose to block their path.
Asura hurled himself at them like a comet, fists blazing. Kratos hewed through armored limbs with icy sweeps of his axe.
Mithra hovered above, directing streams of golden energy to shield Atreus as he fired arrow after arrow into enemies' glowing joints.
Atreus (breathing hard): "This place is insane…!"
Mithra: "Focus, Atreus! The closer we get, the weaker Eon's hold becomes!"
Eon's Challenge
Eon's vast image shifted closer, eyes narrowing.
Eon: "You would defy destiny itself? Very well… come claim your end."
With a wave of his cosmic hand, a flood of Guardians surged forth—larger, more monstrous, radiating power strong enough to warp the platforms they stood on.
Asura (grinning wildly): "YES…! NOW WE'RE TALKING!"
Kratos clenched his teeth.
Kratos: "We make our stand. Boy—stay behind me!"
Atreus gripped his bow tighter.
Atreus: "No, Father. I'm fighting too."
Kratos hesitated—then nodded once.
At the summit above, the Axis Core pulsed—a vast sphere of interwoven timelines and glowing Mantra.
And standing beside it, waiting, was Eon himself… no longer an apparition, but solid, real, divine.
Eon (cold smile): "Welcome… to eternity, Children of Rage."
Kratos stepped forward, shoulders squared, eyes cold.
Kratos: "This ends. Now."
Asura clenched his fists.
Asura: "I'm going to rip your eyes out one by one."
Eon tilted his head, as if studying insects.
Eon: "Even now, you persist. Driven by blood… by family… by hate. Yet mortal bonds are fragile. Allow me to prove it."
Eon raised a finger. The spire shuddered as new Guardians rose—larger, more monstrous than before, ablaze with cosmic fire.
(Mithra's breath caught, fingers shaking. She wanted to leap forward, but fear rooted her—Eon's power pressed down like the weight of an entire sky.
Atreus gritted his teeth, bow already in hand. He glanced at her, whispering.)
Atreus (low, tense): "If we get in their way… we'll only slow them down."
Mithra (shaking her head): "But if we do nothing, they'll die!"
Atreus (firmly, though his hands trembled): "Then we wait. We strike when it matters."
Asura (roaring): "Enough talking! We end him NOW!"
He lunged recklessly, fists blazing with Mantra. Eon swayed aside, letting the blows pass harmlessly through warped space.
Kratos (snarling): "Fool! He bends time—study him first!"
Asura: "I don't NEED to study him—I'll break him open!"
Kratos struck in calculated arcs, aiming to pin Eon's limbs. Eon parried effortlessly, seizing the Leviathan Axe and twisting it aside.
Eon (calmly): "Divided… even by choice."
He blasted a wave of energy between them, hurling both warriors back.
From the sidelines, Mithra raised a trembling hand as if to intervene, only for a wave of golden pressure to slam her back. Atreus drew an arrow, but the sheer scale of Eon's aura made his hands shake.
Atreus (thinking, fearful): If I miss… if I break focus… I'll only slow them down,but I must try. I can't hold back now .
The two exchanged a glance—helpless, yet still searching for a way to tip the scales.
Asura (turning on Kratos): "Why HOLD BACK? Strike him down!!"
Kratos (angry): "He WANTS your blind rage—it makes you careless!"
Asura: "And waiting will kill us faster!"
They circled Eon, snarling, breathing hard—two titans glaring at each other instead of their enemy.
Eon (mocking): "Yes… rage and caution. Two blades that cut each other instead of me."
He spread his arms, cosmic energy swelling around him.
Both fathers struck again, uncoordinated—and Eon caught Asura's fist and Kratos's axe at the same time, hurling them across the platform.
Atreus gritted his teeth, starting forward, but Mithra grabbed his wrist.
Mithra (urgent, whispering): "No—we'll only make it worse! He wants us desperate."
Atreus trembled, bow half-raised, torn between fear and determination. His eyes burned with the weight of helplessness, yet he held his ground beside her.