Tales of the God of war

Chapter 10: Wrath in the Darkness

The corridor became a maelstrom of chaos as fire clashed with shadow. Malgrin's spectral blades danced through the air, their edges sharp as the void itself. Kratos dodged one, then another, the razor-sharp weapons cutting through the stone walls like paper.

"You are strong, Spartan," Malgrin said, his voice a chilling echo. "But strength alone will not save you in my domain."

The shadows around Kratos began to writhe, forming tendrils that lashed out, seeking to ensnare him. He slammed his fists into the ground, sending a wave of molten fire outward, burning through the dark tendrils. Malgrin reeled momentarily, but his laughter returned, low and menacing.

"You cannot destroy darkness," he hissed. "You can only succumb to it."

Kratos snarled, the ember of Solinara's power igniting within him. Flames engulfed his fists as he launched himself at Malgrin, striking with the force of a falling mountain. The blow landed squarely, and for a moment, the shadows dispersed, revealing Malgrin's true form—a gaunt figure of bone and sinew, his eyes hollow voids.

Malgrin snarled, his form flickering. "Impressive," he admitted. "But let us see how your fire fares when the light is snuffed out."

The shadows surged, swallowing the flames in the corridor. For the first time, Kratos found himself fighting blind. Every sound, every whisper, seemed to come from all directions. A spectral blade slashed his side, drawing blood. Another grazed his shoulder.

Gritting his teeth, Kratos closed his eyes, shutting out the disorienting darkness. He focused inward, channeling the energy of both Solinara and Aetherion. Their powers mingled, creating a strange harmony within him. His body began to glow faintly, a fiery aura illuminating the suffocating darkness.

Malgrin hissed in surprise. "Impossible!"

Kratos's eyes snapped open, blazing with light. "Even shadows flee from fire."

He surged forward, his fists blazing brighter than ever, striking Malgrin again and again. The shadow god's form began to fracture, cracks of light spreading through his ethereal body.

"No!" Malgrin roared, his voice breaking as his essence began to unravel. With one final, devastating blow, Kratos shattered the god of shadows. Malgrin's body disintegrated, leaving behind a swirling orb of dark energy.

Breathing heavily, Kratos reached for the orb. As he absorbed Malgrin's essence, a cold, piercing power joined the fiery heat within him. For a moment, the whispers of shadow and flame intertwined, vying for dominance.

Ahead, another door appeared, this one larger and more ominous than the last. Beyond it, the next trial awaited.