Deimos moved, his body a blur as he launched forward, boots crunching through the snow with every step. The cold bit at his skin, but he didn't feel it. All he felt was the steady burning fire in his chest—a mixture of adrenaline, anger, and something deeper.
The need to prove himself.
The blade in his grip gleamed under the pale light filtering through the trees, sharp and steady, just like his resolve.
This was his chance.
He would show his father—prove—that he was ready.
"DEIMOS! STAY BACK!" Kratos' voice was like a thunderclap.
But Deimos didn't listen.
He lunged forward, twisting his body mid-air to add force to his strike. His target—the stranger's throat. He aimed to cut deep and fast, to end the fight before it could escalate further.
Then, Baldur moved.
Lightning-fast.
A blur of motion, faster than anything Deimos had ever seen before.
Before the knife could reach flesh, Baldur's hand shot out, fingers clamping around Deimos' wrist like a vice.
Unbreakable.
Deimos' eyes widened.
What…?
He tried to pull away, twisting his arm, but it was useless. Baldur's grip didn't even budge.
A grin stretched across the stranger's face. "Oh, you've got some fight in you, huh?" he mused, tilting his head like he was amused. Then, without warning—
CRACK!
A sharp twist of the wrist sent a spike of pain up Deimos' arm, forcing him to drop his knife. Before he could react, a knee slammed into his stomach, the impact like a battering ram.
Deimos' vision blurred.
His feet left the ground.
Then—
BOOM!
His body shot backward, the force of the kick sending him crashing straight through a thick tree. The wood splintered on impact, exploding into jagged shards as Deimos crashed through the trunk before he finally hit the ground, tumbling violently across the snow.
His lungs burned—he couldn't breathe. His ribs ached, and he screamed in pain. For a brief moment, the sky above him spun.
"DEIMOS!" Kratos' voice roared through the clearing.
A sharp cough rattled through his chest, blood spattering into the snow. His entire body protested as he forced himself up, his hands shaking from the impact. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain, pushing through it.
Baldur stood there, arms loose at his sides, grinning down at him like a wolf eyeing injured prey.
Mocking him.
Kratos took a step forward, his expression carved from stone. His voice came low, deadly.
"Stay down, Deimos."
But Deimos didn't listen.
He couldn't.
He pushed himself fully upright, his breath steadying, his mind sharpening. His gaze locked onto Baldur—not with fear, but with something new.
Then—
[Ding! System Mission Issued!]
→ Mission: Repel Baldur alongside Kratos.
→ Reward: 15% Hercules Template Integration.
Deimos' breath hitched.
15%?! That would push his integration to 50%.
If 35% had already made him inhumanly strong, what would halfway integration feel like?
His entire body shifted, energy coiling beneath his skin like an unseen force waking up inside of him.
His heartbeat slowed.
His vision sharpened.
The air felt lighter in his lungs.
This time—
He wouldn't be swatted away so easily.
"Alright then," Deimos muttered, rolling his shoulders, his muscles flexing. "Round two."
Then, he moved.
Faster.
Stronger.
Baldur's eyes lit up, an excited grin stretching across his face. "That's more like it!"
Deimos feinted, faking a knife grab, drawing Baldur's hand out to block—then twisted mid-motion, shifting his entire weight into a full-powered right hook.
CRACK!
Deimos' fist connected with Baldur's jaw—and the world seemed to shudder. A shockwave rippled through the clearing, snow blasting outward in violent waves. The ground cracked, a jagged fissure snaking through the frozen earth.
For the first time, Baldur staggered.
Deimos' eyes widened.
I hit him.
A stillness fell over the battlefield. Then—movement. The snow shifted as Baldur lifted a hand to his jaw, rubbing the spot where the punch had landed. His fingers came away clean. No blood. No damage.
He blinked. Then—
He grinned.
"Now that was a hit!" Baldur cracked his neck. "Ohh, this is gonna be fun."
Before he could strike back—
Kratos moved.
The Leviathan Axe swung, its frozen edge singing through the air, forcing Baldur to leap backward.
Deimos and his father now stood side by side.
Kratos' posture was low, defensive. His knuckles flexed, gripping the axe tightly. Deimos could feel the silent tension in his father's stance—his father was ready to end this fight.
Baldur grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Two of you, huh?" He cracked his knuckles. "I was hoping this would get interesting."
Deimos exhaled, his fingers tightening into fists. His body buzzed with newfound strength.
The mission was clear.
Together with his father—
He was going to make Baldur regret knocking on their door.
A deep rumble rolled through his chest—a growl, something primal and raw clawing its way up from his core. He could feel his muscles tightening, his heartbeat pounding louder, a steady drum of war echoing in his ears.
Something inside him wanted out.
[Ding! System Activation!]
→ Mad Enhancement: Unleashed.
→ Power Amplification: Strength x2, Durability x2.
→ Refined Version: Power Without Madness.
Deimos' breath hitched as raw power flooded his veins.
A storm ignited within his body, his muscles hardening like steel, his heartbeat pounding like a war drum. Heat surged through his limbs—not pain, but a sensation so overwhelming it demanded to be unleashed.
He vanished.
Baldur's smirk vanished too—
CRACK!
Deimos reappeared in front of him, his fist slamming into Baldur's jaw with a force that shook the very ground beneath them. Snow exploded outward, trees trembled, and the shockwave cracked the earth itself.
For the first time, Baldur staggered backward.
Deimos didn't stop.
He twisted his body, shifting momentum into his elbow, and drove it straight into Baldur's ribs—
BOOM!
The impact sent Baldur flying, his body crashing through three trees before slamming into a boulder, cracking it upon impact.
Kratos' eyes narrowed slightly. This wasn't just strength. This was different. Wilder. Unrestrained.
Baldur laughed as he pulled himself out of the rubble, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off dust. He cracked his neck, his grin widening.
"Now that… was a hit." His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Kratos stepped forward, standing beside Deimos. His voice was low, dangerous.
"We end this. Now."
Deimos grinned. His veins burned with power, but his mind was clear as ice.
Together with his father—
He was going to make Baldur regret knocking on their door.