God Of War: Gacha System

I always thought that the start of a story was the calmest point of it.

And who doesn't?

You don't see a Susanoo in Naruto's first chapter.

You don't see a Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball's first chapter.

Hell, not even those Isekai mangas or those ¨I reincarnated back in my body of the past¨ manhua hit you with something at first. They always spawn in the middle of a field or their beds.

So, If even those trash, low-quality stories can get that simple thing. What does it say about mine?

*BOOM*

The flash of light that just destroyed the rock to my right seemed to have an opinion.

"GRAGH!" My already battered body couldn't stand the energy that went across the ground, shaking it violently as if a lightning bolt had hit it. Oh, wait! IT DID.

"…!" I bit my tongue and crawled to the nearest stone in this shitty mountain that could cover me and regained the strength to stand up.

The good news: I can move my body like a normal person.

The Bad news: I awoke at the bottom of a cliff that was connected to a battlefield. Not just a normal battlefield where people beat each other to death with crude weapons, but a battlefield that looked straight out of hell. Not only that, my only tools for survival were the spear that was bigger than me and a shield with a symbol that was familiar to me, I just couldn't place where I had seen it…

"…Shit" Not only was there not a single path to where the people wearing my same armor were but there were around ten madmen in the skies that were throwing different elemental volts everywhere that they saw.

They weren't exactly flying, but they jumped around the battlefield, using the high rocks as an advantage point.

And guess what? They aren't wearing the same design as my armor, so they are an enemy.

Well, to me they aren't, but I am to them.

"Alright, I have a bad idea" I gathered all my courage to say.

I don't know in which kind of hellhole for a world I was thrown into, but it's definitely one where magic is common use right?

So, there should be some sort of way for me to use magic and go invisible, right?

And by a miracle of god or the devil, they won't notice me until I follow that batch of soldiers wearing the same medieval armor as I. Right?

"Ok, don't fail me now, perk" I slowly say, trying to convince myself that the perk of being able to accept all types of energies is going to make me some sort of magical god.

"Magic, make me invisible" I order with words that would normally make me really embarrassed, but I have no time to be feeling like that.

"Wait, for real?" The words came out of my mouth almost naturally, since I actually felt a force upon my body, and by instinct, I felt out of sight.

I look down at my hands and a chuckle escapes my mouth, before saying "For real, real"

They are invisible.

I can do magic.

*BOOM*

Ookayyyyy. I'll continue that thought when I'm out of immediate danger.

I slowly make my way down the high ground, following the trail and steps of the other soldiers who don't perceive me in any way possible.

Thankfully, neither do those elementalists up in the air.

Would I die if I was hit by one of those blasts?

Definitely.

The soldiers keep making their way out of the battlefield and I follow them from a distance, worried that they might make some sudden move, or someone destroy the silence that is interrupted by the sounds of solid formations breaking.

My worries don't come to be, as every soldier does their job flawlessly as if they trained for this since they were children.

And once we're out of range of the elementalists, I suddenly feel a chill coming from their general direction.

'Yep, It's so over' My pessimistic mind immediately thinks about every meaning of the sudden dreadful feeling but focuses on the worst one: We got found.

I look to their direction.

They're staring.

Even under all of their equally designed armor and helmets, I felt their piercing gazes, not on me, but on the small group of soldiers that I was following.

No soldier seems to realize that they have been found, but the Leader, a man on the front who is slightly older than the rest, starts shivering a bit.

The group of mages looks at each other as if debating what to do with the lives of those soldiers who only want to go home now.

One, in green-colored energy, raises his hand.

After he lowers it, the remaining others, covered in energy of diverse colors but with a similar appearance, all raise their hands in unison.

Having reached an agreement, they all focus their energies on their bodies, making them more visible and dense.

'I should go back' I thought, fearing the worst for those soldiers.

But instead of attacking they turn to the opposite direction from where the soldiers and I are marching, not before the green one throws some sort of shapeless blast towards a random direction, moving the earth a moment.

'They retire? To where?' Some meaningless questions and even more meaningless answers appeared in my mind, but I shut them off shortly after they appeared, and kept on following the batch of soldiers.

The spear and shield proved to be a bother to carry, but I couldn't risk dragging them and alerting anything out there, or, throwing them aside before learning that they had an actual meaning.

Then again, I guess that the first reason is rather meaningless, as any beasts would have already smelled the dried blood in the spear and shield.

...

...

...

Long after running away from the battlefield. I still kept on following the soldiers, and my mind started to react as the surroundings grew more familiar to me.

Even if most of the feelings that a person feels can't be explained, with enough sophistry and correct wording, they become more understandable to others.

Unfortunately, I can't quite seem to put a definition to the feelings that this place provokes on me.

Maybe because it's just my body that remembers it and my mind wasn't in full synchronization with my body yet.

Aresha said that I was taking the place of someone else, so maybe I took the place of a random foot soldier in an isekai?

Yes, that would certainly explain various things, like the magic inside my body.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind right now, fret not brother. We shall be arriving at the gates soon" Said the soldier to my right, his finger pointing to the great door that was surrounded by long walls made of stone.

The path to the door was lightly decorated with spears that had a red pennon that was swayed to the wind.

At the distance, I saw that the city continued all the way until it reached the mountain, being divided in two when it clashed with it.

Due to my positioning, I was only able to see the right part of the mountain. But it was enough to gaze upon the impossibly big structures that had the recognizable Greek architecture.

The soldier, whom I had fooled said that my squad was all killed by the various magics of the battlefield, continued marching and I kept my stride with him, chatting along with him and giving some slight details that strengthened my lie.

As I walked, the rumbling sounds of the city entered my mind and they began to get louder once we got to the gate.

Said gate had the same symbol displayed in my shield, but before I could debate if it was supposed to be a national symbol of the country my body lived in, it began to open and the leader of the group quickly shoved us all in, not even bothering to examine his soldiers, thankfully.

The gate closed behind me, and the leader, a young man who couldn't be older than 20, started speaking, addressing no one as he stood on a small, otherwise empty stage.

"Attention, soldiers!" He began, his voice echoing in the room that acted as a bridge between the city and the door "The battle that you have all fought today is not for naught, the blood that you have spilled will prove to be a great achievement in your lives"

No one actually cared about the speech, I could see it in their eyes, but they still cheered. Well, he's the boss so you have to cheer when he says something.

"The league is going to bask in their victory over their enemies" He kept on with his speech, not knowing or ignoring the fact that everyone wanted to leave.

Including me, as I wasn't even paying attention to him, instead I was deep in my thoughts. 'The league? Like, the Justice League? Did I get thrown into DC?' My thinking was lackluster since I didn't believe this idea too much.

I doubt that the League would let this war play out like that, using children to play this war out. At least in the universes I know of.

'Hopefully, I'm not in some sort of AU where the Justice League is evil or something, like Injustice. If I am, then someone will come tearing this city apart in no moment' My thoughts, as usual, focus on the worst result to me, or not really, as I'm still a child, although the bloody spear and shield won't help me in my ¨I'm just a child¨ act, nor will the lasso of truth.

Not minding my thoughts, the leader stepped down and began ordering.

"Before everyone goes to rest, we need to go to the public hall, the overseer will give an announcement as we eat" He said before going out of the room, everyone following him, including me.

I was the last one to exit the room, and once we were out I was able to admire the magnificent buildings of the city.

That was a lie, there were no ¨Magnificent¨ buildings in the city.

Most of them were made with stone and marble, all with similar designs and characteristics. Which are the big bricks that reach up to my knees, the tiled roofs, and the columns that follow a perfect Doric architecture. Similar to the Parthenon's.

It didn't end there though, as we kept on following the path to what I think is the community dining room, I noticed the distinct lack of… well, anything in the buildings.

Apart from the windows that used red silk or wood as hatches, most of the buildings were completely devoid of any kind of decoration. Unlike most of the ancient Greek civilization that I know of. Well, one comes to mind, but they definitely wouldn't have a walled city or wars against magical dudes.

At the public dining hall, my body guided me to where it felt most familiar, leaving the soldier I had lied to, and I sat down at one of the many wood tables. Apparently, the one I share with my team or squad.

The table was shared by me and the other five men who seemed around my age, but none seemed to share my same struggles, as their armor seemed almost impeccable.

That wasn't the problem though, the problem was that I was, for some reason, hated by the other five at my table.

Well, not hated in the most raw sense of the word, but it seemed that everyone here had something against me. Some were even surprised to see me.

The distance they kept, the little sighs, side-eyes, slight tightening of the weapon they held, and tongue clicks they gave made me think that they thought it would be better if I had died in the recent battle.

I wouldn't have cared if I was hated by one or two, but being hated by everyone whom I think are my coworkers would be an inconvenience. Thankfully, they aren't taking action, which could mean one of two things. First, I'm not as hated as I think I am; second, the leader isn't here yet.

"Attention!" I was suddenly taken out of my thoughts by a scream that seemed to come from my right. "Soldiers, remove your armor!" I didn't have time to question the order as everyone took off their armor, so I did too because when you're in Rome you do as the Romans do.

Someone came to this table while taking off his helmet and once he took it off, he placed it on the wooden table harshly, making a dull sound.

Not only that but after he placed it, he sat beside me and gave me a slap to the back of my barely haired head.

"Somehow, you came back" He said with mixed feelings of happiness and annoyance.

Let me be more specific in two things, first, that slap was a harsh slap, the type made to really hurt somebody; Second, that happiness he's feeling isn't the type of happiness that comes from seeing a friend or brother in arms, more like the affection you would feel for a pet.

"…" I didn't answer, because of the thoughts that were going in my head and because by the time I had them ordered, the voice started to talk.

"You have all done well in your battles, the sacrifices of the fallen will not be forgotten" The moment it started, I looked in the direction of it, and so did everyone. "They have done his greatest duty without failure or hesitation, they will not be forgotten as long as our great nation continues its path to glory"

The voice, a middle-aged man with robes that clearly denoted his superiority to us, mere foot soldiers, stood at a stage on the right side of the dining hall, or well, the right side relative to our table.

He kept talking and his speech was all about how the lives of the fallen will never be forgotten, thankfully, paying attention to his speech made me distracted enough to not think about my new reality where the desolate visage that I was in seemed to be a common occurrence.

"…Their families will be proud of their sacrifice…" He kept on, and I noticed how his brainwashing was actually taking effect on everyone in the hall, they seemed to be inspired by his words, so I acted like I was inspired too "…Their names shall be honored; their tombstones will be placed in the hills of our glorious city and they will reach the Elysian fields where they will rest for eternity…"

Ooh! New information. The Elysian Fields are the Greek version of Valhalla, you die and go there if you have been heroic in life.

That confirms I'm in some sort of Greek world. But I don't remember any media having Greece as a main scenario. Well, I do remember one, but it's not that one, right?

I mean, It's just a bit too… niche for me to be here, no?

"…Sparta will never forget their sacrifice and neither will their loved ones…" The old man atop the stage destroyed my already crumbling hopes.

…Why don't we look at the nice side of life? I'm in another world, out of the part of my life where I just floated and stared at stars and darkness.

It's not like I'm the main character of the story, who will have to face incredible suffering and tribulation to get to his goal and ultimately run away from his homeland to go to another realm where he will have a child and become a better man… right?

I was driven out of my thoughts by a sudden punch to the side of my shoulder.

"…Since you have survived, you have proved yourself more useful as a meatshield than a soldier" The same guy who slapped me said.

The old man wasn't on the stage and I realized that I was sunk in my thoughts and didn't notice him ending his speech and leaving.

Not caring about my thoughts, the guy to my side kept on talking "You heard the overseer, the next battle will be in three days, but don't worry!" He moved his hands to the side like he was giving me a gift "We won't push again, don't worry about falling off!"

After that and a few other insults that I didn't answer, he and the six others at our table, who I was sure were my team now, left by the main exit of the hall.

I was out of my mind right at that moment, not feeling the punch that he gave me or any sound of the city. I let my body guide me to where it felt most familiar.

Walking through the city, I came out of my trance and actively started running towards the familiar feeling.

It got increasingly more intense as I ran, letting the surprise over my physical capabilities run over my head.

Following the path, I stopped in the middle of it, to my front, the path continued into a cave, and to my right, there was another path that directed me into the city.

But to the left, I saw a building.

It was a building like every other. No distinguishable features.

The tiled roof, the limestone bricks, the columns, the flowing red silk that moved to the wind…

You could even say it was in worse condition than the others, being practically nestled between the hill and another house.

But I felt it.

So intensely with my body that I began to feel it with my soul.

Where I was?

That was a simple question with even a more simple answer.

I was home.

…

..

…

*Plaf*

Softly but loudly, my body fell to the bed in the house, and I immediately felt the effect of my action.

"Ughh…" I had never thought that a bed could feel this uncomfortable, actually, let me check.

I moved aside the blankets and put my hand on the bed. I pressed it and it sunk easily, too easily, easily enough to know that this wasn't a bed, it was an amalgamation of blankets and silk thrown into a rock-solid surface.

"Of course, I don't even have a bed" Even as I complained, I still fell in the blankets, trying to find comfort.

"Breathe, breathe, breathe…" I told myself.

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

Hhhhhst…. Haaaah.

Without any issue at hand, my mind began wandering. Naturally to the worst of my problems, these vary between memories of my family, memories of being stranded in space, and now that I'm relaxing, memories of the original man who was in this body.

Unlike the usual novels that I read, they didn't hit me like a truck at once. Well, they all came at once, but it didn't hurt. It was like watching an hour-and-a-half-long movie compressed in 10 seconds. With every frame changing every moment.

Still, the memories were giving me some slight headache, nothing too big to be a bother, but something akin to hearing loud sounds in the morning.

Waking up from the bed, I go past the small reflective surface on top of the wooden table on the right side of the house… my house.

And I look out the window.

In front of my house, there were two boys no older than me fighting with shields and spears meant for people bigger than them.

Not letting that bother them, they relentlessly attacked their opponent, piercing, stabbing, shield bashing, kicking…

No mistake went unpunished and these boys were making sure of it.

At one moment of weakness, the smallest of the boys makes a small misstep, something minor that a normal person wouldn't acknowledge, but his opponent does and seizes the opportunity to tackle him with the shield and throw him to the ground.

The almost bald one pushes the spear tip to the neck of his grounded opponent and uses the moment to start talking.

"A Spartan warrior NEVER lets his back hit the ground!" The rough voice admonishes "Even in death a Spartan stands tall for battle. You are a Spartan! Are you not!?" He screamed at the boy.

"Yes, Arian" The boy with a mark on his left eye answers.

And with his answer, the mirage ends.

Leaving me with my answers and my resignation.

After the mirage ends, I look back to the wooden table, where the reflective surface, a small mirror, reflects what I wanted to see the least.

A slightly rough face, European and such, but most importantly, I see a red mark flowing through the left side of it, crossing over the eye and going over my head and while I couldn't see the back of my head, I was pretty sure that it followed there.

Lacking encouragement, hope, and hapiness, I didn't even want to remove my robes and check my body for the remaining lines of the tattoo.

Even if it was my face I knew it wasn't my body.

Maybe my soul was Arian Wolkoff.

But my body?

My body is Kratos.

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A/N: Hello.

I learned some new things about spartans while I made this chapter. None of which didn't surprise me.

Recently a friend taught me how to use the dot and comma for real, so if you see some of those you know why already, well, that and because no one knows how to use them either, so no one will correct me.

I've also learned that most of the lore of Sparta in God of War is extremely scarce, and the only things we know of seem to contradict the IRL Sparta in most things.

Like how IRL Sparta was a simple city with most buildings being made of simple wood, while only the big buildings, like the central hall, were built on stone. But in the game, Sparta's whole architecture was based on stone and limestone, going as far as to give it a wall in both GoW 2 and Ghost of Sparta.

We are able to assume some things, but most remain vague speculation that isn't fit to be written about.

Before starting to write this fic, I spent like a week deciding if I really could and tested myself by thinking about the important scenes, MC realizing that he's Kratos was one of the first ones.

I don't have too much to say this time, this chapter was relatively short in terms of plot and I wanted it to end before I said something dumb and had to edit it later.