Kratos

He carried her body out of the house and placed her on the pyre before he lit it. In the middle of the cremation process, Atreus took his mother's knife from her corpse and burned his hand. Kratos had him hold a handful of snow before taking some of his arm wrappings and using them to bind Atreus’ hand. He picked up Faye’s knife and gave it to his son, telling him it was his now, before ordering him to show his hunting skills by finding a deer. They would then go into the Wildwoods while they waited for Faye’s pyre to finish burning. While hunting a deer in the forest, Atreus shows his hunting abilities that Faye had taught him.

When they found the deer, Atreus became overexcited and shot at the deer against his father’s orders, causing Kratos to angrily scold his son and take his bow, before collecting himself and telling Atreus to fire his bow only when he told him to. Atreus sheepishly apologized, to which Kratos responded that he shouldn't be sorry, only that he should be better, before telling his son to find the deer. During the hunt, they encountered a group of Draugr, which Kratos dispatched with relative ease. Shortly afterward, Atreus spotted the deer entering the ruins of an old temple, and the father and son gave chase.They eventually caught up to the deer, and Kratos returned his son’s bow so that he could shoot it. Atreus successfully hit the deer with an arrow, but was shocked to find that it was still alive. Kratos told him to finish the deer off with his knife, but Atreus lacked the resolve to do so, so Kratos aided him in euthanizing the deer. He moved to place a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder, but relented and instead returned his knife to him. Suddenly, a Troll appeared and attacked the two, forcing Kratos and Atreus to fight it. The Troll was defeated after Kratos snapped its neck, but he immediately realized that Atreus was still not ready when he saw his son attack the Troll’s corpse by wildly slashing at it with his knife.

Arriving back in their house, Kratos collected Faye's ashes and stored them in a bag, before entering the home and lecturing Atreus on his loss of control over his anger. He told Atreus to try and hit him as proof of his control, swatting the boy’s strikes away with little effort, angering him and causing him to suffer a coughing fit. Kratos reiterated that his son was not ready for the journey, much to Atreus’ frustration. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard overhead outside the cabin, and shortly thereafter, an unknown man came knocking on the door and demanded that Kratos show himself. Realizing the potential danger, Kratos ordered Atreus to hide under the floor, before he opened the door and confronted the Stranger. The Spartan demanded to know what the man wanted, with the latter claiming he already knew the answer.

Kratos told the man he didn't have whatever he was after, and that he should move on as he turns to go back inside, but the Stranger goads him on by calling him a coward. Kratos warned the man not to seek a fight with him, but the man insisted that is what he wanted before striking Kratos across the face. Kratos snarled at the Stranger, warning him to leave, but he claimed the only way that would happen is if Kratos killed him, punching him several more times until Kratos grabbed his fist, telling the man that he had warned him, and punched him square in the face, knocking him back several feet. But unexpectedly, when Kratos was about to finish him off, the visitor threw a single punch that threw Kratos high into the air and all the way behind the house.

At this point, Kratos realized that the man is not an opponent to be underestimated. The two engaged in a fierce battle, and during the fight, Kratos was flung onto the roof of the house. After punching a large hole through the roof, the Stranger saw Atreus' bed and wondered what Kratos was hiding from him. Kratos got on top of him and began pummeling the man, once again demanding that he leave. After the man trapped Kratos in side of a large boulder, he decided to turn his attention to whoever was hiding in the house. Not wanting the man to know about Atreus, Kratos unleashed his Spartan Rage, hitting the man with powerful and violent blows. However, it seems that all of Kratos' attacks were ineffective, with the man claiming that he felt no pain at all. However, Kratos continued to fight, eventually overpowering the man before snapping his neck and throwing his body into the chasm created during their battle.

Badly beaten and weak from his brawl with the Stranger, Kratos feebly made his way back to the house, wondering how the man knew him, and how “they” (likely referring to the Gods) had finally found him after so long. He admitted to Faye that he wasn't ready to raise Atreus alone, and that neither of them were ready for the journey to the mountain. However, he also acknowledged that, because of the Stranger finding them, they could no longer stay in the Wildwoods. Entering the house, Kratos pulled Atreus out of the basement after assuring the boy that he was okay. He told his son to gather his things and prepare to leave. Atreus reminded his father that he had said he wasn't ready, and Kratos replied that he wasn't, but that he should prove him wrong.

After seeing the destruction caused by Kratos and the Stranger’s battle, Atreus asked if his father had killed him, to which the Spartan replied that he did what he had to. As they maneuvered the chasm, Kratos told Atreus that they would encounter many different enemies on their journey, and that he should close his heart to their suffering, as they would show no sympathy for him. After reaching the top of a hill, Kratos and Atreus discovered that the Wildwoods were surrounded by trees which formed a protection stave around the forest. Noticing that a point in the stave was broken in the area where the last tree needed for Faye’s pyre was cut down, they realized that the trees Faye had marked for her pyre were part of the stave.

Unbeknownst to Kratos, his actions cut off the protection that existed for years. Kratos revealed that Faye had hand-marked the trees that she wanted for her pyre with her handprint. Not understanding why Faye would go to such lengths to keep their family hidden, Kratos and Atreus continued their journey. Later, they entered a ruin that Atreus pointed out had an awful smell. Suddenly, a group of people attacked them, starving and driven to the point of cannibalism, intending to capture Kratos and Atreus so that they could eat them. Kratos ordered his son to stay out of the way, engaging the men and killing them with little effort.

However, one of the men attacked Atreus, who stabbed him with his knife before he fell on top of him. Rushing to his son’s aid, Kratos pulled the man’s body off of him, discovering that Atreus had unintentionally killed him, an act which left the boy shocked and horrified. Kratos held his son’s face in his hands as he started to cry, reminding him to close his heart. Pulling his knife from the man’s body, they prepared to leave when the men’s bodies suddenly reanimated as undead creatures similar to the one they had encountered in the Wildwoods. After fighting the creatures and putting them down for good, Kratos and Atreus searched for a way out of the ruins. Kratos commented that Atreus was distracted by his memories of killing the man, and that they would return home if he did not collect himself.

After leaving the ruins, they could hear someone shouting nearby, and soon after, they met a Dwarf named Brok, who was attempting to get his beast of burden to cross the bridge. Atreus claims that she was scared of something in the tree line across the bridge, and tells Kratos to throw his axe to scare it off. Kratos does so, and it is revealed that Atreus was right, with Brok’s beast now willing to cross the bridge. Brok mentions to Kratos that he and his brother were the ones who forged the Leviathan Axe, although Kratos initially doesn't believe him until the Dwarf mentions the brand on the axe’s handle. The Dwarf offers to improve the axe for Kratos, along with any equipment he and Atreus have. After improving the axe, Brok points out that the things in the trees, revealed to be a group of Draugr, had returned, suggesting that Kratos try out his newly upgraded weapon. The Spartan does so while Atreus takes shelter in Brok’s shop. After defeating the Draugr, Kratos and Atreus part ways with the Dwarf and continue their journey, with Kratos lecturing his son for leaving him to fight alone. Later on, Atreus found the tracks of a boar, and the father and son decided to hunt it, with Kratos commenting that it was important for a warrior to keep his skills sharp. They eventually discovered the animal, and Atreus shot at it, though the arrow only bounced off the animal’s hide, making the boy wonder if the boar was magical somehow, before continuing to pursue it.

When he finally did wound the boar, the boy chased after it, loosing his knife in the process when it got caught on a branch. Kratos picked up the knife before realizing that Atreus had disappeared in a heavy fog that covered the path ahead. He quickly chased after his son, calling out to him while making his way through the maze-like pathway. He eventually caught up to Atreus, finding the boar heavily injured and under the care of a mysterious woman, who revealed herself to be a witch when she used Seiðr magic in an attempt to heal the boar, who was named Hildisvíni. The “Witch of the Woods” asked that Kratos and Atreus accompany her to her home, which lay underneath a giant tortoise, in order to help her tend to Hildisvíni. While she sent Atreus to gather some supplies from her garden, she told Kratos in secret that she knew he was a God, and that he was not from Midgard.

She asked if Atreus knew about his and his father’s heritage, to which Kratos angrily responded that it wasn't her concern. She warns the God of War of the danger he has put the two in, as the Aesir Gods will be very hostile towards them as a result, claiming they didn't take well to outsiders, but admitted that he was correct about it not being her concern, before asking him to collect Lamb’s Cress from her garden to finish Hildisvíni‘s treatment, to which he begrudgingly agrees. After finding the Lamb’s Cress, he found Atreus struggling to pull the plants he was asked to collect. Kratos offered the boy’s knife to him, causing Atreus to chastise himself for loosing it while pursuing the boar. Afterwards, they returned to the Witch, who finished healing Hildisvíni. Before leaving, Kratos and Atreus received a protective charm from the Witch, claiming it would keep them hidden from “those who would make their journey difficult” (referring to the Æsir), as well as a magic compass that would point them towards their chosen destination. The Witch then ushered the father and son out of her home, wishing them luck on the way out.

Getting into a boat they found in the caverns beneath the Witch’s house, they made their way to the Lake of Nine, where they found a statue rising out of the water, with a message written on it saying, "Sacrifice your arms to the center of the water, awaken again the cradle of the world". Kratos threw the Leviathan Axe to the lake at Atreus’ suggestion, but was surprised to find that the Axe would not return to him when he called it. Suddenly, the water became violently turbulent, tossing the boat around on the waves before something huge began to emerge from the water. Soon after, the two found themselves staring into a massive eye.

Atreus revealed to his father that it was Jörmungandr, the World Serpent. Jörmungandr spat the Leviathan Axe out of its mouth back at Kratos, before it began speaking to him in a language neither he nor Atreus could understand. As the Serpent began to slumber again, Kratos and Atreus realized that its awakening had dropped the water level of the lake, which revealed that the statue was standing on top of a large structure, the Temple of Týr, which had previously been submerged in the water. The two decided to look around, shortly afterwards reuniting with Brok, who had set up shop inside the Temple. Continuing across the Temple’s bridge, they came across a series of poison-generating Scorn Poles, which Kratos used his Axe to freeze in order to get passed them. He revealed that it was Faye who had taught him how to counter the Scorn Poles’ poison. Atreus claimed that it was funny to think of his mother teaching something to Kratos, which the Spartan agrees with. Soon after, they meet Sindri, Brok's brother and owner of the other half of the two's brand, who was curious as to why Kratos is in possession of the Leviathan Axe, as it was created specifically for Faye.

Atreus explains how his mother had already passed away, and Sindri decides to help the two in creating improvements to their armor and weaponry, like Brok, claiming that it's what Faye would have wanted him to do. Kratos and Atreus then continue up the mountain, with Atreus asking if he could carry Faye’s ashes for a while. When Kratos refused, Atreus asked why, claiming she meant more to the boy than his father anyway, before attempting to rephrase by saying that Kratos was hardly ever around, to which his father stated it would serve him to stop talking. As they came across a large door, Kratos attempted to open it before he was attacked by an Ogre. Kratos and Atreus fought and managed to defeat the beast, along with a group of Seiðr-corrupted Reavers, before continuing up the mountain. However, they find themselves halted by a strange, black fog blocking their way up the mountain. The Witch unexpectedly shows up in front of the two again, explaining that the fog is called “Black Breath”, and how the only way to cast it away is by using the Light of Alfheim. She then takes them back to Týr's Temple, tasking Kratos with repairing the temple’s mechanical parts before realigning it with the Realm Towers lining the Lake of Nine. There she takes them to the temple’s Realm Travel Room, the only place in all the Nine Realms one can use to travel between said Realms. Using a Bifröst, they move the temple's bridge platform to the Alfheim Gate, transporting them to Alfheim.

As they arrive, the Witch points out the Light of Alfheim in the distance, but claimed something was wrong, as the Light was dimmer than usual. For reasons unknown, she is magically and violently pulled out of Alfheim, but not before telling Kratos to use the Bifröst to obtain the Light and recharge it. She additionally attempts to warn Kratos about stepping into the Light, but is unable to finish before she is pulled back into Midgard. Continuing on, the father and son notice how the realm is in constant war between the Dark Elves and the Light Elves, with Kratos stating they were witnessing the war’s end. Atreus asks if they should help the Light Elves, but Kratos states they are only there to recharge the Bifröst, and the war between the Elves doesn't concern them. As the duo make their way across Alfheim, the Dark Elves and their leader, Svartáljǫfurr, try to kill Kratos and Atreus, seeing them as intruders to their territory. Atreus begins experiencing what seems to be auditory hallucinations, hearing voices ranging from aggressive to peaceful, and even that of his mother. After fighting their way through countless numbers of Dark Elves, they make it to the central chamber of the Light of Alfheim. After they arrive there, Kratos gives the Leviathan Axe to Atreus, telling him only to use it as a last resort, before then stepping into the Light to absorb the Light of Alfheim into the Bifröst, which clearly causes him pain.

While inside the Light, Kratos follows Faye's ashes and he has auditory visions of how Atreus resents him for not being a loving father. In the vision, he arrives on the bridge of Jötunheim and he sees Faye in the distance. Before he is able to reach her, Kratos is pulled out of the Light by Atreus. Kratos then angrily scolds Atreus, before he realizes he had been in the Light much longer than he had thought, seeing piles of Dark Elf corpses surrounding the Light. Atreus is clearly angry and scared, and lashes out at Kratos, who numbly takes the intense response. Kratos then infuses the Talon Bow with the Light of Alfheim, and with the newfound power, make their way out of the Temple of Light as the Light Elves return and reclaim the Temple for themselves. On their way out, Kratos and Atreus are ambushed by Svartáljǫfurr, but Kratos manages to overpower and kill the Dark Elf king by impaling him with his own spear. As he died, Svartáljǫfurr claimed that the father and son had made a grave mistake, causing Atreus to wonder if they had aided the wrong side. Continuing onwards, Atreus expresses his frustration with Kratos seemingly only talking to him when he needed something from him, and claims things would be different if his mother were with them. Kratos bluntly states that if Faye were still alive, they wouldn't be in Alfheim at all. While heading back to Týr's Temple, Atreus asks Kratos if he had seen Faye in the Light, to which he replies he had not, before the boy angrily accuses Kratos of not loving Faye - Kratos snaps at his son, and argues that they simply have different ways of grieving. Atreus apologizes, and Kratos says that he knows that losing Faye hasn't been easy, before explaining that while he was in the Light, he had only felt moments pass. Atreus accepts this, and they reconcile.

After returning to Midgard, the duo make their back to the Mountain and dispel the Black Breath with the recharged Bifröst. They enter the Mountain and discover that Giants had once lived there. While making their way through the Mountain, the father and son’s bond begins to strengthen. Riding a lift to the higher levels of the Mountain, Atreus asks Kratos what they will do once they scatter Faye’s ashes, to which Kratos answers they will return home, stating they must continue Atreus’ training and bolster their defenses to make their home safe again. As they near the top of the Mountain, the father and son are attacked by Hræzlyr, a dragon living in the mountain, and manage to fend it off. Making a detour, Kratos and Atreus discover hardened Yggdrasil sap, which explodes when exposed to Hræzlyr’s electricity, using it to clear a path forward. Soon after, they hear Sindri screaming, and discover him being attacked by Hræzlyr. Kratos manages to kill the Dragon with the help of Atreus, impaling it through the neck with a large crystal, and the grateful Sindri gives Atreus braided mistletoe arrows, and also infuses lightning into the Talon Bow with one of Hræzlyr’s fangs. The pair use the new arrows to get to the Mountain’s peak. Before they reach the very summit, Kratos stops Atreus, noticing that his quiver’s strap had come loose, and uses one of his mistletoe arrows to bind it, stating that while they would endure pain, the same would not be said about faulty equipment. Nearing the summit, the father and son hear people talking, and discover the same mysterious man whom Kratos had fought at their house earlier, having somehow survived their fight, along with two other men, talking to a man embedded in a tree.

By eavesdropping on them, they find out that the man is the Aesir God Baldur, the son of Odin, and that they are looking for Kratos and Atreus. The man in the tree refuses to help them, and the men leave. Kratos and Atreus and the duo learn that the man in the tree is Mimir, claiming to be “The Smartest Man Alive”. Kratos asks why Baldur was pursuing him and his son, to which Mimir didn't have an answer, admitting there were “a few gaps in [his] knowledge”, but that he could figure it out if given time. After learning of the father and son’s mission to scatter Faye’s ashes from the highest peak in the Realms, Mimir informs them that the highest peak wasn't in Midgard, but in Jötunheim, to which Kratos states that this couldn't be what Faye meant. Mimir tells them that the only way to reach Jötunheim, due to the Realm Tower in the Lake of Nine missing, is with a special “Black Rune” known only to the Giants, and that he is willing to help them find it. When Kratos asks what they must do, Mimir tells the Spartan to cut off his head, and to find someone who could use magic to revive him afterwards. Kratos asks if Mimir is certain about this, stating that if it doesn't work, he will be dead, to which Mimir replies that Odin tortures him every day, and that his current predicament can't be considered living. Atreus states that he can't watch and leaves, and Mimir tells Kratos that he should reveal his godhood to his son, warning him that the boy may come to hate him and risk losing him forever - Kratos argues that there is much he would rather have his son not know about him. Mimir asks the Spartan if he values his secrecy over his own son, to which Kratos states that he will now cut off the man’s head, doing so with one clean strike. With Mimir's severed head, the duo then return to the Witch's Woods.

Arriving at the Sanctuary Grove, Atreus greets the giant tortoise, referring to it as “Chaurli”, which Kratos is irritated by. Before they enter the Witch’s home, Atreus asks if they can keep Mimir’s head if they can't revive him. Kratos rejects this idea, but says he can feed it to the fish. For some reason, the Witch becomes panicked when she sees Atreus' mistletoe arrows, and orders him to discard them before offering replace them with her own, as she had no use for them. Afterwards, they both help her revive Mimir's head. Upon resurrection, Mimir accidentally reveals the Witch to be Freya, the queen of the Vanir Gods and Odin's former wife. Kratos gets angry with her for not telling him about her godly identity, to which she asks if he really intended to lecture her about hiding the truth. Angered, he orders Atreus out of Freya’s home and leaves without thanking her. Kratos and Atreus make their way back to the Lake of Nine. After Mimir tells them to go to the horn Kratos and Atreus encountered earlier, Kratos holds Mimir's head to the horn, who blows into it. This summons the World Serpent, who immediately devours the statue of Thor next to the Muspelheim Tower. Mimir explains this is because the serpent hates Thor. Mimir then speaks in Jörmungandr's dead language to see if he recognizes him.He initially misspeaks, saying that Kratos and Atreus are friends of Odin, causing Jörmungandr to become irate until Mimir assures him that they are not. Mimir apologizes and confides that he has never spoken the Giant’s tongue sober. Jörmungandr tells Mimir how to get to Jötunheim - first, they must retrieve Thamur's Chisel, then learn the Black Rune with which they can enter the gateway on the Summit. After the conversation, the serpent realigns the bridge to help them reach Thamur's chisel. Mimir also notes that Jörmungandr seemed to recognize Atreus.

While on their way to Thamur's corpse, Mimir tells the story of Odin and Freya's marriage, which was concocted by himself in order to bring peace between the Æsir and Vanir Gods.

After the death of Odin's first love, the Giantess Fjörgyn and mother to Thor, Odin felt heartbroken and Mimir noticed this. He created a treaty which would give Odin a wife - the Goddess Freya. Freya agreed to marry Odin, and him her, not only because of her fertile beauty, but also her vast knowledge of Vanir magic, something Odin felt intrigued in learning. Freya regretted the marriage when Odin's obsession with Jötunheim got in the way again, and Odin betrayed her and stole her magic knowledge. Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir make it to the dead Stone Mason's body, with the head telling the father and son how Thamur had encountered Thor after he had gone searching for his son, Hrimthur, after a heated argument. But Mimir tells them that they will have to climb up to his hammer and smash the ice, as neither their weapons nor Thor's hammer can demolish it.Kratos notices Thamur’s hammer and gets an idea. He and Atreus climb up to the hammer and detach the chains allowing the hammer to fall and smash through the almost impenetrable ice. After defeating more enemies, the trio overhears voices of the demigods Modi and Magni. The father and son were just about to retrieve part of Thamur’s chisel when Magni appears, having been battling an Ogre, snapping his neck, before he notices the duo. Magni tells them to surrender per Odin’s orders, but Kratos refuses, to which Magni draws his weapon and prepares himself for battle. Kratos tells Atreus to flee as he will most likely get killed. But Modi appears and a fight ensues. The demigod brothers use their snow-blind ability to gain the advantage, during which Kratos asks why they hunt them and what Odin wants.

Magni replies he doesn't know and he doesn't care, while Modi decides to taunt Atreus, mostly referring to his deceased mother in order for him to lose control of his actions. Despite the taunts, Atreus manages to stay calm with his father's words. While Magni distracts Kratos, Modi taunts the boy again, this time causing Atreus to lose control and charge wildly against the God with his knife. Kratos breaks his defense and kills Magni by striking him in the face with his axe, causing Modi to run away from Kratos in fear and cowardice. Atreus, still angered over the insults, recklessly shoots arrows at him before showing early signs of his sickness again, running a fever and coughing up blood. Mimir suggests that they return to Freya, but Atreus adamantly refuses, claiming that he is fine and just needs to catch his breath.

Kratos and Atreus journey back to Týr's Temple to retrieve the Black Rune, and Atreus offers to teach his father how to read the runes. Kratos is initially reluctant, but eventually agrees. Soon after, Modi ambushes the duo, pinning Kratos down with his lightning. Modi claims that Kratos had ruined everything for him, saying that he had earned his father’s hammer, but now he'd only get because Magni's dead and that he'd be seen as a joke as he lived under his brother's shadow for most of his life. Atreus yells at him to stop, only for Modi to spur another insult about Faye, causing the boy to charge at him, only for Modi to knock him aside and continue electrocuting his father. Atreus shrugs off the attack and says he doesn't know anything about his mother, and Modi says that he'll be his new brother and will get to know him real soon, right after he finishes killing Kratos.

This causes Atreus to activate his Spartan Rage for the first time, before collapsing. Upon seeing his son, Kratos struggles to get up and activate his own Spartan Rage, shrugging off Modi’s lightning and causing a frightened Modi to back away in terror. Kratos disarms Modi before knocking him into a wall with a vicious punch before Modi runs away, crying in fear. The Spartan then rushes to his son’s side, and Mimir suggests that Kratos takes Atreus back to Freya for help. As they enter the Witch's cave, an unknown person blows into the horn at Týr’s Temple to call the World Serpent. Arriving at Freya’s home, Kratos begs her for help, claiming it was urgent. At first, Freya refuses to help Kratos due to his resentment towards deities, but when Kratos tells her that Atreus had fallen ill, Freya quickly changes her mind and lets them in. Freya tells Kratos that this is no ordinary illness because of his son's true nature lying within him.

To cure the illness, Freya instructs Kratos to retrieve the Bridgekeeper's Heart in Helheim, but not after telling him that his Leviathan Axe will be useless, as the enemies there will be immune to frost, as well as warning him that to never travel on the Bridge of the Dead as it is a one-way ticket into Helheim. Kratos states that he must return home to “dig up a past [he] swore would stay buried”. Freya ensures Kratos that the boy is not his past, but his son, and that he needs his father before she gives him the travel rune to Helheim. Before leaving, Kratos attempts to apologize to Freya for his previous behavior, but Freya stops him, telling him he didn't need to explain, as she understood his wariness towards Gods. Kratos then rushes home via Freya’s boat, and experiences a hallucination (created by the guilt of his past sins) of Athena, before he orders her to get out of his head. After arriving at his home and dealing with a group of Hel-Walkers, he enters the cabin and pulls a cloth-bundled object out from the floorboards, before unwrapping it and revealing it to be the Blades of Chaos. His hands begin to shake, but he steels his resolve and begins wrapping the Blades’ chains around his arms, all while the hallucination of Athena goads and taunts him about his past, stating that he cannot change and that he will always be a monster. While Kratos is aware of this, he tells Athena that he is no longer her monster.

Exiting his home, Kratos is met by another group of Hel-Walkers, which he dispatches with great ease thanks to the Blades’ fire magic. Afterwards, Kratos journeys to Týr's Temple, where he briefly meets with Brok, who takes interest in the Blades of Chaos, stating that they reeked of foreign magic. After learning of Atreus’ predicament, the dwarf offers to help Kratos, but the Spartan turns him down, saying that what he did at his shop was enough. Kratos then left to activate the travel room to Helheim, where Mimir tells him that no one, not even the Gods, can survive the cold in Helheim, and, after arriving, notices that Helheim is too overpopulated as the worthy are supposed to go into Valhalla. Kratos eventually reaches the bridge and spots Máttugr Helson, the Bridgekeeper, and Mimir suggest he cause trouble, as he is very good at it, to get the Troll’s attention. He steps onto the bridge where the Troll notices him and the two engage in an intense battle, with Kratos emerging victorious, killing Máttugr and removing his heart. Just as Kratos was about to leave, he encounters an illusion of Zeus. Mimir is surprised to learn that Zeus was his father. Confused, Kratos asks Mimir what is on the other side of the bridge. Mimir reminds him to never go beyond the bridge. As he prepares to leave, Brok appears and asks to borrow Kratos’ Blades, imbuing them with the ability to channel the Winds of Hel. After this, Kratos begins making his way back to Týr’s temple.As Kratos journeys back to Midgard, Mimir pieces together the relationship Kratos had with Athena, his fire blades, Zeus being his father, and his ash-white skin, realizing he is hanging from the hip of none other than the Ghost of Sparta himself. Kratos coldly tells him to not call him that, with Mimir asking the Spartan not to get him wrong, saying that the Greek Pantheon got what was coming to them. Mimir also tells Kratos to tell Atreus of his godly heritage, but Kratos refuses to do so, demanding that Mimir

Back in Midgard, Kratos returns to Freya's house with Máttugr’s heart, and Freya begins healing Atreus. During this, Freya revealed that she too had a son, and that when she learned he would die a needless death, she tried to protect him against this fate, but admitted that she had really only done it to protect herself from losing him, and couldn't see his hatred for her until it was too late, and vowed to learn from her past mistakes, concluding that Atreus must know the truth if he is to fully heal. Kratos states that Atreus is “cursed”. Atreus recovers successfully and continues on the journey. As they are about to leave the grotto, Kratos notices Atreus acting quiet, and knows that he overheard his talk with Freya. Atreus tells his father that he said he was cursed, thinking he meant that he was weak because he wasn't like his father, and thought after everything they had been through on their journey, maybe everything was different. Kratos tells him he doesn't know everything. Atreus says he is aware of this, but at least he knows the truth.Kratos finally musters the courage to reveal the truth to his son; he is a God from a far away land, having chosen to live as a mortal man after arriving in Midgard, but states he was a God by birth, and so was Atreus. When the boy is silent, Kratos asks if he had anything to say. Atreus asks his father if he can turn into an animal, which leaves Kratos confused, but he assures him that he is unsure, as he does not know of his future godlike powers. Atreus is excited that he is a God and asks his father if Faye was a God as well. Kratos tells his son that she was a mortal, but was aware of his true nature. When the boy asks why his father waited so long to tell him, Kratos comforts Atreus saying that he hoped to spare him, that being a God can be a lifetime of anguish and tragedy, which is the curse he had referred to.

Atreus, however, claims he doesn't feel like a God, but Kratos states that, in time, both father and son will learn. Atreus is still unsure if he could turn into a wolf, but Kratos is welcome to be surprised, and Mimir adds that every God is unique, such as Atreus having a faculty for languages especially for one so young. They return to Týr's Temple and activate the sandbowl which lowers then down to Týr's Vault. After getting past the first trap, Kratos and Atreus discover a room where they encounter many traps and relics Týr has collected from many different lands, including Greece.

Kratos notices an amphora with leftover Lemnian wine from the Greek island of Lemnos and takes a sniff of it, which seems to give him some level of calmness and nostalgia. But as he puts it back, he then notices a terracotta vase with an image of him covered in blood and with the Blades of Chaos on his hands. Kratos, seeing as he is not being watched, takes the vase and observes his image with visible regret and sorrow on his face. When Atreus, having found an Egyptian Pschent crown and put it on, questions him on what he found, he breaks the vase and tells his son to focus on their mission. Unknown to him, Atreus had already taken note of Kratos' image on a piece of the broken vase on the floor. As they continued to make their way through the Vault, Atreus asked what his father had seen that set him off, but Kratos brushes it off as a “rash impulse”, and that Atreus need not concern himself with his failures. Atreus accepts this, claiming that his father did seem to like smashing pots a lot, which Mimir laughs at.

Upon lowering the Black Rune, Kratos gets caught in a trap in which he tells Atreus to match the symbols on the wall, featuring Sköl and Hati with the Sun and Moon, to match their proper placement. Atreus successfully does so, but this doesn't stop the trap at all as the floor begins lifting them up to a ceiling of spikes, which prompts Atreus to sacrifice his mother's knife in order to break the chain, stopping the trap and releasing Kratos. As they are about to retrieve the Black Rune, Kratos gives Atreus a second knife, one of a pair which he had crafted with a mix of metals from his homeland and the metals from the Norse World on the day of Atreus’ birth. He also shares to his son that the power of a warrior comes from within, but only when tempered by emotions, as being a God has a greater responsibility, and that Atreus must be better than him. After retrieving the Black Rune, Kratos tosses it aside when he sees the stone is blank, but after Atreus catches it, the Rune appears before the stone crumbles. At the same time, a duo of Trolls, Grendel of the Frost and Ashes, awaken, forcing the father and son to fight them, defeating them with relative ease. As they are leaving, Kratos gives Atreus a drink of the wine from the amphora he took earlier before drinking some himself explaining the origins of the wine. Atreus asks his father if he had only killed those who were deserving of it, to which the Spartan hesitantly answers “yes”.

Over time, Atreus starts to become arrogant and cocky after learning of his godhood which deeply concerns Kratos. Mimir asks Atreus if he's ready to see Jötunheim, Atreus answers that, while he's excited, he's sad that the journey is almost over. Atreus asks his father if he can tell Sindri about him being a God, which Kratos refuses, stating that while he had kept his secret for too long, Atreus now had to keep their secret. Later on, Sindri quickly catches their attention. Kratos coldly reiterates that Atreus was not to tell him that he's a God. When Sindri inquires as to what they were talking about, Kratos simply replies that it's a family matter, to which the Dwarf adds that he knows a thing or two about family matters. Atreus whines about the fact that Sindri talks complains Brok all the time and how Brok is better than he is. So he tells Sindri to stop talking about it out of spite, claiming they were tired of hearing about “little people’s little problems”, leaving the dwarf upset.When Kratos asks his son why he spoke so cruelly to Sindri, Atreus explains that he's fed up of all the talk about him and his brother. Kratos agrees, but says that while they are annoying, there was no need to make him an enemy and that it was unnecessary and unkind. Atreus scoffs at this, claiming that honesty was more important than kindness, which Kratos claimed Faye would disagree with, to which the boy stated that she wasn't a God, so she wouldn't get it. Later, Atreus asks if he could carry his mother’s ashes, to which Kratos refuses due to the boy speaking ill of her, claiming that Faye was better than a God, and reminding him that he will not dishonor her. After entering the Mountain, they once again encounter Modi, who had been beaten mercilessly into a bloody pulp by his father, saying that his father blamed him for Magni’s death.

Atreus threatens him to get out of their way, or he'll pick up where his father left off. Modi tries to attack, but is too injured to do so, Atreus looks back at his father for permission to kill Modi, to which he answers that Modi isn't worth killing due to his battered state. Atreus said that he should pay for all the insults Modi said about his mother. Kratos refuses to let him kill the demigod, but Atreus reminds him that they're Gods and they can do whatever they want, to which Modi spurs one last insult about Faye, before being stabbed in the neck by Atreus. Kratos tries to restrain him, but it falls on deaf ears, Atreus says that his knife is much better than his mother's, before kicking Modi down a ravine. Kratos reprimands him for killing Modi against his wishes, stating that his recklessness and arrogant nature will make him a target, reminding him that while he had taught him to kill, it was only in defense of himself, and never as an indulgence. When Atreus claims no one cared about Modi anyway, Kratos tells him that there are consequences to killing Gods. Atreus yells at Kratos, demanding to know how he knows such a thing. Kratos doesn't answer, only warning him to watch his tone.

After reaching the summit, Kratos activates the portal to Jötunheim with the newly acquired chisel and the Black Rune, and the father and son are about to enter when Baldur ambushes the duo, with the Aesir gaining the upper hand. Kratos tells his son to cross the bridge, but Atreus ignores his father's orders and shoots Baldur several times before being knocked aside. Baldur explains that the boy has the brains now with Kratos being a nuisance. Kratos manages to block Baldur's attack and knock him into the portal, causing it to collapse. Kratos tells his son to leave, with Baldur agreeing and taunts Atreus by saying he should let the grownups do the fighting. Atreus charges at the God, but Kratos restrains him saying he's not ready, in which Atreus responds by shoving his father away and shooting him with one of his shock arrows, incapacitating him.He charges at Baldur again and stabs him in the shoulder, but Baldur, being invincible, shrugs off the attack and drives the knife into Atreus’ shoulder before taking the boy with him. Kratos follows behind and lands on Baldur's dragon. After a brief scuffle, Baldur manages to knock Kratos off, with Kratos landing safely onto the Temple Bridge. Kratos runs towards the temple with Brok asking of who activated the bridge. Kratos catches up to Baldur, who says that the portal is locked into Asgard, and it'll be over for him when the entire weight of Asgard descends upon him. Kratos knocks Baldur aside and instead locks into Helheim. Kratos, Atreus, and Baldur fall into Helheim getting sucked through the gate and being flung over the Bridge of the Damned.

After pulling Atreus out from the rubble, Kratos angrily scolds his son, stating he would not tolerate his insubordinate behavior, demanding that he honor his mother and abandon his path of arrogance and cruelty, and making it clear that it was Atreus’ fault they were trapped in Hel, telling him to never forget that. Soon after, Atreus encounters an illusion of the moment when he killed Modi, with Kratos telling him to look away. Mimir explains that this is how Hel punishes its inhabitants, by forcing them to relive the memories of their greatest regret. They start their journey back to across the Bridge of the Damned, with Mimir saying that the boat is the only way back and will take them halfway back to the Temple Bridge. As they journey back, Atreus asks if there is anything he can do to help his father, but Kratos refuses him, coldly stating that he had done enough. Later, they encounter Baldur once again, but this time, he encounters an illusion of when he first got his power of invulnerability, which the father and son eavesdrop on. It is revealed that his mother is none other than Freya herself. Freya cast a spell on him to prevent him from dying or feeling pain; however, this also made Baldur unable to feel anything, from food, temperature, women, etc. Baldur demanded Freya undo the spell, but she refused, prompting Baldur to strangle her in a rage, before dropping her and declaring that he never wanted to see her again. Present-day Baldur regrets not killing Freya, and chastises his past self before falling to his knees, calling himself a coward.

Kratos and Atreus eventually make it to the boat where they set sail back to the Temple Bridge. But the boat gets stuck halfway across, so Kratos finally lets Atreus help him get it unstuck. Mimir says that even though they will make it back to Midgard in one piece, he tells them that there's no other way to Jötunheim. As they get near the bridge, both father and son hear Kratos and Zeus speaking, prompting Kratos to state that they had to hurry. As they get closer to the Temple Bridge, they encounter an illusion of a younger version of Kratos viciously killing Zeus, which causes the present day Kratos to freeze up. Atreus tells him to focus as the boat is near the bridge and about to collapse because the fires surrounding it had caused the boat to burn. After crash landing in the Realm Travel Room, they find the missing panel about Týr traveling, to other lands including Greece.

Mimir then realizes that there's another way to Jötunheim by making a key and the secret to unveiling the missing Jötunheim gate as Odin never gave up hope. On their way back to Midgard, Kratos asks Mimir of Baldur's vulnerability, Mimir says that there's none at all, as he's invulnerable to threats: physical or magical. All three realize that Mimir was bewitched Freya during the reanimating process, forcing to him to mechanically repeat the phrase "invulnerable to all threats, physical or magical" whenever he tries to speak of Baldur's weakness. After showing Brok the picture of making the key, he refuses to do so, as he tends to make weapons of war, not tools, and states that even if he did want to make it, he didn't have any Skap Slag needed to do so. Sindri shows up with the required Skap Slag, and the brothers reconcile and together, they make a key for them, combining their respective branding irons to mark the key. When Atreus asks why the Huldra Brothers’ rune looks different, Sindri explains that it had to be reforged.

Going down to the lower part of the temple, Kratos uses the Huldra Brother’s key to unlock the door beneath the travel room, where they find that the realm crystal to Jötunheim is on the floor, but realize the room is upside down and could be flipped. After avoiding many traps and fighting enemies, they manage to break the chains holding the temple in place and Kratos was able to flip the temple and manages to recover the Unity Stone. Mimir explains that Týr used the travel rune to follow his own path, hence why he was able to travel to other lands, in the Realm Between Realms. After making it into the void, the Unity Stone provides the duo with protection as Kratos leaps into the void.

After landing without any side effects, Atreus notices the missing Jötunheim Tower was in the Realm Between Realms all long. They enter the tower and insert the stone into a pedestal where it absorbs all the stone's energy. After fighting countless waves of enemies as the Tower traveled to several other Realms, Kratos opens the door and the father and son find themselves back in Midgard. With the Tower restored, the duo plus Mimir lock Jötunheim in, but Mimir realizes that the Travel Crystal is missing. Mimir explains that they need his other eye to get to the Realm. Without hesitation, they ask Brok and Sindri about it, but Sindri was unable to finish his part because of his germophobia, so Brok says that they had been asked by Odin to make a giant statue of Thor (the same one that was sitting in the Lake of Nine which Jörmungandr had devoured previously) with a hidden compartment in the hammer, but had turned the offer down, though clearly the All-Father had gotten the job done without them.

Kratos suggests the only way to retrieve it is by going inside the Serpent's belly. They make haste towards the horn where Mimir calls the Serpent once again and asks if they could travel inside his stomach to retrieve his missing eye. The Serpent agrees and Kratos and Atreus row into the belly of the beast and manage to retrieve Mimir's other eye. As they leave, however, a rumbling sound could be heard from the outside. Initially believing their presence had upset the Serpent’s stomach, Kratos knows that this is not the case, realizing that something is wrong. Kratos and Atreus are thrown out of the Serpent's mouth as it falls back unconscious. While Atreus wonders who hurt the Serpent, Freya appears and says that she is looking for her son, saying that the woods and fields call his name.

Kratos and Atreus keep their distance, as she is Baldur's mother after all. When Freya asks of why Atreus is standing so far from her, Baldur appears from the icy river and says that he had figured hurting the World Serpent would bring them out in the open. Baldur quickly notices his mother, and Freya tries to talk with him, saying she knows he's still angry and that how he feels hasn't changed. Baldur cuts her off mid-sentence, saying he had initially thought about what he would say to her, but now realized that he doesn't need her to understand anything at all - that he didn't need her at all. Before Baldur could do anything to her, Kratos steps between them and attempts to reason with Baldur, saying that even if he does kill her, he will never find peace walking the path of vengeance, something he knew all too well. Baldur disregards this warning, and says that he'll deal with him once he's done killing Freya, but Kratos pushes him back, which escalates into a fight, with Freya trying to stop it by restraining both Kratos and Baldur.

A few seconds into the fight, Freya restrains Kratos with Atreus attempting to free him. Baldur advises Atreus to step aside, but Atreus instead stands in front of his father to protect him, which prompts Baldur to punch Atreus, only for the mistletoe arrowhead strapped to his quiver piercing his hand. Kratos, free from his bonds, tends to Atreus, who, to his surprise, is alright and not suffering any wounds, only having had the wind knocked out of him by the punch. Baldur is astonished by the arrow and starts to feel excitement upon the broken spell, before being restrained by Freya again, this time, in control of the reanimated corpse of Thamur. The corpse moves them to a new location, during which Atreus recalls how Freya claimed that mistletoe was “wicked”, to which Mimir states that he had finally remembered that mistletoe was what could reverse Baldur’s invulnerability, and Kratos adds that he can now be killed.Freya assures them that she can reason with him, but Kratos says that he means to kill her, to which Freya adds that she doesn't care and will protect him. A second fight ensures with the now-vulnerable Baldur celebrating that he can feel pain again. Midway through the fight, Kratos stuns Baldur, but Freya blocks their path to him with Thamur’s hand, but Kratos lifts the hand with ease and notices the crystal on the Giant’s ring, and orders his son to shoot it at the exact timing, which he does. As the battle progresses, Freya summons a legion to attack. As Kratos stuns Baldur, the reanimated Giant, under the control of Freya, uses his chisel to separate the two, in which Baldur yells out he will kill her as he proceeds to climb the chisel with Kratos and Atreus hot on his trail. A short scuffle breaks out on top of the chisel before Thamur tumbles them off onto his hand.

In a stranglehold, Baldur tells them he wants to thank them for breaking the curse that was inflicted upon him and will rejoice soon. Kratos activates his Spartan Rage once again and breaks free with Atreus close behind. Another fight ensues, with Kratos and Atreus gaining the upper hand as the father and son formed a formidable team as they both combined their incredible divine power and fighting prowess against Baldur, who is unable to fight back. Near the end of the fight, Kratos uses his Blades of Chaos to stun him before stunning him more with a series of close-quarters attacks along with Atreus doing the same thing with his own agile melee attacks.

Kratos beats Baldur relentlessly before Thamur uses his freeze breath in an attempt to freeze Kratos and Atreus. Atreus then calls the now conscious World Serpent, to separate Freya and Thamur, an act that astonished and impressed even Kratos. Kratos attempts to strangle Baldur, but Atreus, quoting his father before he killed Modi, reminds him he is beaten and not worth killing. Kratos warns Baldur in return to not come near them nor touch Freya again, to which Freya says that she doesn't need his protection, and the two leave to allow the mother and son to settle things. Baldur explains that no matter where he goes or what he says, she will never stop interfering with his life.

Freya explains that she was only trying to protect him. But Baldur says that she still needs to pay for the lifetime she stole from him. Freya explains that she has paid many times and if seeing herself dead will make things better, she wouldn't stop him, and she lets Baldur strangle her. Atreus alerts Kratos of what's going on and he interferes with Baldur, putting him in a chokehold. Baldur asks why Kratos even cares, saying that he could have walked away, to which Kratos quotes Zeus, saying “the cycle ends here”, and explains that they must be better, before snapping his neck and killing him at last. Freya is devastated upon seeing her son's lifeless body and threatens Kratos to use all of her power to curse him. Atreus argues that he saved her life.But Freya is unfazed and calls Kratos an animal, passing on his cruelty and rage, and that he will never change. Kratos says that she does not know him well enough. Freya claims that she knows enough, and condescendingly asks if he can say the same about Atreus. Kratos tells Atreus to listen close and informs him that he is from the land of Sparta, and how he made an oath to a God that cost him his soul. He admits that he killed many who were deserving, but also many who were not, and adds that he killed his father. Atreus is shocked and disgusted upon learning that the illusion in they saw in Hel was his father killing his grandfather, and asks if that is how it always ends, with children killing their parents since they're Gods. But Kratos assures him that this is not the case, and that they “will be the Gods [they] choose to be, not those who have been".

Freya leaves in silence afterward, with Baldur in her arms. Mimir asks if they're the bad guys now, Kratos says that might be true, but she could never make that choice. Atreus asks why Freya threatened his father even though she loathed the Æsir, Mimir states that they killed her son and that the death of a child is something that a parent cannot get over.

But he assures him that Freya will get over her son's death in time and that Kratos did the right thing, claiming the Realms were a better place with Freya alive. Kratos then tells his on that they should finish their journey while he still had the strength to do so. They begin the journey back to Týr's Temple, and Mimir explains Hrimthur's story. He adopted the guise of a mortal and promised the Aesir that if he can finish building the wall around Asgard within two years and finish it.

If so, he would be allowed to meet with Freya, and if not, they will owe him nothing. Odin was suspicious of the Stranger but agreed to do as he asked. Using his father's knowledge of stone masonry, Hrimthur finished the wall, much to Odin's frustration. He met with Freya and whispered something in her ear. As he was about to leave Asgard, Thor was waiting for him. The Giant realizes he'd been double-crossed, but he did not care, as his plan was complete. Mimir suspects that Hrimthur added a weak spot in Asgard's walls and passed this knowledge to Freya.

After arriving at the Realm Travel Room, Kratos locks in Jötunheim and orders Atreus by giving him Mimir's head and positioning it into the beam and straight onto the door finally unlocking Jötunheim. Before Kratos and Atreus can finish their journey, Mimir says that they should leave him here, as he doesn't want a decomposing head ruining the father-son moment. Before Kratos could say anything, Brok and Sindri show up impressed and how they wanted to see this, Mimir at first refused, but knowing there would be no other way, he allowed the Dwarves to watch him. Kratos passes the head to Sindri, who passed to his brother and father and son make their way into the Realm, with Mimir telling them to hurry back.

Kratos and Atreus finally reach the Giant's fingers, with Kratos unraveling his bandages, saying that he has no more to hide. Additionally, Kratos finally gives Atreus the bag of his mother's ashes, telling him to carry her for this last leg of their journey. They make their way into a vast room where they encounter statues of Giants, possibly the few remaining Giants having escaped Midgard. As they are leaving the room, Atreus touches the wall which crumbles around them and seeing a mural depiction of his mother with a bunch of Giants, their meeting with the World Serpent for the first time, as well as the Dragon in the mountain, the stonemason, and their fight with Baldur. Atreus realizes that the Giants prophesied their journey.

Kratos tells him that their journey is his story and that he's not the only parent with secrets, making Atreus realize that Faye was a Giant too. When Atreus asks why she didn't tell them, Kratos explains that she sent them here knowing they would find this, and that she would've had good reasons. Kratos deduces that Baldur was never sent to find him, and he was tracking Faye all along, not knowing she was only ashes. Atreus, with a full set of confidence, says she hasn't been wrong yet and that they were so close to the end, with Kratos agreeing as he looked at a plaque of Atreus holding his dead body and screaming in agony.

Kratos and Atreus reach the top, noticing all the dead Giants. Atreus hands over the bag full of ashes to his father, but Kratos says that they will do it together and calls him “son“. After spreading her ashes, Atreus voices his confusion over his name on the wall, saying the Giants called him “Loki”. Kratos explained that it was the name Faye wanted to call him when he was born, and was probably the one she used when speaking of him with her people. When Atreus asks why, Kratos says they will find out some other day. As the two leave, Atreus asks his father why he wanted to call him Atreus. Kratos tells him he was named after a compassionate Spartan soldier who filled the lives of his fellow soldiers with joy and happiness.Atreus is impressed and tells him he actually told a good story and that Mimir missed it. As they near the travel room, Atreus s that they could just go home, but they could also prove themselves useful by exploring some more and defeating corrupted Valkyries. As they enter the room, Mimir is glad to see them and adds that he reached his limit for Dwarven Charm. As they are heading back to Midgard, Mimir warns them that Fimbulwinter - the great winter that precedes Ragnarök - is upon them, but it was not supposed to happen for at least another hundred years, and that Kratos may have accelerated the events.

As they arrive home, Atreus claims that he will sleep through winter. Kratos tells him to get some rest, with Atreus replying that he is way ahead of him. That night, Atreus has a vision of Thor showing up at their house when Fimbulwinter ends. When they wake up, Atreus tells Kratos about his dream. At first, Kratos brushes it off as just that, a dream, but when Atreus claims that this dream felt different, like it was real, he assures his son that they will worry about it tomorrow, as there is still much they can do today.

Part I

Three years have now passed since Kratos and Atreus spread Faye's ashes on the highest peak in Jötunheim. After killing Baldur, they saved the nine Valkyries who were cursed by Odin. With Baldur's death, it has caused a long winter known as the Fimbulwinter. According to Mimir, it is foretold that Fimbulwinter will last for three years preceding the coming of Ragnarök. Throughout the long Fimbulwinter, Kratos and Atreus still both live in the Wildwoods, hunting and training in preparation for Ragnarök while also avoiding a vengeful Freya, having reclaimed her warrior spirit and repeatedly attempted to kill Kratos in order to avenge her fallen son. Still considering her a friend, Kratos never fought Freya and simply defended himself each time without fighting back.

In the Norse era, Kratos changes significantly to reflect his age, experience, and the cold climate of Midgard. As an older man, he wears leather armor, black pants and flat boots suited for the harsh Norse terrain. Kratos also sports a bushy, thick beard, giving him a rugged look. He also has a significant scar on his abdomen from when he impaled himself with the Blade of Olympus at the end of God of War III. During combat, Kratos would carry his Leviathan Axe, Guardian Shield and even the Blades of Chaos later on. Throughout Fimbulwinter and Ragnarök, Kratos' appearance becomes even more battle-worn. He wears solid leather armor, with three pieces on his shoulders for added defense. Initially, he dons a fur cloak, which he loses during a fight with Freya. His legs are also all covered in brown bandages with visible knee pads, hiding his black pants. Kratos' skin looks more paler due to the cold climate and his muscles are more defined. Also, Mimir’s head hangs from a small metal bit on Kratos’ waist, serving as a constant companion and source of wisdom.

Kratos, now living in the Norse realm of Midgard, mourns the death of his wife Laufey. He is now stern and a quiet man, struggling to raise his son Atreus. Faye's last wish was for them to spread her ashes from the highest peak in all the Nine realms. Kratos and Atreus begin their journey. Kratos is harsh and distant, focused on teaching Atreus survival skills but not showing much affection. His strictness comes from his fear of his own violent past and wanting to protect Atreus. They are then attacked by Baldur, a strange God who can't feel pain. Kratos fights fiercely to protect Atreus, revealing his still-powerful warrior instincts. After defeating Baldur, Kratos becomes more cautious and determined to keep moving.

They meet Freya, a kind witch who helps them. Kratos is wary and mistrustful, but he accepts her aid when Atreus falls ill. This shows Kratos' deep care for his son, even if he doesn't show it well. Kratos and Atreus continue their journey, encountering the friendly World Serpent and the helpful dwarves, Sindri and Brok. These interactions reveal Kratos' practical and sometimes humorous side, though he remains focused on their mission. They reach the mountain peak in Midgard and meet Mimir, a God of wisdom. Kratos' practical side shows when he decapitates Mimir to gain his knowledge, and his acceptance of unlikely allies reflects his commitment to fulfilling Faye's wish.

When Atreus learns he is part-god, he becomes arrogant. Kratos is frustrated and worried, fearing Atreus might follow his dark path. He tries to teach Atreus humility and control, showing his protective instincts. Kratos goes to Helheim to save Atreus from an illness, confronting his past by retrieving the Blades of Chaos. This painful journey shows Kratos' growth in accepting his past while striving to be better for Atreus. They finally confront Baldur. Despite Freya's pleas, Kratos kills Baldur to save her, showing his willingness to make hard decisions to protect others. This act demonstrates his evolving understanding of being a father and protector.At the highest peak in Jötunheim, Kratos and Atreus spread Faye’s ashes. Kratos’ reverence shows his deep love for Faye and respect for her wishes. They also learn about their unique identities, which Kratos accepts. Returning to Midgard, Kratos begins to show more warmth towards Atreus. The journey has softened him, making him more open. They dream of Thor’s arrival, hinting at future challenges, but Kratos is now a more understanding and protective father.