The training yard was calm. Too calm.
Kratos sat on a log near the edge with Atreus. His eyes were locked on the big guy across the field.
The Slayer.
Armored up. Cape brushing the ground. That helmet never moved. Dude looked like a walking tank with an attitude.
"Father?" Atreus asked, glancing at him.
Kratos stood up.
"I need to know how strong he is."
Atreus frowned. "Why? You already said you felt it."
Kratos just walked forward. That was answer enough.
Everyone else? Watching. From the distance. Hashiras, slayers, even some Kakushis poking their heads from behind trees like scared cats.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were nearby, too. Tanjiro stood up. "Wait, is he really—?"
"Yup," Zenitsu said, already trembling. "He's gonna fight him."
Inosuke cracked his knuckles. "Hell yeah!"
Kratos stopped a few feet in front of the Slayer.
"You and me," he said. "A spar. No weapons. Just fists."
The Slayer didn't speak. Of course he didn't. But he stepped forward. That was enough.
Hashiras sat up straight. Sanemi leaned forward, smirking.
"Finally something worth watching."
Tengen just whistled. "What a combo. God vs Doomguy."
Giyu crossed his arms. "This could be dangerous."
Rengoku grinned. "No, this is glorious!"
Shinobu stayed quiet. Mitsuri's jaw dropped. "Are they gonna punch each other into the next village?!"
Even Kokushibo, from the shadows, narrowed his eyes. "This… I want to see."
Boom.
Kratos charged in first. No warm-up. Just pure speed.
Slayer blocked the first punch, caught it mid-air.
Kratos raised a brow. "Not bad."
Slayer slammed his knee into Kratos's ribs.
Kratos flew back a bit but landed firm, grinning now.
Then they really started.
Punches flew like damn missiles.
Every hit echoed like a cannon going off. Dust shot up, pebbles flew, the ground under them started cracking.
CRACK!
THOOM!
They weren't even trying to kill each other, but still looked like they could level a castle just by tripping.
Kratos ducked low, uppercut clean to the gut.
Slayer took it. Didn't flinch. Slammed both fists down on Kratos's shoulders.
Kratos grunted but held.
Atreus was just blinking, staring like he was watching two planets collide.
"Holy—" he whispered.
Tanjiro looked worried. "They're going to destroy the yard…"
Zenitsu hid behind a pillar. "They're gonna destroy me just by existing!!"
Mitsuri was clenching her hands. "This is terrifying. And kinda hot."
Sanemi smirked. "Damn, old man's not bad."
"Old man?" Tengen laughed. "He's throwing hands like he's still in his prime!"
Ten minutes in.
Both were breathing heavy.
Kratos had blood dripping from a cut above his eye. His lip was split.
Slayer's chest plate was dented in, sparks flickering from a seam near his shoulder.
But neither was backing off.
Kratos finally stepped back, nodded.
"You're tough. Real tough."
The Slayer said nothing.
Just stared.
Kratos chuckled. "You remind me of me. That's terrifying."
Slayer tilted his head.
Kratos stepped forward again, not to fight, but extended a hand.
Slayer stared at it.
Then took it.
They shook. A solid grip. That was it.
No dramatic line. No title drop. Just two guys who beat the shit out of each other, now standing eye to eye.
Atreus let out a long breath. "You good?"
Kratos nodded. "Yeah. Stronger than I thought."
From the distance, the Hashiras looked at each other.
Sanemi: "I'll admit it. That was nuts."
Tengen: "I felt my spine shake when they clashed."
Shinobu: "Kratos held back. So did the Slayer."
Mitsuri: "...I think I love both of them."
Obanai: "No surprise."
Muichiro: "That was… intense."
Rengoku stood up, fists clenched. "This is the spirit of warriors!"
And way up, on a cliff?
Akaza was grinning. "That was a fight. Damn."
Doma was wide-eyed. "Okay… that Kratos guy isn't playing around."
Even Muzan had stopped what he was doing. Just standing there. Silent.
"…Former god of war, huh?" he muttered.
He frowned.
This was getting annoying.
Too many monsters showing up.
Back in the yard, Kratos turned to the Slayer.
"We done?"
Slayer nodded once.
Then walked off, cape fluttering behind.
Kratos walked back to Atreus, who handed him a cloth for his bleeding nose.
"I told you not to go all in," Atreus said.
Kratos smirked. "That wasn't all in."
Atreus blinked. "Oh. Shit."