Chapter 24: If My Daughter Were Still Alive, She Would Be About This Age (Patreon)

"Axis, promise me you aren't lying," Kratos said after they left the Straw Hat Pirates' ship.

He decided to trust someone one last time. He chose to believe again, hoping this boy wouldn't deceive him and plunge him back into despair after offering a glimmer of hope.

"I won't lie to you. There is absolutely a way to resurrect your wife and daughter. I can even ensure your family stays together forever," Axis replied.

He had no intention of tricking Kratos. Despite his brutal reputation, Kratos possessed unparalleled charisma. If Axis could alter the man's tragic fate, he definitely would.

His plans went beyond just Kratos's wife and daughter. Once he gathered enough power, Axis intended to secretly rescue Kratos's mother and brother as well.

Zeus had abducted Callisto long ago, imprisoning her in a temple within Atlantis. As long as Axis treaded carefully, freeing her without alerting the King of the Gods wouldn't be an issue. The real danger lay in the curse placed upon her. In the original timeline, simply uttering Zeus's name transformed her into a hideous monster, forcing Kratos to kill his own mother. If that curse triggered the moment she escaped the temple, the backlash would be catastrophic. He needed to find a way to break the curse first.

Then there was Deimos, Kratos's younger brother. Ares and Athena had kidnapped him as a child, locking him away in the Domain of Death under the watchful eyes of Thanatos and his daughter. To rescue Deimos, they would have to defeat the God of Death. All of this required meticulous planning. Now was not the time to act recklessly.

The deaths of his mother and brother were the final, fatal blows to Kratos's sanity. Those tragedies transformed him into the absolute madman and relentless butcher seen in the later events of his life. It wasn't until he finally killed Zeus that Kratos snapped out of his rage, realizing the catastrophic ruin he had brought upon the world. Consumed entirely by fury, he slaughtered anyone who stood in his path. Gods, Titans, or mortals—it made no difference. He annihilated them all.

"Trust me, Kratos," Axis said, his tone dead serious. "I will never deceive you. I keep my word."

"Thank you. You have given me hope once again," Kratos replied.

"I should be the one thanking you," Axis pointed out. "Our future battles rely on you. From here on out, we'll be facing incredibly dangerous worlds."

"Leave it to me. No matter the enemy, I will defeat them for you."

"Hearing that puts my mind at ease. I know exactly what you're capable of."

From that moment, their ten-year pact officially began.

"Your next target is this Flame-Flame Fruit, correct?" Kratos asked. "Tell me where it is. I will retrieve it now."

Axis had proven that perfect resurrection was possible in the multiverse. Now, it was time for Kratos to prove his own worth.

"The fruit will be displayed as the grand prize at an upcoming tournament," Axis explained. "You just need to walk in and take it. The event starts tomorrow. Get some rest today, and we'll head out first thing in the morning. I'll be waiting for the good news."

"Understood," Kratos grunted.

"Let's go. I'll show you around the city for a bit," Axis offered.

Kratos nodded.

After purchasing a few local specialties, the duo wandered into a small arena hosting a minor gladiatorial match.

"Next up is the great axe gladiator, Orax the Berserker! Let's hear it for him!" the announcer roared.

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. The audience was clearly eager to watch the hulking fighter in action. Or rather, they wanted to see him brutally crush his opponent.

"And his opponent is the disgraced royal, the daughter of the former princess... Gladiator Rebecca!"

A young woman stepped onto the stage. She wore a golden helmet and a sparse golden bikini that barely covered her vital areas, accompanied by a flowing cape, a longsword, and a small buckler.

"Tear her apart, Orax!"

"Kill the disgraced royal!"

The bloodthirsty crowd desperately wanted to see her lose her life in the arena.

"What, you want to watch the match?" Axis asked, noticing Kratos's attention.

"Let us watch," Kratos replied.

The young woman's attire bore a striking resemblance to ancient Greek armor. It even carried a hint of Spartan pragmatism; Spartans despised wearing heavy, restrictive armor. If his daughter had survived, she would probably be about that age now. The resolute fire in Rebecca's eyes stirred something deep within Kratos.

The battle commenced. Rebecca moved with incredible agility, weaving gracefully past Orax's sweeping axe strikes. She darted in periodically, harassing him with quick thrusts of her sword.

"Damn you! Stand still and fight me head-on!" Orax bellowed, enraged by his inability to land a hit.

Rebecca completely ignored his taunts, maintaining her composed, evasive rhythm. A dozen minutes later, the massive fighter was visibly exhausted, panting heavily.

Spotting a fatal opening, she didn't hesitate. With a nimble flick of her wrist, she disarmed him, sending the heavy axe clattering to the floor. She followed up with a dazzling flurry of strikes, cleanly defeating the crowd favorite.

"Useless trash!"

"She definitely cheated!"

"Damn it! Why did she win again?"

"Tch! He actually lost to Rebecca's Backwater Sword Dance?" the announcer muttered into the microphone. "Well, she won again, but it doesn't matter. She'll definitely die in tomorrow's tournament for the Flame-Flame Fruit. The arena will be crawling with real monsters."

He turned his attention back to the victor. "What a shame. You win again, Rebecca. Take your prize money and get lost!"

Expressionless, Rebecca grabbed the small pouch of coins and walked away without looking back.

"She is resilient. A good warrior," Kratos remarked. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah, she is," Axis agreed. He knew Rebecca was a crucial figure in the Dressrosa conflict and a true member of the royal bloodline.

"If the opportunity arises, I might offer her some guidance," Kratos said, turning to leave.

Her will was forged from pure iron; Kratos could see it clearly in her eyes.

'Good heavens,' Axis thought, staring at Kratos's retreating back. 'Did he just smile?'