Chapter 4: First Hunt, First Blood

The morning sun filtered weakly through the thick clouds, casting long shadows over the forest. Snow clung to every branch, and the cold bit deep into the skin.

Leonidas stood silently at the edge of the woods, his longsword strapped to his back, waiting for his father to speak.

Kratos stood beside him, arms crossed, sharp eyes observing every inch of his son.

"You have been training hard," Kratos said, voice like a low growl. "It is time to see what you have learned."

Leonidas stood straighter, listening intently.

"You will hunt today. Alone."

The words struck like a hammer — not out of fear, but realization.

"He trusts me enough to let me go alone."

Kratos stepped closer, towering over him.

"You will take down a deer. If something else comes... you will deal with it. Or you will run. You decide."

Leonidas nodded firmly. "Understood, Father."

Kratos' gaze lingered a moment longer, then he turned and walked back toward the house, leaving Leonidas alone in the snow-covered woods.

As Leonidas adjusted the sword on his back and began walking deeper into the forest, a soft chime echoed in his mind, and a faint golden screen only he could see appeared before his eyes:

[Template Integration: 5%]

Physical Reinforcement: Partial (Enhanced strength, reflexes, and endurance developing). Magical Circuits: Awakened (Locked at low output). Command Authority over Ars Goetia: Dormant (Awaiting further integration).

He smirked slightly.

"5%... and still enough to crush anything in these woods if I wanted. But I can't show too much. Not yet."

Hours passed as Leonidas tracked deer through the woods, moving silently, carefully. His senses were sharper than a normal boy's — his father's blood ran strong in his veins.

Finally, he spotted one — a large stag drinking from a stream, unaware of his presence.

He crouched low, reaching slowly for his bow — when suddenly, the ground trembled.

Leonidas froze.

From the trees ahead, a low, guttural growl echoed — followed by the sound of shuffling, rotting feet against ice.

Draugr.

Leonidas stood slowly, drawing his sword instead of the bow.

The stag bolted into the woods, but he didn't care — his real hunt had just begun.

From between the trees, three Draugr emerged, their rotted flesh crackling with faint embers, eyes glowing faint orange as they hissed at him.

"So much for a quiet hunt."

He inhaled slowly, feeling the weight of his sword — heavier than the training wood blades but balanced perfectly.

The Draugr lunged.

Leonidas moved fast, ducking under the first swipe, pivoting on his heel, and slashing upward in a smooth, practiced motion.

The blade cleaved through the Draugr's chest, sending it stumbling back with a gurgling snarl.

The second came at him with a mace-like arm raised — but Leonidas sidestepped, swinging his sword across its back. The sound of steel on rotted bone echoed in the woods.

Still, he could feel his body struggling slightly against the undead's strength — his physical enhancement was only partial, and though his movements were far beyond human, they were not yet overwhelming.

"So this is 5%... manageable, but not perfect."

As the third Draugr came in with a wild scream, Leonidas exhaled and let a flicker of magic flow through his body.

His eyes briefly glowed golden, and a shimmering glyph traced along the edge of his sword.

With a smooth twist, he slashed horizontally — and the blade cut clean through the Draugr's neck, sending its head rolling in the snow.

The other two hesitated, as if sensing something beyond human before them.

Leonidas pointed his blade toward them, his voice calm, but filled with an unnatural weight — the kingly voice of Solomon seeping through for the first time.

"Begone."

The Draugr let out guttural hisses, and as they lunged together, Leonidas' eyes flashed again, golden symbols flickering in the air, and he stepped into them, swinging his blade with terrifying precision.

Two bodies fell to the ground, motionless.

Snowflakes drifted down in the silence that followed.

Leonidas stood still, catching his breath, his sword gleaming faintly with fading magic.

"Master, well done."

"Shall we take over next time?"

The voices of the demons whispered at the edge of his mind, but Leonidas shook his head.

"No. Not yet."

His sword lowered, and he turned back toward home.

When he reached the house, Kratos stood waiting on the porch, arms crossed, watching silently.

Leonidas approached his sword still faintly stained with Draugr ash.

Kratos raised an eyebrow.

"You did not bring a deer."

Leonidas stood tall. "Draugr found me first."

Kratos' gaze sharpened slightly. "And you returned alive."

Leonidas nodded once. "I dealt with them."

A long silence passed between them before Kratos gave a small nod of approval.

"Good."

He stepped aside, allowing Leonidas to pass into the house.

Behind him, Kratos watched quietly, eyes thoughtful.

"He grows stronger. Faster than I expected."

As Leonidas entered, Faye greeted him with a warm smile, pulling him into a gentle embrace.

"You did well," she said softly, though her eyes studied him carefully, as if she, too, sensed there was more to him than even Kratos realized.

Leonidas smiled faintly, leaning into the embrace.

"For now, this is enough."

But as he sat by the fire that night, his sword resting beside him, he opened his palm, watching the faint glow of a golden seal pulse in his hand.

5%... and still growing.

"Soon. When they come for us, I'll be ready."

He closed his hand, extinguishing the light.

For now, he would be the dutiful son, the loyal brother.

But when war comes, they would see the King.