As the three finally docked at the pier, Kratos found himself still thinking about the enormous creature they had just witnessed.
The image of the World Serpent rising from the water lingered in his mind, its sheer size unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Atreus, noticing his father's quiet curiosity, began recounting what he remembered from the stories their mother used to tell them about the serpent and the other beings that lived throughout Midgard.
It was a pastime that both Atreus and Zelos had cherished in their childhood, sitting by the fire while Faye shared tales of ancient creatures, divine beings, and the history of their world.
Through those stories, she had taught them about their kind's past without ever directly revealing everything about it.
"It's one of the Giants," Atreus began as he stepped out of the boat and onto the dock. His tone carried both excitement and a hint of pride. "Mother said the World Serpent is so big it could encircle all of Midgard and still be able to bite its own tail."
Kratos, following behind, frowned slightly. "An exaggeration," he said firmly, his disbelief clear in his tone.
Zelos glanced toward the horizon where the World Serpent's body rested across the distant mountains.
From their perspective, the creature's head alone dwarfed the surrounding peaks, making the entire landscape appear like a model crafted by mortal hands.
"Perhaps exaggerated, yes," Zelos said calmly. "But even you cannot deny the size of it, Father. Compared to that creature, the mountains look like small stones."
Kratos said nothing further, simply observing the distant serpent while Atreus adjusted his quiver.
The three then began walking along the wooden pier that connected to a stone platform ahead.
The air smelled of salt and moss, and the echo of water lapping against the dock filled the silence between them.
Once they reached the platform, they noticed a worn ladder leading upward. Without hesitation, Kratos climbed first, followed by Zelos and Atreus.
When they reached the top, they found themselves standing on the upper section of a large bridge, the stone carved with ancient runes and faint traces of seaweed clinging to its edges.
However, before they could move further, several draugrs emerged from the shadows, their bodies covered in moss and soaked with seawater, as if they had risen directly from the depths. The creatures let out distorted growls and began rushing toward the three.
Zelos stepped forward immediately, raising his hand as a faint light began to glow around his fingers. "Zoltraak," he muttered, and the spell shot out in streaks of glowing plasma, striking the draugrs one after another.
He moved carefully, mindful of his surroundings. He didn't want to damage the bridge the way he had destroyed parts of the cave behind Freya's cabin.
Each draugr fell swiftly, the light searing through their decayed forms.
Though the fight ended quickly, it lacked the thrill that had once come with battle. Zelos sighed quietly as he watched the last of the draugrs crumble into ash.
'Maybe I shouldn't care too much about the environment anymore,' he thought, a faint smirk crossing his face. 'It's starting to get boring.'
Kratos and Atreus caught up with him as the three crossed the rest of the bridge. Not long after, they encountered a familiar voice calling out to them.
"If it isn't the bearded beefcake and his little tagalongs! Have I got something for you three!"
The unmistakable gruff voice made Atreus blink in surprise. Standing near a workshop setup was Brok—the same dwarf they had met earlier back in the mountain caves.
Somehow, he was already here, ahead of them.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Zelos said, his tone casual as he glanced at his companions. Atreus, however, looked at Brok with disbelief. "How in the world did he get here before us?"
Zelos smiled knowingly. "It's their magic," he explained as they approached the dwarf's workbench. "They can travel between realms by stepping through the gaps in space. It lets them move instantly from one place to another. Most people can't even perceive what's happening when they do it. I've been studying it for a while. Someday, I'll learn how it works."
Atreus's eyes widened slightly at that explanation, while Kratos gave a quiet grunt as acknowledgment.
"Alright, hand it over," Brok said abruptly, extending his hand toward Kratos.
Without hesitation, Kratos placed the Leviathan Axe in Brok's grasp. The dwarf examined it briefly, then slammed his hammer against the axe's head several times.
Each strike sent out a bright spark of blue light that pulsed through the weapon.
When Brok finally handed it back, the faint glow from the axe felt stronger, sharper—its edge brimming with new energy.
Zelos observed carefully. He could sense the difference in the weapon's energy flow. The craftsmanship was extraordinary, something he knew he couldn't replicate even with his knowledge of magic.
"Appreciate it, Brok," Zelos said with a polite nod. "And don't worry, my part of the deal isn't too far off."
Brok grunted in response, clearly not one for unnecessary talk. As the three prepared to leave, the dwarf suddenly called out again.
"Hey! Catch!"
He tossed a small glowing blue stone toward Kratos, who caught it with one hand and studied it curiously.
"That there's a Key of Yggdrasil," Brok explained, gesturing toward the faintly shimmering stones around them. "That pile of rocks over there—those are branches of the World Tree. You can use that key to open up a magic door to the branches, a shortcut between the realms. It'll get you back to me quickly if you ever need it. But mind you, it's one-way only—straight back here, nowhere else. And whatever you do, don't, and I mean don't ever throw yourself over the edge of the path unless you're real fond of death!"
Atreus blinked at the explanation, his expression shifting to mild discomfort. "Yeah, we'll definitely remember that," he said quickly, realizing the severity of the warning.
Kratos gave a quiet grunt of approval toward Brok before pocketing the key.
With their business done, the trio moved toward a circular platform nearby. Kratos stepped forward and pulled a lever attached to its side.
With a mechanical groan, the platform began to rise slowly, carrying them upward to the topmost part of the bridge once more.
The higher they went, the wider the view became—the entire lake stretching out beneath them, calm and reflective.
At the center of the platform stood a large horn carved into the stone, its surface decorated with runes and serpent motifs. Atreus's eyes immediately lit up when he saw it.
"Whoa, Father, can we try that?" he asked excitedly, stepping closer.
Kratos frowned. "Without knowing the consequences? No."
Atreus sighed, his curiosity clearly unsatisfied. Before he could argue, Zelos spoke, glancing briefly at the horn.
"That horn is used to summon the World Serpent," Zelos explained. "But since neither of you can understand its language, there's no reason to blow it right now. Best to leave it alone. We don't want to disturb it without purpose."
Atreus reluctantly nodded, accepting the explanation, and stepped back from the horn. The three then continued walking along the bridge, the wind growing stronger as they made their way toward the mountain path ahead.
The sun began to pierce through the thinning clouds, and from the distance, the faint rumble of the World Serpent could still be heard beneath the waters.
Without another word, Kratos, Atreus, and Zelos began their climb toward the mountain, continuing their long journey forward.