Chapter 4 – Blood and Lust

After yet another occurring years of training, and Matthaios is now a full-grown Demi-god. He has reached the right age to serve the city and represent it with any war they come across, going up through the ranks deservingly. Whilst carrying the city's name with every march they do with his fellow Spartans, he is still on his process of the exploration of his abilities as a Demi-god. He might not be at his peak yet but is sure one hell of a leader.

Queen Colubra herself proclaimed the Demi-god as the one that will lead their path to victory and domination, and this makes their reign even stronger than ever before. Again, the Spartans are back at the top and their regime is just getting started thanks to Matthaios, who is now recognized as the Champion of Sparta.

The local weaponsmith destining in Sparta has made a specialized armor similar to what his father used upon leading their warriors, and of course, he has full access from the Arms of Sparta that was once owned by Kratos. But something is missing, and the weaponsmith provided his suggestion.

"My lord, your weapons and armory." Said by the weaponsmith who made it.

"Hmmm, it seems too flamboyant. I love it." Matthaios simply liked the design of his armor.

"I'm glad you liked it, my lord. But there's more just for you to wield." The weaponsmith held up his finger.

"Sure, what is it?" The Demi-god asked while holding his shield and spear.

"This, my lord." The weaponsmith holds a pair of chains and it began retracting, it seems like the Blades of Chaos have its upgrade.

"The Blades of Chaos?" He tilted his head to examine the weaponry.

"Yes, my lord. Here." The weaponsmith would like the Demi-god to have the blades.

"I… I think it's too much for me to hold." After wearing the armor, he sets the Arms of Sparta aside.

"And I think it would suit you." He insisted to see the Demi-god to handle the Blades of Chaos.

"Whatever you say." Matthaios agreed, after all, holding the Blades of Chaos finally and it began flaming.

"My lord! You are as glorious as your father!" He could see the resemblance between him and the Ghost of Sparta.

"Am I? Do I?" The Demi-god doubts himself slightly.

"A Spartan never doubts himself and his credibility as a warrior, Matthaios." Heiron, his close friend and fellow Spartan tapped his shoulder.

"Heiron." Matthaios turns around to see his brethren.

"See, everybody loves you here in Sparta. You have to live up with it." Heiron held the Arms of Sparta.

"I'm trying to, Heiron." Matthaios puts the blades to his back since his armor as its built-in holder.

"Why bother trying? You should, and you will." He tries to boost the Demi-god.

"Well, that seems to make a point." Matthaios began walking into the marketplace, and it gave him memories of his childhood.

Heiron followed him, stopping by at the heart of the city. "Quite a memory to commemorate, isn't it? We used to practice right here at this very circle."

"And the very day I learned that I wasn't a full-blooded mortal…" He recalled the moment where the Queen told him that he is, in fact, a Demi-god.

"Because the Queen told you so if I'm not mistaken." Heiron watched the statue of Artemis and Apollo right in front of them.

"While we were bathing together, yes." He could remember everything that happened after raging out.

"You were the only one that joined the Queen into a bath." Heiron finds it humorous.

"I know you're dying to see her in nude, Heiron." Matthaios sensed that Heiron has a crush on Queen Colubra.

"How did you know about that?" He breaks a sweat after the Demi-god discovers it.

"What? I don't know. It is just a wild guess." He also didn't have a clue on how he busted Heiron, but little thing did they know, it was from Matthaios' mother side.

"You might be right, but it's because the Queen seems so lonesome. She spent her years without a man that will ponder her." He covers it with his concerns, but Matthaios doesn't buy it.

"Stop this nonsense, Heiron. The Queen just proved that she is independent enough to rule Sparta." Matthaios turns around before hearing a horn, signaling that the city is facing a threat.

The Spartan warriors quickly made a formation, lining up in columns before hearing some of the guards shouting. "The gates are under attack!"

"You heard him, Spartans. Let's move!" Matthaios led the soldiers to go into the gates of Sparta, seeing the guards being defenseless from an attack by the intruding Minotaurs.

The Minotaurs set their sights at the Champion of Sparta who is holding the Blades of Chaos, growling before speaking to him. "Ah, the bastard, of course. You're all grown up."

"If you persist to anger me, you might want to consider trying again." Matthaios isn't bothered by the Minotaurs.

"We want the Queen…" The beasts wanted to capture Queen Colubra of Sparta.

Heiron stepped in front, and he was the one who felt offended by the Minotaur's actions. "None of you foul beasts would succeed on abducting our Queen."

"Step aside, Spartan. This is none of your business." The Minotaurs held their huge blades and clubs, and the Spartans are told to form a Phalanx by Matthaios.

"SPARTANS! FORM A PHALANX!" They held up their shield, protecting themselves from it while their spears are ready to strike the monstrous beasts down.

The Minotaurs slowly moved their weapons for bashing them, but the Spartans wasted no time to guard themselves against their upward strikes. It is their turn to exert offense, and they began thumping their spears on the beasts. They repeated the same pattern of putting offense and defense at the same until the Minotaurs are weakened enough to be taken down.

This made Matthaios make a forceful leap, landing on the Minotaur's head to wrestle with it. He grabbed its horns, steering it around using his raw strength. Heiron did the same thing on the Minotaur that dared to take the Queen away from Sparta, and the rest are clashing with the remaining horned beasts.

The Minotaurs dropped their heavy weapons, trying to get rid of the Spartan soldiers desperately. Matthaios cleared manhandled one of the Minotaurs, doing the iconic kick which was revolutionized by the Spartans to put the animalistic creature on the ground. And to make a statement out of it, he began using his fists to shut the Minotaur down. Punching him to submission and for the worse, death.

The other monstrous beings have fallen after taking too much damage from the Spartan warriors, but Heiron might have done overkilling one of the Minotaurs by stabbing it with the Spear until the river is filled with its blood. Matthaios finally interfered, dragging his friend off the beast who wanted to capture Colubra. "That's enough, Heiron."

"Die, Minotaurs! I'll see you in hell and kill you again!" Heiron wanted to cut their horns out bathe with their blood.

"You did well, Heiron. That suffices our victory. Spartans, drag the bodies and show them to the Queen. Now!" Matthaios commanded them, and they immediately restrained them using chains.

Before walking inside Sparta, he could hear a voice in his head and it seemed too familiar. "Your friend did it out of love, Matthaios."

The warriors have already re-entered the city except for the Demi-god, and he remembers the voice too well. "Mother?"

"Don't make me come down there." This was Aphrodite's last words before her voice vanished on her son's thoughts.

"Mother! At least tell me how." Matthaios walked inside Sparta, seeing the soldiers entering the Queen's lair to present the fallen Minotaurs courtesy of them.

Heiron rests his hand on his chest, kneeling in front of Queen Colubra. "My Queen. We are here to tell you that these foul creatures attempted to carry you out of Sparta."

The Queen gets off her throne slowly, holding the Minotaur's horn before ripping it off using her grip. "You mean… These rotten stinking pieces of filth? I beg to differ, Heiron."

"My Queen… The fear has gotten in me and it made me violent enough to obliterate them. My apologies if I am presenting myself with blood coated in my body." Heiron remained on kneeling, and the Queen raised his chin.

"Perhaps you earned the warrior of the day, Heiron. And I don't mind the blood, don't you remember that I am used to it?" Queen Colubra told him that it is fine for her to see blood.

Matthaios couldn't hold back anymore, telling his mother Aphrodite to use her powers since he couldn't utilize it yet. But he could sense the tension between Heiron and Queen Colubra, and it is enough for Aphrodite to bless them with her libidinous intentions within the two.

The Spartan warriors went back to their respective households except for Heiron who was invited by the Queen to share a bed with her. This was none of the Demi-god's business anymore, so he left the Queen's room and left Heiron with her. His friend becomes a toy of hers, but he didn't mind how they were surrounded by lust.

Matthaios took a deep breath before going back to his chamber, putting the Arms of Sparta and the Blades of Chaos in his personalized weapon stand. He was about lay low and call it for a day, but he has heard a similar voice inside his head once again. "It begins tomorrow, Champion of Sparta."

"Athena?!"

To be continued…