Kratos (Young): Who Influenced the God of War?

Every legend has a beginning, and for Kratos—before he became the Ghost of Sparta—there were mentors, gods, and warriors who shaped his path. Raised in Sparta, trained by the Ares, and forged in the fires of betrayal and rage, Kratos didn’t emerge fully formed. He was molded by forces greater than himself. If you're curious about who influenced the younger Kratos, you're not just exploring a backstory—you're uncovering the roots of a myth.

## The Spartans: Discipline Forged in Blood

I was born to war. Sparta was not a place—it was a mindset. From the moment I could walk, I was taught that pain was weakness leaving the body. My father, a seasoned warrior himself, believed in the code of Sparta: strength above all, and honor through battle. There was no room for doubt or hesitation. Every boy was a soldier before he was a man. It was in Sparta that I learned to fight, to endure, and to obey without question. That obedience would later be my downfall.

## Ares: The God of War and My Master

Ares saw something in me—perhaps the same hunger for battle that burned in his own divine heart. He took me under his wing, gave me purpose, and armed me with the Blades of Chaos. He taught me that war was not just a duty—it was a way of life. But his lessons came with a price. He demanded loyalty, and I gave it freely. I thought I was serving a greater cause. In truth, I was a pawn in his game. When I realized the extent of his manipulation, it changed everything.

## Lysandra: Love and the Illusion of Peace

She was my light in the darkness. Lysandra reminded me that there was a life beyond war, beyond the bloodshed. When I first met her, I didn’t know how to be anything but a soldier. She taught me tenderness, and for a time, I believed peace was possible. But peace is fragile. My enemies knew that, and they used her and our daughter against me. Her death became the wound that never healed—the fire that fueled my vengeance.

## Zeus: The Father Who Feared His Son

Zeus was the hand behind the throne, the architect of my fate. He saw in me a tool, just as Ares did. He allowed me to rise, knowing full well I would one day challenge the gods. He played his part well, pretending to be a father while planning my destruction. His betrayal was the deepest cut of all. It wasn’t just that he tried to kill me—it was that he made me believe I was his equal, only to remind me I was nothing more than a mortal in his eyes.

## The Furies: Guardians of Divine Law

They were relentless, a constant reminder that I was bound to the will of the gods. The Furies ensured I could never escape my past. They punished me for my sins, even as I tried to break free. They were the chains that kept me tethered to Olympus, the voice of divine retribution whispering in my ear. But they also made me stronger. Every time they hunted me, I fought back. Every time they tried to break me, I endured.

If you're fascinated by Kratos’s journey from a Spartan warrior to a god of war—and the figures who shaped him—you can talk to Young Kratos on HoloDream. Ask him about the lessons he learned, the betrayals he endured, and what he would have done differently.