第三十七章（3）
“This is my test.
“这是我的考验。
The Sisters will grant me an audience, not you!
命运姐妹会接见我，而不是你！
You will die, White Warrior.
你会死的，白肤战士。
You will die!”
你会死！”
Icarus grabbed Kratos to hold him back.
伊卡洛斯抓住奎托斯以阻止他。
“I will reach the Sisters of Fate, and I will use your wings to do so,” Kratos said, glaring at Icarus.
“我会抵达命运姐妹那里，而且我会用你的翅膀做到，”奎托斯瞪着伊卡洛斯说。
“The Sisters will not allow you to bathe in their pure light!”
“命运姐妹不会允许你沐浴在她们纯净的光芒中！”
Icarus let out a gurgling sound as Kratos seized him by the throat.
当奎托斯抓住他的喉咙时，伊卡洛斯发出一阵咯咯声。
With startling agility, Icarus broke the grip, ducked under arms trying to encircle him, and jumped onto the Spartan's broad back.
伊卡洛斯以惊人的敏捷挣脱了钳制，低头躲过试图环抱他的手臂，跳到了斯巴达人的宽阔后背上。
“It is my fate only that I cross this chasm.”
“跨越这裂谷唯我命中注定。”
With a tremendous flap of his wings, Icarus unbalanced Kratos and pulled him back onto his heels.
伊卡洛斯猛力拍打翅膀，使奎托斯失去平衡，将他拉得脚跟离地。
Kratos reached behind to swat the annoying man, but another surge of those long wings lifted both off the bridge and sent them falling, falling, falling into the bottomless chasm.
奎托斯伸手到身后想拍开这恼人的家伙，但那对长翅的又一次鼓动将两人都带离了桥面，让他们坠落、坠落、坠入无底的深渊。
“You will fail.
“你会失败。
You have already failed!” gloated Icarus.
你已经失败了！”伊卡洛斯得意地说。
His cries turned to pain as Kratos pulled him around so that he fell belly-up, unable to use the wings to soar.
当奎托斯将他扭转过来，使他腹部朝上坠落、无法用翅膀翱翔时，他的哭喊变成了痛苦。
Kratos looked down into the man's face.
奎托斯低头看向这人的脸。
The skin was drawn as taut as a drumhead over the bones.
皮肤像鼓皮一样紧绷在骨头上。
His eyes were sunken, and thin sandy hair floated about in wild disarray as they fell.
他的眼睛深陷，稀疏的沙色头发在他们坠落时狂乱地飘散着。
Kratos drove his fist into that face and felt bones break.
奎托斯一拳打在那张脸上，感觉到骨头断裂。
He began hammering Icarus in earnest when the man refused to yield.
当这人拒不屈服时，他开始认真地捶打伊卡洛斯。
“Wait,” gasped out Icarus.
“等等，”伊卡洛斯喘着气说。
“Perhaps the Sisters have sent you to help me.
“也许命运姐妹派你是来帮助我的。
I realize that now!”
我现在明白了！”
Kratos drove forward, the head butt breaking Icarus' nose and sending up a blinding spray of the man's thin blood.
奎托斯向前猛冲，头槌撞破了伊卡洛斯的鼻子，溅起一阵令人目眩的稀薄血雾。
“If I give you my wings, together we will succeed.
“如果我把我的翅膀给你，我们一起就能成功。
Take my wings and help me across.”
拿走我的翅膀，帮我过去。”
Even as he spoke, Icarus tried to wrench free.
即使说着这话，伊卡洛斯也试图挣脱。
Kratos pummeled him mercilessly as they fell faster through a billowing reddish cloud that rose from the edge of creation itself.
当他们更快地坠过一团从创世边缘升腾而起的红色云团时，奎托斯无情地殴打着他。
“We can work together, White Warrior.”
“我们可以合作，白肤战士。”
Icarus grunted as Kratos landed another powerful blow to his face.
当奎托斯又一记重拳打在他脸上时，伊卡洛斯哼了一声。
“Please.
“求你了。
Have pity on an old man.
怜悯一个老人吧。
Help me change my destiny and see my father one last time before I die.”
帮我改变命运，在我死前再见我父亲最后一面。”
Kratos flipped Icarus over, reached down, and wrenched with all his strength.
奎托斯将伊卡洛斯翻过来，伸手向下，用尽全力猛扭。
The wings tore free, leaving behind bloody, glowing stubs on Icarus' back.
翅膀被撕扯下来，在伊卡洛斯背上留下了血淋淋、发光的残根。
He screamed as he fell faster into the red mist.
他尖叫着更快地坠入红雾中。
Kratos pulled the feebly beating wings about and placed them on his own back.
奎托斯拉过那微弱拍动的翅膀，放在自己背上。
He screamed in agony as the wings magically bonded to his shoulders.
当翅膀魔法般地与他肩膀融合时，他痛苦地尖叫。
Tendrils of sensation worked their way down into his back, through his chest, and all over his shoulders, no longer giving pain but a curious itching sensation.
感觉如卷须般向下蔓延至他的背部，穿过胸膛，遍布肩膀，不再带来疼痛，而是一种奇怪的瘙痒感。
Clapping his hands together in front of him brought the wings forward.
在身前拍手使翅膀向前收拢。
Spreading his arms opened the wings.
张开双臂则展开翅膀。
In seconds he learned how to use the wings and employed his powerful shoulder muscles to slow his fall, then to glide away.
几秒钟内他就学会了如何使用翅膀，并运用他强壮的肩部肌肉减缓坠落，然后滑翔而去。
“You have your wish, old man.
“你如愿了，老头子。
Hades will see to another reunion this day,” Kratos said, but he spoke to emptiness filled with surging clouds of choking red gas.
哈迪斯今日将见证另一场重逢，”奎托斯说道，但他是在对充斥着翻腾的、令人窒息的红雾的空无说话。
（代达罗斯：？老子还没死呢！）
（楼主：不对啊，伊卡洛斯坠下去这地方按设定来讲要比冥界还低来着，哈迪斯真能收到伊卡洛斯的灵魂吗？）
Using the wings proved easier than he had anticipated, but still he could not swoop and then soar back up through the thick crimson fog.
使用翅膀比预想的要容易，但他仍然无法俯冲然后振翅飞回浓密的深红色雾霭之上。
He banked and spilled air from under the wings, slowing his descent.
他倾斜机身，让空气从翼下逸出，减缓了下坠速度。
But try as he might, he could not power the wings downward with enough energy to climb.
但无论他如何尝试，都无法给翅膀向下的动力以足够的能量来爬升。
Kratos spiraled about a chain with links thicker than his body, broke through a lingering cloud of red mist, and saw then that his fight with Icarus over the wings had been more dire than he had believed possible.
奎托斯环绕着一环粗过他身体的链条螺旋下降，冲破一团滞留的红雾，然后看到他与伊卡洛斯争夺翅膀的战斗比他原以为的可能更加险恶。
“The Temple of the Fates is far above you, Kratos.
“命运神殿远在你上方，奎托斯。
You must get back to the surface,” boomed Gaia's voice.
你必须回到地面，”盖亚的声音轰鸣着。
Banking sharply, Kratos flew closer to what he saw now was an immense face, crusted over as with corrosion, and landed on the lower eyelid.
奎托斯急转，飞近那看上去是一张巨大的、覆盖着如锈蚀般硬壳的脸，并落在了下眼睑上。
Kratos got his feet under him and stared into the right eye of the Titan he had banished from the world and doomed to forever hold the weight of the earth on his shoulders.
奎托斯站稳脚跟，凝视着这位他曾逐出世界、并罚其永远以肩承担大地重量的泰坦的右眼。
Atlas blinked and his enormous eye focused on Kratos.
阿特拉斯眨了眨眼，他巨大的眼睛聚焦在奎托斯身上。

第三十八章（1）
“WHO ADDS TO my torment? You are far too small, even for an Olympian, to be a god, yet you have found me.”
“谁在加剧我的折磨？你太小了，即使你是奥林匹斯的神，不过你找到了我。”
Kratos looked over his shoulder and saw nothing but the Titan’s huge body stretching down into the mist below.
奎托斯回头望去，只见泰坦巨大的身躯向下延伸至下方的迷雾中。
He had already fallen a huge distance from the world above, but to dive off the eyelid now meant even more distance had to be traversed.
他已经从上方世界坠落了一大段距离，但现在从眼皮上跳下意味着需要穿越更远的距离。
Kratos staggered as Atlas blinked and the blazing red eye focused on him.
阿特拉斯眨眼时，奎托斯踉跄了一下，那炽热的红眼聚焦在他身上。
“Kratos!”
“奎托斯！”
The name came out as a roar and reverberated like a rung bell.
这个名字如咆哮般传出，回响如钟声。
Atlas had identified him; now his rage would become unbridled.
阿特拉斯认出了他；现在他的愤怒将变得肆无忌惮。
“You dare show your face to me after what you have done?”
“你竟敢在你做了那些脏事之后出现在我面前？”
Atlas shook his head.
阿特拉斯摇了摇头。
The gigantic chains binding his four arms clanked with even this simple motion.
束缚他四臂的巨链即使在这简单的动作中也发出铿锵声。
Atlas was securely bound just as Kratos had left him, burdened with supporting the weight of the world on one shoulder and the Pillar of the World on the other.
阿特拉斯被牢固地束缚着，正如奎托斯离开他时那样，肩负着支撑世界重量的负担，一肩扛着世界，另一肩扛着世界之柱。
This had been a gigantic battle, between Atlas and Kratos, when he had served as Champion of Olympus.
这是一场大战，发生在阿特拉斯和奎托斯之间，当时他担任奥林匹斯的神选者。
For her own reasons, Persephone had released Atlas from his torment in Tartarus to destroy the pillar and end all life in the world.
出于自身原因，珀耳塞福涅将阿特拉斯从塔尔塔洛斯的折磨中释放，以摧毁世界支柱并终结世界上所有生命。
Kratos doubted Hades had put her up to it, but the Underworld would have been crowded with enormous numbers of dead mortals.
奎托斯怀疑是哈迪斯指使她这么做的，毕竟冥界将会挤满大量死去的凡人。
（楼主：这跟奥链剧情对不上嘛，当时明明说珀耳塞福涅是不喜欢哈迪斯却被强占，父亲宙斯也不帮她，于是要摧毁世界支柱让世界重归混沌——连带着奥林匹斯众神也会一并殒殁。）
Kratos had no qualms about trying to kill the dark goddess, nor of gaining Hades’ eternal ire, but Atlas’ fate had always been a sore point with him.
奎托斯对杀死黑暗女神而招致哈迪斯的永恒愤怒毫无顾虑，但阿特拉斯的命运一直是他心中的痛处。
Atlas should never have tried to destroy the pillar, but release from his eternal torture was a potent reward for the deed.
阿特拉斯本不该试图摧毁支柱，但将他从永恒的折磨中解脱是对这一行为的有力回报。
Kratos had to admit the Titan had contrived a devious scheme to accomplish his destruction.
奎托斯不得不承认，这位泰坦设计了一个狡猾的计划来实现他的毁灭。
Dragging Helios from the sky and plunging the world into darkness had been but the first part.
将赫利俄斯从天空拖拽下来并使世界陷入黑暗只是第一部分。
Eliciting the cooperation of Morpheus to put the gods into a deep sleep had given the Titan time to use the sun to begin his razing of the Pillar of the World.
争取墨菲斯的合作令众神陷入沉睡，为泰坦提供了时间利用太阳的力量摧毁世界支柱。
（楼主：结果cg里的表现就是阿特拉斯捏着一个光球拳击世界支柱……）
The Ghost of Sparta knew his own fighting prowess.
斯巴达的亡魂知道自己的战斗能力。
He also knew that luck had aided him in chaining Atlas.
他也知道运气帮助他束缚了阿特拉斯。
“I will make you suffer, Kratos.”
“我会让你受苦，奎托斯。”
“Atlas! You must trust me.
“阿特拉斯！你必须信任我。
Much has passed since last we met.”
自从我们上次见面以来，发生了很多事。”
Kratos groaned as Atlas reached up with a hand large enough and strong enough to balance the world itself to crush him.
当阿特拉斯伸出一只足以平衡世界本身的手来压碎他时，奎托斯呻吟着。
He was caught between thumb and forefinger.
他被夹在拇指和食指之间。
“Why would I ever trust a servant of Zeus?”
“我为什么要信任宙斯的仆人？”
“Because I seek to destroy Zeus.”
“因为我寻求摧毁宙斯。”
Kratos grated out the words.
奎托斯磨出这些话。
His breath gusted from his lungs under the tremendous pressure of Atlas’ fingers closing.
在阿特拉斯手指闭合的巨大压力下，他的气息从肺部涌出。
It took all his own effort to force his hands into the thumb and finger to keep apart that deadly vise.
他竭尽全力将双手插入拇指和手指之间，以分开那致命的虎钳。
Despite his own superhuman strength, he was as weak as a mewling baby in the Titan’s grip.
尽管他拥有超人的力量，但在泰坦的握力中，他弱如呜咽的婴儿。
Atlas laughed harshly and shook his head in mock sorrow.
阿特拉斯刺耳地笑着，讥讽又悲哀地摇着头。
“Kratos, Kratos, still the arrogant and foolish warrior.
“奎托斯，奎托斯，依然是那个傲慢愚蠢的战士。
You have not changed.”
你没有改变。”
Blackness stalked Kratos’ senses; tiny tendrils of deadly darkness crept up on him from all sides.
黑暗潜行于奎托斯的感官；致命的黑暗细丝从四面八方爬向他。
The effort of holding apart the Titan’s digits sapped his strength.
分开泰坦手指的努力耗尽了他的力量。
If he flagged for even an instant, he would be crushed like a bug, then discarded with no further thought.
如果他哪怕一瞬间松懈，他就会像虫子一样被压碎，然后被丢弃，不再被忆起。
His arms began to lose feeling from the pressure as his strength faded.
随着力量消退，他的手臂因压力开始失去知觉。
Aware that Atlas lifted him back to eye level and peered more closely at him, Kratos fought away ultimate blackness.
意识到阿特拉斯将他抬回眼平线并更仔细地审视他，奎托斯抵抗着终极黑暗。
“And how do you plan to defeat the King of the Gods?”
“那么你计划如何击败众神之王？”
The question lacked the mockery of Atlas’ earlier words and showed that Kratos had intrigued him—enough not to smash him like an insect in his stark grip.
这个问题缺乏阿特拉斯早先话语中的嘲讽，表明奎托斯引起了他的兴趣——足以不让他在其紧握中像昆虫一样粉碎。
Yet.
至少现在。
The fingers trying to squash him relaxed enough for Kratos to suck in a deep breath.
试图压碎他的手指放松了，足以让奎托斯深吸一口气。
“By taking the Blade of Olympus back and driving it into Zeus’ heart.
“通过夺回奥林匹斯之剑并将其刺入宙斯的心脏。
It holds the power I once wielded as the God of War.”
它承载着我曾作为战神的全部神力。”

第三十八章（2）
“The Blade of Olympus? I have not heard that name in many years. Since … since the end of the Great War.”
“奥林匹斯之刃？我我已经许多年没有听过这个名字了。自从……自从传说大战结束以来。”
Atlas relaxed his pressure entirely and held Kratos in the palm of his hand.
阿特拉斯完全放松了压力，将奎托斯托在掌中。
Lightning flashed all around as Atlas got a far-off look in his eye.
阿特拉斯眼中浮现出遥远的神色，四周电光闪烁。
Kratos stiffened as he saw reflected in that Titan’s orb the last days of the Titanomachy, the Great War.
当奎托斯从那泰坦的眼眸中看到泰坦战争——即传说大战——最后日子的映像时，他僵住了。
“I saw Zeus floating through the thunderclouds, lightning dancing from his fingertips,” Atlas said.
“我看见宙斯漂浮于雷云之中，闪电在他指尖跃动，”阿特拉斯说道。
“I had never seen the young King of the Gods look angrier.”
“我从未见过那位年轻的众神之王显得如此愤怒。”
Conjured thunderbolts exploded from Zeus’ grasp, carrying not only power but a reddish tinge as well.
召唤出的雷霆从他手中爆发，不仅蕴含着力量，还带着一抹赤红。
It was as if the god’s own blood mingled with his magicks.
仿佛那神祇将自己的鲜血融入了他的魔法之中。
“Even I recoiled as the lightning crashed downward and began to spin, slowly at first and then faster until a mighty tornadic column climbed into the heavens from the earth.”
“即使是我也为之退缩，那闪电向下轰击并开始旋转，起初缓慢，继而越来越快，直至一道巨大的龙卷风柱从大地升入苍穹。”
Kratos stayed his tongue.
奎托斯缄默不言。
Atlas relived the days of the Great War and convinced himself of Kratos’ plea.
阿特拉斯重温着传说大战的岁月，并使自己相信了奎托斯的恳求。
“Anything material was caught up in that vortex and sent skyward. Buildings, crops, people, it mattered not at all as the spinning cloud grew and crossed the land.”
“一切物质都被卷入那漩涡，抛向天空。建筑、庄稼、人民，当那旋转的云团增长并横扫大地时，一切都无关紧要了。”
“Bloodlust and power raged within Zeus,” Atlas said.
“嗜血的欲望与力量在宙斯体内肆虐，”阿特拉斯说。
“His desire to rule over mortals was intolerable to us.”
“他统治凡人的欲望让我们无法忍受。”
“It has not changed,” Kratos said.
“这一点从未改变，”奎托斯说。
“If anything, Zeus becomes more insistent of the might of his rule and suspicious of everyone else.
“非但如此，宙斯对他统治威权的坚持变本加厉，并且猜忌着其他所有人。
Cronos was brought to his knees.
克洛诺斯被打至跪地。
Zeus hated Cronos, his father, above all others and was determined to drive one thunderbolt after another into his trembling flesh so that Hades could swing chains about and shackle Cronos’ soul.
宙斯憎恨其父克洛诺斯，尤甚于所有其他存在，他决意将一道又一道的雷霆打入其颤抖的躯体，以便哈迪斯能挥舞锁链，束缚克洛诺斯的灵魂。
But I began my fight, tearing off boulders from the side of a mountain and then flinging them at Hades.
但我开始了我的战斗，从山体上扯下巨石，然后朝哈迪斯掷去。
If any had struck the God of the Underworld, it would have seriously injured him.
若有任何一块击中那位冥界之神，必会使其重创。
The God of the Underworld dodged my stony missiles, yet he managed to keep the chains binding Cronos’ soul taut to prevent it from reentering the Titan’s physical body.”
那位冥界之神躲开了我的石质投射物，但他仍设法使束缚克洛诺斯灵魂的锁链保持紧绷，以防其重返泰坦的肉身。”
Atlas shuddered.
阿特拉斯浑身一颤。
Kratos had to throw himself flat to keep from being tossed off the Titan’s outstretched palm.
奎托斯不得不匍匐下身，以免被从泰坦伸出的手掌上甩落。
“Cronos’ body stood, unmoving, while his valiant soul shimmered like a blue haze as Hades fought to gain full control over it.
“克洛诺斯的身体僵立不动，而他英勇的灵魂则如蓝色雾霭般闪烁，哈迪斯正奋力想要完全控制它。
I could not allow Hades to take our leader, the one behind whom we rallied.
我绝不能允许哈迪斯带走我们的领袖，我们曾集结于其麾下奋战。
I slammed my fist down to the ground once, twice, a third time.”
我以拳重击大地，一次，两次，第三次。”
Kratos avoided Atlas’ fingers clenching into a fist as he remembered the battle so long ago.
当阿特拉斯忆及久远前的那场战斗，手指握紧成拳时，奎托斯避开了它们。
“The earthquake from my blows caused Hades to stumble and allow one chain to slacken.
“我击打引发的地震使得哈迪斯踉跄了一下，让一条锁链松弛了。
Cronos jerked free of Hades, and his soul merged once again with his body.
克洛诺斯猛地从哈迪斯手中挣脱，他的灵魂再次与肉身融合。
I thought our cause was won in that moment!
那一刻，我以为我们的事业胜利了！
But Cronos staggered as lightning bolt after bolt from Zeus’ hands blasted into his back.
但克洛诺斯步履蹒跚，宙斯手中一道接一道的闪电轰击在他的背上。
Zeus slowed his father enough for Poseidon to arrive and add his own power.
宙斯有效地阻滞了他的父亲，为波塞冬赶来并施加其力量赢得了时间。
Cronos sagged under the onslaught of the two gods.
在两位神祇的猛攻下，克洛诺斯颓然倒下。
Hades regained his feet but, seeing how his brothers boxed in Cronos, he turned to me and cast out his chains.
哈迪斯重新站稳，但见他的兄弟们已围困住克洛诺斯，便转向我，抛出了他的锁链。
The hooks sank deep into my breast, and with a powerful pull on the white-hot chains, Hades drew out my soul.
钩爪深深刺入我的胸膛，随着对白热锁链的猛力拉扯，哈迪斯将我的灵魂抽拽而出。
It whirled about as if caught in the tornado ravaging the land, rose, and then filtered down to Hades, who captured it.”
它旋转着，仿佛被蹂躏大地的龙卷风所捕获，升起，然后飘落向下，被哈迪斯擒获。”
Kratos pushed his way past the clenched fingers and stood atop the fist to stare at Atlas.
奎托斯从紧握的手指间挤过，站在那拳头上，凝视着阿特拉斯。
The Titan was entirely lost in the memory of how he had been defeated and consigned to Tartarus as punishment for standing with Cronos and the other Titans.
这位泰坦完全沉浸在被击败并被打入塔尔塔洛斯作为惩罚的记忆中，只因他曾与克洛诺斯及其他泰坦并肩而战。
“I crashed forward, the impact causing new earthquakes.
“我向前猛冲，撞击引发了新的地震。
The war between the Titans and the Olympians forged the landscape of the mortal world,” Atlas said.
泰坦与奥林匹斯神之间的战争，塑造了凡间世界的地貌，”阿特拉斯说。
His booming voice had turned to little more than the whisper of wind through the treetops.
他洪亮的声音已变得微弱，如同风拂过树梢的沙沙声。
“The gods continued to assault me, but I rose with the last of my strength.”
“众神继续攻击我，但我凭借最后的力量站了起来。”
Atlas’ eyes widened in the remembered pain of Hades sucking the last of his soul.
回忆起哈迪斯吸走他最后一丝灵魂的痛苦，阿特拉斯的眼睛瞪大了。
Kratos stared at the Titan.
奎托斯注视着这位泰坦。
Atlas’ face showed a blank expression and lifeless eyes.
阿特拉斯脸上毫无表情，双眼空洞无神。
“It was a war that we knew the Titans must win.”
“那是一场我们知道泰坦必须获胜的战争。”
Atlas’ voice came stronger now as memory of the defeat faded and anger returned.
随着失败的记忆淡去，愤怒重新燃起，阿特拉斯的声音变得有力起来。
“If we lost, it would mean an end to the Golden Age of Titan rule. Peace and prosperity for mankind would be no more.
“如果我们输了，就意味着泰坦统治的黄金时代终结。人类的和平与繁荣将不复存在。
Zeus came across the battlefield and stood near the top of a funnel cloud that whipped about him.
宙斯穿过战场，站在一道环绕着他旋转的漏斗云顶端附近。
The tornado grew around him until he was completely enshrouded.
龙卷风在他周围增长，直到将他完全吞没。
Zeus pointed.
宙斯伸出手指。
The funnel drove downward, crashed into the battlefield, and blasted out a deep crater.
漏斗向下猛冲，撞击在战场上，炸出一个深坑。
The cyclone winds died down,” Atlas said in a hoarse whisper.
旋风平息了，”阿特拉斯用嘶哑的声音低语道。
“Zeus stepped from the crater and faced those of us still battling in the distance.
“宙斯步出深坑，面对着我们这些仍在远方奋战的人。
From the sleeve of his robe Zeus drew forth a blade of eye-searing light.
他从袍袖中抽出一把令人目眩的光芒剑刃。
The Blade of Olympus.”
奥林匹斯之剑。”

第三十八章（3）
Kratos sucked in his breath and held it.
奎托斯倒吸一口冷气，屏住了呼吸。
He looked down to his belly and the scar there left by that blade.
他低头看向自己的腹部，那里留有那把利刃造成的伤疤。
He began to share Atlas’ desolation at the Titans’ loss—and renew the anger he felt toward Zeus.
他开始体会到阿特拉斯因泰坦失败而产生的绝望——并再次燃起对宙斯的怒火。
“The battle continued,” Atlas said, “despite my capture.
“战斗仍在继续，”阿特拉斯说，“尽管我被俘了。
Then Zeus stabbed out with the glowing blade and cried, ‘I banish you to the darkest pits of Tartarus!’ ”
然后宙斯挥出那发光利刃，高声喊道：‘我将你放逐至塔尔塔洛斯最黑暗的深渊！’ ”
Kratos experienced the Titan’s anger and fear at Zeus’ mighty weapon, forged from the heavens and the earth.
奎托斯感受到了这位泰坦对宙斯那柄由天与地锻造的强大武器的愤怒与恐惧。
“I awoke in the torment of the Underworld,” Atlas said, an edge to his voice now.
“我在冥界的折磨中醒来了，”阿特拉斯说，此刻他的声音带着一丝尖锐。
He spoke louder, faster.
他说话更大声，更急促。
“I was banished to the darkest pits of Hades.
“我被放逐到了哈迪斯最黑暗的深渊。
I would have destroyed Zeus if you had not put me here, slave of the gods!”
若不是你将我困于此地，我早已毁灭宙斯，你这众神的奴仆！”
“I no longer do the bidding of the gods,” Kratos said.
“我不再听命于众神，”奎托斯说。
“I have stomached their betrayal for the last time.
“我已最后一次忍受他们的背叛。
Show me the way to the Sisters, and I will kill Zeus once and for all !”
告诉我通往命运女神所在之路，我必将宙斯彻底诛杀！”
“How can I trust you?”
“我怎能相信你？”
“Know this, mighty Atlas.
“须知，强大的阿特拉斯。
I am a warrior of Sparta and pledge my word that Zeus will die by my hand.
我乃斯巴达战士，以我的誓言起誓，宙斯必死于我手。
To violate that oath is worse than any torture Hades might deliver to me.”
违背此誓，比哈迪斯可能施加于我的任何折磨都要残酷。”
Atlas growled, a sound like mountains grinding together, then said, “What Gaia says is true, Ghost of Sparta.
阿特拉斯发出低吼，声如山峦研磨，继而说道：“盖亚所言不虚，斯巴达的亡魂。
You are an honorable warrior and a worthy ally of the Titans.”
你是一位荣耀的战士，是泰坦值得信赖的盟友。”
Kratos thrust out his chest and lifted his chin.
奎托斯挺起胸膛，昂起下巴。
With his other hand Atlas reached out above Kratos and extended a finger.
阿特拉斯用另一只手伸向奎托斯上方，伸出一根手指。
A tremendous surge of energy exploded within Kratos.
一股巨大的能量在奎托斯体内爆发。
“You now control the power of Atlas.
“你现在掌控了阿特拉斯之力。
The world will quake as you command.”
世界将随你号令而震颤。”
Unlike the fiery white point of star-stuff that was the Rage of Cronos, the new magical power caused Kratos to shake all over.
不同于克洛诺斯之怒那如恒星物质般的炽白光点，这股新的魔法力量使奎托斯浑身剧震。
“You have given me the falling sickness!” he accused.
“你给了我癫痫！”他指责道。
“My arms and legs shake uncontrollably.”
“我的手臂和腿不受控制地颤抖。”
“Not beyond your control.
“并非无法控制。
Focus.”
集中精神。”
Kratos closed his eyes and fought to gain control of the power.
奎托斯闭上双眼，奋力掌控这股力量。
He saw how it differed from the magic given him by the other Titan, how it suffused his limbs with a palsy and then how it rushed out from hands and feet.
他体会到这股力量与另一位泰坦所赐魔法的不同之处，它如何使他的四肢充满震颤之力，又如何从手脚奔涌而出。
He appreciated this.
他领悟了其中奥妙。
Atlas, with four limbs, directed his power from each hand.
阿特拉斯拥有四臂，能从每只手引导力量。
A bipedal mortal had to improvise.
双足凡人则需随机应变。
Hands and feet would be the conduit, and he would be the stronger for possessing the magical spell.
手脚将成为导引通道，而拥有此魔法咒语将使他更加强大。
“Tell me how to find the temple of the Sisters of Fate.”
“告诉我如何找到命运女神的神殿。”
Atlas shook his head, but the twin red beacons that were his eyes never left Kratos.
阿特拉斯摇了摇头，但他那双如同红色灯塔般的眼睛从未离开奎托斯。
“None, not even a Titan, knows the way to the Sisters’ temple.
“无人知晓通往命运女神神殿之路，即便是泰坦也不例外。
But it is said he who finds it will wield great power.
但据说，找到它之人将拥有无上伟力。
I have given you the last of my power, Spartan.”
我已将我最后的力量赐予你，斯巴达人。”
Kratos looked skyward through the parting red mist and saw what might have been the roof of a cavern.
奎托斯透过散开的红雾向上望去，看到了或许是某处洞穴顶部的景象。
Then he recoiled as Atlas’ fingers closed above him.
随后，当阿特拉斯的手指在他上方合拢时，他猛地向后一缩。
The sudden upward acceleration almost drove him to his knees.
突如其来的上升加速度几乎让他跪倒在地。
Atlas shoved his fist ever higher, into the bottom of the earth, beyond.
阿特拉斯将拳头推得更高，直入地底深处，不断向上。
All around Kratos raced dirt and rock and then he once more caught the scent of the swamps on the Island of Creation.
泥土与岩石在奎托斯四周飞掠，接着，他再次闻到了创世之岛上沼泽的气息。
Still Atlas’ hand elevated him and finally he came to the edge of the roadway where he had fought Icarus.
阿特拉斯的手仍在抬升他，最终，他来到了曾与伊卡洛斯战斗的那条道路边缘。
Kratos stepped forward as Atlas’ hand sank back into the world.
当阿特拉斯的手沉回地底时，奎托斯向前迈出一步。
“May fate grant you passage, Kratos, for many rely on your success.”
“愿命运赐你前路通达，奎托斯，因有众多生灵寄望于你的成功。”
Then Atlas was gone, leaving Kratos to stare across the chasm spanned by the stone roadway at the elaborate stone building on the far side.
随后，阿特拉斯消失了，留下奎托斯独自凝视着石路横跨的深渊，以及对岸那座精雕细琢的石制建筑。

第三十九章（1）
“ZEUS MUST KNOW,” Hermes said, fluttering about nervously, “but I cannot be the one to tell him.”
赫耳墨斯紧张地来回飞舞着，说道：“宙斯必须知道，但我不能是那个告诉他的人。”
“Not after your ill-advised attempt to aid Perseus,” Athena said.
“尤其是在你那次鲁莽地试图帮助珀耳修斯之后，”雅典娜说。
“Kratos has become stronger because of that fight.”
“因为那场战斗，奎托斯变得更强了。”
Athena shook her head.
雅典娜摇了摇头。
Things in Olympus had become even direr.
奥林匹斯的事态变得更加严峻了。
God openly fought god, and Zeus did nothing to end the battles.
神与神公开争斗，而宙斯却无所作为来终结这些战斗。
She looked past a nervous Hermes into the long corridor that ran the length of the mountaintop.
她的目光越过紧张的赫耳墨斯，望向那条贯穿山顶的长廊。
Alcoves along the immense corridor opened into gardens and the palaces of the gods and goddesses.
巨大长廊沿线的壁龛通向花园和众神的宫殿。
But she paid scant attention to the personal abodes of the gods.
但她对诸神的私人居所几乎未加留意。
The gardens were overrun with black vines sprouting foot-long thorns dripping with venom.
花园里蔓延着黑色的藤蔓，长出一英尺长的毒刺，滴着毒液。
Those once pacific terraria now spawned creatures so vile even Hades turned from them.
那些曾经宁静的园地如今滋生着如此污秽的生物，连哈迪斯都对它们避之不及。
As if the thought of her uncle brought him to sight, Hades tromped down the marble corridor, fiery chains snapping like whips in each hand.
仿佛对她叔父的念想使他现身一般，哈迪斯踏着沉重的步伐走过大理石长廊，双手挥舞着如鞭子般劈啪作响的火焰锁链。
He wore his war helmet so that only his eyes were visible, those red-coal eyes that promised eternal torment for any who offended him.
他戴着他的战盔，只露出双眼，那双如红炭般的眼睛预示着对任何冒犯者的永恒折磨。
In place of ordinary armor his flesh sprouted spikes of black iron, and he left a trail of sooty footprints.
他的肉体长出黑铁尖刺，取代了寻常的盔甲，所过之处留下一串乌黑的脚印。
More than his dark visage, Athena felt a different presence in her uncle that had not been common in Olympus prior to Kratos ascending the throne of the God of War.
比起他黑暗的面容，雅典娜更在她叔父身上感受到一种在奎托斯登上战神宝座之前奥林匹斯并不常见的气息。
There was a blackness to the very air that corrupted anything it touched.
空气中弥漫着一种黑暗，能腐蚀它所触及的一切。
Where once Olympus had been a place of great joy and beauty, now it held only anger, fear, and a growing darkness.
曾经的奥林匹斯是无比欢乐与美丽之地，如今却只剩下愤怒、恐惧和日益增长的黑暗。
“Don’t let him see me,” Hermes said, voice quavering.
“别让他看见我，”赫耳墨斯说道，声音颤抖。
“I should never have tried sneaking back to Olympus.
“我真不该试图偷偷溜回奥林匹斯。
Hades will surely turn me over to Zeus for violating his ban.
哈迪斯肯定会因为我违反宙斯的禁令而把我交给他。
I’m not supposed to be in Olympus for another hundred years.”
我本不该在未来一百年内踏入奥林匹斯。”
“Longer,” Athena said absently.
“更久，”雅典娜心不在焉地说。
Her thoughts refused to grapple with the true problems facing the gods.
她的思绪拒绝去应对众神面临的真正问题。
Concentration on what was best for Olympus usually required no effort.
专注于什么对奥林匹斯最有利通常无需费力。
Athena rubbed her temples, then looked up sharply.
雅典娜揉着太阳穴，然后猛地抬起头。
“Hide. Behind the tapestry. Now!” Athena shoved the Messenger of the Gods in the right direction, then turned and smiled in what she hoped was a sincere fashion as Iris rushed in without bothering to announce herself.
“躲起来。到挂毯后面。马上！”雅典娜将这位神的使者推向正确的方向，然后转身挤出一个她希望是真诚的微笑，此时伊里斯匆匆闯入，连通报都省了。
The Goddess of the Rainbow saw through her fake amiability and openly sneered at her.
彩虹女神看穿了她虚假的友善，公然对她报以讥笑。
“Zeus would speak with you.
“宙斯要与你谈话。
There is a disturbance among the mortals.
凡人中间出现了骚动。
Your worshippers,” she said with some delectation.
你的信徒们，”她带着几分得意说道。
Athena saw the rainbow trailing Iris shimmer and begin to fade.
雅典娜看到伊里斯身后拖曳的彩虹闪烁着并开始消退。
She blinked at the sight of a black band amid the other colors.
她眨眨眼，注意到其他色彩中夹杂着一道黑色条纹。
Athena worried she saw disaster behind every door and in every heart.
雅典娜担忧自己在每扇门后、每颗心中都看到了灾祸。
With that thought, she forced herself not to glance over her shoulder in the direction of the floor-to-ceiling tapestry where Hermes had taken refuge.
想到这里，她强迫自己不要扭头去看赫耳墨斯藏身的那面落地挂毯方向。
“What word have you of Kratos?” Athena asked.
“你有奎托斯的什么消息吗？”雅典娜问道。
Iris feigned surprise as she answered, “Why, none.”
伊里斯假装惊讶地回答道：“哎呀，没有。”
“He is of no interest to Zeus or any of us now that he is a mortal.”
“既然他已成凡人，宙斯或我们中的任何一位都对他不再感兴趣。”
A wicked smile curled the goddess’ lips as she added, “Can it be that Kratos is among the mortals causing the disturbance?”
这位女神嘴角泛起一丝邪恶的微笑，补充道：“莫非引起骚动的凡人中就有奎托斯？”

第三十九章（2）
“I suspect that to be true, wherever he is,” Athena said.
“我怀疑确实如此，无论他在哪里，”雅典娜说。
As God of War he never felt content to simply sit and think of what might be.
作为战神时，他从不满足于仅仅坐着思考可能的情况。
He was always prone to action.”
他总是倾向于采取行动。”
“To fighting, to brutal killing and bloodshed that soaked entire countries,” Iris said.
“倾向于战斗，倾向于那浸透整个国度的残酷杀戮与流血，”伊里斯说。
“You disapprove? I would think a messenger for Zeus would delight in carrying such news.”
“你不赞成吗？我原以为作为宙斯的信使，你会乐于传递这样的消息。”
“There will be changes soon on Mount Olympus, and you should not oppose me.”
“奥林匹斯山很快将有变故，你不该反对我。”
“How is Hera?” Athena asked, the nastiness that Iris showed her now being returned.
“赫拉近来如何？”雅典娜问道，将伊里斯刚才对她的恶意原样奉还。
“I’ve heard that she is not sharing Zeus’ bed.
“我听说她不再与宙斯同床。
Can it be that she’s … elsewhere?”
莫非她……在别处？”
A flare of anger died in Iris’ eyes.
一丝怒火在伊里斯眼中闪现又熄灭。
Her mocking smile came more readily to her full red lips now.
此刻，她那饱满的红唇更轻易地浮现出嘲弄的微笑。
“One would almost think that a former gossipmonger of a god filled your ear with lies, but then that cannot be so.
“几乎让人以为是某个昔日爱搬弄是非的神给你灌满了谎言，但转念一想那不可能。
Zeus has banished him to the mortal’s world.”
宙斯已将他放逐至凡人的世界。”
Iris whirled about, her long, flowing dress shedding rainbow colors as she moved.
伊里斯猛地转身，她飘逸的长裙在移动时洒下斑斓的色彩。
Athena frowned as tiny flecks of blackness remained.
雅典娜皱起眉头，因为有些许黑色的斑点残留下来。
It was as if Iris had lain with Hades rather than Zeus and dirtied herself with soot.
仿佛伊里斯是与哈迪斯同床而非宙斯，从而被煤烟玷污了自身。
That thought gave birth to other speculation.
这一想法引出了其他推测。
Iris might play one brother against another, but Athena doubted she would do anything as foolish as attempting to place Hades on the throne as King of the Gods.
伊里斯或许会挑拨兄弟相争，但雅典娜怀疑她不会愚蠢到试图将哈迪斯推上众神之王的宝座。
Zeus had appetites that could never be sated but which Iris might feed—a little.
宙斯有着永不满足的欲望，而伊里斯或许能稍加满足——仅是一点点。
Hades loved only Persephone and would never lie with another.
哈迪斯只爱珀耳塞福涅，绝不会与其他人同床。
This forced Iris to find another lever to bend him to her will, and the Goddess of the Rainbow was not the sort to risk all without complete assurance of her power.
这迫使伊里斯寻找其它杠杆来使他屈从于她的意志，而彩虹女神并非那种在没有完全把握的情况下就孤注一掷的类型。
“Zeus demands your presence. Now,” Iris said, flouncing away.
“宙斯要求你觐见。立刻，”伊里斯说道，扬长而去。
Athena settled onto a couch and waited a decent time before calling for Hermes to stop trembling behind the tapestry.
雅典娜在长椅上坐下，等待了一段合适的时间，才叫赫耳墨斯停止在挂毯后的颤抖。
It looked as if the stag had developed the falling sickness from the way Hermes quivered in fright behind.
看赫耳墨斯在后面吓得发抖的样子，仿佛那头牡鹿患上了癫痫。
“She would have brought down the wrath of Zeus on my head,” Hermes said.
“她本会把宙斯的怒火引到我头上的，”赫耳墨斯说。
“Thank you for hiding me.”
“谢谢你把我藏起来。”
“I did not do this out of friendship,” Athena said sternly.
“我这么做并非出于友谊，”雅典娜严厉地说。
“I want something from you.”
“我想要从你这里得到些东西。”
Hermes turned wary.
赫耳墨斯变得警惕起来。
“I would speak to Kratos.
“我要与奎托斯谈话。
Arrange this for me.”
为我安排此事。”
“But he is on the island!
“可他在那座岛上！
The Sisters of Fate control all there!”
命运女神掌控着那里的一切！”
Athena looked down the corridor.
雅典娜望向长廊远处。
“I can bring Iris back.”
“我可以把伊里斯叫回来。”
Athena beckoned, and the remnant of the rainbow swirled about and formed a perfect ring in midair.
雅典娜招了招手，残留的彩虹便旋转起来，在半空中形成一个完美的圆环。
“I … I will do as you request, Athena.
“我……我会按你的要求做的，雅典娜。
Are you certain Zeus is not on Olympus?”
你确定宙斯不在奥林匹斯吗？”
“He prowls the world of the mortals.
“他在凡人的世界巡游。
That is why I deemed it safer for you to come here than for us to meet below.”
这就是为什么我认为你来这里比我们在下面见面更安全。”
She frowned.
她皱起眉头。
More than this, her departure from Olympus would alert Iris.
更重要的是，她离开奥林匹斯会惊动伊里斯。
The less the new Messenger of the Gods knew, the better.
这位新任众神使者知道得越少越好。
Besides, Hermes was crafty making his way to Olympus and through the palace undetected, having spent so many eons in assignations with so many of the goddesses.
此外，赫耳墨斯擅长狡猾地潜入奥林匹斯并穿过宫殿而不被发现，毕竟他花了无数岁月与众多女神幽会。
She would never have dared suggest this to Hermes had Zeus been present, but affairs occupied him elsewhere.
若是宙斯在场，她绝不敢向赫耳墨斯提出这个建议，但宙斯正忙于他处的事务。
“You have always been my best friend, Athena.”
“你一直是我最好的朋友，雅典娜。”
She laughed at this.
她对此一笑置之。
Hermes had tried to seduce her for centuries.
赫耳墨斯试图引诱她已有数百年之久。
The challenge grew after each failure.
每次失败后，这挑战的意味反而更浓。
As gods went, he was harmless enough in his pursuits.
就神而言，他的追求倒也足够无害。
Athena pushed aside his not-too-subtle flirting since it was less about coupling than it was about position and power on Olympus.
雅典娜对他那不算含蓄的调情置之不理，因为这与其说是关乎结合，不如说是关乎在奥林匹斯的地位与权力。
This caused her thoughts to soar with plans and importuning for the Ghost of Sparta.
这使她的思绪飞扬，充满了为斯巴达的亡魂制定的计划和恳求。
He was the axle about whom the troubles in Olympus rotated, and only he could put things right again.
他是奥林匹斯纷扰旋转所围绕的轴心，也只有他能让一切重回正轨。
Her friendship and support for him had to sway his anger away from Zeus and toward more … innocuous pursuits.
她的友谊与支持必须将他的怒火从宙斯身上转移开，转向一些其它的追求，一些……更无害的追求。
“I will return as quickly as I can.”
“我会尽快回来。”
Hermes settled his toga about his trim young body as if marching to meet his executioner.
赫耳墨斯整理了一下他匀称年轻身躯上的托加袍，仿佛正步走向会见他的刽子手。
“If the Sisters allow me to return at all.”
“如果命运女神还允许我回来的话。”
With that his winged sandals carried him out a tall, arched window and downward to the earth, leaving Athena to worry about Zeus.
说罢，他的带翼凉鞋便载着他飞出一扇高大的拱窗，向下朝大地而去，留下雅典娜为宙斯担忧。
And Kratos.
还有奎托斯。
Always Kratos.
总是奎托斯。

第四十章（1）
KRATOS BEGAN WALKING along the stone roadway and reached the spot where Icarus had confronted him.
奎托斯开始沿着石路行走，来到了伊卡洛斯曾与他对峙的地方。
He looked over the brink and into the red swirling mist that hid the edge of creation.
他俯瞰悬崖边缘，望向那隐藏着创世边缘的红色旋涡迷雾。
Below, far below, Atlas stood in his chains, balancing the world on his broad shoulders and waiting for his chance to again live in the upper world.
下方，在极远的下方，阿特拉斯身负锁链站立着，用他宽阔的肩膀平衡着整个世界，等待着重返上层世界的机会。
Zeus and Hades had been brutal, but Kratos understood that.
宙斯与哈迪斯固然残忍，但奎托斯理解这一点。
Kindness and charity had no place on the battlefield or when dealing with enemies.
仁慈与宽容在战场上或对待敌人时毫无立足之地。
He held out his hands and looked at them, feeling the gift Atlas had bestowed upon him.
他伸出双手凝视着，感受着阿特拉斯赐予他的礼物。
Gaia guided him, Cronos had given him his rage, and now the Atlas Quake quivered within Kratos’ grasp as he tightened his fingers into a fist.
盖亚指引着他，克洛诺斯赋予了他怒火，而现在，当奎托斯握紧拳头时，阿特拉斯之震的力量在他掌握中震颤。
He assembled the might of the Titans, and all he had to do was reach the far side of the road and persuade the Sisters of Fate to change his destiny to put those powers to their full use.
他已汇聚了泰坦们的力量，现在只需到达道路的彼岸，说服命运女神改变他的命运，以便将这些力量发挥到极致。
Gaia had aided his escape from the Underworld so he could kill Zeus.
盖亚助他逃离冥界，就是为了让他能杀死宙斯。
No matter that she and the other Titans wanted Zeus dead for their past humiliation and Kratos wanted it for his own reasons.
尽管她与其他泰坦想杀宙斯是出于昔日受辱，而奎托斯则有自己的理由。
Betrayal was only part of his need to see Zeus impaled on the Blade of Olympus.
而背叛，只是他渴望看到宙斯被奥林匹斯之剑刺穿的部分原因。
Barely a dozen paces toward the far side of the chasm caused the stone beneath his sandals to crack.
向深渊对岸仅行十几步，他凉鞋下的石块便开裂了。
Another stride and a large section tumbled away and threatened to take him with it.
再迈一步，一大块路面崩塌滑落，险些将他一同带入深渊。
Spreading his arms caused the wings of Icarus to billow and cut through the air.
他张开双臂，伊卡洛斯的翅膀随之鼓动，划破空气。
He flexed his shoulders as the wings began to beat steadily.
随着翅膀开始稳定地扇动，他活动了一下肩膀。
He found the knack of leaning forward as the wings took downward strokes to accelerate his journey until the wind whipped past his face and threatened to rip the air from his lungs.
他找到了窍门，在翅膀下压时身体前倾以加速飞行，直至狂风扑面而来，几乎要将他肺中的空气撕扯出去。
Before that could happen, he shoved his feet downward, spilled air from the wings, and set down lightly on a stone-paved terrace leading into the temple.
在此发生之前，他双脚向下发力，使翅膀泄去风阻，随后轻盈地降落在一条通往神庙的石铺露台上。
Although he did not know for certain, his instincts told him he had found the Palace of the Fates.
尽管不能完全确定，但他的直觉告诉他，他已找到了命运女神的神殿。
He entered and slowly turned in a full circle to appraise the palace.
他走了进去，缓缓转身环顾四周，审视着这座神殿。
One possible doorway led deeper into the building but when Kratos stepped toward it, spikes shot up from the floor.
一扇可能通往建筑深处的门廊出现在眼前，但当奎托斯朝它走去时，地刺猛然从地面刺出。
He danced away.
他迅捷地闪避开。
Any one of those spikes would have driven through more than his sandal and foot.
任何一根地刺都足以刺穿他的凉鞋和脚掌，甚至更多。
Each was waist-high.
每根都齐腰高。
As he watched, the spikes sank back into the floor.
在他注视下，地刺缩回了地面。
He thought to go around this section but discovered more spikes popping up to block his path.
他试图绕过这个区域，却发现更多地刺冒出，挡住了去路。
Only by retreating to the center of the room could he avoid those deadly nails shooting upward with such vicious force.
唯有退至房间中央，他才能避开那些以凶残力道向上刺出的致命尖钉。
A soft sighing brought him around.
一声轻柔的叹息使他转过身。
Dark Nymphs floated into the room and tried to cast webs over him.
暗黑宁芙（即“若虫”）飘入房间，试图将粘网投向他。
Dual sets of translucent wings began to hum so loud that he could barely think.
两对透明的翅膀开始嗡嗡作响，声音之大几乎让他无法思考。
This was part of their attack.
这是她们攻击的一部分。
Bodies only a few feet long and slender, they posed little threat otherwise—except for their sticky nets spat from between vicious mandibles.
她们仅数英尺长的纤细身躯本身威胁不大——除了从狰狞口器间吐出的粘网。
He caught one strand on his arm and jerked, bringing the Nymph to him.
他的手臂沾上一根粘丝，他猛地一拉，将那只宁芙拽到面前。
He grabbed at the wings, swung it around in a high arc, and slammed it down onto spikes rising from the flooring next to him.
他抓住翅膀，将其高高抡起划出一道弧线，然后猛砸在旁边刚从地面刺出的地刺上。
More spikes thrust upward, forcing Kratos to use Icarus’ wings to flutter above them, but this made him a better target for the Dark Nymphs.
更多地刺向上刺出，迫使奎托斯利用伊卡洛斯之翼悬停其上，但这使他成了暗黑宁芙更好的靶子。
Their sticky webs sailed through the air to entangle him and bring him to the flooring where the spikes would end his life.
她们的粘网在空中飞舞，试图缠住他并将其拖到地面，让地刺终结他的生命。
Kratos hit the floor, jumped, and grasped one Nymph’s wings.
奎托斯落地后跃起，抓住一只宁芙的翅膀。
He tore them off and discarded the shrieking creature.
他将翅膀撕下，丢弃了这只尖啸的生物。
He looked and saw that the exit from the room was now blocked.
他望去，发现房间的出口此刻已被封锁。
The same circular locking pattern that had prevented easy entry into this room now prevented easy access.
那曾阻止轻易进入此房间的圆形锁闭机关，现在也同样阻止着轻易离开。
The walls moved steadily, giving him hope that the openings would align again soon, but until then he had the Nymphs to fight.
墙壁稳步移动，让他希望出口能很快再次对齐，但在此之前，他必须与这些宁芙战斗。

第四十章（2）
A pair of them was crushed together as Kratos grabbed one in each hand and drove them into each other.
奎托斯双手各抓住一只宁芙，将她们猛撞在一起，碾碎了她们。
He kept moving, anticipating the upward thrusts of the spikes, until he saw his opportunity and took it.
他不断移动，预判着地刺的上刺时机，直至看到并抓住机会。
The circular walls slid around and once more opened a hallway to him.
圆形墙壁旋转滑动，再次为他敞开了一条走廊。
Diving over a new segment of rising spikes, he hit the floor beyond, rolled, and came to his feet.
他俯冲越过新一批升起的地刺，落在彼端的地面上，翻滚后站起身来。
Kratos looked back as the walls continued to spin, blocking the Dark Nymphs from pursuing him.
奎托斯回头望去，墙壁继续旋转，阻断了暗黑宁芙的追击。
He brushed off gore and the sticky webbing cast by the Dark Nymphs as he explored deeper into the palace.
他掸去身上的血污和暗黑宁芙留下的粘网，向神殿深处探索。
The corridors wound around in a circular pattern, and several times Kratos heard walls grinding along tracks.
走廊呈环形蜿蜒，奎托斯多次听到墙壁沿轨道移动的摩擦声。
Occasionally he saw rooms open to his left or right, but nothing in them caught his attention or seemed important until he reached an open-air atrium looking out over the sea.
偶尔有房间出现在他左右，但其中并无引起他注意或看似重要之物，直到他来到一个俯瞰大海的露天中庭。
The stone pedestal in the center drew Kratos.
中央的石制基座吸引了奎托斯。
Open on its inclined holder lay a book.
其倾斜的托架上摊开放着一本书。
He stared at the words on the page, but they meant nothing to him.
他凝视着书页上的文字，但它们对他而言毫无意义。
He could not even decide what language the book had been written in.
他甚至无法判断这本书是用何种语言写就。
（楼主：我嘞个文盲老父亲不过命运女神用点古语也正常，奎爷看不懂也能理解）
Placing his hand on one page warmed his palm and sent tiny tremors up into his shoulder.
他将手放在一页书上，掌心感到温热，细微的震颤顺着手臂传到肩膀。
There was power locked within these pages, if only he could decipher them.
这些书页中封印着力量，只要他能解读它们。
Looking to his right he saw a long open walkway, but the scent of burning candles mingled with the salty sea air.
他向右望去，看见一条长长的露天走道，但燃烧蜡烛的气味与咸涩的海风混合在一起。
He went down the walkway to find a small turret.
他沿着走道前行，发现了一座小塔楼。
Inside knelt a robed man before an altar to one of the Sisters of Fate.
里面跪着一位身着长袍的男子，正对着一座供奉某位命运女神的祭坛。
Kratos had seen Lahkesis’ phantasm briefly, so he decided this might be one of the other two.
奎托斯曾短暂见过拉克西丝的幻影，因此他断定这可能是另外两位女神之一。
The man sat on his heels, bowing repeatedly as he uttered invocations to the Sisters.
那男子屈膝而坐，反复鞠躬，向命运女神们念诵着祈请文。
“You,” Kratos said.
“你，”奎托斯开口道。
“Can you read the book?”
“你能读懂这本书吗？”
The robed man looked up, startled.
长袍男子抬起头，吓了一跳。
“I am the Translator but—” He let out a yelp of surprise as Kratos scooped him up and carried him over his shoulder.
“我是译者，但——” 他还未说完，便因奎托斯将他一把捞起扛在肩上而发出一声惊叫。
The Translator struggled but to no avail against Kratos’ strength and determination.
译者挣扎着，但在奎托斯的力量和决心面前毫无作用。
Halfway back along the walkway to the atrium Kratos slowed, then stopped.
在返回中庭的走道中途，奎托斯放慢脚步，继而停下。
Ahead, blocking entry to the atrium and its book, two tall soldiers with war axes moved to fight.
前方，两名手持战斧的高大士兵挡住了通往中庭和那本书的去路，摆出战斗姿态。
“Stop them!” cried one soldier.
“拦住他们！”一名士兵喊道。
“Stop them?” scoffed the other.
“拦住他们？”另一名士兵嗤之以鼻。
“Kill them both! You know our orders.”
“杀了他们两个！你知道我们的命令。”
“No one can speak to the Translator,” agreed the first soldier.
“任何人都不能与译者交谈，”第一名士兵表示同意。
“No, you can’t let them kill me. You must protect me!” The Translator clutched fearfully at Kratos’ arm.
“不，你不能让他们杀我。你必须保护我！”译者惊恐地抓住奎托斯的手臂。
Kratos cast the Translator aside.
奎托斯将译者甩到一旁。
The man hit the edge of a railing and sat heavily.
那人撞在栏杆边缘，重重地坐下。
His eyes were round with fear and his mouth moved, but no words came out now.
他双眼因恐惧而圆睁，嘴巴开合，却发不出任何声音。
The two soldiers attacked in unison.
两名士兵协同进攻。
As one axe rose to lop off Kratos’ head, his comrade’s axe drove for Kratos’ legs.
一把斧头扬起欲斩落奎托斯的首级，同时他同伴的斧头则砍向奎托斯的双腿。
Only an agile twist and leap into the air saved the Spartan from losing either a leg or his head.
斯巴达人仅凭敏捷的扭转和腾空跃起，才免于失腿或断头之灾。
As he came down the pair launched a new attack.
他刚一落地，两人便发动了新一波攻击。
Both swung their axes for his head, forcing him to block using the Blades of Athena.
双斧齐挥，直取他的头颅，迫使他用雅典娜之刃格挡。
Sparks erupted from the contact, and Kratos was pressed back.
碰撞处火花四溅，奎托斯被逼得后退。

第四十章（3）
“They’ll kill me. You can’t let them!” cried the Translator.
“他们会杀了我的。你不能让他们得逞！”译者哭喊道。
（楼主：这译者真是失了智了，你要不再看看这是谁？）
The soldier on Kratos’ right was momentarily distracted by the Translator’s plea for mercy.
奎托斯右侧的士兵因译者求饶而分神了片刻。
Swinging his swords in a furious arc, Kratos cut off first a hand and then a leg.
奎托斯双刃狂挥，划出凌厉弧线，先断其手，再断其腿。
The soldier staggered, then fell over the railing.
那名士兵踉跄着，随后翻过栏杆跌落。
If the dismemberment did not kill him, the fall past the edge of creation would.
纵然肢解未能致命，坠出创世边缘也必死无疑。
His comrade’s death caused an instant of hesitation in the other fighter.
同伴的死亡使另一名战士瞬间犹豫了一下。
Against the Ghost of Sparta this meant only one thing: death.
面对斯巴达的亡魂，这只能意味着一件事：死亡。
He judged his chances and saw no hope.
他权衡了自己的胜算，感到毫无希望。
Instead of engaging Kratos, he rolled and tried to reach the Translator to slay him.
他没有与奎托斯交锋，而是翻滚着试图接近译者以杀死他。
Kratos swung his war hammer high and dropped it squarely on the soldier’s helmet before he could make a fatal thrust through the Translator’s breast.
奎托斯高举起战锤，在那士兵对译者做出致命刺击之前，将战锤重重地砸在他的头盔上。
Blood exploded out the eyeholes as his head was turned to pulp within the bronze confines.
鲜血从头盔的眼孔中喷溅而出，他的头颅在青铜头盔内变成了肉泥。
“You … you’re going to kill me. I know it. You can’t. Please! I have forgotten the words.”
“你……你要杀我了。我知道。你不能。求你了！我已经忘了那些字句。”
（楼主：《忘了》cg里也有来着）
Kratos grabbed the Translator by the scruff of his neck and lifted him so his toes dragged along the bloodstained stone.
奎托斯抓住译者的后颈将他提起，让他的脚尖拖过血迹斑斑的石地。
They returned to the atrium, and Kratos shoved the man forward onto his knees in front of the opened volume.
他们回到中庭，奎托斯将那人推倒在摊开的书卷前，令他跪地。
As the Translator tried to shy away, Kratos laid his open palm on the back of the man’s head and slammed his face forward.
当译者试图畏缩躲闪时，奎托斯张开手掌按在他后脑上，将他的脸猛撞向前。
“Read the words,” Kratos commanded.
“念出这些字句，”奎托斯命令道。
“Hear me, Sisters who control the thread …”
“请聆听，掌控命运丝线的女神们……”
“Keep going.”
“继续。”
“Another searches for what only the Sisters may give. He is worthy—” the Translator began.
“又一人寻求唯有女神们方能赐予之物。他值得——” 译者开始念诵。
Then he writhed in Kratos’ grip and turned a frightened, bloodless face to the Spartan.
随后他在奎托斯的钳制下扭动，将一张惊恐失色的脸转向斯巴达人。
“No, don’t make me read the words. I’m not ready.”
“不，别逼我念这些字。我还没准备好。”
Kratos slammed him into the volume again, this time causing blood to spurt from a deep cut on his forehead.
奎托斯再次将他的脸砸向书卷，这次鲜血从他额头上一道深深的伤口中喷涌而出。
The blood dribbled across the book and onto the floor, where it collected in blood gutters radiating outward from the stone pedestal.
鲜血淌过书页，滴落到地板上，汇集在从石座向外辐射的血槽中。
The Translator pushed away, his blood dripping onto the book, before running off to the grooves in the floor.
译者挣脱开，他的血液滴在书上，随后流入地板的凹槽中。
“I know this is what you have asked of me, my exalted sisters, but is there no other way?”
“我知道这是您们对我的要求，尊贵的女神们，但难道别无他法了吗？”
“Read,” Kratos said.
“念，”奎托斯说。
He gripped the back of the man’s neck hard, found nerves, and pinched down.
他用力掐住男子后颈，找到神经，狠狠捏下。
The Translator danced about, unable to control his own legs or arms.
译者身体乱颤，无法控制自己的四肢。
“G-great Sisters of Fate …”
“伟……伟大的命运女神……”
“Keep going.”
“继续。”
“I come before you to humbly request an audience.”
“我来到您们面前，谦卑地请求一次觐见。”
He swallowed hard before he continued.
他艰难地咽了口唾沫，才继续念道。
“To prove my resolve is true … no, please, no! I can’t do it!”
“为证明我的决心真诚……不，求您，不要！我做不到！”
“Read it!”
“念出来！”
“I … I offer this sacrifice of … m-my blood.”
“我……我献上此祭品……以……以我之血。”
Kratos rammed the man’s head so hard into the book that his neck snapped.
奎托斯将那人的头如此猛烈地撞向书本，以致于他的脖颈断裂。
Blood gushed from his nose, mouth, and ears.
鲜血从他的鼻子、嘴巴和耳朵中涌出。
Kratos stepped away and let the Translator fall to the floor.
奎托斯退开一步，任由译者瘫倒在地。
He watched in fascination as the blood flowed in the grooves in the flooring.
他着迷地看着血液在地板的沟槽中流动。
He had not seen the pattern before but with blood flowing freely, it became apparent.
他先前未曾注意到这图案，但随着血液自由流淌，它变得清晰可见。
For a moment, his attention lifted from the atrium floor to the mountain some distance away directly in line with the pedestal and book.
片刻间，他的注意力从中庭地面移开，望向远处与基座和书本成一直线的一座山。
Like a chrysalis opening, it seemed to spread immense wings.
如同蛹壳绽开，它仿佛展开了巨大的翅膀。
“Wings,” Kratos said.
“翅膀，”奎托斯说道。
He drew in his breath.
他深吸一口气。
The pattern now limned in blood on the floor was that of the Phoenix.
地板上如今由鲜血勾勒出的图案，正是不死鸟。
But there was more.
但还有更多。
A red-hued apparition of a lovely woman floated a few inches above the floor.
一位可爱女子的红色幻影悬浮在离地几英寸的空中。
（楼主：可爱，lovely，原文如此。我自己觉得拉克西丝确实符合这个描述，没有跟二姐的红魂小游戏真是太可惜了）
She wore a winged helmet and sported a long robe that dragged along the floor.
她头戴有翼头盔，身着拖地的长袍。
Her toga hung open to expose her left breast; in her right hand she clutched a scepter.
她的托加袍敞开着，露出左乳；右手紧握一柄权杖。
She wore a girdle that hung in front, leaving her legs bare.
她系着一条垂于身前的束带，双腿裸露。
“Well done, warrior. With this sacrifice you have proven your resolve to seek out the Sisters of Fate.
“干得好，战士。以此献祭，你已证明了寻求命运女神的决心。
However, this is but a small step in your quest to gain an audience with us.”
然而，这仅仅是你为获得觐见我们资格所迈出的一小步。”
A gateway opened behind the ghostly figure, who turned and pointed with the scepter.
一道门户在幽灵般的身影后方开启，她转身以权杖指向那里。
Then the apparition faded into nothingness, leaving Kratos to seek out the other trials necessary to win if he wanted the audience with the Sisters of Fate.
随后幻影消逝无踪，留下奎托斯去寻求其他必需的试炼，如若他想要获得命运女神觐见的话。
Without hesitation he went through the door and plunged deeper into the Palace of the Fates.
他毫不犹豫地穿过那扇门，更深入命运神殿之中。

第四十一章
“I HAVE NO TIME for you,” Zeus said.
“我没有时留给你，”宙斯说道。
He scowled and looked away from the goddess who had once been his favorite daughter.
他皱起眉头，将目光从这位曾是他最宠爱女儿的女神身上移开。
Athena would have none of it.
雅典娜却不吃这一套。
She took a step up toward the raised throne, drawing his immediate reaction.
她向高处的王座踏近一步，立刻引起了他的反应。
“I did not grant permission for you to climb the dais!”
“我没有允许你踏上高台！”
“I did not ask,” Athena said, forcing her voice to remain calm.
“我也未曾请求，”雅典娜说道，努力让自己的声音保持平静。
“When does a daughter need sufferance to speak with her father? Her loving father?”
“女儿何时需要许可才能与她的父亲交谈？与她慈爱的父亲？”
“You—” Zeus cut off his accusation, but Athena read it in his face.
“你——”宙斯咽下了他的指控，但雅典娜从他脸上读了出来。
There was nothing but growing hatred, and it was directed toward her.
那里只有与日俱增的憎恨，而且是指向她的。
“You wound me with your belief that I seek anything but your welfare and that of Olympus.”
“你竟认为我追求的并非您和奥林匹斯的福祉，这真让我伤心。”
Athena took another step.
雅典娜又迈进一步。
She turned slightly and saw movement from the corner of her eye.
她微微转身，眼角余光瞥见动静。
Iris spied on this audience.
伊里斯正在窥视这次觐见。
So be it.
随她去吧。
Let the snoop spread what was to be said.
让这窥探者去传播将要说出的话好了。
“You’re like the rest. You plot against me.
“你和他们一样。你在图谋对抗我。
Even my wife seeks to—” Again Zeus cut off his accusation.
连我的妻子也试图——”宙斯再次截住了他的话。
“Hera values you above all others.
“赫拉将你置于万物之上。
If you think otherwise, Sky Father, you deceive yourself.”
若您不这么想，天父，那您就是在欺骗自己。”
Athena considered shifting the blame to Iris, then decided not to.
雅典娜考虑过将责任推给伊里斯，但随即决定不这么做。
In his current state, Zeus would never believe his new Messenger of the Gods worked against him at every turn.
以他目前的状态，宙斯绝不会相信他新任命的神之使者处处与他作对。
Athena had to believe Iris’ hold over Zeus extended to more than supplying false or biased news.
雅典娜不得不相信，伊里斯对宙斯的影响力远不止于提供虚假或有偏颇的消息。
Her father had never been one to consider abstinence a virtue, and for that Aphrodite had always hailed Zeus as a great ruler.
她的父亲从不认为禁欲是种美德，为此阿芙洛狄忒一直称赞宙斯是位伟大的统治者。
Athena had heard even Artemis had been ignoring her forest and animals, turning reclusive, never venturing into her beloved wilderness.
雅典娜甚至听说，阿耳忒弥斯也开始疏于照料她的森林和动物，变得孤僻，不再踏入她心爱的荒野。
Things in Olympus were increasingly awry.
奥林匹斯的一切正变得越来越不对劲。
“Father,” she said, “your worshippers are slipping away.”
“父亲，”她说，“您的崇拜者正在流失。”
“Impossible. I am Zeus, King of the Gods!
“不可能。我是宙斯，众神之王！
What mortal would deny me in their supplication?”
哪个凡人敢在祈祷中背弃我？”
“More every day leave to secret shrines to the Titans,” she said.
“每天都有更多人转向秘密供奉泰坦的神龛，”她说。
“How do you know this? Iris said more give sacrifices to me every day than the day before.”
“你怎会知道？伊里斯说每日向我献祭者都比前一日更多。”
Zeus stroked his beard, once white and cloudy but now filled with roiling lead-gray storm clouds.
宙斯抚摸着胡须，那胡须曾如白云般洁白，如今却翻涌着铅灰色的暴风云。
Athena dared not tell him that Hermes flew constantly across the face of the world as he hunted for the news that would restore his place in Olympus.
雅典娜不敢告诉他，赫耳墨斯为了寻找能恢复其在奥林匹斯地位的消息，正不断地在世界各处飞行。
She wished that Hermes had found something worth presenting now, because she felt her welcome at the throne of Zeus slipping away.
她真希望赫耳墨斯此刻已找到了值得呈报的消息，因为她感到自己在宙斯王座前的受欢迎程度正逐渐消失。
If he banished her as he had Hermes, her influence would disappear—and that of Iris would be transcendent.
倘若他像放逐赫耳墨斯那样放逐她，她的影响力将荡然无存——而伊里斯的影响力则将登峰造极。
“I see how my worshippers pray in Athens,” she said, cloaking the truth with a half lie.
“我在雅典看到我的崇拜者如何祈祷，”她说道，用半真半假的话掩盖了真相。
“Those who once sacrificed to both of us do so less often.”
“那些曾同时向我们献祭的人，现在做得没那么频繁了。”
She hesitated, then blurted, “They once again pray to the Titans.”
她犹豫了一下，然后脱口而出：“他们再次向泰坦祈祷了。”
As the words escaped her sepia-tattooed lips, she knew she had committed an error from which there could be no return.
当这些话从她带有赭石色纹身的唇间说出时，她知道她犯下了一个无法挽回的错误。
“The Titans!” Zeus exploded to his feet and kept growing until his head pressed into the high dome of the audience chamber.
“泰坦！”宙斯暴怒起身，身躯不断变大，直到头顶抵住了觐见室高大的穹顶。
His shoulders rippled with muscle and his eyes frosted over, then turned to burning white pools without definition.
他的肩膀肌肉虬结，双眼先是覆上寒霜，继而化为两池无法分辨形状的炽白火焰。
Athena had never seen her father so wroth.
雅典娜从未见过她的父亲如此震怒。
Zeus clapped his hands together, and thunderbolts exploded.
宙斯双掌一拍，雷霆爆裂。
Athena threw up her arm to shield herself from the assault.
雅典娜举起手臂抵挡这冲击。
If it had been directed solely at her, she would have died.
如果这攻击是刻意针对她的，她早已殒命了。
“He is responsible for this.”
“他该为此负责。”
“If he had shown the good sense to remain in the Underworld and not allow Gaia to bring him back to this world, the Titans would still be where I put them.
“倘若他当初明智地留在冥界，不让盖亚将他带回这个世界，泰坦们就仍会待在我安置他们的地方。
In Tartarus! In the deepest realms enduring Hades’ tortures!
在塔尔塔洛斯！在最深的界域忍受哈迪斯的折磨！
Must I return him to Hades’ grasp myself? Again?
难道必须我亲自再次将他送回哈迪斯的掌控之中吗？
“I am king but none will serve me by removing Kratos!”
“我是国王，却无人替我除掉奎托斯！”
“Kratos is an annoyance, but you cannot hold him entirely responsible.”
“奎托斯是个麻烦，但你不能将全部责任归咎于他。”
“The Titans use him.
“泰坦们在利用他。
He thought Ares was a liar and knave.
他曾认为阿瑞斯是骗子和无赖。
Kratos has no idea how the Titans can lie and deceive and manipulate!
奎托斯根本不知道泰坦们是多么善于谎言、欺骗和操纵！
Cronos thought to kill all his children.
克洛诺斯曾想杀死他所有的孩子。
“His own children!”
“他自己的亲生孩子！”
“Gaia raised you,” Athena said, again damning herself for letting her true thoughts reach Zeus.
“是盖亚抚养您长大的，”雅典娜说道，再次懊悔自己让真实想法被宙斯知晓。
“Your fight was with Cronos, not the other Titans.”
“您的斗争是针对克洛诺斯，而非其他泰坦。”
“They all deserved to be destroyed, but I chose to allow them to live.”
“他们都该被毁灭，但我选择让他们活着。”
Athena fought to keep her words bottled up, but the pressure became too great.
雅典娜竭力忍住话语，但压力实在太大。
“You made Kratos an enemy, Father.
“是您让奎托斯成为了敌人，父亲。
If you had not duped him into draining his godly powers into the Blade of Olympus, he—”
如果您当初没有欺骗他，让他将神力注入奥林匹斯之剑，他——”
“He still opposes me.
“他依然在反抗我。
A mortal!
一个凡人！
After I put him on the throne of the God of War!
在我将他扶上战神宝座之后！
How dare he?” Zeus grew even larger and caused the ceiling and walls to tumble.
他怎敢？”宙斯变得愈发庞大，导致天花板和墙壁开始崩塌。
Lightning flashed about, mirroring Zeus’ wrath.
闪电四处闪耀，映照着宙斯的狂怒。
“Father, please …” Athena looked up and saw that Zeus paid her no heed.
“父亲，求您……”雅典娜抬起头，看到宙斯根本不理睬她。
His fury consumed all reason.
他的怒火吞噬了所有理智。
“He will suffer in ways he has never considered possible.
“他将遭受他从未想象过的痛苦。
I will destroy everything he holds dear!”
我要毁掉他所珍视的一切！”
Athena turned as Zeus vanished in a flash of light so intense that it would have blinded her had she watched.
宙斯在一道强光中消失，那光芒如此刺眼，倘若她直视了必会失明，雅典娜转过身去。
She didn’t need Hermes—or Iris—to tell her what would happen now that Zeus was willing to unleash his fury into the world.
她不需要赫耳墨斯——或伊里斯——来告诉她，既然宙斯决意将怒火倾泻到世间，接下来会发生什么。
Tears formed in Athena’s eyes for what was happening to the Olympians.
泪水在雅典娜眼中涌出，为了奥林匹斯众神正在遭遇的一切。

第四十二章（1）
COLD FURY DROVE Kratos.
冰冷的狂怒驱使着奎托斯。
Lahkesis had told him he had taken a small step toward an audience with her and the other Sisters of Fate to plead his case.
拉克西丝曾告诉他，他已向觐见她和其余命运女神以陈述自身诉求迈出了一小步。
Being denied was a slap in the face when he had Zeus to kill.
在他亟需诛杀宙斯之时却遭拒之门外，这无异于一记耳光。
He would do whatever it took to drive the Blade of Olympus through Zeus and make the King of the Gods suffer the way he already had.
他将不惜一切代价，将奥林匹斯之剑刺入宙斯体内，让这位众神之王也尝尝他曾承受的痛苦。
Kratos entered a curving corridor, paused when the door slid shut behind him.
奎托斯走进一条弧形走廊，身后的门滑动关闭时，他停顿了一下。
The only way to go was onward—but that was where he intended to go.
唯一的路是向前——而这正是他目标所在。
He ran around the circular path, stepping over rails mounted in the middle.
他沿着环形路径奔跑，跨过安装在道路中央的轨道。
The stench of burning metal reached him an instant before grinding gears sounded and a metal wall ahead creaked on the rails and then accelerated toward him.
金属燃烧的恶臭扑面而来，紧接着是齿轮碾磨的巨响，前方一道金属墙在轨道上发出吱嘎声，随即向他加速冲来。
（楼主：金属燃烧，原文如此，“burning metal”，或者这是个什么俗语吗？我英语不好，不懂喵）
“We will never allow you to reach us in our secret temple, Kratos.
“我们绝不会允许你抵达我们隐秘的神殿，奎托斯。
We have tired of you as a diversion,” said Lahkesis.
我们已经厌倦了你这个消遣，”拉克西丝说道。
As if to accentuate the warning, a flurry of temple guards armed with their curved axes ran into the room.
仿佛是为了强调这个警告，一群手持弯斧的神殿守卫冲进了房间。
So many faced him that Kratos unleashed the Cronos Rage.
面对如此众多的敌人，奎托斯释放了克洛诺斯之怒。
The energy building within lacked the potency of earlier releases.
体内积聚的能量缺乏先前释放时的威力。
The white-hot speck seemed cooler, more diffuse because of his earlier usage.
由于先前频繁使用，那炽白的光点显得更冷、更分散。
Some time must be necessary to regenerate, but Kratos did not have the luxury of this.
恢复必然需要时间，但奎托斯没有这等余裕。
He cast forth the Rage.
他释放出这狂怒。
For a brief instant the powerful spell flowed through those attacking him, their limbs numbed.
刹那间，这强大的咒力席卷了攻击者，使他们四肢麻木。
A full-scale casting would have blown them away.
若能全力施放，本可将他们尽数轰飞。
One temple guard fell to his knees, then fought to stand.
一名神殿守卫跪倒在地，继而挣扎着站起。
The Rage had barely affected him.
狂怒几乎未对他产生影响。
He looked at Kratos and sneered.
他睥睨着奎托斯，嗤笑道。
“You must kill us all—and more!”
“你必须杀死我们所有人——还有更多！”
Kratos saw the Rage shock wearing off the other guards.
奎托斯看到狂怒的冲击正从其他守卫身上消退。
But what did the one mean, “and more”?
但那人所说的“还有更多”是什么意思？
（楼主：“还有更多”是何意味？）
“Delay him, delay him!” the guard called to his recovering comrades, and this told Kratos what had been meant.
“拖住他，拖住他！”那守卫向恢复中的同袍喊道，这让奎托斯明白了话中含义。
The wall would yield to his passage for only a short while.
那堵墙可供他通过的时间很短。
If the temple guards prevented him from reaching it during the moments of vulnerability, he would have to find another way forward.
若神殿守卫在墙壁可通行时阻止他抵达，他就不得不另寻前进之路。
Time pressed down on him, knowing the Sisters of Fate might take note of him at any instant and prevent his appeal.
时间紧迫，他知道命运女神随时可能注意到他并阻止他的诉求。
With grim perseverance, Kratos cut and slashed his way through.
带着冷酷的毅力，奎托斯一路劈砍前行。
He saw that the metal wall, still sparking and grinding forward, slowed with every death.
他注意到那仍在火花四溅中前行的金属墙，随着每一个守卫的死亡而减慢速度。
（楼主：这，这不对吧，我当时打的时候怎么是把他们都鲨光了，墙就自动退回去了？）
This spurred him to fight harder.
这激励他更加奋力战斗。
They had no chance against his skill, his strength, his determination and rage, and they died to the last guard.
他们无力抗衡他的技艺、力量、决心与狂怒，直至最后一名守卫也倒下。
But had he killed them in time?
但他是否及时杀光了他们？
The wall reversed direction and clanked away amid showers of sparks, then grated to a halt.
墙壁调转方向，在四溅的火花中铿锵退去，随后戛然而止。
Kratos acted without thinking, rushing to an exposed door in the outer wall.
奎托斯不假思索地冲向外墙上一扇暴露出来的门。
Just as he slid through the portal, the wall shot back like the descending blade of a Spartan soldier.
就在他滑入门内的瞬间，墙壁如斯巴达士兵挥下的利刃般猛地弹回。
Kratos had almost lost his arm, if not his life, to the trap.
奎托斯险些在此陷阱中断送手臂，乃至性命。
He dropped to one knee, got his breath back, then continued to explore until he came to a room suitable for worship of the Olympian gods.
他单膝跪地，缓过气来，随后继续探索，直至来到一个用于供奉奥林匹斯众神的房间。
Statues of the gods stood in small niches.
众神雕像立于小小的壁龛之中。
Most had been destroyed, but one remained intact.
大多已被毁坏，唯有一尊完好无损。
Kratos walked forward and stood before the statue of Athena.
奎托斯走上前，立于雅典娜雕像前。
He was not surprised when the statue spoke.
雕像开口说话时，他并不惊讶。
“Kratos, you know not what you do.
“奎托斯，你不知自己在做什么。
There are things far more important than your revenge.”
有些事远比你的复仇更重要。”
She had once guided him and had been there when he ascended to the throne of the God of War, but like the other gods and goddesses, she had shunned him.
她曾指引他，在他登上战神王座时亦在场，但如同其他众神一样，她后来避开了他。
Only when he had urged the warriors of Sparta to conquer the other city-states had she taken notice of him, and then it was to sternly order him to cease.
仅在他鼓动斯巴达战士征服其他城邦时，她才再度关注他，却是为了严令制止。
He had killed Ares.
他杀了阿瑞斯。
He had become God of War!
他成为了战神！
And Athena had sided with Zeus and the others demanding that he not allow his worshippers to go to war.
而雅典娜却与宙斯及其他神祇站在一起，要求他不准其崇拜者发动战争。
“You, of all the gods, cannot deny me! Yet you ally with Zeus against me.”
“众神之中，唯独你不能拒绝我！然而你却与宙斯结盟与我为敌。”
“I will do what I must to protect Olympus,” she said.
“我将尽我所能保护奥林匹斯，”她说。
“Zeus is not Olympus.
“宙斯不代表奥林匹斯。
He must pay for what he has done.
他必须为他的所作所为付出代价。
I do not seek to destroy Olympus, only the one who betrayed me, who gave me this reminder of his treachery.”
我无意毁灭奥林匹斯，只针对那个背叛我、留此印记提醒我其奸诈之人。”
Kratos ran his hand over the scar crossing his belly where the Blade of Olympus had skewered him.
奎托斯用手抚过腹部那道被奥林匹斯之剑刺穿的疤痕。
The simple touch renewed his determination to kill Zeus.
这简单的触碰再次坚定了他诛杀宙斯的决心。
“Kratos, please …”
“奎托斯，求你……”
Kratos swung out with the war hammer to crush a statue of Poseidon to dust.
奎托斯挥动战锤，将波塞冬的雕像砸得粉碎。
Not satisfied, he worked around the room.
意犹未尽，他环顾房间四周继续破坏。
Finding one of Hermes, Kratos took grim satisfaction in reducing it to gravel.
发现赫耳墨斯的雕像后，奎托斯将其化为碎石，感到一种冷酷的满足。
“I beseech you, Kratos.
“我恳求你，奎托斯。
Cease this quest for revenge.
停止这复仇之旅吧。
Zeus is far too powerful.
宙斯过于强大。
You are destined to fail.
你注定失败。
You do not want to risk his wrath—or what he might do if he is goaded.”
你不想冒险承受他的怒火——或者他被激怒后可能做出的事。”
Kratos stopped in his destruction of the statues depicting those who had once been fellow gods and goddesses and stared at Athena’s stony visage.
奎托斯停止摧毁那些曾为同僚的众神雕像，凝视着雅典娜石雕的面容。
They all told him he would fail.
他们都告诉他他会失败。
Athena, Zeus, Hermes, the Sisters of Fate.
雅典娜、宙斯、赫耳墨斯、命运女神。
He would not fail.
他不会失败。
He was the Ghost of Sparta.
他是斯巴达的亡魂。

第四十二章（2）
“Kratos, please.
“奎托斯，求你。
I am your friend.
我是你的朋友。
But your actions make it impossible for me to defend you to Olympus.”
但你的行为让我无法在奥林匹斯为你辩护。”
He swung the hammer and sent pieces of Athena’s statue flying throughout the room.
他挥动战锤，将雅典娜雕像的碎片击飞至房间各处。
Athena’s marble head rolled away, still speaking.
雅典娜的大理石头颅滚落一旁，仍在说话。
“You must stop!”
“你必须停下！”
Kratos gripped the shaft of the hammer in both hands, lifted and brought it down with every ounce of his strength on the statue’s head.
奎托斯双手紧握锤柄，倾尽全力举起砸向雕像的头颅。
Athena’s head and voice disappeared in a haze of detritus.
雅典娜的头颅和声音消散在一团碎屑尘埃中。
Anger still burning, Kratos spun and continued his search through the maze of corridors.
怒火未熄，奎托斯转身继续在迷宫般的走廊中搜寻。
Occasional creatures tried to bar his way but such was his wrath that he dispatched them and hardly noticed the blood on his hands, how he waded through ankle-deep gore on the floors or found his way to a room where a wizened man looked up in surprise.
偶有生物试图阻拦，但他怒火炽盛，迅速了结它们，几乎未在意手上的鲜血，未在意趟过齐踝深的血污，最终找到一间屋子，里面一位干瘦老者惊讶地抬起头。
Kratos saw that this room was the duplicate of the other where he had found the book that required deciphering.
奎托斯看出这个房间与他之前发现那本需要破译之书的房间一模一样。
For a moment he thought he had gone back in time, but this robed man was different, as were details of the room.
那一瞬间他以为他回到了过去，但这位长袍男子并非同一人，房间细节也有所不同。
This atrium looked out toward the mountain where it seemed that the chrysalis had opened slightly but still nothing of its interior had been revealed.
这个中庭眺望着远山，山上那形似虫蛹之物似乎微微张开，但其内部仍未见端倪。
What caused Kratos to hesitate was a large mirror on one wall.
令奎托斯迟疑的是墙上一面巨大的镜子。
The glass was both solid and fluid, rippling like the waves upon the sea.
镜面既坚实又流动，如海面波浪般荡漾。
The old man drew Kratos’ attention when he ran to the low wall surrounding the atrium and cried, “I will not let you reach the Sisters.”
老者跑到环绕中庭的矮墙边，喊道：“我不会让你见到女神们的！”这引起了奎托斯的注意。
Kratos needed the Translator if he were to proceed.
奎托斯若想继续前进，就需要这位译者。
As the man dashed away, Kratos grabbed.
男子急欲逃开，奎托斯一把抓住。
His fingers closed on the man’s robe, but to no avail.
他手指揪住了男子的长袍，但无济于事。
The fabric ripped.
布料撕裂。
The Translator looked back, eyes wide with fear.
译者回头一瞥，双眼圆睁充满恐惧。
He climbed atop the wall and then plunged to his death, past the edge of creation, before Kratos could reach him.
他爬上墙头，随即纵身跃下，坠出创世边缘殒命，奎托斯未能及时阻止。
Kratos looked over the precipice.
奎托斯望向悬崖之下。
The man had died as a coward—but he had denied Kratos what he required most.
此人如懦夫般死去——但却让奎托斯失去了最需要的东西。
Stride quick, he walked back to the pedestal and examined the book.
他快步走回基座，检视那本书。
Undecipherable without the skills the now dead Translator possessed.
没有已死的译者所掌握的技能，此书无法破译。
Why else would the man kill himself other than to prevent Kratos from learning what was in this volume?
此人自杀，除了阻止奎托斯知晓书中内容，还能为何？
Kratos found himself transfixed by the mirror, which was unlike any he had ever seen.
奎托斯发现自己被那面镜子吸引住了，它与他所见过的任何镜子都不同。
Polished bronze served women well, but this was glass—and yet it wasn’t.
打磨过的青铜镜于女子足矣，但此镜是玻璃——却又非比寻常。
Kratos walked to it and stared at his reflection.
奎托斯走到镜前，凝视自己的倒影。
He reached out slowly, but his fingertips paused, never touching the surface.
他缓缓伸手，但指尖停在半空，始终未触及镜面。
The curious ripples in his reflection told him this was not a perfect mirror—but it showed him.
倒影中奇特的涟漪告诉他这并非寻常镜子——但它确实映出了他。
Turning his head to one side, he saw a shimmer deep within the mirror.
他将头转向一侧，看到镜子深处有微光闪烁。
A quick turn to look over his shoulder convinced him the mirror showed more than what was in the chamber.
他猛回头瞥向身后，确信镜子所映远超房间实景。
On impulse Kratos reached out to touch the mirror’s surface, but he found no resistance.
一时冲动，奎托斯伸手触碰镜面，却未感到任何阻力。
This was definitely not an ordinary looking glass.
这绝非普通明镜。
With a deep breath Kratos plunged into the mirror.
深吸一口气，奎托斯投身没入镜中。
Where shards ought to have cut his flesh he found himself in a peculiar green sea, moving at normal speed while all else slowed.
本应被碎片割伤的他，却发现自己置身于一片奇异的绿色海洋中，以正常速度移动，而周遭一切皆变缓慢。
It was as if he had used the Amulet of the Fates, but he felt his guts twisting about and knew entering the mirror was different.
仿佛使用了命运护身符，但他感到五脏翻腾，心知进入镜中与此不同。
He whirled about and stepped back through the mirror to find the green fog gone but the Translator only now looking up from the book.
他猛地转身，踏回镜外，发现绿雾已散，而译者此刻才刚从书卷上抬起头。
Kratos had gone back in time.
奎托斯回到了过去。
Just a handful of seconds.
仅仅数秒之前。
The Translator tried to kill himself again, but Kratos circled his waist with a strong arm and lifted him bodily to drop him in front of the book.
译者再次试图自杀，但奎托斯用强壮的手臂环住其腰，将他整个人提起，丢在书前。
“Ghost of Sparta?” the Translator rasped out in a frightened voice.
“斯巴达的亡魂？”译者用惊恐的声音嘶哑道。
“It was foretold that you would come, but I will not let you reach the Sisters.”
“早有预言你会来，但我不会让你见到女神们。”
Kratos bent one arm behind the man in a hammerlock and grasped the back of his head with the other so he could not look away from the book.
奎托斯将男子一臂反扭至背后，用另一只手抓住其后脑，使他无法从书卷上移开视线。
“Read the words.”
“念出这些字。”
“You must not reach the Sisters.
“你绝不能见到女神们。
All will be destroyed.
一切都将毁灭。
Do you understand this?”
你明白吗？”
The Translator groaned as Kratos applied pressure to the hammerlock to emphasize his command.
奎托斯对反扭的手臂施加压力以强调命令，译者发出呻吟。
“Read!”
“念！”
When the man tried to shake his head, Kratos slammed him face-forward into the book.
当男子试图摇头时，奎托斯将他的脸猛撞向书。
Blood flowed.
鲜血涌出。
“This is your purpose.
“这就是你的使命。
Die with honor.”
死得光荣些。”
“Divine Sisters of Fate, hear these words.
“尊贵的命运女神，请听此言。
I have proven my resolve.
我已证明我的决心。
I seek your divine wisdom and power …”
我寻求您神圣的智慧与力量……”
The Translator attempted to get away.
译者试图挣脱。
Kratos slammed him down into the book again, then gripped his hair to pull his face up so he could continue deciphering the peculiar runes.
奎托斯再次将他猛按向书，随后抓住他的头发拉起他的脸，以便他继续破译那些奇特符文。
“Show me the path to your great temple.”
“为我指引通往您宏伟神殿的路径。”
He cried out in pain and fright.
他痛苦而惊恐地叫喊。
“No, Kratos!
“不，奎托斯！
This will be the end of us all.
这将是我们所有人的末日。
Stop!”
停下！”
“Read!”
“念！”
Sobbing, the Translator read, “… and I will lay my life before you.”
译者啜泣着念道：“……我愿将生命献于您前。”
Kratos made sure he did.
奎托斯确保他做到了。

第四十二章（3）
Life fluids from the man’s broken body ran into the shallow blood gutters on the floor, again outlining a Phoenix with widespread wings.
男子破碎身躯流出的生命之液渗入地上浅浅的血槽，再次勾勒出一只展翅的不死鸟。
Kratos looked out from the atrium and saw what he had mistaken as a huge insect chrysalis on a pillar of ash opening more, spreading wings that could span the distance from Athens to Sparta.
奎托斯从中庭向外望去，看到他曾误认为巨大虫蛹、立于灰柱之上的物体进一步张开，展开的双翼仿佛能从雅典延伸至斯巴达。
The Phoenix’s eyes glowed, but the bird did not stir otherwise.
不死鸟双眼发光，但除此之外并无动静。
Above, clouds moved away so that the sun shone brightly on the bird.
上空云层散开，阳光明亮地照耀着巨鸟。
As sunlight moved across its chest and lit its head, it slowly opened its mouth.
当阳光掠过其胸膛照亮头部时，它缓缓张开了嘴。
Cradled within the cavernous mouth gleamed a building of ivory and gold.
其巨口之中，怀抱着一座熠熠生辉的象牙与黄金建筑。
The Temple of the Fates.
命运神殿。
Kratos went to the low railing and tried to find the base of that ashen spire now capped with a Phoenix but could not.
奎托斯走到矮栏杆旁，试图找到那如今冠有不死鸟的灰烬巨柱的基部，但未能成功。
The sides were too sheer to climb.
柱壁陡峭，无法攀爬。
And the distance to the Temple of the Fates was incalculable.
而到命运神殿的距离更是遥不可测。
Still, he had to risk using the wings of Icarus to fly.
尽管如此，他必须冒险使用伊卡洛斯之翼飞行。
That was the most direct path.
那是最直接的路径。
Before he could step to the railing, he felt a presence in the room.
他未及迈步至栏杆，便感到室内有异样存在。
The reddish apparition of Lahkesis again spoke to him.
拉克西丝的红色幻影再次对他开口。
“You are impudent, mortal who once was a god.
“你太放肆了，曾为神祇的凡人。
No one petitions the Sisters of Fate without our permission.
未经我们许可，无人可向命运女神请愿。
I do not grant you that boon.”
我不会赐予你这份恩典。”
Kratos stared at the Sister.
奎托斯凝视着这位女神。
The staff in her hand drew his attention.
她手中的权杖吸引了他的注意。
The wickedly curved blade at the end was more than a formidable weapon.
末端那邪恶弯曲的刀刃不仅仅是一件强大的武器。
He suspected that with this razored edge she severed threads of fate.
他怀疑她就是以此利刃切断命运之线。
But she had not cut his.
但她尚未切断他的。
She toyed with him.
她在戏弄他。
“What would be necessary for you to give me such an audience?”
“需要怎样做，你才肯给予我这般觐见？”
Kratos saw surprise cross her face.
奎托斯看到她脸上掠过一丝惊讶。
A small smile curled the corner of her mouth, but the amusement died as quickly as it came.
她嘴角微弯露出一丝笑意，但愉悦之情转瞬即逝。
This told him she was unlikely to cut his thread of destiny without something more.
这告诉他，若无额外条件，她不太可能切断他的命运之线。
What more could it be?
这额外条件会是什么？
His mind raced.
他心念急转。
“You have proven an annoyance far too long.”
“你证明自己是个麻烦已太久了。”
“To you? Or to your sisters?”
“对你？还是对你的姐妹们？”
Kratos saw the shock again on the Sister’s face and knew how to proceed.
奎托斯再次看到女神脸上的震惊，心知该如何进行了。
“You control the fate of the world, but it must become tiresome.”
“你掌控世界命运，但这必然已令人生厌。”
“I eliminate continents, mortals by the thousands, gods,” Lahkesis said proudly.
“我抹消大陆，数以千计的凡人，众神，”拉克西丝自豪地说。
“The job wears on your imagination.
“这工作消磨着你的想象力。
That is why you have allowed me to come this far.”
这就是你允许我走到这一步的原因。”
“Atropos—” Lahkesis began.
“阿特洛波斯——”拉克西丝开口道。
She cut off the sentence.
她截住了话头。
“I do not have time for your impudence.”
“我没时间理会你的无礼。”
She lifted the scythe, but Kratos saw no thread running to him.
她举起镰刀，但奎托斯未见有命运之线连向自己。
Perhaps a mortal or even a god or Titan could not see what the Sisters of Fate did, but he was in their inner sanctum.
或许凡人乃至神或泰坦皆无法得见命运女神所为，但他此刻正在其圣所深处。
Hiding the threads would serve no purpose if no one entered.
若无人进入，隐藏命运之线便无意义。
He hoped that the threads being spun were not visible only to the Sisters of Fate.
他希望正在纺就的命运之线并非仅命运女神可见。
“So your sister has been my guide thus far,” he said.
“这么说，至今是你的姐妹在引导我，”他说。
“She is the one who tires of the sameness of her job.”
“她才是厌倦了自己一成不变的工作的那位。”
“Atropos is a poseur.”
“阿特洛波斯是个装模作样的家伙。”
“Your skill is greater?” he asked.
“你的技艺更高超？”他问道。
Kratos put enough doubt into the question to infuriate the sister.
奎托斯在问题中注入足够的质疑以激怒这位女神。
“It is! Far greater!
“当然！远胜于她！
Atropos mimics me, nothing more, and she does it poorly.”
阿特洛波斯只是模仿我，仅此而已，而且模仿得很拙劣。”
Lahkesis floated upward, clutched her staff in both hands as if ready to lash out, then stared down at him.
拉克西丝飘升而起，双手紧握权杖似欲猛击，随后俯视着他。
Kratos saw the subtle change in her visage.
奎托斯看到她面容上微妙的变化。
“Perhaps we should grant an audience, but you must prove yourself worthy.”
“或许我们该给予一次觐见，但你必须证明自己配得上。”
Kratos knew that anything he said at this moment would change the sister’s sudden resolve to show up Atropos, to continue to enjoy the challenges she placed in front of him.
奎托斯明白，此刻任何言语都可能改变这位女神突然涌起的、要压过阿特洛波斯一头的决心，改变她继续享受置于他面前挑战的兴致。
He was under no illusion that Lahkesis would not end his existence in an instant, should she tire of him.
他毫不怀疑，若拉克西丝对他感到厌倦，会瞬间终结他的存在。
Whatever she commanded of him now would almost certainly result in his return to the Underworld.
无论她现在命令他做什么，几乎都注定会让他重返冥界。
“Kratos, like the fiery Phoenix who is resurrected from his ashes, you, too, search for a second chance at life.
“奎托斯，如同自灰烬中复活的不死鸟，你也在寻求重生的机会。
Find these ashes and free the Phoenix.
找到这些灰烬，释放不死鸟。
Only then will you find the path to the Temple of the Fates.”
唯有如此，你才能找到通往命运女神神殿之路。”
The ghost of the Sister faded from sight.
女神的幻影消逝不见。
Faint laughter followed her.
微弱笑声随之而去。

第四十二章（4）
He stepped away from the railing and glanced toward the mirror.
他从栏杆旁退开，瞥向那面镜子。
How could he turn its time-changing property to his own advantage?
他该如何利用其改变时间的特性为自己谋利？
Perhaps he did not need the Sisters of Fate to reverse his destiny but could use this mirror.
或许他无需命运女神来逆转命运，而可利用此镜。
It would not be that easy.
事情不会如此简单。
It could not.
不可能。
He had gone back only seconds in time, not the long weeks necessary to return to Rhodes and slay Zeus.
他仅回溯了数秒，而非返回罗德岛诛杀宙斯所需的漫长数周。
Kratos left the atrium and went down a curving corridor that led to a capstan with steam leaking around it.
奎托斯离开中庭，沿弧形走廊下行，来到一个蒸汽泄漏的绞盘旁。
He looked up, then began turning the crank to lower the plug.
他抬头望了望，随后开始转动曲柄放下塞子。
Steam billowed all around him so he could stretch out his wings and soar upward on the thermal air current.
蒸汽在他四周翻涌，他得以伸展双翼，借热气流翱翔而上。
Spiraling about, he deftly landed on a platform above.
他盘旋着，灵巧地降落在上方平台。
Folding his wings, he ran deeper into the palace, alert for traps and guards.
收起双翼，他奔向宫殿更深处，警惕着陷阱与守卫。
There was no need for either.
二者皆无必要。
He came to a vast cavern filled with glowing magma from the heart of the world.
他来到一个巨大的洞窟，其中充满了来自世界核心的炽热岩浆。
The heat tore at his face and chest, but Kratos saw in it another chance to use the wings of Icarus.
热浪灼烧着他的脸和胸膛，但奎托斯将此视为另一个使用伊卡洛斯之翼的机会。
He stepped off the floor, extended the pinions, and banked quickly, making his way across the fiery floor, avoiding occasional bubbling geysers of molten rock to finally land on a platform at the far side.
他离地跃起，展开羽翼，迅速侧飞，穿越火红的地面，避开不时喷涌的熔岩泉，最终降落在对岸的平台。
Ahead of him billowed even more intense heat radiating from the magma over which he had flown.
前方，从他飞越的岩浆处辐射出更强烈的热浪。
To enter this chamber unprotected would mean instant death.
无防护进入此室意味着瞬间死亡。
Looking around, he saw a tall stone statue.
环顾四周，他看到一尊高大的石像。
Putting his back to it, he scooted the statue out and used it as a shield to get closer to the flames shooting from the far wall.
他以背抵住石像，将其推移出去，作为盾牌，靠近从远墙喷射而来的火焰。
Barely had he begun his journey across the room than Hades Legionnaires surged forward to engage him.
他刚开始穿越房间，哈迪斯军团士兵便蜂拥而上与他交战。
Kratos found himself at a disadvantage, having to remain behind the statue.
奎托斯发现自己处于劣势，必须躲在石像之后。
The creatures from hell had no such problem.
而这些来自地狱的造物则无此困扰。
If anything, they relished the intense heat and flame that licked at their hindquarters as they brandished their scythes and curved war axes.
它们挥舞着镰刀和弯柄战斧，甚至享受着舔舐其后腿的酷热与火焰。
Kratos swung his war hammer and caught one Hades Legionnaire with the spiked surface.
奎托斯挥动战锤，锤面尖刺击中一名哈迪斯军团士兵。
A second blow knocked the monster to its knees.
第二击将这怪物打跪在地。
A third crushed it.
第三击将其粉碎。
But while he fought one, the second came at him from the rear with an attack that almost took him by surprise.
但当他与一名敌人交战时，第二名从后方袭来，攻击几乎出乎他的意料。
Rather than a sword, this legionnaire simply shoved him forward.
这名军团士兵未用刀剑，只是将他向前猛推。
The flames bathed him and burned at his flesh.
火焰笼罩了他，灼烧着他的血肉。
Kratos spun and grappled with the creature of Hades.
奎托斯转身与这哈迪斯造物扭打在一起。
His fingers crushed one arm and distracted the legionnaire long enough for Kratos to gather his strength, bend low, and then heave.
他手指捏碎其一臂，趁其分神之际，奎托斯聚力、俯身，继而猛力投掷。
He swung the creature high, then smashed it to the floor.
他将这怪物高高抡起，然后猛砸在地上。
Kratos whirled around, still holding its arm, and banged it into the rear of the statue.
奎托斯仍抓着其臂，旋转身体将其撞向石像背面。
Another hard slam to the floor ended its life.
再次重摔于地，结束了它的生命。
Kratos pressed into the blisters that dotted his massive chest and sneered.
奎托斯按了按遍布宽阔胸膛的水泡，嗤之以鼻。
They were badges of honor to him.
它们于他而言是荣誉的勋章。
He lowered his head, pushed hard against the statue, and moved it closer to the flame wall until he could see a point high on the ceiling above to grapple, catch, and swing past.
他低下头，用力推动石像，使其更靠近火墙，直至能看到天花板上高处一个可抓握、悬荡通过的点。
He landed hard beyond the wall, rolled, and came to his feet.
他重重落在墙后，翻滚起身。
Ahead stretched another chamber filled with molten rock, but this time Kratos dared to hope that he had reached the Phoenix Chamber.
前方延伸着另一个充满熔岩的洞室，但此次奎托斯敢期望他已抵达不死鸟之间。
In the middle of the ocean of liquid rock stood a ring of columns, the magma bubbling and boiling between them.
液态岩石的海洋中央矗立着一圈石柱，岩浆在柱间沸腾冒泡。
The sulfur scent made his nose wrinkle, but he also smelled the hint of victory that hung in the air.
硫磺气味让他皱鼻，但他也嗅到了空气中弥漫的一丝胜利气息。
Standing in an alcove was an intricately decorated urn.
一个壁龛中立着一只装饰精美的骨灰瓮。
He tried pushing the urn toward the ring of columns, but it proved too heavy for even his immense strength.
他试图将瓮推向石柱圈，但即使以其巨力，此瓮也过于沉重。
Kratos stepped back and looked above, seeing a track.
奎托斯后退仰视，看到一条轨道。
He walked back toward the boiling lake of lava and found a lever behind the head of a Phoenix statue.
他走回沸腾的熔岩湖，在一尊不死鸟雕像头后找到一个杠杆。
Pulling hard on the lever caused the grappling mechanism to activate.
用力拉动杠杆，抓钩机关随之启动。
A platform above rolled over the urn and lowered a chain outfitted with a metal collar.
上方平台滚至瓮上，降下一条配有金属箍的锁链。
Kratos fastened the collar around the lip of the urn, then returned to the lever and pushed it back.
奎托斯将箍固定在瓮口边缘，然后返回杠杆处将其推回。
Chains rattled, and the winch on the rolling platform above began whirring.
锁链哗啦作响，上方滚动平台上的绞盘开始嗡鸣。
The urn lifted from the floor so the platform could roll toward the columns in the molten lake.
瓮从地面升起，平台得以滚向熔岩湖中的石柱。
The urn stopped directly over the center of the columns before the collar released and sent it hurtling downward.
瓮停在石柱中心正上方，随后箍环松开，使其猛坠而下。
The heat consumed the urn, but dancing sparks rose above the magma, swirling about and settling down on the boiling surface in the pattern of the Phoenix.
高温吞噬了瓮，但飞舞的火花升腾于岩浆之上，盘旋着以不死鸟的形态沉降在沸腾的表面上。
Kratos stepped back and reached for his swords when a head appeared in the molten rock.
奎托斯后退一步，伸手去取双刃，此时一个头颅出现在熔岩中。
The columns constrained the creature as the magma beneath it rose slowly.
石柱约束着这生物，其下的岩浆缓缓上升。
More and more of the Phoenix’s writhing body was revealed.
不死鸟扭动的身躯越来越多地显现。
Wings formed.
双翼成形。
The beak snapped as the head took on more definition.
鸟喙张合，头部轮廓愈发清晰。
Then the Phoenix arched its back and became whole atop the rising pillar of lava.
随后不死鸟弓起背部，在升起的熔岩柱顶端完整现身。
The Phoenix exploded upward, bursting through the ceiling and leaving behind a hole that showed azure sky beyond.
不死鸟向上爆发，冲破天花板，留下一个洞，露出其后蔚蓝的天空。
Kratos explored and found an elevator to a higher level that overlooked the sea.
奎托斯探索并找到一部通往更高层的升降机，那里可俯瞰大海。
The Phoenix struggled atop the pillar of molten rock, unable to escape.
不死鸟在熔岩柱顶端挣扎，无法逃脱。
Its wings flapped futilely trying to get free.
它徒劳地拍打双翼试图挣脱。
It spun about, but no amount of fury released it from its invisible bonds.
它旋转着，但任何狂怒都无法使其摆脱无形的束缚。
A long horn at the edge of the terrace drew Kratos.
露台边缘的一支长号吸引了奎托斯。
He placed his lips against the horn, remembering how he had summoned Cronos in the Desert of Lost Souls, pursed his lips, and loosed a powerful call.
他将唇贴在号角上，忆起曾在失落灵魂沙漠召唤克洛诺斯的情景，噘起嘴唇，发出一声响亮的召唤。
The resonant note built and radiated outward, encompassing the Phoenix and the column of magma holding it.
洪亮的号音增强并向外辐射，笼罩了不死鸟和承载它的熔岩柱。
The Phoenix shivered as if cold, then shot upward, free of its molten bondage.
不死鸟如受寒般颤抖，随即向上疾冲，摆脱了熔岩的束缚。
Kratos watched as the bird with flaming feathers circled and then settled on a perch halfway between him and the prodigious Phoenix statue with the ivory-and-gold palace in its mouth.
奎托斯注视着这羽毛燃火的巨鸟盘旋，随后栖落在介于他与那尊口含象牙黄金宫殿的宏伟不死鸟雕像之间的栖木上。
He had freed the Phoenix and had won the right to an audience with the Sisters of Fate.
他释放了不死鸟，赢得了觐见命运女神的机会。

第四十三章
“LORD POSEIDON,” Iris said, bowing slightly.
“波塞冬大人，”伊里斯说道，微微欠身。
“I had thought to find King Zeus.”
“我原以为能在此找到宙斯王。”
“In my chambers?”
“在我的寝宫？”
“He is often here since he trusts you above all others,” Iris said.
“他常来此处，因为他信任您胜过其他所有人，”伊里斯说。
She half turned to hide her disdain, sending bits of rainbow from her gown flying around the drab quarters.
她半转过身以掩饰轻蔑，裙裾飞扬间洒出的零星虹彩点缀着这沉闷的居所。
Poseidon lived like a fish.
波塞冬活得像个鱼类。
Her nose wrinkled slightly as the thought crossed her mind that he smelled like one, also.
念头闪过，觉得他闻起来也像条鱼，她的鼻子微微皱起。
“Zeus said that? He trusts me more than he does Hades?”
“宙斯这么说过？他信任我胜过信任哈迪斯？”
“Certainly,” Iris lied.
“当然，”伊里斯撒谎道。
“He would never take any of the other Olympians into his confidence.”
“他绝不会将其他任何奥林匹斯神引为心腹。”
“I did best Oceanus,” Poseidon said thoughtfully.
“我确实击败了俄刻阿诺斯，”波塞冬若有所思地说。
“That was an epic battle and saved Zeus from having to deal with a Titan controlling the waters that girdled the earth.”
“那是一场史诗般的战斗，使宙斯不必再去对付一个掌控环绕大地之水的泰坦。”
Iris looked at him askance.
伊里斯斜睨着他。
“Yes, this must be why Zeus said such a thing about me,” Poseidon went on, puffing himself up.
“是的，这必定是宙斯如此评价我的原因，”波塞冬继续说道，挺起了胸膛。
“Oceanus was not easily vanquished.
“俄刻阿诺斯并非易与之辈。
He had three thousand offspring!
他拥有三千子嗣！
I had to bring every river and lake under my domination to defeat the Titans.
我不得不将每一条河流湖泊都置于我的掌控之下，方能击败泰坦们。
Still,” he said, running fingers through his seaweed beard, “I find it odd that Zeus would trust me so when there are others …”
不过，”他边说边用手指梳理着他海草般的胡须，“当还有其他神选时，宙斯如此信任我，我觉得有些奇怪……”
She sniffed and looked pained.
她轻嗅一下，面露痛楚之色。
“Certainly not Athena.”
“当然不会是雅典娜。”
“Athena? She is his favorite.”
“雅典娜？她是他最宠爱的。”
Poseidon chuckled.
波塞冬轻笑一声。
“I can see why.
“我明白为何。
She has the gift of persuasion.”
她拥有说服的天赋。”
“A thief with her words,” Iris said.
“一个言辞上的窃贼，”伊里斯说。
“How’s that?”
“此话怎讲？”
“Oh, just something I heard Zeus say.
“哦，只是我偶然听到宙斯提起。
But I must find him.
但我必须找到他。
I have an urgent message.
我有紧急消息要传达。
Do you know where he is?”
您可知他在何处？”
“He rushed off to do whatever his anger dictated,” Poseidon said.
“他匆匆离去，去执行他怒火所指的任何事情了，”波塞冬说。
“His wrath has grown of late.”
“近来他的怒气愈盛。”
“Kratos,” she said, nodding as if she agreed with him.
“奎托斯，”她说道，点头仿佛赞同他。
“Kratos provokes him at every turn.
“奎托斯处处激怒他。
It’s a shame none of the Olympians cares enough for Zeus to do anything about that annoying mortal.
真可惜，奥林匹斯众神中无人足够关心宙斯，去处置那个恼人的凡人。
It seems that Kratos allies himself with Gaia, and you know what rabble-rousers those Titans can be.”
看来奎托斯与盖亚结盟了，您也知道那些泰坦是多么擅长煽动乌合之众。”
“What are you saying?” Poseidon bent over and looked at her closely.
“你想说什么？”波塞冬俯身，仔细地盯着她。
Iris tried not to flinch as seaweed from his beard flopped across her face.
波塞冬胡须上的海草拍打到她脸上，伊里斯努力不退缩。
Worse than this saltwater assault, the stench of fish almost made her gag.
比这咸水侵袭更糟的是，那鱼腥味几乎让她作呕。
Zeus always had a strangely pungent odor about him, something like garlic, especially after he had lashed out with his thunderbolt.
宙斯身上总带着一种奇怪的刺鼻气味，类似大蒜，尤其在他释放雷霆之后。
That was bearable, but Poseidon!
那尚可忍受，但波塞冬！
“What everyone knows,” she said carefully.
“众人皆知的事，”她谨慎地说。
“The rumors run rampant that he holds back on dealing with Kratos again because of Athena’s importuning.”
“流言四起，说他因雅典娜的恳求而再次对处置奎托斯一事犹豫不决。”
“She is his favorite,” Poseidon repeated.
“她是他最宠爱的，”波塞冬重复道。
“But he would certainly favor anyone who relieved him of Kratos and his meddling ways.
“但他必定会青睐任何能替他除掉奎托斯及其麻烦事的人。
Zeus is far too hard on himself.”
宙斯对自己太过严苛了。”
“What do you mean?”
“你是什么意思？”
Iris looked hard at Poseidon and saw he was soaking up her every word like a sponge from his underwater kingdom.
伊里斯紧紧盯着波塞冬，看出他像他海底王国的海绵一样吸收着她的每句话。
Trying not to laugh at his gullibility proved more difficult than the lies she told so glibly.
强忍住不嘲笑他的轻信，比流畅地说出那些谎言还要困难。
“He blames himself for elevating Kratos to the throne, although it was entirely Athena’s doing.
“他将提拔奎托斯登上王位归咎于自己，尽管那完全是雅典娜一手造成的。
She hated Ares and used Kratos to kill him, then thought she could control the new God of War.
她憎恨阿瑞斯，利用奎托斯杀了他，然后以为她能控制新任战神。
Kratos proved too obstinate for that.
结果证明奎托斯太过顽固，不受控制。
Once a mortal, always a mortal.”
一日为凡人，终身为凡人。”
“He would show great favor to anyone killing Kratos?”
“他会对任何杀死奎托斯的人示以重赏？”
“I am sure Zeus is on a pilgrimage now to think about this matter away from the Olympian hubbub.”
“我确信宙斯此刻正在某处静修，远离奥林匹斯的喧嚣以思考此事。”
“He’s not going to kill Kratos himself?”
“他不打算亲手杀死奎托斯？”
“I hardly think so.
“我可不这么认为。
Not even Zeus dares oppose the Sisters of Fate,” Iris said.
即便是宙斯也不敢与命运女神作对，”伊里斯说。
“But I do need to find him.
“但我确实需要找到他。
I have important messages.”
我有重要的消息。”
She hesitated because Poseidon pursed his lips but did not come to the conclusion she had hoped he might.
她迟疑了一下，因为波塞冬噘起了嘴唇，却未得出她所期望的结论。
“You don’t know where he is? Perhaps finding a way to deal with Kratos that would not anger Athena?
“您不知道他在哪儿？或许在寻找一种既能对付奎托斯又不激怒雅典娜的方法？
A way of killing Kratos.”
一种杀死奎托斯的方法。”
The God of the Oceans smiled cruelly.
这位海洋之神露出了残忍的微笑。
“Now, what could kill a crafty warrior like the Ghost of Sparta?”
“那么，有什么能杀死像斯巴达的亡魂那样狡诈的战士呢？”
“I don’t know, Lord Poseidon, but a god of sufficient daring and power would,” Iris said.
“我不知道，波塞冬大人，但一位足够胆大且强大的神或许可以，”伊里斯说。
She silently added, But I am sure I will find out soon.
她在心中默默补充：但我确信我很快就会知道了。
All of Olympus will find out!
整个奥林匹斯都会知道的！