 Several of the Olympian Gods — Artemis , Hades , Helios , Hermes , and Poseidon — decide to enter into a wager with Ares . Each will choose a champion who is in search of the Ambrosia , with the successful god receiving an award ( e.g. , having statues erected in their honor across Greece ) . Kratos kills two of the champions — <unk> and <unk> — and repels attacks by monsters sent by the gods to thwart him . A desperate Hades kills Nikos , who sacrifices himself to save Kratos , passing on the rank of Captain . Danaus is killed by Alrik , who retains Danaus ' head to possess his magical ability . Kratos locates the " Tree of Life " , the source of the Ambrosia located on a small island , and confronts Cereyon . After being almost burned alive , Kratos drowns his foe and successfully retrieves the Ambrosia , but as he leaves , he and his Spartan troops are ambushed by Alrik 's horde of barbarians . When Hades observes the Spartans defeating the Barbarians , the god attempts to have the Spartans dragged to the Underworld . Alrik uses the head of Danaus to summon <unk> to attack Kratos as he flies away on a similar bird with the stolen Ambrosia . Kratos pursues Alrik on a captured <unk> , knowing that although his men will be taken to the Underworld , they will be honored in Sparta for their sacrifices . Alrik and Kratos battle , with Alrik critically wounding Kratos . The Spartan , however , is sprayed by the Ambrosia and subsequently healed . 
