the way Wander did, except while being better than him. 😛
Cronos' strength is currently up for debate, it's based on GoW Atlas being the same as Atlas from myth, despite there being nothing to support that, and then Cronos being comparable to him in strength, based on a scene where physical strength could nto possibly have been the decisive factor. This, by extension would prove Kratos' strength, and by more extension, Zeus'.
So yeah. Also, Kratos can't deflect lightning in real time, it was telegraphed and I have posted screenshots before proving just that, he absorbed it through his weapons, which is retarded, by holding them out when Zeus threw the lightning.
In skill? Kratos has no showings of this that I can see putting him above Link. 😬
The master sword is = to the triforce in powerscale (not powerset, that would defeat the point in being a failsafe to the triforce... So different abilities, but on the same level.)
Link, while not as physicly strong as Kratos or the others, is physicly strong enough, with that sword, being all evil smitey, to harm Kratos. He's better in a sword fight, has better demonstrable striking speed, has a shield, and has better options at range. (Light arrows.)
There's also the whole time travel thing that provides him with an instant win. 😐