Draiodh didn’t really recognize the power of the gods. They realized they were born of the gods and could become one themselves if given enough time. Instead, Draoidh believes that the only true divine power is the cycle of life and death. Some children from other pantheons call this Samsara or the wheel of life. Karma is the actions we take during life that leave a mark on our souls. Those marks enter Samsara with us, meaning death may not reset the balance owed—good or bad.

~Mother Danu, The Primordial Goddess of Nature

Mugna looked nothing like the old man Crow was used to seeing. Deep inside Father Oak, he was busy using the materials Gavin provided to create a massive formation at least twenty meters wide. He carved each line into the smoothed root with the tips of his gnarled staff.

Gavin assisted him and created the power nodes where they’d insert Mana Crystals. These crystals were Earth Rank High-Grade, and the formation required a dozen. Conall brought them back last time he entered the tower, so they were scarce. In his entire life, Gavin had maybe seen a hundred crystals of this level or higher. Either way, it was enough to power the formation for roughly a hundred years.

The last component to finish the formation was the blood of Druids. They used a container mixed with the blood and other materials and slowly filled the lines carved on the floor.

“You sure this is going to work?” Gavin asked. “I’ve never seen something like this before.”

“Compared to me, you are just a child,” Mugna laughed. “Besides, isn’t this all part of your planning? By the way, how did you know Crow would use the Three for Seven ritual? I’ve wanted to ask for a while now.”

“I didn’t. Hell, I still don’t even know where he heard about that ritual. I think the damned Librarian has been feeding him forbidden books.”

“It has been, but nothing like that. Unless that thing is more clever than I thought,” Mugna said, but inwardly he was sure the clockwork man contained a bigger secret. He just wasn’t sure what that was.

“Not that I doubt you, but are you absolutely positive Crow didn’t actually curse the Teonet clan? I don’t want to add a curse’s backlash to the list of wrongs piled on the boy.”

“You can rest easy. The feeling of fate or karma wasn’t the curse, but me activating the summons for Mother Danu. It is time the Druid Order rise, or it’ll be too late. The clans are getting weaker, so we need to reach the upper realms before you are all too weak. You’ve got the blood of the Tuatha De Danann in your veins, and yet you think Druid bloodline amounts to just this. We need to get your people off this low-tier planet.”

Gavin had heard this argument before, and while he agreed, it wasn’t like the Druid Order hadn’t tried. The shattered tower was their only avenue to the upper realms, and the damaged floors made it all but impossible.

“Mother Danu is really coming?” Gavin asked, changing the subject before they got too far off track. “If it did and we try to fake it, that could have some serious backlash.”

“Yes, and no. Danu is a primordial goddess, so her original body would destroy this place. An avatar of hers will make an appearance within the tower. Those realms are more stable, but I’m afraid it will limit her aid to that of the highest Shield. You know we wouldn’t have to do any of this if it wasn’t for the Witch Doctors. Their Hex has stabilized, and now they can turn corpses into puppets. Their army grows daily by attacking sects and clans and then turning the corpses into soldiers. Do you know why we need the Beastmen as allies?”

“No.”

“Their constitution makes them immune to Corpse Blood. They can physically fight against those puppets without being harmed or turned. At least for now. Doesn’t matter. If the Witch Doctors had remained in the shadows, then I’d never have pushed this plan forward. Crow is like a grandson, and that I had to use him makes me feel like a monster.”

“I love the boy too, but it was him or the entire Druid Order. Even if you asked him, he’d have volunteered to help. Don’t beat yourself up too badly. You are doing this for the greater good, but I’m doing this for vengeance. We’ve let Crow suffer too much already, and Niall has barely kept his temper these last few months,” Gavin said.

A hole formed in the sidewall, and Mugna pointed toward it.

“Alright, head down the western root. It’ll take you where you need to go,” Mugna said and laughed when he saw Gavin’s face. “Did you really think my roots only went as far as my canopy? Get real. After today, I’ll have tapped into every continent, including the planet’s hollow core.”

Gavin shook his head and left. Mugna tapped the core of the formation, and the wood rippled underfoot like waves on a lake. He closed his eyes and sent his consciousness into the Arena. No one was powerful enough to sense his presence, but Eoghan knew he was there.

***

*Let’s begin.*

Eoghan subtly nodded and turned his glare toward Cameron Belgae. The man in charge of Honor by Combat reviews and submitting the summons.

“Elder Belgae, you better have an explanation for why this boy has fought in so many fights. I refuse to believe he has built up that much enmity.”

“They were all legit grievances!” Cameron shouted out. “You dare slander me?”

“Crow Maddox, did you keep all the challenge letters?”

“I did,” Crow said and stepped forward to hand them over.

“Six fights with the Belgae clan alone? Four with the Duncan clan. Two with the—”

Father Oak’s branches swayed, and the entire northern continent shook. Eoghan, who’d been expecting it, went silent. These kinds of theatrics were on a whole other level, but only a handful of people knew it was mostly for show. Every Druid felt their bloodline quivering, and no one dared breathe. Eoghan winced inwardly, knowing what was about to happen. All Druids felt that pulse because the formation below was seeking a specific bloodline. Only Mara would remain unharmed.

Still inside Teonet’s manor, Esme looked up to see a cursed leaf crumble to dust and her hands started shaking. Her skin lost some of its luster and elasticity. She blamed herself for her family’s curse as she looked up toward Father Oak’s canopy and silently prayed. Piety was something she learned in the last few months.

Pressure billowed out from Father Oak, and he pressed down on everyone across the entire continent. Even the coastal clans felt his presence as he made himself known.

“Clan Teonet, a curse has activated. Prepare yourselves…” Mugna’s voice rolled across the continent. Many hidden experts looked toward the center of the continent with curiosity. The timing of it all had everyone in the arena turning to look toward Crow.

“Gods be merciful…” the boy who Crow had just fought stood next to him.

“They tried,” Crow said. “But Teonet thought they could defy them.” It wasn’t that Crow lacked sympathy, but toward the plight of the Teonet clan, he was indifferent. They dared scheme against him, and now they were reaping the consequences. Still, Mara was his good friend, and he honestly didn’t want to see her suffering. It put him at odds with his anger.

“Heavens, what has your clan done?” Mugna whispered, but the sound still carried across the land. Everyone turned to look at the Teonet clan members that were in the crowd. In front of everyone, those clansmen visibly aged, eyes sunk into their skulls, and flesh turned ashen.

Eoghan had to stop himself from shaking his head at Mugna’s shamelessness. That Crow boy rubbed off on that old man way too much. It was this curse that made Eoghan hesitate to get behind this plan. Stealing thirty percent of all of Teonet clan’s vitality was harsh.

“You’ve invoked One Step into the Grave, which will curse your blood for a hundred years. As you’ve noticed, it takes away thirty percent of your vitality,” Mugna informed them, but unknown to them, he was standing in the center of an activated formation. If he wanted to reason it, Mugna could claim he was operating on behalf of karma, but not even he dared taunt cosmic powers to that degree.

The horrified looks on the faces in the crowd mirrored Crow’s own. However, if people thought it ended there, they were dead wrong.

“Cameron Belgae, and the entire Belgae clan, I hereby revoke your rank and privilege, and exile your clan from Oiche and surrounding regions. Your actions dishonor the Druid Order. Everyone except your elders may renounce the name Belgae and join other clans. The continuation of your bloodline is the only mercy I’ll grant. You have one hour to vacate all properties, land, and manors, which you will cede to the Maddox clan for crimes against their younger generation. Leave. Clan Teonet, consider this an opportunity to balance your karma with the Maddox clan. Assist the Maddox clan in claiming said properties and ensure the Belgae leaves Oiche peacefully. You should understand what I’m telling you.”

Eoghan coughed lightly, shifted nervously. No one else was paying attention to him, but Crow was close enough to hear it. He already had his suspicions and felt that this announcement wasn’t because of him. He was the excuse, the catalyst. Was this all because of the war?

“All clans!” Mugna’s voice boomed once more. “Rulaney clan has turned traitor. We have empirical evidence that they’ve consorted with the Blood Ember Sect. Their actions have jeopardized the entire Druid Order. All clan heads will take part in uprooting this clan—if you do not, you will be branded as a traitor and summarily executed. That said, we still honor tradition and will spare mothers, children, and mortals—provided they do not take up arms. As an incentive, the Druid Councill will auction off all Rulaney properties inside Oiche. To make it fair, only clans with a thousand experts or fewer may bid. Anything belonging to Rulaney gained outside the canopy is yours to keep.”

Crow realized this was the carrot and the stick. None of the original clans could take part in this auction. It gave some of the smaller clans a chance to fill in the power gap.

“Crow Maddox. All future duels are canceled, except one. The council has agreed that Munro Duncan’s grievance is the only valid one among them. You will fight in three weeks, giving you ten days to recover before the Trial of Tur Briste. Do you have any complaints?”

“I do not,” Crow said and placed his fist over his source while bowing toward Father Oak. Not even he dared break the solemnity of this moment.