Chapter 5: Betrayal in the Ranks

The rogue gods were not without their tricks, and soon, Karcel discovered that one of her own allies had betrayed her. Dren, the God of the Wild, had secretly allied himself with one of the rogue gods, seeking to use the chaos of the war to claim more power for himself.

Karcel's heart ached at the betrayal. Dren had been a trusted friend for centuries, but now, he stood against her.

"You were my brother," Karcel said, her voice heavy with sorrow as they faced each other across the battlefield.

"I did what I had to," Dren replied, his eyes cold. "The balance is broken, Karcel. You can't restore it. But I can reshape the world in my image."

Karcel shook her head. "The balance isn't something you can control. It exists beyond all of us."

But Dren would not listen. With a roar, he unleashed his power, summoning the wild forces of nature to strike at Karcel. The ground trembled, and vines snaked toward her, but Karcel was ready.

With a sweep of her hand, she called upon the light of creation, severing Dren's connection to the wilds. The vines withered, and the ground stilled.

"Goodbye, Dren," Karcel whispered, as she struck the final blow.