Liam Reed crouched in the shadows of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's parking lot, the Spear of Lug throbbing in his hand. The facility's neoclassical façade belied its true purpose—Project Yggdrasil's final stronghold, where Elara Reed had merged Cold War-era technology with Druidic magic to weaponize the World Tree's power. Aisling's abduction note burned in his pocket: "Come alone, or the stag god dies with her."
Finn Thorsen materialized beside him, his Norse features sharpened by rage. "Security's tight—military-grade drones and MI6 operatives," he growled, nodding at the rooftop laser grid. "Old Sean's tracking Aisling's Druidic signature to Level B3… but the elevator's locked."
Liam's gaze locked onto the main entrance. The scales on his neck pulsed with stolen serpent power, while golden veins spiderwebbed across his knuckles—the stag's influence. "I'll draw their fire," he said, already moving. "You find the service tunnels."
Before Finn could protest, Liam charged. The Spear of Lug crackled, its lightning slicing through the front doors. Alarms blared as guards opened fire, but Liam's scales absorbed the bullets, transforming them into harmless sparks. *"WHERE IS SHE?"* he roared, voice now a dual growl.
A holographic projection flickered to life—a younger Elara, smiling coldly. *"Impressive, Liam. But you're too late."* The image dissolved, revealing a glass elevator descending from the roof. Inside stood Aisling, bound and gagged, her Druidic staff glowing weakly. Below her, the elevator shaft pulsed with bioluminescent roots—the World Tree's corrupted network.
Finn's voice crackled in Liam's earpiece. "I'm in the tunnels. There's a maintenance hatch—"
He never finished. A figure emerged from the shadows, silver hair glowing like moonlight. *"Hello, Finn."* Elara Reed raised a Druidic dagger, its blade etched with Norse runes. *"Your dragon's curse isn't the only secret I've kept."*
Finn's body convulsed. Scales erupted across his face, and his eyes glowed crimson. *"Níðhöggr…"* he gasped, falling to his knees.
Elara laughed. *"Did you truly believe I'd let you walk free?"* She plunged the dagger into his chest. Black smoke billowed from the wound, coalescing into a spectral serpent that coiled around her arm. *"The dragon's essence is mine now."*
Liam's vision reddened. He hurled the Spear of Lug, but Elara vanished, reappearing beside Aisling's elevator. *"Join me, Liam,"* she called, pressing her palm to the glass. *"We'll reshape the world… together."*
The elevator doors hissed open. Aisling's eyes widened as she saw Finn's crumpled form. *"No…"* she whispered.
Liam sprinted toward her, but the elevator began to descend. He dove, catching the edge just as it plunged into the shaft. Below him, the World Tree's roots writhed, their black flowers opening to reveal rows of teeth.
Aisling kicked at the glass, but it held. *"The roots are feeding on her magic!"* she shouted.
Liam channeled the stag's power, heating the Spear until it glowed white-hot. He stabbed downward, shattering the elevator's floor. Acidic sap sprayed upward, dissolving his scales. *"Hold on!"* he roared, grabbing Aisling's hand as they plummeted into the darkness.
They landed in a cavernous chamber, its walls lined with tanks of preserved humanoid hybrids—failed attempts to merge Druidic and Norse magic. At the center stood a massive bio-reactor, its core pulsing with stolen godly energy.
"Welcome to the future," Elara said, emerging from the shadows. Behind her, Finn staggered forward, now fully transformed into a dragon hybrid, his voice a guttural growl. *"Kill them."*
Finn lunged, claws extended. Liam pushed Aisling aside, blocking the attack with the Spear. Lightning surged between them, but Finn's scales absorbed the energy. *"Fight it!"* Liam shouted.
Finn hesitated, his eyes flickering with brief clarity. *"Run…"* he whispered.
Elara's laughter echoed. *"Too late."* She activated a control panel, and the bio-reactor began to destabilize. *"The World Tree's roots will erupt, merging this reality with the Void. The stag and serpent will be reborn… as my servants."*
Aisling raised her staff, summoning a vine to bind Elara. But Elara's dagger slashed through it, releasing a blast of dark energy that hurled Aisling into a tank. The glass cracked, and acidic sap began to leak.
Liam charged, Spear raised. Elara sidestepped, slashing his arm. The wound smoked, dissolving his flesh to reveal bone. *"You're not a god, Liam."* She pressed the dagger to his throat. *"You're a mistake."*
The bio-reactor's alarms blared. The World Tree's roots burst through the ceiling, their flowers vomiting black spores. Aisling coughed, blood trickling from her lips. *"Liam… the core."*
Liam understood. He seized Elara's wrist, forcing the dagger into his own chest. The blade pierced his heart, but instead of dying, his body absorbed the energy—gold and silver light erupting from the wound. *"You're right,"* he said, voice echoing with a thousand voices. *"I'm not a god… I'm the bridge."*
He slammed his palm into the bio-reactor. The core exploded, energy surging through the World Tree's roots. The black flowers wilted, and the Void rift began to close. Finn collapsed, his dragon form fading. Elara screamed, her immortality failing as the stolen godly energy dissipated.
Liam staggered to Aisling's side, healing her wounds with golden light. *"We need to leave."*
But Elara wasn't finished. She grabbed a vial of black liquid—Níðhöggr's essence—and injected it into her veins. Her body contorted, scales erupting across her skin. *"I'll become the serpent's avatar… and drown this world."*
Liam raised the Spear. *"Not today."*
He drove the weapon into the ground, channeling the stag's power. The World Tree's roots surged upward, binding Elara in a cage of living wood. She thrashed, but the roots tightened, draining her energy. *"You'll pay for this!"*
Liam ignored her. He helped Aisling to her feet, then turned to Finn. *"Can you walk?"*
Finn nodded, though his eyes still glowed faintly. *"Barely."*
They staggered toward the elevator shaft, but the World Tree's roots blocked their path. Aisling raised her staff, summoning a Druidic portal. *"This will take us to the Well of Shadows… but it's risky."*
Liam stepped through first, emerging into the Cliffs of Moher's ruins. The Well of Shadows had been destroyed, but the World Tree's roots still pulsed beneath the earth. *"It's over,"* he said, collapsing onto the grass.
Aisling knelt beside him. *"No… it's just beginning."* She pointed to the horizon. Dozens of black ships bearing Celtic spirals and Norse runes approached—Elara's allies, come to claim the Bound God.
Finn laughed bitterly. *"Looks like we'll need a bigger army."*
Liam closed his eyes, feeling the stag and serpent's power ebb. *"We'll find one."*