Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The red portal to the domain opened up once more, and out stepped Canna. His usual carefree demeanor was noticeably absent, replaced instead by an expression of deep frustration, as though he had just lost a significant wager. Those who caught sight of him couldn't help but feel a ripple of curiosity. It was rare to see Canna look anything less than relaxed and confident, and now, he seemed...

troubled. But before anyone could muster the courage to ask if something was wrong, Canna vanished, teleporting away in the blink of an eye.

He reappeared in the Sanctuary's newly constructed meeting room, an impressive space crafted meticulously by the dwarves under his command. At the center of the room was a large, round table, made from a variety of rare stones and metals. Each segment of the table represented a different region of Sepra, its intricate inlays forming a mosaic that was both a map and a symbol of unity.

The surface gleamed under the soft, ambient light of the chandelier above, which was forged from black iron and adorned with glimmering crystals that caught the light like stars. The room itself had a rustic charm, its walls built from sturdy stone bricks that gave it the look of an ancient fortress chamber.

Wooden cabinets lined the walls, filled with scrolls and ancient tomes, while a large, blank slate stood on one side, ready to be filled with strategies and plans.

Canna's voice cut through the silence. "Mortem, summon the rest and Kael. I need to have a word with them."

From Canna's shadow, a dark shape detached itself and morphed into Mortem, a shadowy figure with eyes that glowed like cold blue flames. He nodded curtly, acknowledging Canna's command, and then melted back into the shadows, vanishing from sight.

Within minutes, Vorgrim, Grimruk, Flora, Elandra, and Kael entered the meeting room, each one taking a seat around the round table. They all noticed the grim expression on Canna's face and instinctively knew this was no ordinary meeting. They settled into their chairs, their eyes fixed on their leader, waiting for him to speak.

Canna cleared his throat, breaking the tension that had settled over the room. "No need for any pleasantries. Prepare for war."

A wave of shock rippled through the group. Kael was the first to recover, letting out a sigh. "Let me guess… Tonitrum?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Canna nodded, his expression still serious. "Yes. I need a subordinate that can gather information more quickly and efficiently. I don't want to spend more time outside the Sanctuary than I have to and I came to him for the corpses."

Vorgrim, ever the warrior, spoke up next. "Who will be the poor souls facing our wrath this time, my liege?"

Canna sighed deeply. "Mortem, you have the details."

Mortem stood, his shadowy presence commanding attention. "We've already conducted reconnaissance. This will not be like the previous skirmishes. This time, we're facing an army of green orcs—numbering approximately 1.5 million. The weakest among them is a C-Rank, while their leader is a Disaster-Rank."

Gasps filled the room again. A Disaster-Rank was no trivial matter. In the world of Sepra, ranks defined the strength and threat level of an individual or creature. A Disaster-Rank was feared for good reason—capable of causing widespread devastation, laying waste to cities, and turning battles with a single swing of their weapon or a cast of their spell.

The room fell silent, each of them processing the gravity of the situation. Canna knew that this battle would not be easy. His domain's strongest warriors, were only True-Calamity Rank. They had never faced a foe of this magnitude before.

Canna continued, "According to Tonitrum, he wants the green orcs cleared out in the next six months. Only then will he provide the corpses I need for my next subordinate."

Kael shook his head, concern etched on his face. "Is this really worth it, Canna? We already have a good thing going here. The Sanctuary is thriving, our people are safe, and we're making progress on all fronts. Do we really need to engage in a war that could cost us dearly?" Stay connected with empire

Canna smiled, a hint of warmth breaking through his otherwise serious demeanor. "Kael, since our days in the dungeon, I've known Tonitrum to be a ruthless, violence-loving maniac. But there's always a reason behind what he asks me to do. Always. And this time, I believe there's more at stake than he's letting on." He paused, looking around at each of his closest allies, gauging their resolve.

"Mortem, fill them in more about the orcs."

Mortem nodded and continued, "We have six months. The ones who will be fighting are myself, master, Vorgrim, Grimruk, and Flora. Elandra and Kael, your roles will be to continue running the Sanctuary in our absence. Sylvanar and the other three legendary beings will be on standby, ready to defend if necessary."

Canna added, "The green orcs are not just a mindless horde. They're organized, disciplined, and they have a hierarchy. Their leader, the Disaster-Rank, is known as Grakthar the Ravager. He's a cunning strategist, not just a brute. Underestimating him would be a fatal mistake."

Vorgrim leaned forward, his face set in determination. "Then we prepare. We train harder, faster, and smarter. We use every resource at our disposal. If we're going to face a Disaster-Rank, we need to be at our absolute best."

Grimruk, who had been silent until now, nodded in agreement. "I'll start sharpening my weapons. We'll need every advantage we can get. Training will be relentless. There's no room for error."

Flora, her usually calm and serene face now showing a hint of worry, spoke softly. "I'll prepare the healing stations and make sure we have enough supplies. If we're going to war, we must be ready for casualties. I just hope we don't lose anyone.."

Elandra, always the voice of reason, chimed in. "We must also consider our defenses here. If the battle doesn't go as planned, we need to ensure the Sanctuary remains protected. I'll work with the Sylphirs and Verdant Wardens to reinforce our magical barriers."

Canna listened to his allies, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. These were the people who had fought beside him through thick and thin, who had shared in his victories and defeats. And now, they were ready to face their greatest challenge yet.

"Good," Canna said finally. "Then we prepare for war. This won't be easy, but we've faced impossible odds before and come out on top. We'll do it again. I want your ranks up by 6 months, we'll be going under closed training"

As the meeting came to an end, there was a renewed sense of determination in the room. They all knew the risks, but they also knew that with Canna leading them, they had a fighting chance. The Sanctuary would be ready, and they would fight with everything they had.