Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The battlefield was a storm of chaos. Sanctuary warriors clashed with swamp creatures in every direction, their weapons flashing and spells lighting up the murky air. Monsters continued to pour from the shadows of the marsh, their sheer numbers almost overwhelming the sanctuary's forces.

Despite the intensity, the warriors of the sanctuary fought with relentless precision, their training under Vorgrim shining through as they cut down enemies with fluid grace.

Meanwhile, the disaster-ranked creatures were locked in their own deadly confrontations, shaking the earth with their immense power. Solara and the Queen Lamia's battle raged on, sending shockwaves that reverberated across the swamp. The sounds of claws meeting scales and spells shattering the air echoed like thunder.

Suddenly, a deafening roar tore through the battlefield. The sound was primal, ancient, and carried with it a surge of raw, uncontrollable energy. It was the roar of something colossal, something ancient and far more dangerous than anything the warriors had faced thus far. The roar echoed in the hearts of both monsters and warriors, sending a shudder through the air.

"ROAAAAAAAH!"

The roar was unmistakable—a sound that could send even the bravest warrior into a momentary panic. It reverberated through the swamp like an earthquake, shaking trees, causing ripples in the marsh water, and making the monsters already battling even more frenzied.

It was as though the roar itself had ignited a wildfire of madness in the creatures of the marsh, sending them into an uncontrollable berserker rage.

Sanctuary warriors who had been holding their ground suddenly found themselves swarmed by increasingly aggressive enemies. The fight had escalated to a whole new level.

"Canna-sama!" Noctis's voice rang in his mind, an edge of concern in his usually calm tone. "I think something's very wrong."

Canna narrowed his eyes, gazing toward the source of the roar. Slowly rising from the ground, a massive figure began to emerge. Towering above the swamp, its scales gleaming a deep, earthen brown, the creature's sheer size made it clear this was no ordinary beast.

As it stood tall, its full form became visible—a colossal Earth Drake, at least 150 feet in height, with stone-like scales that seemed impenetrable. Its eyes glowed with a deep, malevolent intelligence, and its body was covered in moss and vines as if it had risen from the earth itself.

Noctis spoke again, his voice tense. "That's not a disaster-ranked creature, Canna-sama. It's a Catastrophe rank—an Earth Drake."

Canna's gaze locked onto the towering form of the Earth Drake. His eyes flared with anticipation as the realization sank in. The creature wasn't just a powerful monster; it was a calculated trap. They had been lured deep into the marsh, away from the marsh's entrance.

Flora's voice came through their connection, her tone grave. "It's a trap, Master. That thing's been masking its aura, making it seem like a disaster rank to lure us deeper. What are your orders?"

Canna didn't flinch. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he watched the Earth Drake turn its gaze on him. The sheer size of the beast would have been enough to make anyone tremble, but not Canna. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Sygon," Canna asked with a raised brow, "I'm pretty sure this isn't the Earth Drake you fought, right?"

Sygon, standing rigid beside him, barely managed to respond, his voice trembling. "N-no, Canna-sama… This one is… much bigger. Stronger." His usual confident demeanor was clearly shaken by the immense power radiating from the drake.

Canna's smile only grew wider, a gleam of challenge in his eyes. "Time to see how we fare against a catastrophe rank, then." He raised his hand and spoke, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Noctis, connect me to all the warriors."

"Of course, Master. You're live."

"My warriors!" Canna's voice thundered through the battlefield. "We've got ourselves a real opponent here today! Keep doing what you're doing—retreat only when necessary. Time to enjoy this hunt to the fullest!"

As his words echoed, a massive bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, crashing into the marsh with a deafening boom. It lit up the night sky, drawing all eyes to the center of the swamp.

In the midst of the lightning strike stood Canna, his form now fully visible, wearing his regal robes enhanced by the dwarves of the sanctuary. In one hand, he held his scythe, crackling with electricity, arcs of lightning dancing across its blade. His presence alone seemed to charge the very air around him with energy.

"Time to even the field," Canna declared with a smirk.

As if on command, two massive red portals opened behind him. From one emerged Aurelis, the golden lion, his radiant mane glowing brightly against the gloom of the marsh, banishing the darkness with his very presence. His golden fur gleamed, casting a warm, powerful light that made the monsters flinch.

From the second portal came Terrorfang, the colossal crimson gorilla, equally 150 feet tall. His presence was imposing, his muscles bulging with strength, his eyes burning with fury. The ground trembled beneath his weight as he landed, letting out a roar that challenged even the Earth Drake's might.

Canna's voice rang out again, clear and full of authority. "Mortem, release your collections. Have Grakthar join me as well."

A ripple in the air signaled the release of Mortem's undead forces—his skeletal warriors and shadowy apparitions moving to surround the battlefield. At Canna's side, Sygon's eyes were wide with awe, but the fire of determination blazed within him. He was ready.

"Aurelis, Terrorfang, Sygon," Canna called out, his voice carrying through the battlefield. "To me."

The Earth Drake roared once more, its booming cry shaking the very ground beneath them as it stared down at the two massive beasts that had now joined Canna's side. The battle that had been brewing in the swamp, full of monsters and disaster-ranked beings, was about to escalate into something far more monumental.

The warriors of the sanctuary could only look on from the distance, awe and fear gripping them as they realized that the true fight—the battle between the most powerful beings in the marsh—was about to begin.