Sanctuary: Safe Haven

With the arrival of Mortem on the battlefield, a wave of relief washed over the sanctuary warriors. Mortem's presence meant one thing—an overwhelming surge of undead reinforcements. His aura alone sent a ripple of fear through the marsh, and the sanctuary fighters, who had been slowly losing ground, straightened their stances, emboldened by the arrival of their commander of the undead.

As if responding to an unspoken command, the marsh seemed to stir with renewed energy. Dark shadows shifted, and from the fog-covered edges of the swamp, an army of undead orcs appeared, their massive, rotting bodies stepping forward in synchronized unison.
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These were no ordinary undead—these were the remnants of Grakthar's infamous clan, now serving Mortem in death as they had once served Grakthar in life. Thousands of green-skinned, battle-worn orcs surged forth like a tidal wave, their glowing eyes burning with a fierce, unholy fire.

Mortem's voice echoed in the minds of the undead . "Aid our allies. Slaughter every marsh-born abomination in sight."

The undead orcs needed no further instruction. With terrifying efficiency, they charged into the fray, their enormous weapons cleaving through swamp monsters as if they were made of paper. Bog Serpents were torn apart by axe swings, Leech Horrors were crushed underfoot, and Mirelurkers fell beneath the relentless onslaught of swords and spears.

The undead did not flinch as they were struck; they did not waver as claws and fangs tore at their decaying flesh. These were warriors beyond pain, beyond fear, driven solely by the command to destroy.

The sanctuary warriors who had been fighting tooth and nail suddenly found themselves supported on all sides by the monstrous strength of their undead allies. Though many had been pushed back by the overwhelming numbers of the marsh's monsters, Mortem's arrival turned the tide completely. Orcs that had fallen in previous battles now rose again, their loyalty to Mortem unwavering even in death.

Meanwhile, Mortem sent two of his strongest undead orc generals to the battlefields where Zephyros and Solara fought. These ferocious warriors, were sent to assist and wasted no time in leaping into battle. Their singular goal was to help Zephyros and Solara finish off their respective opponents as quickly as possible.

The faster they won, the faster they could turn their strength toward aiding Canna in his own fight.

In the center of the marsh, the atmosphere was charged with tension. The air itself crackled with energy as the towering figure of the Catastrophe-ranked Earth Drake loomed over the battlefield. It stood over 150 feet tall, its colossal form covered in rock-like scales that shimmered with earthy magic.

Its eyes glowed with a primal, ancient intelligence, and its every movement sent tremors through the ground. The creatures of the marsh, normally aggressive, now seemed to scurry away in terror from the Catastrophe beast's presence.

Canna, floating high above the marsh, observed the drake's movements with a calm intensity. His eyes narrowed as he formulated a plan in his mind. This wasn't a foe that could be fought head-on without strategy. The Earth Drake's strength was immense—he wouldn't last two hits from it if he tried to take it directly. No, for this fight, he would have to rely on his allies and act as support.

Terrorfang, the 150-foot crimson gorilla, was already in position, cracking his knuckles and letting out a low growl. His immense size and powerful build made him the natural tank for this battle. His role was clear: hold the Earth Drake's attention and absorb its devastating blows.

On the other side, Aurelis, the radiant golden lion, prowled with regal grace. His mane glowed brightly, casting a golden hue across the battlefield. Aurelis would be the heavy hitter. His claws were sharp enough to cut through the drake's rocky hide, and his radiant light would serve to disorient and blind the massive beast.

Canna held his scythe tight, lightning crackling along its length. His role was to support—targeting weak spots, providing crowd control, and striking with precision where it counted. His lightning affinity was his greatest weapon here, and he planned to use it to maximum effect.

The Earth Drake roared, its deafening voice sending shockwaves across the marsh. It raised its massive claws and brought them down toward Terrorfang, intending to crush the gorilla with a single blow.

Terrorfang responded with speed that defied his size, stepping to the side just in time to avoid the strike. The ground shook violently as the drake's claws hit the earth, leaving a deep crater in its wake. Without missing a beat, Terrorfang lunged forward and swung his massive fist, landing a blow on the drake's chest.

The impact reverberated through the air, but the drake's stone-like scales absorbed much of the force.

In that moment, Canna acted. "Lightning Condensation!" he shouted, and with a swift motion of his scythe, he summoned a concentrated bolt of mana-infused lightning. It crackled through the air like a serpent, striking the Earth Drake directly in one of its eyes. The beast let out a furious bellow as its vision blurred.

Aurelis wasted no time. With a ferocious leap, the golden lion slashed at the drake's side, his claws glowing with radiant energy. The drake's scales, though tough, couldn't fully withstand Aurelis' attack. Deep wounds appeared on the drake's side, and it roared in pain.

Sygon, the mighty white-furred minotaur, charged forward with Grakthar's undead warriors at his side. The moment Aurelis had created an opening, Sygon and the undead rushed to exploit it. With a mighty swing of his axe, Sygon targeted the wounded area, striking the drake's flesh with all his strength.

The shockwave from his weapon's enchanted power rippled through the drake's body, deepening the wound even further.

The drake thrashed in fury, its tail whipping around violently. It struck one of the undead orc warriors, sending it flying into the marsh with a resounding crash. But Grakthar's forces, undeterred, pressed the attack, swarming the beast's legs and back.

Flora, standing at the rear of the battlefield, kept her focus on healing and support. Her vines weaved through the marsh, wrapping around the legs of the Earth Drake, anchoring it in place. Her spores floated through the air, subtly weakening the drake's movements, slowing it just enough to give Canna and his allies an advantage.

"Again!" Canna shouted, summoning another bolt of condensed lightning. This time, he aimed for the drake's ear, causing it to shake its massive head in frustration. Blinded and disoriented by the continuous strikes, the Earth Drake's attacks grew wild and reckless.

Terrorfang saw his opportunity and moved in again, his massive fists slamming into the drake's chest, further destabilizing it. Aurelis followed up with another slash to its side, his claws digging deeper into the already open wounds.

The battle was far from over, but the sanctuary warriors were slowly turning the tide. Every strike, every coordinated attack, brought them closer to victory. The marsh was alive with the sounds of battle—monsters falling, warriors clashing, and the Catastrophe Earth Drake roaring in pain and fury.

Canna grinned as he floated above, watching the chaos unfold. "Let's see how long you can last, you overgrown lizard," he muttered to himself as he prepared another lightning strike.

The fight against the Earth Drake had only just begun, and the warriors of the sanctuary were ready to give it everything they had.