Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Two days had now passed since the massive hunt in the marshlands, and the air in the sanctuary was buzzing with anticipation.

Noctis had finally finished tallying up the results of the hunt, and everyone gathered to hear the rankings. Whispers and friendly banter filled the space as the warriors, both veterans and new recruits alike, speculated who would top the list. This was more than just a tradition; it was a celebration of their hard-earned victory and a chance to recognize the best among them.

Noctis, standing tall and composed in front of the assembly, cleared his throat, amplifying his voice with a bit of magic to ensure everyone could hear him.

"Warriors of the sanctuary!" his voice rang out, silencing the crowd immediately. "It is time to announce the results of our recent hunt. You all fought valiantly, collecting mana stones, slaying beasts, and proving your worth. But now, let's see who stood out the most."

The tension in the air was palpable, the excitement evident as Noctis began the countdown. He started with the top 7, building suspense with each name.

"In seventh place," Noctis began, his tone deliberate, "is Elandra, the leader of the Sylphirs. Her control over nature, along with her strategy of deploying deadly vines to weaken the marsh monsters, allowed her to claim a substantial number of kills and mana stones. Well done."
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Applause erupted for Elandra, who gave a humble nod. The recognition was well-deserved, her calm demeanor hiding the lethal efficiency she displayed during the hunt.

"In sixth place, we have Ari Agnis, the fire-wielding twin of the Ignis duo. Her close-quarters combat, combined with her affinity for flame, was nothing short of spectacular."

Ari, standing next to her twin Ira, smiled, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight as the crowd acknowledged her efforts.

"Fifth place goes to her brother, Ira Agnis!" Noctis continued. "While Ari fought on the frontlines, Ira supported from the back with his powerful fire spells, coordinating perfectly with his sister to wreak havoc on the battlefield."

Another round of cheers, this time from the twins' fellow shock troopers. The Agnis twins were a dynamic duo, and their synergy had made them legends among the sanctuary warriors.

"In fourth place, we have Lina," Noctis announced, pausing to let the murmurs of the crowd settle. "Her mastery of ice and daggers froze her enemies before they even had a chance to react. A formidable force on the battlefield."

Lina, with her icy blue eyes, gave a small nod of acknowledgment, her cool demeanor matching her fighting style.

Noctis then continued. "Third place goes to Eriol, with his rare affinity for gravity. The way he crushed his opponents under their own weight or slammed them into the ground with crushing force was impressive, to say the least."

Eriol, who usually stayed quiet, gave a rare smile as the warriors around him cheered.

"In second place..." Noctis paused for dramatic effect, the crowd leaning forward in anticipation. "We have Malon, the swift and deadly elf who moves like a shadow on the battlefield. His precision with his chakrams and his speed made him a whirlwind of death in the marsh."

A roar of applause erupted, with several warriors muttering how they'd barely seen Malon during the hunt, only finding the aftermath of his trail—piles of dead monsters.

And now, for the moment everyone had been waiting for. Noctis' voice took on a more serious tone as he prepared to announce the winner.

"And in first place... the warrior who gathered the most mana stones and claimed the most kills..." The crowd was practically holding its breath. "Mortem."

A collective sigh of relief—and perhaps a bit of resignation—swept through the sanctuary. Of course, it had to be Mortem. After all, he had his undead army fighting alongside him, each orc warrior adding to the kill count. How could anyone compete with that?

Laughter broke out among the warriors as they playfully ribbed one another. "How are we supposed to compete with a guy who can command thousands of undead? It's not fair!" one of the younger warriors joked, earning a round of chuckles from the crowd.

Mortem, standing off to the side, gave a small nod of acknowledgment. He wasn't one for fanfare, but even he couldn't help the faint grin that tugged at the corner of his lips. He knew his victory was inevitable, but the real prize was the recognition of the sanctuary's strength as a whole.

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Meanwhile, Aurelis stood near the remains of the Queen Lamia, deep in thought. Solara had suggested that he absorb the lamia's body and core to elevate himself to disaster rank. His golden fur glistened under the sun, but he was lost in contemplation.

"You should absorb its body and core," Solara said gently, her massive wolf form towering over him. "You could finally reach disaster rank. You'll be even stronger than before."

Aurelis let out a thoughtful growl. His fight against the Earth Drake replayed in his mind. Despite being a heavy hitter, he hadn't dealt as much damage as he'd wanted. The drake's vitality and resilience had been monstrous, and though they had fought valiantly, Aurelis knew he needed more strength if he were to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Canna or Mortem.

"Do you know if Zephyros has any use for the body of his kill—the Dreadmire Behemoth?" Aurelis asked after a pause.

Solara nodded. "He plans to offer it to Canna-sama as a tribute. Why?"

Aurelis turned his gaze toward the distant mountains. "If I may suggest, he should see if Terrorfang would want to absorb it. That giant monkey is probably having the same thoughts I'm having."

Solara considered this for a moment. "You might be right. Terrorfang would benefit greatly from it."

As the day wore on, both Aurelis and Terrorfang made their decisions. That evening, the sanctuary witnessed a rare event: two of its pseudo-disaster-ranked beasts went into cocoon forms, one bathed in golden sunlight and the other in a fiery, molten glow. It was a sign that they were evolving—stepping into the realm of true disaster-ranked beings.

Back at the sanctuary, Noctis relayed the news to Canna. "Master, Aurelis and Terrorfang are currently evolving. They're close to becoming fully-fledged disaster ranks."

Canna smiled, pleased with the news. "That's good to hear. I'll take my time after we handle the minotaur settlement. It's time for me to start working toward my next breakthrough—I want to become a great transcendent already."

Having two more disaster-ranked subordinates would be a huge boon for the sanctuary. The only downside was that the corpses of the Queen Lamia and the Dreadmire Behemoth couldn't be used for Mortem's undead army. The evolution process required not only the mana cores but also a large portion of the mana and resources from the bodies themselves.

Turning to Sygon, Canna added, "We should rest for half a day in the sanctuary. After three days and two nights of running, it's time to recover our mana and stamina reserves."

Sygon nodded in agreement, grateful for the respite. Though eager to save his people, he knew the wisdom in resting before their next challenge.

And so, with the sanctuary growing stronger and Canna's plans falling into place, the warriors and beasts of the sanctuary began to prepare for the next chapter in their ongoing saga of growth and survival.