Sanctuary: Safe Haven

(A discussion between Canna and Noctis a week ago)

After another long week of preparation and planning, Noctis flew beside Canna, delivering his report as they patrolled the skies over the vast stretch of land where the new clan base would be established. The Forbidden Zone was teeming with hostile creatures, making it a dangerous but potentially lucrative location. With the sanctuary's forces already in motion, it was up to Noctis to relay the details of the creatures they would be facing.

"Master," Noctis began, his dark feathers shimmering in the twilight as they soared above the chaotic landscape. "The creatures we've scouted are numerous, and their variety will present quite a challenge. We've cataloged several species of monsters, each with unique abilities that our warriors must be prepared for."

Canna glanced at him, intrigued. "Go on," he said, his tone serious as he focused on the task at hand.

"The first are called

Ravagers

. Hulking, four-legged beasts with thick, scaled skin, resembling a cross between a lizard and a wolf. They have jagged horns and spiked tails, charging with deadly speed in straight lines. Their thick hides make them resistant to most physical attacks—only strong or magical assaults can deal significant damage. They're shock troops, and they swarm in waves, attempting to overpower anything in their path."

"Shock troops. They'll test the front lines," Canna noted, already considering his battle plans.

"Exactly," Noctis confirmed. "Then there's the

Carrion Swarms

—smaller, insect-like creatures about the size of a cat. They have serrated mandibles and attack in swarms of hundreds, overwhelming their targets through sheer numbers. They crawl over one another to reach their prey, biting and gnawing relentlessly. A real nuisance."

Canna nodded. "The shock troops should be able to clear them out with area-of-effect attacks. What's next?"

Noctis's eyes gleamed as he continued. "Next are the

Flameclaw Raiders

. Feral, bipedal creatures with glowing red claws and a fiery aura. Their bodies are covered in cracked volcanic rock, and every slash of their claws releases arcs of fire. But the real danger comes when they die—they explode into fireballs, damaging anything nearby. Melee fighters will have to be cautious not to get too close when they fall."

Canna raised an eyebrow. "So they're walking bombs? Noted."

"Indeed. Then we have the

Void Reavers

—shadowy figures that look almost ghost-like. They phase in and out of existence, making them difficult to target. When they attack, they latch onto their enemies and drain their life force. They're dangerous, but their weakness lies in magic that disrupts their phasing ability."

Canna's fingers twitched, as if already thinking of lightning-based spells to deal with them. "What else?"

Noctis's tone darkened as he continued. "We also have

Dread Stalkers

—huge, wolf-like monsters with skeletal armor and glowing green eyes. They hunt in packs, becoming stronger and faster when they're grouped together. They're swift and deadly, capable of pouncing from great distances to pin down enemies."

"That sounds like a job for the shock troops and guardians working together," Canna mused.

"Agreed. Then there are the

Earthbound Colossi

—massive, slow-moving golems made of earth and stone. They're almost impossible to damage with physical attacks due to their heavy armor, and they can create shockwaves by slamming their fists into the ground. They'll serve as living barriers, but if we don't bring them down, they'll crush anything that gets too close."

Canna narrowed his eyes. "We'll need powerful magic or heavy hitters for them."

Noctis nodded and continued. "Then we have the

Wind Striders

, tall and thin creatures with long, blade-like limbs. They use wind-based attacks to slash at enemies from a distance and can sprint across the battlefield at incredible speed. They prefer to stay at the edges of the battle, striking from afar."

"Ranged attackers then. Zephyros and the archers can handle them."

Noctis smiled. "There's more. The

Deathmire Crawlers

—large, insectoid creatures with chitinous armor and acid sacs. They can spray corrosive acid and burrow underground to ambush their enemies. They're ambush predators, and they'll use the terrain to their advantage."

"Keep an eye on them," Canna replied. "Their acid could be a problem if we're not careful."

"Lastly," Noctis said, "we have the

Bone Berserkers

and

Venomspine Serpents

. The Bone Berserkers are skeletal creatures with bone armor grafted into their flesh. They grow stronger the more damage they take and can throw bone spears at enemies. The Venomspine Serpents are giant serpents with venomous spines along their backs. They use hit-and-run tactics, spraying venom and constricting their prey."

Canna absorbed all the information, his mind already racing through strategies. "Anything else I should know?" he asked.

"One more—

Ironclad Golems

. They're similar to the Earthbound Colossi, but made entirely of iron. Their bodies are heavily armored and resistant to almost all physical attacks, but they're slow and predictable. We'll need to use magic or immense force to break through their defenses."

Canna nodded, taking it all in. "Good work, Noctis. We'll need to be prepared for all of them."

________________

He opened up a portal and stepped through, leading the charge. As Canna emerged on the other side, he immediately summoned his guardians. Dravos, Zephyros, Solara, Astraeus, Sygon, Terrofang, Aurelis Lumivyre, Stormrend, and Stormtusk all appeared by his side, their powerful forms towering over the battlefield. Each guardian quickly moved to their designated locations, holding the lines as Vorgrim had planned.

The battle began as the first wave of monsters approached. Canna, standing at the front, raised his hand and unleashed a massive lightning chain, using 50% of his mana. The crackling energy shot through the air, instantly incinerating the Ravagers and Carrion Swarms that dared approach. The monsters screamed as they were charred to death, their bodies crumbling into ash as the lightning ravaged their ranks.

The guardians charged forward. Dravos swung his massive axe, cutting down Bone Berserkers with each powerful swing. Zephyros dashed across the battlefield, his dark energy rippling through the air as he tore through Wind Striders with ease. Solara, the grey wolf of disaster rank, summoned a storm of vines that trapped and crushed Dread Stalkers in their grasp. Astraeus, the mighty minotaur champion, swung his colossal hammer, smashing Earthbound Colossi into the ground with bone-shattering force.

As the battle raged on, the warriors of the sanctuary joined the fray. Shock troops slashed through Flameclaw Raiders, dodging their fiery explosions with practiced precision. The undead summoned by Canna surged forward, overwhelming the Void Reavers and Deathmire Crawlers with sheer numbers.

Sygon, Terrofang, Aurelis, and Stormrend unleashed their devastating abilities, flattening the hordes of monsters with each strike. The guardians held the line, their sheer presence keeping the monsters at bay, while the shock troops and warriors worked tirelessly to clear the area.

As the fighting continued, Canna stood at the heart of the battlefield, wielding his new

Stormreaver Talons

. With each swing of his kamayari, arcs of lightning shot out, striking down enemies within a 5-meter radius. The power of the stormbound steel surged through him, and he could feel the connection between the blades and the storm itself.

Together, they fought, pushing back the monstrous hordes and clearing the land. It was only a matter of time before the area was secured and the foundation for the new base would be laid.

The first steps in establishing the Hope Clan's foothold in Sepra had begun.