Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Tonitrum stood tall, his immense figure radiating with barely contained power as he surveyed the chained demons before him. His piercing gaze lingered on the female demon—a being of elegance and deadly precision. Her long, snow-white hair flowed effortlessly, as if guided by unseen forces, while her crimson eyes glowed with an intensity that spoke of untold power and intellect. Twin black horns curved elegantly from her head, adding to her striking demonic beauty. Despite her youthful appearance, there was a commanding aura about her, as if she had seen countless battles and orchestrated many victories. Her armor, black and red, bore golden runes, marking her as a demon of high status and formidable magical abilities.

But it wasn't just her that caught Tonitrum's interest. Standing behind her was a male demon, a titan of fire and destruction. His hulking form was adorned in jagged black armor, with molten cracks glowing beneath, hinting at the fiery power that flowed through him. His eyes burned with a fierce, red-hot intensity, and from his back spread massive, bat-like wings. Where the female embodied strategic brilliance, he was the personification of brute strength, and together they formed a perfect balance of raw force and cunning intellect.

Tonitrum smiled to himself, pleased with his choice. He turned to the archdemon, whose expression had shifted from smug satisfaction to one of pure horror.

"These two," Tonitrum declared, his voice firm and final.

The archdemon craned his neck, his eyes widening in shock as he realized who Tonitrum had chosen. "NO! Those are—" His protest was cut off by another searing breath of lightning from Tonitrum, leaving the archdemon wailing in pain.

"These two," Tonitrum repeated, leaving no room for negotiation.

The archdemon struggled to regain his composure, still smarting from the dragon's attack. "You can't—these two are among the eight strongest subordinates of the most powerful archdemon in Hell. You can't just—" He stopped mid-sentence as he saw Tonitrum's maw open slightly, lightning crackling ominously in his throat, ready for another attack.

"I—Fine!" The archdemon finally relented. "But only one! You can only take one! They're pseudo-archdemons already, bound to rise to my level soon! The offering wasn't bountiful enough to claim both of them!"

Tonitrum chuckled, his amusement tinged with a hint of menace. "Consider it your payment for staying alive." He turned back to the two demons, his tone commanding. "You will serve that man," he said, pointing to Canna's unconscious form. "Show him absolute loyalty. Live for him. Die for him. Fail him, and I will come for both of you."

The two demons nodded without hesitation, understanding the weight of their new contract.

The archdemon, sensing no further room for argument, sighed in defeat. He waved his hand, releasing the chains that bound the two powerful demons. "And the contract is complete," he muttered bitterly.

"Oh, and I'll take that beast too," Tonitrum added casually, pointing at a small, round, and somewhat chubby demon beast fluttering nearby. It had bat-like wings and a mischievous look in its glowing eyes.

The archdemon released a long, exasperated sigh. "Just take it and go," he muttered, too beaten down to argue further.

As the chains fell away from the demons, they moved to Canna's side, immediately assessing his condition. Though exhausted and unconscious, his injuries were superficial—his fatigue had been the primary issue after the grueling summoning.

With the contract now fully in place, a massive magic circle began to form beneath them, preparing to teleport Canna and his new demon subordinates out of the fiery depths of Hell. The archdemon watched from a distance, bitterly swallowing his losses. He bowed inwardly to the gods of Hell, silently swearing vengeance against Canna and Tonitrum for this humiliating defeat.

But just as the circle reached completion, Tonitrum turned to the archdemon once more. "You're too obvious," he said with a mocking grin.

The archdemon's eyes widened in terror. He knew what was coming but had no time to react. Tonitrum unleashed one final, devastating lightning breath, striking the archdemon dead center. The demonic lord screamed in agony, his cries of "No! Don't do this! I did everything you asked!" echoing through the infernal realm, but it was to no avail. His body crumbled to ashes under the overwhelming force of Tonitrum's power.

With the archdemon annihilated, the magic circle activated in full. A blinding flash of light enveloped Canna and the three demons, teleporting them away from the fiery pits of Hell. As they vanished, the last remnants of the archdemon's domain were reduced to nothing more than scorched stone and silence.
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In the wake of the intense battle, the oppressive atmosphere of Hell seemed to lift, the crushing power of the archdemon replaced by the faint residual energy of Tonitrum's presence. His voice, though faint, echoed in the abyss.

"Canna may have cause more trouble than he realizes."

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Back in the sanctuary, chaos erupted. The warriors and guardians, still reeling from their earlier battle, could not find any trace of Canna. His presence, once a guiding light, had vanished. Noctis, whose clones were always in contact with Canna, frantically searched for any sign of their master, but all attempts to connect with him failed.

Mortem, sensing the growing unrest among the sanctuary warriors, stood atop a raised platform and addressed them. "Our master is not gone. He's out there, somewhere, and he will return. Stay vigilant!" But even his words, strong and commanding as they were, couldn't fully quell the anxiety spreading through the sanctuary.

Hours passed, and the uncertainty hung over them like a thick fog. The guardians, exhausted but still on edge, continued searching for any trace of Canna, their minds filled with concern.

Then, after what seemed like an eternity, there was a subtle but unmistakable shift in the air. It was as though Canna's presence had flickered back into existence. Noctis, feeling the sudden reawakening of their connection, instantly alerted the others.

"He's back… I can feel him again!" Noctis shouted, relief flooding through his voice. The sanctuary seemed to exhale collectively, as hope and resolve returned to the warriors. But where was Canna?

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Back in Hell, Tonitrum, though still a spiritual presence, surveyed the ashes of the archdemon he had obliterated. "Such a pity. Hell's hierarchy has always been so fragile," he mused, before disappearing into the storm of lightning that surrounded him.