Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna awoke in near darkness, his head throbbing painfully, as if it had been caught in a vice. The cold, damp air clung to him, and the scent of stone and earth filled his lungs. With a groan, he pushed himself up from the uneven ground, feeling the weight of fatigue pressing heavily on him. His body felt weak, utterly drained from the ordeal he had endured.

As his vision gradually cleared, Canna realized he was in an enormous stone chamber, deep underground. The walls, rough and unadorned, were stark in their simplicity—cold, gray stone, illuminated faintly by dim shafts of light that somehow filtered in from unknown cracks above. He knew this place—the bottom level of the dungeon where Tonitrum, the mighty dragon, is sealed. His history of this place pressed in on him.

Before he could fully comprehend where he was or what had happened, a figure moved into view, breaking the silence. The female demon knelt before him, her long, snow-white hair falling gracefully over her shoulders as she bowed. Her glowing crimson eyes, sharp and intelligent, flickered in the low light.

"Master, you are awake," she said softly, her voice steady, laced with respect. "You have been unconscious for three days."

Canna blinked, still groggy, the words slowly sinking in. "Three days?" he echoed, his mind struggling to catch up with the passage of time. The last thing he remembered was the overwhelming chaos—the blinding light, the fight in Hell, and Tonitrum's intervention. His head spun with disjointed memories.

The female demon nodded. "Yes, master. You have been recovering from the summoning. It took a much greater toll on your body than expected."

Canna winced, raising a hand to his head, which still throbbed. "Three days... what happened? Why am I back here?" He looked around, his mind racing, though his body felt like it had been through a battlefield of its own.

Before the female demon could respond, a familiar voice rumbled through the chamber, filled with both amusement and reprimand.

"Idiot. Meddling with forces beyond your comprehension again," Tonitrum's voice echoed through the chamber, the ancient dragon's head materializing in front of him. "You tried summoning a demon with an offering that large? You should have known better."
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Canna looked up, the sight of Tonitrum confirming what he had begun to suspect. "I heard you... before, in Hell... was that real? What in the world happened?"

The female demon spoke again, bowing her head as she explained. "Forgive my interruption, master. I am one of the demons bound by your contract. To make things brief, the summoning you performed attracted the attention of a high-ranking demon, an Archdemon—the highest rank a demon can achieve. He reversed the spell and dragged you into Hell instead of being summoned by you."

Canna's eyes widened at her words, the details she was revealing sinking in slowly. "An Archdemon? That... explains why everything hurt so much." His hand still rested on his forehead, trying to shake off the lingering pain.

The female demon continued, her voice calm but edged with concern. "Yes, master. The pain you're feeling is the result of being pulled into Hell, a realm you do not belong to. More importantly, that Archdemon forcefully tore at your soul, which is the most excruciating experience any living being can endure. Your body and soul are still recovering from that trauma."

Canna stared at her, his mind spinning as the memories and information clicked into place. He took a moment to study the demoness more closely. Her appearance was striking—snow-white hair framed a face that was both youthful and ageless, her skin pale as moonlight. Her crimson eyes, sharp and unwavering, gave her an aura of authority and intelligence, while the curved black horns atop her head signaled her demonic heritage. She wore armor that was both regal and functional, black with intricate golden details that hinted at her strategic mind and high rank among demons.

Just as Canna was processing all of this, another voice entered the conversation—a deep, rumbling voice that carried the weight of raw power.

"Master, I don't mean to intrude," said the male demon, stepping forward. His presence was like a looming storm. Massive and built like a warrior forged in the fires of battle, his black obsidian armor seemed to pulse with heat, glowing with veins of molten magma. His red-hot eyes stared down at Canna with a mixture of concern and respect. "But have you been fighting for days before the summoning?"

Like a dam bursting, the memories of the sanctuary and the endless battle in the forbidden lands crashed down on Canna. His heart raced as he remembered the warriors, the guardians, the never-ending waves of monsters—his people, still fighting, waiting for him. Suddenly overwhelmed, Canna's body gave out, and he started to fall.

The male demon quickly caught him, his massive hands steadying Canna. "Master, you need to rest. Your body is still too weak."

Canna groaned, pushing through the exhaustion clouding his mind. "My people... I need to be there. I can't... leave them like this."

With a concentrated effort, Canna raised his hand, summoning a portal with the last bit of energy he could muster. A black shadow shot out from it, Mortem, who quickly took to Canna's side, his shadowy form curling protectively around his master.

"Master, you're alive! What happened to you?" Mortem's voice was laced with concern, but Canna could barely register it. His vision was already swimming again, and his body felt like it was made of lead.

"Mortem," Canna whispered, his voice strained. "Take these demons... help them. Make sure... the base stands. I need... rest. Just... a little more rest..."

Mortem nodded, his face resolute despite the storm of questions raging inside him. "Rest, master. I will see to everything. Leave it to me." He glanced over at Tonitrum, giving the ancient dragon a respectful nod.

Mortem looked at the two demons, now his master's new subordinates. He sized them up with his keen eyes. They were clearly powerful, but their sudden arrival stirred a sea of unanswered questions. Still, there was no time for that now. His master's recovery took priority.

As Canna's body finally gave in to the overwhelming exhaustion, Mortem turned to the female demon, his voice firm. "Tell me everything on the way. We have no time to waste."

The female demon stood, her expression unchanged. "You have no right to command me undead. I only take orders from him. Show me the base that has to be protected."

The new additions to the sanctuary were not only powerful, but were also feisty.