Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Once Canna crossed the portal, he was greeted by the sight of a vast sea of monsters stretching out in all directions. Trolls, ogres, demon wolves, and other nightmarish creatures filled the landscape, a terrifyingly diverse assembly of hostile forces. Among them, Canna spotted enormous serpents slithering ominously at the rear, alongside strange beasts he had never seen before.

Normally, the sight of such a variety of new beings would excite his curiosity, but there was no room for fascination now.

Turning his gaze, Canna saw the kingdom of Avaloria that was barely holding on. The fortress was in ruins, its walls breached in multiple places. With his enhanced eyesight, he could make out the desperate figures huddled behind the crumbling defenses.

Soldiers and adventurers stood ready, but what caught his attention most were the civilians, common people clutching makeshift weapons, their faces set with grim determination. The scene was a stark reminder of the stakes—if he failed to stop this monstrous tide, every soul in that kingdom would perish.

Canna's eyes caught a flicker of movement. The monsters below had noticed him, some looking up with a mixture of confusion and malice. With a calm resolve, he began his descent, the Bloodfang Scythe humming in his grip. As he prepared for battle, he issued commands to his subordinates..

"Mortem, release the horde. There are plenty of corpses here to add to your collection. Use the lower-ranking ones for corpse explosions. Vorgrim and Grimruk, I sense two powerful entities at the back of this wave. They're yours."

Three shadows emerged from Canna's own, responding in unison, their voices filled with eager anticipation. "Yes, master." "As you wish, my liege." "Consider it done."

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Meanwhile, atop the castle walls, King Leroy IV and his former grand mage, Von Fraimus Callaburn, watched the scene unfold with wary eyes. They had resigned themselves to their fate, but the appearance of the white-haired figure diving into the monster horde sparked a flicker of hope—or perhaps mere curiosity. The stranger's intentions were unclear, but his actions soon spoke volumes.

As Canna descended into the midst of the monsters, he swung the Bloodfang Scythe with a practiced grace, activating the skill "Reaper's Sweep." The effect was immediate and devastating. A shockwave of dark energy erupted from the scythe, cutting through the ranks of monsters like a scythe through wheat. The ground where the attack struck caved in several feet, creating a massive crater.

The monsters caught in the blast were obliterated, their bodies bursting apart in a gruesome display of blood and gore. Limbs and entrails flew through the air, painting the battlefield in a macabre rain of crimson.

The blood of fallen creatures rained down, drenching the ground and those still standing in the red torrent. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the sickening stench of charred flesh. The sheer brutality of the scene was enough to send waves of shock and fear through both the remaining monsters and the defenders on the walls.

King Leroy shouted orders for his men to stand down but remain vigilant. The white-haired figure had unleashed a terrifying display of power against the monsters, but there was no telling whether he would turn that same wrath against the kingdom next.

As the smoke and dust began to settle, Canna stood amidst the carnage, his scythe dripping with the blood of his enemies. His expression was calm, almost serene, as he surveyed the devastation he had wrought. The monsters hesitated, unsure whether to advance or retreat in the face of such overwhelming power.

Above, the sky darkened, as if the world itself recoiled from the bloodshed. In the distance, the two powerful entities that Canna had sensed began to stir, their presence a looming threat on the horizon. As Canna readied himself for the next wave of attacks, a strange, foreboding energy filled the air, hinting at the deeper challenges yet to come.

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Upon receiving his master's command, Mortem sprang into action, dashing through the ranks of monsters with practiced ease. However, a thought nagged at him: Canna had mentioned two powerful entities at the rear of the horde. Mortem knew of the great calamities scattered throughout the monstrous ranks, but how had his master identified these specific threats so quickly?

Perhaps it was an ability unique to Canna, a testament to his growing power. Regardless, Mortem had his orders.

With methodical precision, Mortem began scattering low-ranking corpses across the battlefield. As a necromancer, he knew that in a battlefield filled with the dead, his powers could be unparalleled in terms of destruction. The monsters, focused solely on their mission to annihilate the kingdom and its inhabitants, barely noticed Mortem's presence among them.

They assumed he was another of their kind, blending seamlessly into the chaotic mass.

Within moments, the battlefield was transformed into a grim spectacle of horror and chaos. Mortem activated his "Corpse Explosion" skill, and a series of deafening blasts rocked the area. The corpses he had planted erupted, sending shrapnel and gore flying in all directions. The explosions rippled through the ranks of monsters, each blast sowing confusion and panic.

Horrified cries and roars of pain filled the air, as the monsters were torn apart by the unexpected assault.

From the safety of the kingdom's walls, the human defenders and civilians watched in stunned silence, their mouths agape at the sight. The explosions seemed to come from everywhere, back and forth through the monster horde, creating a nightmarish tableau of carnage. It was hard to comprehend that one figure, Mortem, was responsible for this devastation.

Yet, for Mortem, this was merely a prelude—a setup for what was to come next.

As the smoke and dust began to settle, the surviving monsters were left reeling, their numbers significantly reduced. Mortem, standing amidst the carnage, felt a grim satisfaction at the destruction he had wrought. However, he knew that this was only the beginning. His master, Canna, was preparing to unleash even greater havoc upon the monster horde.

Mortem's role was to soften the enemy, to prepare the stage for the true harbinger of chaos.

With the battlefield now primed with corpses and the remaining monsters in disarray, Mortem awaited the next phase of the battle. He glanced towards the distant figures of Vorgrim and Grimruk, who were making their way towards the powerful entities Canna had identified. The battle was far from over, and Mortem felt a dark thrill at the prospect of what was to come.

The monsters had yet to face the full might of their adversaries, and Mortem relished the thought of witnessing their ultimate downfall.