Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The battle that had started so intensely and violently was about to come to an abrupt end. With a single, earth-shaking roar, Stormbringer, the ancient dragon protector of the sanctuary, let out a deafening cry. The sound reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath the warriors' feet.

The impact of the roar wasn't just auditory—every foe caught in its range immediately felt their strength drain away. It was an overwhelming skill, one that debuffed the stats of the enemies by a staggering 80%.

The familiar of the Saint of Clan Skarn, a monstrous 70-foot praying mantis, froze in place, its sharp blades that had once cleaved through flesh now shaking weakly. Its glowing eyes dulled, and its movements became sluggish. Before the saint could react, Sylvanar's vines, quick as lightning, wrapped around the mantis and drained its life essence in seconds. Explore stories at empire

The beast let out a final screech before collapsing into a lifeless heap. The saint, who barely managed to maintain his footing, knew he had no chance against these overwhelming odds. Realizing the dire situation, he used an artifact, a treasured piece meant for desperate moments, and vanished in an instant, teleporting away to safety. But his familiar wasn't as lucky.

The saint's escape was quick, but his beloved beast was left behind, sucked dry by the sanctuary's guardian.

The remaining Black Thorn elites struggled desperately, but with 80% of their strength sapped by Stormbringer's roar, it was all too late. They moved like shadows of their former selves, sluggish and weak compared to the ferocity and speed of the sanctuary's warriors.

Without any outside help and with the debuff draining them, the sanctuary's forces slaughtered the remaining enemies with merciless efficiency.

The warriors of Clan Varran, who had come to aid in the battle, found themselves watching from the sidelines. Despite their battle-hardened nature, they could only observe in awe as the sanctuary warriors fought with unparalleled ruthlessness. These were no ordinary fighters—they struck with precision and rage, as if each strike was fueled by a deep, personal vendetta.

Every slash, stab, and thrust seemed calculated to end lives in the most efficient manner possible. The Black Thorn members fell like wheat before a scythe, and the elites of Clan Varran, exhausted but unharmed, slumped down to catch their breath, allowing the sanctuary's forces to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Vorgrim had finally cornered Xyler, the elusive master of espionage. Xyler, with his incredible stealth and shadowy tactics, had been difficult to pin down. But now, with his stats debuffed by 80%, his movements were sluggish, and his tricks had lost their edge. Vorgrim, sensing the weakness, charged forward, his body radiating with power.

He activated one of his most powerful skills and, in one swift motion, delivered a devastating blow. His fist plunged through Xyler's abdomen, the force so immense that it pierced clean through, emerging from Xyler's back. The spy master let out a choked gasp before collapsing to the ground, dead on the spot.

Canna, who had been chasing Solenne, the master of poisons, finally caught up with her. Solenne, once quick and deadly, could no longer escape. Her body, weighed down by the debuff, slowed to a crawl, and Canna capitalized on the opportunity. A lightning bolt struck her directly, paralyzing her in place. It was only a brief second of immobility, but that was all Canna needed.

More lightning bolts rained down upon her, striking with deadly precision. The onlookers, even those who had seen countless battles, turned their eyes away as the lightning ravaged her body, leaving nothing but a charred, smoking corpse.

But the most brutal end came for Seraphis. As a saint, she was once a figure of great power, feared by many. But with her strength reduced by Stormbringer's roar, she was no match for Dravos. The saint of Clan Varran delivered a crushing kick, sending her hurtling through the air. She crashed into the ground with a sickening thud, struggling to rise.

Just as she gathered enough strength to push herself up, a fully charged lightning breath from Stormbringer hit her directly. The breath was so intense, so powerful, that it obliterated her in an instant. Dravos had barely managed to pull back before the breath consumed the area, saving himself from being caught in the inferno. When the breath dissipated, nothing of Seraphis remained.

No body, no weapon—just a pile of ash, blown away by the wind. Dravos, a man who had witnessed countless deaths, couldn't help but gulp audibly. He glanced up at the dragon, whose menacing gaze made it clear that he, too, could be next if he made the wrong move.

Before anyone could even begin to relax, a larger red portal manifested in the center of the battlefield. The inhabitants of the sanctuary, already on edge, prepared for another wave of enemies. Even Canna, with his lightning-charged scythe, stood ready for a new assault.

But as the first figures stepped out of the portal, the tension dissipated. It wasn't more enemies pouring in—it was children. The sanctuary warriors, still battle-ready, relaxed their stances as they saw the small, fragile figures stepping out of the portal.

Children, their faces pale and hollow, walked forward in a slow, confused march. They looked detached from the world, as though they had forgotten what safety felt like. The procession started with the youngest—a boy, no older than six or seven, who clutched a ragged doll in his hand.

Following him were teens, men, women, and entire families. They all looked weary, some barely able to stand. Their faces were gaunt, their bodies weak from malnourishment and years of abuse. Many of them had been slaves, but now, they were free—though they didn't yet understand it.

Among them were enslaved beasts, creatures who had once been used for labor or fighting. Their bodies were scarred and battered, but their eyes, too, held a glimmer of hope. One figure, in particular, caught Canna's eye—a four-meter-tall minotaur. Its fur was a strange shade of white, and its body was riddled with wounds.

The massive creature, too weak to stand, was carried out of the portal by Flora, who, despite her size, had effortlessly supported the beast's weight.

The procession continued, a long line of the broken and the lost. The healers rushed forward, offering blankets, water, and comfort to those who had just escaped a life of torment. The Blossom Shells, oblivious to the high tensions around them, continued to eat grass peacefully, their presence a strange contrast to the events unfolding.

The warriors of Clan Varran and the inhabitants of the sanctuary watched in silence as the people rescued by Flora made their way into the sanctuary. It was a solemn moment, a reminder of the horrors they were fighting to end.

As the last of the rescued slaves stepped through the portal, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. They had won the battle, but the war was far from over.