Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna, his expression as relaxed as ever, grinned at the tense room. "Thanks for coming over, guys. How's the settlement going?" he asked, directing his question toward the towering minotaur Astraeus, whose presence still had many of the warriors on edge.

Astraeus, the leader of the minotaurs, nodded respectfully toward Canna. "It is all fine. We are settling well in the Verdant Peaks. I thank you again for your help, Canna-sama," he replied, his deep voice rumbling through the hall.

Without missing a beat, Canna casually summoned another red portal behind him, and his disaster-ranked subordinates—Astraeus, Sygon, Zephyros, and Solara—began walking through, one by one.

As each disaster-ranked being stepped through the portal, the tension in the room gradually lifted, though a sense of disbelief lingered among the warriors.

Once his subordinates had disappeared, leaving only the swirling red portal behind, the dining hall remained silent. Every warrior present seemed to collectively exhale, the tension that had gripped the room slowly dissipating. The reality of what had just transpired weighed heavily on everyone.

If a battle had truly erupted between Canna's subordinates and the saints, there would have been nothing left of the dining hall—or the entire kingdom.

Kargan, sitting at the head of the table, wiped sweat from his brow and cast another glance toward Canna, his heart still racing. In his mind, thoughts swirled in a chaotic mess: 'What just happened?' 'Did he casually threaten four saints?' 'And those beings... what were they?' His mind struggled to process it all, but one thought stood out above the rest—This man is dangerously unpredictable.

Kargan's eyes widened as he realized the full implications of Canna's presence. If Canna harbored ill intentions, there was little doubt that he could stroll into the heart of the kingdom, unleash those disaster-ranked beings, and bring utter destruction. His mere presence here was a reminder that even the strongest saints could be powerless in the face of such overwhelming strength.

Breaking the tense silence, a booming laughter echoed across the hall, startling the warriors who were still shaken. Dravos, the saint of Clan Varran, was laughing so loudly that many had to cover their ears.

"Who were those beings, Canna?" Dravos asked between chuckles, clearly unfazed by the earlier tension.

Canna smiled, his expression one of casual amusement. "Your new sparring partners," he replied, then promptly returned to eating as if nothing had happened.

The rest of the night passed without further interruptions. The tension in the hall gradually eased, replaced with the same jovial mood from earlier. The warriors and guests continued their feast, though the shadow of Canna's power still loomed in their minds.

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The next morning, the time for farewells arrived. They had once again gathered in the Clan Varran arena, the site of many past battles, though this time it wasn't for combat, but to bid farewell.

Saint Dravos stood alongside Sera, Ace, and two other prominent members of Clan Varran. These were the individuals chosen to follow Canna and his entourage off. The atmosphere was much lighter than the night before, but there was still a bittersweet feeling in the air.

Sera, the ever-bold and confident warrior, was the first to step forward. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now, Canna," she said with a smirk. "You sure know how to shake things up around here. Things won't be the same without you."

Canna chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll be around from time to time. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on you lot."

Sera laughed, her usual fiery spirit shining through. "I'll hold you to that. And next time, you better be ready for another spar."

Ace, standing beside Sera, gave a small nod of respect. "It's been an honor, Canna-sama. We'll miss your presence here in Clan Varran, but we know you're needed elsewhere."

The two other warriors of Clan Varran nodded respectfully, not saying much, but their admiration for Canna was evident in their eyes.

With the goodbyes said, Canna glanced at the red swirling portal he had summoned earlier. It was time to go.

One by one, the sanctuary warriors stepped forward and walked through the portal. First, the shock troops of Canna, each one of them nodding respectfully toward the gathered Clan Varran warriors before disappearing through the portal. Next came Vorgrim, who gave a simple, approving nod to Dravos before stepping into the swirling red vortex.

Finally, it was Dravos and Canna's turn to leave.

Before stepping through the portal, Canna turned back toward the assembled warriors of Clan Varran. "Thank you for everything. You've taken good care of me during my stay. I appreciate it."

His gaze landed on Varya, the elder of the clan, and he smiled. "Varya, you take care of your granddaughter, alright? I'll drop by from time to time to check in on you all."

Varya smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting the respect she had gained for Canna. "I will, Canna-sama. You take care of yourself too."

With that final farewell, Canna and Dravos stepped through the red portal, leaving Clan Varran behind. As the portal closed, the warriors left in the arena were silent, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that had occurred during Canna's time with them.

Clan Varran had become stronger, and with the bonds they had formed, they knew their future was brighter than ever.

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Back at the sanctuary, Canna and his entourage emerged from the swirling red portal, greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of his bustling domain. The sanctuary, with its lively energy, thrived as usual. Creatures roamed, the inhabitants went about their tasks, and the hum of life filled the air. Yet, Canna's mind lingered on the people he had left behind at Clan Varran.

As he looked around at his sanctuary—his home—he felt a deep sense of pride. It had grown into something magnificent, a haven for those who sought refuge, strength, and a new beginning. But it was far from complete. The sanctuary still had many projects in motion, from building expansions to integrating new inhabitants like the minotaurs.

He knew the work was never-ending, but that was part of the journey.

He glanced at the shock troops who had accompanied him on the trip. They stood alert, awaiting orders, their white robes billowing slightly in the gentle breeze. "Time to get back to work," Canna said with a grin, the glint of determination in his eyes unmistakable. He had so much to oversee, but the sense of purpose that drove him never wavered.

He walked forward with renewed vigor, his steps purposeful, knowing that there was still so much more he could achieve.

"Distribute the purchases we made," Canna commanded the shock troops, gesturing to the storage rings now filled with supplies from the kingdom. "Make sure everything is in place and usable as soon as possible. We've got new buildings to construct, and there's no time to waste."

The shock troops nodded, swiftly moving to complete their tasks, their movements as efficient as ever. As they scattered to distribute the newly acquired goods, Canna took a deep breath, feeling the weight of leadership settling back on his shoulders.

The sanctuary was expanding at a rapid pace, and with new residents, new resources, and new responsibilities, there was always something demanding his attention.

Yet, for Canna, this was exactly where he wanted to be—right in the heart of the sanctuary, making things happen. It was time to push forward, to build, and to make sure that the sanctuary lived up to its full potential.