Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The wind howled through the desolate streets of Avaloria as Canna, Mortem, and Flora floated above the ruined kingdom. Below them, the devastation was laid bare—a kingdom once full of life and pride now reduced to a smoldering wasteland. Buildings that had once stood tall and proud were now crumbled and blackened, their structures barely recognizable beneath the layers of ash and debris.

The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning wood and the sickening scent of death, a reminder of the countless lives lost in this senseless destruction.

As they surveyed the scene, the sheer scale of the devastation became clear. Streets that had once bustled with activity were now empty, save for the charred remains of what used to be merchants' stalls and the scattered corpses of those who had tried—and failed—to defend their home.

The once majestic towers of Avaloria's castle were reduced to twisted metal and rubble, their spires lying in shattered heaps on the ground. It was clear that the attack had been merciless and absolute, leaving no corner of the kingdom untouched by the invaders' wrath.

Canna's eyes narrowed as he took it all in. This was more than just an attack; it was an obliteration. The kind of destruction that could only be fueled by deep hatred or a sick, twisted sense of pleasure. And at the heart of it all, standing in the very center of the devastation, were three hooded figures.

The figure in the middle looked up at Canna and grinned, his eyes gleaming with a madness that was unmistakable even from a distance. He began clapping his hands, the sound echoing through the ruins like a sinister mockery of applause. "I knew it! I knew you would come!" the figure shouted, his voice filled with deranged glee.

Canna's blood boiled at the sight of this maniac standing amidst the ruins of Avaloria, his glee at the destruction sickening. "You did this?" Canna's voice was low and dangerous, yet despite the distance, the crazed figure seemed to hear him perfectly.

"Yes! With th—" The figure's words were cut off as Canna instantly teleported in front of him, delivering a powerful backhand blow. But instead of feeling the satisfying impact of flesh and bone, Canna's fist slammed into a barrier, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Up close, Canna got a better look at the lunatic before him. The figure's face was gaunt and twisted, with sunken eyes that gleamed with an unnatural light. His skin was pale and sickly, stretched tightly over sharp, angular bones that made his features even more grotesque. His mouth was twisted into a wide, crazed grin, revealing jagged, yellowed teeth.

The man's hair was wild and unkempt, clumped together in greasy strands that fell haphazardly over his forehead. His hood, tattered and stained, did little to hide the madness that radiated from his very being.

The figure cackled, his laughter grating against Canna's ears. "You're a feisty one, aren't you?" the man sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Well, consider this our revenge! You destroyed our men and our hard work with that monster wave, so in return, we destroyed this kingdom!

Never again will you interfere in our plans, monster!" He paused, his gaze locking with Canna's as his grin widened even further. His eyes, filled with a sinister glee, seemed to bore into Canna's very soul as he spoke his next words with chilling malice. "We don't have time to play with brats like you. Consider this your warning."

Before Canna could react, the figure and his companions vanished, disappearing into thin air just as Mortem unleashed a barrage of dark spells on their position. Flora's vines surged from the ground, crashing into the spot where the figures had stood, and Vorgrim's sword waves sliced through the air, but it was too late. The enemy had escaped.

Canna clenched his fists, his mind racing as he processed the figure's words. The Veiled Order had orchestrated this destruction in retaliation for Canna's actions against their monster wave. But what was their ultimate goal? What other plans did they have in motion? The questions swirled in his mind, but for now, they would have to wait. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

Canna floated back down to the ground, his expression grim as he turned to his subordinates. "This was a warning," he said, his voice steady but laced with anger. "But we won't be intimidated. We need to focus on what's important now—finding any survivors."

He summoned all the ready warriors, including Kael, to the ruins of Avaloria. As they assembled, Canna gave them their orders. "Spread out. Search every building, every street, every corner. If there are any survivors, we need to find them. And if you find anything—anything at all—that might give us a clue about the Veiled Order's plans, report it immediately."

Kael, who had been listening intently, nodded in agreement. "We'll do our best, Canna. There has to be someone left alive. We'll find them."

The warriors fanned out, their determination unwavering despite the grim task ahead of them. Canna watched them go, his mind still turning over the words of the lunatic. The Veiled Order was a threat that needed to be dealt with, but first, he had to make sure the people of Avaloria were safe.

As he walked through the ruins, Canna couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. Avaloria had been destroyed because of him—because he had interfered with the Veiled Order's plans. The thought filled him with a cold, burning anger, but he forced it down. There would be time for revenge later. For now, he had to focus on saving those who could still be saved.

As the search continued, Canna's resolve hardened. He wouldn't let the Veiled Order get away with this. They had made a mistake by attacking Avaloria, and they would pay for it. But first, he would find any survivors and make sure they were safe. After that, he would turn his full attention to hunting down the Veiled Order and putting an end to their plans once and for all.

The battle was far from over, and Canna was determined to see it through to the end.