Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna gathered his subordinates once more, determination evident in his eyes. It was time to amass the final souls needed for the dragon egg, a task that required the full strength and coordination of his team. The recent harvest of 100,000 souls from the monster wave had been a significant boon, but such opportunities were rare.

A new, more efficient strategy was necessary to gather the remaining souls.

He approached Tonitrum, seeking guidance from the ancient dragon. Ever aloof, Tonitrum offered a simple yet effective suggestion: "Then join multiple wars in one day," he said lazily, as if the solution was obvious and not a challenge.

A spark of inspiration ignited in Canna's mind. "That could work," he mused, the wheels turning as he considered the logistics. His initial plan was to divide his forces to cover more ground: he would go alone, Mortem would handle another conflict, and Vorgrim and Grimruk would team up for a third. This plan seemed solid until Kael, with a hint of hesitation, pointed out a critical flaw.

"Doesn't the dragon egg need to absorb the souls directly? How would you collect or absorb the souls if you don't have the egg with you?" Kael's question hung in the air, causing Canna to pause and rethink the plan.

Realization dawned on Canna. He facepalmed, the sound echoing through the dungeon's stone halls. "I'm an idiot," he muttered, frustrated by his oversight. Tonitrum's voice cut in with a dry remark, "Well, that's not surprising."

Later that day, Canna and his subordinates stood before a swirling red portal, ready to embark on their mission. Surprisingly, Kael had volunteered to join this time. When Canna inquired about his sudden enthusiasm, Kael simply stated that he felt compelled to contribute more actively to the cause.

Canna was concerned about Kael's safety—after all, Kael was only a B-Ranker—but he couldn't deny the young mage's determination. Over the past six months, Kael had trained rigorously under Mortem's tutelage, significantly improving his spellcasting speed and mana efficiency.

As they stepped through the portal, they were met with a scene of chaos: two races, the Nagas and the Gremlins, locked in a fierce battle. The air was thick with the sounds of clashing weapons and desperate battle cries. Canna estimated that there were at least 60,000 combatants on the field.

Canna's team quickly sprang into action. The battle was intense, but their training and synergy showed. Kael, leveraging his affinity for ice, proved invaluable, freezing enemies and creating obstacles that shifted the battle in their favor. Canna summoned the undead, while Mortem focused on collecting the mana cores. The task was grueling, taking several hours, but their efforts paid off handsomely.

Mortem added three new great-calamities and twenty-one mid-calamities to his growing undead collection.

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Four months passed in a whirlwind of war and strategy. They moved from one conflict to another, steadily amassing souls. The numbers climbed steadily, and Canna could see the end goal in sight. "943,000 / 1,000,000," he noted with satisfaction.

Canna could have reached the goal sooner, but unlike him, Grimruk and Kael lacked his monstrous stamina and mana regeneration. They needed time to recuperate, consuming monster meat and resting to replenish their strength and mana. It made Canna acutely aware of the advantages his dragonkin lineage bestowed upon him, including his ability to sustain prolonged exertions without significant rest.

During the downtime between battles, Canna utilized the barren domain to practice his powers. He experimented with weather control, manipulating elements to alter the landscape. The domain, once a desolate wasteland, began to show signs of transformation, hinting at the potential it held.

He also engaged in intense sparring sessions with Mortem and Vorgrim, testing the limits of his strength and skills. These sessions were liberating, unrestricted by the confined space of the dungeon.

Canna consciously avoided using the Bloodfang Scythe during these sparring matches, opting instead for standard weapons or even fighting bare-handed. His dragonkin physique, resilient and powerful, allowed him to trade blows with Vorgrim without fear of serious injury.

It was now time for the final push. Canna needed to reap another batch of souls to finally hatch the dragon egg. But before heading out, there were last-minute preparations to address. He gathered his subordinates and Kael, expressing his gratitude for their dedication.

"You have all contributed a lot," Canna began, his voice sincere. "When we leave this dungeon, I will ensure you are properly rewarded. Consider this a down payment." Before Mortem, Vorgrim, and Grimruk could respond, mana cores started falling from the air, piling up around them until they stood ankle-deep.

"Take your fill, Mortem and Vorgrim. You two have been low-calamities for too long. Grimruk, it's time for you to ascend as well. With your new strength, you'll be able to support me even more in the future." He then turned to Kael, "And you, my friend, it's time for you to move beyond B-Rank. You've trained hard; it's time to reap the rewards."

Without hesitation, they began absorbing the mana cores. Kael was the first to finish, enduring only a few minutes of pain before ascending to A-Rank. For Mortem and Vorgrim, ascending from low to mid-calamity took a day, while Grimruk took four days to reach the rank of Great Calamity.

Seeing his subordinates grow stronger brought a smile to Canna's face. Their increased power would only benefit their future endeavors. With the final preparations complete, Canna prepared himself for the last push. He took a deep breath and entered the portal, his thoughts drifting to what he would name his dragon once it hatched.

Upon exiting the portal, Canna was shocked by the scene that greeted him. The sounds of weapons clashing and spells being cast filled the air, echoing through the battlefield. He surveyed the chaos, his eyes widening as he realized who the combatants were.

Humans. The war Canna had joined was between humans, and now he had to kill them all.

The realization weighed heavily on him, but he steeled himself for the task ahead. The mission to gather souls was paramount, and he couldn't afford to falter now. The lives before him were a necessary sacrifice for the greater goal—the hatching of Stormbringer and the future they were destined to build together.

Canna took a deep breath, steeling his resolve, and prepared to unleash the full extent of his power.