Sanctuary: Safe Haven

As if answering an unspoken call, a massive red portal materialized above Canna. This portal was unlike the ones Canna usually conjured; the mana emanating from it was thick, menacing, and exuded an aura of raw destruction. From the depths of the portal came a thunderous dragon roar, a sound so powerful and overwhelming that it seemed to tear the very fabric of reality.

The roar was so intense that Canna screamed in agony, his senses overloaded by the sheer force of it. In an instant, he felt his power drain away, his stats debuffed by an overwhelming 80%. The roar's echo reverberated through the entire kingdom, causing the ground to tremble and structures to shake violently.

Panic spread like wildfire. The royal guards, who had instinctively rushed to protect their king, found themselves incapacitated, their knees buckling under the immense pressure. Breathing became a struggle, as though the very air had turned against them.

All across the kingdom, chaos reigned—people collapsed, many lost consciousness, and some even succumbed to the sheer force of the roar, their bodies unable to withstand its destructive power. Blood poured from the ears, noses, and eyes of those unfortunate enough to be near the protector's gate, a grim testament to the roar's devastating effect.

Meanwhile, the protector—a being who had stood as a guardian for eons—trembled with fear. It recognized the roar, though it had not heard it for countless ages. The terror was palpable, rooted in an ancient memory that sent shivers down its spine.

As the roar finally subsided and the red portal vanished into nothingness, the protector hastily released the bindings that held Canna. Freed from his restraints, Canna crumpled to the ground, clutching his ears in pain. Mortem, sensing his master's distress, materialized at his side, his usually unwavering demeanor shaken.

The protector remained motionless, its expression blank, as if paralyzed by the weight of the memories the roar had awakened. Minutes passed in heavy silence before it finally spoke, its voice barely above a whisper. "Tonitrum, the Primordial Dragon..."

The protector's breath came in ragged gasps, as if it had just awoken from a nightmare. It was clear that the roar had dredged up something from a distant, buried past. Slowly, the protector seemed to regain its composure, though its movements were still tinged with a deep-seated fear.

Realizing that it had guests within its domain, the protector turned its attention back to Canna and Mortem. "I-I apologize," it stammered, clearly unsettled. "I should have recognized it sooner... But it has been so long since I last sensed his presence that I refused to believe it. Please, Harbinger, take this."

A vine extended from the protector, offering a small, apple-like fruit to Canna. Instantly, Mortem moved to intercept, his blade poised to cut the offering in half. But Canna, despite the blood still trickling from his ears and nose, raised a hand to stop him. Canna reached out, accepting the fruit with a shaky hand, and took a bite.

As the fruit's juice touched his lips, a surge of vitality coursed through Canna's body. It was as though he had just tasted the most exquisite delicacy in existence, a flavor that seemed to rejuvenate every fiber of his being. He could feel the fatigue and pain melting away, replaced by an invigorating energy that made him feel as if he had just awoken from the most restful sleep of his life.

His health was fully restored, his mana reserves overflowed, and his strength returned tenfold. The effect was so profound that Canna couldn't help but marvel at what seemed like a miraculous, almost cheat-like item.

With his hearing restored and his strength renewed, Canna stood with Mortem's help, wiping the remaining blood from his face. He looked the protector in the eye, his curiosity piqued. "So, you know Tonitrum," he said, his voice steady once more.

The turtle-like protector gazed back at Canna with a mixture of reverence and sorrow. It nodded slowly, its expression softening as it began to speak. "He is the reason I am who I am today. Let me tell you a story about him..."

The protector's voice trailed off as it delved into its memories, preparing to recount a tale that spanned eons. A story of power, of the bonds forged between ancient beings, and of the profound impact one primordial dragon had on the world.

Canna listened intently, knowing that the story he was about to hear would shed light on the mysteries surrounding the legendary Tonitrum, and perhaps offer him new insights into the path that lay ahead.

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The protector's voice grew soft, almost reflective, as it began its tale.

"It was thousands of years ago, back when I was just a tiny, stupid little blossom shell," the protector said, its eyes distant as if recalling the long-forgotten past. "I was nothing—at the bottom of the food chain, my entire existence reduced to eating grass and waiting to be eaten by something larger. I didn't know any better, nor did I care.

I simply existed, ignorant and unaware of the greater world around me. That was, until he came."

Canna watched as the protector's tone shifted, its voice reverberating with a mix of awe and apprehension.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"One day, from the skies, something immense and powerful descended. It was Tonitrum," the protector continued, its voice carrying the weight of ancient memories. "He was eating something, and as he landed, his massive form shook the very ground beneath me. He looked at me—a tiny, insignificant thing—and laughed. He said I was puny and stupid-looking.

I had no idea what he meant or why he took notice of me at all. But then, with a terrifying grin, he unleashed his flames and burned the entire forest around me. Everything... gone in an instant. And he laughed again, as if it were nothing but a passing amusement."

The protector paused, as if even now the memory of Tonitrum's destructive force caused it unease.

"As if on impulse, Tonitrum tossed me a piece of meat. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before—a hunk of flesh from another dragon, no less. It was the first time I had ever tasted anything but grass." The protector chuckled, almost nostalgically. "I didn't know it then, but that single piece of meat would change everything.

You see, it wasn't just any meat—it was imbued with dragon blood, powerful blood from a particularly strong one at that."

The protector's eyes narrowed slightly as it continued, its voice more serious.

"I don't know exactly when it happened, but the next day, I woke up... different. For the first time in my existence, I had self-consciousness. I was no longer a mindless creature roaming aimlessly. I could think, I could see the world for what it was—and it horrified me. I realized how stupid and pathetic my race was, simply waiting to be devoured by stronger creatures.

We were prey, and that was all we would ever be unless something changed."

Canna listened intently, intrigued by how such a small creature could evolve into something so significant over time.

"I soon began to hear stories—whispers, really—of Tonitrum. Stories of how he razed kingdoms that displeased him, how he slaughtered anyone he deemed strong just for the thrill of it. He was a menace, a walking calamity, feared by all, loved by none. But no one dared to intervene. He did as he pleased, and his power was such that no one could challenge him."

The protector's voice grew somber as it continued.

"That random piece of meat, though… it gave me a small amount of dragon blood. It wasn't much, but it was enough to spark something within me. I used it as leverage, as fuel to grow stronger, all the while keeping my fellow blossom shells safe. Over the centuries, I evolved, rising through the ranks of strength and consciousness.

It took me a long, long time, but eventually, I reached the rank of catastrophe . By the time I attained that power, my goal was clear—I wanted to find Tonitrum. I wanted to understand him, to confront the being that had changed my life in such a profound way."

The protector sighed, a deep, almost regretful sound.

"But I never found him. I traveled across the world, searching for any trace of him. I ventured into lands unknown, spoke with beings ancient and wise, yet there was no sign of him. He was gone. And so, with no other path before me, I returned here—to the very forest where it all began, where Tonitrum first burned everything down. I made this place my home, and I vowed to protect it."

Canna looked around, the weight of the protector's words hanging in the air. He could see it now—the protector wasn't just a guardian for the creatures that lived here. It was the living embodiment of their survival, a being who had transcended its humble beginnings to become something far more powerful, all thanks to a chance encounter with a dragon.

The protector's voice softened as it neared the end of its story.

"I forged a contract with the first king of this land, vowing to keep his kingdom safe. It was my way of giving back to those who had sheltered me, my way of protecting the creatures that once roamed these forests, just as I had. And here I remain, still waiting, still watching, hoping that one day, I will find the answers I seek about Tonitrum."

As the protector finished speaking, it turned its gaze back to Canna, its eyes full of wisdom and reflection.

"You carry his blood, Harbinger. That alone makes you worthy of my respect. But be warned—Tonitrum is not a being to be taken lightly. His power is ancient, primal, and unpredictable. Should you walk a path that leads you closer to him, be prepared for whatever may come."

Canna nodded, absorbing the protector's words. There was much to think about, much to consider. But for now, he had learned something valuable—a glimpse into the legend of Tonitrum, and a newfound understanding of the power that coursed through his own veins.

The protector fell silent, its story told, and Canna knew that the conversation had reached its natural conclusion. There was more to learn, more to explore, but for now, he had been given a gift—knowledge, and the promise of future revelations.