Meanwhile, across the city, the old patriarch materialized within the grand halls of his clan's ancestral mansion. Without wasting a second, he activated his arm device, summoning the highest-ranking members of the blood clan.
Minutes later, space cracks began opening above the estate like dark, swirling maws in the void. From these rifts emerged figures of immense power, from Elders, Matriarchs, and other Patriarchs, each an authority in their own right.
These were not mere nobles or bureaucrats. These were monsters, battle-hardened beings who had survived countless wars, ruling over their respective bloodlines with an iron grip.
Once the last of them had arrived, the old patriarch rose from his chair, his expression grave yet brimming with anticipation.
"Well then," he began speaking, his voice carrying a weight that silenced all present. "I imagine you're all wondering why I summoned you here."
