The Cardinal's confident ultimatum hung in the air for exactly three seconds before I decided to provide a comprehensive demonstration of why threatening my family was a fundamentally poor strategic decision.
"Erebus," I whispered, activating my connection to the Lich whose power had been bound to my soul through months of careful magical integration.
The air around me darkened as my undead companion stirred to consciousness, his ancient presence manifesting as shadows that seemed to drink light rather than merely blocking it. The Necropolis of Forbidden Wisdom expanded outward from my position, creating a Domain that transformed the embassy courtyard into my ideal battlefield.
But even as the Domain established itself, I could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from our opponents. These weren't just powerful Order operatives—they were Cardinals, Immortal-rankers whose mana reserves and magical authority outclassed my Peak Ascendant capabilities.
