"Why is Grandpa calling us all?" a beautiful young woman asked the other beside her. Together, they looked like two fairies descended from the immortal realm. These two were the granddaughters of the most powerful man in the world.
As they walked toward the living room, they passed by artifacts, intricate designs, and advanced technological marvels. Their grandfather wasn't the richest man on Earth, nor the most physically powerful human, but he was revered as a dragon among n and a phoenix among beauties. Every child he raised wielded imnse influence in the political, economic, and military spheres of the world.
He was called the "Father of Monsters," and a single stomp of his feet could make the world tremble.
Now, having officially turned one hundred years old two months ago, he had summoned all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to gather.
The two young won soon joined others like them. They greeted their siblings, cousins, and nephews as they all assembled in the grand living room. Minutes passed as this group of wealthy and influential people conversed. Each of them was a towering figure in their own right, successful beyond asure. The mansion they were in was years ahead of its ti, with cutting-edge designs, military-grade technology, and bodyguards patrolling the grounds.
Outside, a fortified wall protected the estate, equipped with helicopters, armored vehicles, and even missiles. All of this was to safeguard the man who lived here—their grandfather, Kael, the most powerful person in the world.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, their parents—Kael's children—arrived. With each arrival, the bodyguards grew tense. These were not ordinary people; each one was among the most important figures alive. The death of any one of them could spell disaster for a nation. Combined, their wealth rivaled that of the entire world.
The children excitedly greeted their parents, and the atmosphere turned into a joyous hocoming. After the greetings, a man with sharp eyebrows and a short beard stepped into the center of the room. His presence was commanding, drawing everyone's attention.
He cleared his throat and said, "Cough... I'm glad everyone is here. You might all be wondering why Grandpa called us. Honestly, we don't know either, but we're about to find out. Everyone, follow to greet my father—our father, the Dragon King of the world."
With that, everyone stood up and followed him. They passed through layers of security—guards, restricted doors, lasers, and more—until they finally reached the room.
The man, Kael's eldest son, knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock."
A frail but distinct voice ca from the other side.
"Who?" Kael asked.
"Your son," the man replied.
Silence followed, then a faint chuckle.
"Haha... Cough. Co in. The others are here, right?"
The door opened, and Kael saw his eldest son leading the way like an emperor, with his daughters following behind like empresses. A genuine smile spread across his face.
Kael, now over one hundred years old, had lived a full and fulfilling life. In his younger years, he had been raised by his mother, a poor but determined woman who worked tirelessly to provide for him. His father, a drunkard and a gambler, had been of little help, yet his mother paid off his debts and ensured Kael never lacked anything.
Kael adored his mother more than anyone else in the world, even more than his own children. Her sacrifices drove him to excel in school and secure a job, though it was a simple 9-to-5. But fate had greater plans for him. He married, had children, and eventually rose to beco the most feared and respected man on Earth. When his mother passed away, Kael wept but took solace in knowing he had made her proud.
Now, at one hundred, Kael's wife had been gone for eleven years, yet his children remained by his side, taking care of him. Despite his age, Kael was still in remarkable health, thanks to the best dical care money could buy. But he could feel it—the end was near.
He never believed the old saying that one knows when their ti is coming, but now he understood. It wasn't a voice shouting in his ear, but rather a quiet certainty in his soul.
As his family gathered before him, Kael's smile widened.
"I'm glad you're all here... Haha. It makes happy to see everyone—my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, from the tallest to the shortest, the oldest to the youngest. I can proudly say that I'm proud of each and every one of you."
Seeing his eldest about to speak, Kael raised a hand to stop him.
"No need to say anything," he said firmly. "Today, I want you all to listen to ."
Kael sat comfortably on his bed, his large room spacious enough to accommodate his fifty-plus family mbers. His smile slowly faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"You're probably wondering why I called you all, especially since we just gathered two months ago for my birthday. What I'm about to say is final. No one is to question it or try to change it."
The room fell silent as Kael continued. His eldest son, however, had a sinking feeling he knew what was coming.
"I've lived for one hundred years and seen more than most. Thanks to all of you, I've enjoyed the best that life has to offer. Seeing you all together, protecting one another, and sticking together fills with pride and happiness. I feel... fulfilled. But I'm tired."
Kael's voice softened, and his children's eyes widened.
"My wife passed when I was eighty-nine. It's been eleven years since then. I've spent enough ti with all of you, and now it's ti. I don't know if it's today or tomorrow, but it's coming. None of you must use technology or anything else to extend my life. I've had enough, and I'm ready."
The room erupted in protests, but Kael silenced them with a wave of his hand. His heart swelled with warmth. Having a family like this was a blessing any old man would treasure.
Among Kael's gathered family were doctors, engineers, and experts capable of extending his life if they wished. But he was resolute. He no longer desired the burdens of life; he yearned to embrace the darkness awaiting him.
He raised his hand, and the room fell silent. His voice was calm, yet unyielding.
"This isn't a debate. It's final," Kael declared, his tone carrying an authority that silenced even the most rebellious thoughts.
Turning to his eldest son, he continued, "You are the eldest. You are their father now."
The son nodded, his eyes misty with unshed tears. As the firstborn, he couldn't afford to let them fall, even as the weight of responsibility settled heavily on his shoulders.
Kael smiled faintly. "Good, good. Since we're all here, let's have one last party together."
He stood slowly, his hunched back and incomplete teeth doing little to diminish the aura of strength that had once defined him. Even in his frailty, everyone could see glimpses of the handso man he had been in his youth.
For the first ti in years, the usually serene Kael mansion ca alive with noise and laughter. Everyone devoted themselves to spoiling their beloved grandfather. Kael had never felt happier in his life.
He laughed so hard that a few of his teeth fell out, sending everyone into fits of laughter alongside him. He drank the finest wines, indulged in delicious dishes, and basked in the love of his family. mories of his mother pampering him as a child flickered through his mind, and he smiled.
As the clock approached eleven at night, Kael announced he'd had enough for the night. Everyone escorted him to his room, bidding him goodnight with the expectation they'd see him again the next morning.
His children, unknowingly, had already resolved to spend their final days by his side, unaware that this day would truly be his last.
Kael rely smiled at their sentint. He knew what they were thinking, but deep down, he also knew the truth. Tonight was the night.
Once alone, his door securely shut, Kael sighed contentedly. He laid down on his bed, his body finally succumbing to the comfort of rest.
mories of the past began to resurface in his mind like a vivid tapestry. He smiled, chuckled, even laughed as he relived monts of his hundred years—so joyous, so bittersweet, but all cherished.
By 11:59, he felt drowsy. His eyelids grew heavy, and a profound calm enveloped him.
"I guess it's ti," he thought, a peaceful smile spreading across his face. "They say when death cos, you fear it. But I feel no fear—only peace. Perhaps it's because I had everything I ever wanted, everything I dread of."
The image of his mother's face appeared in his mind, warm and loving. Holding onto that mory, he closed his eyes and embraced the darkness.
********
12:00 AM
The door clicked open, and Kael's eldest son entered quietly, holding sothing his father had forgotten earlier.
"Dad, you forgot..." The words died in his throat as he approached the bed. Each step quickened the rhythm of his heartbeat, a cold dread creeping up his spine.
Standing beside his father, he reached out and placed trembling fingers near Kael's nose. No breath.
Tears stread down his face uncontrollably. The Dragon King of the world, the best father anyone could ask for, was gone.
The news of Kael's passing sent shockwaves across the globe, shaking nations to their cores. Yet, the man who had caused this turmoil lay with a serene smile on his lifeless face, leaving behind a legacy that would never be forgotten.
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