The courtroom of the Federation was rowdy today, the same discussion but more intense.

Rumors of certain ancestors returning to their families spread far and wide. These ancestors were the creators of terrifying powers, forbidden families, and now they were back and this could only mean vying for power. The calm before the storm that would erupt in the Federation.

Each of these ancestors, these forefathers, were walking, breathing legends. Tales were told about them, myths were built around them but what happens when those you thought were dead are now back? The power had grown for thousands, millions of years, even if you were their blood, over generations, blood thinned out.

Even direct blood brother fought for power—talk less of the vast distance between the forefathers and their descendants.

Yes, the forefathers had done the work; they created these powerful forces. Of course, not all forefathers met their power still alive today. Some had been destroyed, scattered… lost.

But they only built it… they created it. It was way different than when they did. It was the sweat, the blood, the struggles of generations upon generations that kept what they created standing—and, more so, built it to that level. Developed it… evolved it.

The issue wasn't that they didn't give them respect. Sigh. The issue was that the forefathers wanted the power of this family.

Not for the family, or for the power they had created to do a particular thing for them but they wanted to take full control of it and be the absolute leader…

This was where the problem lay. The current leaders and ancestors didn't agree to this. How could they leave what their fathers and grandfathers had worked toward and give it fully to their forefathers?

Why?

What if the forefathers destroyed it? Wouldn't their parents' and grandparents' struggles be in vain?

The argument they all used was simple: the forefathers hadn't led before, so isn't giving them the power of the family now more like leaving it for destruction?

"Enough." Looking at the ministers arguing like children, Caius raised his palm as he spoke.

The place quieted down as Caius rubbed his temples.

This issue was bigger than anyone thought and would not only affect the families involved, but even the people would be divided. Should they still pay homage and respect their forefathers, or should they stick with their leaders?

"I will have to adjourn today's meeting. All I will say is, we don't know what the plans of the forefathers are… it would be unwise to hand over power to them besides,time has changed," Caius said with a frown.

The ministers nodded. This was true. At first, they thought all the forefathers died at the front of that war, to protect and pave the way for humanitybut they were wrong.

Now the forefathers were awake, their goals unknown, and he feared there were a lot of secrets they didn't know about them.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the ministers replied, bowing in unison.

Just then…

Knock knock.

A knock echoed as the room grew quiet. It was absolutely rare for any distraction like this to happen while the meeting was going on. The rare cases were always when something very important was happening or had happened.

Everyone's eyes rested on the doorknob as it turned, and the door was slowly pushed open.

"My King," a raspy voice said as a guard entered, his right hand on the sword handle as he knelt on one knee, then his left arm moved to his chest as he bowed.

"Your humble servant requests an audience," the guard said. Caius frowned instantly.

He felt something was wrong as his heartbeat quickened.

"Speak," Caius said and when he heard the words of the guard, his premonition was right.

"There's a guest outside requesting an audience with you. He says his name is Marken the First, the forefather of the Umbraxis family."

Doom.

Everyone felt as though a huge boulder had dropped on them; their hearts quickened. But before anyone could process what was happening, a voice rang out, and everyone felt cold instantly.

"No need. I am already here… my child," a raspy, aged voice rang out as an old man appeared.

An aged man stood quietly, his figure draped in long, free-flowing robes that swayed gently with the air. His hair, silver and thin, fell past his shoulders, while a matching beard framed his weathered face. Deep lines traced his skin, each one carrying the weight of years long past. His eyes, however, remained sharp calm, observant, and filled with a quiet wisdom that time had not dulled.

"Forefather?" Caius called out.

Among all the forefathers, and in all history or tales about humanity's rise, Marken was always mentioned not as the strongest, but as the most dangerous.

He knew how to plan. In military affairs, he was at the top, leading humanity to various earth-shattering wins, and politically, he managed both the people and the economy of humanity. Under him, humanity prospered and flourished.

He was, even among the Three Greats, one to behold. One to mention. And here he was, in the flesh.

"Sir," a minister spoke first. He didn't know what to say—his voice shaky, his fingers trembling as he gulped.

"Are you really… Marken?" the minister asked, swallowing hard.

Hearing this, the old man's eyes seemed to brighten as he chuckled softly.

"Yes… in the flesh and blood," the old man said, as a golden hue covered him. Almost instantly, a similar hue covered Caius.

This was the symbol that one was a king passed directly from the forefather of the royal family. This was solid proof that he was Marken, the forefather of the royal family and the first king of humanity.

"Your Majesty," Caius said as he stood up, hearing all his ministers speak in unison.

Thud.

Their knees smashed onto the ground as awe filled their hearts.

The First King of Humanity, the ruler of what had become the Human Federation, when all humans, regardless of race or country, joined together to form one empire, and the age of interstellar exploration began.

He was hailed as the greatest, and some could even argue humanity existed today because of what he did as king. If not for him… perhaps humanity would have perished.

Only Caius remained standing, but he had begun to see the effect of the forefathers' return. It wasn't going to be an external war with them.

No… they would face internal strife first.

Imagine just what one forefather could do in this room. Now imagine what would happen if multiple forefathers came out in the open. The people would be divided.

There wouldn't even need to be a battle—because humanity would have already lost, and it would simply be there for the forefathers to take.