Everyone was stunned.

Darwin looked at the guards before him. Both were terrifying—standing this close to them was like standing beside two universes. Their depth and energy were unfathomable.

Fear gripped Darwin's chest. Is this only a glimpse of the royal family's true power?

Just as murmurs and confusion began to swell, a calm wind swept across the Federation. Everyone froze. Their minds cleared in an instant, as though someone had erased every thought—no fear, no anger, nothing. Thɪs chapter is updated by novelꜰire.net

"Everyone, calm down…" A soothing, aged male voice echoed, lifting every spirit as eyes turned toward a man. Peace washed over them, their emotions swept away.

"Is that…?"

"That symbol—he's an ancestor of the royal family!"

Gasps spread through the crowd. Even the powerhouses, those at the universal level, were shaken.

Among them, General Drezan's eyes widened.

The Fifth Ancestor came? This… this is far greater than we imagined.

The old man stepped into view. His beard and hair were completely white, his face aged but brimming with vitality. His body was not frail—moderately built, steady, radiating presence. A radiant smile was etched on his face.

"It's alright," the old man said gently. "I know you are all confused, and you should be. You have questions… and I am here to answer them."

He stroked his clean, well-kept beard as he spoke.

"Let me introduce myself. I am the Fifth Ancestor of the royal family. My name… ah, it has been too long. I've forgotten it. And those who knew it are long dead." His smile never faded, but hearts froze.

The meaning was clear. His enemies remembered his name, but they were all dead now—by his hand.

"I will tell you a story," the Fifth Ancestor continued, his eyes shifting to Caius and Darwin. "The story of how the eldest prince and this boy are connected."

The hall went silent.

"It began when Caius' mother was pregnant. She was the unmarried daughter of the Brojik family, but she was impregnated by the king. Such behavior was unacceptable. The Brojik family was ashamed, the royal family even more so. But what could be done? The king took her as a mistress—though even that would have been a stain upon the Brojik family."

He paused, letting the words settle before continuing.

"A compromise was made. Caius' mother would give birth, and then she would return to the Brojik family and forget everything—especially her child. But fate had its own plans. She gave birth to twins. One a genius, the other talentless."

Whispers rippled across the crowd. Caius had no talent before joining the Dreadborne… then… does this mean… Caius had a twin?

"I oversaw the matter myself," the old man went on. "Caius and his brother were born out of wedlock. To allow them both into the royal family? Dangerous. Ministers may have accepted it, but the queens… hatred would have consumed them. So I left the talentless one behind, and carried away the genius—sealing his talent.

To ensure they would meet again one day, I placed a mark upon them both. When the time was right, they would recognize each other, without hatred being aimed solely at one of them. I expected, by then, the twin would have achieved some respect in life. But fate…" The old man chuckled softly.

Everyone gulped.

The truth was undeniable. Darwin was Caius' blood brother. That meant he was a prince.

He had the right to object. He had the right to battle Theron for the throne.

The ancestor looked over the crowd, still smiling.

"Fate truly is strange. To think the twin would become a mere guard under his younger brother… and now stand here, opposing him. Well, this is the matter of the younger generation. They shall settle it. But first, I will unlock your talent."

With a wave of his hand, the ancestor vanished.

At once, the murmurs returned—shocked, fearful, frantic.

Caius' mind spun wildly. So this guard… is my twin brother? Lydia's knees weakened.

Darwin suddenly grinned. Inside him, a lock shattered. His strength surged, breaking past the planetary realm, leaping into the galaxy realm.

The crowd erupted into chaos, but the royal siblings were struck silent.

The Kingmaker swallowed hard, his gaze darting nervously.

"Darwin… what are you going to do?" Vaelen asked at last—the question burning in everyone's mind.

Darwin laughed. "Hahahaha!" His voice boomed.

"What will I do? You heard him. My talent was sealed. I was cast aside, ripped from the royal family. Why? To keep me from the battle for the throne." His voice dripped with bitterness, though his grin remained.

Everyone felt the sting of guilt. His right had been stolen.

"You know what? I'm going to do exactly what you all tried to prevent—I will fight for the throne. The battle was never over."

"He wouldn't…" Caius' eyes widened.

Theron clenched his fists, silent but seething. Vaelen lowered his head, lost in thought.

"But Darwin," Caius said quickly, voice strained, "you heard everything. You don't need to do this!" Accepting Darwin as his twin was hard enough. But to fight for the throne? Impossible.

Darwin's grin widened. "Oh, I heard everything. And that's why I will fight. Caius—are you really that stupid? You were the eldest. Yet you gave the throne to Theron. Him? Your younger brother? The same Theron who dared oppose you? The same Theron who took your childhood sweetheart as his queen?

And you, Vaelen—you had merchants and trade backing you, strength beyond most. Yet you gave it all up to support Theron. Lyssandra? You follow blindly, without a will of your own. Seraphina? No different.

And my so-called 'boss'… or should I say, younger brother? You had the military at your back. Even Caius and Theron feared you. Yet you willingly threw it away."

His eyes scanned them all, his voice cutting like a blade.

"You're pathetic. Every last one of you."

Every word from Darwin struck the crowd like a hammer, forcing them to lower their heads, lost in doubt, questioning their own choices.

Were they truly right to support Theron?

Darius's eyes burned blood-red, his aura sharp enough to cut.

"After everything I endured to bring us together… you dare tear it apart?" Darius's voice was cold, each syllable dripping with frost.

Darwin tilted his head slightly, a calm smile tugging at his lips.

"I'm not your guard anymore, General Darius," he said evenly. "I am your elder brother."

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