### Chapter 1: The Forgotten Warlord
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the sprawling city of Elysium, the capital of Aquaria. Amidst the city's bustling streets, the Rogers family estate stood as a modest symbol of mid-tier power. The estate, though not as grand as those of the high-rate families, still exuded an air of quiet ambition. The Rogers family was one of Aquaria's mid-rate families, respected but not feared, influential but not commanding. They harbored dreams of rising to the ranks of the high-rate families, but for now, they were caught in the liminal space between power and obscurity.
Inside the estate, the atmosphere was tense. The head of the Rogers family, Vincent Rogers, was hosting a dinner, and the guests were members of other mid-rate families, all eager to discuss alliances and strategies for advancing their respective positions in Aquarian society. The conversation at the table was lively, filled with the usual talk of business and social maneuvering, but there was an underlying current of anxiety—each family knew that only a select few would ever break into the ranks of the high-rate families, and the competition was fierce.
At the far end of the table, away from the main conversation, sat Lucas Walfez. The son-in-law of Vincent Rogers, Lucas was a man who, in the eyes of the Rogers family, had failed to live up to their expectations. His marriage to Selena Rogers had been arranged by her late grandfather, who had seen something in Lucas that no one else did. But since the old man's passing, Lucas had become little more than a shadow in the household, a figure barely worth noticing.
The Rogers family despised Lucas for his perceived lack of ambition, his refusal to play the games of power that defined their lives. To them, he was a "good-for-nothing," a man who contributed nothing to their ambitions. Selena, however, treated him with a quiet kindness, though their relationship remained distant. She was a woman of grace and intelligence, respected by her family and their peers, but even she struggled to understand why her grandfather had insisted on her marriage to Lucas.
The dinner continued, with Vincent and his guests discussing ways to curry favor with the more powerful families in Aquaria. They spoke of potential business ventures, strategic marriages, and the latest gossip from the capital's elite circles. But Lucas remained silent, his thoughts elsewhere. He had long ago learned to endure the slights and insults that came his way, to maintain a facade of indifference even as the family he had married into dismissed him as irrelevant.
Yet Lucas was not the man they believed him to be.
Beneath his unassuming exterior, Lucas harbored a secret—one that, if revealed, would shake the very foundations of Aquarian society. He was the last surviving heir of the Walfez lineage, a family that had once wielded great power in Aquaria before being betrayed and destroyed by their enemies. Lucas had been hidden away as a child, his identity kept secret to protect him from those who had sought his family's downfall. For years, he had lived in obscurity, biding his time, waiting for the moment when he could reclaim his birthright.
The Rogers family, of course, knew nothing of this. To them, Lucas was simply a disappointment, a man whose only value was in his connection to Selena. But Lucas had not forgotten who he was, nor had he abandoned his plans to restore the honor of the Walfez name. He had spent years honing his skills in secret, studying the arts of war and strategy, and building alliances with those who were loyal to his family's memory. The time for action was drawing near, and when it came, the Rogers family would find themselves caught in the storm.
As the dinner wound down, Vincent Rogers turned his attention to Lucas, his expression one of thinly veiled contempt. "Lucas," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "what are your thoughts on the matters we've been discussing? Surely you must have some insight to offer."
The other guests fell silent, their eyes turning to Lucas with barely concealed amusement. It was a ritual of sorts—Vincent enjoyed mocking his son-in-law in front of others, relishing the opportunity to remind Lucas of his lowly status within the family.
Lucas met Vincent's gaze calmly, refusing to rise to the bait. "I'm afraid I don't have much to add," he said evenly. "These are matters beyond my expertise."
Vincent snorted in derision, waving a hand dismissively. "As I thought. Useless, as always."
The guests chuckled, and the conversation quickly moved on, leaving Lucas once again on the periphery. But as the evening wore on, and the guests began to depart, Lucas slipped away from the estate and into the night. He made his way through the darkened streets of Elysium, moving with purpose toward a destination known only to him.
His path led him to the outskirts of the city, to a small, nondescript building that appeared abandoned. But as Lucas approached, the door opened silently, and he was greeted by a man dressed in simple, unremarkable clothing. The man bowed deeply as Lucas entered.
"Master Walfez," the man said, his voice filled with respect. "Everything is in place. We await your command."
Lucas nodded, his expression grave. "Good. It won't be long now. We must be ready."
For years, Lucas had worked in the shadows, gathering the remnants of his family's loyalists, training them in secret, and preparing for the day when he would reclaim what was rightfully his. The Rogers family, and indeed all of Aquaria, were unaware of the storm that was about to descend upon them. The ancient families, the emperor, even the Tremendous Six—none of them would be able to stop what was coming.
Lucas Walfez, the forgotten warlord, was ready to rise.
As he looked out over the city, the lights of Elysium shimmering in the distance, Lucas felt a surge of determination. The time for hiding was over. Soon, all of Aquaria would know his name. And when they did, the Rogers family, along with all those who had wronged him, would kneel before him, begging for mercy.
But there would be none.
For now, however, Lucas returned to the Rogers estate, slipping back into his role as the "good-for-nothing" son-in-law. The facade had to be maintained a little longer. His time would come, and when it did, he would reclaim his birthright, restore his family's honor, and bring justice to those who had betrayed them.
The forgotten warlord would rise again.