Jowalin felt the weight of his father's legendary strength pressing on his thoughts, engulfed in confusion. Millions of years had passed, yet the memory of his father haunted him like an unshakable shadow.
"He was the mightiest being beneath the earth; no mere human could ever hope to kill him."
"Still... a century has passed, and my mother remains unchanged. It's clear the humans must have acquired ancient power... I never anticipated this."
"But even if they did, my father would still rank among the strongest."
"Isis appears to be in her twenties. That means my father was here twenty years ago, or perhaps less."
As Jowalin pondered, he gazed at the imposing statue of his father before him, a rare smile breaking through his furrowed brow.
"Regardless, I'm just an ordinary human now. I haven't even awakened my lineage."
He turned away, wandering through the colossal palaces surrounding him, lost in thought.
"What perplexes me the most is that despite my father's apparent grandeur, my mother and sister lived in that humble shack. Could it be...?"
A fleeting image flashed in Jowalin's mind when suddenly, a loud commotion interrupted his thoughts, emanating from within the main palace.
"Oh! No wonder it's so quiet here; it seems there's an event inside. Let's see what's happening."
He glanced at the massive palace with a hint of curiosity before striding toward the entrance. Without guards to hinder him, he entered.
The exterior of the palace was awe-inspiring, but the interior revealed a different story. Every decoration screamed royalty, fit for a king or an emperor.
"It seems peace has finally settled over this world in this era."
Jowalin smiled in relief. For a man who had witnessed countless ages and the conflicts that led to annihilation and destruction, he felt a rare joy at the prospect of peace before the final hour.
"Look at that woman... how pitiful. She was a queen twenty years ago, but look at her now."
He overheard nearby women exchanging cruel comments, their voices laced with pity. One scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain, as they pointed towards the main hall.
Jowalin remained in a lengthy corridor; this palace was truly vast. He approached the main hall.
"Yes... her husband was a living legend, ruling all of Kemet, but since his disappearance, her status has plummeted."
Jowalin frowned at the gossip; anger simmered within him as he overheard the next hurtful remark, a fire igniting in his chest.
"They say a hundred years ago the Four Heroes brought her son back from the brink of death, and ever since, her life has been in freefall."
"Hmph... just a dead weight. Some fools even claim he was the leader of the Four Heroes."
"Regardless, the Four Heroes vanished along with the general twenty years ago, so those rumors are nothing but nonsense."
As Jowalin entered the main hall, he found it brimming with an enormous crowd, standing along either side.
The hall had multiple levels, each filled with people.
At the center stood an exceptionally beautiful woman, though at this moment, she stared at the ground in sorrow, absorbing the gossip around her.
Beside her, a fiery twenty-something girl clenched her jaw in rage but remained silent.
"Say that again... you want to borrow the doctor for your son's treatment?"
Suddenly, a commanding voice filled the hall with a mixture of authority and mockery, silencing everyone.
Jowalin looked up to see a man in his forties seated on a throne at the hall's apex, observing the woman and the girl with cold scrutiny.
"Farin...."
Jowalin recognized him immediately—it was his uncle, Farin. Beside him were a dozen elders, their expressions a mix of disdain and indifference.
"Yes, brother, please allow the doctor to examine Jowalin. He just awoke, and I fear he may lose consciousness again."
Farin smirked at the woman's plea, his thoughts darkening.
"That little monster was incredibly powerful with that terrifying body... he could have outclassed my brother had he not lost consciousness. It's best he dies; that child is a threat."
Farin cast a glance at Serin and seemed to come to a decision.
"There is no hope for that dead child... but since you ask, I shall listen to my brother's wife."
Serin smiled, ready to express her gratitude, but what she heard next crushed her spirits anew.
"However... you must kneel before me and plead like the common folk."
As his words reverberated through the hall, it erupted into chaos once more—some felt pity, others sneered. Among them were a few slaves relishing the sight of someone once revered being humiliated.
"Farin, you scoundrel... you're going too far!"
Isis shouted in fury, pointing at Farin, which silenced the crowd once more as she took a fighting stance, but Serin raised her hand, stopping her.
"But, Mother..."
Isis was about to protest when Serin shook her head with a sad smile, causing tears to well in Isis's eyes.
"Huh? It seems there's more to this matter."
Jowalin looked at his mother in confusion; from his memories, she was incredibly powerful, yet she refrained from fighting, even restraining Isis.
"But still, those elders... aren't they the ancestors? Yes, yes, I remember! They used to grovel before my father for the chance to train their sons, but now..."
Jowalin glanced up at the elders, who remained silent amid the turmoil, feeling a twinge of disappointment.
"My lord, I object! After all, she is the general's wife... she brought us to where we are now."
Everyone gasped, taken aback. Who dared to voice such a protest? Did he not fear for his life?
An old man among the elders stood and jumped before Serin and Isis, taking a defensive stance as if protecting them.
"Hmm? Who is this old man?"
Jowalin struggled to recall, but suddenly, he heard Farin's voice again.
"Noah... how dare you defy my orders? Are you truly seeking death, or do you wish to join my deceased brother? After all, he was the one who took in a homeless wretch like you."
"It is impossible for the head of the family to die... you all live in peace today only thanks to the sacrifices of the elder generation."
"At the helm was none other than the general, who went to war despite his only son falling into a coma; he even secured victory."
"Is this how you repay him? By torturing his wife and daughter whom he left in your care?"
"Shame on you... truly shame on you."
All eyes fell to the ground, faces filled with shame over their actions, yet no one moved. Noah began to feel disheartened.
But suddenly, a wave of young men with fiery spirits surged forward, standing before Serin and her daughter, causing her to weep.
"How can we be so ungrateful?"
"Yes... the general brought peace to the world, and we stand by as his wife is humiliated like this?!"
"Just as he risked his life for us, we will protect his family with our own lives!"
"Yes... yes... yes!"
The youth shouted, initially few in number but soon swelling to dozens, then hundreds, their fervor shaking the palace.
"Hehe... it seems the family isn't entirely rotten. This spirit is commendable; they deserve to be the descendants of titans."
Jowalin smiled at the sight of the passionate youths, then turned his gaze toward the furious Farin, awaiting his reaction.
"How dare a swarm of ants stand in my way for that dead man?!"
Farin did not disappoint Jowalin; the bitterness of his own inferiority had long ago twisted his heart, and now he lashed out in anger.
He stood and shouted angrily, pointing at the guards.
"Kill them all; leave no one alive!"
All the guards in heavy silver armor brandished their swords fiercely, yet the youths stood their ground defiantly.
"Thank you, children... please leave quickly. I don't want anything to happen to you. You are the future of this corrupted family."
"Haha, don't worry, my lady... our souls are a sacrifice for the general's wife and daughter!"
The leader of the youth, a bold young man, laughed, rallying the others to shout.
"Fight... fight!"
As Jowalin watched the youths, tears streamed down Serin's face, each drop a testament to the stubborn spirit that Jowalin once admired. He felt a familiar fire ignite within him, echoing her strength.
From a distance, Jowalin, who was observing, smiled broadly and raised his hand. Suddenly, the Book of Life and Death appeared in his grasp. He held it tightly and whispered,
"Old friend... grant me a fraction of your power..."