If you had to live a life over and over again, how would you do it?

Narrator POV:

Arriving at the other side of the portal after a strange sensation while traveling in it, Mikhael would be lying if he said he wasn't surprised by what awaited him on the other side of the portal.

Not only because of a rather beautiful landscape, a kind of field next to a forest. Where in the distance a house could be seen as well as a field full of wheat that shook in the wind.

No, it was because of the person who was sitting on a stone just a few meters in front of where he came out of the portal. Platinum-blonde hair shining in the sun, calm blue eyes like the clear sky above; an overall impressive appearance.

"Adam...?" Mikhael exclaimed involuntarily in surprise upon seeing that man. Although it was true that he knew that the system or that thing in the sky had made a deal with someone.

He never expected this unknown someone to be the very father of humanity, the one who fought against Zeus until the end, the one who did not fall even after dying.

"So you know me, that's good. I already know who you are, so let's avoid unnecessary introductions." Adam looked at him, his blue eyes reflecting his spiritual form with a certain closeness.

"Brat, I don't know your relationship with that thing, but you should know that we agreed that in exchange for you inheriting my skills and bloodline, you would fight in Ragnarok when you are strong enough to win against a god there."

It seemed that his intuition had been right, that small favor would not be so small, Mikhael however, was not discouraged at all. Rather, quite the opposite.

Obtaining Adam's skills as well as the purest human bloodline and having the opportunity to fight against gods? If the system had a female human form, he would not be able to resist kissing her to express his sincere gratitude.

[ ... ]

"...Judging by your wide smile, I guess you're okay with it, that's good." Adam stood up from the stone, his body dressed in simple but suitable clothing for physical activity as he turned to leave. "See you after that."

That? Mikhael was taken aback for a moment by the words of the man who was leaving in the direction of the house. Before he could ask, a shadow covered him.

[The cradle of stars is working...Preparing materials...Bloodlines ready...Strengthening soul...Soul ready...Awakening spiritual essence...Spiritual essence ready...Awaiting approval from the center...]

An emotionless voice sounded in his ears as he lost his vision. He seemed to be sunk in something or inside something, as if in the middle of strangely viscous water. At least that was what he could discern as he lost consciousness in it.

[The center of Little Garden approves the birth of such a being... Connecting with all celestial bodies of that type... Materializing a suitable body using the available materials... Announcement: The first of his type of kind has been born.]

Mikhael was unable to hear all of this thanks to having lost consciousness, so he would be in for a surprise later. One caused by the countless steps of the plan of a certain lonely cosmic chaos that sought a certain thing from someone.

[The stars celebrate, the center of Little Garden is satisfied, and a certain chaos rejoices. A Last embryo, the last trial of mankind with the name of "The singularity of the cosmos" has just been born, his future growth is eagerly awaited.]

***

"Ugh..." Mikhael groaned as he opened his eyes, sunlight entering them, thus causing him deep irritation until he got used to the light. "Not even in my craziest nights did I end up like this..."

The sun felt so damn annoying right now...

Wait...What?...It felt?!. Mikhael didn't hesitate and abruptly stood up from the ground, looking excitedly at his now corporeal hands with which he could feel what he touched.

[Hmph, this great system granted you a body, otherwise, how were you going to train with that guy? Tsk, tsk you are lucky to have such a benevolent and kind system, you should sincerely appreciate the majesty of this system.]

"Is that so?" Mikhael smiled sincerely. Although he didn't know it, with his new face that expression was a weapon of mass destruction. "I thank you, my dear system."

[ ... ]

A smile that froze when Mikhael found himself once again on the floor, this time face to face with it. After a bit of embarrassment, he managed to walk after his muscles adapted to that activity. Then, he focused on his eyes.

Although in his past life, he had had excellent vision thanks to certain factors, Mikhael felt that now it was even better than before, more colorful and he could even see the details of things a little far away like that house.

It didn't take him long to get to that house either, with his step already completely stable after a short walk. Entering, Mikhael saw a homely general appearance.

"You're finally out, a week has passed of the year that we have to train you." Adam came out of a room, probably the kitchen if the plates with food he was carrying said anything. "Go up to your room and do me a favor and put some clothes on."

"Says the one who was only covered with a vine leaf in the middle of a coliseum," Mikhael muttered as he climbed up, he didn't need to ask which was his room since it had a sign that said his name clearly.

Upon entering, he saw the interior of the room, nothing very impressive, just enough. On top of the bed were the aforementioned clothes, already folded and arranged in a pile.

After putting on the set of clothes, he entered the bathroom and finally saw his current appearance in a mirror. "Fuck... I'm hot" Mikhael touched his face while his self in the mirror did the same.

Although he had had an attractive appearance in his previous life, the current one fit his tastes more. Clearly more manly than his previous androgynous appearance.

Blue eyes much darker than Adam's stared back at him. If the man's eyes looked like the clear sky, Mikhael's looked like the depths of the ocean.

Another difference was the young man's hair color, it didn't have that platinum blonde; it was short and wavy blonde hair. More similar to Eve's as he knew, as well as with a strange golden shade.

As for the face as well as the rest of the body, there was no need to explain, he was technically the blood son of the man who was said to have supreme beauty that aroused even gods.

"Tsk, tsk. They weren't lying when they said made in the image of god." Mikhael went back down to the entrance after admiring himself a bit more, as well as several system messages.

Afterward, both the man and the young man had lunch before going to train. Mikhael would have to admit that his food was delicious, perhaps he should ask him to teach him to cook.

When that day's training finally began, it consisted of three distinct stages:

1-Running around the gigantic field until his body adapted enough to be able to run at a higher speed.

2-Practicing stances as well as basic things like punching or kicking until he can do it flexibly.

3-Finally, he fought Adam, where the man judged his skill, which was defined as acceptable, as well as asked him to demonstrate his current powers to know them.

"Your potential is truly monstrous; even with all my years of experience and knowledge, I still can't see the bottom of it."

Adam looked at him with intrigue, as if curious about what kind of heights he would reach in the future. At the same time, there was relief in his gaze, perhaps because it confirmed that he would be able to accomplish the task he had agreed upon as his reward.

"Let's stop here for now, although your stamina isn't gone yet, your body is tense from the new physical activity," Adam said as the setting sun illuminated his expression. "Training is over for today, you're free until tomorrow."

Without leaving the wheat field, Mikhael sat on a large enough stone while watching the sunset intently. A landscape like that would repeat itself for a while.

Adam had told him that a year in that strange space was a day outside, probably thanks to that being. Watching the sun disappear on the horizon, Mikhael felt a strange sadness and nostalgia for that spectacle of nature.

Perhaps, the fact that he remembered certain words from a game was the cause. In it, they said that when the sun fell, it was the only time that the world was intertwined with the afterlife...

The only time when one could feel the lament of those who left the world, but were still attached to it. The time of twilight and the sorrow that it brings with it.

Mikhael looked away from the twilight for just a moment to look out of the corner of his eye as Adam sat on a nearby stone, also watching the sunset next to him.

"You know, I saw your fight against Zeus in Ragnarok, it was a splendid fight, your willpower is absolutely amazing. What was it like? Ah, yes: "The god who won on his knees and the human who lost on his feet." I sincerely admire you."

"Is that so?" Adam smiled, watching the twilight next to that peculiar son of his. Memories flickered in his eyes. "Although I am disappointed that I could not help those children a little more, that was one of the reasons why I accepted that deal with that grim and strange existence."

"Oh? Out of curiosity, what were the others?" Mikhael raised an eyebrow in interest at what the father of humanity said. Adam responded to that in his normal calm tone, as if he were saying something that should be obvious.

"Isn't that obvious? You are the reason, Mikhael, you are also one of my children. From another universe and all that nonsense, but also another of my children after all."

"..." Mikhael remained silent for a moment, such a thing as paternal affection was something foreign to him. His biological parents had abandoned him at birth as well as the only one close to him, his adoptive mother, having died in his childhood. "I see."

A momentary silence loomed over the two of them, but soon, a few minutes later, it was broken by the young man's voice, one that sounded a little closer to the man beside him.

"I believe that humanity in that world will be fine, their father taught them the valuable lesson of not losing hope, that the gods are not invulnerable, and that humans can match them and even win against them."

"You don't need to worry, Father." Mikhael turned around and smiled sincerely as the light of dusk illuminated his expression. "Even if they can't win at last, I'll be there."

Adam showed a stunned expression for a moment, before relaxing again, smiling as always but with a bit of satisfaction in his eyes. "You're an unexpectedly reassuring brat, huh? I'm glad."

Adam closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again and looking out of the corner of his eye at the young man with an appearance similar to him to a certain extent.

"Mikhael, the truth is that that being showed me something about your life. I won't question your decisions or actions in it, but I think I should tell you when you're making mistakes in this life, like right now for example."

The words of the father of humanity sounded, trying to reach the young man. The same one who seemed to understand what Adam meant with this talk he was giving him.

"Your past is something you must accept in order to be at peace with yourself. At the same time, it is an insult to the bond with them to intentionally forget a loved one."

"It's not that you should resign yourself to fate or the decisions of others, simply accept what has already happened in the past and strive so that it doesn't happen again no matter what."

"My son, your path to the future is something only you can decide. Believe in your strength without hesitation, protect what you love, eliminate your enemies, keep going, and overcome any fear, when you can do like that, have that will..."

"...You will be truly and undeniably strong."

Getting up, Adam was about to leave to give him some time alone. So he could think about those words for himself. But he was stopped by the young man's voice.

"If I had to live a life over and over again, how would I do it?" Mikhael kept his eyes on the sky as he recited a question that a certain maid he loved asked herself. Adam stopped to clearly hear everything he said.

"That was a question that guided a certain woman's life, always living to the fullest. Even though she had little time left to live, she lived more brilliantly than anyone else."

"She sure was a wonderful woman then, you're lucky."

"Yes, she was. In my life I was surrounded by many truly wonderful people, most of them left after a while, but all of them undoubtedly left their own indelible marks on my heart."

Adam remained silent and patted his child before walking past him, heading towards the house. Mikhael, listening to the footsteps moving away, suddenly became aware of something, a fact.

"..."

Adam was already dead, his current life was only temporary.

But before any negative thoughts could silently surface beneath the surface appearance of his normal unscrupulous behavior; something happened.

With his eyes shining a dazzling blue thanks to the light of his visions. He saw it, a future. His perspective had been replaced with that of his future self momentarily.

In front of him was a family reuniting with tears and happy smiles, a man being knocked down by a blonde woman, only for the two children to come and join them with their own tears and happiness when they got up.

"Are you satisfied and happy now? My beloved Mikhael."

A voice sounded next to him, helpless but full of affection. Mikhael felt his body turn around without his control to look at a woman with golden hair, the fingers of one of his hands intertwined with hers.

"When I'm with you I'm always satisfied and happy, my dear and beautiful Aurelia."

"I love hearing that, because I don't plan on ever leaving your side. Even if you were to run away on your own, I'll chase you to the other end of creation and beyond, my love~"

When the sight of her golden eyes that looked like gold melting from love entered his own eyes, the vision ended. A happy giggle escaped Mikhael's mouth.

To think that he would feel so happy to be able to see the future. Even if he didn't talk about Adam and his future, just seeing that woman filled him with nostalgia and happiness.

So much so that it almost made him want to replace his future self's position right then and there.

Mikhael knew however that that was foolish and that from now on he would have to strive to reach that future and prevent the past from repeating itself.

"..."

That night, Mikhael didn't return to the house, he stayed seated on that rock. As the sun set, the lonely night dawned and even as the sun rose again, shining its light after a long darkness, he sat there.

Memories flowed back to where they belonged. Every smile, every gesture, every expression, every detail, every kiss, every memory, every moment with her.

All of that came back to him, who accepted the pain those memories brought as an infinite longing grew inside him.

One of seeing the woman he met again after he thought love wasn't for him after the death of his first love. This time, in this new life, he wouldn't let go anything or anyone no matter what.

***

Almost as cruelly as ever, without waiting for anyone, time flowed. Amid the training given by Adam to the young man, where he taught him what he knew as well as helped him master his powers such as the vision of the future.

The seasons passed one after another without stopping, a spring where they used to chat in the middle of a campfire.

A summer where they trained all day without resting, seeking to perfect a certain technique of Mikhael.

An autumn where Adam told him stories of his life, about his family and past events.

And a winter where they drank coffee with hot chocolate in the cold mornings.

Finally, the day of farewell arrived. In the last training session between the two during the last day.

"...!"

Adam dodged an attack that turned out to be a feint, he saw that dazzling blue eyes before knowing that Mikhael saw his movements and then he received a punch that for the first time reached him.

He wasn't using his full power, he was limiting himself to Mikhael's level. That, however, didn't take away from the impressiveness of the feat.

"Your progress has been impressive during these months, son" Adam smiled with some satisfaction, pride present in his eyes. "For now, only your body is holding you back so you can show the full extent of your fighting technique and skill."

Cracks began to appear on his body as he spoke, it seemed like he had stopped holding something back, or perhaps he felt it was no longer necessary to do so given his progress.

"Adam!" Adam closed his eyes at the young man's worried call. Many things had happened in these months, moments that were also unforgettable just like the ones he told him a few times. "Stop, Mikhael."

"I don't want emotional words or long speeches from you, just... listen in silence." Mikhael stopped in front of the man, the cracks in his body spreading moment by moment.

"When you can, bring those women back to your side, you make a good couple. Also, be careful in handling multiple relationships; it's already inevitable with those two girls waiting for you, but you can certainly avoid waking up one day with 47 stab wounds in your stomach."

"Keep practicing both the fighting and cooking techniques and skills I taught you. Technically, you are the only successor I have, so it would be good if you passed them on to your children at the same time and they to their descendants."

"I also wanted you to accept a selfish request from me. Since you are my biological son, I think it would be appropriate to give you a name. I thought about it and decided on one, I would be grateful if you would use it in the future: Eden (Paradise)."

Adam's voice sounded like he was trying to say as much as possible in that minimum amount of time. Although he knew it was only a temporary farewell, Mikhael felt his eyes moisten, deciding to fulfill that request of his.

"Lastly, but most importantly, take care of yourself in the future, brat... Goodbye." Adam smiled softly, his gaze as steady as ever. Parts of his body crumbling into particles of light just before he left his final words.

"I want you to always remember at all times that all of you children, each and every one of you, from the youngest to the oldest, you are my pride and joy that I treasure with all my heart no matter what."

"Gosh..." Mikhael watched the man who showed no fear of death in his final moments, only lovingly showing his love for his family; all of humanity.

"Didn't you say you didn't want speeches or emotional words? What's with that damn cool speech then?" Mikhael covered his face with one arm for a few moments, calming down before uncovering it.

"But you were wrong about one thing, father." Mikhael smiled sincerely with joy and anticipation to see his surprised face in the future. "This is not a goodbye, just a see you later."