Adam's soul drifted aimlessly in the aether, a vast and boundless expanse where neither time nor space held meaning. His defeat at the hands of Zeus replayed in his mind, each blow and counter etched into his memory. Though he had fought valiantly for humanity, the battle was lost, and now he found himself in this nebulous void.
Still, it wasn't all bad, he supposed. Getting his body back, even for a short time, was definitely great. Hearing the cheers of his descendants, meeting his children again, and having the chance to finally apologize to Cain and Abel for being a poor excuse of a father.
And then there was Eve, his beloved partner. In those few minutes, He remembered their love, fierce and unwavering, a bond forged in the innocence of Eden and tested by the harsh realities of the world. He remembered the feel of her hand in his, the sound of her voice, and the depth of her understanding.
He recalled the simple joys of Eden, the taste of ripe fruit, the warmth of the sun on his skin, and the companionship of animals. He remembered the excitement and trepidation of meeting Eve for the first time, their early days of exploration and learning together.
To hold her in his arms after all that time, to feel his beautiful Eve's lips on his own as he cupped her cheeks... It wasn't bad at all.
He would battle a million Zeuses a million times, just for another second with them. A shame he could only enjoy those moments briefly before his fight. He felt a bit bummed and tired from the loss.
As the first man, he had hoped he would have emerged victorious, to set an example for all of humanity. Yet, despite his best efforts, he had been bested by the king of the gods.
"Wasn't I created to protect them?" Adam thought, his mind drifting back to the faces of his children and descendants. "I should have won..."
As Adam's consciousness floated through the void, he began to feel a strange pull. It was as if the very fabric of reality was drawing him towards a new destination. For a moment, he was confused and considered ignoring it before he stopped.
A sense of familiarity took over his senses, and he turned his attention towards it, for the pull was not too dissimilar to what he felt before Brunhilde and her sisters summoned him.
With his resolve made, Adam's essence burst toward the pull. Colors began to swirl around him, vibrant reds, oranges, and purples, coalescing into a fiery vortex. The sensation grew stronger, pulling him faster and faster until he was engulfed in a blinding light.
An instinct that beat like a burning drum inside his soul.
There was no mistaking this feeling.
His family needed him.
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Adam's eyes snapped open as he lay on his back in a white room, blaring lights glaring into his vision. A mortuary, his mind supplied the name of his location. A choking sound of sobs alerted him to the presence of another person in the room, and he turned his head to the side.
His eyes were greeted with the sight of a mop of white hair cut into an asymmetrical bob, shaking as the head it was attached to hung low, its owner trying her hardest to stifle her tears. "Adam..."
The first thing that clicked in his core was that the young woman must not have been of his blood. For what father cannot recognize their child? A Valkyrie, then. She certainly felt the same.
But Adam held nothing but the greatest respect for the valkyries. After all, what bastard would look down on them? Not him, that's for sure.
Not after Reginleif.
As far as he was concerned, they were far worthier of adoration than the so-called gods.
The second thing that clicked was that the girl was shedding tears over ...him?
Well, that simply won't do.
He pushed himself upwards, ignoring the ache in his back and with a soft tone of voice, one reserved only to reassure and calm his children, the First Man pleaded, "Do not cry."
He knew how the Valkyries were. To see one cry, to lose their composure, to shed their tears... It would be a stain on their pride and their dignity. So when the girl looked up, her eyes glistening with tears, and her expression showing confusion and a bit of frustration, he could only chuckle at the sight. "A warrior's tears are far too precious to be spilled over a foolish old man like me."
"A...Adam..." the Valkyrie spoke, her voice quivering and her body shaking, as she launched from her seat, rushing towards him. Her feet wobbling and knees crashing into the floor as she knelt before him, her hands grabbing into the clothes he wore.
"You're..." she choked on her own words. "I saw... you. I saw her.. and the knife. I'm sorry...I'm sorry... I'm sorry. You were .....!!!"
"Dead?" Adam continued softly, his arms lifting the young woman off the ground. "I thought so, too. But, here I am. I guess that the First Man isn't so easily triumphed."
He gave a small, self-deprecating chuckle. "It must be the work of a certain young woman who summoned me once more. Thank you. For coming to my aid once again."
The white-haired soldier merely shut her eyes tightly, letting the tears fall freely, though now they were tears of happiness and gratitude rather than sorrow. Adam felt humbled, to think that a girl whom he never met before thought so highly of him to cry over his death.
He was grateful.
He was truly grateful. He vowed that as long as he drew breath, he would live to not betray the high expectations the young woman placed on him.
As the young woman continued to release all her anguish, Adam's palm landed gently on her back, moving in a calming manner like he used to do whenever his daughters came for him wishing for comfort.
"Adam... I'm sorry. I failed you."
"Shhh..." He whispered, holding her close to his chest.
"It's not your fault. No one could have done anything. You were all caught unprepared. I can only blame my weakness."
"No! That's not..." The young woman said, shaking her head as she looked into his eyes. "We couldn't do anything... We lost... I couldn't stop her... I...couldn't..."
Adam's eyes widened as he saw the despair in the Valkyrie's face. He could sense the shame, the fear, the regret. All those emotions seemed to eat the girl from the inside, yet before he could offer any comforting words, the famed Valkyrie pride showed itself.
The young woman suddenly bolted upwards, standing in a clean salute, her fist placed firmly against her chest, where her heart was. "I, Lute, swear on my pride and in God's name that I will never allow any harm befall you ever again. I will never never fail you again, Sir!"
Lute.. What a fine name befitting of a fine warrior.
Adam's lips curved into a proud smile, as he looked up at the young Valkyrie, her eyes, once filled with sorrow, now shining with a resolute will. "I will be in your care, Lute."
He was the first. He was the oldest, and his blood and body were the foundation for the entire human race. Yet, now, his life would be in the hands of a mere young Valkyrie.
Adam was honored.
However, throughout the entire ordeal, there was still something he wished to know. A question that he was barely able to contain.
"Say, Lute...."
He asked.
Lute's eyes widened, confusion marring her visage for several moments. "You don't remember...?" she murmured before she lowered her head.
For the next few minutes, Lute spoke.
Of events, he had no recollections of...
Of events, he had lived through...
Of people he never knew...
Of people he knew...
Of the Serpent.
Of this Lilith woman...
Of Adam...
And of Eve.
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Lucifer stood at the balcony of his mansion, his gaze lingering on the pride ring as memories of the Last Extermination flooded his mind. He recalled the chaos, the screams, and the finality of it all. His thoughts turned to Adam, the First Man, whom he had defeated but ultimately regretted the circumstances that led to his demise.
"Adam..." Lucifer's voice was soft, filled with a mix of emotions. He didn't regret his actions against Adam, who had become a twisted version of humanity. But there was a time when they were friends before everything went wrong.
Before Lucifer's arrogance doomed all creation.
Returning Adam's body to Heaven was a gesture of respect, a recognition of their shared history. Lucifer knew he was partially to blame for what had transpired, for allowing things to escalate to such a catastrophic event.
As he stood there, lost in thought, Lucifer's hand absentmindedly squeezed the rubber duck, a simple comfort in the face of his heavy thoughts. He wondered if there was a way to avoid such destruction in the future, a way to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.
Turning away from the balcony, Lucifer's eyes fell on a huge portrait on the far wall, depicting his family smiling. He spoke to it, a question for his long-gone wife, Lilith. " Lily... what would you have done?"
There was no answer, only the silence of the mansion. Lucifer sighed, a weight settling on his shoulders. Despite his power and wisdom, some questions remained unanswered, some regrets lingered, and some wounds never truly healed.
Lucifer's gaze shifted from the portrait to the outside, where he could see the massive Heaven gate in the sky. It had been two weeks since the battle, and aside from retrieving Adam's body, Heaven had made no move.
A small part of him dared to hope that they were reconsidering their actions, that this was the beginning of a change towards a better future. But Samael, the Angel of Death, knew better. Heaven was unlikely to change its ways; they would deal with threats in their usual manner.
Only time will tell.
As if in response to his thoughts, the red sky of his kingdom began glowing. Lucifer's eyes narrowed, a mixture of anticipation and wariness in his expression. Lucifer steeled his nerves as he waited for the portal to materialize.
No.
'Something's wrong...' Lucifer's brows furrowed as his eyes focused on the sky. By now, he, alongside every resident of Hell, was too aware of what a portal used by exterminators looked like. They were perfect spheres created by angelic powers.
This was different.
This was not the work of an angel.
There was no magic he could sense. There were no circles.
This was no gate.
There was simply a massive gash in the red sky being brute-forced. The Firmament between the realms was ripped open.
And from the crack in the sky, a man fell.
The man righted his position in the sky, his body turning to look in Lucifer's direction. Even tens of miles away, Lucifer felt a chill go down his spine.
Brilliant golden eyes peered into his soul.
It can't be...
"SERPAAAAAAANT!" The all-too-familiar voice thundered through the air, its force carrying a destructive power that seemed to shake the very foundations of Hell. The ground trembled beneath Lucifer's feet as he watched in astonishment and dread.
The sound was not just a mere shout; it was a primal roar, echoing with centuries of pent-up rage and fury. It reverberated through the air, causing fissures to form in the ground and cracks to appear in the walls of buildings.
The atmosphere in the Pride Ring shifted, becoming charged with an electrifying energy. The air crackled with anticipation, and even the demons and damned souls could sense that something monumental was about to happen.
Adam was alive.
And he was PISSED.