The man could hardly conceal the shock in his heart, and a look of horror immediately appeared on his face. When he looked toward that woman again, a name surfaced in his heart.
Humanity's progenitor... Eve!
Born from Adam's rib, the first woman in the world, and also one of humanity's progenitors. According to the Bible's records, Adam and Eve were deceived by the 'Serpent,' ate the forbidden fruit borne by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and were expelled from the Garden of Eden by God.
The man tremblingly inhaled a deep breath and slowly turned his head to look behind him.
If he truly was Adam, then the children born between him and Eve, the black-haired youth and blue-eyed youth, should, barring any accident, be... Abel and Cain, a pair of brothers destined to kill each other and bear sin.
Sensing his father's strange gaze, the always gentle Abel revealed a puzzled expression and asked: "Father, what's wrong?"
Although Cain's eyes were violent and cold, there was still faint concern within them. Clearly, he was merely not good with words, not truly cold-blooded and heartless.
"What's wrong? Adam."
Eve walked over and affectionately touched his cheek, somewhat strangely saying: "Your complexion doesn't seem too good. Are you worried about something?"
"No... I'm fine."
The man shook his head, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart. In order to avoid letting them see through any flaws, he pulled up a smile: "Let's go. God should be waiting for us."
After saying that, without waiting for them to speak, the man stepped into Eden first, following the instincts of this body as he advanced in a certain direction.
'Eden' was worthy of being a pure land beyond the world.
Strange flowers bloomed here, where it was forever like spring. The light was warm and gentle, unlike the harsh climate outside. Sweet floral fragrance filled the air, and everything he saw along the way broadened the man's horizons.
Countless rare beasts and exotic creatures could be found here. Even creatures extinct in later generations could be seen here. Towering trees were everywhere, their dense crowns like parasols. Sunlight passed through the thick leaves and scattered patches of golden radiance. The soft grass underfoot was as comfortable as stepping on a high-end carpet.
Many trees were filled with fruits. The red skin of the fruits looked extremely plump and emitted an alluring fragrance.
[Honestly, recently I've been using Mimi Reading to read books and follow updates, source switching, many narration voices, available on both Android and Apple.]
Eve hesitated briefly, plucked several fruits, handed them to Abel and Cain, and gently said: "Try them. These are fruits planted by God."
The man also casually plucked one. With a bite, juice burst out. A sweetness he had never tasted before seemed to blend countless fruits together, and the satisfaction was simply impossible to describe. It was the best fruit he had ever eaten in his life.
"Welcome home, Adam, Eve."
A tall figure appeared. His slightly teasing voice drew their attention.
It was a man with long golden hair draped over his shoulders, extraordinarily handsome features, and perfectly proportioned facial structure, as though precisely measured by a ruler, surpassing all adjectives in the world.
Those platinum-colored eyes shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight, blending both majesty and gentleness. The six pure white wings behind him revealed his noble identity.
The man lowered his eyelids and remained silent. He kept feeling that this man looked a little familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, yet he could not remember.
"Long time no see... Lucifer."
Eve respectfully lowered her head, revealing some traces of reminiscence, and sighed softly: "We... have returned. But Eden is no longer our home. We... were expelled from here."
Lucifer?!
Stormy waves surged within the man's heart. No wonder he felt this person looked familiar. It turned out he was Lucifer, later Lord of Hell.
"Are these your children?"
Lucifer did not correct her wording. He merely turned his gaze toward Abel and Cain, smiling with pursed lips: "I can see they are quite good. God should like them."
"Abel, Cain."
Mentioning her children, Eve showed a proud smile: "Yes, they are wonderful. I think so too."
Lucifer looked toward 'Adam' again and smiled: "You are still like before, always silent and reserved. Come with me. God is waiting for you."
Silent and reserved...
Hearing Lucifer's evaluation, the man lowered his head, showing some relief on his face. Fortunately, he was silent and reserved; otherwise, he would have been exposed.
After walking down a shaded path, they arrived at a garden. An ancient tree as white as jade, with a canopy so huge it covered the sky and blotted out the sun, as though supporting the firmament, suddenly entered their sight.
But compared to that ancient tree, what was even more worthy of attention was the woman standing atop a stone disc directly beneath it.
She likewise had six pure white wings, but that exquisite and absolutely beautiful face made his heart tremble, as if some special feeling was about to erupt from the depths of his soul.
God is a girl?!
The man's heart suddenly shook, and he forcefully twitched the corner of his mouth. His silent and reserved persona nearly collapsed because of this.
"Michael, they have arrived."
Fortunately, Lucifer's words promptly resolved the misunderstanding, allowing the man to breathe a sigh of relief in time.
Michael and Lucifer...
The guardian of Eden, the angel who was like God, commander of all high-ranking angels, the vice-ruler of Heaven, praised as the Son of Light, holding the authorities of guardianship, justice, and judgment. Truly, one beneath only God and above all others.
According to the Dead Sea Scrolls of later generations.
Lucifer led one-third of the angels to rebel against God and Heaven, igniting the war between light and darkness. Ultimately, after seven days of war, Lucifer's ambition was suppressed.
Different from the seven Seraphim of later generations.
At present, the angels created by God numbered only two: Lucifer and Michael. Their relationship was like siblings, and both regarded God as their father.
This was also why Lucifer showed such warmth upon seeing Adam and Eve.
Unlike Lucifer's kind gentleness, Michael appeared somewhat cold. She only faintly glanced at them, slightly nodded, and said: "Offer your sacrifices, then you may leave. Adam, stay behind. God wishes to see you."
Abel and Cain respectfully stepped forward and presented the sacrifices they had brought: a heavy bundle of wheat and grain, and a dead antelope.
The man lowered his eyelids and sighed inwardly.
Barring any accident, according to the Bible's records, God praised Abel's offering but rejected Cain's, ultimately causing the brothers to kill each other and creating humanity's first sin.
Cain became jealous and resentful, eventually killing his younger brother Abel with his own hands, committing the original sin, bearing the curse of blood kin, leaving the city established by Adam, and from then on becoming the progenitor of 'vampires.'
After offering the sacrifices, Eve reluctantly looked at the stone disc, but ultimately could only sigh resentfully and lead Abel and Cain away.
Just as the man was wondering what came next, his body moved on its own. He once again became a spectator.
Adam walked onto the stone disc, knelt on both knees, and devoutly lowered his head.
Buzz——
Milky-white sacred light, accompanied by flawless white feathers, drifted down from midair piece by piece. Holy singing surrounded the area, as if body and mind were being purified at this moment.
When he opened his eyes again.
A gigantic face formed from clouds and light, like a kindly and benevolent old man, with blazing white eyes shining brightly, was silently examining him with an indescribable gaze.
"War... is about to arrive."
"I can sense Their existence. That unparalleled evil power is peering from beyond the dimensions. That restless darkness is something even I cannot see through. For this, I need your help."
Adam was shocked and said in horror: "Even one as great as You... cannot see through Them?"
"I am neither omnipotent, nor omniscient."
God calmly stated: "The only thing I can sense is that the scale of this war may far exceed our imagination."
The man's expression became somewhat complicated.
If the Vatican of later generations knew that God personally admitted He was not omniscient and omnipotent, he wondered whether they would launch a crusade to eradicate this 'nonsense-spouting' false god.
According to those people's way of thinking, the man felt the possibility was very high.