Chapter 2 - Your New Home

"–AAAAAAAAHHHHHHhhhhh…haah... Huh?"

I whipped my head back and forth as I found myself back on solid ground, my feet curled on the warm, cushiony surface. No longer was I in the presence of the angelic twins or free falling from the heavens above, but instead, vast greenery assaulted my vision, the sounds of nature ringing around me.

The total whiplash of the change was a bit much for me, causing my legs to buckle until I found myself kneeling in the dirt.

The suspicious brown puddle underneath me was definitely already there when I arrived and is totally not connected to me whatsoever.

Wiping my mouth clean, I took a moment to recollect myself. Looking around, I see lush trees and greenery all over the place. The air is humid and hot, yet the heat feels welcoming instead of oppressive. All around, the sounds of insects, animals, and the wind filled the area.

"Wha... Wh-what..." My poor brain was working overtime, trying to make sense of everything that just happened. Before long, those little neurons in my head started firing and started connecting puzzle pieces into a more coherent picture. Smiling to themselves, they then gave said picture to logic, whom read it, corrected it, and smashed it right down on my frontal lobe.

The afterlife. The interrogation. The sentencing. My second chance.

Straight into the deranged world that's crafted by a literal shroomhead.

Reality came crashing down, and it's saying, "You are Fucked."

Choked whimpers filled the air as my knees sink into the brown sludge below. My mind should be more than grossed out by that, but thankfully it's more preoccupied by the crushing realization that I'm in the Nasuverse.

With luck like this, you might as well call me Lancer.

Like, what am I supposed to do here? How am I supposed to deal with the Counter Force? Or surviving the Age of Gods? How is anyone supposed to survive this malarkey? A guide? I don't even have anything to rely on—

My mind stopped for a moment, remembering whose life I'll be stealing, and I immediately entered Cain's memories, desperately trying to find anything that'll help me. Anything, anything at all, to stop life from pounding its metaphorical member up my defenseless rear.

Unfortunately for me, there wasn't much to go off on. All I can tell is that he's still a kid, his brother is still a toddler, and that he'll be helping his father with farming very soon. Everything else feels like a giant hole that needs to be filled.

A hole that I'm supposed to fill.

"Cain... Cain... Cain..." I repeat his name. My new name. My new life. "I'm Cain..."

This isn't exactly how I wanted my afterlife to be, nor do I actually want to do any of this. But what else can I do? I can't just waltz back in there and say, "Nope, not doing it." They'll throw me into lava. Literally! All that I can do is say, "Aw shucks," while snapping my fingers together, and endure the pain that's coming my way.

…

Well, you know what they say, it is what it is.

As much as I want to just wallow in my own misery, there's nothing that can be done. And honestly, staying still isn't going to help either. If I'm going to spend the rest of my second life in this world, I might as well make the best out of it.

Pushing myself back to my feet, I took a deep breath and readied myself to face any challenges that come my way, whether that's big or small. With a spark in my soul, I took my very first step forward—

Only to run headfirst straight into a wall of muscles.

"Ow! Fuugghhh..." Rubbing my nose, I glared at the perpetrator who had decided to stand in my way.

Only to come face to face with a pair of pecs.

A pair of very firm pecs, mind you. The type that could grind meat on it, should they choose so.

Trailing my head upward, I was met with the sight of a very muscular and toned man, with a chiseled face and a stern look in his eyes. He's wearing what looks to be some sort of leather, the material hanging loose and low, covering only his privates while still showing off his well-defined chest and abdomen, his arms corded with muscles, his legs thick and sturdy.

The sheer physique the man had made my jaw dropped, as he stood over me like a tree. His dark eyes stared down at me, his eyebrows furrowed as a frown was set on his face.

It was as if Michelangelo's statue had been given life, but so much more and much greater. Like the embodiment of masculinity itself was staring at me.

Perfection incarnate. That's what he is.

"Dad— DAD?!" One that my memories instantly recognized, given my mouth decided to shout out his name before my mind could even catch up. His own eyes staring deep into my soul, his face unmoving and unchanging.

The silence that followed was deafening, his shadow looming over me.

I get that he's supposed to be the Father of Humanity, so it makes sense for him to be muscular.

But holy shit, the man is jacked beyond belief.

He looks like a professional athlete who has reached peak human potential and is able to use his muscles to the fullest. Every single part of him is chiseled, sculpted, and defined. His biceps could easily crush rocks, his thighs could split open a tree, and his chest was practically the definition of a power.

I bet he can bench press a truck and lift a school bus full of gorillas without breaking a sweat. Heck, he could probably break open a mountain and turn it into a cliffside gym and wouldn't even be winded.

Not knowing what to do, I decided to speak.

"Heeeyyyyy, dad." Cringing at my own, I can't help but feel like a little kid being caught red-handed doing something they shouldn't have. "Fancy seeing you here..." I force out a laugh, hoping that it would make the situation less awkward.

"..." Unfortunately, his face didn't twitch, his expression not changing, but the look in his eyes shifted, and I felt the weight of his gaze increase tenfold.

The silence continued to stretch on, and my anxiety was spiking through the roof. Sweat began to drip down my face, and my heart was hammering loudly. I can practically hear the sound of my blood pumping rapidly, the adrenaline rushing through my body, and my hands are shaking.

"I-it's a nice weather we're having, don't you think?" My voice cracks, but I keep going, desperate to ease the tension. "I mean, sure, it's a bit hot, but the weather is—"

"Why are you crying?" His low and deep voice spoke up, cutting straight through my pathetic attempt at a diversion with genuine concern, his brows furrowed, and his lips turned into a frown.

"Huh?" My hand shot up to touch my far more watery cheek, surprised to even find it drenched. I didn't even realize that I was crying to begin with.

"I-it's fine, really! There's nothing to worry about." Rubbing the tears in my eyes, I tried brushing off his 's no need for him to know about my reincarnation, or the fact that I've taken over his son's body and have been replaced by me. "I'm just having an off day today. I'll be better tomorro—"

"Son." He puts his hand on my head, his coarse skin rubbing gently against my scalp, the sensation soothing, and the gesture warm, as he pulls me close. His massive arm wrapping around my shoulder, bringing me into a side hug. "Whatever it is that you're going through right now, it's okay. I'm here for you, and no matter what, I will always be with you."

Now that's not fair... That's not fair at all…

Those simple words, the warmth of his embrace, and the love behind his actions are enough to burst open the floodgates. All of the emotions I've been holding back, the stress and anxiety that's been building inside me, all came pouring out.

I tried to stop the tears, but it was no use. My body was shaking uncontrollably, my face buried into his firm chest as I bawled my eyes out. My hands wrapped around his neck, holding him tight, not wanting him to let go.

He said nothing, only holding me tighter and rubbing my back up and down, tracing circles and swirls across my spine, the motions comforting and tender. His silent acceptance and his warmth were all the comfort that I needed.

In his strong, protective, and loving embrace, I couldn't help but feel safe. Safe from all the trials and tribulations ahead, safe from the hardships of the world, and let my fear leave my body.

In the arms of the First Man, I gently fall asleep.

Adam frowned as he carried the unconscious child in his arms, walking back home with the boy's head tucked under his chin. Careful to not let any vomit smear onto his chest, or any sand stick onto his skin, he continued on, not caring for the sun.

When he had gone out looking for his youngest son, the last thing he had expected was for the boy to be hunched over and emptying his stomach contents out onto the ground. Nor was he prepared to have the revelation that his son, his beloved child, had been replaced with another, a stranger wearing his son's skin.

If Father hadn't reassured him that Cain is safe and sound under his watchful gaze, and the stranger that's inhabiting his son's body was a lost soul in need of guidance, then the situation would have been far more distressing.

Although, it didn't take much to convince Adam.

Because the moment he saw the boy cried, the fact that he was not his son didn't matter. The fact he didn't know why the boy was crying didn't matter. Or the fact that the boy didn't know him didn't matter.

All that mattered was that there is child that was crying and he needed to help, and that was enough of a reason for him to do everything in his power to help said child.

Perhaps a chat with Eve should do the trick. She did calm him when they ate the Forbidden Fruit, after all.