The heavy scent of exhaust fumes, the distant hum of engines, and the rhythmic footsteps of thousands moving at once.
A city. A modern one.
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The streets were alive with movement. Cars honked impatiently, bumper to bumper in the early morning rush. Buses rumbled past, packed with passengers either lost in their phones or staring blankly out the window, already exhausted before the day had even begun. Motorcycles weaved through traffic, their riders in a hurry, cutting between vehicles with a reckless confidence that came from doing it every day.
On the sidewalks, people rushed in every direction. Office workers in crisp suits clutched their coffee cups like lifelines, some walking so fast they barely had time to sip. Students with heavy backpacks shuffled toward schools, some chatting excitedly, others dragging their feet, clearly wishing they were still in bed. Street vendors set up their stalls, their voices rising above the crowd as they called out to potential customers. The smell of fresh bread, roasted coffee, and something fried filled the air, mixing with the unmistakable scent of asphalt and gasoline.
Billboards flashed with bright advertisements, screens showing everything from the latest fashion trends to breaking news. One massive screen on the side of a building played a live broadcastāa news anchor talking about stock markets, political drama, and an upcoming celebrity wedding. People barely paid attention as they hurried along, too caught up in their own routines.
Near a traffic light, a group of cyclists waited impatiently for the signal to change. A delivery guy on an electric bike glanced at his phone, checking his next order. A man in a business suit jogged across the street just as the light turned red, dodging cars that barely slowed down.
The city never really stopped. Even in the early hours, it moved like a living thing, a constant rhythm of footsteps, engines, voices, and the occasional blare of a siren in the distance. Some people moved with purpose, others wandered aimlessly, but all of them were part of the same endless flow.
The wind howled at this height, whipping through the towering skyscrapers, carrying with it the distant sounds of the city below. Neon lights flickered in the early morning haze, their glow reflecting off the countless windows stretching into the horizon. The view was breathtakingāa sprawling metropolis that never truly slept, pulsing with life beneath them.
At the very edge of the rooftop, a woman stood with her arms crossed, her long white hair flowing like silk in the wind. Her crimson eyes held a quiet intensity as she gazed at the man beside her.
"So this is the place you spent your second life before coming to the Divine Plane?" Lilith asked, her voice smooth yet laced with curiosity.
Adams stood next to her, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his modern jacket. His long black hair was tied into a loose ponytail, golden eyes gleaming as he took in the familiar skyline. A small, amused smile played on his lips.
"Yeah," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Itās been a while."
Lilith studied his expression, her gaze sharp. "Does it feel strange to be back?"
Adams exhaled through his nose, eyes still locked on the city below. "Not really. More like... looking at an old photo. You remember everything, but it doesnāt feel like you anymore."
She nodded slowly, turning her attention back to the city. "Itās different from the Divine Plane. So... ordinary."
He chuckled. "Thatās what makes it special."
The rooftop beneath them was sleek and modern, lined with safety rails and satellite dishes. A few feet away, the others stood in silence, observing the world Adams had once been part of.
Awar leaned against a ventilation unit, his usual tired expression unchanged as the wind ruffled his dark coat. Jack, ever restless, had one foot up on the ledge, grinning as he looked over the city like a conqueror inspecting his domain.
"Tch." Jack clicked his tongue. "So this is where you were? Feels... small."
Lilith smirked. "Everything would feel small to you."
Jack shrugged, unbothered. "Iām just saying, after everything weāve seen, this place is kindaā"
"Beautiful," Inara interrupted, stepping forward. Her emerald eyes shimmered as she took in the lights, the movement, the sheer energy of the city. "Itās alive in a way thatās different from the Divine Plane."
Adams glanced at her, amused. "I thought youād like it."
She smiled softly but said nothing more.
A comfortable silence settled over the group. Below them, the city continued its rhythmācars moving, people rushing, life unfolding as it always had. It was a stark contrast to the realms they now ruled, where gods and demons waged wars, where mountains could crumble with a whisper, and the very fabric of reality bent to their will.
Here, there were no grand cosmic battles. No divine beings rewriting fate. Just people, living their lives, unaware that gods stood above them, watching.
Jack suddenly turned to Adams, smirking. "So? What now? You feeling nostalgic, or are we just sightseeing?"
Adams let out a short laugh. "I donāt do nostalgia." He turned away from the edge, his golden eyes glowing faintly under the morning light. "But since weāre here... why not have a little fun?"
Jackās grin widened. "Now thatās what I like to hear."
Lilith sighed but couldnāt hide the amusement in her eyes. "Just donāt break anything."
Adams smirked. "No promises."
Adams stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of divinity. A slow smirk played on his lips as he turned to the others. "Alright, if you guys want to explore, go ahead. Iām gonna do something different." His golden eyes gleamed. "For todayā¦ Iām just a man."
Jackās grin widened. "Oh? Gonna play human again?"
Adams chuckled. "Something like that."
Lilith and Inara exchanged glances. They had lived as goddesses, warriors, rulersāyet the idea of experiencing a world where none of that mattered wasā¦ interesting.
"Iām in," Lilith said smoothly, her crimson eyes shimmering with curiosity.
Inara nodded, her excitement barely contained. "Me too."
Jack let out a whistle. "Well, this should be fun." Without another word, he leaped off the rooftop, vanishing mid-air before touching the ground. Lilith and Inara wasted no time either, stepping into thin air as if descending invisible steps before disappearing into the city below.
Adams watched them go, his smirk softening into something almost nostalgic.
A beat of silence.
Then he glanced at Awar. The silent figure hadnāt moved, his dark coat barely shifting in the wind.
Adams raised an eyebrow. "Not going?"
Awar gave a tired sigh but didnāt respond. Instead, his entire body melted into shadow, twisting and stretching before sinking seamlessly into Adamsā own. The sensation was familiar, like a whisper against his soul.
Adams chuckled. "Of course."
He turned his gaze to the sky, the city lights flickering in his peripheral vision. The crisp morning air brushed against his skin, and for the first time in ages, he feltā¦ something close to peace.
"Itās been a long time," he murmured, feeling the hum of the world beneath his feet. "Feels good to be back."
A slow breath.
Then, without a sound, he stepped off the edge of the building.
The wind rushed past, the city lights stretching into streaks of gold and white. Time itself seemed to slow as he plummeted, his long coat fluttering like a shadow in the neon glow.
And thenā
With a flicker, he was gone.