Chapter 152
Buddha didn't know how much longer he could do this for . When Solo entrusted him with the duty to save his future self, he knew he shouldn't have agreed . Zero may have the Great Gods wrapped around his little finger but Solo definitely has Buddha wrapped around his little finger .
The Sage God had already expended about thirty percent of whatever resources he amassed during his Godhood . For someone stingier than the Scrooge and more calculative than Mammon, that was saying something .
Buddha was hardly rested before the third wave came . Whatever happened inside of Zero's mindscape was something beyond Buddha's control . the Sage God can only continue to provide a short term relieve externally . The first wave was the toughest as it was the fiercest . There was no doubt about Venn's raw power . Of all the Divine Entities, Venn was known to be the most dangerous . The combination of stupidity, a short fuse and uncontrollable power gave Venn an unshakable position in Buddha's rankings for the top ten beings he would run from the moment he saw them .
Sadly, his promise to Solo made this encounter impossible . Buddha would have gladly hidden in his Pagodas if it weren't for the agreement . Instead of taking cover from the walking disaster, Buddha had invited them over to his sacred stronghold just to stabilise the rampant energy . Many of his best disciples have fallen from Hades' rage . More have fallen from the chaos magic overflow in Nirvana . Buddha clicked his tongue . This must be Jevy's energy that Zero was trying to fuse with . Buddha always knew that the Divine Entity of Jealousy had a sticky personality . He hated clingy people who wouldn't stop pestering him but for Zero, Buddha had no choice but to let Jevy's energy use his body as she pleased .
It was unpleasant . Buddha shuddered as Jevy's energy crawled through his chakra channels and settled in his solar plexus to siphon the purified chaos energy . Her touch was incredibly cold and if Buddha hadn't already attained enlightenment or reached the highest form of cultivation, his soul would've frozen over . The rampant energy moved on to Buddha's liver and the Sage God let a low groan when it attacked the organ viciously .
From the portal, Hua Tuo appeared . Buddha didn't spare the doctor a glance, too busy concentrating on stabilising Zero's condition and fighting the pain . He was only vaguely aware of the doctor's movements when he felt a warm flow of energy being transferred into his qi channel . Buddha sagged with relief for a little . Hua Tuo lived up to his name as the God of Medicine and the best doctor of his time .
"How much more till Zero completely stabilises?"
Buddha shrugged . "It depends on Duu after Jevy settles down . Knowing his nature, it might take a while . We could be here from days to years . If Duu doesn't feel like doing anything, nobody can make him move . "
Hua Tuo grunted . Buddha's organs were in terrible shape . Jevy certainly didn't pull any punches, taking whatever she wanted .
"You will need to rest in order for your organs to regenerate . Jevy ate out your heart, liver and gallbladder . It's fried beyond saving, we need Merlin to help replicate Zero's new type of healing magic . There's not much I can do here except replenish your qi energy . She sucked you dry there . . . "
Buddha let his poker face fall and winced . "There is a thousand-year-ginseng that I've been hiding away for times of emergency and an ice toad from your previous world . You can use them to make medicine . I can't leave my position, Zero still has one more trial to overcome . "
Hua Tuo didn't say much and went down the hidden doorway that Buddha told him about . It was rare for Buddha to concern himself with others . It was even rarer for Buddha to use his treasures . Hell must have frozen over .
In a certain part of Hell, Shittomi blinked and glanced outside her window before sighing . Looking at the flurry of snow passing by her castle window, the Winter Queen wished it wasn't always freezing in her domain .
Once Hua Tuo had left, Buddha allowed his expression to change into one of pure agony . His facial muscles twisted into something so unrecognisable . It was hard to remember how peaceful he usually looked . Sweat had soaked through his clothing and the Sage God swallowed another mouthful of blood .
"One more to go," he told himself and held steady despite the flickering in his vision .
***
"It's so rare for you to visit me," Sedna blinked in surprise at the sight of her unexpected visitor .
Gaia looked ruffled with leaves all over her face and her hair looking more tangled than before .
"Something's wrong with Zero's body, I can feel it . My magic has been constantly raining at an alarming rate . The rapid healing isn't going to keep up very soon, the body will disintegrate . "
Alarmed, Sedna dropped the teapot . "Where is Zero right now?"
Gaia shook her head sadly, leaves falling constantly . They turned yellow and then brown before piling at where Gaia stood . Sedna hasn't seen this happen to her sister in a very long time . Gaia's leaves only fell when she was under duress . Not many have the power to make a Great God feel threatened or stressed .
"Have you talked to Isis and Freya? What about Hades and Zeus?"
"Hades said it was something to do with the Demon Lords in Hell . They decided to perform the ritual to give Zero the memories from four Divine Entities at the same time . Buddha is looking after Zero now according to Hades . He's still livid so Buddha chased him out of Nirvana for putting too many of his disciples out of action . Hua Tuo is there to check on the situation but he hasn't reported back . "
Sedna bit her bottom lip and wrung her hands . At this rate, everyone was going to get injured . Zero's body will destroy itself, Buddha might die if he tries to contain all that damage himself . Hua Tuo would be seriously injured trying to save them both and Gaia will wither from overusing her powers . Sedna didn't want her sister to lose her powers and be reincarnated as a human again in order to regain her powers .
"There should still be a way," Sedna swam frantically in circles at the bottom of the ocean . gaia stopped her from doing so with a sad smile .
"Don't do this . You and I both know that I'll return . Of course, nobody wants this to happen but if it does, at least I got to tell you goodbye properly unlike the last time . "
Grieved by the devastating news, Sedna broke down and cried . Her tears turned into various jellyfishes that glowed in the dark before swimming away . Gaia wrapped her arms around her younger sister and closed her eyes . Goodbyes were always painful and time doesn't make it any easier .
***
There was rumbling and Mii exchanged worried looks with Bob . Zero told them to stay away but that didn't mean they had to go far . In fact, with Bob's speciality, they were camping just right outside of it in an adjacent room supported by the dragon's magic .
"Do you think it will take very long?"
Mii sighed . Truth be told, she didn't know . She didn't think that Zero would try to resolve the conflict AND bond with them at the same time . Usually, it took years to properly form a bond with a Divine Entity . That was also the reason why Murvin, Law and Isaben's memories were locked . For Zero's well-being, she locked it until Zero was able to handle the brunt of the damage it would cause to both his mind and body .
Sadly, Zero wouldn't be who he was if he was predictable . Mii sighed once more, her shoulders sagging forward . Bob didn't speak . He didn't know the specifics about what was troubling the strawcherry fairy but he had a few ideas . If the violent spikes of magic weren't worrying, he didn't know what was .
While those violent magic signatures grew lesser, Zero's magic grew darker and more hostile . Bob wasn't a genius but he'd lived for a fair bit of time . His guess was that Zero had somehow consumed the source of conflicting magic in order to stop the magic discrepancy . While it was a method that worked, it wasn't always recommended . Often, absorbing a non-compatible magic type will cause the mage to lose their minds . Magic corruption is the term for that kind of insanity .
Bob didn't think his master would become corrupted because he was strong . However, the change was evident . Zero's magic didn't feel as light and warm or sweet like it did previously . There was a sharp tang of bitterness wrapped within a speck of darkness . While Zero's magic was still warm, it wasn't the kind of comforting warm similar to the gentle morning sun . It was closer to the warmth of the relentless mid-morning sun that doesn't allow you to head back to bed and continue sleeping . In a way, the dragon thought that Zero had grown . He didn't know if this change was for better or otherwise although he prefers to think of it as something necessary .
"I think he's almost done," Mii stated and got ready to leave . Bob wasn't far off . He released the spell and the comfortable room fell apart .
The moment Zero's magical energy stabilised, Bob and Mii entered Zero's mindscape .
"Welcome back," the young doctor greeted airily . Nothing much has changed from the outside but Mii knew better . The aura surrounding Zero has changed to something more mature .
"How do you feel?"
The boy yawned and stretched out on the bed . Bob wasn't the only one mildly surprised by the physical changes . Before, Zero only took half of the bed's length . Now, he was close to occupying three-quarters of the space . Mii stared at the familiar yet different boy on the bed . Zero had been growing taller ever since he entered Half Moon village . However, the change was too drastic for anyone to believe .
"I'm so tired, it's unbelievable that I'm still awake," Zero groaned and snuggled into the pillow .
He beckoned for Bob and Mii to join him with a cute smile . Who was Mii to deny him?
Zero grinned when his friends joined him under the blanket and yawned once more before letting his eyelids fall shut .
***
Sedna was prepared for the worst when Gaia's leaves suddenly stopped falling . The sisters exchanged a look of surprise with a myriad of emotions within a short span of time . However, one thing was for certain when they broke into happy smiles and shed tears of relief .
***
Freya was waiting outside Nirvana with Freya . For several days in heaven, Zero's magical energy fluctuated wildly . Although they worried about Buddha after hearing not a single word from Hua Tuo, neither of them interfered . Gaia was already in a bad state and the outcome was anybody's guess .
On the fifth day, something wonderful happened . Whatever that was causing distress to Zero's mana vanished completely without a trace .
"Don't," Freya told Hades . "It's still too early to rejoice . " After all, Zero's body was still in Merlin's care in the abyss . They didn't know if the changes in Zero's soul would have any direct impact on the body hosting it or vice versa .
Hades balled his hands into fists but waited with Freya . As Gods, it was unbecoming of them to wish for a miracle . Creating miracles were their jobs but for now, hoping was all they could do .