Chapter 91 His Fate (1/2)

Merlin and Hua Tuo gave their students a few days together before commencing their individual training. During this period, Merlin decided to pay Buddha a visit.

”How can I help you?” the deceptively calm Sage God greeted the Merlin.

Unimpressed with the greeting, Merlin cut to the chase. He wasn't going to take on a disciple without knowing everything he should know about them. The wood elf had traces of Gaia's magic and Merlin had some guesses. However, Zero was a completely unknown entity. Any living creature would possess some form of life in them. Even rocks and water held mana in them which is a form of life. It was close to impossible for anything to not hold life in this newly created world. Everything was dependent on mana.

”I see you've found out. Very well, I suppose it's only right for the Great Gods to explain this.”

Several phone calls later, they decided to meet Buddha and Merlin in the purgatory. En was surprised when he received a phone call from his father but agreed to ready a meeting room for them.

It took several hours before everyone was gathered and Merlin felt slightly nervous. It was rare for Great Gods to gather in one place at any time and even if they did, it wasn't common knowledge. Buddha was one of the Sage Gods closer with the Great Gods and it was no secret that he had dealings with them and knew more secrets about the universe. What Merlin didn't know was how Zero got to know the Great Gods and Goddesses that many feared and revered.

Zeus was first to speak.

”Do you have what it takes to be Zero's mentor? That child is no ordinary child. One wrong move and the universe can be destroyed by him.”

Merlin felt sweat drops form at the back of his neck. In the face of the titan, Merlin was like a cat in front of a tiger. He knew that Zero was not an ordinary child, at least not an ordinary human no matter how much he resembled one. His display of magic control was something unheard of. Also, Merlin had never seen anyone or anything that absorbed everything like a void. Zero didn't seem to have any limits and it worried the old wizard when Zeus mentioned that Zero was capable of destroying the universe.

”Zero's control over magic is impressive and even I am not his match. However, I sensed that he is unable to produce mana on his own and Truen is not exactly a wood elf. Gaia's magic is strong on the bodyguard but Zero is something beyond my understanding. How can any living creature or creation not possess life?”

Mother Nature sighed. ”Zero is neither dead nor alive. He is merely a consciousness left behind by the Great One who created everything. Even we do not understand this.”

Merlin was confused. Every God knew about the one and only creator - the Great One. However, it was said that the Great One went into eternal slumber in the void, never to be found again. How was Zero a consciousness formed after the Great One? It didn't make sense. Besides, how could a consciousness gain a material form? Did that mean Zero was the Great One?

Hades sensed Merlin's questions. ”Zero is Great One in a way. However, he is not the same Great One who created the universe. When we first met him, he didn't remember anything about us or how the universe was created. He had no memories except for being awakened by some light. He inherited Great One's memories but he isn't the Great One we knew.”

That didn't answer Merlin's questions but at least some of the doubts he had were clarified. ”How is he able to use magic but not produce mana of his own?”

At that, even the stone-faced En felt uneasy. Freya once guessed it but nobody could be sure about the reason for Zero's existence. Only Isis had the courage to speak what was on everyone's minds.

”Great One was the creator of everything. We assume that Zero's existence is the exact opposite. Going by this logic, it is only natural that Zero cannot produce mana of his own, he needs to take it from something. Sedna's seed planet Amarania has been destroyed to a crucial extent when Zero first landed. Zero didn't possess a physical body so with the magic of the Great Gods, we managed to create one. Great One wished to travel and observe the beauty of his creations with his own eyes however he fell into slumber before he could manage. Zero now wishes to do the same but he is intrigued by humans. The new God birthed from humans of the old world woke Zero up. We do not know if it is a blessing or a curse. Zero possesses both the power of a destroyer and a creator. We do not know which path he would walk.”

Merlin paled. His hands shook and his knees gave way. Feeling weak, he had to lean on the table for support. Buddha watched the old wizard with visible concern. Of course, they understood the pressure Merlin was feeling now that he knew the truth. Being responsible for the universe's fate wasn't something anyone could handle easily.