Chapter 282 - Stairway to Heaven (2/2)

The young doctor bowed. They were finally at the portal. From below, the portal looked big and grand. The mirror glistened with the beautiful scenery of a peaceful garden above a sea of clouds. The image was moving and Zero thought that it might be a real place somewhere in Heaven because of how mesmerising it looked.

”This is it. Do you have the invitation letter?”

Zero pulled Mammon's invitation letter from his inventory with a cheeky grin and waved it. Hua Tuo nodded. He checked Zero's appearance one more time and helped the teen to adjust his bow tie.

”Look smart and don't speak too much. We're going in now.”

The teen nodded and stepped through the huge mirror portal after his teacher.

The Pearly Gates were tall and intimidating with the number of guards waiting before it. Zero looked to the right and left but he couldn't see the end of the gate. It was wrought in ivory and gave off a very distinct glow. Zero sensed a heavy magic concentration in the air given off by the gates and raised a brow. Heaven's security system was really on a whole new level when compared to the abyss.

”Halt! State your business!” one guard shouted.

Zero took a look at the heavenly guard and couldn't hide his surprise. Where were the white wings and halo? The guard that spoke to them had two unblinking big eyes, whiskers and scales. Why did he look more like a catfish monster than an angel? Unless the books were wrong, Zero didn't think that the guard was an angel. Perhaps, they had taken a wrong turn somewhere.

”Shifu...” Zero whispered but Hua Tuo was already bowing to greet the strange-looking guard.

”We are here upon invitation to attend a meeting hosted by Archangel Michael,” Hua Tuo answered calmly and Zero took a while to realise that everyone was looking at him.

”Ah... I have the letter of invitation,” he said and stiffly handed the letter to the guard beside the blue catfish creature. The guard beside was an orange carp and Zero wondered why fishes were guarding the Pearly Gates.

The carp guard nodded and both fish guards let them pass. Once Zero was out of hearing range, he asked Hua Tuo.

”Why are there monster fishes guarding the Pearly Gates instead of angels?”

The Sage God gasped and quickly smacked Zero. ”Don't say that! They're direct descendants who share fragments of the horoscope stars. They are Piscean brothers.”

Zero made an 'oops' expression and quickly whispered a silent apology. He knew about the Star Guardians and their descendants but never expected to meet them in Heaven. Didn't all the Star Guardians perish in the previous Earth? Some of the remaining descendants were recreated and sent to the new Earth by Tanya but the soul fragments were becoming fewer and rarer. It wouldn't be long before the Star descendants become completely wiped out. Looking at the Piscean brothers, maybe that wasn't the case at all.

”Who else will be here that I have to watch out for?” he asked.

Hua Tuo thought about it. There were simply too many people in Heaven who Zero had to be careful of. Many Gods and Goddesses were egocentric creatures who took offence easily and held grudges very well. Instead of telling Zero who he should watch out for, Hua Tuo decided to tell him who he could trust instead.

Zero made an odd expression. Did he really have so few allies in Heaven? Isn't Heaven a place meant for good people as well as Gods? Why did it seem more dangerous than the abyss? Zero couldn't understand the logic.

”Logic doesn't work very well here,” the physician told his student. ”The only thing that works here in Heaven is power and authority. If you have power and authority, you gain respect and make the rules. There are no sovereigns in this realm because nobody would be satisfied with whoever becomes the ruler of Heaven. It's not the same as back in Hell where Lucifer is considered the highest authority.”

Zero bobbed his head in understanding. Everything made sense now. He wondered why there was so much pride going on in Heaven. Compared to Lucifer, these people looked like they would fill in the spot for Lord of Pride just as good as the ex-archangel. Where were the virtues that he was taught? Shouldn't Heaven be exploding with benevolence, respect, love and patience?

Then, he eyed his teacher. Was this why Hua Tuo left Heaven and Buddha decided to create Nirvana? Was this why the Great Gods decided to live outside of Heaven and worked separately? Was this why the archangels were left in charge of running Heaven in their names? If Zero was in their shoes, he wouldn't want to involve himself too much in the squabbles of petty Gods.

”We're almost there,” Hua Tuo told Zero who still had deep furrowed brows.

Zero snapped out of his thoughts and quickly fixed his expression to one of perfected cold indifference. After hanging out with Demon Lords, Zero had to pick up a thing or two from them. All Demon Lords had perfected poker faces and Zero wouldn't lose to them.

”Let's do this,” he said and took a step forward confidently.

Hua Tuo watched his student from behind and thought that Zero gave off quite the commanding aura of a leader. The doctor smiled. If Zero were to lead this world to march to a campaign for love and peace, he would be a very successful symbol.