305 Tree of Knowledge (1/2)
Zero wasn't very bothered by the harsh hisses coming from the guardian. In fact, he showed understanding in his eyes. Ouroboros might have a terrible reputation but his love for the Tree of Knowledge was the real deal. His dedication to protecting it was undeniable even if Zero couldn't understand the reason for his motivation.
The iron gates were finally opened for Zero to enter and the teen released his spell over the guardian. Reluctantly, Ourobos allowed Zero to explore the withered Garden Eden. Apart from that miserable Tree of Knowledge, everything else was dried up and dead, a huge contrast to the plants on the outside. Then again, Zero doubted it. This might be the true image of how Garden Eden looked like. Ouroboros was good with illusions. That path that they walked on earlier could be part of the snake's illusions too.
Garden Eden was a sorry sight with nothing but brown and black. The pond had long dried up into a disgusting chalky substance both greenish and yellowish at the same time. The soil was hard and cracked while the stone statues around looked like they've seen better days. The iron gates swung closed the moment Zero stepped foot into the garden and the fat snake gradually shrunk into the size of Zero's forearm, coiling around the teen's neck.
The young doctor gaped. There was barely anything alive in what was meant to be the most beautiful garden in Heaven. Did Gaia know about it? When did the garden fall into ruin? The young doctor didn't understand why Ouroboros didn't request for help. His suspicions might just be correct. Garden Eden and the Tree of Knowledge might be the plane's guardian. The sorry state it was currently in must be a reflection of how close Heaven was to falling apart. Those threads he saw at Titan Cliff must be the roots of this dying tree.
Zero walked up to the poor tree and placed a hand on it, trying to understand its condition better. Ouroboros also left Zero's neck, slithering all the way up to one of the sturdier branches on the Tree of Knowledge, watching Zero pulse healing magic through the wood with a frown on his face.
\”What happened?\” Zero asked in a soft voice.
The snake guardian yawned. \”It's a long story. You wouldn't be able to return by dinner if I told you everything.\”
Zero didn't respond as the snake took a nap, feeling sleepy from the nutrition he just received from Zero through the tree. The young doctor couldn't help but spare a few more minutes worth of healing magic for the severely undernourished snake and tree. He took a good look at Garden Eden's true form and captured the image with his communicator. This was a job for professionals and Zero didn't have the greenest thumbs in existence.
It was about the time a serpent who had attained immortality appeared and declared himself as the guardian of Garden Eden. Because of his merciless nature and habits of poaching people to turn into tree fertiliser, Gaia sealed the area away. Unlike what Ouroboros wanted Zero to believe, Garden Eden was not created by Gaia or under her control. Garden Eden and the Tree of Knowledge were actually under the control of the three Divine Sisters who resided in Heaven. Gaia merely managed it on their behalf.
When the three sisters suddenly lost contact with the Great Gods and could not be awakened after the plane broke, Gaia took it upon herself to seal the Tree of Knowledge away from those who wished to harm it. Ouroboros' origin was unknown as nobody had heard of its existence before it declared itself the guardian of the Tree of Knowledge. However, Mii made a logical guess that Zero found very convincing and possible.
\”If Nel was behind the introduction of Ouroboros, does it mean that she was buying time for Heaven and Hell's destruction? Nel is on my side, right? Or do you think this is part of Solo's scheme.\”
Mii shook her head in defeat. Her intelligence only went that far. Wii frowned. \”Something doesn't add up. Why wouldn't Nel stop the destruction of the original plane if that was the case?\”
Zero hummed. back then, everything was chaotic. Gods were falling and angels fought each other. It sounded like a very good time for Solo to slip under everyone's radar to create havoc and encourage the plane to break. If Solo's aim was to destroy the world, he would definitely stir the pot to make the extinction of Hell and Heaven happen. Without Gods to maintain the life cycle of the material plane, souls would be constantly devoured by the void and the world will destroy itself from the lack of management.
\”Nel cannot stop Solo. She's fighting too many things alone and there is a possibility that she has to hide from Solo to do the things she does. Shittomi's letter told us that Nel's traces were always at the site of destruction, there's no doubt that Nel had been here before but she couldn't prevent it from happening,\” Zero answered the eggplant fairy.
Mii sighed. \”It doesn't really matter. Nel did everything she could and bought us time. What can we do now? The Tree of Knowledge is almost dead, this plane cannot last for much longer. You still have not created your grimoire to seal Titan Cliff. If we harvested the Tree of Knowledge to create that grimoire, Heaven would be no more and maybe Hell as well.\”
Zero nodded. \”Actually, I have an idea but I don't know the chances of success. After all, nobody had attempted it.\”
The young doctor told his assistants about his intentions to save both Heaven and Hell by cutting the connection away.
\”If Merlin and Buddha are able to create artificial planes, I think I can create something similar for the abyss to stick onto Heaven's original plane after sealing the crack.\”
Mii listened and nodded with unamused eyes. \”You really are crazy.\”
Zero didn't take that as an insult and blushed shyly. Wii didn't know what to say. For some reason, Zero's crazy idea made her believe that it might be possible to save both Heaven and Hell.
\”How will you stabilise Hell? Currently, the roots of the dying Tree of Knowledge are holding it up. Without it, that portion of the plane should have returned to the void a long time ago. If you want to cut that connection away, we should first find a way to attach Hell to Heaven's crumbling plane.\”