Ball of Nothing

Baal was getting restless. Zero still owed him two more stories and he was irritated. The Demon Lord had been trying to contact the child for hours now without success. It was as if Zero completely disappeared even though he knew where the brunet was. Deciding to pay the brunet who was ignoring him a visit, Baal made his presence known.

***

Constructions and repairs were progressing smoothly. The villagers tried their best not to think about Douglas or Zero. They now knew that the brunet was no ordinary person. Feeling humbled by his abilities, there was a strange air hanging in the village while they worked. Nobody spoke about that incident, choosing to continue with their normal lives to the best of their abilities. They didn't know how they should treat the brunet when he woke up and that became the huge elephant in the village that not even Zenobia dared approach.

The villagers tried to maintain the normalcy despite everything that has happened but Hua Tuo still noticed the unease. Truth be told, it wasn't something unexpected. He just didn't think that Zero will blow his cover so soon. The boy could hardly be blamed. He had a kind heart with great intentions. It was simply the nature of all living creatures to fear the unknown. Hua Tuo tried to prevent this from happening so soon. Zero just wasn't ready for the harsh reality that awaited him. Sadly, fate had other plans and Hua Tuo was powerless.

Perhaps it was time to leave the village permanently. Half Moon village has suddenly become a terrible environment for Zero to continue his training in. The physician would have to start scouting for a new village soon, preferably before Zero wakes up. He didn't quite want to leave Half Moon village because Coux was a great trader. Things that were normally impossible to attain can be obtained by the half-succubus. She was Hua Tuo's best point of contact and the physician didn't want to lose her. Still, he had his obligations to the Great Gods who entrusted Zero to him. Zero dreams of becoming a physician who surpassed him rested on his shoulders too. It would do no good to leave Zero jaded at such a young age. The brunet's greatest strength was his selflessness, a treasure in this cruel world.

Lovina had woken up a few hours ago and left for her apartment recuperate in peace. The only silver lining in this mess was how Hua Tuo was able to identify the villagers who remained undeterred by the revelation. It came to no surprise that Zenobia was fiercely protective of Zero. Amaraline wasn't too shaken by it either although Clowis and Lowis had different ideas. Grandma Moppo and Lovina seemed to know about Zero's secret even before the revelation so Hua Tuo didn't have to worry too much. Surprisingly, Mitchnew and Coux didn't shy away from Zero. In fact, the ladies took it upon themselves to glare at anyone whispering about Zero who was still unconscious. That gave the physician some peace of mind while he tended to his sleeping disciple. There was hardly anything he could do for the brunet at this point so Hua Tuo continued to brood about his next course of action. At least he could count on the ladies to do some damage control while he thought of a way out.

It was three in the afternoon when the air in the peaceful village stirred ominously. The warriors who were helping with the repairs froze and dropped whatever they were doing. Zenobia stiffened at the pressure crackling with power. Her heart fell when the source of disruption seemed to be coming from Hua Tuo's apartment. With the elephant in the village and everyone treading carefully around that topic, the chieftess could barely put a lid on the matter. With this, it was sure to push everyone over the edge especially the warriors who saw Zero as a threat more than the innocent brunet who wanted to become a doctor. Dropping everything, the chieftess rushed over. Zenobia prayed that nobody would do something as silly as to try and harm the brunet. The last thing Half Moon village needed was a civil war.

Vrald arrived at the scene first. He growled and the dragon magic in his blood boiled. He could sense it. The foul Demon King Baal was here again. Unsheathing his sword, the warrior barged into Hua Tuo's sanctuary. The physician wasn't too startled when the hinges of his door snapped and the wood of the flimsy thing came crashing down onto his floor. He was more cautious about the ex-patient occupying his student's vessel.

"Lord Baal," he bowed in greeting, ignoring the uninvited guests making a mess out of the apartment. "What brings you here?"

Baal frowned and glared at the pesky warriors directing their bloodthirst towards him. It didn't hurt but it got irritating. What did he do to deserve such hostile treatment? It was unfair! If anything, he should be mad at them for failing to protect Zero. He had a feeling that something was incredibly wrong with the child and now that he was here, he could confirm it.

"I was looking for Zero. He owed me two stories and I haven't heard from him even after trying to reach out to him for hours."

The physician blinked. How did Zero communicate with Lord Baal without him noticing? He decided to push that matter to aside for now. As the murderous intent in the room increased, Hua Tuo tried his best to remain calm. He wouldn't put it past these ex-adventurers to harm the Demon Lord residing in his student's body. If possible, he wished that they could negotiate terms peacefully and leave Zero's body unharmed.

"Zero is currently in slumber from overusing mana. His constitution is slightly special so he cannot recuperate without external influences. Lovina and I have exhausted our mana reserves during the war against Carrabas a few days back. It would take a while before we can help Zero replenish the bare minimum he requires to come out of slumber."

Baal blinked. "Mana? Doesn't that brat have a ridiculous amount of that stocked up? Who's the Carrabas fool? What did he do to Zero?"

Hua Tuo shook his head. "Carrabas is a human Count who attacked the village. Lovina has taken care of that fool. However, Zero exhausted his mana by using a divine spell that I couldn't stop."

The Demon Lord sucked air through his teeth. "Tell me everything from the beginning."

The warriors continued to guard against the threat in their village as Hua Tuo summarised the battle that occurred in the Demon Lord's absence. He explained how Zero brought the traitor back to life and punished him using a divine spell. Baal's expression became darker when Hua Tuo explained the last part. Nobody breathed when Baal's magic made the ground beneath them tremble in his rage.

"Is that Douglas person living well?"

Hua Tuo was slightly surprised. Why would Demon Lord Baal concern himself with such a minor character?

"I'm afraid I don't have that answer. He was banished only recently. Is there something you need of him?"

Baal was silent for a while. The brunet was truly a fool. Truen was right. Someone had to watch out for Zero and the Demon Lord wanted to blame Hua Tuo for everything that happened. If only the physician didn't influence Zero to walk the treacherous path of a doctor, he wouldn't be in comatose.

"Nobody stopped him from doing it? Aren't you meant to be his teacher?"

Hua Tuo trembled a little when he met those black eyes burning into his. That expression of pure fury was frightening. He'd never seen Zero look so lethal and Hua Tuo could sympathise with how the villagers felt. As an ex-human, Hua Tuo understood fear. Demon Lord Baal was a powerful existence rivalling any demi-god in terms of power. Hua Tuo wanted to avoid fighting with Baal at all costs. Those words cut like a searing knife and Hua Tuo flinched. It was true, he couldn't refute them. He was Zero's teacher and it was his failure to prevent the accident. He should have stopped Zero even if his student hated him for that. He shouldn't have let Zero bring Douglas back to life.

Coux frowned when she saw how Hua Tuo became silent. She didn't like how Demon Lord Baal was throwing his weight around. Her heart was racing in fear at the intense pressure hovering over the village, threatening to wipe their existence from Earth. However, the brave lady stood her ground. She walked up to Hua Tuo and looked into Zero's black eyes. Nobody has spoken to a Demon Lord and lived to tell the tale. However, for Zero, Coux would try. It didn't matter if more than half of the villagers in Half Moon village feared Zero and saw him as a threat. Coux was on Zero's side.

"Greetings, Demon Lord Baal," she bowed. "I understand the reason for your rage. However, please allow me to say a few things. Firstly, nobody could have prevented what happened. Zero took it upon himself to dish out his form of justice before anyone could stop him. Even if we managed to stop him on time, it would've left a scar on his heart. What is done cannot be undone. On the account of Zero's kindness, please let the sleeping lions lie. For now, Zero's health should be the first priority. Taking your anger out in Zero's body would only add to the wounds to his heart when he realises that it was his hands that have taken lives."

Baal glared at Lilith's descendant. As much as he hated the brazen succubus, she was right. He would be a hypocrite to blame Hua Tuo and the villagers for not stopping Zero. Baal wasn't present when it happened. He wasn't there for Zero even though he sensed distressing thoughts from the brunet. It was infuriating to admit it but he shared the blame as well.

"Lilith's descendant, you have a lot of guts talking to me like this," Baal growled and the half-succubus tensed. "However, I'll let it go this time as I share the blame. However, if anyone in this village mistreats Zero, know that I will not hesitate to raze this village to the ground. This is my first and final warning."

Nobody dared defy the Demon Lord. Then, Baal shifted his attention to Hua Tuo who swallowed. "Doctor, how much mana does it take to replenish Zero's reserves?"

Hua Tuo frowned and felt cold sweat form at the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, this is beyond my expertise. Merlin is more proficient at judging mana than I am. However, I assume that if we can transfer mana enough for a divine spell, Zero would be able to recover."

Baal clicked his tongue. He knew what divine spells were. Sage Gods were usually unable to use them unless it fell within their field of control as it required an insane amount of mana. With the exception of Merlin, no other Sages were able to use it more than once a year. Zero had a strange constitution as explained by Mii and Truen. Baal was troubled. As a Demon Lord, he was bound to the abyss and unable to leave it for a higher plane unless someone made a huge sacrifice to open a gateway that usually involved many lives. He couldn't transfer any mana to Zero when they were in two separate planes even if he had the means. Then, a brilliant idea hit him.

The villagers of Half Moon village tensed when Baal scanned the room. Almost everyone was in the apartment, making the space rather cramped. Coux flinched when coal black eyes landed on her thoughtfully.

"Lilith's descendant," he smirked. "Would you like to make a once in a lifetime trip to Hell? I can offer you my protection for the trip on the condition that you escort Zero with you."

The half-succubus blinked. Whatever the Demon King was about to say, Coux didn't see that coming. Was Baal negotiating with her? The moment Baal spoke to his wife, Roovan stepped in and declined.

"It's too dangerous," he reasoned but Coux wouldn't give in. The couple glared at each other, neither willing to back down until Mitchnew offered to travel with her. In turn, Sekkin didn't agree and arguments broke out. Baal's ultimatum to allow the village to send a party of up to five representatives to escort Zero to his palace made everyone settle down thoughtfully.

"I will send a familiar in two days. You can discuss it as a village and give me a reply by then. Zero will come to Hell to recover his mana in the Spring of Vitality, there is no room for negotiations. The only person capable of helping Zero recover his mana is mana drained, I will not tolerate having to wait for the stories Zero owes me any longer than I have to."

As whimsically as he arrived, Baal left. Hua Tuo caught his apprentice and tucked him back to bed. Immediately, people started discussing who should accompany Zero to Hell. Zenobia saw how Hua Tuo was getting more restless when the discussion turned into heated arguments once more.

"Alright, everyone out! Call the entire village for a meeting, we shall discuss this in the cave." she ordered.

Disgruntled, the crowd dispersed. Hua Tuo took a look at the broken door and back to his student. Things were becoming more and more out of hand. If he thought that the broken pieces of Zero's heart could be fixed with a little bit of time before, he was now convinced that it would take the entire world's support to bring the boys' smile back. Douglas' betrayal was harsh enough. The villager's scattered opinions about his powers made it worse. Thank goodness Zero wasn't awake to hear any of it. The doctor hoped that everything could be settled by the time he returned from his trip to Hell.

The doctor sighed. He really hated this. What could he do to make the villagers get rid of their shallow-minded stereotypes? Demon Lord Baal's presence and demand only made everything worse. The villagers like Vrald may never look at Zero the same again. Hua Tuo was no fool, he saw the hatred in those eyes. Vrald must have felt betrayed and from what Grandma Moppo and Amaraline told him, Vrald isn't the only one feeling this way. Clowis and Leon were taking it much harder than the red-haired ex-adventurer.

Was there no fixing this mess?