Ball of Nothing

Hours later, Zero finally came to. The Mind's Eye system finally rebooted itself but Zero's mana reserves were severely depleted once more. He didn't manage to fully recover it at the oasis but now, it was depleted even further because of the massive damage his vessel took. Sure, Zero didn't die and even if his vessel was vaporised, he still wouldn't have a problem creating something temporary.

Yet, this made Zero absolutely livid. How dare those gnomes pull a dangerous stunt like this? Did they think weapons were toys? That blast was more powerful than Baal's sneeze, it could annihilate an entire country!

"Zero! Have you come to?" Truen asked. He was still reporting the situation to angry Great Gods and Goddesses who were planning to wreak havoc on the gnomes. Truen tried to convince them to put their anger on the back burner because Zero was still not coming to. They eventually agreed and stewed in their anger while waiting for Truen's follow up report about Zero's condition.

Zero groaned and sat up. "What's going on? Did you see that light? Someone has to teach those gnomes a lesson. Why do they make such dangerous weapons?! It could destroy countries in one blast! I don't want to allow it."

Truen agreed and calmly explained to Zero in a brief summary of what he did. Then, he told Zero to check his i-communicator. The Great Gods were waiting for his reply and Truen was waiting to pass the word to the Onion Union if further action was needed. They would erase the gnomes completely if required. The knowledge of this weapon was too dangerous to be kept or passed down. History would repeat itself all over again if nobody stopped them. More of the remaining Gods will fall and the world's balance will shatter, pushing it faster towards the point of no return.

Zero checked his communicator and answered the group chat to let them know he was alright now. Zeus' lamp was a gift that saved their lives and Truen's quick thinking saved him the trouble of having to wait for a new vessel to be created. Still, Zero expressed his mild frustration at how much the mana reserves he painstakingly built up was depleted in one go.

The real question that remained unanswered that everyone was waiting to know was: What did Zero want to do now?

Zero remained motionless for a while. Somehow, he knew that if he asked, it shall be delivered.

The gnomes had to be taught a lesson about using technology for the wrong things and the weapon they prided themselves in making must be destroyed. As a doctor, he didn't want any lives taken. Also, seeing as these could very well be the last gnomes alive, Zero didn't want them to be physically harmed. He still needed these gnomes to fix Dorgon's crafting suit.

Slowly, Zero formed his reply.

"Those who walk down the wrong path must be educated so as not to let history repeat itself. A sword is wielded to protect and not to attack. A price must be paid for mistakes dearly made. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. My mana reserve is something I built up over time, so swiftly destroyed in one moment. Make them feel that same pain by destroying the things dear to them that they worked hard to amass. Do not kill, maim or hurt them physically. We only do what's right, nothing more and nothing less."

The moment Zero hit the send button, several things happened at once.

Truen heard the doorbell ring and went to get it on Zero's behalf.

"Special delivery from Arabesque, Nirvana and Heaven," Swift smiled and handed Truen a get-well-soon basket of mana recovery potion, mana lotuses and mana generating plants still in their pots."

Truen signed the papers and thanked the harpie who left quickly. Zero slowly recovered his mana in the lamp and Truen did the same. His vessel was still slowly recovering and the special health potion that Merlin made for them took effect quickly.

Truen groaned in pain on the bed when his torn muscles started growing to repair itself. Zero was in a slightly better condition because he had his pain sensations turned off, courtesy of Mind's Eye system.

Back on Earth, the gnomes barely spoke two sentences in the meeting when the ground shook and the base was struck by a neverending supply of lightning.

"What's going on!" Wesley yelled and Thomas appeared dazed. The six gnomes were frightened but nobody knew what was going on until a portal opened before them and out walked a hooded skeleton carrying a signature scythe.

Hades might not have an expression with a skull for his face but the gnomes knew that there was no mistaking the Great God's anger. Why would a Great God appear before them, and the one most feared of them all - the God of Death?

"You've made a great mistake," Hades spoke in a hushed but deadly tone that made the gnomes fall to the ground on their knees with tears in their eyes, begging for mercy. They didn't know what they did so wrong to incur the wrath of Gods but it didn't take them long to know that they were doomed.

"Your first mistake was using your intelligence and gift for crafting to create a weapon of mass destruction. I, Hades, represent all the Gods and divine beings now to let you know that such a thing will not be taken lightly. You dare create a weapon that challenges the authority of a God, you should be prepared to have your souls thrown into the void."

Frightened, Thomas cried and admitted that he had made a grave mistake. However, he was quick to add that the idea did not originate from him.

"Someone taught me how to build this! I promise I am not lying. In my sleep, they taught me how to build the nova canon. Our King only intended for the right arm of the Gun-dam to be a Gatling Gun but I did not have the schematic. Someone taught me how to build the nova canon as the right arm and I simply followed their advice! I swear my inventions were never used for the purpose of annihilating countries or fighting Gods! We gnomes have always hated war and stayed away from them. We would rather die than create weapons for the sake of killing, we only made them to protect ourselves in this harsh desert!"

Hades narrowed his eyes. The gnome was not lying. Still, it was a concerning matter. "Who taught you how to build this nova canon? What is their name and when did it happen?"

Thomas was speechless, he didn't know how to answer but there really wasn't a need. Hades decided to help himself to Thomas' memories.

With a swing of his scythe, Thomas' memories of his entire life were pulled out like a film reel. Hades watched everything in lightning speed before putting the memories back into the gnome's soul.

"It appears that you're telling the truth," he said and the gnomes smiled in relief.

"But, the price must still be paid for your actions. Zero is our chosen one, you will do well to remember it. At his kind request, we will spare your lives today. However, in return for taking away the things that he has spent a long time amassing, you shall feel the same pain you inflicted on him."

Before the gnomes could react, all their research papers and documents that they spent their whole life collecting and writing burst into flames that couldn't be put out by water. This was no ordinary fire, they were the flames of retribution by Enma.

"Consider this your punishment and learn your lesson well," Hades warned them one final time before making his exit.

Watching their blood, tears and sweat burn away helplessly, the gnomes cried in heartache and trembled in fear. Yet, they were grateful that they got lucky and managed to keep their lives. If they managed to live, they could still work hard to write down everything they knew and remembered. Not all hope was gone.

Yet, there was confusion. Why have they offended the gods? The Gun-dam that they were so proud of was now nothing more than a melted puddle of molten metal. The nova cannon was finally no more for the greater good of everyone. Thomas felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his conscience as he watched the destruction of the nova cannon.

Despite everything overwhelming going on around them, the gnomes still had one question lingering in their heads. Who was Zero?