Chapter 1600
Chapter 1600: Section 1601 Philosopher vs Philosopher Scholar
When the names of the competitors began to display on the light screen above the arena, the players finally stepped into the arena.
Suyatutai and Onassis stepped up to the stage and immediately triggered a wave of cheers from the audience. However, the two on the stage did not divert their attention to the audience but gazed intently at each other.
Before entering the Purification Garden, Angel had encountered Suyatutai in that valley; at that time, Suyatutai appeared as a refined scholar. His demeanor resembled that of Professor Angler, the 'Strummer' from White Coral Floating Island Academy–gentle and courteous, with eyes twinkling with erudite wisdom.
Nowadays, Suyatutai looked not much different from before but was slightly younger and more handsome. The aura around him remained elegantly scholarly as always.
On the other hand, Suyatutai's opponent–“Philosopher” Onassis, seemed like a nerdy youth. When they stood together, they resembled more a teacher and student rather than opponents.
“Is he that quirky contestant you talked about? Doesn't seem very special, his energy fluctuations are just noticeable, not even comparable to Sharley.” Greya's gaze also turned towards Onassis, her expression probing: “Uto Academy is a gathering place for White Wizards, and Onassis does fit in, a typical Academy Faction.”
As Greya spoke, she glanced at Angel: “Judging by appearances, he's even more traditionally Academy Faction than you.”
Angel did not respond to Greya but quietly watched Onassis.
Onassis seemed to catch Angel's gaze, turned his head to look over, and upon seeing Angel, he paused and then displayed an extremely innocent smile.
Greya noticed this scene: “It feels like you know him?”
Angel also seemed somewhat enlightened; he had previously speculated whether this “Philosopher” might be the person he had met before, and indeed it was…
“We have met once before.”
Greya was skeptical: “It doesn't seem like just once; among thousands of spectators, he singled you out specifically?”
Angel was also somewhat puzzled; he hadn't deliberately hidden his gaze nor had he used any spiritual power to aid his watchfulness, it was merely a casual glance, yet the other party still caught his gaze and even looked over immediately. This found Angel quite strange.
“Indeed, just one previous encounter.” Angel briefly recounted his last encounter with the youth.
Once, in a corridor of the Infinite Battle Tower, he saw a youth earnestly reading a book. The main reason he noticed him was because the youth was standing at the entrance to the contestants' backstage, and Angel smelled the thick scent of blood emanating from there.
Angel wondered if it was this youth's doing, which led him to look at him.
Angel remembered that the youth was reading a philosophy book called “The Lies of Nedberg.”
This was a book discussing lies and truth. For Transcendents' capabilities, it held no practical help; it was merely an idealistic philosophical speculation, not the type of book a young person would typically read.
Because of this detail, Angel remembered that youth.
Latter, when he heard about a contestant named “Philosopher,” Angel immediately thought of this youth who was reading “The Lies of Nedberg”. However, since he had never seen Onassis, it was only a guess.
Today was the first time Angel saw Onassis, and it turned out his guess was not wrong.
Onassis was indeed that youth from that time.
After hearing Angel's story, Greya pondered for a moment and said: “A youth who likes reading philosophy books? He really does seem more like a traditional Academy Faction. You know, philosophy emphasizes speculation, some Academy Faction wizards, even if they are unreasonable in subjects related to combat applications, can still use philosophical cleverness to argue the unreasonable into seeming reasonable.”
“In any case, they are just a bunch of face-saving folks.”
Greya said this and shook her head, clearly speaking from the heart with, probably having experienced similar situations herself.
“I wonder if what happened in the contestant's backstage was his doing?” Greya was curious, from Angel's tone, this Onassis seemed straightforward, just a slow-witted youth, not like someone who would do such things.
“I don't know.” said Angel, to him it was just an inconsequential anecdote, knowing or not knowing did not matter. Angel and Onassis just exchanged a glance and left without further inquiry.
While Angel and Greya were conversing, a dialogue was also taking place on the stage.
“Who are you looking at?” A gentle and polite voice came from Suyatutai.
Onassis withdrew his gaze from Angel, concealed the smile at the corner of his mouth, and calmly said: “I was looking at someone like you.”
“Like me?” Suyatutai was somewhat puzzled.
“Five years ago at the philosophic debate in Uto Academy, I was reading a book at the time, and you were the only one who affirmed the book I was reading.” Onassis paused: “He did the same; he also affirmed the book I read.”
“Five years ago, such a distant time.” A glimmer flashed in Suyatutai's eyes: “Or rather, the days at Uto Academy seem worlds apart from my life now.”
Onassis quietly watched Suyatutai, not responding.
Suyatutai fell silent for a moment: “I remember, the book you were reading at that time was 'The Pink Elephant and Colorless Rain', right?”
When his favorite book was mentioned, Onassis solemnly nodded his head.
“This is a philosophical book that discusses the necessary and the unnecessary, the sense of presence and cognitive biases.” Suyatutai obviously had read the book and quickly distilled the essence of it. Seeing Onassis's solemn appearance as if he had found the truth, Suyatutai smirked and shifted the conversation: “Unfortunately, it's all absurd errors.”
Onassis's eyes widened suddenly.
“Pink elephants do not simply barge into your mind; you think they represent an unavoidable presence, but it's just your own thoughts; colorless rain is like the air, you think you didn't notice it, but it's only you, thinking, your body actually remembers its presence.”
“That is to say, this book is nothing more than the author trapping himself in his own idealistic world,” Suyatutai coldly mocked.
Onassis did not argue, but instead asked, “However, you did not speak of it like this at that time. You affirmed this book then.”
Suyatutai laughed: “That's because I think, whatever book a bookworm reads, it doesn't matter. It's even better if you read fairy tales.”
Looking at Suyatutai, Onassis calmly said: “Although fairy tales are written for children, many stories within also contain philosophical wisdom, so I read them too.”
“Considering that we've met before, I can enlighten you–those are deceptive. Philosophy is false,” Suyatutai's voice grew slightly heavier.
Onassis sighed softly: “I have always remembered your nickname. When I chose my own nickname, I even did it to follow in your footsteps… I thought you would understand me.”
Philosopher Scholar and Philosopher. Actually, broadly speaking, they can be equated.
“At Uto Academy, I just wanted to make myself look more like the Academy Faction, so I chose this title. You know, Rabelais really buys into that… I heard you are now following Rabelais too?”
Rabelais is a professor at Uto Academy, firmly believing that truth is hidden within philosophy.
“Yes, Professor Rabelais actually misses you a lot,” Onassis said.
A moment of absent-mindedness flashed in Suyatutai's eyes; he remained silent for a moment: “Once I advance to become an Official Wizard, I'll visit him.”
Onassis: “If you chose this nickname just to appear more like the Academy Faction, then why have you not changed it now?”
Suyatutai: “You don't think I'm still holding onto those past wrong notions? I haven't changed it simply because there is no need.”
Onassis: “But I feel that you haven't given up.”
Suyatutai smirked mockingly and did not shatter that bit of persistence in Onassis.
At this moment, the countdown for the start of the match on the light screen entered the last five seconds.
Onassis thought for a moment: “Perhaps, you just haven't seen the path ahead. Today, I will try to take you there.”
Suyatutai: “Then I shall wait and see.”
The moment the match started, Suyatutai was the first to make a move; he gently snapped his fingers, and the fish scale tattoo on his neck began to emit a faint blue light.
With the flashing of the blue light, a massive amount of Water System elements condensed, turning into raging waves charging forward.
Within the furious waves, everyone vaguely saw an image of a lake surface–it was the ocean under nightfall, transitioning from calm to suddenly windy, followed by a furious storm erupting, turning the ocean tumultuous with terrifying waves continuing to spread. At the horizon, a solemn Sea God holding a trident overlooked the vast sea!
This was a maritime magic trick, seemingly a variant of some tidal magic, even more powerful and extensive, covering the entire arena.
It had reached the level of a Third-Level peak magic trick!
As wave after wave surged over, even an Apprentice of the Bloodline Faction might feel unsteady on their feet.
However, when the waves reached Onassis, he suddenly closed his eyes and muttered incantations. Instantly, Onassis himself was in a fluctuating state, as if present in this world yet simultaneously transcending it.
It was somewhat similar to the Body of Falsehood, not being of this world. When the tide passed him, even his clothes remained dry.
Yet everyone clearly saw with their own eyes that Onassis was indeed standing there, solidly, without ever stepping into the realm of falsehood to dodge.
How did he manage to remain completely untouched by the water?
As everyone was still puzzled by this, Onassis's lips moved again.