Chapter 128
"Teacher, why are you laughing?" Skadi asked.
Hebe subconsciously touched her face: Was she just laughing?
"You're mistaken," Hebe shook her head.
"There is one..." Skadi muttered aggrievedly. She had clearly seen Hebe's lips curl into a subtle smile when he mentioned Joan of Arc's cross mark.
The Grand Harmonizer, bearing the name of Vermilion, stands at the pinnacle among musicians, responsible for extracting, distributing, and purifying the Youthful Dew.
Although her achievements were not as profound as Mozart's, and her power not as extensive as Nero's, Elizabeth held such a crucial position that anyone in her place would have to take her seriously.
What's even more incomprehensible is that, given her prestigious position, why would Elizabeth travel alone to the North? Hasn't she heard the saying, "A noblewoman should not sit under a dangerous roof"?
The first half of the answer to this question is that Elizabeth was seeking thrills; the second half is her disdain and contempt for the barbarians of the North.
In other words, she despised the Northerners even more than Nero: Nero simply killed Northerners barbarians as human beings.
For Elizabeth, the northern barbarians were merely a substitute for the Pure Water Spirit. Although they were not very efficient at producing spirit dew, their reproductive capacity was far superior to that of the Pure Water Spirit.
As for the decline in bloodline due to excessive reproduction? That's simple.
Force them to crossbreed, and select the purest and most stable varieties.
A solution to the depletion of spiritual dew has been found, but Elizabeth is not happy about it now.
This is because she was cornered by Joan of Arc of Arc.
Within five hours, she fought Joan of Arc of Arc's Northern army four times, each time against a small squad of about a hundred men.
That's nothing. The important thing is that she failed to kill these troops... No matter how heavy the damage, these people were not truly dead, and they were able to hold on and send out signals to summon a large army to surround them.
Elizabeth saw the resentment and anger in their eyes, and knowing she couldn't truly kill them, she decided to stop fighting them.
She realized that something must have happened in the North.
Bringing this intelligence back to Isu is far more valuable than wasting time here fighting the Northern Army.
But no matter what excuse Elizabeth used, she couldn't hide the fact that she was afraid.
It's simple, because you'll be afraid when you see a group of warriors who are impossible to kill and filled with anger and vengeance.
—Especially after you have personally committed numerous acts of killing.
But Joan of Arc's army maintained its high level of discipline, marching at full speed and following the fluttering banner. On several occasions, they came within a few hundred meters of Elizabeth's carriage, forcing the Grand Harmonizer to turn back and take a detour.
This was indeed a very serious situation for Elizabeth.
If she had a choice, she definitely wouldn't have gone south.
Because this meant she would have to seek the protection of Nero's legion, she was bound to be ridiculed by that frivolous woman to some extent.
Of course, one can only imagine what Elizabeth's reaction would be if she knew that Nero had died without honor, and that this army had swept through fourteen legions in three days, marching across the sea from the front lines back to the North.
Norwich.
The philosophers who had originally come to debate with Hebe were now gathered here.
"Don't you know?" Nietzsche said to these philosophers, "Elizabeth has abandoned you and gone south alone."
"This also means that you will be left in the North, never to return to the prosperous and fertile land of Isu. More importantly, you have not mastered the technology to transform and purify spiritual dew... After enjoying youth and longevity, who among you would be willing to return to the darkness of the short-lived race?"
Nietzsche was not exaggerating; he always told the truth.
But it is precisely the truth that is more frightening.
However, this does not mean that all philosophers were terrified of the scenario Nietzsche described. Many still believe that a long life is insignificant compared to the Istina they are about to seek.
"Is that so? In that case, I will explain my Istina to you."
Nietzsche said, "What we desire is the ultimate freedom of life and destiny, isn't it?"
The philosophers naturally nodded in agreement, because the very foundation of Isu's state was to break free from the fate of being manipulated by the gods in the heavens and to liberate himself from the endless cycle of history.
They have completely conquered the Pure Water Spirit and ended the war between humans and non-humans, which means they have initially broken free from the opposition between Scar Father and the Wolf.
But that's not enough, still not enough. They must escape the control of all those in power before they can be considered truly free.
It is for this reason that the Philosopher King played his Grand Symphony alone for hundreds of years, in order to find the key to ultimate freedom within it.
Nietzsche clapped his hands and laughed, "Then, please listen carefully."
198 We are Doctrine of Freedom, we are Eris
"The Istina I preach is called 'Doctrine of Freedom'."
"Imagine a world where all people living in it possess an absolute will and are capable of using any means to achieve their desires." Nietzsche paced around the room.
"But it's impossible," one philosopher countered. "A person's desires are limitless, but not everyone has the will and means to achieve them."
Nietzsche smiled and said, "So, it's just a premise—assuming there is such an omnipotent being who guarantees that those who come after him will also be able to enjoy everything he has and will also be able to use this means to realize their own desires."
After that, these omnipotent beings spread this idea of freedom.
As a result, more and more capable people will emerge, and eventually everyone in the world will be free.
The philosophers looked at each other, vaguely sensing that something was amiss, but it seemed that Nietzsche's description of the "world" did indeed represent a very good future.
In other words, this is a world where everyone is like a dragon.
Suddenly, a philosopher stood up. He was Parmenides in his time, who argued that "reality is always in flux, and all changes in the world are illusions. Therefore, one cannot know reality by the senses."
Parmenides was drenched in cold sweat and his face was pale.
"But human desires are endless!"
"Yes," Nietzsche nodded with a smile. "I did not deny that."
"Countless omnipotent beings in such a world will inevitably engage in endless attacks on each other... and their perseverance will ensure that they continue to do so until they achieve their goals!" The philosopher's voice was filled with fear. "A never-ending cycle, like falling into hell! This is a true abyss, how can it be considered freedom?!"
"How can this not be freedom, my friend?" Nietzsche said. "Everyone fights for their ideals, never giving up, never abandoning, never retreating... and they have the ability to do so. That is freedom."
"No, it can't be. That's definitely not freedom." Parmenides staggered a few steps and shook his head in despair.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he said, "Your argument lacks a crucial foundation: the absence of a true 'omnipotent one'! Without this premise, how can others also achieve ascension?"
However, Nietzsche still showed no signs of defeat.
He simply turned to the side and pointed in the direction of Atlantis: "Let me explain to you the Istina of the 'Philosopher King'."
The philosophers present had already recognized the terrifying nature of Nietzsche's expositions, realizing that his ideas were more deadly than those of the uncrowned kings of a century earlier. However, when it came to the Istina of the Philosopher King, the philosophers found it difficult to resist listening.
It's just like... prey slowly sinking into the mire with no way out.
"The Istina of the Philosopher King is just as its name suggests." Nietzsche clapped his hands and laughed. "Few of you lived through the era in which the Philosopher King was active. Looking at the whole of Ys, apart from a few Pure Water Spirit, only a few elder citizens have truly witnessed that 'golden age'."
"But if they were asked to return to that golden age, they would definitely not want to. Because in that era, the Philosopher King truly ruled everything, making decisions for all things... and his decisions were so farsighted and flawless."
"Therefore, all things need not think, but simply be obedient reeds, for the Philosopher King can arrange the life of every person in the kingdom with the most efficient calculations... Yes, at that time, there was not even a distinction between citizens and families. From the moment everyone opened their eyes, the Philosopher King had planned their future."
"What do you all think, is that good or bad?"
Parmenides opened his mouth with difficulty, and when he turned his head, he saw that the other philosophers also looked extremely grim.
It's very simple: if everything doesn't need to think and just follows the reeds, then why do philosophers exist?
After realizing this, Parmenides also developed a vague sense of fear towards the name of the Philosopher King.
"Of course, you can try to rebel, forge your own path, and make great strides... But in the end, you will inevitably find that the path you have forged with all your might is not even half of what the Philosopher King planned for you."
"You can say that I do not want to enjoy a long life, but want to live a fiery life in the wilderness." Nietzsche sneered, "Ah, this is nothing more than your subconscious feeling that 'the Philosopher King's arrangements are not satisfactory'... But the truth is quite the opposite. The life that the Philosopher King has arranged for you is more perfect than you can imagine in every aspect."
"And all you need to do is nod in agreement and obey the Philosopher King's arrangements."
Everything was properly arranged in the hands of the Philosopher King, and everything seemed perfect.
Nietzsche swept his gaze across the philosophers' faces. "You must be wondering, if that's the case, why does the Philosopher King still play Grand Symphony, and why are those elders unwilling to return to the golden age?"
"It's very simple. The very foundation of Ys's nation-building was to break free from the fate of being controlled by the gods in the heavens!"
Nietzsche's face finally revealed a hint of paranoia as he raised his right arm and pointed one finger to the sky.
"The beings of Ys are ultimately controlled by the master on that throne of heaven, dancing and falling to his baton! The so-called golden age was indeed wonderful, but what difference is there between that and being ruled by the gods?!"
"That throne now belongs to the Philosopher King in Pavieon Palace; in the future, it may belong to some ruler high in the heavens!"
"Therefore, the Philosopher King ended the Golden Age of abundance and, according to the Prophetess Sibyl's prophecy, entered the age of the decline of freedom—that is, the present moment."
"What will dominate this era will no longer be the Istina of the Philosopher King, but the Istina that belongs to someone, to the Prophetess Sibyl — the Doctrine of Freedom."
Nietzsche finally smiled with delight, "Now let's return to the question we were just asking."
He raised his arms. "The world is indeed finite, but history can be infinite. Countless omnipotent beings can be contained in just a few lines of history."
"Everyone can regret an infinite number of times, and can start over an infinite number of times, until they achieve their own absolute happiness."
"No one, no king, and no god can decide our fate. In the countless streams of history, we will surely attain ultimate freedom."
Nietzsche turned his head and looked at the philosophers, noticing their underlying fear and unease.
Gradually, light spots like the facets of jet began to appear in their eyes, like a kaleidoscope or countless compound eyes.
"And the Prophetess Sibyl was the golden bee who once guided the Philosopher King Remus."
"He was the first prophet to grasp the 'Doctrine of Freedom,' and I am the last prophet to share this Istina with you all."
"Whether it is Sibyl or Nietzsche, they are just code names used to distinguish us as individuals, while we have now become the Swarm that carries the 'Doctrine of Freedom'."
Many philosophers wore joyful smiles, no longer struggling or resisting.
Nietzsche went over to them, embraced them, and kissed them.
"We are 'Doctrine of Freedom', we are 'Eris'."
199. Kneel down!
It was summer in the North.
The darkest and coolest time is before dawn, and Joan of Arc of Arc's army continues its forced march, kept away from disease and death by the incessant flames on their banners.
As their relationship with that flag grew closer, even fatigue seemed to disappear.
As a result, the edges of the flag were almost completely scorched by the flames, and nearly half of the white flag was stained with black spots in the shape of splattered blood.
The flag is no longer as sacred and perfect as it once was, but when it flies high, it still inspires and motivates all the soldiers.
Most importantly, as Joan of Arc of Arc circled the North, the number of soldiers under her command had increased from over ten thousand to nearly one hundred thousand.
This was the limit of Joan of Arc could control, and fortunately, it was also the limit for almost all the people in the North.
As for those Northerners were unwilling to join or be found... Joan of Arc did not force them, nor could she force them.
Therefore, when the mighty army pressed to the northern border, both the islands across the sea and the several Issu legions still in chaos fell into a deathly silence.
The dim light flickered, illuminating the rugged mountain path. Hebe calmly stepped over the slippery moss, the tangled bushes, and the jagged rocks.
Skadi, carrying her greatsword, lagged slightly behind, closely following Hebe.
The Philosopher's Kid, their heads twirled and feet shod, gripped their short swords and axes at their waists, following Hebe to relieve the North's instability and rid the world of its great calamity.
Along the way, Elizabeth's atrocities have added many invisible burdens to their shoulders, and killing her would surely make things much easier.
Everyone instinctively yearns for an easy and happy life, and now, instinct compels them to do so.
Hebe knew she was nearing the northern border, as was Joan of Arc's army, and if Elizabeth intended to do anything more, now was her only chance.
The instant this thought surfaced in her mind, Hebe heard a sudden drumbeat coming from not far away.
Elizabeth was indeed pushed to her limit by pursuers coming from all sides.
This was an extremely embarrassing scene.
If Nero were here, he would surely laugh at himself for falling into the trap of the commoners; but Elizabeth did not want to belittle the Northerners, because belittling them would be belittling herself.
Her long, pale, bloodless arm reached out from the coffin and slapped it heavily against the side.
Thump!