Chapter 149

Nietzsche smiled, "The Bell of Ys is the final note. The Grand Symphony is no longer what it once was, but if you do this, the Water and Soil reinforced by Remus will collapse, and the high seas will rise and submerge the remaining land."

Nietzsche tried to portray himself as someone who wanted to stop Hebe from ringing the bell.

To gain something, you must first give something. He's still preparing; he's still putting on an act.

Nietzsche left the high-backed chair completely, and he could feel the girl in front of him observing him.

Their thoughts are clashing with each other through language and thought.

This is how philosophical debates are conducted—finding the essence of the other's thinking amidst endless eloquence, and then attacking and destroying it by any means necessary.

In one of the secret histories, a philosopher in Atlantis wrote a fable about extraterrestrials.

In this fable, "aliens from three suns" possess technology that far surpasses that of the natives, while the natives devise plans through independent thinking to fight off the alien invasion.

In this philosopher's conception, those who drive this independent thinking project are called Wall-Facer.

Those who attempt to expose the intentions behind the plan are called Breaker of Walls.

Unfortunately, Eris admired his talent too much, and during a debate, the philosopher died young. His thoughts were transmitted into the Grand Symphony, and the fable was never completed.

"Then I will be your Breaker of Walls," the philosopher thought.

"Lady Ismara, let me analyze everything you did in Atlantis," Nietzsche said eloquently. "Your first arrival, as Wise King Gilgamesh ruling Mycenae —oh, that has been embellished to some extent. But at least you did briefly establish a city-state in the degraded north."

"But what's the point of all this? Isu's army will destroy everything that was once Mycenae, and all that remains of your story will be legend."

"What you should be in control of is not music, but your own life... But you and I both know that during that descent, you forcibly took Joan of Arc, and died indulging in sensual pleasures."

Nietzsche laughed heartily, his beard swaying triumphantly. "Every arrival is much the same; if you cannot control yourself, you can only be controlled by fate... It is clear that Sibyl is right."

"Arrogant and ignorant of the gravity of the situation," Hebe said coldly.

Nietzsche paused.

He had expected Hebe to take direct action, but Hebe hadn't anticipated her response.

Before Nietzsche could speak, Hebe interrupted, "Eris talks a lot about fate, but wasn't the prophecy He set for Atlantis also a kind of fate?"

"You've been struggling in this vessel all along." A look of pity appeared on Hebe's face at just the right moment. "And why doesn't Eris do more? Is it that she doesn't want to? Or that she can't?"

"That makes sense, after all, Eris was just a skin-stealing thief. He claimed to hatch from the body of the April Archon, but the April Archon was once regarded as Zeus!"

Therefore, no matter how much Eris's so-called fate of freedom is embellished, it always has the flavor of a primitive Authority Path.

Because before the Scar Father was gradually regarded as the Sky Father, the Fisher King was a symbol of primitive patriarchy.

Hebe smiled dismissively.

"Oh, so to put it bluntly, Eris is just repackaging the Fisher King's Golden Truth to fool you again."

"I bet you're going to say that all of this is a necessary sacrifice for ultimate freedom, isn't it?" Hebe laughed again. "It's all bullshit from beginning to end."

Nietzsche had to admit that if Hebe was trying to provoke him, she had succeeded.

The reason he used Sybil to refer to the Eris the Swarm was because he was afraid that Hebe would directly make outrageous remarks about Eris... But unfortunately, Hebe started by firing at Eris.

Anger surfaced uncontrollably on the philosopher's face, but he quickly regained his composure.

It wasn't that he restrained himself, but that he understood what Hebe meant.

"It doesn't matter. Eris allows criticism from others, because that is also a form of freedom."

Nietzsche spread his arms, and he even had a touch of martyrdom in his expression.

"You don't know, and that's understandable. Do you think it's a variation of the Authority Path?" Nietzsche's expression of pity deepened. "No, the freedom promised by Eris is everything."

"Sacrifice or fate are just superficial. The true meaning of freedom is 'to do what you want to do and not to do what you don't want to do.'"

"Eris promised us this freedom, Eris enlightened us to this enlightenment... The enlightened are happy."

Nietzsche's voice echoed heavily, "As for what you call 'theft'—it's nothing but the contempt of those in power for those who have nothing. Yes, I am indeed a thief, a great thief. I will steal fire from the dreams of God, I will steal the springs of heaven, and freely give them to all to drink!"

You call me a thief? Then I am a thief! But I am not ashamed of it at all, for the fame of the thief Zhi and Zhuangzi has been passed down through generations...

King Chen then rose up and brandished his yellow battle-axe.

What passionate and inspiring words! Nietzsche's words came from the heart.

He became even more convinced that everything he said was true.

In fact, during this long period of time, Eris had already completed the integration of the Golden Truth, and He would redefine the entire world with His own Istina.

What truly challenged Hebe was Eris's Golden Truth... and as a Golden Truth, it could not be easily refuted.

He also firmly believed that Hebe would inevitably be attracted to her and gather around her.

To Nietzsche's great disappointment, Hebe simply waved her hand dismissively.

"That sounds nice!" Hebe remained unmoved. "But Eris did steal the power of the April Archon; He did indeed devour Greek Civilization; He did nearly cause the loss of Egypt civilization; He did indeed confuse many historical details..."

"What are you trying to say?" Nietzsche frowned. "These are all pointless choices, and naturally cannot be categorized as good or evil."

Since you cannot distinguish between good and evil, how can you use that as a reason to criticize me?

Hebe shook her head. "Who said I would discuss good and evil? I only discuss truth and falsehood with Eris."

She only followed the true path, but Eris's actions and words contradicted this.

Ultimately, this is an attitude towards history:

Hebe needs to Closed Loop history, while Eris's job is to make more history confused.

Nietzsche remained silent.

He thought that by revealing the Golden Truth, Hebe would be unable to resist falling into it, arguing with him, and ultimately unable to extricate herself.

But he was wrong. Hebe had no intention of arguing with him within the framework of the Golden Truth, but instead expressed her own views in a different way.

—Is Eris's statement inconsistent with his actions?

To Nietzsche and the Swarm others who identified themselves as "Eris," this was an insignificant question, but the answer was yes.

--yes.

In that case, Hebe's malice towards Eris is also clearly understood.

"What you're saying may be good, but you're not on the right path. That's why I don't like it."

Hebe's answer left Nietzsche speechless, and he felt a pang of regret.

If it weren't for the need for a philosophical debate with Hebe, could he defeat Hebe by relying on his own twilight status?

He realized with a heavy heart that it wouldn't work.

The battle could even lead to unpredictable consequences.

Nietzsche sighed.

He asked, "Why don't you refute me by saying 'God is Dead'?"

Hebe, without a smile, raised the wooden stick and struck Nietzsche hard on the forehead. The latter swayed, his eyes bulging, staring intently at Hebe.

The idea that God is Dead is actually a concept riddled with paradoxes.

After Nietzsche announced his philosophical name and confirmed that he was a member of the Eris the Swarm, Hebe became wary of the concept that "God is Dead."

Literally, this seems to be a declaration that "God has died in the realm of reality," but that is not the case.

In Hebe's previous life, the philosopher of the same name, Nietzsche, wanted to express the view that "God can no longer be the moral standard and ultimate purpose of human society."

To put it more bluntly, the God is Dead signifies the collapse of absolute morality and the demise of the old value system.

Isn't this just Eris's chaos and "freedom"?

Of course, some apprentices with a positive mindset might say: Humans can still find a bright future even without God, so aren't they the real supermen?

But let's not forget that the idea that "everyone is a dragon" is also one of Eris's propositions.

In other words, "God is Dead" is simply the view of the Eris the Swarm, and even part of His Golden Truth.

Once Hebe understood this, she became even more convinced that this was a trap set for her by Eris.

How could Hebe possibly step on it again?

Of course, she wouldn't say these things to Nietzsche. Her deep green eyes flickered for a moment, revealing an extremely lofty and aloof gaze.

During this process, Hebe swung the bat faster and harder.

"I have always been arguing with Eris."

"As for someone of your level, you're not qualified to speak to me."

Hebe brought down his stick, Nietzsche fell to the ground, bleeding from his head.

The philosopher lay on the ground and struggled a couple of times.

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

—At least, I have a safety net.

From any perspective, Hebe should have no doubt about the Bell of Ys itself.

Especially after confirming that Sybil had become the Grand Symphony, ringing the Bell of Ys as a pause was perfectly natural and reasonable.

Nietzsche's words are indeed true, but he did not reveal the whole truth—the rest is the final movement of a musical piece. In other words, the bell that Hebe rings is also the Sybil, and also Eris.

Whether we advance or retreat, it makes no difference.

Eris, being earlier than Hebe, made Atlantis her own private domain. She even went so far as to obfuscate history, nearly succeeding in doing so.

Even after being knocked back by Celestial Flint, He still stood just one step away from the finish line!

No matter which direction Hebe went, she remained within the framework that Eris had set for her.

Nietzsche chuckled to himself.

He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

An invisible Grand Symphony descended instantly, uploading his spirit body as a melody for preservation.

His body, which had fallen to the ground, vanished in a flash. The surroundings remained largely unchanged, except that the boundaries between colors became lighter; whether it was the newly blooming wildflowers, the rustling leaves in the forest, or the grayish-brown soil on the ground, everything was being uncontrollably bleached.

This is a lingering influence of the Lamp's Principle. The philosopher is a subordinate path of the Lamp's Principle.

The influences of Mozart and Nietzsche were locked in a struggle, while where Hebe stood, a chasm abruptly split open.

The gurgling clear water filled the ditch, forming a small river.

Wherever the water flows, whether it is the woodland of the Seven Hills or the ever-whitening colors, everything settles down and becomes calm.

This is easy to understand: both Mozart and Nietzsche were defeated by Hebe. Therefore, as the representative of Pure Water Spirit, clear water can soothe their lingering effects.

Now, no one can stop Hebe from walking up the long staircase leading deep into the Golden Tree.

But she did not take a step; instead, she stood quietly before the empty wooden throne, waiting for the newcomer.

226 The highest and brightest, the closest and the most distant.

The flames flickered, burning silently on the sea, carving out a path to Ys.

Joan of Arc's dry, white hair clung to her cheeks, like a lifeless patch of seaweed.

Ys was no longer the scene she remembered. This scene should have elicited a reaction from Joan of Arc, but she merely glanced at it numbly before walking toward the semi-abandoned city in the center of the Seven Hills.

The wind blew from afar, and she stared blankly ahead, taking a step that landed squarely on the path Hebe had walked.

In a world where everything is blurred, the light and shadow representing Ismara draw ever closer.

Hebe reached out, grabbed a beam of light that had burst forth after Nietzsche's death, held it in his palm, and blew it through his fingers.

Those who walk the path of enlightenment under the Lamp's Principle are mostly enlightened and clear-headed. Therefore, their influence after death can restore the sight of the blind... or make the sighted blind again.

Whoosh—the sunlight, like a veil, was blown from Hebe's palm and fell on Joan of Arc's eyes.

In an instant, the world before her eyes became clear and bright once again.

However, after doing all this, Hebe took a step back.

The sense of alienation is palpable.

Joan of Arc stared blankly at Hebe.

Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something.

But those deep green eyes just stared at him indifferently and coldly, without blinking for a moment.