When the light screen above the arena began displaying both sides' titles, the contestants finally stepped into the ring.
The moment Su Yatutai and Onassis came forward, waves of cheers erupted from the stands. Yet neither man spared the audience a glance. They merely watched each other.
Angel had seen Su Yatutai once before, in the valley before entering the Purification Garden. At the time, Su Yatutai had seemed like a refined scholar, bearing a temperament very similar to Professor String-Plucker Anglu of White Coral Floating Island Academy—gentle and courteous, with the light of learned wisdom gleaming in his eyes.
Compared to then, Su Yatutai's appearance had not changed much. He merely looked younger and more handsome. The air around him remained as refined as ever.
Su Yatutai's opponent—the "Philosopher," Onassis—was a dull-looking youth who resembled a bookworm. Standing together on the same stage, they looked more like teacher and student than opponents.
"Is he the strange contestant you mentioned? He doesn't seem particularly special. His energy fluctuations are merely passable—he's not even as good as Shali." Gloria also turned her gaze to Onassis, her expression probing. "Uto Academy is a gathering place for white wizards. Onassis does fit the temperament—he's a typical academy type."
After saying that, Gloria glanced at Angel. "Judging by appearances, he's an even more traditional academy type than you."
Angel did not respond to Gloria. He merely watched Onassis in silence.
Onassis seemed to catch Angel's gaze and turned his head toward him. When he saw Angel, he froze for a moment, then immediately revealed an utterly innocent smile.
Gloria noticed the exchange. "Why does it feel like you know him?"
Angel suddenly understood. He had suspected earlier that this "Philosopher" might be the person he had encountered before. He had not expected it to