The Final Push (2)

...

Giving a final deep and long kiss, Qantas reluctantly let go. He once again, focused his attention to RiverSun's left hand, and put on the same ring as he had on the ring finger. He kissed the ring, then the finger afterwards. 

"Take care of yourself, alright."

...

...

...

Crunch. 

Crunch.

While eating his cookie, Zyair suddenly frowned. He raised his left hand, spread his fingers and looked at it back and forth. He felt something warm touch his finger. Was it just hallucination?

Crunch. Eating the final piece, Zyair fetched his orange juice by the side, and threw his suspicion to the side. He leisurely walked out of the kitchen, with lax posture, while sipping on his orange juice. 

Zyair deliberately took his time walking towards his room, but he still arrived after 5 minutes. Sighing, Zyair finally gave up. It's just playing, right? He can do it. That punk better give something to compensate for this young Master!

Sitting on his chain with a heavy thump, Zyair directly held the mouse and placed his left hand onto the keyboard. His amber eyes look straight at the screen. He saw his avatar, RiverSun still standing in place where he left it. Zyair intently stared at his avatar and felt something not quite right about it. But he can't put a finger on what it is, so in the end he just let it be, like he always did.

Ting! Ting! 

[WARNING!! Player RiverSun has encountered the Crystal Palace's Ultimate Boss, Cinderella!]

[How would Player RiverSun like to proceed?]

When Zyair saw the system alert, he was surprised. He hasn't even started the mission yet, but this Princess is already welcoming him! Why is this Princess so enthusiastic? 

Zyair clicked <"Continue">. His view shifted automatically, a beautiful woman dressed in a luxury ball gown appeared on his screen. She smiled at Zyair, then proceeded with a princess bow. "Welcome to my Palace, beloved guest." She straightened up her posture, looking straight at Zyair, and introduced herself. "I am Cinderella. How about we play a game?"

Zyair was in awe. She really looks like a princess. This game really has too much high quality animation. 

The system has yet to display the instructions, so, Zyair just stayed still and went to watch Cinderella's play.

"You are my first guest, and because of that I will give you an advantage. How about that? Would you like to play with me?"

As Cinderella closed her mouth, a familiar alert came popping out of the screen.

[Cinderella saw you arrive at her Crystal Palace and manage to walk into the Celestial Hall the earliest. As it was yet the time for the other players to arrive, Cinderella decided to accompany you.]

[Player RiverSun has been given a Player's Privilege by the Crystal Palace's Ultimate Boss, Cinderella! With the Player's Privilege, Player RiverSun could finish the instance– Cinderella's Wonderland after successfully conquering Cinderella's challenge! And don't have to wait until the game starts.]

[Would Player RiverSun like to use Player's Privilege and accept Cinderella's challenge?]

Zyair, of course, clicked <"Yes">. He doesn't have a choice anyway. Even if he wanted to refuse, he doesn't want to wait for the game to start, at the same time. Zyair felt tired and he felt irritated playing this game. He wanted to finish this off immediately. 

Seeing him agree, Cinderella let out a happy smile and chuckled seductively. She clapped her hands twice and cheerfully said, "I'm so happy actually agreed to play with me. You know, I've been in this palace for a very long time, and I could only talk and play with the guests that will come here once in a while."

It seems that this boss character is starting to play out her pitiful back story. Zyair couldn't help but roll his eyes. They always have a backstory, ah! 

Zyair rested his chin in his palm and watched his computer boredly as he waited for Cinderella to finish her drama. 

"When the night descends, and the moon rises with its full body, the Crystal Palace that was once empty will lighten up again, and will soon be filled with people." Cinderella smiled melancholically and snapped her fingers. 

The view on the screen suddenly moved up, stopping by the scene happening on the ceiling. The painting of the blue skies changed. It was like a time skip video of the sky, from morning to night. The painting on the ceiling changed from blue skies to the night sky. The crystal raindrop shapes chandeliers, sparkles and twinkles like stars at night.

Zyair was marveling at the changes, and can't help but praise the artist of this game. Not only was the game art so realistic, their fat brain really thought of everything magnificently. 

This is like two scenes in one picture. Like the painting Qantas once shown to Zyair. It was a forest with a tree as a centerpiece. Who knew that when Qantas went to turn that painting upside down a different image could be seen. 

Zyair has never been a person who likes art and literature. He could appreciate the masterpiece, because he can't do it like they can. But he was never the one who could think of the meaning behind what those pictures meant to portray. 

"Look up there." Cinderella pointed her finger to the ceiling. "Look at the Moon. What do you see?"

With her question, a panel appeared at the same time.

["What do you see?" Cinderella asked you a question, please choose your answer.]

Zyair's fist was itching to punch the screen. He wanted to instantly click the last choice, because, seriously, ah. He can't see the moon! Where's the moon?! 

His instinct was telling him to choose the third one, but he really can't see it, f*ck!

In the end, Zyair restrained himself and chose the third one. 

[RiverSun]: ["I could see it, the moon. But right now the one I am seeing is not yet full. Why is that?"]

[Cinderella]: ["You have great eyes and a sharp mind, my dear guest. You might have already guessed it, but the thing in the ceiling is a clock. Rather than the Celestial map, where the stars were plotted, here it was the moon."]

Zyair wanted to curse. He made the right choice, but he still can't see the moon. Seeing Cinderella smiling as if planning to just drop the subject here and then, Zyair almost wanted to shed tears. 

That's it?! He couldn't understand a thing! Just because Cinderella thought he knew everything already, the subject was dropped just like that!

[Cinderella]: ["From the bottom of my heart, please accept my praise. With just a glance you could guess everything. That's why I'm very happy right now. I am right when I get to choose this game. I'm sure you, my dearest guest, will like it. With your intellect and awareness, the game will be playing will surely suit you taste."]

'She really just let go of the subject just like that! She even had the nerve to praise me, ah!' Zyair felt tired complaining in his mind. 

Heaving a deep sigh, Zyair stared at the panel that popped out again, and suddenly felt like it's useless. Everything here is already programmed and can't be changed, he doesn't have any choice but to accept his fate and play this game for intellectuals. 

[RiverSun]: ["Oh. A game that requires great intellect and high awareness. I wonder what this game should be. Could the Princess speak of the name of this great game?"]

Zyair: "...hehe"

[Cinderella]: ["Seeing you so curious and interested, I will not let you wait any second longer!"]

Cinderella reached out both her hands to the air like asking someone for something. And then with a "puff" a plain green board appeared slowly falling into the palm of her hands. 

[Cinderella]: ["Tonight, we're going to play the Game of the Generals!"]

Zyair's eyes brightened and he became excited.

He loves this game very much! Laughing like Santa Clause, "hohoho" Zyair felt that he already won.