She recalled that the relationship between Mo Na and Wang Da Er had not been clearly revealed from the start of the game.
But with just a glance in a CG scene, she had understood.
This kind of open-endedness, full of imaginative possibilities, combined with Ling Jing's advanced AI imaging technology, allowed each player who arrived here to construct their own unique origin story with this single scene.
In her mind, Mona and Wang Da Er could be star-crossed lovers with mutual affection but facing cruel fates.
In others' eyes, they could be a loving couple, or a mother and child, or father and daughter separated by death…
This itself was a grand vessel integrating stories from myriad households.
The person they cared about most lay here, even though Doer Ming had warned, "You may have to pay a heavy price for this."
And the protagonist's reply, "I am prepared."
From then on, not another word.
But, it was more than a thousand words.
The unwavering action behind the silence was priceless.
Each time, after experiencing unimaginable horror and pain, the giant statue would finally collapse with the final blow, the soaring background music would abruptly cease, and the protagonist would be brought back to the temple by a mysterious power.
Getting up from the ground, he harbored no complaints, not even brushing off the dust.
He would turn to look at the maiden (or youth/elder) slumbering on the altar, then silently walk out of the temple, call for Aglow (the little horse), and seek out the next enemy.
Loneliness.
Always enveloped them.
Sometimes, when driven to despair by monsters, questions like, "Why do I have to fight terrifying giant monsters here? Why must it be me? Why?" would echo in their hearts.
The phrase "I am prepared" would always bring them back to their senses, increasing their resolve as they repeated this seemingly monotonous yet challenging process.
All for the one person most important in their hearts, all for the simple phrase, "I am prepared."
What was most important in a game?
Bai Zhiyuan firmly believed that beyond bringing players emotions and touching them, the most important thing a game did was fulfill the players' self-worth.
It allowed them to achieve things they dared not challenge or were powerless to do in reality.
This sense of recognition was precisely what everyone yearned for most.
Now,
Ling Jing had achieved it. With just a glance, a sentence, a touch of evocative open-endedness, and a journey filled with unknown challenges, this minimalist approach had elevated her thinking to a new height.
Problems that had been difficult to solve in her work now seemed to clear up instantly!
Standing in the grand hall, Bai Zhiyuan felt as if she was bathed in a holy light.
Her entire body felt warm, as if some old shackles on her mind had been released, leaving her feeling light and ethereal.
"Is this enlightenment?"
If Bai Zhiyuan were not a staunch materialist, she would have felt as if she were living in a fantasy novel, perhaps about to ascend to become an empress in the next moment.
However, with this enlightenment on a conceptual level, she could achieve a new height in reality as well!
In the game,
Bai Zhiyuan cast a final glance at 'Lu Li' lying on the altar, her confidence soaring as she embarked on a new journey.
The fourth Colossus warhorse, the creatures on land now posed no challenge to her.
As long as she could find a way to get onto the Colossus's body, given the existence of its weak points.
She would soon be able to defeat the boss.
It wasn't until the fifth one,
That Bai Zhiyuan finally faced a new challenge – the flying boss [The Raptor Avian].
As she arrived at the mist-shrouded lake and saw the massive black silhouette reflected in the water, her heart inexplicably accelerated.
The majestic bearing of the giant bird soaring through the sky, seeming to shake the heavens, thoroughly ignited Bai Zhiyuan's fighting spirit.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!*
After traversing mountains and rivers, and climbing a thirty-story building with her bare hands, Bai Zhiyuan reached the optimal peak fortress to confront the Raptor.
*Screech!*
As the camera zoomed in, Bai Zhiyuan saw the giant bird soaring through the sky.
The Raptor Avian looked like a combination of an eagle and an ancient pterosaur, still adorned with stone armor similar to the other Colossi.
Seeing the fluffy feathers on the back of the Raptor Avian, Bai Zhiyuan began to plan how to effectively use them to fix herself onto the giant bird.
Then, she would seize the opportunity and strike directly at its weak point!
At this moment, she flipped and maneuvered to the edge of the fortress, and a prompt sounded – [Use a bow and arrow to provoke the Colossus's rage].
The Colossus was currently perched above a pillar in the center of the lake, seemingly resting.
Bai Zhiyuan had no grappling hook or rope, so she could only enrage the Raptor from a distance and wait for it to fly over, then jump onto its back.
*Hiss hiss hiss!!*
She fired three arrows consecutively, one of which successfully hit the Raptor Avian's eye.
*Screech!!*
Enraged, the giant bird spread its airplane-wing-like wings and swooped down towards Bai Zhiyuan.
"Just in time!"
The moment the Raptor Avian flew over Bai Zhiyuan's head, she jumped!
*Thump!*
After landing steadily, she firmly grasped the feathers on the giant bird's wings.
This scene had been rehearsed countless times in her mind.
Even though the Raptor Avian's wings flapped continuously, and the salty sea breeze constantly lashed against her face.
The splashing water struck her face like icy needles, stimulating her nerves, but she did not let go.
This was the only chance to defeat the giant bird, and no matter how difficult, she had to seize it!
*Flap flap flap!!*
The Raptor Avian's wings shook even more violently!
"Awoo!!"
Bai Zhiyuan opened her mouth wide and bit down hard on the giant bird's wing, using her hands and feet, even her teeth, to ensure she wouldn't be shaken off.
She paid no heed to the sonic boom-like roar of the wind in her ears.
Her mind held only one thought: outlast it!
Only when the Raptor Avian's strength was depleted to a certain extent and its speed slowed down would her opportunity to counterattack arise.
Before that, she absolutely could not be thrown off!
Absolutely not!
Determination solidified in Bai Zhiyuan's heart, unshakeable even by the giant bird.
Finally,
Its speed began to slow. Bai Zhiyuan, releasing her bite, began to move slowly across the giant bird's back while holding onto its feathers with one hand.
In this lightless environment, the technique of using the Sword of Yore to pinpoint weak spots could not be used.
She could only manually survey the exact locations of the weak points and then break them one by one.
After nearly half an hour of exploration, Bai Zhiyuan finally identified the locations of the Raptor Avian's three weak points – the two wings and the tail.
Having overcome these difficulties, it was now time for the harvest.
After briefly enjoying the scenery in the sky,
Bai Zhiyuan, with her mind as calm as water, began her hunt…
……