"And, of course, a special question, which comes with a double score, will be a little bit more difficult. Here's your question." Mr. Yu rose the card and read aloud. "Green Lantern… well, everybody knows it," he glared at the screen, "the source of their power is 'willpower'." He looked at Feng Bu Jue. "In DC Universe, while Green Lantern stands for willpower, what about the other lanterns? Please list at least four types more. Your countdown starts now!"
This sort of question couldn't play hard on Feng Bu Jue. Even if it wasn't for collecting material for his novels, he had to read a lot to satisfy his interests. Thus, he just needed to recall the information and spoke up the answer.
"Yeah, I will list them in colors of light order. Red Lantern, Rage; Orange Lantern, Avarice; Yellow Lantern, Fear; Green Lantern, Willpower; Indigo Lantern, Compassion; Blue Lantern, Hope; Violet Lantern, Love. And there's something called Black Lantern, which stands for Death."
The whole stage was in a complete silence. Mr. Yu checked the answer he got in his hand; he kept silent for a while before speaking up again with a firm, determined tone, "Absolutely correct!"
The applause that came from the audience was like a rising tide, just like at the beginning of the show.
"Player number one is really a genius. He got 40 points after three questions already, while the other three players have zero after two turns. Player number one is now basically invincible!" Mr. Yu said then turned to the three guests. "Our distinguished guests, what do you think about player number one's performance?"
After the camera had focused on the seating row of the three guests, Madam Superbia suddenly spoke up for the first time. Anyway, she just said one word, "NEET."
Pestilence looked like he was paralyzed on his seat while using his bony pair of arms to support his chin. The skin on his arms was so pale it was almost transparent that people could see the vessels underneath. This appearance of his was from a very sick man indeed. "Hey… why don't they have a color for pestilence…"
The cameraman, a translucent ghost, shifted his camera to Hephaestus, whose comment was still impossible to understand. "Tsk. Aren't they just collecting scattered energy from lanterns and rings? Well, such things, if you want to have a mass production of them, you only need a hard-working Cyclops. No matter how many pieces you want, they can always satisfy you…"
"Excellent. Thanks for your comments." Mr. Yu didn't wait for that man to finish his speech; he interrupted him then turned to Little Tan. "Player Number 2, please focus on the 10th question." He burnt the previous card then read out loud the question on a new card. "In English, please spell—Phenylketonuria. Countdown begins!"
As the ticking sound of the countdown arose, Mr. Yu turned his fat body around to talk to the audience. "You know, in English, medical terminology is a troublesome stuff that gives people headaches. Too long and too lengthy to remember…"
"Phenylketonuria, referred to as PKU," Little Tan answered, then he spelled each letter of the word.
Mr. Yu was dazed for seconds, then he used his hand, which was holding the microphone, to adjust the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose. He giggled then confirmed the answer on his card, "Yes. Correct!"
Little Tan's score had increased to 10 along with the applause from the audience.
"Seems this question belongs to Player Number 2's field of expertise or is his English really that excellent?" Mr. Yu commented.
"Indeed, it's simple—" Mr. Yu intervened Little Tan while he hadn't finished yet. "So, next—"
Mr. Yu shifted his look to Like Rain. "Player Number 3, now there are only you and Player Number 4 whose score is still zero. This question will be critical though."
"Ah," Like Rain answered vapidly. From her attitude, it was saying, 'well, not a big deal'.
"Here's your question," Mr. Yu rose the card in front of his eyes, gave it a glance and said, "please tell us what is the substance whose chemical formula can be seen on our screen now? Timer begins!" As he has finished reading the question, both the small screen on Like Rain's control panel and the big screen on the stage displayed the same chemical formula: C6H12O6.
"Glucose," Like Rain thought for a few seconds then answered.
"Correct!" Mr. Yu said.
The audience then cheered and applauded again.
"Seems our players are very excellent. Save the best for last? Or someone has to stop after the next question?" Mr. Yu turned to Dispirited.
"Hey! Did you mean that after this question, my score would be -10?" Dispirited thought and then rolled her eyes at Fatty Yu. "Even if it would be -10, I still have a chance in the next round!"
"Ha, ha... the reason why I said that is because," Fatty Yu raised the next card, "the 12th question is another special question."
The exciting, boisterous noises came from the audience again.
"Here's your question," Mr. Yu looked at the card and muttered, "please list the name of three players, who were awarded Ballon d'Or (1) in the 20th century. You don't need to provide their full names, but their nationalities must be different. Countdown begins!"
Dispirited bit her lips as she was confused.
"This question is related to sports. Perhaps it would be very easy to male players. Personally, I think if Player Number One or Number Two got this question, it would be like giving them 20 points for free. Too bad that our female player had gotten this question." After Mr. Yu was done with his comment, he casually reminded, "30 seconds left."
"Beckenbauer, Platini." Dispirited eventually came up with two names.
"Well, they are… correct." Mr. Yu said, "Very thoughtful. Player Number Four has given us two names. They were not only the best players, but they also became presidents later."
"Ronaldo!" Dispirited seemed to suddenly remember this name.
"Player Number Four, may I ask, why do you think that a Brazilian could achieve Ballon d'Or, which specified for European football players?" Mr. Yu asked with a smiley face.
"What? Is he a Brazilian?" Dispirited pushed back the question.
"Ouch, why did you list his name when you don't know him?" asked Mr. Yu.
"Because I've had an impression that many good players go by that name, so I thought… Perhaps one of them would be rewarded that Ballon d'Or something…" Dispirited answered.
"Yeah," Mr. Yu said, "no matter what, that answer is… correct!"
Rising along with the audience's applause was Dispirited's score, which was 20 now.
"Excellent. Ladies and gentlemen, together with our audience whom I can't tell the genders," Mr. Yu said with a stirring voice, "as we reach this stage in the first round, we have four questions left. Now, let's check the results of our four players!"
"Player Number One has run far ahead of the others with 40 points. Player Number Two got 10 points, and he still looks very nervous. The cold-faced Player Number Three also has 10 points. And, the last player, Player Number Four, she's lucky enough to score 20 with the special question." The screen swept through them, one after another along with Mr. Yu's description.
"Then, if nothing unexpected happens, the player who will enter the Arena would be among Player Number 2, 3 and 4." Mr. Yu then tried to stir up the atmosphere as he pitched up his tone. "Now, please hold your breath and concentrate your mind, we are heading to the last four questions of the first round!"
He eyed Feng Bu Jue while holding the card in his hand. "Your question this time," he paused on purpose, "… isn't a special question."
"You mean, even if I gave a wrong answer, I would still be safe?" said Feng Bu Jue.
"True. By the way, I need to say that, the top player of each round will receive a mysterious advantage." Mr. Yu gestured '1 (一)' with the hand holding the card, and the way he spoke was really suggestive.
"Advantage, huh..." Feng Bu Jue seemed to have something in his mind. "Well, just ask then."
"Please listen to your question," Mr. Yu said, "your question is… 'And the will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor? For God is but a great will pervading all things by nature of its intentness. Man doth not yield himself to the angels, nor unto death utterly, save only through the weakness of his feeble will'." He paused right there, waited for seconds then spoke up again, "Who wrote this paragraph? Your time begins!"
"Hmm… Worth the last lap. This question is indeed insidious." Feng Bu Jue beamed a cold smile. From his complexion, it seemed that he already had his calculation. "The epigraph of 'Ligeia' has cited this paragraph by Joseph Glanvill to match with the central ideal of the whole text."
"So, your answer is Joseph—" Mr. Yu just opened his mouth and Feng Bu Jue had interrupted him. "However!" he pointed at Fatty Yu, "however, the author of Ligeia is Allan Poe, such incredulous drunk can't be trusted." He smiled. "Glanvill is a famous person who espouses the theory of monotheism, and Poe liked him because of that. In fact, Poe wrote that paragraph, made up some more words, put a dash (-) there and wrote Glanvill's name, so as people would think that he has cited the work of art from an ancestor. In fact, this is Poe's."
Mr. Yu said, "so, your answer is?"
"No doubt. Allan Poe," said Feng Bu Jue.
"Absolutely correct!" Mr. Yu swung his arm and burned the card. The audience burst out with cheering and applause.
"Sigh," Mr. Yu said, "player Number 1 has the correct answers to all four questions of the first round. Among them is a special question though. With his current scores of 50, it's enough for him to be the winner." He raked his eyes towards Little Tan over there. "So, how is the destiny of Player Number Two?"
Little Tan was already covered with cold sweat. He tried to make a dry laugh. "Ah, ha, ha… I'm ready to enter that Arena."
"Really? Ho, ho, ho" Mr. Yu laughed. "Anyway, the questions of the last round are all difficult. Thus, please focus on your question!" He read the content from the card. "We all know that there's a fictional character called Kick-Ass. When he doesn't wear the superhero suit, he's a student. What is the name of this student?" Mr. Yu lowered the card then looked at Little Tan. "Time for your answer begins!"
Little Tan felt dizzy after having listened to the question. He was the kind of man who couldn't hide his emotions, which would immediately be worn on his face—obviously, he didn't know the answer.
"Hmm..." Little Tan had watched this series before, and even more than once. However, he couldn't remember the name of the protagonist.
"30 seconds left," Mr. Yu reminded him while mocking with the audience. "Ah, I can see that Player Number One knows the answer. Unfortunately, this question is not for him."
The ticking sound echoed nonstop, but Little Tan had no clue at all.
"15 seconds left," Mr. Yu gave him the message again.
"Alright, I don't know." Little Tan couldn't stand this tensing atmosphere anymore, as he declared that he had given up before his time ran out.
The audience gave him a big boo.
"Unfortunately, the score of Player Number Two went down to zero once again. Currently, he has the lowest score here." After Mr. Yu had said that, he immediately walked to Like Rain's control panel. "Player Number Three, if you can answer the next question, you will be safe. If only Player Number Four won't meet another special question, even if she gives a wrong answer, the result won't change. It could be said that the question number 15 will decide the result of the first round."
"Oh," Like Rain's reaction wasn't much different from that of the previous turn.
The corners of Mr. Yu's mouth convulsed. Even though he had talked a lot, the other had still remained unmoved. He could only grab the card and read the question. "Okay. In legends, among the 10 Yama Kings of the Ten Courts of Hell, which Yama Kings are in charge of the second, the fifth and the 10th courts? Count down—"
Before the other could finish his talk, Like Rain had delivered her answered. "King Chujiang, King Yanluo and King Zhuanlun."
Mr. Yu burned the card. "Correct!"
Applause echoed from the audience again. At the same time, the cameraman was evil enough to focus the position of Player Number Two: he caught Little Tan's bitter face.
Mr. Yu returned to his position, the center of the stage, faced Dispirited while holding the last card in his hand, and said, "Question number 16…" He had paused purposely for 10 seconds, "… It is…" It seemed that he had to pause after spitting out every two words, "It is a special question!"
The boiling audience quieted down instantly.
"At this moment, Player Number Four, Dispirited Laughing Bone has 20 points," Mr. Yu said, "If she gives a wrong answer for this question, her score will decline directly to zero." His tone was really melodious. "Save your anxiety to the very last moment."
"Uh, hey Fatty, if he and I both got 0 point, who will enter the Arena?" Dispirited suddenly asked.
"Argh, fatty..." Mr. Yu's face was glum. "Alright, seems she's talking to me though."
He couldn't deny the fact that in the middle of the stage, besides him, there was only one ghost cameraman. And if we put that poor guy on the weigher, he would roughly weigh 21 grams.
"Ahem… If such situation happens, where there are two players ranked top, there should be another extra question to determine the result." Mr. Yu cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. "And if there appears a situation where there are two people ranked the lowest, both of them will enter the Arena."
"Huh?" Dispirited smiled cunningly. "Ah, I give up this question."
The audience boiled up again while Mr. Yu remained silent with a smile on his face.
Feng Bu Jue looked at Dispirited and gave her a thumbs up. One, he would like to compliment her wise strategy; two, he wanted to praise her courage and loyalty.
Little Tan was so touched that he almost cried. No matter what that Arena was, as long as he had company, he would feel much better.
"Well, you've given it up even before you know the question; seems I don't need to confirm your decision though." Mr. Yu beamed a meaningful smile. "So, you two, please come to the Arena!"
After he had finished speaking, the seats of Little Tan and Dispirited spun and sank downwards. After they had reached the dark space under the stage, another invisible force then sucked them out of their chair, put them into two other slides and then they started to slide very fast forward.
The big screen on the stage also changed. A vast desert appeared on the screen. Not long after that, Little Tan descended from the sky and landed on all four. Seconds later, Dispirited also plunged down, stepped on Little Tan's abdomen before falling down safely on the ground.
"Who will be the first executioner in the Arena today?" Mr. Yu said, "Although our four players today are not high-graded existence, no matter which grade an existence is, nothing can compare to them when struggling on the edge of death." He used a high-pitched tone to manipulate the audience's emotion. "Well, 'who' or 'what' will take this bloody responsibility playing one on two?" He came closer to the camera while the background music in the stage suddenly became rushing and tensed up strangely.
All of a sudden, Mr. Yu's face changed as he started to read with a fast pace. "Audiences who are watching our show, please pay attention. At this time, you can still send us a text message or access our website to guess the grand champion of today's show. You will have a chance to receive a Perfect Gift from The Box of Fear, equivalent to 1000 Ghost Coins. Win the prize! Watch us on Deadly Jeopardy! Thanks for subscribing!"
"Hey! Such critical moment, why do you still have the mood to do advertising!" Feng Bu Jue screamed.
"Ha, ha… Seems our Player Number One is a little bit anxious," Mr. Yu said, "anyway, before I announce the first executioner of the Arena today, let's hear what our three distinguished guests have to say about the performance of our players in this round. Perhaps they would give us some of their expectations towards the first executioner too."
The screen switched to Superbia again. She arrogantly looked at Fatty Yu from a distance and spoke up, "If I give you a comment, will you kill yourself in the corner or something like that?"
"Why do you need to give such a request… You disdain me to this level…" Mr. Yu wiped his sweat. "Ouch, I'm afraid not."
"Harrumph." Then Superbia kept her mouth shut.
Next, the screen shifted to Hephaestus. It seemed that the cameraman had figured it out that he better let that Pestilence, the guy who was more reliable than the other two, speak the last.
"Will the executioner be a Cyclops?" Hephaestus's comment was still deceptive as before.
"If it were true, I would kill myself in some corner!" Fatty Yu shouted.
Finally, the camera moved to Pestilence. He slowly opened his mouth and talked to Mr. Yu, "Basically, their performances can show their expertise in the previous round. Especially Player Number One, who seems to be all-round. About the executioner, nothing to be guessed or not to be guessed… Cough, cough, cough. I'm a knight; naturally, I know what is in that desert. So… you should announce it, Mr. Host."