บท 119: I'm cautious now
(Arthur POV)
My team and I swiftly handled negotiations with international film distributors - days flew by in a blur. Meanwhile, the news about the sudden "Mana Drought" from a few days ago remained the hot topic.
Of course, being the actual culprit behind that "Mana Drought", I felt a pang of guilt towards my employees and the people of the New District.
I couldn't help but overhear my crew discussing it loudly.
"I really don't know what happened. One moment, I'm working, then suddenly... I felt my mana sucked dry for some reason and then I fell into a slumber."
"Me too... I can feel my magic was sucked dry... Remembering it is terrifying!"
Another chimed in, "Did you guys read the news?"
A demoness nodded, "Yeah... They're saying the world is about to experience a 'Mana Crisis'. It's been a long-term problem, but I never thought much of it. What happened a few days ago changed my perspective. Maybe that so-called 'Mana Crisis' is more serious than we thought."
I shook my head and approached them, feigning ignorance. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Ah, boss!" they turned to me and nodded.
Lilith explained, "We're talking about what happened a few days ago, boss. When we strangely fell asleep without any explanation."
I nodded, putting on a confused expression to avoid suspicion. "Yeah, it was a strange phenomenon. I remember being in my office when my cat and I suddenly succumbed to sleep."
Klein added, "There's news that wizard scientists are saying the world is lacking mana to sustain itself - so it forcefully borrowed magical mana from the people of this district."
Hearing that theory almost made me break character, but I was genuinely amused and curious about the theories people in this world were concocting. They simply had no idea that the ring on my finger was responsible for the incident a few days ago.
As I listened to their speculations, I couldn't help but marvel at the imagination of this world's inhabitants. If only they knew the truth behind the "Mana Drought", but that was a secret I'd have to keep to myself.
"So the world is sentient enough to forcefully suck magic mana from people?" I voiced my thoughts, playing along with their theories.
Klein and the others nodded. "That's what those experts said."
"If the world is really conscious enough, it's probably thinking of reducing people on the world so that the mana will be balanced," I mused, curious to see their reactions.
"Yeah, the experts say that the world will end in about 100 years if it continues to lose mana," another chimed in.
"End of the world? Heh, that was news a hundred years ago, but we're still alive," someone snorted skeptically.
Indeed, there had been news a hundred years ago that the world would end if it continued to lose mana. I stroked my chin, listening intently to their conversation.
"But this time, it's different. I also thought that news claiming the world will end due to 'Mana Crisis' was bullshit. But now I understand, there's some truth to it - after all, we just experienced how bad the world is lacking mana a few days ago," the demon added. "The dragons in the Eden continent are growing extinct because of mana problems-"
"Alright, you guys get back to work. You'll have enough time to discuss this later," I interrupted, knowing it would likely turn into a debate soon.
"O-okay, boss!" They saluted and scurried back to their workstations.
I shook my head with a sigh. Glancing at the newspapers on their desks, I had a feeling that the events from a few days ago would remain hot news for a while. After all, the media would milk this mysterious and controversial story, knowing people would continue to buy such news.
This whole situation gave me a deeper understanding of the ring on my hand and reinforced the need to be extremely careful in using it. The consequences of its power were far-reaching, and I couldn't afford another slip-up like the Mana Drought incident.
I decided to stick to the basic functions of the ring. Its more powerful modes would only be used when absolutely necessary. After all, the "Abyssal Mode", just the second most powerful mode, had already caused catastrophic effects.
I shuddered to think about the "Nightmare Mode", the ring's most potent setting. If "Abyssal Mode" could affect an entire district, it's possible that "Nightmare Mode" could impact the whole city.
And that's with the ring at just level 3.
At level 4, could it affect half of the Horn Kingdom? Or maybe even the entire kingdom, given that Horn is comparatively small compared to Morningstar?
I glanced at the ring on my finger. It looked like an ordinary gold band, belying its immense power.
Shifting my focus from the ring, I turned my attention to upcoming projects. I was eager to start on my second film to gain that {Creator's Realms} ability.
Besides the film project, I'd been working on a new venture for weeks. I'd been laying the groundwork to distribute the manga "Dragon Ball" in the Horn Kingdom, as well as Morningstar, Choson, and Japon.
'Manga' already existed in Japon, but it was only gaining traction there. Japon manga were essentially copies of 'Comics' from Empirica, which had been gaining popularity in Empirica and some parts of the world.
I was confident readers wouldn't be too confused by "Dragon Ball". This world already had the concept of 'comics' and 'manga', even if they weren't wildly popular yet.
While these mediums weren't mainstream, I believed the story of "Dragon Ball" would stand out. Its unique blend of action, humor, and adventure could potentially revolutionize the manga industry in this world, just as it had in my previous life.
I'm also betting on this world to make "Dragon Ball" popular. After all, I'm thinking of visiting the Dragon Ball world through {Creator's Realms}.
If "Dragon Ball" isn't successful, I won't be able to visit its world. I can only visit the worlds of fictions that become hugely successful in reality.
I'm also considering creating "Naruto", so I could visit that world and learn basic jutsu, like the cloning technique.
With the cloning technique, I'd be able to produce manga faster. My clones could help with the drawing process of the manga I'm planning to create.
***
(3rd Person POV)
While news of the "Magical Mana Drought" gained traction worldwide, stirring worry about the future, media outlets didn't forget about Arthur's fourth film, a martial arts epic.
As soon as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was advertised simultaneously across Horn, Morningstar, Choson, Japon, and other nations, it immediately captured media attention.
Unlike Arthur's previous three successful films, this new one would be screened simultaneously in many nations. This wider distribution piqued people's curiosity about the martial arts film.
Headlines across various kingdoms read:
"Arthur Morningstar's New Martial Arts Epic: A Global Release!"
"Morningstar's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' Set to Premiere Worldwide"
"Can Arthur's Martial Arts Film Conquer the Global Box Office?"
The simultaneous release strategy was a hot topic among film critics and industry insiders. Some praised it as a bold move, while others questioned whether a martial arts film could resonate with such a diverse global audience.
As the release date approached, anticipation built. Would Arthur Morningstar's winning streak continue? Or would this foray into martial arts and global distribution prove to be his first misstep? The world waited eagerly to find out.
People were genuinely curious about Arthur's martial arts film, especially in Anatolia where such films still held a special place in their hearts.
News of Arthur's new film, along with the usual mix of negative press, celebrity gossip, business news, and entertainment industry controversies, seemed to bring a sense of relief to many.
If it was before, people might have grown tired of such news. But this time was different. They actually preferred hearing about celebrities and entertainment industry drama over the more ominous news about the "Mana Crisis", "The end of the world", or "Prophecies of Renowned Seers from Bharat Kingdom".
These doomsday headlines were spreading fear across the globe. In contrast, entertainment news offered a welcome distraction, a breath of fresh air in an increasingly anxious world.
Meanwhile, James Blaze's first concert was set to take place in about a week, and his fans were buzzing with excitement to see him perform live.
The concert venue itself was a departure from the norm. Instead of the usual theatre setting favored by other artists, James' performance was scheduled to take place in Horn Park - a public area where fans would watch the concert standing up.
This unconventional approach aligned perfectly with James' fresh, innovative sound. It was new and refreshing, much like his music. However, it also drew criticism from media outlets and some members of the public.
Headlines reflected this mix of excitement and skepticism:
"Standing Room Only: Is James Blaze's Outdoor Concert a Hit or Miss?"
"Music Critics Question Safety of James Blaze's Public Park Venue"
Despite the criticism, many fans saw the unique venue as just another reason to love James Blaze. His willingness to break from tradition only added to his appeal, making the upcoming concert an even more anticipated event.
บท 120: F*CK this world!
(James Blaze POV)
My concert's about to kick off in a few days. I'm fucking excited. It'll be my first time having a real concert.
I've been losing sleep thinking about it - practicing the songs with the band non-stop.
The guys are just as pumped as I am about this gig.
Vio, this imp demon who's our drummer, is particularly stoked about the concert.
During practice, Vio got a little too enthusiastic with the drums, making some slight mistakes.
"Hey, the tempo isn't right. Let's try that again," Jason, our bassist, called out to Vio.
"Sorry, sorry. I got a little excited," Vio said, scratching the back of his head apologetically.
Lucio, our rhythm guitarist, chimed in, "We get how you feel, Vio. We're all psyched to be in James' concert, but we can't keep messing up!"
Vio kept apologizing with that shy smile of his.
"It's not just my concert, guys," I cut in, hearing Lucio say 'James' concert'. I flashed a devilish grin, "It's our concert!"
Vio and the others looked surprised, then smiled genuinely. "You're right," they agreed, nodding.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with Vio's performance - I think we should be more like him," I suddenly said, confusing everyone.
I clarified, "It's not that Vio's out of tempo - I think we're just not matching his tempo."
They still looked confused, including Vio.
So I laid it out, "I think we should match his energy. We should perform like him! Excited and full of energy! After all, as boss Arthur said, we're introducing 'Grunge'. It's supposed to be a style that's just about being true to ourselves."
I could see understanding dawning on their faces.
"When we perform and face the crowd - we'll just be ourselves. Lose ourselves. No need to be so careful - I think it'll limit what we can potentially do," I said, grabbing my guitar again. "Let's do it again. Just don't worry about that bullshit tempo! We just let ourselves out!"
Vio, Jason, and Lucio exchanged glances, then with a smile, began playing their hearts out.
As the raw, unpolished sound filled the room, I felt a rush of excitement. This was it. This was the sound of grunge, the sound of rebellion, the sound of us. Boss Arthur was right - this was going to change everything.
***
A few days later - it was finally time for my concert.
The public park looked nothing like its usual self. A massive stage dominated the area, with a huge space in front for the crowd. Big speakers flanked the setup. It was surreal.
Excitement crawled from my feet to my head. I could see curious onlookers already bustling just outside the 'concert venue'.
Even people without tickets would be able to catch my performance. I didn't mind, but I wondered where boss Arthur got this kind of concert setup.
An hour later, I peeked out from backstage. The ticketed area was filling up fast. The place erupted in noise as the big speakers kicked in. For some reason, this setup felt right.
"James! James!"
"Blaze! Blaze!"
I stood up, looking at my band as the crowd started chanting my name.
Vio, Jason, and Lucio grinned at me, pushing me towards the stage.
What greeted us was a fucking sea of people.
My blood ran hot at the sight of the crowd below, their hands waving at us.
Gripping the mic stand, instead of spewing any bullshit, I shouted back, "Yeah!!!"
The crowd roared in response.
"Woo!"
I grinned wider. "I can't hear you!"
"WOO!!!"
Without waiting for the band's cue, I strummed my guitar and started playing.
The crowd went wild.
Vio, Jason, and Lucio didn't need any signal. They just matched my energy, falling into sync with my playing.
I didn't even tell the band which song we'd play, but I knew they'd pick up on it from the opening melody alone.
As the music filled the air and the crowd's energy surged, I felt alive in a way I never had before. This was it. This was what we'd been working towards.
"Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend," I began, the band perfectly matching my energy.
"She's over-bored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word."
As we played, I launched into, "Hello, hello, hello, how low."
To my surprise, the crowd sang the follow-up, matching my performance, "Hello, hello, hello, how low."
A chill ran down my spine. I exchanged glances with my bandmates, all of us equally thrilled by what we were seeing and hearing.
The crowd kept going as I sang, "Hello, hello, hello, how low."
***
(3rd Person POV)
Just outside the "concert venue," onlookers watched James' concert from a distance with curiosity. From the moment James stepped onto the stage, they were skeptical about how an outdoor concert would turn out, but what followed was completely unexpected.
James didn't spew any clichéd lines about "thanking the fans for showing up" like other artists might. He just exclaimed with a "yeah!" and even demanded the crowd cheer more.
Then, without warning, he launched into his performance.
It was refreshing to see something so spontaneous.
At first, some onlookers doubted if the band behind James could keep up, but they seemed to handle themselves well, matching James' energy perfectly.
When James began to sing and perform with unbridled energy, even the onlookers found themselves affected by his raw presence. His performance was unpolished, energetic, without any of the pretense they'd seen from other artists before.
A collective chill ran through the crowd when they witnessed the audience singing along with James. It was clear that something incredible was happening – a connection between artist and audience that transcended the usual performer-spectator dynamic.
Even those who had been skeptical at first found themselves drawn in by the raw authenticity of James' performance.
For those in the eye of the storm, right in front of the stage, the experience was fucking incredible.
As James Blaze fans, they got chills singing along with him. It felt surreal.
They were shocked that so many had memorized James' lyrics, especially since he was just an up-and-coming artist who'd emerged a few weeks ago. Yet here he was, already bringing so much to the table.
Many had been skeptical about this outdoor concert, even feeling disappointed, thinking James couldn't afford to rent a theatre. But now? They were living their lives to the fullest.
Despite being outdoors with onlookers in the distance, they let loose. James and his bandmates' performance affected them deeply.
It was as if they were feeling the thrill of life for the first time.
As if they were finally rebelling against the cruel world. They were rebelling!
Expressing it all through the music!
When James ended the song with, "A mulatto, an albino. A mosquito, my libido. A denial," the fans went wild.
James smiled devilishly. "Yes! Just let it out!"
"Woo!"
"Fuck!"
"This concert is fucking amazing!"
The crowd didn't give a shit anymore. For once in their lives, they were being honest.
James grinned, making a hand gesture with his fingers spread and his thumb tucked in, copying his boss Arthur. He shouted, "Yes! Fuck this hypocrite world! We are not puppets! We are living, breathing people!"
"WOOO!!!"
"James! James!"
The air crackled with energy. This wasn't just a concert anymore - it was a fucking revolution. The music, the crowd, James' raw energy - it all came together in a perfect storm of rebellion and authenticity.
For many in the crowd, this moment would be etched in their memories forever. The day they stopped pretending, the day they embraced their true selves, the day James Blaze showed them it was okay to be real, to be angry, to be alive.
As the next song started, the crowd knew: nothing would ever be the same again.
***
***
***
(Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana)
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NewComer714
NewComer714
Some readers think I’m begging for stones in the last notice—and honestly, I am. I don’t think aiming for two chapters per day at a certain rank is asking much. Plus, I’m replying to readers who keep misunderstanding my ranking. I hate having to explain it every damn time, so I had to put up a notice to fucking clarify things.
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