บท 115: Sensation
(3rd Person POV)
Just hours after James played "Lake of Fire" on Horn Coast 69.9 FM, music stores saw an influx of curious customers.
An old demon casually strolled into a store and approached the cashier. "Hey, do you sell James Blaze's single here?"
The imp demon cashier looked puzzled. It was the first he'd heard of it. "Um... What record label is he under?"
The old demon paused, trying to recall. "He's under Hellfire Records, I think."
Recognition dawned on the cashier's face. "Ah!" He pointed to a less-frequented section. "You can look for his song over there."
The old demon nodded, found the single "Lake of Fire," and made his purchase.
Minutes later, another demon entered with the same query. "Do you have James Blaze's song here?"
The cashier nodded and directed them to the right section.
As hours passed, the cashier noticed a pattern. More and more people were asking about this James Blaze.
"Who is this James Blaze?" the cashier wondered to himself.
The next day brought another wave of customers seeking James' music.
Two days later, the cashier's curiosity got the better of him. "Who is this James Blaze? I've been hearing so much about him recently."
A group of demon teenagers chuckled. "Hehe, you don't know?"
"He's the guy we heard on the radio!"
"Yeah! His song is so good!"
Intrigued, the cashier pressed further. "Where did you guys hear about him?"
"We heard him on the radio," a monkey demon teenager explained. "I heard him on 69.9 FM."
"Really?" another chimed in. "I heard him on 66.6 FM."
"I heard him on 42.0 FM."
Watching the teenagers excitedly discuss James Blaze, the cashier made a mental note to tune into a radio soon. He'd been stuck listening to music on his phonograph, but it seemed there were interesting developments happening on the airwaves.
In music stores across the city, James Blaze's single was flying off the shelves. Word of mouth spread like wildfire, and within days, thousands had heard of "Lake of Fire."
James' unique sound stood out in a sea of similar-sounding songs. In just a few days since his debut, he'd already amassed thousands of fans, thanks to his radio appearances and hundreds of enthusiastic listeners spreading the word.
The impact of James' music was felt even in unexpected places. In a upscale restaurant, patrons looked up in confusion as the owner switched out the usual vinyl on the phonograph.
As the new record began to play, the elegant, calming background music was replaced by something entirely different. While not as polished or soothing as the usual fare, it was undeniably refreshing.
A gentleman at one of the tables caught the waiter's attention. "What song is this?"
"It's a new song called 'Lake of Fire' by James Blaze," the waiter replied.
"James Blaze?" the gentleman mused. "First time I've heard of him. I'll have to look into his music."
His fancy girlfriend, however, wrinkled her nose. "You like that? It sounds so weird and... unpolished. I don't care for it at all."
The gentleman tried to explain, "What's wrong with it, sweetheart? It's refreshing."
"Oh, so you prefer this unpolished nonsense to our love song?" His girlfriend pouted.
Backpedaling quickly, the gentleman chuckled nervously, "It's not that, sweetheart. I love our song, it's heartwarming. This is just... new and different."
Seeing his girlfriend's continued displeasure, the gentleman hastily claimed he didn't like the song after all.
This scene played out in various forms across the city. Many who heard James' music fell in love with it instantly, drawn to its raw energy and uniqueness. Others, however, recoiled from what they perceived as a lack of polish and effort.
But love it or hate it, people couldn't stop talking about it. The controversy only fueled sales, cementing James Blaze as a rising star in the music world.
Newspapers and magazines quickly caught on to the buzz surrounding James Blaze's first song, with some media outlets featuring it on their front pages, largely due to James being signed to Hellfire Records - a company owned by the infamous ex-prince.
Headlines blazed across newsstands:
"Ex-Prince's Protégé Takes Horn Kingdom by Storm: James Blaze's Debut Single Skyrockets to Fame!"
"Raw Genius or Bold Gamble? Arthur Morningstar's Artist James Blaze Divides the Music Scene with an Unpolished Smash Hit!"
"Experts Debate: Is Arthur Morningstar Ushering in a New Genre with James Blaze's Groundbreaking Sound?"
"From Film to Music: Can Arthur Morningstar Transform the Industry as He Did with Cinema?"
These headlines only fanned the flames of James Blaze's growing popularity.
"Who is this James Blaze?"
"Maybe I should give his song a listen."
"An unpolished and raw song? Now that's something I've got to hear."
What started as thousands of curious listeners quickly grew to tens of thousands.
Now tens of thousands were curious about James Blaze.
Many more heard his song.
Gradually, James was establishing himself, and thousands of people - whether demons, elves, or dwarves - became his fans.
About a week after James' debut, most people in the Horn Kingdom had somehow heard of him.
Although the media outlets helped, and their controversy fanned the flames, it was the unpolished and raw nature of the song that attracted many people and further spread James' name.
A few days later, James attended a music festival. To James and Leo's surprise, a large crowd gathered in James' area.
"Oh, James! So that's how you look in person!"
"Can I have an autograph on your single, please?"
More and more people were shouting at James.
James felt incredulous. He waved at his fans and said into his mic, "Thanks for the support!"
Someone shouted, "James, will you release more songs?"
James smiled, "In fact, I'll perform my unreleased songs here."
The crowd cheered in excitement, "Hell yeah!"
"That's what I'm talking about!"
James, with his guitar in hand, began performing songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Something in the Way", "Creep", and "The Man Who Sold the World".
Initially, only dozens of people surrounded James and his band. Soon, the crowd swelled to hundreds.
The audience was captivated by the songs - unpolished, raw, and energetic. They weren't used to such music, having grown up listening to jazz. Yet, they couldn't stop listening to James' singing.
After James ended his performance, fans clamored for autographs, their excitement palpable.
Leo seized the moment, whispering to James, "Quickly, promote the songs you just sang."
James nodded and spoke into the mic, "Guys, the songs I've just performed are available for sale. You can buy them at our booth here."
The crowd's attention shifted to the Hellfire Records merchandise stall nearby. Within minutes, fans swarmed the booth, quickly depleting the stock of James' singles.
Hours later, at Hellfire HQ, Arthur observed James' growing fan base. He instructed Leo to set up a concert for James, striking while the iron was hot.
James' fame was on the rise - he was new to the industry, a fresh face with refreshing songs. Arthur knew they had to capitalize on this momentum. If they didn't organize a concert soon, it would be harder to promote James later, especially once people started copying his style.
Plans were made for a concert in two weeks. They partnered with media outlets and radio stations to promote ticket sales.
Simultaneously, Arthur negotiated agreements with record labels in other kingdoms, including Morningstar, Choson, Japon, and countries in South East Anatolia.
The new sound also caught the attention of several record labels from Empirica, some of which had branches in the Horn Kingdom. These established companies, known for their keen ear for emerging talents, were intrigued by James' unique style.
As word spread and deals were struck, it became clear that James Blaze's name would soon reach far beyond the borders of the Horn Kingdom.
From the bustling cities of Empirica to the distant shores of other realms, more and more people around the world would soon be introduced to the raw, energetic sound of James Blaze.
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บท 116: Devourer Ring and it's very effective
(Arthur POV)
Watching James Blaze gradually rise to success, I felt a surge of happiness - not just for him, but for myself as well. I'd finally completed the mission of making James a rising star, and the system rewarded me with something extraordinary:
[Devourer Ring (One of the Ancient Rings): This ancient artifact allows the host to store vast amounts of magic mana within it, serving as a reservoir for personal power. The ring also has the ability to devour incoming powerful magic or energy attacks, absorbing and neutralizing them. Stored magic can be channeled back to enhance your spells, offering amplified spellcasting by adjusting the ring's magic output mode.]
[Level 1: The ring can hold up to 50,000 magic mana and can devour intermediate-level magic spells and energy attacks.]
[You may level up this ancient artifact using Entertainment Points!]
Excited, I quickly pulled the ring from the system storage. It was a golden band, exuding power and mystery. I slipped it onto my finger, expecting some dramatic change, but felt nothing out of the ordinary.
I sighed, "Maybe I should level up this ring," I muttered, admiring how cool it looked on my hand.
As I examined it closer, I noticed ancient runes embedded in the metal. They quickly faded, becoming transparent, and suddenly information about the ring flooded my mind.
I learned about the ring's four modes, the first being "Bloodthirst Mode". Despite its ominous name, it was actually the weakest.
This mode allowed the ring to absorb magical or energy attacks - its basic function. It could consume spells from a limited range and feed on their mana. At its current level, the ring could absorb up to 10,000 mana from a single attack, storing it for later use.
The first mode could enhance my magical spells, turning even a basic fire spell into a formidable attack.
"Wrath Mode," the second setting, boosted magical output. When activated, it increased spell power by 20 percent, consuming 5,000 mana with each cast. This mode packed more punch than the first.
The third, "Abyssal Mode," could autonomously gather mana from the surroundings, potentially even during combat. Despite its usefulness, I hesitated to use it. The risk of attracting attention from powerful figures who might detect the ring's energy seemed too great. This mode also offered an even more potent magical boost, though at considerable risk.
"Nightmare Mode," the fourth setting, was both the most powerful and the most dangerous. It would create a defensive barrier around me, absorbing any incoming attacks. Then, it could unleash devastating magical assaults using all the stored magical power. A last-resort option, no doubt.
I examined the ring, noting how I could switch between modes. For now, I'd have to adjust them manually. But with further upgrades, I'd be able to switch modes with a mere thought.
At level 1, the ring wasn't reaching its full potential. I decided to invest some entertainment points to upgrade it. The cost? A steep 1 million points to reach level 2.
I gritted my teeth. It felt like a pay-to-win scheme, but the potential benefits outweighed the cost. I made the investment.
At level 2, the ring's capacity doubled, now able to store 100,000 units of magical mana.
It was incredible. For perspective, my own magical mana capacity was about 10,000 - already impressive, thanks to my recent level up and the boost from my Primal Morningstar bloodline ability. As I trained this ability to transform, my body and mana reserves had been steadily increasing.
I pushed further, upgrading the ring to level 3 for five million points. Now it could store a staggering 1 million magical mana.
The potential upgrades didn't stop there. Level 4 would allow 10 million storage, level 5 a whopping 50 million for 100 million points. But level 6, the max level, was something else entirely.
At level 6, the ring could store unlimited mana, continuously feeding on energy. All four modes would merge, allowing the ring to consciously adjust to any situation. Impressive, yes, but the price? Astronomical. 1 billion entertainment points!
You've got to be kidding. It might take years to accumulate that many points.
I wondered what I'd even do with the current 1 million capacity. Filling it seemed a distant goal.
Yet, I couldn't help but ponder the catastrophic potential of such a ring. Unlimited magical mana storage? The possibilities seemed endless, and frankly, a bit terrifying.
Curiosity got the better of me. I decided to test the ring, channeling my full 10,000 mana into it.
To my shock, the ring devoured my entire magical reserve in an instant. I couldn't even react fast enough to stop it.
Dizziness washed over me. "Damn it. This ring is a glutton," I muttered, feeling utterly drained.
I hadn't expected it to consume my mana so quickly. As I sat there, exhausted, I realized I might have underestimated the power - and the danger - of this ancient artifact.
With a thought, I switched the ring to "Abyssal Mode". Instantly, an unsettling quiet fell over my office. It was as if the ring had absorbed even sound itself, creating an eerie, unnatural peace.
My devil cat, usually so composed, suddenly bristled. Its hair stood on end for a moment before it slumped to the floor, unnaturally still.
I gasped, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "This... This ring is absorbing all the magical mana in the office, even from my cat!"
***
(3rd Person POV)
Unbeknownst to Arthur, the ring's influence extended far beyond his office.
The entire Hellfire HQ seemed caught in the eye of an invisible storm. Employees went about their business, chatting and working as usual. The atmosphere felt oddly peaceful, yet no one seemed to notice anything amiss.
Then, without warning, fatigue swept through the building like a wave.
"Wha-what's happening? I suddenly feel tired," one employee mumbled.
"Me too," another nodded, struggling to keep their eyes open.
Lilith's voice drifted from her desk, "I feel sleepy. I think I might take a nap." Her head dropped onto her desk, and she was out cold.
Klein felt his eyelids growing heavy. He looked around, seeing his colleagues slumping over their desks one by one. Fighting against the overwhelming urge to sleep, he slapped his cheeks. "He-hey, guys. We are in... in the middle of work!" he shouted, but his voice came out weak and ineffectual.
More and more employees succumbed to the mysterious fatigue.
Klein swayed on his feet, fighting a losing battle against the encroaching darkness. Finally, he too collapsed to the ground, his snores joining the chorus of sleeping coworkers.
The ring's influence stretched far beyond Hellfire HQ, its absorption intensifying with each passing moment.
On the streets outside, passersby suddenly felt their strength ebbing away.
"Yawn. Weird, I just slept soundly earlier," a dwarf mumbled, scratching the back of his head in confusion.
A high school magic student, more attuned to the arcane, muttered, "Why do I feel like my mana's being absorbed?" Before he could ponder further, his eyes grew heavy, and he slumped to the ground.
The neighboring buildings weren't spared either.
"Hmm... It feels so good to sleep..." a demon boss murmured, slumping over his desk, drool pooling beneath his cheek.
The phenomenon spread rapidly across the entire district. Hundreds succumbed to sudden exhaustion, either falling asleep where they stood or struggling against an overwhelming fatigue.
Meanwhile, in the Hellfire HQ office, Arthur noticed the ring had mysteriously accumulated 1 million magical mana and ceased its absorption. It even returned his initial ten thousand mana, leaving him feeling better than before.
Oblivious to the chaos outside, Arthur left his office in high spirits, his sleeping cat cradled in his arms. He marveled at how his office alone could provide so much mana for the ring.
As he descended to the first floor, an eerie quiet settled over him. "Why does it feel so strangely silent?" he wondered, still unaware of the widespread effects of his magical experiment.
Little did Arthur know, his simple test of the ring had inadvertently plunged the entire district into an unnatural slumber, leaving him as perhaps the only conscious person for blocks around.
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