บท 168: The Rise
(3rd Person POV)
Hours after the first Horn Premiere League match, spectators were stunned to learn the game had been broadcast live on TV - a technological feat previously thought impossible.
This revelation sparked even greater interest in football. When tickets went on sale for the next day's match between Inferno United and Hell Knights at Hellfire Stadium, they sold out within ten hours.
Entire districts, where tens of thousands could afford the modest two to four dollar tickets, had rushed to secure seats. The next morning, hundreds arrived at the stadium only to find themselves turned away.
Those without tickets gathered outside, clustering around the small public televisions. The view wasn't ideal, but they refused to miss the match entirely.
Inside, the pre-game show featured the celebrated ballet duo from Hellfire Got Talent, rather than Nirvana or Queen. But the real drama unfolded when the match began.
Inferno United dominated from the start, leaving Hell Knights struggling to keep up. Their coach watched in growing dismay as his team's traditional playing style proved woefully inadequate against Arthur's modernized approach.
Hell Knights collected yellow cards as frustration led to rule violations. During a timeout, their star player admitted defeat: "Coach, we can't match them. Their ball control, their striking technique - they're on another level."
"We should have taken Arthur's new techniques seriously," the assistant coach, a demoness, sighed as she glanced at their head coach's embarrassed expression. Their team's humiliation played out before thousands.
The coach, who also owned the club, never imagined such a devastating outcome. His dismissal of Arthur's vision had led to this public disgrace.
Throughout the stands, disappointed murmurs spread:
"Is this all Hell Knights can do? They're terrible."
"What a letdown."
"Inferno United's got this in the bag."
By halftime, Inferno United led 4-0. The audience, both in stadium and watching at home, had expected another thrilling match like yesterday's Hellfire FC versus Horns FC battle. Only Arya Gold's halftime performance lifted their spirits.
The final score proved even more brutal: 8-0 to Inferno United. Hell Knights left the field amid a shower of boos and thrown popcorn, their heads bowed in shame.
Watching from his office television, Arthur shook his head. "That's the price of underestimating the new techniques."
***
The second match's aftermath only intensified interest in football. Fans eagerly sought tickets for upcoming games, despite the day's disappointment. They learned the next matches would wait until May 4th, when Demon's Fury would face Fiery Titans, followed by Shadow Wolves versus Dark Legion on May 5th.
These matches would move to a larger venue - a renowned sword fighting arena Arthur had rented. Unlike Hellfire Stadium, this venue could accommodate 50,000 spectators.
While awaiting the next matches, people across the kingdom discussed the sport with growing enthusiasm.
"I started learning to play - thought it'd be simple, but these new styles and rules make it incredibly challenging," a demon said, struggling with a vendor-bought ball.
"Never imagined just kicking a ball could be so difficult. Controlling it takes real skill," his friend added.
Another sighed, "Tried copying Karnox's dribbling from Hellfire FC. Way harder than it looks."
As days passed, people studied the football broadcasts they'd seen on Hellfire Channel, gradually familiarizing themselves with the sport's intricacies.
When May 4th arrived, both the Demon's Fury and Fiery Titans chairmen attended the match personally. They surveyed the packed stadium with a mixture of hope and anxiety, each silently willing their team to victory.
After the sword fighting arena's regular cheerleaders performed their routine, the match began in earnest.
Both teams showed signs of adapting to the new style - unsurprising since their owners had scrambled to learn Arthur's techniques after witnessing Hell Knights' humiliation six days earlier.
As both teams were still mastering these new methods, neither dominated the match. Though they played like novices, their evenly matched struggle captivated the audience.
The game remained unpredictable throughout - seemingly certain goals thwarted by last-second saves, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
The crowd split their support, half cheering for Demon's Fury, half backing Fiery Titans. Their competing chants filled the stadium.
Demon's Fury ultimately claimed a narrow victory, 3-2. As they celebrated amidst audience cheers, Fiery Titans showed true sportsmanship, congratulating their opponents while vowing to improve for their next meeting.
***
The following day's match saw Dark Legion triumph 4-3, leaving newly converted football fans eagerly awaiting the next round of games in six days.
Football's popularity surged, and while it hadn't yet reached the level of magic duels or magical swordsmanship, it had built a dedicated following thanks to the live TV broadcasts and Arthur's revolutionary rules and playing style.
The sport's growing appeal triggered unexpected commercial success.
At Hellscape Center, football merchandise flew off shelves.
Fans rushed to buy replica jerseys of their favorite players so far, along with the specialized football boots worn in matches. The new black and white checkered ball design, distinctly different from traditional footballs, became particularly sought after as the official Horn Premiere League ball.
***
Hellscape Center's dominance over Fantasia Plaza grew increasingly obvious, boosted by Nirvana and Queen's promotions and now football merchandise sales. This success drew scrutiny from Westfield Real Estate, Fantasia Plaza's owner.
Westfield's chairman demanded answers from Delvin about losing ground to a supposedly "inferior" shopping center.
Delvin nervously explained how Arthur's entertainment connections and marketing dominance through television, cinema, and popular artists gave Hellscape Center an edge.
Though logical, his explanation failed to satisfy the chairman. Westfield had invested heavily in matching Arthur's promotional tactics, even hiring celebrities and running advertisements on Hellfire Channel itself.
Determined to understand the disparity, Delvin visited Hellscape Center personally. The regular traffic seemed inexplicable - even with famous bands like Nirvana and Queen promoting it, the numbers shouldn't consistently exceed Fantasia Plaza's.
He surveyed the amenities: upscale restaurants, Pendragon fashion boutiques, competing brands, and the new football merchandise stores. Nothing seemed extraordinary.
Then he noticed a crowded section. People clustered around something, their excitement palpable.
"What is that?" Delvin asked a nearby dwarf, pointing at a strange screen with buttons where someone sat transfixed.
The dwarf turned, smiling knowingly. "First time here, eh? That's an arcade machine - lets you play games."
"Games..." Delvin repeated thoughtfully.
"Tetris is the most popular one," the dwarf explained. "Can't get people away from it."
Delvin stared at the "arcade machine," suddenly remembering Arthur's proposal months ago. Arthur had wanted to rent space in Fantasia Plaza for his "video game machines" - clearly these were what he'd meant.
Watching dozens of people crowd around the machines, their enthusiasm obvious, Delvin finally understood a key source of Hellscape Center's consistent traffic. These games drew people in and kept them coming back.
Regret settled heavily in his stomach. If he'd accepted Arthur's offer then, Fantasia Plaza might have shared in this success. Instead, his rejection had helped cement Hellscape Center's dominance.
Delvin tried the arcade machine himself, quickly becoming engrossed in Tetris. When his coins ran out, a fiend demon nudged him aside. "My turn."
Stepping back reluctantly, Delvin watched the demon play. He marveled at how such a simple concept - arranging falling blocks of different shapes - could be so captivating. What had seemed basic at first glance revealed its addictive charm only through playing.
He sighed heavily. Between Hellfire's famous artists and bands, the new football merchandise, and these arcade machines, Fantasia Plaza's decline made perfect sense.
Delvin also noticed the casino section of Fantasia Plaza hemorrhaging customers. Watching people cluster around these arcade machines, he realized many probably preferred spending their coins here instead of gambling - getting guaranteed entertainment for their money.
The difference was stark - instead of losing fortunes at card tables, visitors could enjoy themselves for hours on these machines.
"I beat Terry's high score!" A dwarf's jubilant shout drew everyone's attention, even pulling players away from their games momentarily.
Delvin watched the celebration with bewilderment, not quite understanding the significance but caught up in the infectious excitement.
***
In his Hellfire Headquarters office, Arthur reviewed reports from his newly acquired factories. His electronics manufacturing base now extended beyond Horn Kingdom into Japon, thanks to his alliance with the Akuma royal family's prince.
A satisfied smile crossed his face. Soon he would introduce the world to personal computers running Hellfire OS, followed by the 8-bit gaming console.
Patience remained crucial though. Such ambitious projects couldn't be rushed.
Meanwhile, Arthur reviewed the anime production progress. "Dragon Ball" was developing smoothly, while other series lagged behind.
The Hellfire Anime Studio had made the strategic decision to focus their resources on perfecting one series rather than dividing their attention. Their choice seemed wise - "Dragon Ball" was nearly ready for broadcast across Anatolia and Empirica.
The Middle East and Eden regions remained untapped markets, as television itself was just being introduced there. Hellfire Channel and other networks had yet to establish signal towers in those areas.
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