Apollonia inserted the small rectangle into the device beneath the screen. The television came alive with color, an haunting orchestral theme filling the room with its rich, melancholic notes.
Azazel leaned forward, fascinated by the screen. "Six years ago, moving pictures were still black-and-white. Now we have television and colored images... the world has advanced quickly."
Apollonia smiled knowingly but kept silent. If brother knew Arthur was behind these technological leaps, he'd be stunned. Newest update provided by NoveIＦire.net
As the film progressed, Azazel peppered them with questions, his siblings taking turns explaining the changes he'd missed.
When Arthur appeared as Michael Corleone, Azazel straightened. "That's Arthur? He's transformed completely. The quiet, meek boy who barely spoke to me..."
His attention remained fixed on the screen. He growled when Carlo beat Connie, then laughed in satisfaction at Sonny's revenge.
At Sonny's death scene, Azazel's power leaked out unconsciously, his aura suffocating the room. Lucy, Bobby, and Arnold stiffened, suddenly very aware of their elder brother's strength.
"My apologies," Azazel said, quickly reining in his power.
His siblings exhaled in relief.
Watching Arthur's transformation into the cold Michael Corleone, Azazel nodded approvingly. "He carries himself well here. Impressive."
During the revenge sequence at the Solarus Church, intercut with the family heads' executions, Azazel's eyes widened. "This... this is giving me chills."
The film's tension built as Michael orchestrated not only the deaths of the four family heads but Carlo's confession.
Azazel leaned forward in his seat as Michael delivered his cutting line: "Don't tell me you're innocent, because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry."
"He's right," Azazel murmured, watching intently as Carlo met his fate in the car. "Eliminating such a snake was Arthur's smartest move yet."
As the final scene played out - Michael accepting congratulations while Kay watched the door close before her - Azazel sat transfixed, thoroughly impressed by the film's masterful ending. It.
The credits began rolling before he'd even noticed the time passing. "That's it?" He rose from his seat, still caught in the story's grip.
"Almost three hours have passed, brother," Apollonia said, smiling at his absorption.
"Three hours?" Azazel's eyes widened as he checked the clock. "The film was... incredible. Maybe the Nether Realm dulled my standards, but I'm genuinely impressed. Arthur really created this?"
Apollonia nodded, pleased by her brother's reaction.
"Never thought he had such talent in him." Azazel shook his head, his feelings toward his exiled brother growing more complicated by the minute.
"If you enjoyed that," Bobby cut in, eager to shift attention from Arthur's success, "you should see my film, brother."
"Your film?" Azazel considered it, stroking his chin. "Why not? Show me what you've made."
Bobby's face brightened as he inserted his film. But barely thirty minutes in, Azazel couldn't suppress his yawns.
"It's getting late," Azazel offered diplomatically. "Perhaps we should rest."
"We're only half an hour in," Bobby protested. "Wouldn't you like to see how it ends?"
"We're tired, Bobby. Feel free to finish it yourself - we won't disturb you." Azazel stood, the others gratefully following his lead.
Left alone in the darkened room, Bobby stared at the screen, crushing the remote in his grip until it cracked. "Damn it," he muttered, his frustration at living in Arthur's shadow evident in every syllable.
Azazel grew increasingly fascinated as Apollonia detailed Arthur's accomplishments. Lucy watched with concern as the future king's interest in their exiled brother deepened.
With each revelation - computers, anime, colored cameras and television technology - Azazel's eyes widened further. Arthur had revolutionized not just entertainment, but technology itself.
Later, alone in his chamber, doubt crept in. Could this be the work of a Dream Weaver? The notorious C-Level Nether Beast was known for trapping victims in elaborate illusions, feeding on their spiritual energy while they remained lost in false realities.
Frowning, Azazel traced ancient runes in the air. "Mirror of Truth," he whispered, channeling both spiritual and magical energy into the ritual. The power spread through his room, examining every object, every shadow for signs of dreamscape distortion.
Nothing. Everything was real.
"Praise the Nine Hells," he breathed in relief. Then a thought struck him - If this were truly a Dream Weaver's illusion, wouldn't I be the center of it? Instead, Arthur's the one achieving the impossible...
News of Crown Prince Azazel's return from "studying broad" dominated headlines across demon realm media.
His fearsome reputation preceded him - they called him the "Demon Reaper" for his cold efficiency in battle, leaving no survivors in his wake.
But Azazel wasn't alone. Across the world, powerful heirs began emerging from their mysterious absences.
Crown Prince Drakon Wales of the Wales Kingdom made his first public appearance in years. The crown princes of the Aztec Empire, Kanata Kingdom, Choson Kingdom, Japon Empire, and Arabia Kingdom all suddenly "returned from their studies" within days of each other.
The public remained unaware of the truth - that these heirs had spent years surviving the horrors of the Nether Realm.
In Horn Kingdom, Arthur read reports of his elder brother's return with detached interest. While he'd severed family ties long ago, the synchronized reappearance of every major heir across the world caught his attention.
"All studying at the same school?" He chuckled, shaking his head at the suspicious timing.
Arthur wasn't alone in his skepticism. Journalists and common citizens worldwide questioned these simultaneous returns.
Two days later, television networks spread a wild theory - that these princes had been attending a real-life Hogwarts. The speculation caught fire, spreading rapidly across every kingdom.
Across taverns, bars, and cafés, conversations buzzed about the princes' sudden reappearance. In one dimly lit establishment, patrons huddled over their drinks, debating theories.
"Must be a hidden school, like Hogwarts," one patron declared. "Where else would all these heirs disappear to?"
"Can't be coincidence," another agreed, nursing his ale. "All vanishing then returning together?"
A scaled demon spread his newspaper across the table. "Look here - they all disappeared exactly six years ago. Now they're all back at once?"
"Has to be some secret academy," his companion nodded. "Teaching powerful magic, best professors money can buy. They keep it hidden so commoners can't attend, even the wealthy ones."
An imp slammed his beer glass down. "Damn royals, hoarding power for themselves! Why not open it to anyone with talent?"
"Dream on," snorted a demon reading Superman comics. "Those families only care about their own."
"Enough negativity," another patron cut in. "Here's some good news - electricity bills are dropping."
"First reduction in four years," someone added. "At least the government throws us common folk a bone sometimes."
In his Hellfire HQ office, Arthur reviewed the impact of reduced electricity costs with satisfaction. Lower operating expenses meant better bonuses for employees and cheaper production costs for his growing manga and comic empire.
His comic franchises - Batman, Superman, Spiderman, X-Men, and Wonder Woman - had captured public imagination across kingdoms. Combined with his manga, anime, movies, and telenovelas, they'd pushed his Entertainment Points to new heights.
302 million EP, Arthur mused, studying the numbers. Finally breaking 300 million, despite spending points on music libraries, film archives, comic collections, and upgrading the Ancient Tree to Level 4.
The Level 4 Tree had already improved signal quality and expanded coverage to South East Anatolia. Now, with sufficient points accumulated, Arthur could finally attempt the Level 5 upgrade.
He initiated the upgrade, watching 250 million EP drain from his total. The investment paid off immediately - the Ancient Tree's coverage exploded outward, reaching the Middle East Ottoman Empire and its surrounding territories. The signal now stretched into eastern Evros and even reached the distant shores of The Great Southern Land.
50 million EP remaining, Arthur noted. But the expansion's worth every point.
For advance Chapters, go check my /NewComer714.