John's life transformed overnight. Prestigious publications clamored for his attention - Star Magazine, Actors Today, even Forbes wanted him for their covers. Between magazine interviews, photo sessions, and an appearance on Tonight Show with Rocky Montclair at Hellfire Network, he barely had time to breathe.
Hellfire's marketing machine worked relentlessly to establish his name, making him impossible to ignore. As "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" continued its theatrical run, audiences couldn't stop talking about his performance.
The film's profound storytelling and emotional depth, achieved without relying on special effects, caught everyone by surprise.
Within a week of the film's release, John found himself elevated to superstar status.
A simple walk through Horn City became impossible as crowds surrounded him, demanding pictures and autographs. He had to hire personal guards just to move around in public - a surreal development for someone who'd been completely unknown mere weeks ago.
The swift rise to fame felt overwhelming, but John remained grateful. He owed everything to Arthur, and his success continued generating substantial rewards through the Divine Follower - 2,390 Faith Points and counting.
He invested these points carefully. While enhancing his acting abilities remained priority, he also allocated points to strength, recognizing his physical vulnerability during crowded encounters with fans.
As a follower of Arthur - or rather, Dionysus - he felt compelled to become stronger, more worthy of his position.
The charm attribute increases surprised him. Though his physical appearance remained unchanged, he noticed growing confidence in social interactions, finding it easier to connect with others naturally.
Meanwhile in Angels City, as John rose to stardom, other followers of Dionysus pursued their own artistic paths. Levi Strauss, having chosen the filmmaker career, finally completed his months-long project "Cool Hand Jake" with help from fellow cult members.
Professional film editors he'd hired provided the finishing touches, though post-production consumed more time than expected. Now, gathered with his cast and crew, Levi screened the final cut.
The story followed Jake, a defiant prisoner whose unbreakable spirit challenged the brutal prison system. Through hard labor, cruel punishments, and repeated escape attempts, Jake's resilience inspired his fellow inmates while infuriating the authorities. His refusal to be broken became a powerful symbol of human dignity in the face of oppression.
As the credits rolled, Levi felt an overwhelming surge of pride. His first film had exceeded even his own expectations.
"This is incredible!" one of the actors exclaimed, pulling Levi into a bear hug. "You actually did it!"
"The way you captured the prison scenes..." another crew member clasped his shoulder, "absolutely great."
The screening room erupted in applause, cast and crew embracing each other, their excitement filling the space. Someone popped open a champagne bottle, the celebration growing more boisterous by the minute.
Their reactions might have seemed over-the-top to outsiders, but Levi understood. After months of grueling work, seeing their shared vision come to life felt nothing short of miraculous.
Levi raised his champagne glass, addressing the gathered cast and crew. "My friends, we've achieved something remarkable today. Our first film as followers of Dionysus stands complete. May this work bring glory to our Lord who watches from the divine realm!"
The enthusiastic applause died when someone called out, "But how does this honor our Lord? We didn't even mention Dionysus in the film!"
"That's right!" another voice joined in. "Shouldn't we have included something about him?"
"Perhaps we should add him to the credits at least," a third suggested.
The room grew quiet as Levi raised his hand. "I shared your concerns. I even spent Faith Points to consult with our Lord about including his presence in the film. His response..." Levi paused, remembering the divine words.
"Our Lord said: 'Create not to praise me, but to touch hearts. Let your art speak its own truth. A masterpiece born from genuine passion honors me more than a thousand forced mentions of my name. Your creative freedom is my glory - for in it, you truly understand what I represent.'"
The room fell silent before someone whispered, "How unlike the false gods who demand constant worship."
"This is why I follow Dionysus," another added, voice thick with emotion.
"Such profound wisdom... these words must be preserved," a crew member suggested. "We should engrave them in stone."
The group unanimously agreed, already planning how to immortalize their lord's wisdom. His words had transformed their simple film celebration into something far more meaningful.
While Levi and his followers celebrated their cinematic achievement, an ominous presence entered Angel City.
Through the grand doors of the Solarus Church in the central district, robed figures moved with quiet purpose. Each wore black cloaks, save for their leader - distinguished by an ornate white robe adorned with intricate patterns.
The sisters and acolytes within the church froze at the sight. Their eyes widened in recognition, particularly at the gleaming solar emblem emblazoned across the white-cloaked figure's chest. Without hesitation, they bowed deeply, a mix of awe and fear evident in their trembling forms.
The white-robed figure acknowledged them with the barest nod as he led his dark-clad companions through the sacred halls.
Once they passed, one sister clutched another's arm, her voice quivering with excitement. "I... I can't believe that I would land my eyes on Lord Champion and his Sacred Knights in my lifetime!"
"I've only heard about them in legends... They rarely leave the Holy Church in Apollo Kingdom!" another sister whispered reverently.
"I saw one once, fifty years ago," contributed a 110-year-old sister, her ancient eyes gleaming with renewed excitement.
The enthusiasm was understandable - Champions and Sacred Knights seldom appeared in public, making their presence an almost mythical event.
But amid the awed reactions, Elena stood apart. Her face had drained of color, throat tight with fear as she watched the cloaked figures disappear down the church corridor. Their presence here could mean only one thing.
After the Champion and his Knights entered the inner church, the other sisters and acolytes straightened from their bows, clustering together to share excited whispers.
Elena used their distraction to slip away quietly. Inside her room, she dropped to her knees, face grave. Her trembling hands summoned the divine scroll, initiating an urgent report about the threat's arrival. The scroll glowed briefly, granting her 100 Faith Points for the warning.
Usually, such a reward would bring joy. But Elena felt only dread, her thoughts fixed on her fellow cult members. The Champions' arrival threatened everything they'd built.
*** ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovelHub(.)net
Arthur savored the evening with Firfel at Hellscape's finest restaurant. For once, he let his guard down slightly, dropping subtle hints about his feelings for her. Her warm responses encouraged him, making the fancy dinner feel more intimate than planned.
"I know I've asked this a thousand times," Firfel said between sips of wine, "but when are we filming Lord of the Rings part 2? It's been years, and I miss playing Arwen."
Arthur smiled, cutting into his perfectly cooked beef. "Just be patient. Part 2 will happen." He attempted a playful tone, adding, "Though every favor has its price - I might need some personal attention from my leading lady." He immediately felt his face warm at his own awkward attempt at flirting.
Firfel's melodious laugh filled the air. "Well, for Lord of the Rings, there's no price too high for me."
Arthur froze mid-bite, studying her expression. Is she flirting back, or did that joke go over her head? He couldn't quite read the mysterious glint in her eyes.
As he opened his mouth to probe further, Elena's urgent voice rang in his mind. Her report about the Champion and Sacred Knights instantly shifted his mood.
His expression turned grave. So they've finally made their move. I can't delay any longer - it's time to secure that Sacred Sanctuary. He had been hesitating on the eight thousand Divine Point purchase, but now circumstances forced his hand.
The romantic evening's warmth dissipated as he calculated his next moves. The sanctuary would protect his followers, but he needed to act quickly.