'Damn it... I didn't think there were others out there on my level.'
I stood there, overlooking the skyline once more. The world below looked different now—like I was seeing it through a new lens.
"And here I thought I was unstoppable," I muttered with a wry chuckle. "Guess I'm not quite there yet..."
Shaking my head, I returned to my office chair and sank into it. With a calm breath, I suppressed my divine aura, pulling it deep within me until not even a flicker remained.
"Looks like I'm not the only rich man in town," I said to myself. "Not the only big fish in this pond. Best to stay humble and grow quietly."
I opened the [Entertainment System] interface. Pages of glowing text and icons danced before me—options, upgrades, quests... promises of greater power, if I could keep people entertained.
'I suppose that's the plan,' I mused, stroking my chin. 'Stick to what I'm good at. If entertainment is my path to power, then so be it. Let the world watch me climb.'
Curious, I tapped into my [Status Panel].
"Huh..." I murmured. "My stats and skills really did spike after my ascension."
One line caught my eye immediately—{Primal Morningstar}. The icon beside it shimmered with a new intensity.
"Phase 4?" I whispered, eyes narrowing. "So I've unlocked another transformation..."
I felt a thrill in my chest, but I held back. Not now. No flashy scenes. Not with unknown gods lurking.
Then another notification caught my attention—{Creator's Realm} had also leveled up. The details were more expansive than before. I tapped on it, scrolling through the updated description.
And then I paused, eyes wide.
> Creator's Realm (Lv. 5 Proficiency):
[User may now extract non-living objects from fictional worlds—ships, planes, mechs, tools, weapons, structures, etc.]
[Extraction of living non-human entities (e.g., beasts, magical creatures, AIs) is now possible depending on user's power level and world-tier.]
[Human characters and sentient humanoids remain locked for narrative balance.]
[Extraction cooldown applies. Extraction from unstable fictional worlds may trigger anomalies.]
"So... you're telling me I can now take the Nine-Tailed Beasts from the Naruto world and bring them here?"
I leaned forward, heart thudding.
"Or a Gundam. Or the Flying Dutchman. Or a Quinjet?"
I exhaled, both excited and cautious.
"Maybe I could get Chopper too," I muttered with a smirk. Then I paused. "Wait... now that I think about it, I haven't even drawn One Piece yet. I've already created Dragon Ball, Naruto, even Yu Yu Hakusho... but not the number one manga of all time?"
The realization made me frown. Without wasting another second, I performed a hand sign—Shadow Clone Jutsu.
A half-dozen clones popped into existence, each one resembling me... though a few had glasses or hats. Their expressions ranged from annoyed to lazy.
"You guys," I pointed, "draw One Piece. Fast. At least a few Chapters. I plan to start the anime adaptation next week."
The clones groaned in protest.
"Another one? Seriously?"
"Bro, our workload is stacked already—Harry Potter edits, Naruto filler arcs—"
"I just finished volume 3 of Sherlock Holmes, and now you want this?"
I waved them off casually. "I'll treat you all to a vacation simulation next week. Or maybe a hot spring scene with fanservice—your pick."
The complaints stopped immediately.
"Fine, fine, we're on it."
With that, I teleported them to the Hellfire Anime Studio.
The next day, life for Arthur Pendragon returned to its oddly routine chaos.
His shadow clones, now essentially staff members, busied themselves with releasing or drafting volumes from the seemingly infinite library of intellectual properties: Harry Potter, Batman, Spider-Man, The Great Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Tom & Jerry, Popeye—and now, One Piece.
While several volumes of Harry Potter were already complete, Arthur chose to stagger their release in sync with future film adaptations, building anticipation and keeping fans hooked. Sales were steady—but they'd spike again the moment the sequel hit theaters.
As for the rest, his clones were drowning in deadlines.
Yet despite the growing pressure, the quality never dropped. They weren't just scribbling—every page, every scene was meticulously refined. Arthur's studio had redefined multimedia production.
Meanwhile, Arthur strolled leisurely through his hidden workspace, his gaze occasionally flicking toward his clones hard at work. Screens flashed with panels, scripts, and audio waves—but his mind was elsewhere.
Today, he had only one destination in mind: Joseph.
The young performer had been immersed in training for weeks—perfecting his vocals, mastering his dance routines, and sharpening his stage presence. It was now early August, and Arthur could feel it in his gut.
It was time for Joseph's official debut.
Arthur entered the rehearsal studio, watching Joseph as he moved through his routine with unwavering focus. His rhythm, posture, and timing had matured. He was no longer just a trainee—he looked like a star in the making.
Arthur nodded in approval and gestured to the sound engineers. One of the staff members gave Joseph the signal.
Joseph glanced at Arthur, eyes gleaming with determination, and returned the nod before stepping into the soundproof booth.
The instrumental kicked in. Joseph began recording his debut track—an energetic, rhythmic piece bursting with groove and charisma.
When the session ended, the staff played back the track. Arthur listened closely, arms folded, eyes narrowed in concentration.
As the final note faded, he tapped his fingers against his elbow and nodded slowly. "Not bad... for a first record. Could be better."
Still, despite the critique, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. There was something about the sound—something beyond technique. The song carried a strange, uplifting energy. It made his pulse steady... his mood lighter.
'So this is the effect of his ‹Musical Magic›,' Arthur thought, eyes glinting. 'It's subtle... but it works.'
Joseph listened to the first playback of his recorded track, brows furrowing in quiet dissatisfaction. Without saying a word, he stepped back into the booth and signaled the engineers to run it again.
Arthur raised an eyebrow as he observed from behind the glass.
Joseph repeated the process—again and again—until he was finally satisfied. It wasn't until the fifth take that he stepped out, sweat on his brow but a calm determination in his eyes.
Arthur couldn't help but smile. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel⚑fire.net
'He's more of a perfectionist than I am... I like that.'
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he thought to himself.
'I think this track deserves a special launch... yes. I'll time its release with the launch of the Hellfire Walkman. A new sound, paired with a new device—it'll be perfect.'
Excitement buzzed in his chest. The plan was coming together.
That evening, Arthur returned to Victory's Peak and entered his Pendragon Villa. He stepped into his private study and reached for the object resting at the center of his desk—an odd-looking mechanical box, etched with intricate runes and gear-like patterns.
It clicked faintly as he touched it, the symbols shifting subtly like they were alive.
The «Nether Puzzle Box».
A gift from his brother, Azazel.
Arthur had already unlocked its mechanism days ago. As he twisted the top, the box responded with a hum, projecting a magical, three-dimensional map into the air above it.
It was the Nether Realm.
The projection revealed just a sliver of the vast and terrifying underworld—one corner of a realm far larger and more dangerous than Arthur had imagined. Swirling mists and jagged lines marked the unknown. Most of the map remained hidden, blurred, or sealed by deeper magic.
His eyes narrowed at a particular region labeled ‹Old Deities Prison›.
It might seem like just another forgotten cave—but the name alone sent a cold shiver down his spine.
Without hesitation, Arthur teleported to the Glacia Expanse, his figure cutting through the frostbitten winds. He approached the ancient Anus Gate and, without delay, forced it open with divine strength.
The dimension distorted around him, warping as if to resist his entry.
But his body, now divine, held firm.
"Looks like I'll be gone for a while..." he muttered before vanishing inside.
August 18, 1275 – Horn Kingdom
Once again, Hellfire captivated the public—this time with the debut of a sleek, modern product through a dynamic TV commercial.
The screen lit up with an energetic workplace scene. A young, well-dressed office employee moved confidently through a busy corporate floor, holding a slim, sleek device in hand.
"Want to enjoy music while you work? While you move? While you live?"
"Introducing the Hellfire Walkman—music, anywhere and everywhere."
As the employee slipped on a pair of stylish earpieces, a bright, pulsing beat exploded through the speakers. The screen followed his stride as he exited the building, walked the city streets, and boarded a tram—smiling all the while.
And then, the voice hit:
I was wondering, you know
If you could keep on,
It's got a lot of power.
And it makes me feel like—ah,
It makes me feel like—ooh."
The funky rhythm and falsetto vocals surged through the scene, lighting up the ad with life and motion.
{Hellfire Walkman – Yours for just 240 HKD. Available soon at several Hellscape locations.}
The moment the advertisement ended, the people of Horn Kingdom were hooked.
Crowds in taverns, cafes, and shopping districts were already reacting.
"That song—what was that? It's so catchy!"
"A device that lets me listen to music wherever I go? Finally!"
"Wait... I don't have to lug around this bulky radio speaker anymore?!"
By the end of the day, thousands rushed to Hellfire-affiliated stores.
"Do you have the Hellfire Walkman?"
"Where can I buy it?"
"I need one—no, two!"
Demand surged instantly. Every purchase of the Walkman came with a free trial song—Joseph's debut track.