(3rd Person POV)
Within one week of release, Horn Kingdom alone purchased 2.3 million flat-screen televisions and 1.5 million DVD players. Hellfire announced net revenue of 450 million dollars from a single territory.
The numbers were staggering. Nearly half a billion from one small kingdom in seven days.
Headlines erupted across multiple nations:
"Hellfire Sells Millions of Units in Single Week—History Made Again"
"Industry Expert: 'When Hellfire Moves, Competitors Panic'"
"Tourists Flooding Horn Kingdom to Purchase Flat-Screen TVs Before Global Release"
That last headline proved particularly damaging to competitors. Visitors arriving through Hellfire Airport were buying the technology immediately upon landing, circumventing the wait for international distribution.
Rival companies scrambled desperately. Many approached Hellfire requesting patent licenses for both flat-screen and DVD technology.
Hellfire agreed readily—for substantial licensing fees.
But access to patents didn't solve the fundamental problem. Actually manufacturing the technology required expertise, facilities, and time these companies didn't have. Most resorted to slashing prices on their obsolete products just to move inventory.
Wales Royal Electronics refused to follow suit. Selling at reduced prices meant operating at a loss—and Wales Kingdom needed every penny, especially with the costly Great Southern Land colonization draining royal coffers.
In the royal castle council chamber, ministers gathered for an emergency session. The King's chair sat empty—the elderly monarch rarely attended anymore. The Queen had no interest in governance. Instead, Crown Prince Drakon presided over the meeting, his expression carefully neutral as ministers vented their frustrations.
"Hellfire has become a thorn lodged deep in our side," the Military Minister declared. "Our control over Horn Kingdom has eroded to nothing. We can barely collect colonial revenues anymore. The tribute we're owed flows into Hellfire's coffers instead of ours. This situation demands action."
"We still technically rule through King Magnus," the Finance Minister added, his tone sour. "But Hellfire's influence makes that authority meaningless. Even the nobles defer to Arthur Pendragon rather than following our directives from the homeland."
Drakon listened to the complaints with internal disdain. 'You ignored our vassal territory for decades when it wasn't profitable. Now that it's thriving under Hellfire, suddenly you care.'
The truth was undeniable. Wales had neglected and mismanaged its colonial possession for generations. Arthur had simply filled the vacuum their incompetence created.
"Your Highness," the Right Minister said carefully, "we respectfully request you issue a formal command. Make this Arthur Pendragon understand that Horn remains our colonial holding—and that he operates there only by our sufferance."
Drakon's fingers drummed slowly on his armrest. "According to reports, our Great Knights couldn't intimidate him. What makes you think threats will work now?"
He'd met Arthur personally. The demon was young but dangerously capable. Underestimating him would be foolish.
The ministers exchanged uncertain glances. Then the Left Minister—a man whose zealotry was well-known—leaned forward with barely contained excitement.
"Your Highness, I've been in communication with the Solarus Faith. They've agreed to... assist us with this problem."
Drakon straightened abruptly, his composure cracking. "The Solarus Faith?"
"Yes." The Left Minister's eyes gleamed with fervent conviction. "The most powerful religious organization in the world—the backbone of human civilization—has agreed to resolve this threat on our behalf."
Heavy silence filled the chamber.
Every minister present understood what that meant. The Solarus Faith didn't negotiate or compromise. When they moved against someone, that person either submitted completely or disappeared.
Drakon felt cold dread settle in his chest. 'If they're sending people to deal with Arthur...'
He almost pitied the demon. Almost. But mostly, he worried about the collateral damage. When the Solarus Faith acted, subtlety was rarely involved.
Around the table, other ministers wore similar expressions—a mix of satisfaction and apprehension.
Arthur Pendragon had no idea what was coming for him.
---
Arthur's enemies assumed he remained oblivious. They were wrong.
In his office, three figures sat across from him: Keanu, Kaiser, and a hooded figure whose face remained concealed beneath her cloak—Scarlet's shadow clone.
"The Solarus Faith has finally taken notice of you," Scarlet said without preamble. "I don't know their specific plans yet, but you should prepare."
Arthur studied the clone thoughtfully. The Shadow Clone Technique he'd shared with her allowed Scarlet to maintain her position in Altair Station while simultaneously operating here—an invaluable arrangement.
"Can't you simply find out?" Kaiser asked with obvious frustration. "You're a high-ranking angel directly under Solarus. Surely you have access to their strategic planning."
"Normally, yes." Scarlet's tone carried caution. "But since returning to Altair Station, I've sensed suspicion. They're watching me more carefully."
Keanu nodded understanding. "Establishing a cinema there drew attention. They're probably questioning your loyalties."
Arthur remained silent for a moment before speaking. "This is earlier than I'd anticipated."
"Not by much," Scarlet clarified. "From what I've gathered through casual conversation with trusted angels, the Solarus Faith hasn't prioritized you as an immediate threat yet. General Philip Grain is coordinating with the Pope, but their timeline suggests action in two to three years."
"Two to three years?" Arthur's smile was genuine. "That's quite generous, actually."
He turned to Kaiser. "Proceed with global distribution of the flat-screen TVs and DVD players. Once that's established, I'll introduce the next product—the one that seals everything."
All three looked at him with curiosity. There was something beyond flat-screens and DVDs?
Before anyone could ask, the office door opened. Sylwen entered, hesitating slightly at the threshold.
"Boss—" she began.
"Sister-in-law," Arthur interrupted gently. "I've told you before. Just call me 'brother.'"
Color rose in Sylwen's cheeks. "Brother. King Magnus has agreed to abdicate. He'll announce Princess Mary as his successor within the week."
Keanu and Kaiser showed little reaction—political maneuvering among mortals held limited interest for former gods.
But Arthur stood immediately, satisfaction clear on his face. "Excellent work."
With Princess Mary on the throne, Arthur would have absolute control over Horn Kingdom's governance. The next steps were already clear: declare independence from both Wales colonial rule and Morningstar's ancestral claims.
If either kingdom objected—and they would—Arthur would have legitimate justification to defend Horn's sovereignty. He could develop "protective measures" openly, positioning them as necessary defense rather than aggression.
He possessed the divine power to simply crush any military response, but such overt displays felt excessive. Better to introduce weapons technology this world had never encountered—advanced enough to deter attack without requiring divine intervention.
Besides, he'd promised Yoda he wouldn't start wars, only make peace.
Though perhaps "seizing control of the entire world" stretched that promise's spirit somewhat.
His territory in the Divine Realm currently matched Horn Kingdom's physical size. But as his mortal influence expanded, so too would his divine domain grow—automatically, proportionally.
That was why gods throughout history had conquered worlds so aggressively. More mortal territory and worshippers made expanding one's Divine Realm exponentially easier than trying to claim space through raw power alone.
---
Meanwhile, in the Divine World—the planet where gods dwelled—hundreds of thousands of deities maintained territories as floating islands scattered across the sky.
Most divine realms were modest: small islands barely larger than villages, or at best matching minor mortal kingdoms.
Some gods controlled territory equivalent to continents.
The truly powerful commanded domains as vast as twenty to forty mortal worlds combined. Only hundreds of deities achieved such scale.
Fewer still—perhaps a dozen—ruled territories encompassing hundreds or thousands of mortal worlds merged into unified realms.
The Radiant Empire represented one such achievement. A coalition of the most powerful gods, their combined territory floated high above the Divine World like a massive flat earth, famous throughout creation and recognized across the universe.
At the heart of this empire lay Solarus—both the territory's name and its ruler.
In the royal capital, Solarus sat upon a colossal throne visible from every corner of his realm. His form towered like a mountain, face obscured by brilliant light. He'd maintained this position for years, absorbing faith energy from countless mortal worlds.
Today, he finally stirred.
His immense form gradually shrank to mortal scale. The blinding radiance faded, revealing golden hair, sun-bright eyes, and features of extraordinary beauty. Servants emerged with robes and his crown as the capital erupted in celebration.
"How long was I in meditation?" Solarus asked as they dressed him.
"Five Sun Years, my Lord," the head servant Isaac answered.
"Hundreds of mortal years, then." Solarus nodded. His territory's time flow was deliberately configured differently from mortal worlds—optimized for absorbing worship energy more efficiently. Each god's divine realm maintained its own temporal rate, independent of others. Some ran faster, some slower. Only when Solarus actively chose to engage with his mortal territories would he synchronize his realm's time flow to match theirs.
"There have been concerns across your mortal territories," Isaac reported carefully. "One world in particular has drawn attention."
Solarus felt something stir within him—an inexplicable recognition. "Tell me."
"The world you conquered four hundred mortal years ago. A young demon named Arthur Pendragon has been introducing revolutionary technologies and gaining significant influence. The Solarus Faith representatives there have expressed... concern."
The name meant nothing to Solarus consciously. Yet something about it resonated strangely.
"Prepare a full report," Solarus ordered. "I want to understand everything about this situation before deciding how to respond."