Chapter 257 - Hype
(3rd Person POV)
The hype surrounding the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie was working exactly as Arthur intended. Millions of people across the world were eagerly anticipating its release, and the excitement only continued to build with each passing day.
Of course, no one was more thrilled than the loyal fans of the franchise. Many had already begun organizing gatherings, some to celebrate, others to prepare to watch the movie together on the day of release.
Across various cities, fan clubs hosted events, screening marathons of the first film, discussing theories, and even dressing in elaborate costumes inspired by their favorite characters.
At the same time, Hellfire Theme Parks experienced a surge in popularity. While the parks were always a major attraction, the one in the Morningstar Kingdom saw the most visitors.
It wasn't just because of its grand scale but because it housed the original filming locations of The Fellowship of the Ring. Fans flooded the place, eager to walk the same paths their favorite characters had traveled on screen, further fueling the anticipation for the sequel.
The media, quick to recognize the movie's overwhelming demand, flooded every outlet with news relating to LOTR.
Headlines dominated front pages, interviews with cast members trended worldwide, and even the smallest leaks or behind-the-scenes information became hot topics. Publications knew that anything attached to the Lord of the Rings name would sell instantly, and they were eager to ride the wave of anticipation.
But while the excitement surrounding the film was great news for Arthur, it posed a serious problem for the rest of the industry.
The studios that had originally planned to release their films early in the year now found themselves hesitant. The mere thought of competing with The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers made them reconsider their strategies.
Going up against Arthur's film at the box office wasn't just a risk—it was financial suicide. A film that had taken over global headlines, drawn millions into discussions, and carried the weight of a dedicated, passionate fanbase wasn't something they could simply ignore.
If they released their movies around the same time, they knew they would be buried under the massive shadow of LOTR.
At best, their films might attract an audience if The Two Towers somehow disappointed fans. But considering Arthur Pendragon's track record, that scenario was unlikely.
Most studios accepted this reality and chose to delay their releases, unwilling to take the risk.
But not all.
A few, either out of arrogance or sheer determination, refused to back down.
One such challenger was Science Pictures, a studio that, for good reason, believed it had a fighting chance. They had collaborated with E-Motion Pictures, producing a film with a heavy focus on emotional storytelling and magic, an approach vastly different from the high-fantasy epic that LOTR offered.
Because of this, they were confident that their target audience wouldn't clash directly with Arthur's fanbase.
Another studio that stood firm was Titan Pictures. Unlike Science Pictures, they didn't have a unique strategy—they simply didn't believe The Lord of the Rings was as unbeatable as others claimed.
What they failed to realize was how far-reaching the movie's fanbase truly was.
Among the millions of hyped fans was Ethan, a young man who still vividly remembered the day he first discovered The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
It had been two years ago, and he had come across the film in the form of an old VHS tape borrowed from a kind neighbor.
He had been sixteen at the time. Back then, he had no idea what The Lord of the Rings was, nor had he ever heard of the cultural phenomenon it had sparked. But once he sat down and fully experienced the film, something inside him changed.
He became obsessed.
Curiosity drove him to old newspapers and magazines, flipping through archived articles discussing the madness surrounding the Rings. He was stunned to learn that, not too long ago, there had been real-life treasure hunters, pirates, and modern adventurers who had wasted their fortunes chasing after fictional artifacts—searching for the Rings in hopes of ruling the world.
The sheer absurdity of it all baffled him.
Yet, despite laughing at their foolishness, he couldn't help but ask himself—
Could the Rings actually exist?
Each time that thought crossed his mind, he immediately dismissed it.
For years, he had reasoned with himself, convincing his imagination to remain grounded. But recently, doubt had started creeping in again.
Maybe it was just the overexcitement from awaiting the sequel, or maybe it was something else.
Something strange.
The moment that planted true uncertainty in his heart was when rumors began circulating that dragons were involved in the making of The Lord of the Rings sequel.
Dragons.
They were creatures of pride and power—beings that no amount of wealth or influence could simply command. Ethan firmly believed that dragons would never participate in a film unless they had a compelling reason.
Unless...
Unless they knew something ordinary people didn't.
Dragons had long lifespans. They had seen empires rise and fall, witnessed forgotten histories, and heard secrets lost to time. If they had agreed to take part in the film, then perhaps—just perhaps—they knew of the Rings' existence.
That was the possibility Ethan couldn't ignore.
But at the same time, the idea of dragons being actors in a movie was nearly unbelievable. Even his closest friends, who were also passionate fans of LOTR and Harry Potter, refused to take the rumours seriously.
"Dragons taking part in the movie?" one of his friends scoffed, chuckling at the absurdity. "If that exiled demon prince actually managed to convince dragons to be part of his film, then it'll be the first movie in history to have real dragons in it."
Another friend nodded in agreement. "Maybe Arthur just used illusion magic to turn a bird into a dragon for the film. I don't think they're actual dragons."
"Yeah," Ethan agreed with a nod, though deep inside, a part of him still wondered.
However, their skepticism didn't last long.
Everything changed when Hellfire Studios held a live conference to officially announce the release date of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Ethan and his friends tuned in through the live broadcast on Angel Channel, watching intently as the event unfolded at Hellfire Park's courtyard.
They expected nothing more than a standard cast introduction.
But when Arthur finally revealed the actors joining the film—
They saw them.
Two dragons.
Real, living dragons.
Standing before the world as actors in The Lord of the Rings sequel.
Ethan's breath hitched, and his friends fell completely silent.
At that moment, they realized—
The rumors were true.
Arthur's gaze through the television screen was piercing, as if he were staring directly at Ethan and his friends. The camera focused on his face, his faint smile carrying an air of confidence, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.
"I would like to introduce to everyone," Arthur spoke, his voice steady yet commanding, "my two special actors—besides the orcs—the two dragons."
He paused for effect before gesturing grandly. "Meet Red and Yellow."
The camera shifted, and at that moment, the world witnessed something unbelievable.
Two massive dragons stood before the gathered audience, their towering figures exuding an aura of dominance. Their proud, almost regal expressions made it seem as though the world owed them something, as if their mere presence was a favor to the film industry itself.
The sheer weight of their presence sent chills down the spines of viewers across the world.
Ethan's friends were no exception.
"No way... this can't be real," one of them muttered, his voice unsteady. "It has to be illusion magic or something, right??"
Ethan, however, wasn't so quick to agree. Unlike the others, he had dedicated years to studying illusion magic, hoping to become an illusion specialist for a film studio one day.
His eyes narrowed as he carefully analyzed the dragons on screen.
"No..." he murmured, watching every movement, every detail. "From the way they're animated, their behavior, the way their bodies interact with light and shadow—this isn't an illusion."
He took a sharp breath. "These are real dragons."
His words sent a ripple of disbelief through the room.
It was almost impossible to accept.
In this modern age, dragons were considered a myth in plain sight—beings that existed yet remained unseen. Ever since the world had fully industrialized, sightings had dwindled to almost nothing.
Many believed that the dragons had retreated into the deep caves and towering mountains of the Eden Continent, hidden away from human civilization. Expeditions had been sent to search for them, but even in the most remote locations, no trace of them was ever found.
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And if one or two were spotted, it was never for long.
Reports suggested that whenever a dragon was seen, it would disappear just as quickly, avoiding human contact.
There were also disturbing rumors—whispers that dragon hunting had been rampant in some regions. The news claimed that over the decades, their numbers had dwindled due to poaching, forcing them further into seclusion.
And yet, here they were.
Not hiding. Not running.
But standing proudly before the cameras—before the entire world—as actors in a film.
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. Arthur had done the impossible.