(3rd Person POV)
Crowds pressed against the windows of Hellfire's flagship store in Horn City. Inside, the new products drew reactions ranging from awe to disbelief.
"A television that flat? How is that even possible?"
"Look at the picture quality—it's like looking through a window!"
"This makes every TV I've ever owned look ancient."
The displays showcased flat-screen televisions and DVD players prominently, with promotional materials claiming they would replace current color TVs and VHS systems entirely. Looking at the crystal-clear image quality and sleek designs, the claim seemed entirely credible.
Among the onlookers stood Rommel, a senior executive from Wales Royal Electronics. His expression remained carefully neutral, but internally, alarm bells were ringing. 'We just released our improved color TV models last month. Now this?'
Other industry figures had gathered as well—representatives from competing electronics manufacturers, all trying to assess the threat these products posed to their businesses.
Media crews jostled for position outside the store entrance. A Hellfire manager stepped out, addressing the crowd of reporters with raised hands.
"We'll allow one media representative inside for an exclusive interview. Morningstar Weekly."
Protests erupted immediately from the other outlets, but the decision was final. The chosen reporter—an incubus demon with sharp features and sharper instincts—entered quickly before anyone could challenge the selection.
Inside, he gestured toward the flat-screen display with genuine curiosity. "I can see these televisions are dramatically thinner than current models, yet the screens are actually larger. For years, the entire industry has struggled with a fundamental limitation—bigger screens meant bigger, heavier units. How did Hellfire overcome that?"
The question hung in the air. It was what everyone wanted to know.
Homer—the store manager— smiled, clearly prepared for this. "The technology is called liquid crystal display, or LCD. Instead of the cathode ray tubes that make current televisions so bulky, we've developed a completely different approach to creating images."
"And you've patented this technology?"
"Extensively. Every key component is protected under Hellfire intellectual property."
The reporter's pen moved rapidly across his notepad. This wasn't just a product launch—it was an industry revolution being announced casually in a retail store.
Outside, Rommel watched through the window, his jaw tight. Wales Royal Electronics had invested millions developing their "improved" color TVs. Those models were already obsolete, and they'd been on the market less than a month.
Homer spoke with practiced confidence. "We've spent years developing this technology under Chairman Arthur Pendragon's direction. These flat-screen televisions aren't just lighter with larger screens—the image quality surpasses anything currently available. Right now, only Hellfire and our manufacturing partner HOLLOW possess this technology."
The crowd murmured agreement, clearly impressed by the display.
Then Rommel's voice cut through the excitement. "It looks impressive, certainly. But that thin design seems fragile. One accident and it's destroyed."
His words landed exactly as intended. Heads nodded throughout the crowd as doubt crept in.
"He's right," someone said. "One push from a child and it's over."
"Especially at 450 Horn Kingdom dollars—that's 150 global dollars. Not exactly cheap if it breaks easily."
The skepticism spread quickly. The reporter seized the opportunity, pointing his microphone toward the manager. "The durability concern seems legitimate. Will this really replace current models if it's so easily damaged?"
Homer showed no surprise at the question. "Chairman Pendragon anticipated this exact concern. And truthfully, yes—our flat-screen televisions are more delicate than the bulky cathode ray tube models."
The admission sent whispers through the crowd. Rommel and the other competitors exchanged satisfied glances.
"However," Homer continued, his voice carrying clearly, "to address this concern, Chairman Pendragon has established a new standard. Every flat-screen television purchased directly from Hellfire comes with a three-year warranty."
Stunned silence.
Then eruption.
"Three years?!"
"That's impossible—no company offers warranties that long!"
Even Rommel looked genuinely shocked.
Warranty systems in this world remained primitive. Most products offered coverage for a few weeks at most. Expensive items might include a few months. But three years for a television? Unheard of.
The reporter's voice rose with disbelief. "You're confirming customers receive three full years of warranty coverage?"
"Correct." Homer gestured toward the back of the display unit. "As long as this Hellfire authentication seal remains intact and untampered, the three-year warranty is fully guaranteed. Any manufacturing defects or failures will be replaced at no cost."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Most companies avoided long warranties specifically because they feared the costs. Yet Hellfire was confidently offering three years on an expensive, supposedly fragile product?
Either they were insane, or the technology was far more reliable than anyone assumed.
Rommel's satisfied expression had vanished completely. This changed everything.
"The three-year warranty applies to our DVD players as well," Homer added. "Same terms—just keep the authentication seal intact."
That sealed it. Hesitation evaporated.
"I'll take one!"
"Me too—both the TV and DVD!"
Staff quickly organized the surge of customers into orderly lines that stretched down the street. Media crews captured the phenomenon—crowds wrapping around multiple city blocks, all waiting for Hellfire's new technology.
Rommel found himself pushed aside by the press of bodies. He stared at the chaos with growing unease. 'Three years warranty on both products? That level of confidence in their technology...'
It meant Hellfire wasn't worried about returns or repairs. The products were genuinely reliable.
---
Within hours, news channels across Horn Kingdom broadcast footage of the lines. Reporters interviewed early buyers emerging from stores with their purchases.
"How does it feel to own the latest Hellfire technology?"
"Incredible! I can't wait to set this up at home!" One customer beamed, carefully cradling his boxed flat-screen.
Every interview echoed similar enthusiasm.
Two days after release, thousands of households had adopted the new technology. Horn Kingdom's prosperity meant many families could afford the upgrade, and they seized the opportunity eagerly.
Early adopters weren't disappointed—though many became almost comically protective of their purchases.
"Don't touch the TV!" one father barked at his children the moment he finished setup. "I just bought this an hour ago! No one goes near it!"
He powered on the flat-screen and inserted a DVD of The Demonfather—a film he'd watched dozens of times on VHS.
His wife sighed from the doorway. "The Demonfather again? Don't you want to watch something new?"
"I just want to see if Hellfire's claims about quality are real," he replied, adjusting the settings.
She settled onto the couch beside him, prepared to be underwhelmed.
The opening scene began. Both of them fell silent.
The image quality was extraordinary. Colors appeared vivid and natural. Details in facial expressions that had been muddy on their old television now showed with perfect clarity. The sound through the DVD player was crisper, richer.
"It's like... like we're actually there in the room with them," his wife breathed.
Her husband nodded wordlessly, transfixed.
Similar scenes played out across thousands of homes. Families who'd purchased the technology found themselves genuinely in love with the experience. Many became obsessively careful despite the warranty, treating their flat-screens like precious heirlooms.
The market impact was immediate and brutal.
VHS player sales in Horn Kingdom plummeted within days. But the decline wasn't limited to Arthur's territory—kingdoms expecting Hellfire's DVD technology soon saw their VHS markets collapse in anticipation.
Companies that had invested heavily in VHS manufacturing and development watched helplessly as their entire market evaporated.
Wales Royal Electronics saw sales drop forty percent in a single week. Morningstar Entertainment Systems fared even worse. Smaller manufacturers began discussing bankruptcy options.
Arthur Pendragon had done it again—introduced technology so superior that everything preceding it became instantly obsolete.
And this time, he'd done it while the competition was still celebrating their "improved" color televisions.