Lord of Entertainment-Chapter 279: Return of the King

(3rd Person POV)

The guests were led into the grand theater of Hellfire Park, murmurs of awe filling the air. From the moment they stepped inside, it was clear—this was unlike any cinema they had ever been to.

Luxurious seats, meticulously designed for maximum comfort, lined the spacious room. The air carried a subtle, refreshing scent, making the experience even more immersive.

A businessman glanced around in amazement before turning to his wife. "This is... far beyond anything we've been to before."

His wife nodded, running her fingers along the smooth fabric of the armrest. "It's as if they've thought of everything. Even the seats feel perfect."

Another guest leaned toward his companion. "Hellfire must have poured a fortune into this place," he whispered, eyes scanning the room.

Arthur, standing off to the side, listened with quiet amusement. He had indeed spared no expense, using his system's shop to purchase a state-of-the-art theater design—inspired by the modern cinemas of his past life.

But what truly set this theater apart wasn't just the seats or the ambiance.

It was the sound.

Built-in speakers were embedded into each seat, ensuring that every audience member experienced the audio as if they were standing right inside the movie itself. Every whisper, every footstep, every gust of wind would resonate at the perfect distance—surrounding them in an auditory illusion.

As the lights dimmed, a hush fell over the room. The film flickered to life, and the first echoes of sound rippled through the space.

And then—

Gasps.

The clarity of the surround sound stunned them. Voices and footsteps weren't just heard—they were felt. It was as if someone had leaned in right beside their ears to speak, as if the weight of a character's footsteps pressed against the very floor beneath them.

The murmurs of astonishment slowly faded as they became absorbed in the film, letting go of their distractions to focus entirely on the story unfolding before them.

The movie opened with an intense confrontation—Aragorn, Gandalf, and their allies standing before Saruman atop the tower of Orthanc.

A hush filled the theater as Saruman's voice echoed, dripping with mockery.

"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden King, and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together, as we once did? My old friend. Can we not have peace, you and I?"

The tension in the room tightened.

Théoden's voice cut through, steady and firm. "We shall have peace."

The exchange between them gripped the audience—the power of words clashing between two great figures. Then Gandalf stepped forward, his presence commanding.

"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel."

A scoff. Saruman held up the Palantír, the swirling darkness within revealing the Great Eye.

"So you have come here for information?" His lips curled into a smile. "I have some for you. Something festers in the heart of Middle-earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You are all going to die!"

A few guests in the theater leaned forward, hanging onto every word.

Then came the moment of judgment.

Saruman, his arrogance still unbroken, raised his staff to attack—but before he could act, Gandalf's voice rang with absolute authority.

"Saruman, your staff is broken."

A sharp, cracking sound followed, and Saruman's staff crumbled in his hands.

Murmurs of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

The scene unfolded, revealing Saruman's demise—Gríma Wormtongue's dagger sinking into his back, only for Gríma to be shot down moments later.

For the first time, they finally saw the fate of Saruman, a plot point that had been left uncertain in The Two Towers.

As the film continued, the mood in the room shifted, balancing between tension and humor.

Gimli's drinking contest with Legolas earned chuckles from the audience, the dwarf stubbornly drinking until his stamina betrayed him.

Then there was Gollum—scheming behind Frodo and Sam's backs, whispering to himself with malice.

The camera lingered on Sam's face, his expression filled with suspicion, his grip tightening on his weapon.

"Frodo is so stupid for trusting this punk," someone in the audience muttered under their breath, earning a few quiet chuckles from those around them.

Yet despite the brief laughter, the tension remained. They knew where this was going. They knew Gollum's deceit would come to a head.

And so, completely immersed, the audience continued to watch.

The film progressed, taking the audience through an emotional rollercoaster as the battle for Middle-earth unfolded before their eyes.

They watched in awe and tension as Gondor fell under siege, as Rohan rode to war, and as Aragorn led his forces to the Black Gate—a final stand against Sauron.

The stakes were higher than ever, and despite knowing the outcome, many in the audience sat on edge, fully immersed in the grand spectacle.

And then—Frodo stood at the edge of Mount Doom.

The great task, the burden he had carried all this time, was about to end.

But he hesitated.

His fingers trembled over the One Ring, his eyes clouded with an unnatural obsession.

Gasps spread through the theater.

Some clenched their fists, silently urging him—Throw it in!

But instead...

"The Ring is mine."

Frodo turned, slipping the Ring onto his finger.

A shocked silence filled the room.

A noblewoman whispered, "No... you fool!"

Then, Gollum lunged.

The struggle. The desperate clawing.

Then—a bite.

Frodo's cry of pain echoed through the theater as Gollum bit off his finger, taking the Ring for himself.

The guests gasped, some covering their mouths as Frodo collapsed in agony.

And then, in his madness, Gollum lost his footing.

The audience watched in stunned silence as he fell backward into the fiery depths of Mount Doom, clutching the Ring with a final, twisted expression of joy.

His scream faded into the roaring lava.

And just like that—the One Ring was gone.

The silence in the theater stretched, a heavy moment of realization settling over everyone.

Then, the world trembled.

Sauron's power shattered, his tower crumbling, his army faltering.

The war had been won.

The guests erupted into quiet murmurs, processing the destruction of the Ring. Some whispered in awe, while others simply sat, lost in the weight of the moment.

And then came the final battle, the last fight at the Black Gate, where Aragorn led the charge, his bravery shining brighter than ever.

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Victory was at hand.

And at the height of it, Aragorn turned to Arwen—played by Firfel—and kissed her.

At that moment, the guests instinctively turned toward Arthur, who sat at the front of the theater.

Firfel, beside him, blushed slightly, sensing the eyes on them.

Arthur simply took a sip of his wine, smirking to himself.

The film ended with Aragorn's coronation, his official ascension as the King of Gondor.

The final shot lingered—a beautifully crafted scene of Middle-earth's peace restored.

And then, the credits rolled.

A wave of applause filled the theater.

The guests clapped enthusiastically, some even standing up in appreciation.

Many of them felt incredibly lucky—they had just witnessed the third installment of The Lord of the Rings before its official release.

Some were already bursting with excitement, eager to discuss the film with their friends and colleagues.

But then, they remembered—

Before the screening, they had all signed a magical contract.

None of them could speak about anything they had seen until the official release.

Even the journalists present could only keep their thoughts to themselves.

No matter how much they wanted to leak the details, the magic of the contract prevented them from doing so.

And so, despite their overwhelming enthusiasm, the guests could only savor the experience in silence—knowing they had just witnessed something truly legendary.