Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

….

December 30th, 2009.

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Gregor's Apartment, Downtown.

The 2000s had arrived with an avalanche of new technology, reshaping how people consumed entertainment.

With every new app and gadget, the traditional hobbies struggle to keep up.

Light novels, and books once the main source of entertainment, slowly began to take a back seat.

But then came web novels - a new breed of storytelling.

Unlike the polished and heavily curated light novels, web novels were raw and immediate.

There was no waiting for approval or months of meticulous editing, chapters were uploaded as they were written.

Most of them were messy. Often amateurish. But to the readers who had embraced this new format, that was the very charm of it.

And despite the quality ranging from laughably awful to surprisingly brilliant, the sheer variety of genres makes up for it and keeps pulling more people in.

Web novels fit perfectly into the cracks of busy lives.

You could scroll through a chapter during a coffee break or devour an entire series in bed at your fingertips.

And they couldn't get enough.

Gregor was one of those readers.

At 35, his online name - MochiSnatcher84 - was a well-known name in online forums for his surprising behind-the-scenes details and encyclopedic knowledge.

Since the boom of WebNovels, Gregor has gone from casual reader to full-blown addict.

No, scratch that - he was consumed.

He had read everything, every trope, every cliché, and he had an eye for what worked and what didn't.

He had read it all - power fantasies, epics, even the odd guilty pleasure.

Nothing was off-limits.

But lately? Everything felt stale.

Gregor slouched in a creaky, mismatched chair, balanced a half-full coffee mug precariously on the edge of his cluttered desk.

His eyes were glued to the laptop's screen and glowed in the dim room as he scrolled through updates of his favorite stories.

In Gregor's humble opinion, he had developed a discerning eye for WebNovels - the good, the bad, and the downright forgettable.

But lately, nothing seemed to stick.

The stories all blurred together, weighed down by overused tropes and lazy writing.

That was, until two novels recently appeared on his radar:

＜Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint＞and,＜Solo Leveling＞

Both were penned by the same author under the pen name - LIE120.

Gregor had come across his fair share of bizarre usernames in the online world, but this one stuck with him for reasons he couldn't quite pin down.

The first novel,＜Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint＞, or ＜ORV＞, as the author had dubbed it in short - had caught his attention during one of his usual late-night rabbit holes of forums and recommendation threads.

He had been scrolling through endless forums and recommendations when something caught his eye.

World Insertion.

It was a new trope.

It wasn't something that had been fully explored in the WebNovel scene yet.

The concept itself was intriguing: characters from the real world suddenly thrust into fictional universes, forced to adapt and survive in environments completely alien to them.

＜ORV＞caught his attention precisely because it did something different with the idea.

The protagonist, Daniel Kim, wasn't just some random person inserted into a fantasy world.

He was already a reader of that world, a fan of a web novel that was eerily coming to life around him.

The twist wasn't just the world insertion.

It was the fact that the protagonist knew the story before it happened, he was the only one aware of the rules, the plot, and the dangers that lay ahead.

The idea felt fresh, and he couldn't recall having seen anything quite like it.

He had read stories with characters who suddenly found themselves in new worlds, but the concept of inserting a reader from our world into a fictional universe was still novel, something he hadn't seen many others attempt.

He was hooked.

The pacing was fast, the stakes were high, and the protagonist wasn't overpowered, far from it.

Daniel Kim's advantage of knowing the story ahead of time didn't guarantee him victory.

He still had to make tough choices, face danger, and fight for survival.

For Gregor, it was unlike anything he had read before.

Then there was＜Solo Leveling＞

At first glance, the premise seemed somewhat familiar, another progression story, where the protagonist starts weak and grows stronger over time.

The deeper he read, the clearer it became - this wasn't just another tale of rebuilding from the ashes.

The main character, Jake Sung, wasn't simply growing stronger by completing tasks or defeating random monsters.

The world he was thrust into was deadly, with life-or-death consequences at every turn.

...and the way he leveled up, through a system that was both dangerous and addictive, was an interesting twist that Gregor hadn't encountered in many other stories.

He found himself drawn in by the blend of suspense, action, and the gradual but intense growth of the protagonist.

There was something darker about＜Solo Leveling＞, a sense of rawness that felt unlike the polished, overly-edited light novels he had grown used to.

But what truly fascinated Gregor wasn't just the stories themselves.

It was the sheer audacity of the author, LIE120.

This writer somehow managed to juggle both novels and release two chapters a day.

Two. Every single day.

And the kicker? They were free - no locked chapters demanding in-app coin purchase.

Gregor couldn't help but marvel at the dedication.

He had tried his hand at writing once, after reading one too many lackluster novels.

Fueled by frustration and fleeting inspiration, he sat down to create something better.

The reality hit fast.

Writing wasn't easy.

Crafting even a single decent chapter had drained him.

He quit before finishing the first arc, his dream of being an author quietly shelved.

So when Gregor saw - LIE120 - pulling off this Herculean feat, he couldn't help but be in awe.

He became a loyal follower, checking for updates like clockwork, savoring each chapter.

Of course, with popularity came chaos. The comment section turned into a battlefield of debates, critiques, and hot takes after every update.

And Gregor?

He was right there, in the thick of it, defending LIE120's work like a true believer.

For him, these stories weren't just entertainment - they were proof that even the most unconventional ideas could turn into something extraordinary.

….

└ MochiSnatcher84: Honestly, can we just agree that＜Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint＞and＜Solo Leveling＞are both top-tier? There's no way the same author wrote these two completely different kinds of stories and made both of them so damn good. That's some serious talent right there.

└ MochiSnatcher84: Also, FOUR chapters a day? For FREE? Like, how is LIE120 pulling this off? The consistency is unreal, and the quality is always on point. I'm lowkey amazed.

But that's when the chaos started.

The comment section had become a battlefield, and the warring factions were at full tilt.

└ DragonSith69: Bruh, don't even try to compare＜Solo Leveling＞ to ＜ORV＞.＜Solo Leveling＞ is straight fire. The power progression? INSANE. Every time Jake Sung levels up, he is basically bending the universe to his will. It's pure rush. And those boss fights? Don't even get me started. But＜ORV＞? Nah, it's too slow, too philosophical. Daniel Kim knowing everything doesn't make him cool, it just makes him OP in a boring way.＜Solo Leveling＞is all about raw, unfiltered excitement.

└ TheRealSnackman: Nah, I gotta disagree.＜ORV＞is hands down the better one. I mean, it's got that unique hook - Daniel Kim knowing the plot and still struggling. That's so refreshing. It's like you are reading a story where the protagonist is more aware of his fate, and that awareness adds such a cool layer of tension. The writing's so smart! Meanwhile,＜ORV＞is just your typical power fantasy. Jake Sung gets stronger, but we all know he is gonna crush everything in his path eventually. It's fun, sure, but it's not as deep as＜ORV＞.

└ WaifuHunter69: Lmao, why are we even comparing these two? OMG both stories are so cute in their own way!＜Solo Leveling＞is all about getting stronger and protecting everyone, which is so macho. But＜ORV＞- I can't even! Daniel Kim is so tragic and thoughtful, it just pulls at my heartstrings. I love them both in different ways! Hehehe~

….

Gregor paused for a moment, reading the comments fly by in a steady stream of arguments, pithy remarks, and occasional insults.

He scrolled up, shaking his head at the madness of it all.

…and he had a feeling this would only get ugly, but he had to admit, the debate was fun to watch.

People were passionate about these stories, even if they didn't always agree.

And he got it.

It was easy to get caught up in the hype, but that's what made LIE120's work stand out - it sparked genuine reactions.

….

└ EpicFail420: Look, let's be real here. In my opinion, both＜ORV＞and＜Solo Leveling＞have their flaws.＜Solo Leveling＞is fun, but it's like LIE120 just picked every action trope and crammed them in. The power-ups and fights are getting a little too repetitive. As for＜ORV＞, I mean, the pacing is just... slow. Daniel Kim knows everything but being stuck is frustrating after a while. He feels distant, like the author tried to make him too deep or something. Well, the novel is just in its early phase, but I doubt the author is capable of making it perfect. 2.25/5 for each.

└ LunarQueen88: Keep your opinion to yourself, EpicFail420. I honestly don't know what you're talking about, but I completely disagree. The pacing in＜Solo Leveling＞is spot on, and as of now the fights are the best part! The power progression and stakes keep it exciting every chapter. As for＜ORV＞, it's a masterpiece. The world-building, the emotional depth. I have never seen a web novel like it. As for Daniel Kim's character, it is still in progression, as you said, and from how the author delivered it, I am expecting big things to happen. Love you, author. All the best. 10/10 for both of these. Can't wait for more!

….

Gregor leaned back, rubbing his eyes. He had seen this happen in every online community - the 'I hate it' vs. 'It's amazing' battle.

But this time, it felt different.

LIE120's work was stirring up something deeper.

It was like everyone who read it had some stake in the game, whether they liked it or not.

But there was something else creeping into the comments - a sense of awe, of people realizing that LIE120 wasn't just another author.

There was something extraordinary about how the chapters flowed, how they built worlds that felt so real, so alive.

….

└ SkepticalSteve: C'mon, LIE120's good, but not mind-blowing. Four chapters a day sounds great, but the quality's all over the place.＜Solo Leveling＞is fun, but the fights get repetitive.＜ORV＞has a cool idea, but the pacing and world-building are a mess. It's decent, but let's not pretend it's groundbreaking.

└ RamenKing69: SkepticalSteve just salty. LIE120's work is fire! Four chapters a day, no locked content, and the plot keeps evolving. You just mad you can't do the same. I will take whatever LIE120 gives us. You're not on that level, huh?

….

Gregor chuckled, leaning back in his chair as he scrolled further down.

└ NotYourDad69: Alright, real talk. I get the hype behind both＜ORV＞and＜Solo Leveling＞, but my guy LIE120? The name became legendary in my dictionary. Who even comes up with something like these? I can't even imagine being that creative.＜ORV＞gave me chills, but＜Solo Leveling＞has that swagger that makes me wanna join the fight too. Hype level? Infinity. Honestly, I'll take both, thanks. You guys are acting like it's over already, but we're just getting started.

└ CaffeinatedLemon: Been here since day one, can't choose between them.＜ORV＞is so unique, and＜Solo Leveling＞is my obsession. They hit different. LIE120's gonna be huge, we're all witnessing greatness. You can't judge it all yet, there's so much more to come, just wait!

….

Gregor grinned to himself.

People were obsessed, and for good reason.

These novels weren't just stories - they were an experience.

The twists, the dark humor, the way they made you feel. There were so many layers to unpack, and no one could stop talking about them.

….

└ GrizzlyGhost39: But I am a little surprised? I thought by now some platform would have contacted LIE120 for the exclusive rights? What are they doing? Just how dumb are they? Should the WB fiction be the first ones to grab?

└ TheRealSnackman: WB Fiction are just trash, bro. They don't understand a good story.

….

Gregor's fingers hovered over the keyboard as he read the last two comments again. The corner of his mouth twitched in irritation.

He clicked the 'reply' button, fingers tapping away quickly as the words formed in his head.

└ MochiSnatcher84: Maybe the WB fiction team did contact author LIE120 and he rejected the offer… Who knows? The management isn't that bad there. Surely even a blind person can see the potential of these stories.

The response came almost instantly, the words clashing with his thoughts.

└ BuddhaVibes77: What are you even saying, bro? Who in their right mind would reject an offer from WB Fiction? The kind of deal they're offering could change your life overnight. If I were LIE120, I'd be cashing in, like, yesterday. Stop dreaming. In a few more days, the novels will probably be pulled from other platforms or even deleted. Just wait and see.

…..

Gregor exhaled slowly, a calm, deliberate breath.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he read BuddhaVibes77's comment, the arrogance of it itching at him.

He couldn't help but feel a little amused by the certainty of the response.

"Well, he did reject it… people." He muttered quietly to himself, his gaze now fixed on the screen.

How did he know? The answer was simple - he was one of them.

From WB Fiction to contact him.

Gregor's fingers hovered over the mouse for a moment, his satisfaction growing.

He had been trying to get in touch with LIE120 for days, but every attempt had been ruthlessly shut down.

It was strange, though.

He had been persistent, yet LIE120 never took the bait. No matter how many times he tried to offer advice, or even just fanmail, it was always the same - a polite, but firm, rejection.

But Gregor understood why now.

LIE120 wasn't just in it for the money, it wasn't just chasing fame.

There was something deeper here - something that WB Fiction couldn't touch.

He leaned forward, closing the laptop with a decisive snap, his mind already turning. I am going to be the first to get that author's next book when it comes out. I just know it.

LIE120 is the real deal.

With a satisfied grin, he turned off the screen and got up, already looking forward to whatever LIE120 had planned next.

.

….

[To be continued…]

★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★

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