Chapter 150: The Power of Influence

**Chapter 150: The Power of Influence

Yang Dahai slumped into his office chair, visibly drained as he sipped from his glass of water.

The first volume of "Fire Punch" had officially been released...

Those ten thousand copies should have made their way to the fans by now.

As the first victim of "Fire Punch," he couldn't help but worry about the ripple effects this manga might unleash.

It had only been two days since its release, but his concerns were already piling up.

His anxiety stemmed from being the first to read through "Fire Punch."

That night, after finishing the story, he was left utterly distraught.

"I thought 'Edgewalker' was Lin Qingshan's magnum opus."

His hand trembled slightly as he held his cup. "But compared to 'Fire Punch,' 'Edgewalker' feels restrained."

Though "Edgewalker" packed an emotional punch and ended on a tragic note, it paled in comparison to the relentless despair of "Fire Punch." Ironically, "Fire Punch" could be considered a happy ending—if one overlooked the protagonist Agni's harrowing journey.

The tragedy in "Fire Punch" centered overwhelmingly on Agni. While there were fewer deaths among the supporting cast than in "Edgewalker," the death of Togata was particularly gut-wrenching.

Luna's early death was painful to witness, but as Agni's suffering escalated, her death began to feel like a merciful release.

Living, burdened by flames like Agni, was the true torture.

The subsequent plotlines—Agni assuming a new identity and name, "Brother," to maintain a semblance of peace with "Luna," even as he killed—were deeply unsettling.

Then came his battles with the "Agni Cult" and with San, each more soul-crushing than the last.

Agni's survival hinged on a lie, on his sister Luna's final command to "keep living."

More lies followed, dragging him through his torment, just as the upper echelons of Behemdorg clung to their lies for survival, perpetuating their "civilization."

Agni's life was a testament to the power of deceit—he lived not for himself, but for Luna, for the false Luna who had replaced his sister, for the slaves he once sought to save, for the cult that worshipped him...

And so, the story of "Fire Punch" remained steeped in cold, oppressive tones.

Under Lin Qingshan's masterful touch, every panel—whether it was Luna's ominous declaration to "use Fire Punch on him" or Agni's twisted, painful smile—resonated with a visceral impact, immersing readers in Agni's agony, bitterness, and inner conflict.

But this was largely due to the system's enhancement, specifically the "Touch of the Dragon" and "Kaleidoscopic Art" abilities that Lin Qingshan wielded like a double-edged sword.

If the story of "Fire Punch" had a baseline emotional weight of 100 points, these abilities elevated its impact to a staggering 150 points—akin to rubbing salt into a wound or pouring hot sauce onto a mouth ulcer.

That night, after reading it, Yang Dahai was paralyzed with shock, unable to pull himself back from the abyss the manga had dragged him into. His mind buzzed, as though overwhelmed by the sheer weight of what he had experienced.

And if a seasoned, mature adult like him felt this way, what would happen to the broader audience?

Yang Dahai's fears grew with every thought, though he couldn't help but marvel.

"That Lin Qingshan could create something like this is..."

Yang Dahai hesitated, then whispered, "Amazing... but his mental state... it's worrying..."

"Fire Punch" was like a fever dream, a work that crushed the spirit while still managing to astonish with its brilliance.

Yet, "Fire Punch" wasn't just madness—there was a method to the madness. In Yang Dahai's eyes, it was a brilliant but deeply disturbed piece of work.

Like "Edgewalker," it wasn't just a narrative; it was a philosophical exploration, a reflection of the author's worldview.

[Translator: sauron]

"Edgewalker" had been a bleak but poignant speculation about a dystopian future, tinged with humanism and nihilism, a combination that was rare in sci-fi.

"Fire Punch," on the other hand, initially seemed like pure nihilism.

After all, the manga's core message was that life is pain, the world is built on lies, and people survive by consuming those lies.

Morality, identity, faith—even civilization itself—were all meaningless constructs.

By the end, Agni was left with nothing. The universe was cooling, the Earth would wither, and everyone he had ever known had perished. All would eventually return to nothingness.

It seemed that "Fire Punch" was a bleak commentary on life.

Yet, upon reflection, there was a glimmer of existentialist hope buried within the darkness.

Agni endured the greatest of torments, but he continued to live.

He fought on, struggled on, for no other reason than to keep living.

Life might be meaningless, painful, and void of purpose.

But Agni lived on nonetheless.

This was existentialism at its core.

And this was why Yang Dahai regarded Lin Qingshan as a genius... even if his work seemed a bit unhinged.

But as they say, "There's a fine line between genius and madness..."

"By the way... didn't Qingshan say this was a gift for his fans?"

Yang Dahai sighed, almost exasperated.

Are you sure this is a gift?

As he had previously said, "Fire Punch" might be too much, too soon, for most readers.

"But... 'Chainsaw Man' seems more... restrained?"

Yang Dahai mused, finding it increasingly plausible.

Then he felt a pang of guilt. "Did we at the Manga World stifle Qingshan's creativity?"

But on second thought, "Maybe it's for the best..."

Whenever Yang Dahai thought of "Fire Punch," he felt a shiver of dread.

If Lin Qingshan hadn't held back, who knows what kind of manga he would have produced?

Would he have driven every reader to the brink of insanity?

To be fair, "Fire Punch" alone was enough to make someone feel like they were losing their mind.

If Lin Qingshan hadn't exercised restraint, psychiatric hospitals might be filled to capacity by now.

No wonder he's called the Cyber Madman, the Mad King of Manga—Qingshan's work could practically induce madness!

"Well... let's see how things unfold."

Yang Dahai sighed deeply. "Geniuses... they're beyond comprehension, and impossible to predict."

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*Alright, time for a break—let's switch gears for the next chapter. Continuing on the same track just doesn't feel right...*

*Let's insert a bit of original content, and carry on tomorrow.*

*After all, writing solely based on the original work could skew the experience...*

(End of Chapter)