[Chapter 3: City of Endless Delights]
Aryan strolled through the bustling city streets, the air thick with the scent of sizzling food and the hum of conversation. Neon lights flickered above ramshackle stalls, and the clash of magic and machinery gave the city an electric pulse. It was the perfect place to blend in—no one asked too many questions when the city was already overflowing with strange.
He'd been here for a week now, enjoying the chaos. With the right words and a little coin—especially since his copies let him produce as much as he needed—he rented a luxurious suite above one of the city's flashiest restaurants. A place where the elite dined, and the noise of power drowned out anything else.
The city, known as Novo Tera, was a melting pot where magic and machines intertwined seamlessly. Floating carriages shared the streets with mechanical beasts, while enchanted lampposts adjusted their brightness depending on the crowd's density. The laws were as bizarre as the city itself—like the 'Three Bite Rule' at elite restaurants, which demanded diners savor their first three bites in silence to 'honor the chef's magic.' Violators often found themselves cursed with an annoying echo of their last spoken word for an entire day.
"This place never gets boring," Aryan muttered to himself, slicing into a perfectly seared steak. No one bothered him, and that was exactly how he liked it.
With an ability as broken as the Million Copy System—able to duplicate objects, powers, even memories—life had become a game. So far, no one seemed to care how he used it, and that suited him just fine. Why worry when the city had so much to offer?
Aryan leaned back in his chair, savoring a sip of imported wine while the restaurant buzzed around him. The gold-trimmed walls glittered under magical chandeliers, and servers floated by with trays of delicacies, each one more extravagant than the last. A perfect playground for someone who liked to stir trouble without getting caught.
Finishing his meal, Aryan tossed a generous tip on the table and stepped out into the cool night air. He had time to kill, and there was no shortage of things to explore.
The city's food district stretched for miles—a chaotic maze of flavors from every corner of the world. Aryan wandered through the crowded alleys, sampling everything that caught his eye. A skewer of flame-grilled beast meat, crisp on the outside and dripping with juice. Sweet, golden pastries filled with enchanted honey that tingled on his tongue. An oddly translucent dumpling stuffed with spiced fish that shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
Currency in the city came in several forms, each with its own quirks. Common folk used copper and silver coins, sturdy and reliable. Gold coins marked the wealthy, capable of affording luxuries like magical enhancements or enchanted gear. Then there were platinum shards—exceedingly rare and reserved for only the most powerful or influential figures. Aryan, of course, had an endless supply of all three thanks to his system. Yet, he knew better than to flash platinum around—it would only draw attention.
At one stall, he discovered something particularly bizarre: a floating noodle bowl. The broth shimmered with a faint violet hue, and the noodles hovered in midair until he plucked them with chopsticks. "Weird," he murmured, but the taste was rich and savory, so he kept eating.
A loud bark caught his attention. Aryan turned to see a three-headed dog gnawing on a roasted bone the size of a tree branch. The stall owner—an elderly man with mechanical arms—waved at Aryan. "Want to try some? Guaranteed to make you run faster for an hour!"
Aryan chuckled, shaking his head. "Tempting, but I like walking."
Curiosity led him to experiment with his system as he wandered. At a magic trinket stall, he spotted a pocket mirror enchanted to show a person's 'ideal self.' With a quick swipe, he copied it. One for the collection, one for amusement. Further down the alley, he encountered a vendor selling bottled moonlight. He copied a vial and stored it away, wondering if it would be useful later.
Further down the street, he stumbled across a magical dessert stall. The vendor handed him a shimmering fruit tart that changed flavors with every bite—first tangy lemon, then creamy chocolate, and finally, a burst of fresh berries. "This city might be dangerous," Aryan mused, "but the food's worth it."
He spent the next few hours drifting aimlessly, watching street performers manipulate fire and light, and occasionally copying odd trinkets from curious shops. The city's noise and color made it easy to fade into the background.
At one point, he paused by a glowing fountain where children tossed in enchanted coins, making wishes that danced like sparks above the water. Aryan flicked one of his gold pieces in, watching the magic swirl and flicker. The city's rumor was that if the magic glowed blue, your wish would come true—but his stayed golden. "Guess I'm already lucky enough," he murmured.
He soon found himself in the city's entertainment district, where reality bent to the whims of magic. A towering arcade filled with enchanted games gleamed with bright runes, and laughter echoed through the air. Aryan slipped inside, his eyes widening at the sheer variety of magical amusements. He tried his hand at a game where miniature dragons raced through a maze—copying the game's rarest prize before anyone noticed.
He strolled through the prize section, snatching a shimmering crystal orb. It pulsed faintly with stored magic. With a flick of his wrist, Aryan copied it and pocketed the duplicate. "Might come in handy," he mused, though half the fun was simply collecting things he didn't need.
After an hour of gaming, Aryan stepped back outside and leaned against a lamppost, watching the night crowd. His eyes fell on a group of performers juggling enchanted flames that shifted colors mid-air. The spectacle drew a large audience, the glowing embers reflecting in their wide eyes.
A familiar scent drifted by—spiced roast skewers. Unable to resist, Aryan followed the aroma to a stall run by a beastman with glowing tattoos. "Two, please," Aryan ordered, dropping a gold coin onto the counter. The beastman raised an eyebrow but took the coin without question.
As he bit into the savory meat, Aryan's gaze wandered to a nearby square where a mechanical golem danced clumsily to the tune of a street musician's enchanted flute. The city never failed to surprise him.
A sharp sound interrupted his thoughts—a set of chiming bells echoing through the district. It was the city's hour mark, a reminder that the night was still young. Aryan grinned to himself. There was so much left to explore, and he had all the time in the world.
For now, he was content to simply enjoy himself. No urgent threats, no pressing worries. Just the city, its endless distractions, and the freedom to do whatever he pleased.