NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 2: Flames, Fortune, and First Steps.
Aryan strolled through the dazzling streets of Nova Terra, his eyes wide as a kid in a candy store. Holographic billboards floated mid-air, advertising things like "Potion of Infinite Energy! Buy One, Get a Fireball Free!" and "Level Up Services – Fast, Discreet, 100% Legal!"
"Okay, this place is nuts," Aryan muttered, adjusting his futuristic smartphone in his pocket. "Magic and technology mashed together? I could get used to this."
The streets were a chaotic mix of robed mages, sword-wielding adventurers, and androids buzzing around. Aryan had expected some medieval vibes, but Nova Terra looked more like someone had smashed a fantasy kingdom into a cyberpunk city.
A soft chime echoed in his head.
**[System Quest: Explore the City of Nova Terra and Copy Your First Skill!]**
"Right. Time to test this baby out," Aryan thought, his fingers twitching with excitement.
He glanced around, searching for a suitable target. His eyes landed on a street performer juggling glowing fire orbs while a small crowd cheered. Aryan's system flared to life as he focused on the performer.
**[Skill Detected: Flame Manipulation (Basic)]**
**[Copy Skill? Yes/No]**
"Hell yes!" Aryan thought, and a surge of warmth shot through his body.
**[Skill Copied: Flame Manipulation (Basic) x1,000,000]**
His hands tingled as an instinctive understanding flooded his mind. He could feel the heat around him, like fire itself was just waiting to obey.
"Alright, let's try this out," Aryan whispered, extending a hand.
A tiny spark flickered to life on his palm before quickly fizzling out.
"Huh... I guess that's a good thing," he murmured, relieved that he didn't accidentally blow something up. For now, keeping a low profile seemed smart. No need to announce to the world that he was a walking cheat code.
As he walked deeper into the city, his mind buzzed with questions. What were the rules here? Could he live comfortably without drawing too much attention? The system might have given him absurd power, but it hadn't provided a guide on how to survive in Nova Terra.
His foot nudged something metallic. Looking down, Aryan spotted a shimmering golden coin nestled against the curb.
"Huh. Free money," he chuckled, picking it up. "At this rate, I'm one lucky rabbit's foot away from total domination."
The coin had strange engravings and hummed faintly with energy.
**[Currency Detected: Nova Coin – 1 Unit]**
His system buzzed to life.
**[New Feature Unlocked: Infinite Currency Copy]**
"No way..." Aryan muttered, his heart thudding with excitement.
A closer look revealed a prompt: **Copy currency detected? Yes/No.**
"Yes!" Aryan confirmed without hesitation.
**[Currency Copied: 1 Nova Coin x1,000,000 – Balance Updated to Infinite.]**
He exhaled slowly, absorbing the weight of what this meant. As long as he had even a single coin, he could multiply it endlessly. Infinite money. Infinite possibilities.
"Great. I'm officially the richest hobo in town," he mused, flipping the coin between his fingers. "If money talks, mine's about to start yelling."
The streets grew more crowded as he ventured toward the central square. Towering spires crackled with energy, while floating platforms ferried people across districts. Despite the futuristic vibe, there was an undercurrent of old-world charm—market stalls selling enchanted trinkets stood beside neon-lit cafes.
Aryan tucked his hands into his pockets. "No point drawing attention to myself. Let's keep things quiet until I figure this system out."
A faint rumbling sound drew his attention to a nearby plaza. Massive screens displayed an ongoing arena battle—a hulking beastman in heavy armor clashed with a sleek, robotic swordsman. The crowd roared as sparks flew from the clashing weapons.
"So, public combat's a thing," Aryan mused. "Good to know. Mental note: avoid getting punched by anyone glowing."
He spotted a small, quiet park tucked away from the bustling streets. Settling onto a bench, Aryan opened his system interface and began scrolling through the copied skill.
**[Flame Manipulation (Basic) x1,000,000]**
The sheer volume of the skill was staggering. Even at the most basic level, he could sense an endless reservoir of power. But he decided against testing its limits here—no need to become a viral news headline on day one.
"I'll save the fireworks for later," he smirked, tapping through the system menus. Alongside the copied skill, there were locked categories for inventory, quests, and a mysterious 'World Secrets' tab that refused to open.
"Guess I'll unlock that later," he muttered.
His stomach growled, reminding him that overpowered systems didn't eliminate hunger. A nearby food stall caught his eye, its sign flashing: "Mystic Buns – Spicy, Sweet, and Everything in Between!"
Aryan approached the stall, exchanging a few Nova Coins for a steaming bun. He bit into it cautiously, his eyes widening as a burst of savory flavor hit his tongue.
"Okay, at least the food here's legit," he mumbled around the mouthful. "If I find a burger joint, I might never leave."
A low hum vibrated through the air as a floating patrol drone hovered past, scanning the crowd with a soft blue light. Aryan tensed but relaxed when the drone ignored him and drifted away.
"Security's tight," he noted. "Better not give them a reason to notice me."
He leaned back on the bench, letting himself fade into the background. For now, he would gather information, stay under the radar, and figure out just how far his system could take him.
"This world's got potential," Aryan thought, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. "And I'm just getting started."
The breeze carried the distant hum of airships overhead while the city bustled around him—an endless playground of magic, technology, and secrets waiting to be unraveled.