New workout alert! "Marvel: The Infinite Crown" - let's make our library even cooler!.
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{Chapter: 26: Strolling Around The Capital}
More than ten minutes later, a luxurious carriage drawn by four pure white horses came to a halt at the grand entrance. The carriage was an elegant masterpiece, adorned with intricate golden patterns, rich velvet drapery, and several banners fluttering at the top, each displaying the emblem of a noble house. The finely crafted wooden wheels barely made a sound as they settled on the meticulously paved stone road, a testament to the craftsmanship of the artisans who built them.
Dex stepped forward, accompanied by the housekeeper and two beautiful maids. The housekeeper, a composed woman, maintained a professional yet subtly curious demeanor. The maids, on the other hand, bore expressions of both reverence and slight unease, carefully adjusting their movements to remain as graceful as possible in their master's presence.
The interior of the carriage was a marvel in itself, a perfect blend of opulence and comfort. Plush silk cushions, embroidered with complex magical patterns, lined the seats, and the scent of rare incense filled the air, providing a sense of calm and luxury. The space was expansive, large enough to accommodate five or six people with ease, yet somehow intimate in its design.
Dex settled into his seat with casual indifference, his posture relaxed yet exuding an aura of quiet authority. In contrast, the three women accompanying him knelt respectfully at his side, their movements practiced and precise. He paid them no particular mind, as their actions were expected, ingrained by years of tradition and hierarchy.
"There is no destination," Dex stated calmly to the rider. "Just take me on a leisurely stroll."
The coachman, an experienced man with a sharp gaze, nodded without hesitation and skillfully flicked the reins. The carriage smoothly began its journey through the capital's grand streets. Dex shifted slightly, gazing out through the partially drawn curtains, allowing his eyes to take in the cityscape with a rare sense of detachment.
Through the window, the sights of the capital unfolded before him. The streets were lined with towering stone buildings, their architecture a testament to the city's deep-rooted history and magical prowess. The wide, meticulously maintained roads were bustling with merchants, scholars, and soldiers, each going about their daily routines with a sense of purpose. Unlike the chaotic filth-ridden cities of medieval Earth, this world's capital stood as a testament to order and refinement. The air was free from the putrid stench of waste, thanks to dedicated maintenance workers and the subtle influence of magic that purified the surroundings.
Yet, not all was pristine. Dex's keen eyes caught faint traces of blood on the cobbled streets, remnants of past conflicts or quiet purges that the common folk preferred not to speak of. The city, despite its grandeur, had its own share of hidden struggles, its undercurrents as treacherous as any battlefield.
For once, Dex allowed his mind to drift, neither fixated on spells nor engrossed in his next move. Instead, he observed, analyzing the world around him in a rare moment of reflection.
As a kingdom with a lineage spanning thousands of years, the Principality of Marton possessed a majesty beyond even the grandest of Earth's ancient civilizations. Its walls, standing nearly twenty-five meters high, loomed like silent sentinels, their enchanted structures capable of withstanding sieges that would have shattered lesser fortresses. The city's magical advancements gave it an edge over Earth's medieval period, yet paradoxically, its technological development remained stagnant, unable to surpass the limitations imposed by supernatural forces.
This stagnation, Dex mused, was the inherent weakness of a world dominated by magic. While the civilization had flourished in culture, knowledge, and social structure, it had not progressed much in terms of innovation. The suppression of technological advancements due to the overwhelming presence of supernatural forces had kept society locked in a state resembling the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. Even after millennia, true industrial progress had failed to take root, stifled by the sheer unpredictability of magical influence.
Yet, signs of change were evident. Small advancements, budding innovations, and whispers of scientific curiosity were beginning to surface. Dex, with his inherited knowledge, could already foresee the inevitable clash between magic and technology. Given time, the structured predictability of science would challenge the dominance of the arcane.
In the end, the supernatural forces of this world were fragile compared to the vast potential of mortal ingenuity. Magic, for all its wonders, was a fickle power, reliant on talent, bloodlines, and environmental factors. It was exclusive, limited to those gifted by birth or fortunate enough to stumble upon ancient secrets. Technology, in contrast, was built upon the foundation of collective knowledge—something that could be shared, replicated, and refined without the constraints of personal talent.
In the grand scheme of things, magic was bound to falter. Once mortals absorbed enough knowledge, once they broke past the barriers imposed by tradition, the magic's grip on history would loosen. The once-mighty sorcerers would be reduced to nothing more than relics of an old age, watching helplessly as the world evolved beyond their reach.
Dex held no strong bias between the two forces. To him, magic and technology were merely tools, paths to different destinations. However, he understood why technology, in its infancy, held an undeniable advantage. Where magic was erratic, technology thrived on structure and order. A spell's outcome could change based on the wielder, the environment, or even the whims of the gods, but a technological formula remained absolute, unaffected by the caster's lineage or talent.
Even in the Abyss, his inherited memories whispered of mechanical horrors—creatures of steel and flesh fused together by unknown sciences. Among them, nuclear demons and biomechanical monstrosities roamed freely, their very existence challenging the notion that magic reigned supreme. Thus, reflecting the nature of the Abyss, the Chaos fused two things that cannot be fused in the presence of order.
The thought was amusing.
Gunfire echoing in the depths of the abyss. It is normal for everyone to shoot with guns!
DA DA DA!!
It was a reminder that not even the most supernatural beings were free from the influence of science.
Yet, technology has its own complications. Transferring it across worlds was a delicate process. The very laws of physics could shift, rendering entire fields of research obsolete. What functioned flawlessly in one realm might crumble under the differing constants of another. A scientific formula producing an output of 1 in one dimension could yield 15 in another, a discrepancy that would prove disastrous for delicate machinery.
Thus, while interdimensional travelers dreamt of sailing across galaxies, conquering new worlds, and bending reality to their will, the truth was far less forgiving. More often than not, those who relied solely on technology found themselves at the mercy of unpredictable cosmic forces, crushed by the very laws they failed to account for.
So, although it is a good idea to drive a spaceship to another world, it is also easy to crash and die upon arrival.
Only the most advanced civilizations—those who had mastered the fabric of reality itself—could impose their own will upon the multiverse, rewriting its rules as effortlessly as a poet composing verse. To them, the stars were nothing more than stepping stones, their empires stretching across dimensions with the arrogance of gods.
Only a very small number of forces at the top of technological civilization have the power to ignore the laws of the other dimension, arbitrarily change the basic laws of the world to expand colonies, and treat the multiverse as their own pasture.
Could Dex follow such a path? Perhaps. With the power of his system, he had the potential to tread the line between magic and technology, wielding both as tools to shape his destiny. Yet, his true interests lay elsewhere. The pursuit of knowledge was a means to an end, not the end itself.
Leaning back against the plush cushions, Dex exhaled softly, closing his eyes as the carriage rolled on. For now, he would watch. Observe. The world had its patterns, and he intended to decipher them all in due time.
After all, Dex only needed to take care of himself and stay well-informed. There was little point in taking the arduous route of developing a civilization through technological advancements, especially in a place like the Abyss, where the very fabric of reality twisted and shifted unpredictably. Attempting to climb the technology tree in such an environment was nothing short of madness.
Those so-called kind and friendly compatriots of his race would never grant him the patience required to develop things slowly. They were not the type to wait for progress—they were predators, taking what they wanted through force and destruction. In comparison, the path of raw strength and supernatural power was far more practical. If someone stood in his way, it was simpler to crush them with magic and brute force rather than wait for technological advancements that might never come.
The carriage rolled steadily through the bustling streets of the royal capital, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against well-paved stones filling the air. Unlike in lawless territories or unruly slums, the citizens of the capital displayed nothing but deference and careful courtesy. Whenever the royal-flagged carriage passed, people instinctively stepped aside, bowing their heads slightly as a sign of respect. No one was foolish enough to block the path or cause trouble.
Dex, lounging comfortably within the lavish interior, felt his boredom deepen. His head rested lazily against his palm as he peered through the slightly parted curtain. His crimson eyes scanned the moving scenery outside, taking in the clean streets, well-dressed nobles, and busy merchants conducting their daily affairs. Everything was orderly, proper, and utterly mundane.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"This is annoying," he muttered under his breath. 'I want to pick a fight with someone...' he thought helplessly.
His fingers idly tapped against the wooden panel beside him as he continued to watch the capital's peaceful life unfold. He had been hoping for something to stir his interest—some excitement, some conflict, even just a minor incident to break the monotony.
Noticing her master's clear disinterest, the housekeeper, who sat near him with an attentive expression, hesitated for a moment before speaking up. Her voice was soft and respectful.
"Sir, if you're feeling bored, would you like to visit Zenit Hall or the Arena? These are the two places most favored by the nobles of the capital."
Dex arched a brow, intrigued but not entirely convinced.
Zenit Hall was renowned as the most luxurious establishment in the city, a high-class pleasure house where fallen noblewomen, disgraced daughters of ruined families, and other well-bred but unfortunate women sought patrons. Unlike common prostitutes, these women possessed refinement, education, and charm, beauty and figure, making them highly desirable to aristocrats and influential figures.
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New workout alert! "Marvel: The Infinite Crown" - let's make our library even cooler!.