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The Sandbox
Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In the late 23rd century, nestled within the soaring skyscrapers of San Francisco, in the once-Golden State of California, a solitary figure found himself engrossed at his desk, enamoured by an object as seemingly innocuous as a briefcase. It was easy to overlook, save for the soft glow pulsating from within and its resonating hum.

Jukaop, the figure captivated by the curious device, had been bestowed upon it by an erstwhile colleague from a unique company initiative: granting each team member the discretion to offer the alpha model of their cutting-edge invention to a close friend or relative. The description of the gift piqued Jukaop’s interest - a game built using neural-link technology.

Finding himself drawn to this strange new gadget, his fingers danced along its borders. He recoiled as a specter of blue light flashed across his digit. Beside the curious device lay its user manual, which he promptly reached for.

Suddenly, his reality cracked open, replaced by an overwhelming whiteness that ricocheted everywhere, before collapsing into an abyss of inky dark. Blinking furiously to adjust to the stark contrast, he began to understand the paradoxical reality enveloping him. Following his moment of comprehension, a powerful voice echoed through his consciousness.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

From trepidation to awe, Jukaop fell to his knees, struck by the unexpected auditory onslaught. Regaining his balance, he observed a figure bathed in a gentle, ethereal light. Recoiling instinctively, he squinted, attempting to discern this ominous figure.

“Welcome to your Sandbox! I’m Linus, dedicated Sandbox Assistant A.I. Are you prepared for our tutorial?” The silhouette excitedly chimed in response to Jukaop's unspoken question.

Feeling a sense of renewed confidence, Jukaop, now in awe of the surrealism of his new virtual reality peered around. After a deeper inspection of the spectral presence, he muttered his reservations, prompting Linus to recalibrate. “I will be here when you’re ready. You can locate your Sandbox Administrative Tools in your status. Just call my name when you wish to proceed.”

Suddenly, an HUD-style interface popped up in front of Jukaop, with multiple semi-transparent screens floating in the air. Among them, one screen attracted Jukaop's attention - a map. He dove into the administrative tools, his eyes widening as the map expanded, displaying unbelievably realistic landscapes, continents, and a complete world.

Intrigued, he zoomed in on a castle crowning a craggy cliff, overlooking an ocean with a labyrinth of robust infrastructure interspersed with dirt paths and teeming with life. His sandbox tempted him with the prospect of teleporting directly to the castle's chamber. Obsessed with his newfound power, he instantly dissolved from his current location, reconstituting himself on the threshold of the castle's grand chamber.

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