With a pulse of energy, and no fanfare, Jukaop materialized into existence at the entrance of the ornate throne room. The thunderstruck occupants of the room, a Noble seated upon a grand throne, his advisors and guards, gawked at Jukaop. A wave of shock ripped through the chamber as they realized a man, dressed in an odd garb, had suddenly appeared before them.
The Noble, an individual of seldom participation, was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. Unable to comprehend the absurdness of the situation, he tried to ignite his faded instincts from his days as a knight. He indicated the guards near the entrance to advance towards Jukaop and roared out, "Who are you?"
To Jukaop, this entire spectacle felt surrealistic. His disbelief at finding himself in an authentic medieval space, the level of detail, the intensity, and the graphic quality left him speechless. He was just an ordinary person, teleported into an alpha stage of a game creation product, except this was in reality, an astounding virtual presentation unlike any earlier gaming experiences.
"Apologies for the sudden intrusion," replied Jukaop in a slightly shaky voice, raising a hand slightly trying to convey that he meant no harm. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am..." Here, Jukaop found himself at a loss. Should he announce himself as a developer, testing the alpha version of an enthralling virtual reality game? Or should he play along, assuming a character fitting to the medieval setting around him? Finding no immediate answer to his dilemma, and aware that his silence would not remain favorable for long, Jukaop chose to play along. "... I am Jukaop, a weary traveler, who has appeared here through a mystical portal."
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As the words left his mouth, Jukaop couldn't help but find a hint of fondness for his own fabricated explanation, finding it surprisingly fitting in the scenario. He surveyed the room, observing the impact of his words on the assembly, wishing to get through this encounter unscathed. It was clear that his adventure in this Sandbox world was going to be much more than what he had initially anticipated.
The Noble narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Jukaop cautiously. The silence hung heavy in the air as the guards tightened their grip on their weapons, ready to pounce at any sign of danger.
"A traveler, you say?" the Noble's voice dripped with skepticism. "And how did you stumble upon this 'mystical portal'?"
Jukaop took a deep breath, trying to conjure up a convincing story on the spur of the moment. "I was wandering through the dense forests of my homeland when I stumbled upon an ancient ruin," he began, his voice growing more confident with each word. "Within its depths, I found a hidden chamber, adorned with strange symbols. I touched a glowing artifact, and the next thing I knew, I was transported here, to this grand castle."
His tale was met with a mixture of intrigue and disbelief. The Noble leaned forward, his eyes ablaze with curiosity. "You speak of an artifact," he said slowly. "Do you still possess it?"
Jukaop realized he needed to be careful with his response. Revealing the true nature of the artifact as a mere gaming device could jeopardize his already fragile position. "I'm afraid not," he replied, feigning disappointment. "It seems that the artifact was lost during the journey. I only managed to escape with my life."