Chapter 24: Dominating the Market

The night air was crisp as I stood at the edge of the base, watching the skyline of the world beyond. The success of PT Universe was undeniable. Eclipse Veil was more than just a game now, it was a phenomenon. And with the AR consoles changing the way people interacted with both virtual and physical spaces, I knew I was on the cusp of something far larger than even I had anticipated.

"Argos," I called, my eyes still locked on the horizon, "how are the sales looking?"

[Adrian, sales of the Spectra Gear AR consoles and related products have reached unprecedented levels. Current projections show an upward trend for the next several months, possibly longer depending on new product releases and updates.]

I smiled, satisfied. "And the delivery systems? Any issues?"

[None. The smart boxes are performing within expected parameters, with global deliveries completed within minutes. Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive.]

I glanced at the monitor beside me, watching the flood of orders coming in from around the world. People were ravenous for more. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as I thought about everything I had built. But I also knew the real work was just beginning.

"What's the next move?" I muttered to myself, pacing the room. There was no doubt that PT Universe had taken over the gaming and tech market in record time, but that wasn't enough. I had bigger plans.

[Adrian,] Argos' voice came through with a faint hum of curiosity, [based on current market data, competitors are already scrambling to catch up. Several tech companies have announced upcoming AR devices and holographic platforms. However, their capabilities are significantly behind ours.]

"Let them try," I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "They won't be able to touch us."

I tapped a few keys, pulling up a screen showing the progress of the next phase of my project. The VR pods. These weren't just for gaming, they would allow players to fully immerse themselves in an entirely new way, linking their consciousness with the pocket universe through the use of Azura.

"How long until we're ready to start testing the VR pods?" I asked.

[Testing could begin within the next few months,] Argos replied. [The neural interface technology is stable, and the first prototypes are nearly complete. However, further refinement will be necessary before a public launch.]

"Good. Keep me updated."

....

In the meantime, I had to focus on maintaining control of the market. PT Universe was already dominating the gaming industry, but I wasn't content with just that. I wanted my technology to become the backbone of the entire global infrastructure, entertainment, education, workspaces, everything.

To do that, I needed to continue expanding and innovating, ensuring that my tech stayed years ahead of the competition. But more than that, I had to make sure that people were using it the way I intended. The recent abuse of the game's mechanics had reminded me just how quickly people could turn something good into something dangerous.

I needed to control that. Carefully.

"Argos, bring up the reports from the surveillance drones," I said, turning back to the console.

The screen lit up with a grid of live feeds, showing different cities across the globe. Some were from high-traffic areas, where people were still enjoying the multiplayer capabilities of Eclipse Veil, syncing their AR consoles in public parks and buildings. Others were from more discreet locations, where I had been keeping an eye on players who had a history of pushing boundaries.

[Surveillance reports indicate a decrease in disruptive behavior since the global ban announcement,] Argos noted. [However, a few individuals continue to test the limits of the game's mechanics. They are mostly small groups attempting to exploit the system in isolated areas.]

I watched the feed of a small group in the outskirts of London, where a handful of players were trying to manipulate Azura energy outside of the game's intended use. They weren't causing damage or harm, but they were clearly searching for loopholes.

I sighed. "It was bound to happen. Keep an eye on them. If they cross the line, shut them down."

[Understood.]

It was a fine line to walk. On one hand, I wanted people to explore the full capabilities of my technology, to innovate and create. On the other, I couldn't let them exploit it for their own gain at the expense of others. This wasn't just a game anymore, it was an entire ecosystem, and I needed to maintain balance.

....

Later that evening, I sat back at my desk, the glow of the monitors casting shadows across the room. The success of PT Universe was undeniable, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. Not by my customers or competitors, but by governments, by powers that were starting to view me as something more than just a tech entrepreneur.

Argos had been feeding me updates on the rising tension. Governments from around the world were increasingly concerned about how easily I had hacked into global networks during the launch. They were scrambling to understand how I had done it, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they started digging deeper.

"They're worried," I muttered to myself, flipping through the latest reports. "And they should be."

[Adrian,] Argos chimed in, [there have been increased attempts to breach PT Universe's network security. Multiple governments and independent groups are trying to track the origin of our systems.]

I frowned. "Any luck?"

[None so far. Our encryption layers remain intact, and no intrusions have been detected. However, it is likely they will escalate their efforts in the coming weeks.]

I wasn't surprised. With the kind of technology I was putting out, it was inevitable that people would want to know more. They would see PT Universe as both a threat and an opportunity, depending on their perspective. But I wasn't about to let anyone take what I had built.

"Keep them out, Argos," I said, my voice firm. "We're not ready to reveal everything just yet."

[Of course.]

As I leaned back, a thought crossed my mind. I wasn't just building games or technology. I was shaping the future. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how much control I really had. Not just over the market, but over the very fabric of how people interacted with the world around them.

It was a heavy responsibility, but one I was more than ready to carry.

Because in the end, I was the one who held the power. And the world was just beginning to understand that.