Tutorial (1) – the beginning...

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  The city was filled with lights and people.

  On a side of busy road a large restaurant, with big words 'Heaven Delicacy' written over.

  Inside a large restaurant, multiple customers were coming and going in.

  Waiters taking orders.

  And on the further inside the kitchen staffs and chefs were working.

  "Hey, do it properly. Remove it before it soaks too much oil."

  I said, pointing my fingers towards one of the chef.

  The chef with troubled face nodded and moved his hands quickly.

  The tongs flipped the chicken legs in oil, a sizzling sound spread across the kitchen.

  "You, flip the patties quickly."

  I pointed towards another chef.

  I looked as he turned over the patties with spatula on the grilled.

  The other side barely safe from burning.

  "You, check temperature properly!"

  "Cut the veggies more small and keep the chicken big."

  I instructed them.

  My voice filled with annoyance.

  'Seriously, these people call themselves chefs.'

  I clicked my tongue.

  'They have no art. I tell you, no art.'

  Fixing my glasses, I roamed and looked around.

  The sight of these chefs working slowly and carelessly came in eyes.

  "Seriously, are you all rookies? Do it properly!"

  I snapped, frustration clear from my voice.

  The chefs couldn't say anything.

  "Chief, calm down! Calm down!"

  A woman approached me.

  He brown hair tied and kept under chef hat.

  I noticed a stain over her white chef dress.

  'This woman!'

  "What is this, Elisa? How many times have I told cleanliness is first priority for chef?"

  I shouted, hoping she would learn.

  "I know boss, I always take care of cleanliness."

  She said, not even realizing her mistake.

  "Then, why are there stains over your clothes?"

  I said, my eyes stared at her.

  "Oh this! it is nothing, chief!"

  She shamelessly said.

  "This woman, you're already a senior chef, just when will you learn?"

  I shouted.

  'Seriously, these all people just make me angry.'

  I clicked my tongue in frustration again.

  "Come on lad, let them be at least for today."

  An old voice entered my ears.

  I turned my head, looking at the old man behind.

  Chef hat covered his balding head.

  His face old and showed experience.

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  His nature calm and simple.

  Following him was a young man.

  "Yes, chief. You should take a rest for today, in just half an hour, it is your birthday."

  He said.

  "Yes chief! Don’t stress yourself!"

  Elisa also joined them, with shameless expression.

  "Haa! Fine!"

  I sighed and said.

  I removed the apron I was wearing and put it on the stand.

  "Mr. Samuel, handle the kitchen, Elisa, monitor the cutting of veggies and meat and Philip, keep taking rounds making sure no one slacks."

  I instructed them, as I moved towards my bag.

  "Hoho! Don’t worry lad, I will handle them."

  Mr Samuel, his old voice chuckling.

  "Yes, chief. Leave it to us."

  Other two also said.

  "I tell you Mr Samuel! You favor them all too much. They have no art, I tell you, no art."

  I said, clicking my tongue.

  'I seriously can't leave my kitchen to them.'

  I took out my clothes from my bag and moved towards the changing room.

  After a few minutes, I completely changed into my clothes.

  White shirt and Black pants.

  I fixed my black messy hairs and wore back my glasses.

  I covered my white shirt with black jacket.

  And came out of the changing room.

  As I passed through the kitchen to move towards the door.

  "Phillip, I will be on table no. 7, tell Mr George to deliver a latte coffee and scrambled egg with toast."

  I ordered him.

  "Seriously chief, coffee again! You already had like 8 cups! And it's midnight!"

  Phillip said, his voice incredulous.

  "Shut up! And just do as I say."

  I said, not paying attention on his behavior.

  Well, he was correct to some extent.

  I moved through the gate and entered the area where customers were seated.

  As usual table no. 7 which was reserved for me and chief staffs was empty.

  I quickly moved walking through the seats and sat at my chair.

  The cushion pressed under my weight and I comfortably laid my back.

  My hands reached my pants pockets.

  Monday, 13 May.

  11:38.

  I took out my phone to watch time and put it on the table.

  Waiting for my coffee, I looked around myself.

  As always the restaurant was working good, it was filled with customers of all ages.

  A little boy waved at me, eating his ice cream and I waved back at him.

  An old couple came across.

  "Oh! Happy birthday lad!"

  They said.

  "Thank you Mr and Mrs Jones! But still half hour is remaining."

  I greeted back.

  They nodded and moved towards their seat.

  They were one of regulars of this restaurant.

  They used to come here, even back when I was just a rookie chef.

  As I was being greeted by others, a waiter came towards my seat.

  He put forth the plate from the tray, he was carrying in his hands.

  There were scrambled eggs with toast.

  And besides it, he put the cup of coffee.

  "Here’s your order chief!"

  He said with a smile.

  "Good. Thank you!"

  I replied.

  "By the way what do you think about decorations? Do you like it?"

  He asked, expecting good answers.

  I looked around noticing the decorations and lights insides the restaurant came.

  And at the entrance was written 'Happy 27th birthday, chief!'.

  'Hmm.. it not too bad.'

  I thought looking at the decorations.

  "It’s okay."

  I gave my short reply.

  "Come on, chief, you should stop being stingy with praises!"

  The waiter said.

  "Stop wasting time and go take other customers orders."

  I ordered him.

  "As you command chief!"

  He nodded and moved.

  As he hurried away, I picked up the fork from the left side of plate.

  I slowly began to cut the the toast and scoop scrambled eggs.

  Taking a bite into my mouth, I looked at decorations once again.

  It was my 27th birthday, to be precise about to be.

  11:43.

  I glanced at the clock.

  There were still 17 minutes left.

  Now that I think about it still hasn't occurred.

  'Could a problem have occurred?'

  I mused to myself.

  By now this planet should've been integrated into the tower.

  And I should've also entered the tower.

  My plan of removing the seal of world energies and escaping through first worldline during the tower integration was successful.

  And as a result, I was born into this planet as a normal human being.

  My parents were normal people who ran a small restaurant.

  But then one day, they died in a road accident.

  The staff of the restaurant were my parents' friends.

  After they were gone, they raised me up.

  And eventually as I grew up, I learned about the cooking.

  And it impressed me.

  How mixing few things makes a completely new things, new ideas, the way to presenting things.

  Proper proportion, temperature, ingredients among many things to consider.

  It is an art.

  Cooking is an art.

  Eventually with our combined we turned the small, struggling restaurant into cities' one of the best and finest restaurant.

  And it has been 27 years for me.

  I took the last bit from my plate and put the fork down.

  I picked up the cup of coffee and began to take small sips through it.

  My phone vibrated on the table.

  My hands reached to it and pressed the screen.

  11:54.

  The blue screen flickered, showing notifications of the messages.

  I opened it, the home screen background of me and others holding various restaurant certifates and awards.

  I scrolled through the message and mostly were about wishing me happy birthday.

  11:56.

  I closed the phone taking one quick glance at the time.

  I continue to sip the coffee slowly.

  My gaze swept towards the gate.

  Customers were coming in and out.

  Outside the door, through the glass, I could watch the bustling and lively of city.

  Vehicles were moving on the roads, people were walking across the side roads.

  Lights shined from the road lamps, vehicles, shops and buildings.

  11:57.

  And the large clock tower as usual shone brightly.

  I finally finished the coffee and put it back on the table.

  The waiter quickly came towards my table.

  He picked up the plate and cup in his empty tray.

  "Anything else, chief?"

  He asked.

  "No. Let's eat at the party time."

  I said, with a simple smile.

  I knew they all prepared a small party for me.

  "Sure, chief!"

  He said and moved.

  11:58.

  I looked at the clock, just 2 minutes were remaining for my birthday.

  But then something suddenly happened.

  Just for a very small moment.

  Everything around fickered—bathed in hues of purple and orange.

  As if reality itself had glitched like a broken game.

  "Hey, did you feel it?"

  One of the customers said.

  "Yeah, what was that?"

  Other customer said.

  "Hey, look something happened outside?"

  Another one said, pointing towards outside.

  Everyone followed his gaze outside the glass gate.

  I also looked through it.

  Multiple vehicles had crashed into buildings, into stree lamps.

  "Is it accident?"

  "But so many at once?"

  It looked more than just accidents.

  "Hey, my phone is not working!"

  One of the customers panicked.

  "Mine too!!"

  "My phone is also not working!"

  "What’s happening?"

  Others puzzled.

  They all began to panick.

  My hands calmly reached and opened my phone.

  11:59.

  There was no signal.

  And it didn't even went forward the lock screen.

  'Has it begun?'

  I wondered to myself, keeping my thoughts steady.

  And as if to answer my questions, a blue translucent screen appeared in front of my eyes.

  [Connecting.......]

  [Connecting.......]

  [Connection Successful!]

  A sharp chime sound rippled through the surroundings.

  And then it began.

  [Worldline: 9 Universe: 156 Planet: Earth(186396BE13)!]

  These strange numbers were the address of this planet.

  It simply meant, it was 9th worldline of one of 13 worldliness, 156th universe out of countless multiverse and that was the planet number out of multiple planets in this universe.

  [INITIALIZING Tower Integration Sequence]

  "Hey, what are these all things?"

  "Am I seeing things?"

  "What the hell is happening?"

  The customer, waiters all fell into panick and confusion.

  The same was true for the people outside.

  [10%..20%....30%....40%.....]

  I calmly stayed on my seat.

  My eyes glanced towards the clock.

  11:59:49.

  Only 10 seconds were left until my birthday.

  [50%....60%...70%......]

  10.

  The outside buildings slowly began to turn into dust.

  9.

  So were people, furnitures and others things inside the buildings.

  8.

  The people inside the restaurant panicked watching this all.

  7.

  The people, vehicles, lamps roads also began to turn to dust particles.

  6.

  They panicked, tried to run here and there.

  5.

  But it was useless they all turned to dust.

  4

  [80%...90%.....]

  And now it was turn for the people inside the restaurant.

  3.

  First, the walls, the gate, and the windows disintegrated—crumbling into fine, silent dust.

  2.

  Then, the people nearest to them followed—swept away like ashes in the wind.

  1.

  And finally... us.

  0.

  A soft chime rang out.

  Then—“Happy Birthday to you…???

  The cheerful tune played from a music player sitting in the center, its lights flickering faintly.

  “Happy Birthday to you…???”

  The melody distorted, slowing slightly, as the music player itself crumbled, piece by piece, until nothing remained.

  I let out a short, dry chuckle.

  Then my body began to vanish—fingers first, then arms, like I was being erased from reality.

  And in that final moment, before everything went black—

  [Integration Successful!]

  [Cleaning up the remains...]

  [Initiating Tutorial Protocol...]

  [Tutorial Begins!]