The plate flashed with a bright but not blinding light.
Silvery lines spread across the dark space, forming a grid-like pattern as new text slowly emerged on the surface of the plate:
[Initializing Training Protocol…
Welcome, Manager. You have been chosen from among ∞ intelligent beings across ∞ dimensions to serve as the new Manager of the World-Creation Protocol.
Your task is to create the optimal conditions for the emergence of life and to produce a Level 9 being. To accomplish this, you may freely utilize all the resources of the Great Aggregator… Error!
After the initial analysis, you have been assigned Manager Level 0 and the following restriction has been applied to you:
[Landscape Creator – Unavailable]
[Organism Creator – Unavailable]
[Biological Processor – Unavailable]
[Time Acceleration – Unavailable]
[Available area — 0 km²]
…
Alex blinked. Was there anything that was available?
[To unlock access to the basic tools, you must reach Manager Level 1. To achieve this, you must complete the current mission.
Current Mission:
Collect genetic material from your homeworld — 0/13
Gather basic matter to form the foundation — 0/1000]
Well, that cleared things up. Sort of. Alex still had many questions about what was actually happening, but the moment he thought of them, several lengthy paragraphs appeared on the plate.
[Manual:
…
…
…]
Alex nodded and was about to read the Manual when, suddenly, he remembered an urgent matter and stepped back through the silver plate into his apartment.
He put on his jacket and stepped outside to walk the dog.
After that, with nothing else weighing on his mind, Alex returned to the dark space and began reading the Manual.
It took him many hours, and by the time he stepped out of the silver plate, his apartment lay in the shadowy silence of an early winter evening, broken only by Michael's snoring. Without bothering to turn on the light, Alex walked into the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.
He was feeling exhausted after reading for many hours straight, and yet his heart thundered with excitement. At last, he knew the true nature of the silver plate. It was, in fact, a magical artifact.
A priceless treasure from another dimension that granted its wielder immense power to create worlds.
It had chosen Alex as its Manager. What exactly did this position entail? He now had to use it to create worlds and sentient beings. Moreover, the stronger his creations became, the more of the plate's capabilities would unlock for him.
The only thing that remained unclear, even after reading the Manual, was the plate's ultimate goal. The Manual was evasive on this point: it stated that the Manager must produce a Level 9 being, but never explained what that actually was.
However, Alex was too excited to be bothered by such details. He could create an entire world! Only his imagination (and his current Rank) limited his powers.
Alex was eager to begin his work as Manager immediately. Sadly, before any of the plate's power could be unlocked, he had to complete his first mission:
[Collect genetic material from your homeworld — 0/13
Gather basic matter to form the foundation — 0/1000]
According to the Manual, almost anything could serve as "basic matter," making the second task relatively easy to accomplish. As for the first one…
Alex pondered about it for a moment and then shook his head. It was late, and he was too exhausted after reading what felt like an entire book's worth of the Manual.
He should rest, at least for now.
Alex closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.
…
As usual, Alex awoke to the horrible ringing of his alarm clock.
He winced, grabbed his phone, swiped a finger across the screen, and saw a message from his boss. Apparently, the man wasn't pleased with Alex's sudden "fever" and had threatened to cut his bonus if he didn't show up today and work overtime to finish the task.
Alex slowly set the phone aside.
He had far more important things to do today. First, he needed to understand what exactly the plate meant by "genetic material."
Alex was about to start thinking about it, when suddenly…
"Woof!"
…Time for a walk.
Alex smiled as he clipped the leash to Michael's collar. Upon returning, he removed the leash and was about to place it on the shelf when he noticed a few grey hairs clinging to it.
Alex stared at them for a moment, and then, with a look of epiphany on his face, rushed into the dark space and offered his pet's hairs to the silver plate.
[Collect genetic material from your homeworld — 0/13
…
Collect genetic material from your homeworld — 1/13]
It works!
Delighted, Alex hurried to search online for the closest pet store.
Finding it was easy; petting every animal while the employees gave him suspicious stares—not so much. At last, Alex bought a pack of dog food and headed home.
After stepping into the plate, he began presenting various hairs and feathers to it.
[Collect genetic material from your homeworld — 2/13
3/13
4/13
5/13
5/13
5/13
6/13]
Alex winced. It seemed that various breeds of cats and dogs didn't count as different samples of genetic material. He needed to find other animals. That could prove bothersome.
While planning the infiltration of the local zoo, Alex went to the kitchen to make some instant noodles. Suddenly, his attention was caught by the drawing of a cow on the package.
Wait…
Alex returned to the plate and tossed the package into it:
[7/13]
It works!
Without hesitation, Alex ran to the nearest grocery store and bought all sorts of meat, which he then began tossing into the plate.
Salmon:
[7/13]
Octopus:
[8/13]
Chicken:
[9/13]
…
[12/13]
Almost done. However, there was no meat left for him to use.
Alex sighed, scratching his head. He was about to order some mystery stuff from the net when, suddenly, a light flashed in his eyes. He yanked out a strand of his own hair and placed it into the plate:
[13 / 13]
[Congratulations! You have amassed the required amount of genetic material. Mission accomplished.]
Done.
Alex snapped his fingers. Now he had to complete the second mission…