December 31 had arrived, a date that had traditionally been synonymous with joyous celebrations, laughter, and the promise of a new year. But this year, the world held its collective breath, gripped by fear and uncertainty. What was meant to be a day of revelry had become a day marred by anxiety and dread.

In the small, cozy living room of the family home, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. Lleyn, his parents, Eva and Leo, and his younger sister, Sera, were gathered around the television, watching the grim news unfold.

On the screen, reporters struggled to maintain their composure as they delivered updates on the escalating chaos outside. Images of riots, looting, and mass panic filled the screen, a stark contrast to the joyous celebrations that typically marked the end of the year.

Eva, her face etched with worry lines, couldn't tear her gaze away from the television. "It's like the world has gone mad," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Leo, her husband, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We knew this day would come, but nothing could prepare us for the magnitude of it all."

Sera, their daughter, who had just celebrated her fifteenth birthday, sat on the floor, her eyes wide with fear. "Are we going to be okay, Mom? Dad? Lleyn?"

Lleyn, his expression resolute, looked at his family. "We'll be fine, Sera. We've faced adversity before, and we'll face this together."

As they continued to watch the turmoil unfold on the television, a news anchor's voice crackled through the speakers. "Reports are coming in from around the world, with theories and speculations running rampant. Some claim that this is the end of the world, while others believe it's a test of some kind. But one thing is clear—no one knows for certain what will happen at midnight."

The family exchanged somber glances, acutely aware of the looming uncertainty. The midnight hour, when the tutorial for mankind was set to begin, had become a symbol of fear and trepidation.

Eva voiced the unspoken question that hung in the air. "Lleyn, do you think any of us will be selected for the tutorial?"

Lleyn hesitated for a moment, contemplating the possibilities. He had chosen to keep his participation in the tutorial a secret from his family, not wanting to burden them with the knowledge of his impending departure. "I don't know, Mom. It's entirely random. We can only hope for the best."

Leo, ever the voice of reason, chimed in, "Regardless of what happens, we'll stick together as a family. That's what matters most."

As they continued to watch the news coverage, Lleyn's mind raced with thoughts of those he cared about. Chris, Emily, Lana, and Robert—his closest friends and allies—were all living in a world that had been plunged into chaos. He wondered how they were coping, how they were preparing for the unknown.

Outside, the world seemed to unravel further. Reports of isolated incidents of violence and hysteria escalated, and a sense of impending doom hung over the city. The countdown to midnight was inexorably ticking away, marking the arrival of a new year and a new era.

The family had decided to stay home, hoping that the relative safety of their sanctuary would shield them from the turmoil outside. It was a stark contrast to the festivities they had enjoyed in previous years, but it was a choice born out of necessity and a desire to stay together.

As the evening wore on, they gathered around the dining table for a simple meal, their conversation peppered with moments of uneasy silence. The food remained largely untouched, as the weight of the world's uncertainty overshadowed their appetite.

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Sera, her youthful optimism attempting to break through the darkness, spoke up. "You know, guys, once this is all over, I'm going to make a change. I want to make a positive impact in a world that's been turned upside down."

Her words sparked a glimmer of hope in their hearts. Leo smiled at his daughter. "That's the spirit, Sera. No matter what challenges lie ahead, it's up to your generation to shape the future."

As the hours passed, they returned to the living room and continued to watch the television, the countdown to midnight displayed prominently on the screen. The world outside grew increasingly chaotic, with reports of apocalyptic cults and doomsday prophets emerging alongside the widespread unrest.

Eva, her voice heavy with sadness, whispered a prayer. "May we find strength in each other and the bonds that hold us together."

Lleyn, though plagued by his own doubts and fears, took his mother's hand and offered a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this, Mom. Together, as a family."

The minutes ticked away, each one laden with uncertainty and dread. The family could only hold each other close, their hearts filled with a mixture of hope and fear as they awaited the midnight hour, when the world would be forever changed.

As the clock inched closer to midnight, the television broadcast switched to a live feed of the world's major cities. The entire globe seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would come next.

In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, the family clung to each other, ready to face whatever the midnight hour would bring—a moment that would define their future and the fate of humanity itself.

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The living room was enveloped in a tense silence as the countdown on the television screen continued its relentless march toward midnight. The family huddled together, their arms wrapped around each other, seeking solace in their unity.

Less than two minutes remained until the world would change forever.

Eva clutched Lleyn's hand tightly, her knuckles white with anxiety. Sera, their young and resilient hope, buried her face in her father's chest, seeking comfort and refuge.

As the countdown reached its final minute, a heavy sense of foreboding hung in the air. The numbers on the screen seemed to tick away like the countdown to an apocalypse, and in a way, it was just that—an uncertain and terrifying unknown that awaited them.

With every passing second, the tension in the room intensified. The very concept of time seemed to distort, stretching into an eternity of fear and anticipation.

Ten... nine... eight...

Lleyn could feel his heart pounding in his chest, its rhythm synchronized with the relentless countdown.

Seven... six... five...

Eva whispered a final prayer, her voice trembling with emotion.

Four... three... two...

The world outside was silent, as if holding its breath along with them.

One...

At that moment, a blinding light erupted in the room, overwhelming their senses. Lleyn instinctively closed his eyes, the brilliant radiance searing through his eyelids.

When he dared to open his eyes once more, he found himself standing in a void, surrounded by infinite darkness. Panic surged through him, and he reached out, only to find nothingness.

As his eyes adjusted to the absence of light, a message materialized before him, stark against the abyss:

"The tutorial has started. Congratulations on being chosen."

A profound sense of isolation and uncertainty settled upon him. Lleyn was no longer in the world he had known. He was somewhere new, somewhere strange, and he had no idea what awaited him in this uncharted territory.

Back in the living room, his family was left behind, the countdown having concluded with his abrupt disappearance. In those fleeting moments, the world had irrevocably changed, and they were left to grapple with the chilling reality that Lleyn, their son and brother, was now a part of a journey they could neither fathom nor predict.

As the midnight hour ushered in the unknown, a world in turmoil stood on the precipice of transformation, and Lleyn's fate was inexorably intertwined with the uncertain future of humanity