Over 200 years ago, towering beams of light appeared all over the world. Over time, they released unknown and horrific creatures that people referred to as "Demons". In order to battle these Demons, humanity gathered strong forces and formed the "Vanquisher Corps". With extensive efforts, the Vanquishers managed to seal the pathways, but the battle for survival never came to an end, for these pathways never stopped tormenting the world.


    ***


    Loud chants and cheers could be heard throughout the streets of the city of Tillian. A young boy dashed into a crowd of people, seeming desperate to reach the front of the roaring group of people. He squeezed through tiny openings left in between the crowd. Once reaching the front of the crowd, with a big smile on his face, he looked up and layed eyes upon them.


    "Vanquishers!" Yelled the young boy with an excited expression.


    The boys dream was to be a Vanquisher. Many young lads dream of obtaining their Gift and joining the Vanquisher Corps.


    Behind the boy was a girl about the same age as him. She squeezed through the same openings the boy had been through, wanting to reach the excited boy.


    "Ken! hold up!" The girl exclaimed.


    "Your too slow, if I wait for you I''m gonna miss them!" The boy responded.


    In front of them were Vanquishers, marching the streets. The boy kept running, keeping up with the pace of the armed group, not being able to take his eyes off them.


    Eventually, they stopped their march and in front of the group was a beam of light reaching the sky. The boy looked up in amazement, soaking in the white beauty of the light that seems to reach and illuminate the heavens themselves.


    The platoon of Vanquishers took a deep breath, then exhaled as they walked into the beam of light and disappeared.


    The crowd eventually dispersed, feeling disappointment as the group of Vanquishers left. Eventually, so did the boy and the girl.


    "Ken, are you really thinking of becoming one of them?" The girl questioned Kenny.


    "Of course, once I get my gift I''ll become the strongest Vanquisher ever!" The boy said with a excited tone.


    "Then I''ll become one with you!" The girl said.


    "No way Claire, your too weak."


    "I''m not weak!"Claire retaliated while pouting.


    "Tomorrow I''ll be getting my gift, then I''m going to train super hard and become super strong! Then, vanquish all the demons in purgatory!" The boy announced with a big smile on his face.


    ***


    "Forget about it." A man in a white coat said.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "Huh?”


    Kenny’s face was pale.


    "With this gift you can''t become a Vanquisher. The ability is just useless in a battle, all it does is light a flame in your hand. Sorry kid." Said the man in the coat.


    The devastated boy looked over at his status window and read:


    [Name: Kenny]


    [Titles: None]


    [Rank: 1]


    [Gifts: (illuminating Flame)]


    [Blessings: None]


    [Regalia: None]


    Kenny tapped on his one and only Gift:


    [Illuminating Flame (1): A flame that illuminates the darkness.]


    Kenny felt a painful ache in his chest, and a lump in his throat. His eyes began to water. The realization of his dream being crushed was too heavy of a shock for the boy to handle.


    Next to the devastated Ken, a beautiful woman with long black hair looked at her son with a sad expression, and began to comfort the boy.


    "Ken, this doesn''t mean that your aren''t able to become a Vanquisher. Think of it as just an obstical that you must overcome. Beside once you rank up you''ll get better Gifts." Said the woman.


    Kenny, looked up at his mother with his still devastated expression, then looked back down, not speaking a word.


    Once arriving at their home, Kenny went straight to his bed which was stuffed with straw and feathers, still not willing to speak from the shock.


    A tall muscular man with brown hair just like Kenny, looked at the boy walking to the bed while sitting on the dinner table. For about a couple of seconds he looked confused, then realization hit him.


    "It''s not what I think it is, is it?" Kenny''s father questioned.


    Kenny''s mother looked down at the wooden floor with a pained expression. His father did so aswell. He then calmed his tensed up face and sighed.


    "I''ll see if I can talk to him." Kenny''s father spoke.


    The muscular man was hesitant to approach Kenny. He relaxed, then he turned his head to look at Kenny.


    In the corner of the room, he saw a troubled 10 year old boy, hugging his legs and a stream of tears could be seen flowing down his cheeks.


    Rowan walked towards Kenny and sat down. He turned his head in his direction. With a troubled look he pondered on what to say, until he finally broke the silence.


    "What happened at the office?" Rowan asked.


    With a stuttered voice and streams of tears still visible on his face he responded.


    "I got a stupid Gift that can only be used as a torchlight."


    "So, just because one obstical has appeared, now you give up? With that kind of mind set you can forget about being a Vanquisher."


    Kenny looked up at his father not knowing what to say. He wanted to keep trying, but he was doubtful. His gift which could only be used as a torchlight was the root of his worries. He was worried that due to his lack of talent and his useless ability he would be rejected from the Vanquisher corps. In order to enter the corps one had to be talented and have a decent first gift, which Kenny was clearly lacking.


    "It''s not just a one little obstacle, it''s a huge one." Kenny said while sniffling and holding his tears back.


    "Mabye so, but are you going to give up on your dream?" Rowan questioned Kenny.


    " I don''t wanna give up. I still wanna be one of them."


    Rowan with a smile on his face stood up and turned towards Ken.


    "Tomorrow in the afternoon, meet me outside in front of the house." Rowan said.


    Kenny with a confused look on his face questioned Rowan.


    "Huh, why?"


    "Because, I''ll be teaching you how to use a sword."


    Kenny''s sad expression faded away, and what replaced it was a big and excited smile. Kenny had never thought to learn how to use a sword, it had never crossed his mind.


    Now, he had found a way to gain strength. A new type of strength. He thought that with pure skill he could overcome the Vanquisher trials.


    "But don''t get too excited. I''m not going to teach you anything amazing, just the basics because thats all I know." Rowan warned Kenny.


    Just as Kenny''s father had promised him, the next day Kenny had started his training. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. In all of that time, all Kenny focused on was learning the sword and learning all there is to know about Vanquishers. With 5 years of hard work and pure dedication, it was time to see if Kenny''s strength was enough. To see if his hard work was for not, and attempt the Recruitment Trails.