Long ago, there lived a man named Sano, a brave adventurer and devoted family man with a wife and two young children. Their life was simple and peaceful until tragedy struck: his wife fell gravely ill. Desperate to save her, Sano sought help from every healer and doctor he could find, but her illness was beyond any known remedy.

Refusing to give up, Sano set out on a relentless journey across forests, mountains, and rivers, seeking a mythical herb rumored to cure any ailment. Along the way, he encountered strange people and faced perilous challenges, but despite his determination, his wife’s condition worsened. Hope dwindling, Sano heard of a rare and powerful herb hidden deep within a cursed forest, a place whispered to be haunted by malevolent spirits.

With no other options and driven by love for his family, Sano ventured into the foreboding woods. The deeper he went, the darker and more oppressive the forest became until he stumbled upon a cave shaped like an ominous “M.” Believing the herb might lie within, he entered cautiously, his every step echoing in the cold, damp darkness.

As Sano pressed onward, he tripped over a loose rock and tumbled down a jagged slope. The fall seemed endless, but he miraculously survived without serious injury. Rising shakily to his feet, he dusted himself off and noticed something glimmering faintly in the dim light—a golden chest, partially buried in the cave’s depths.

Hope reignited in his chest. He approached and carefully opened the lid, but instead of a cure, a torrent of shadowy smoke burst forth. Dark sprites materialized, their forms like swirling mist, their eerie whispers filling the air with riddles. As quickly as they appeared, the sprites dissipated, leaving the cave shrouded in an ominous silence.

What emerged from the chest was far more than shadows. An otherworldly energy, later called “Essence,” was unleashed upon the world. While this Essence granted ordinary people incredible powers—control over fire, wind, and even healing—it also awakened ancient demons. These fearsome beings roamed the earth, wreaking havoc and feeding on humanity for strength. For 5,000 years, the world became a battleground between the gifted and the monstrous.

In the bustling city of New Rise City, a 14-year-old boy named Devon worked tirelessly in a small donut shop. From cleaning the tables, floors, and even the roof, to scrubbing the kitchen, taking out the trash, and washing Momo’s car, he handled it all with determination. This shop wasn’t just where Devon worked—it was also his home.

Momo, his adoptive parent, had taken him in when he had nowhere else to go. She ran the donut shop with a no-nonsense attitude but cared deeply for Devon, even if she didn’t always show it outright.

As Devon finished wiping down the last table, he approached the counter where Momo was counting the register. “Momo, I finished all my tasks. Now sign it,” he said, handing her a piece of paper.

Momo looked up, frowning as she read the bold print at the top of the page: "Enroll today to become a Purger. Take on the Purger Trials and protect humanity. 

Her brow furrowed, and she set the paper down on the counter. "Devon, we’ve talked about this. You don’t need to get yourself mixed up in something so dangerous," she said firmly.

"But, Momo," Devon protested, his voice pleading. "This is what I want to do. I’m strong—I can handle it. And it’s not just for me, it’s for us. The money would help with the shop and everything else. Please sign it as you promised me.”

Momo hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. “But your parents…” After a long pause, she sighed deeply and picked up the pen. With a shaky hand, she signed the form, filling it out completely.

“Thanks, Momo!” Devon beamed, snatching the paper from her hands. Without waiting for a response, he bolted out the door and ran down the street toward the nearest mailbox.

A man named Cloudy entered the shop. He was a Purger and carried himself with a calm confidence. He sat in the chair in front of the counter.

"Hey, Momo. How are you doing?" he asked with a friendly smile.

"Hi, Cloudy. I’m... doing fine, I guess," Momo replied. "You want the regular?"

"You know me so well," he said with a chuckle.

Momo nodded and headed to the back. She started preparing Cloudy’s usual order: a cup of black coffee and three chocolate donuts.

Cloudy noticed Momo’s movements were stiff, her usual ease replaced with a tension he hadn’t seen before. When she returned, she placed the cup of black coffee and three chocolate donuts in front of him.

“Here you go. Hope you enjoy,” she said with a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Cloudy took a sip of his coffee, studying her carefully. “Momo, is there something wrong?”

“What? No, no, no, I’m fine,” she said quickly, avoiding his gaze as she busied herself wiping the counter.

Cloudy raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Come on, tell me,” he said gently. “I can tell something’s up.”

“Well, Devon is signing up to become a Purger,” Momo admitted.

“Really? That’s nice. That kid would do wonders,” Cloudy said with a grin, taking a bite of one of his donuts.

“Nice? No, it’s not nice,” Momo snapped, her frustration bubbling up. “He’ll die if he joins up. I’m hoping he fails the trials so he can come back here.”

Cloudy said “God, Momo, you don’t believe in your kid?”

“He’s not my kid… well, he is, but…” She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I just don’t want him to die. I’ve heard Purgers don’t make it past the age of 25.”

“That’s a lie!” Cloudy exclaimed, gesturing to himself. “Look at me—I’m 30! Plus, he’ll be fine. He just needs to make some friends, and everything will be nice and dandy.”

Momo frowned, clearly not reassured. “Still, I don’t want him joining...” She paused, her eyes lighting up with an idea. “Wait—Cloudy! Maybe you can convince him not to join. That’s a good idea. Can you do that for me?”

Cloudy responded. “Convince him not to join? You do know the kid’s probably set on this, right? I can talk to him, but no promises. He seems like the stubborn type.”

“Please, try something, Cloudy,” Momo pleaded.

“Alright then,” Cloudy said with a sigh, grabbing a donut as he stood up.

Meanwhile, Devon was standing near a mailbox, holding the envelope addressed to the Purger Organization in his hands, a determined look on his face.

“Devon!” Cloudy called out, walking toward him.

Devon turned around, surprised. “Oh, hi, Cloudy,” he said.

“What are you doing, Devon? Who are you sending mail to?” Cloudy asked.

“Oh, to the Purger Organization!” Devon said enthusiastically. “I’m gonna become one!”

“Wow, aiming for a good career, huh?” Cloudy said with a nod, his tone casual. “But hey, come sit on this bench with me for a sec.” He gestured to a nearby bench under the shade of a tree.

“Umm... okay?” Devon replied. 

They both sat on a bench near a serene lake, the golden rays of the sunrise glimmering on the water's surface. The scene was calm, but Cloudy’s tone carried a hint of seriousness as he turned to Devon.

“To help out Momo,” Devon replied earnestly. “She took care of me my whole life, so I wanted to repay her.”

“That’s very noble of you, Devon,” Cloudy said with a nod. “But I think it’s better if you don’t join.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Why not?” Devon asked. 

“Because she really cares about you,” Cloudy explained, his tone softening. “If you joined and something happened to you... it would break her heart. She took care of you your whole life, and the best way to repay her is to live—to be safe and happy.”

Devon paused for a moment, staring at the rippling lake. “Yeah, I understand, but... I’m still joining either way,” he said, his voice resolute.

Cloudy sighed inwardly, realizing his words hadn’t swayed the boy. Alright, time to try something different, he thought.

Cloudy looked at Devon, his expression softening. “Devon, I knew your parents when I was in my 20s,” he said, his tone calm. “They were great people, dedicated to protecting humanity. They fought bravely, but... they died facing a powerful demon. Before they died, they entrusted you to Momo, ensuring that you would live and grow up safe. So if you died... that would sour your parents' sacrifice, you know?”

Devon’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t care.”

Cloudy blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“I don’t care about my real parents,” Devon said firmly, his voice unwavering. “I didn’t know them well enough to feel anything about them. What I care about is the person who’s here for me now—Momo. She’s the one who raised me, the one who’s been there every day. I’m doing this for her. For all she’s done to take care of me. I will join, get enough money to be sure she can live in luxury.”

Cloudy sighed, realizing that no matter what he said, Devon was determined to join the Purger organization. The boy had made up his mind, and nothing short of a life-altering experience would change that. He had to try something different.

I can’t stop him, Cloudy thought, but maybe... maybe I can help Momo come to terms with it.

“Alright, Devon,” Cloudy said, standing up from the bench. “I get it. You’re set on joining. But I’m gonna try something else.”

Devon looked up at him curiously.

“I’m going to talk to Momo,” Cloudy continued, “and I’ll try to make her understand that this is what you want. Maybe if she hears it from me... maybe she’ll be a bit more accepting. But I can’t promise it’ll be easy.”

“Right!” said Devon. 

Cloudy walked back into the donut shop, his footsteps heavy. Momo immediately looked up from behind the counter, her face filled with anxiety.

"Did you talk him out of it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Cloudy shook his head. "No, I tried, but no luck. The kid’s determined, Momo. He’s made up his mind."

Momo’s expression dropped, and she placed her hand on her head, as if the weight of the situation was too much to bear. “Oh no...” she muttered, her eyes clouded with worry.

Cloudy stepped closer to her, trying to calm her down. “Momo, calm down, okay? He’s going to be fine.”

Momo's hands trembled as she looked down at the counter. "It’s a promise I made to his parents...

"What promise?" he asked gently.

Momo said “It’s a promise I made to his parents... before they died.  They trusted me with Devon, Cloudy. They asked me to protect him, to give him the life they couldn’t. They wanted him to have a future. The Purger Organization is dangerous, and he’s determined to join them. I’m failing him.” 

Cloudy smiled gently. "Well Momo, you’ve done everything you could. You’ve raised him, loved him, and given him a life full of care. You kept your promise to protect him, and you did that."

Momo sighed. "I guess."

"Look, he wants to repay you for everything you've done. Let him join and be a Purger, and I’ll look after him."

"Will you, Cloudy?"

"Yep, I’ll watch over him, so there’s nothing to worry about."

Cloudy added "He's a pretty strong kid, you know."

Devon placed the envelope in the mailbox and turned to head back to the donut shop. When he runs into Cloudy.

“Cloudy, what did she say?” Devon asked.

Cloudy nodded. Devon knew what that meant. It was a sign that the decision had been made—Momo had agreed he felt a huge amount of glee in his body. 

Devon walked into the shop and immediately pulled Momo into a tight hug.

“Thanks, Momo. I promised to make you proud. I won’t die on you. When I become a Purger, I’ll make sure you can live an easy life.”

Momo hugged him back, her face softening into a warm smile.  "I know you will, Devon," she whispered.

Two days passed, and the Purger Trials had finally begun. Devon stood on the sidewalk, waiting for the bus that would take him and the other new recruits to their destination.

Momo stepped outside, holding his backpack full of supplies. She handed it to him, then pressed a donut wrapped in paper into his hand.

"Here," she said with a small smile. "For the road."

Devon chuckled, taking the donut. "Thanks, Momo. You always know what I need."

She nodded, her eyes glistening. "Take care of yourself, Devon. And remember, don't die okay.”

"Right, I won’t," Devon said with a small smile.

The bus pulled up with a hiss of its brakes.  Devon took a deep breath before stepping onto it. As the doors closed behind him, he turned to wave back at Momo. She stood on the sidewalk, waving with a warm smile, her eyes filled with a mix of pride and worry.

In this vast world, there were four massive zones, each a unique realm of activity and culture. The first was New Rise City, a sprawling metropolis filled with countless districts and neighborhoods. At its heart was Star Wide Plaza, a grand and bustling area where the Purger Trials were being held.

Star Wide Plaza was also home to the Purger HQ, a colossal building where Purgers lived, trained, and carried out their duties. In New Rise City alone, there were a total of 30 Purger HQs, each a vital hub for maintaining order and safety. These headquarters were scattered across the globe, acting as the backbone of the Purgers' mission to protect humanity and uphold justice.

The bus came to a halt at the designated location, its doors sliding open with a hiss. Devon stepped out, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. The towering Purger HQ loomed in the distance, its sleek, modern design a testament to power and purpose. Around him, people from all walks of life, representing countless cultures and corners of the world, gathered with the same goal: to become guardians of humankind.

As Devon started walking toward the HQ, he muttered to himself, “Okay, no pressure, Devon. You’re going to be great. I just need to get to know people. I’ll start by making some friends. That’ll help ease the nerves.”

Devon stepped inside the HQ and was immediately overwhelmed by the sight of what looked like thousands of recruits filling the massive atrium. The air buzzed with chatter, excitement, and a hint of nervous energy as people from every corner of the world mingled. He weaved his way through the crowd, eventually finding a bench where he could sit and take a breather.

“There are a lot of people here,” Devon muttered to himself. “It’s super hard to navigate through them.”

As he scanned the crowded room, a man dressed in white with a dark green jacket and matching pants approached and sat down next to him. Devon glanced at him, thinking, Oh, he looks nice to talk to.

“Hello there,” Devon said, offering a friendly smile, hoping to strike up a conversation.

The man in the dark green jacket replied, "Hi."

Devon smiled nervously. "Hey, so my name is Devon. My mother is Momo, and I’m here to become a Purger t—"

"Geez, calm down, chatterbox," the man interrupted. "Don’t you think it’s unwise to tell someone everything, especially when you just met them? Plus, you didn’t even ask my name yet."

"Sorry," Devon said, scratching the back of his head. "Well, my name is Devon. What’s yours?"

"Joey Bohen," the man replied with a smirk.

"Nice to meet you, Joey," Devon said with a friendly smile. "Hey, can I ask why you’re here to become a Purger?"

Joey sighed, his expression turning serious. "It’s a long story. When I was a kid, me and my little brother got separated. I ended up with a foster family, but I don’t know what happened to him. I have no idea if he’s dead or alive."

"A foster family? Were they good people?" Devon asked.

"Yeah, they’re great," Joey said, a faint smile forming. "I still live with them. Actually, they’re the ones who signed me up to be a Purger since they’re Purgers themselves."

"Wow, that’s cool! So, you’re hoping to find your brother, right?" Devon said

"Yeah," Joey admitted, his voice softening. "But I don’t know where to start. All I remember is that he had red eyes, average ears, and kind of an Nubian nose."

"Maybe I could help you out?" Devon offered. 

"Really? But why help out a stranger?" Joey asked, raising an eyebrow.

Devon grinned. "Well, I know your name now, so you’re not a stranger anymore. Plus, I think I’d have an easier time here if I had friends. Helping you out sounds like a good way to start a friendship."

Joey chuckled. "What a way to make friendships, Devon. Alright, sure—we can be friends."

"Great!" Devon said with a big smile.

Joey stood up and stretched. "Okay, let’s get moving. The Trials could start any moment, so let’s not waste time."

"Right, Joey," Devon agreed, quickly following him.

They joined the crowd of potential future Purgers, a sea of hopeful recruits all buzzing with anticipation. At the center of it all was a massive stage with a microphone set up at the front.

Behind the stage, a man with white hair named Marco Summers paced nervously. He was supposed to address the crowd, but the sheer size of it had him on edge. Taking a deep breath, Marco tried to calm himself, repeating his training techniques to steady his nerves.

"Okay, Marco, you got this," he muttered to himself, clutching the sheet of paper tightly. "Just go up there and read the script you were provided with."

He glanced down at the paper, which outlined everything he needed to say to the recruits.