He had run out of hope.

He knew that roughly half of the people his age considered the enlightenment a blessing and pray to the gods for that occurrence.

But he was not one of them as they had a chance, they had training and an education.

He had the " perseverance" of being a street rat and scrounging for food in waste bins and back alleyways.

He wasn't particularly fit but at least wasn't short and with curly brown hair and being 5'10 for a 16 year old wasn't bad.

And they had preparation when they had terrible headaches in the days before the first trial.

He had hopelessness and the yearning to give up.

…

The enlightenment first came 35 years before he was born. It started with the majority of the young men and women of the time suffering from what seemed to be an illness with no one dying immediately.

It came at a time when a already beaten and battered humanity was generally struggling with a food and energy crisis while also being grossly overpopulated.

Then of course people started going into comas days even weeks on end and after these comas they would either wake up or suddenly die.

Those who survived had superpowers that were powerful and mysterious they also told of their first trial, of the harrowing challenges that they faced during them.

Initially the populace was overwhelmed with both panic and joy as most people did not make it out of the trials alive.

The joy quickly turned into panic when the first portals opened and deadly creatures popped into existence.

The only thing that seemed to slow these creatures down were the new enlightened with their abilities and physical prowess.

In the first years 69% of earth's population was killed, the remaining inhabitants were holed up in cities that resembled fortresses and being constantly assaulted by hordes on creatures.

rd

All hope seemed lost but as the numbers of enlightened grew they started to push back the seemingly endless contingencies of creatures.

This all climaxed in a team of enlightened finding a portal and being sucked into it to challenge the 2nd trial which allowed them to gain another powerful ability.

But something interesting happened after the team came back, they could at will transport to the world where their second trial took place.

With this knowledge in hand humanity stabilized through was still being attacked by creatures but was producing more enlightened and putting them through more trials.

…

On the last day he spent all of his scrounged up money on a full meal of real food not the LIVE powder that the government handed out.

Even then the food looked lesson appetizing

'What a ripoff.'

Then a wave of pain assaulted his brain and he doubled over.

'Let me at least finish the food'

He swallowed down the dregs of the "beef stew" and munched dejected on the "crispy carrots"

After finishing his meal the young man of average hight and as thin as a fiddle promptly headed towards the near police station.

As he made his way through the cramped streets and claustrophobic alleyways he was prone to bursts of headaches and stumbling.

'Maybe I should have gone and then eaten'

As he at long last opened the the doors the the sad building with white washed exterior.

The helper at the front desk asked in a bored tone "this is the northwest-247 help department how can we assist you."

"I have symptoms of the enlightenment."

Suddenly alert the attendant eyed the boys slender frame and gaunt face.

"What is your name?"

"Niless Ares."

His parents had been great namers… if their goal was to make a name to make fun off.

"And how long have you been experiencing symptoms?"

"A week."

'Can't you tell I'm barely able to stand'

Panic crossed the man's face as he pressed a button on his desk.

"We have a symptomatic case in station northwest-247 code: black."

Niless keeled over as a it felt like a hot knife was being stabbed through his brain and his world went black.

…

When Niless woke up he was in a concrete room on a cot that looked straight out of a hospital.

A grim man in military uniform walked into the room from a door in the corner.

"Hello there Niless we don't have much time so you will have to pay attention."

"How much do you know about the enlightenment?"

"As much as everyone knows about it." He replied

"Here in a few minutes you will fall into a coma and there your mind will be transported into a illusion, there you must complete some kind of mission for your sake without dying."

The man continued his voice becoming dire,"There is no easy challenge in the trial but you will have your domain and most are not useless."

Niless was trying to listen through the now constant pain in his head.

"Just remember you may have to kill people they are not real just illusions."

With that the man turned, left the room and the light went black with a buzz.

After the week of pain Niless could finally close his eyes.

…

When he woke up he felt impossible heat and the stinging of sand against his face…