The Hermes Family Pet Breeding Base, Emerald City.
...
Seven had made a choice, even though it seemed so foolish and miserable.
He got dressed in his regular leather garment and packed his silver hair to the side, banding it with a wide elastic ring that helped it stay still on the side.
His pale skin was shiny and charming, but the cuts and bruises pasted around caused a pitiful ugliness.
This was due to the countless battles he had fought with various Pets in his family's Breeding Base and ended up not being able to defeat any. Most times, he was the one almost getting killed.
But today was going to be different.
Walking out from the small cottage built in a corner at the base, Seven glanced straight at a huge building by his right.
He was ready for this one last battle.
Since he was 16, the right age when every youngster begins their journey as a Vanquisher, he had been struggling to vanquish his first Vessel.
After the apocalypse, the world had changed, and the era of Vessels and Vanquishers had begun.
Vessels are terrific creatures that have been affected and changed by the devastating effects of the apocalypse. There were still Vessels who came with the apocalypse. However, the strongest humans had made sure they were chased far away from the world or captured and kept in their base...
Vessels are of two stages, Pets and Beasts.
After the great cataclysm, not only the actual world suffered the effect, but the entire universe. New strange races appeared from nowhere and took over the neighboring planets with an ambition to destroy humanity.
The humans were forced into a great war that destroyed half of its population, almost losing their planet to these cruel races. However, it was after the Three Generals discovered that they could kill these terrifying creatures that raided their world and hacked their souls that they managed to win the war.
These creatures became loyal and protective of those who hacked their souls, forgetting the fact that they were made to devour humanity.
After this discovery, humanity defeated every force that came against them, raising them as the strongest race in the universe except for the Voidspawns, who were deadly powerful but showed no interest in the land of humans.
The process of killing and hacking a Vessel's soul was called Vanquishing, while those who had a successful vanquishing became Vanquishers.
In this transforming world, it was everyone's dream to become a Vanquisher. Those who ended up not becoming a Vanquisher are regarded as a piece of trash, just like Seven.
Although he had been failing to vanquish his first Vessel since two years ago, there was still hope.
A hopeless hope.
Seven grabbed his sword, placed at the side of the door, and walked over to the huge building. This was where the Pets were kept and trained.
It was the twentieth time he was going for a vanquishing attempt, but he was having quite a bright face today even though he had failed the other times.
Now this was the simple truth...
Weeks ago, Seven obtained a system after almost dying from the rage of a Metal-skinned Crocodile in this same base.
Since this system appeared, Seven's life seemed to have transformed a little.
[Vanquisher Achievement Task: Vanquish your first Vessel.]
[Vessel Recommendation: Vanquish the Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat.]
This was why he had a bright look on his face, unlike other days.
The foolish and miserable thing was that this Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat was the most neglected Pet in the Hermes Family Pet Breeding Base.
Everyone believed that there was nothing a Cat-type Vessel could offer to a Vanquisher.
They were regardless as "useless".
However, Seven had been deeply convinced by the system to vanquish the Cat... It wasn't as if he would ever succeed in trying to kill other Pets in the base.
"Here we go!" He shouted as he dashed into the pet building.
Families weren't allowed to store Beasts in their bases, so one could only find Pets in a family-owned base except for the First-class families that assembled pets as much as they wanted.
The Pets in the building roared from several angles as he walked in. They were all kept in a large walled compartment, making it impossible for a breakout.
The reason for this harsh approach was the fact that Seven had confronted them many times. Although he didn't win, he had become their greatest enemy.
Seven ignored them and continued walking until he reached the extreme of the building.
In the last walled compartment, a Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat with long whiskers and pointed claws could be seen lying on one side, far gone in a deep sleep.
Seven smiled upon noticing this and quickly brought out a bunch of keys from his garment pocket. Since he was aiming to get his first Vessel, he was given the keys to all compartments in the base.
Gently, he inserted a key and made a silent twist. The steel door opened without a sound, and he walked in slowly and quietly.
After walking close to the Cat, he pulled out the short sword from the rope around his waist, raised his hand, and attempted to stab the Cat in its belly.
However, just as his hands were landing for a strike, the Cat suddenly woke up and reacted.
MEOW!
Although it was too late.
Seven was fast enough to make a successful stab before the Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat could escape.
It died.
At that same moment, the system he obtained sounded in his head.
[You have slain a Starless Vessel, Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat.]
[Do you want to hack its soul and make it your companion?]
"Yes," Seven quickly replied.
[Soul of Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat hacked. Vanquishing in progress...]
[Vanquishing complete.]
[How long do you want this Vessel to be your companion?]
Seven hesitated for a while and replied.
"Forever!"
[Duration of Companionship: Infinite.]
[Vessel rebirth in progress...]
[Vessel rebirth completed.]
[You have gained your first Vessel, Starless Golden-horned Silver-furred Cat Pet.]
[You have gained three Skills, and so have your Vessel.]
[Vanquisher Skills: Telepathy, Share, Refuge.]
[Vessel Skills: Luminous Whiskers, Clawplay, Copycat.]
Seven couldn't help but smile... In the end, he had achieved this two-year-long ambition, even if it was what everyone despised.
"Finally, hehehe!"
[Congratulations, you have become a Vanquisher!]