The night was shrouded in darkness, and a chilling wind swept through the desolate alleyways of Celestia City. The sky above was a canvas of stormy clouds, threatening to drown the world below in a torrential downpour. However, at this late hour, only a few souls dared to roam the streets. Among them was a young boy, no older than fifteen, dressed in worn-out clothes that had seen better days. His name was Jin Long, known simply as Jin.

Jin's eyes were a deep shade of black, almost like the night sky itself, with a glimmer of something untamed lurking within them. His hair, a wild mess of raven strands, danced with the gusts of wind as he trudged through the slums. Despite his frail appearance, his gaze held a determination that seemed almost out of place for someone in his condition.

The orphanage had been Jin's home for as long as he could remember. Life was harsh, and food was scarce, but Jin never complained. He had always been the kind-hearted one, sharing whatever little he had with the younger kids. Yet, beneath this gentle demeanor, there lay a cold, ruthless side—a side that had emerged on those rare occasions when he had been pushed too far.

Tonight, though, he was simply trying to survive.

The rain began to pour, heavy droplets slamming against the cobblestones as Jin made his way toward an abandoned warehouse. The streets had long since emptied, leaving only the sound of the rain as his companion. Jin's goal was simple: he had overheard that a few crates of food were stored in the warehouse, left behind by the merchants in their haste to escape the incoming storm. For Jin and the other orphans, this food would mean the difference between going to bed hungry or having something to eat.

As he slipped inside, the darkness swallowed him whole, his footsteps silent against the cold stone floor. Jin moved like a shadow, his senses heightened from years of surviving on the streets. But tonight, something felt different. There was a heavy weight in the air, a presence that sent shivers down his spine.

A flicker of movement caught his eye. Jin froze, his breath hitching as he saw a group of men huddled together in the far corner of the warehouse. They were clad in black robes, their faces obscured by hoods, and in the dim light of their flickering lanterns, Jin could make out the glint of steel—swords, daggers, weapons of all kinds.

"What are they doing here?" Jin thought, his heart pounding in his chest. This was supposed to be a simple raid for food, not a confrontation with armed strangers.

As Jin was about to turn back, a low voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Do you have it?"

A tall man, seemingly the leader of the group, stepped forward, holding a small, ornate box. The others leaned in, their breaths hushed in anticipation. Jin's curiosity got the better of him, and he crept closer, trying to get a better look.

The leader opened the box, revealing a strange, glowing crystal. It pulsated with an eerie light, casting long shadows on the walls. The men gasped, their voices filled with awe and reverence.

"This… this is the Celestial Core," the leader whispered, his voice trembling. "With this, we can awaken the hidden potential within anyone… we can create an army of Z-rank warriors."

Jin's eyes widened. Z-rank warriors were the stuff of legends, said to possess abilities far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. In this world, ranks determined one's strength, from the lowest F to the highest known S rank. But Z rank? That was a myth—a fairy tale whispered among the desperate and the dreamers.

Suddenly, the leader's gaze snapped up, his eyes locking onto Jin's hiding spot.

"Who's there?!"

Jin's heart skipped a beat, but years of living on the streets had honed his instincts. Without thinking, he dashed toward the exit, but not before a flash of light engulfed him. Pain exploded in his chest as he was thrown against the wall, the world spinning around him.

When Jin opened his eyes, he was surrounded by darkness. The pain had subsided, replaced by a strange warmth that seemed to radiate from within him. He tried to move, but his body felt heavy, almost as if it was being restrained by invisible chains.

"What… what's happening to me?" he thought, panic setting in.

And then, he heard it—a voice, soft and ethereal, echoing in the depths of his mind.

"Awaken, child of the forgotten flame…"

Suddenly, Jin's vision was filled with blinding light. In this realm of pure white, he saw himself standing in front of a colossal gate, its surface inscribed with ancient runes. The gate pulsed, resonating with his heartbeat, as if calling to him.

With a trembling hand, Jin reached out. The moment his fingers brushed against the gate, it swung open with a thunderous roar. A surge of energy flooded his body, overwhelming him with a sensation he had never felt before—power, raw and untamed, coursing through his veins like wildfire.

But just as quickly as it came, the vision ended. Jin gasped, finding himself back in the warehouse. The men were gone, and he was alone.

"What… what was that?" he whispered, his hands shaking.

Unknown to him, a small, barely noticeable mark had appeared on his chest—a symbol that glowed faintly before fading into his skin. It was the mark of a Celestial Ascendant, a being capable of surpassing even the highest known ranks. But Jin was unaware of this. To him, he was still just an ordinary boy, struggling to survive.

As he stumbled out of the warehouse, Jin knew one thing: whatever had happened, he couldn't let anyone know. The streets were dangerous enough, and the last thing he needed was to be hunted for powers he didn't understand.

But deep down, something had awakened within him—a spark that refused to be extinguished, a fighting spirit that would never bow to the world's cruelty.

And thus, the journey of Jin Long, the boy who would one day be known as the Hidden Ascendant, began.

But for now, he was just Jin, the orphan with nothing to his name, unaware of the extraordinary power sleeping within him.

Little did he know, this was just the beginning of a path that would lead him to the pinnacle of strength—a journey from zero to ZZZ rank, where he would face unimaginable challenges, forge unbreakable bonds, and uncover the secrets of his own existence.

The flame within him was forgotten, but not extinguished. And soon, the world would learn that even the smallest spark could ignite a wildfire that would change everything.