I Got a Godly Rank Skill

Part 1: The Escape

Jack's heart pounded as he sprinted through the dense woods, his breath ragged, his legs burning with exertion. The cold night air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. Behind him, shadows flickered between the trees—silent, relentless, in pursuit. The Seekers were not easily deterred.

"Keep moving!" Aelira barked, her voice sharp with urgency. She ran ahead, her cloak billowing behind her, her every movement precise and controlled. Dane was just behind her, his curved daggers gleaming under the moonlight, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for threats.

Jack clenched his fists, feeling the raw energy still pulsing beneath his skin. His body thrummed with power, wild and unstable, waiting to be unleashed. He still didn't fully understand what he was, but one thing was clear—whoever the Seekers were, they wanted him, and they were willing to tear apart anything in their way to get to him.

A branch snapped to their right. Jack instinctively turned his head, just in time to see a dark figure emerge from the trees. The Seeker moved unnaturally fast, their form blurring as they lunged forward.

Dane reacted instantly. He pivoted, one of his daggers flashing as it slashed through the air. The Seeker dodged, their cloak twisting like living smoke, but Dane was relentless. He struck again, forcing their attacker to backpedal.

"Don't stop running!" Aelira called over her shoulder.

Jack hesitated, torn between running and helping, but the moment he hesitated, another figure appeared from the shadows—this one heading straight for him.

Jack barely had time to react. The Seeker raised a hand, and a pulse of dark energy shot forward. Instinct kicked in before thought could. Jack threw up his arms, and the energy within him surged.

A golden barrier flared to life around him, shimmering like liquid fire. The dark energy slammed into it and shattered, sending ripples of light cascading outward. The Seeker staggered back, clearly not expecting resistance.

Jack didn't wait. He lashed out with his own power, releasing a burst of force that sent the attacker flying into a nearby tree. The impact was brutal, and the Seeker crumpled, unmoving.

Dane, having finished his fight, grabbed Jack by the shoulder. "We have to go. Now."

Jack nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He wasn't sure if he had just killed someone. He didn't have time to dwell on it.

They ran.

Part 2: A Hidden Path

The trees grew thicker as they pressed on, the path barely visible under the shadows of the towering branches. Jack's body ached, his mind racing. How had his life changed so drastically in just a single day?

After what felt like an eternity, Aelira finally slowed. She gestured toward a rocky outcrop ahead, half-hidden by the underbrush. "There."

Jack frowned. "What's there?"

Dane pushed past him and crouched beside a seemingly unremarkable section of rock. With a swift motion, he pressed his hand against the surface, and a soft, golden light pulsed beneath his palm. A low, mechanical click sounded, and the rock shifted. A hidden doorway slid open, revealing a dark tunnel leading underground.

Jack's eyes widened. "What—?"

"No time for questions," Aelira said, already stepping inside. "Move."

Jack hesitated only for a second before following. The tunnel was narrow and cold, the air damp with the scent of earth and stone. The moment they were all inside, Dane pulled a lever, and the entrance sealed behind them.

Aelira exhaled. "We should be safe here. For now."

Jack turned to her, frustration and confusion bubbling to the surface. "Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

Dane snorted. "Now he asks."

Aelira shot him a look before turning to Jack. "We're part of the Order of the Veil," she said. "An ancient faction that has existed for centuries, hidden from the eyes of the world. We protect people like you—people with power that others would seek to exploit."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Exploit how?"

Dane leaned against the tunnel wall, folding his arms. "Depends. Some want to control you. Others want to kill you before you become a threat. The Seekers? They're the latter."

Jack swallowed. "Why?"

Aelira's gaze was unreadable. "Because you're not just powerful, Jack. You're something else entirely. A relic of an age long forgotten."

Part 3: The Truth Revealed

The tunnel eventually led to a hidden chamber, dimly lit by lanterns. Old maps and books cluttered the space, and at the center stood a stone pedestal, etched with symbols Jack didn't recognize.

Aelira placed a hand on the pedestal and looked at Jack. "You asked what you are. It's time you learned the truth."

Jack stepped closer, feeling a strange pull toward the pedestal. The symbols glowed faintly as he approached, as if reacting to his presence.

"Long ago," Aelira continued, "there were those who wielded powers beyond the comprehension of modern civilization. They were not ranked by simple letters or measured by their abilities. They were Ascendants—beings who stood between humanity and forces that sought to destroy it."

Jack's pulse quickened. "You're saying… I'm one of them?"

Aelira nodded. "Or at least, you carry their bloodline. You're awakening into what you were always meant to be."

Jack's mind reeled. "But how? Why now?"

Dane shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe you were never supposed to wake up. Maybe something triggered it."

Jack clenched his fists. "And the Seekers? What do they want?"

"They fear what you could become," Aelira said simply. "And perhaps… with good reason."

Jack frowned. "What does that mean?"

Aelira hesitated before answering. "Power like yours can change the world. But it can also destroy it."

Part 4: The Mark of the Ascendant

Jack absently touched his chest, where the strange mark had appeared after his awakening. "And this? What is this mark?"

Aelira stepped forward and traced a similar symbol on the pedestal. "It's the mark of an Ascendant. A sign of your lineage."

Jack's breath caught. "Then… there are others like me?"

Dane exhaled. "There were."

A heavy silence filled the chamber.

Jack swallowed. "Were?"

Aelira's expression darkened. "The last known Ascendant vanished centuries ago. Some say they were hunted to extinction. Others believe they sealed themselves away, waiting for the right moment to return."

Jack's chest tightened. "And now I'm the first one in centuries to awaken."

Aelira nodded. "Which means you're a target."

Jack exhaled, trying to process everything. His entire life, he had been told he was weak. Worthless. An F-rank. And now, he was being told he carried the bloodline of beings so powerful that they had been erased from history.

He felt like he was standing on the edge of something vast and terrifying.

And for the first time, he wasn't sure if he was ready.

Part 5: The Path Forward

Aelira placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You have a choice, Jack. You can try to run from this, live in fear… or you can embrace it. Train. Learn to control your power before it controls you."

Jack looked at his hands, the golden energy flickering faintly beneath his skin. The truth was, he had never felt more alive than he did now.

He clenched his fists, then met Aelira's gaze with newfound determination.

"What do I have to do?"

Aelira smiled, just slightly. "We start training tomorrow."

Jack took a deep breath. Whatever came next, he would face it head-on.

Because he was no longer just an F-rank.

He was an powerhouse.