Jak started choosing contracts systematically.
Not just rift-heavy work. But optimal cultivation opportunities.
The guild's contract board listed hundreds of jobs. Different threats. Different locations. Different pay.
Jak analyzed them. Cross-referenced with rift activity maps in the guild archives. Identified contracts that overlapped with known rift zones.
Dire wolves in the northern forest. Rift zone three. Two rifts within contract area.
Goblin raiders in the eastern hills. Rift zone seven. Four rifts nearby.
Wyvern nest in the southern valley. Rift zone twelve. Stable tear recorded last month.
Each contract paid standard rates. One to two gold. But the real value was cultivation time.
Jak took three contracts per week. Standard rate for active C-rank adventurers. Didn't raise suspicion.
But he structured his schedule around rift access. Planned routes to maximize exposure. Spent extra hours near tears after contract completion.
The guild thought he was thorough. Careful. Professional.
Reality: he was farming void energy.
♢♢♢♢
Week one of systematic cultivation.
Three contracts. Six rifts accessed. Estimated twelve hours total exposure.
Baseline improvement: four percent.
Measurable. Significant.
Jak's void sense sharpened. He could perceive energy patterns from a quarter mile now. Could predict rift formations minutes before they manifested.
His physical capabilities improved. Faster reflexes. Stronger strikes. Better endurance.
Shade evolved too. The fox was larger now. Not dramatically. But noticeably. Fur darker. Eyes brighter. More solid presence.
Mirrored growth. Synchronized. Everything Jak gained, Shade gained. Everything Shade absorbed, Jak absorbed through the bond.
Week two.
Four contracts. Eight rifts. Sixteen hours exposure.
Baseline improvement: another five percent.
Jak noticed the exponential effect now. The more he cultivated, the more efficiently he absorbed void energy. Which meant faster growth. Which meant more efficient absorption.
Compounding returns.
His combat efficiency improved noticeably. Fights that used to take ten minutes now took five. Techniques that used to require effort now felt natural.
The guild noticed. Positive performance reviews. Comments about reliability. Efficiency. Competence.
They didn't notice the growth rate. Just the results.
Week three.
Five contracts. Twelve rifts. Twenty-four hours exposure.
Baseline improvement: seven percent.
Jak was approaching high C-rank capability now. Maybe even touching low B-rank in some metrics.
But officially, he was still classified as mid C-rank. The guild's quarterly evaluations wouldn't happen for another month.
By then, he'd be solidly B-rank baseline. They'd have to acknowledge it. Update his classification.
That would bring attention. Scrutiny. Questions.
Jak was preparing for that. Building reputation. Establishing himself as reliable. Professional. Trustworthy.
When the questions came, he'd have answers. Not complete truth. But acceptable explanations.
"Shadow fox bonds are unique. Growth patterns differ from other beasts."
True. Misleading. But technically accurate.
♢♢♢♢
On week four, Jak took a contract that required overnight stay.
Rock troll territory. Mountain pass. Three days journey. Multiple trolls. Extended operation.
Pay was four gold. Good rate. But the real value was the rift concentration in that area.
Seven rifts documented. All stable. Perfect for sustained cultivation.
Jak traveled alone with Shade. Set up camp in the mountain pass. Within range of three rifts simultaneously.
And cultivated. Continuously. For three days.
Shade absorbed void energy at maximum rate. The fox's form became more defined. More present. Like reality was solidifying around it.
Through the bond, Jak felt the same effect. His perception expanded. His body strengthened. His connection to void energy deepened.
By the third day, Jak could perceive individual void energy particles. Not just general concentrations. Actual discrete units of energy flowing through the air.
That was new. Advanced level void sense.
The ancient journal had mentioned this. "Refined perception. Seeing the structure beneath reality. First step toward void manipulation."
Jak wasn't at manipulation yet. But he was approaching it.
The rock trolls appeared on the second day. Four of them. Territorial. Aggressive.
Jak killed them efficiently. Clinical. No wasted movement. Each strike precise.
The fights took maybe ten minutes total. Then back to cultivation.
By the time Jak returned to the city, his baseline had improved another ten percent total from the three-day operation.
Ten percent. From one contract.
That was exponential acceleration. The longer he spent cultivating, the more efficient it became.
At this rate, B-rank threshold was maybe three weeks away. Four at most.
♢♢♢♢
Jak submitted his contract completion. Four rock troll heads. Clean kills.
The clerk approved payment. Made notes. "Excellent work. You're tracking as one of our most reliable C-rank specialists."
"Thank you."
"Guild Master Corvin wants to see you. Something about performance review."
Jak's stomach tightened. "When?"
"Now. He's in his office."
Jak climbed the stairs to Corvin's tower. Knocked.
"Enter," Corvin's voice called.
Jak entered. The office was the same. Maps on the walls. Books on shelves. Corvin behind his desk.
"Sit," Corvin said.
Jak sat. Shade remained standing. Between Jak and Corvin.
"You've been active," Corvin began. "Three to five contracts per week. Above average for C-rank adventurers."
"I need the income. My sister's care is expensive."
"Understandable. And your performance is excellent. Clean completions. No complications. Other adventurers speak well of you." Corvin paused. "But there's something unusual."
"Sir?"
"Your contract selection. You favor rift-active zones. Significantly more than other adventurers." Corvin pulled out a map. Red marks indicated Jak's contract locations. "Seventy percent of your work is in documented rift zones. Most adventurers avoid those areas."
Jak kept his expression neutral. "Shadow foxes have void affinity. My beast performs better in rift-active areas. It's logical to take contracts that play to our strengths."
"Logical. Yes." Corvin studied him. "And your beast is adapting well? No adverse effects from void exposure?"
"None. Shade seems to thrive in those environments."
"Interesting." Corvin made notes. "We'll want to study that. Shadow fox bonds are rare. Understanding how they interact with void energy could improve our rift response protocols."
"I'm happy to cooperate."
"Good. Monthly evaluation is in three weeks. Standard testing. Combat trials. Capability assessment. Based on your recent performance, I expect you'll test as high C-rank. Possibly touching B-rank threshold in some metrics."
Jak said nothing.
"That would be remarkable," Corvin continued. "Most adventurers take years to progress from mid C to high C. You'll have done it in two months."
"Shadow fox bond provides advantages."
"Clearly." Corvin closed his notes. "Dismissed. Keep up the good work. And be careful in rift zones. They're more dangerous than standard contracts."
"I will. Thank you, sir."
Jak left the office. His heart was pounding slightly.
The guild was noticing. Not suspicious yet. But paying attention.
He had three weeks until evaluation. Three weeks to cross the threshold to B-rank baseline. Then they'd measure it. Acknowledge it. Update his classification officially.
After that, he'd have B-rank access. Restricted zones. Higher-level contracts. Better cultivation opportunities.
The guild wouldn't be able to stop him. His rank would be verified. Legitimate.
He just needed to survive the next three weeks without revealing too much too soon.
Through the bond, Shade's certainty. They could do this. Just needed to be careful.
Jak returned to his room. Checked on Mira. She was healthy. Happy. Safe.
That was what mattered. Everything else was just means to that end.
Tomorrow he'd take another contract. Another rift zone. Another cultivation session.
The path was clear. The timeline was set.
Three weeks until everything changed.