The technique development happened during week two in rift zone fifteen.
Jak had been preventing rifts for six days. Thirty to forty preventions per shift. Perfect record.
But the work was exhausting. Constant monitoring. Continuous energy exposure. No breaks.
On the seventh day, something changed.
Jak was tracking a rift formation. Standard procedure. The energy was clustering. Concentrating. Two minutes from manifestation.
He moved to seal it. But three more formations appeared simultaneously. All in different locations. All progressing toward manifestation.
Four rifts. Sixty seconds. Too many to seal conventionally.
Jak would have to prioritize. Seal the closest ones. Let the furthest one open. Signal for support.
Standard protocol. Acceptable losses.
But Jak didn't want acceptable losses. He wanted perfection.
Through the bond, he felt Shade's instinct. The fox knew how to move through shadows. Through void space. Appearing in distant locations instantly.
Void step. The technique Shade had used instinctively. But never consistently. Never controlled.
The ancient journal had described training methods. "Void step requires understanding. The void dimension exists parallel to reality. Shadows are thin points. Crossover locations. To step through void, you must perceive both dimensions simultaneously. See where you are. See where you want to be. Then step through the space between."
Jak had read the instructions. Never attempted them. Too dangerous. Too advanced.
But now he needed it. Four rifts. Sixty seconds. No choice.
He closed his eyes. Opened his void sense completely. Perceived both dimensions.
Reality. Solid. Present. The physical world.
Void. Parallel. Dark. The dimension beneath.
And between them, thin spaces. Shadows. Where reality was weak.
Jak focused on the shadow beside him. Then on a shadow near the furthest rift. Fifty feet away.
Step through.
The world lurched. Reality twisted. Jak felt himself falling through darkness. Cold. Empty. Terrifying.
Then he was there. Fifty feet away. Standing in the shadow near the furthest rift.
Void step. Successful.
Jak's hands shook. His body screamed protest. The technique was exhausting. Disorienting.
But it worked.
He sealed the furthest rift. Then void stepped to the second. Then the third. Then the fourth.
Four rifts. Sixty seconds. All sealed.
Zero spawns emerged.
Jak collapsed. Drained. His energy completely spent.
Through the bond, Shade's exhaustion. The fox had guided him. Shown him the path. But it had cost both of them.
Void step wasn't free. It required energy. Concentration. Understanding.
But it was possible. And with practice, it would become easier.
♢♢♢♢
Jak spent the next three days practicing.
Short distances first. Ten feet. Twenty feet. Learning to perceive the void dimension clearly. Learning to navigate through darkness without losing orientation.
The technique became smoother. More efficient. Less exhausting.
By the third day, Jak could void step fifty feet reliably. Use it three or four times per shift without complete exhaustion.
That was combat-viable. That was useful.
The ancient journal had been right. "Void step changes everything. Mobility. Positioning. Escape options. Master this technique and you become exponentially more dangerous."
Jak understood now. Void step wasn't just movement. It was tactical advantage. Appearing where enemies didn't expect. Escaping from impossible positions. Controlling battlefield geography.
Combined with his void sense, it made him nearly impossible to corner. He could see danger forming. Step away before it materialized.
The other specialists noticed his improved mobility.
"You're moving faster," Theron said. The B-rank warrior. "I watched you seal four rifts in different locations. Barely saw you move between them."
"My beast and I coordinate well."
"That's not coordination. That's something else." Theron's expression was thoughtful. "You're doing something with shadows. Moving through them."
"Shadow foxes have natural affinity for darkness."
"True. But I've seen shadow fox bonds before. They move fast. You're doing something different. Something I don't recognize."
Jak said nothing. Deflection was becoming harder.
The specialists were experienced. Observant. They noticed details. Patterns. Anomalies.
Jak's techniques were becoming too obvious. Too unusual.
He needed to be more careful. Use void step sparingly in public. Save it for emergencies.
Or he needed to reach B-rank evaluation. Make the techniques official. Part of his verified capability.
Five days until evaluation. Five days to maintain the facade.
Then everything would be documented. Official. Unchangeable.
♢♢♢♢
On the fourth day in rift zone fifteen, Jak prevented forty-seven rifts.
Record performance. By significant margin.
Elena approached him during break. The B-rank mage. "Your prevention rate is impossible."
"My beast has exceptional void detection."
"I'm a mage. I specialize in void energy manipulation. I've studied rifts for twelve years." Elena's eyes narrowed. "Your detection is better than mine. Better than specialized equipment. Better than anything I've seen."
"Shadow fox bond—"
"Is unique. Yes. You keep saying that." Elena crossed her arms. "But unique doesn't explain this. You're not just detecting rifts. You're predicting them. Seeing formations before they start. That requires understanding void energy at fundamental level. That requires training. Study. Experience."
"I learn quickly."
"Nobody learns this quickly." Elena leaned forward. "You've been bonded for two months. I've been studying void energy for twelve years. You shouldn't be better than me."
"Yet I am."
The words came out before Jak could stop them. Defensive. Challenging.
Elena's expression hardened. "Yes. You are. And that's a problem."
She walked away. Clearly upset.
Through the bond, Shade's concern. That conversation had gone poorly.
Jak had made an enemy. Or at least created tension.
That was dangerous. B-rank mages had influence. Connections. Elena could make his life difficult if she chose.
He needed to repair that relationship. Or at least minimize the damage.
But not now. Not when evaluation was five days away. Better to avoid further interaction. Let tensions cool.
After evaluation, Jak would be B-rank. Equal status. Harder to challenge directly.
Five more days. Just five more days.
♢♢♢♢
That evening, Vera found Jak on the overlook.
"Elena is upset," Vera said without preamble.
"I know."
"She's questioning your capabilities. Suggesting you're using unauthorized enhancements."
"I'm not."
"I know. I've watched you work. You're clean. Just extremely talented." Vera sat beside him. "But extremely talented makes people nervous. Especially when they don't understand the source."
"What should I do?"
"Nothing. Let evaluation prove your capabilities legitimately. Once you're B-rank officially, questions stop mattering." Vera's serpent watched Jak carefully. "You are approaching B-rank, right? That's what all this growth is leading to?"
Jak hesitated. Then nodded. "Yes. I think so."
"Good. Then survive five more days. Don't make more enemies. Don't reveal more techniques. Just do your job. Pass evaluation. Become B-rank officially."
"And after that?"
"After that, you'll have new problems. But at least you'll have rank to back you up." Vera stood. "Be careful, Jak. Power attracts predators. And you're showing a lot of power very quickly."
She left.
Jak sat alone. Thinking about her warning.
Five days until evaluation. Five days until B-rank. Five days until everything changed.
He just needed to survive that long. Keep his head down. Avoid confrontation. Maintain the facade.
Then he'd cross the threshold. Officially. Permanently.
And all the questions wouldn't matter anymore. His rank would speak for itself.
Through the bond, Shade's presence. Steady. Certain.
Five more days. They could do this.
Just five more days.