The evaluation day arrived cold.
Jak stood outside the guild testing grounds. Five other adventurers waiting with him. All scheduled for quarterly assessment.
Standard procedure. Every three months. Capability verification. Rank confirmation or adjustment.
Most people stayed the same rank. Occasionally someone dropped. Very rarely, someone increased.
Jak knew he'd increase. The question was how much the guild would acknowledge.
His baseline was solidly B-rank now. Maybe mid B-rank in some metrics. But the guild might classify him as high C-rank. Just touching threshold. Not fully across.
Political decision. Safer to under-rank him. Less attention. Less scrutiny.
Jak was prepared for that. Would accept high C-rank classification if necessary. Keep cultivating. Try again next quarter.
But he hoped for B-rank. Access. Opportunities. Resources.
The testing began at dawn.
First test: combat trial.
They released a wyvern into the arena. Adult. Aggressive. Standard C-rank equivalent threat.
Jak and Shade killed it in three minutes. Clean execution. Efficient. Professional.
The evaluators made notes. Showed no emotion.
Second test: enhanced combat trial.
They released two wyverns simultaneously. Both adults. Combined threat was high C-rank.
Jak and Shade killed both in five minutes. Shade handled one. Jak handled the other. Coordinated. Synchronized.
More notes. Still no reaction from evaluators.
Third test: extreme combat trial.
They released a rock troll. B-rank equivalent. Large. Dangerous. Heavily armored.
This was the threshold test. Pass this, prove B-rank capability.
The troll was slow but powerful. Each strike could kill. Each hit could cripple.
Jak didn't engage directly. Instead, he used mobility. Void step. Appearing and disappearing. Striking weak points. Hamstrings. Joints. Neck.
Shade coordinated perfectly. Mirrored movements. When Jak appeared on one side, Shade attacked from the other.
The troll couldn't track them. Couldn't defend everywhere simultaneously.
Ten minutes. The troll fell. Multiple critical wounds. Bled out.
Jak stood in the arena. Breathing hard. But uninjured.
The evaluators conferred. Long discussion. More notes.
Second phase: capability assessment.
Mana output measurement. Jak's output was significantly higher than three months ago. Blue glow was brighter. More intense.
Reaction testing. Jak caught or dodged every thrown object. Speed was measurably faster than before.
Void detection testing. They set up artificial rift tears in concealed locations. Asked Jak to find them.
He found all twelve. In under five minutes. Without missing any.
The evaluators looked surprised. That was the first emotion they'd shown.
Third phase: threat evaluation.
They showed Jak images of various monsters. Asked him to assess whether he could handle each threat solo.
Standard C-rank threats: yes.
High C-rank threats: yes.
Low B-rank threats: yes, with preparation.
Mid B-rank threats: uncertain.
High B-rank threats: no.
Honest assessment. Conservative. Jak didn't want to appear overconfident.
The testing concluded around midday.
"Wait here," the lead evaluator said. "We need to compile results. This may take several hours."
Jak waited in a side room. Shade beside him. Nervous energy making it hard to sit still.
Through the bond, the fox's calm. Whatever happened, they'd handle it.
Four hours passed.
Finally, the lead evaluator returned. With Guild Master Corvin.
That was unusual. Corvin didn't normally attend evaluations personally.
"Jak," Corvin said. "Your results are... significant."
"Sir?"
"You've improved dramatically in three months. Every metric shows substantial growth." Corvin set down a document. "Combat capability is solidly B-rank. Mana output is B-rank. Reaction speed is B-rank. Void detection is beyond B-rank. Possibly touching A-rank levels."
Jak's heart pounded. This was it.
"However," Corvin continued, "your growth rate is unprecedented. Nobody progresses this fast. It raises questions."
"Shadow fox bond provides unique advantages—"
"Yes. I know. That's what you keep saying." Corvin's expression was unreadable. "We've consulted historical records. Compared your progression to other shadow fox bonds documented in guild archives. There are three previous cases. None showed growth rates comparable to yours."
Silence.
"Which means," Corvin said slowly, "either your bond is truly exceptional. Unique beyond any historical precedent. Or you're doing something we don't understand."
"I'm not using unauthorized enhancements," Jak said carefully. "No illegal substances. No forbidden techniques. Just training. Cultivation of my bond."
"Cultivation." Corvin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting word choice."
Jak realized his mistake. Cultivation was the ancient term. Not commonly used in modern guild language.
"I mean development," Jak corrected. "Strengthening the bond through exposure and training."
"Yes. That's what we assumed you meant." Corvin opened the document. "Your official classification is being updated to B-rank. Effective immediately. Congratulations."
Relief flooded through Jak. B-rank. Official. Verified.
"However," Corvin continued, "B-rank adventurers are subject to additional oversight. Quarterly evaluations become monthly. Performance is monitored more closely. And you're prohibited from taking contracts above your rank without supervision."
"I understand."
"Good. You'll also be assigned a mentor. Someone to ensure your development remains... appropriate." Corvin gestured to the door. "Elena has volunteered. She'll be your primary contact for B-rank operations."
Jak's stomach dropped. Elena. The mage who suspected him. Who questioned his abilities.
"Is that a problem?" Corvin asked.
"No sir. Elena is an excellent mage."
"She is. And she's very interested in understanding your rapid development. I'm sure you'll learn much from her." Corvin's tone was neutral. But the implication was clear.
This was surveillance. Not mentorship. Elena would watch him. Study him. Report back.
"Dismissed," Corvin said. "Collect your B-rank documentation from the main desk. Your new contract access begins tomorrow."
Jak left the office. Mind racing.
B-rank. Achieved. Official. That was victory.
But Elena as mentor. That was complication. Danger.
She suspected something. And now she had official oversight. Authority to question. To investigate.
Jak needed to be more careful than ever. Hide the cultivation. Hide the techniques. Present everything as natural talent. Unique bond. Exceptional luck.
For however long that remained believable.
Through the bond, Shade's certainty. They'd achieved the goal. B-rank. That was what mattered.
Everything else would be handled as it came.
Jak collected his B-rank documentation. New rank badge. Updated contract access. Increased monthly stipend.
Official recognition. Permanent status.
Whatever challenges came next, he faced them as B-rank adventurer. Not C-rank rookie.
That made all the difference.