My rapid, volume-based climb through the Reward Matrix made me an unexpected fixture in the Jade Feather Clan Academy. I was the anomaly: the kid with the trash spirit and the simple-minded work ethic who was somehow surpassing those with genuine talent. By exploiting the Volume Over Value flaw, I was closing in on the E-Rank classification, achieving in weeks what took others months.
This unwanted visibility led to a new social dynamic: the constant, inevitable comparisons to the true "geniuses" of the Academy—the Over-Achievers led by Kael (C-Rank) and the Bruisers led by Rork (B-Rank).
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The instructors and students couldn't reconcile my success with my perceived lack of aptitude. They needed a box to put me in, and the one they chose was "The Persistent, Low-Aptitude Grinder."
I was constantly held up as an example, but never in a flattering way:
To the Elites (Kael's Group): "Look at Jackal. He has no talent, but he works! You have genius, but are you grinding your missions like him? No. You are lazy geniuses." The implication was that Kael's group was inherently superior but simply less disciplined.
To the Bruisers (Rork's Group): "Rork, you rely on brute force. Jackal is methodical. He focuses on efficiency! He might be weak, but he's smart enough to stay busy." The implication was that Rork was powerful but tactically simplistic.
The comparisons were a perfect shield. They acknowledged my high mission volume but attributed it to low ambition—the result of a limited mind finding satisfaction in low-level tedium. They praised my diligence, but never my intelligence.
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This dynamic allowed me to observe the true difference between a genius and a controller. The so-called geniuses of the Academy operated under two critical illusions that my Infinite Knowledge easily exploited:
The Illusion of Instinct: Kael, the elegant C-Rank with the Azure Falcon, relied on his "instinct" and "natural feel" for mana flow. When faced with a complex mana problem in class, he'd fumble until his "instinct" clicked. My Hyper-Focus, meanwhile, had already processed all potential solutions and selected the most efficient one. Kael's genius was a slow, trial-and-error process masquerading as brilliance; my control was instant, calculated perfection.
The Illusion of Force: Rork, the powerful B-Rank with the Lava Bear, solved every problem with a hammer. If a shield was too strong, he simply charged harder. Rork believed that more force equaled more power. I knew that power was measured in efficiency and subtlety. Rork would spend his entire mana pool to destroy a door; I would use a single, invisible Kinetic Pulse focused on the hinge.
The greatest gap between us was simple: They fought based on the rules; I fought based on the underlying logic.
When Kael proudly defeated a holographic Rank E Chimera by expending 70% of his mana in a spectacular aerial strike, the instructors called it genius. When I defeated the same Chimera by exploiting a known three-millisecond flaw in its program's movement cycle, using 0.001% of my true mana supply, the instructors called it "sheer luck."
I fostered this perception. I deliberately masked every act of calculated efficiency with a layer of awkwardness or fumbled execution. I was not a genius; I was just the persistent, slightly clumsy grunt who was surprisingly lucky at grinding missions.
This public identity—the persistent, unthreatening mediocrity—was the most valuable asset I possessed in The Ascendant City. It kept the Legendary and Mythic-level scrutiny off my back, allowing the Controller to continue the quiet, rapid, exponential power climb in the shadows. The local "geniuses" were busy shining; I was busy rewriting the System.
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My rapid accumulation of low-grade essence fragments was paying off. My system was stabilizing at an accelerated pace, and I was now only days away from breaking through the E-Rank barrier.
However, moving into the E-Rank would grant me access to higher-level missions and, critically, higher-tier data streams within the Jade Feather Clan. The time for mere grinding was nearing its end. My focus was now entirely on locating the Query Card—the ultimate Rebirth Card—the key to becoming the Authority itself. The Ascendant City was vast, but my time was finite. The next phase of infiltration required a dangerous, visible step up the ladder.