The final hurdle to my E-Rank classification was the Academy Trials—a mandatory series of combat simulations designed to test a hunter's practical skill, teamwork, and reaction time. For my classmates, these trials were a source of intense stress and validation. For me, they were a perfectly controlled data collection exercise.
The trials were divided into two main categories, both designed to expose weaknesses. I approached each with the same strategy: absolute efficiency masked by visible, superficial inadequacy.
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The first trial was a solo run against a Holographic Chimera (Rank D)—a creature known for its erratic attack patterns and confusing energy signatures. The goal was to survive for five minutes and inflict a minimum damage threshold.
Kael approached this with elegant flair, attempting complex C-Rank mana maneuvers that were beautiful but often too slow, resulting in unnecessary damage. Rork charged in, relying on brute force, destroying the Chimera quickly but exiting the simulation with severe kinetic damage.
My turn was the highlight of the instructors' disdain.
The Camouflage: I adopted the anxious, slightly fumbling demeanor of a low-rank hunter. My Shadow Stalker Lynx spirit was activated, maintaining a constant, low-grade stealth aura that, while visually unimpressive, was a critical shield against advanced sensor detection.
The Performance: I did not run or charge. I moved exactly as my Hyper-Focus dictated: using only the minimum necessary evasion. I appeared to be tripping, slipping, and barely avoiding the Chimera's erratic attacks by sheer, baffling luck.
The Hidden Work: While I looked clumsy, the Chimera's energy attacks were being silently analyzed and absorbed by my Void Alchemist. Its kinetic strikes were neutralized by my constantly running Kinetic Anchor Technique. I was using my Legendary-tier defenses—the very defenses that defeated the Mythic Enforcers—to neutralize the Rank D threat, while making it look like a near-fatal scramble.
For the mandatory damage threshold, I used a single, clumsy Mana Strike that barely grazed the Chimera's tail. It was enough.
The Instructor's Verdict: I survived the full five minutes with zero accumulated damage. The instructors were bewildered. They couldn't fault the result, but they dismissed the method.
"Jackal," the instructor sighed, "your combat style is... unorthodox. You lack grace and striking power, but you possess an inexplicable ability to avoid critical damage. We will mark it down as Exceptional Evasion (Accidental)."
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The second trial required groups to navigate a complex, randomized Dimensional Maze and clear a set number of Slime Aggregates. This tested teamwork, communication, and resource management. I was paired with two nervous E-Rank students who actively distrusted me.
This was the perfect scenario for delegated efficiency.
The Scheme: I assumed the role of the Anxious, Compliant Follower. I refused to take the lead, deferring to my teammates with clumsy apologies: "Oh, you go first! I'm still figuring out my Lynx's stealth, you know? I might mess up the formation."
The Hidden Command: While my teammates were focused on navigating and communicating loudly (a critical energy waste), I quietly engaged my Hyper-Focus. I calculated the maze's randomization patterns and the precise location of every Slime Aggregate in the current iteration.
The Manipulation: I began offering guidance, masking my absolute knowledge as "good hunches." "Hey, maybe we should turn left here? I just have a feeling the energy is cleaner that way," I'd suggest. Or, "I think I hear a slime just past that pillar."
My teammates followed my hunches simply because I wasn't asking them to do any work, only to follow simple directions. They cleared the maze in record time, having followed my perfectly calculated, hyper-efficient route.
The Instructor's Verdict: The team achieved the highest synergy rating in the Academy's history. My teammates received high marks for leadership and communication.
The instructors reviewed my log. It showed that I contributed minimal visible mana and was simply following orders. My mark was Excellent Synergy (Compliant Follower).
I successfully passed both trials. I had proven myself capable of surviving and succeeding without ever expending more than a fraction of my hidden power or revealing my true intelligence. I was officially confirmed as an E-Rank hunter. The door to Level 3 Data Access was open. The final, silent phase of my infiltration could now begin.