The vastness of The Ascendant City demanded immediate, total conformity. My brief moments roaming the lower tiers confirmed that maintaining the facade of a Rank F hunter wasn't just smart; it was mandatory. The local authorities—sleek, heavily armored patrols radiating constant Rank A energy—were efficient and merciless in maintaining order.
My momentary lapse in attention resulted in the inevitable. As I slipped past a row of opulent housing complexes, a patrol of three guards materialized instantly.
"Stop! You there, civilian!" the lead guard snapped, his voice amplified by his helmet. "You're off schedule. Awakening Ceremony is underway. All unregistered youth must report to the Clan Nexus immediately."
My Hyper-Focus confirmed my location: I was near the Jade Feather Clan district, a minor faction in the city's hierarchy, but one whose members were universally well-connected. I couldn't run; that would betray a high-level evasion skill. I couldn't fight; that would trigger a Legendary response.
I immediately adopted the slightly panicked, deferential posture of a low-level youth trying to follow orders.
"My apologies, Sir! I must have missed the notice," I stammered, pulling my hood back to reveal my youthful face. "I'm... I'm with the Jade Feather Clan. Just transferred in this morning, Sir."
The guard narrowed his eyes but waved me forward. "Get moving. Clan Nexus, Sector Gamma. Don't be late. Awakening is mandatory for all citizens turning sixteen this cycle."
I quickly melted into the crowd, my mind racing. A mandatory Awakening Ceremony. This was an unexpected and potentially catastrophic variable.
---
In my past life, I never participated in this ritual. I was arrogant, relying entirely on the brutal efficiency of my Kinetic/Arcane control. I believed the concept of a Spirit Companion—an external, symbiotic entity—was inefficient, relying on a flawed bond when pure, self-controlled power was superior. Thus, I never awakened a Spirit, relying only on the sheer destructive force of my own accumulated Essences.
Now, facing the overwhelming power of The Ascendant City, I realized the flaw in my old arrogance. I needed layers of camouflage. My Epic Gauntlet was the engine of my power, but a Spirit Companion provided a public, readable System ID—a necessary camouflage in this highly regulated city. Every hunter here had a spirit; not having one would mark me instantly as an anomaly.
I entered the Clan Nexus, a massive, shimmering hall filled with nervous, excited youths. A towering Essence Pillar stood in the center, radiating a complex matrix of ambient spiritual energy designed to initiate the awakening bond.
The youths, one by one, placed their hands on the Pillar. Their spirits manifested in bursts of colored light: roaring Crimson Lions, shimmering Azure Falcons, and hardy Granite Bears. These were powerful, respectable D-Rank and C-Rank spirits—perfect for beginning the climb up the hierarchy.
When my turn came, I approached the Pillar. I had the theoretical knowledge to bond with a Mythic-tier spirit if I chose to expend the immense energy, but that would be immediate suicide. The spirit's energy signature would scream my true power to the entire city.
My goal was camouflage and long-term strategic advantage. I needed a spirit so common, so weak, and so insignificant that no one would bother analyzing its energy signature.
---
I placed my hand on the Essence Pillar. I channeled my unique, perfectly controlled flow of energy—not to draw in a powerful entity, but to perfectly filter and suppress all but the most basic, lowest-frequency spiritual essence available.
The energy surged, and the hall held its breath for the new Jade Feather Clan transfer. A brief moment of intense white light flared, and then, with a pathetic fizz, a small, dull blue glow manifested.
My first Spirit Companion materialized beside me: The Blue Trash Grass (Rank F).
It was exactly what its name implied: a tiny, two-leafed sprite of common, useless aquatic grass, known only for its ability to marginally purify water and provide minimal Utility Rank F camouflage. It was the most common, most pathetic, and most utterly forgettable spirit in the entire System database. It was the spirit of a true Rank F beginner.
The hall erupted in suppressed snickers and disappointed murmurs. The Jade Feather Clan elder managing the ceremony sighed, scribbled a note on his clipboard, and rushed me away.
"Next! Move along, boy. That's... well, that's done."
I quickly retreated, pulling the Trash Grass spirit into its semi-physical form and tucking it into the fold of my sleeve.
The Ascendant City now had its data point: Dax Jackal, an F-Rank hunter with a completely useless F-Rank spirit.
My infinite knowledge now had a new direction. The Blue Trash Grass was useless in combat, but its obscure, singular utility lay in absolute, localized water purification. In a city reliant on complex, networked water and air filtration systems, that meant control.
I had successfully established my ultimate cover. The Controller was now hidden behind the perfect disguise: utter mediocrity.