Once Jacob left the hallway, he headed to the receptionist, hoping to get some answers. The receptionist looked towards Jacob with what appeared to be an excited smile, but Jacob could tell just by looking at her deadpan, expressionless eyes that she was still as bored.

As Jacob approached the receptionist, he heard her sweet voice congratulating him. He was confused about why she congratulated him because he had barely passed the test and nearly died during the final one. He had little hope of passing, so her words seemed misplaced.

Jacob appeared confused, so she took it upon herself to explain the true nature of the test. Each test was designed specifically for each individual, with the first two tests aiming to break their willpower. For instance, in the hallway test, the hallway would only stop expanding once the person had reached their limit. Most people gave up shortly after it began and returned to the lobby, thus disqualifying themselves. The door test was similar, with the door weight increasing until the person reached their limit. Most people gave up and sought assistance from the person in the room. The third test was merely a measure of how long someone could endure in a continuous battle, which could occur outside the protective shield surrounding the city.

Once she saw that Jacob finally understood how the tests worked, she explained the ranking and which one he achieved.

"Well, Mr. umm Jacob?" she said

Jacob nodded, now worried about his ranking. He wouldn't be allowed outside the capital if it were too low.

"Well, let me first explain the ten ranks that exist," she said

There are ten different ranks, each with specific requirements for advancing. However, the only requirement for ranks 1-5 is to take and score well on a test. Once you reach rank 5, you can continue learning and progressing.

The ranks are as Follows.

R1: Maggot, the lowest class, does not classify for anything except an id. Most citizens hold this.

R2: Worm: The second lowest rank in the city that allows Blessed to join battles, commonly held by beginners

R3: Reptile: The third rank is where the most highly trained soldiers are placed. These soldiers receive all previous benefits and are granted additional privileges, such as attack pets, the ability to pursue and kill criminals for a bounty, and human rights above regular citizens.

Stolen novel; please report.

R4: Mammal: This rank permits individuals to exit the city at their discretion, exclusively held by skilled and seasoned Beast hunters. It provides the advantage of carrying weapons in any building and authorizes access to individuals of higher rank while amplifying all previous benefits.

R5: Apex Mammal: Only a select few hold this rank, which exempts them from most laws. However, in exchange for this privilege, they are obligated to assist the military in the event that the holy shield is breached. This rank also allows individuals to freely travel in and out of all cities and claim property beyond the shield. Those who hold this rank are knighted and granted nobility in their respective kingdom.

R6: Predator: No access

R7: Peak Predator: No access

R8: Beast: No access

R9: Dragon: No access

R10: Demigod: No access

"Congratulations on achieving Rank 4, Mr. Jacob. As I have listed some benefits, I will now give you your rewards.

When she gave Jacob a pin made of a mystical metal, he felt confused. The pin had nine creatures' images, each corresponding to different ranks, arranged in a circle. The dragon appeared to run from something, and in the middle, there was a mouth that seemed to belong to a hellhound with only four teeth, leaving six empty spaces. Jacob had a feeling that something would happen if all ten spots were filled, but he couldn't describe the feeling. He also noticed that the pin was covered in almost invisible runes, which gave him a mysterious feeling as he held it.

Jacob then placed the pin on his shirt that the system had given him, and a small film covered his entire body, which he felt was sturdy enough to block an attack or two.

The receptionist handed him a basic map of the surroundings, an old bag with high-quality survival gear due to his rank, a phone number to contact people of authority and some miscellaneous items he might need later. He was also given two collars, which he assumed were for his pets, Nosirin and Athen.

Once he had collected everything, he took Nathan, thanked the receptionist, and left, not wanting to stay longer.

As Jacob was leaving, he was starstruck by a girl who was coming in.

There was a girl who stood tall, with brown hair and striking green eyes. She was amid a swarm of insects and donned a black suit that fit her perfectly. However, what caught Jacob's attention the most was the blood that coated her from head to toe as she dragged a lifeless animal. As she approached, he noticed the scars that covered her arms, yet her skin remained pale and beautiful. It was an odd sight, but she appeared unfazed by it all. Then, she gazed at Jacob with eyes that conveyed his insignificance in her presence.

" I see you're a swarm-keeper with decent talent; find us after you achieve R5," she said while leaving towards a door he hadn't even noticed and pointing at her pin, showcasing seven teeth indicating her higher rank.

After Jacob processed what she said, he focused on one word: Swarmkeeper. he needed to know what that meant as he felt an instinctual need to know, which came from his swarm weirdly enough.

Jacob and Nathan soon left for their apartment, noticing the different faces people made as quickly as they saw Jacob's badge.

Nathan received a badge that looked different from the one Jacob received. Although it felt the same and had the same defensive properties, its design was of a hellhound with a leash attached to its neck and the same amount of teeth as Jacob's badge.