'I think I'm just going with Exchange Seeker,' Kyle thought. 'This gives me more flexibility. As a Core Disciple, I can choose to do whatever the fuck I want, as long as I keep reaching their benchmarks.'
'I can get some True Battles from my team job, but if necessary, I can also get them from the affiliate organization.'
'Seems about right.'
'Also, if I succeed, I get a promotion. Would be cool if I became an Inner Disciple.'
'Speaking of, why is this job the only one that guarantees a promotion? Every other job doesn't give that as a reward or just gives a chance.'
'Yeah, well, I already made my choice.'
Kyle clicked on the job of Exchange Seeker, and the interface simply stated that instructions would arrive later.
"Job selection is the last part, right?" Kyle asked Assistant.
"That's correct," Assistant said politely.
"Cool," Kyle said before he made space for Swamp Dragon.
Swamp Dragon approached the interface and typed on it for several minutes.
Then, he also left the interface.
"I chose Defender and Rarity Hunter," Swamp Dragon said.
"Rarity Hunter and Exchange Seeker for me," Kyle said.
"Exchange Seeker?" Swamp Dragon asked. "I assumed you would take the Primal Territory Defender."
"Why would I?" Kyle asked. "I get plenty of resources with plenty of battles and flexibility."
Swamp Dragon furrowed his brows.
Assistant didn't show it, but in her mind, her estimation of Kyle's power dropped considerably.
Exchange Seeker was one of the most common solo jobs for one specific reason.
Lack of confidence.
Many new members knew that they were only one Unique Transcendent amongst the thousands in this branch of the Array of Stars.
Every Unique Transcendent had to be outstanding in battle and Law Comprehension.
However, Law Comprehension was not the most important thing in every Realm.
In the Primal Realm, Law Comprehension was still important, but it took a backseat to one's instincts and feelings.
Unlocking the Clusters was not easy, and it required a completely different kind of comprehension.
In order to stay inside the Array of Stars, one had to become a 12/13 Primal, and that was just as difficult as becoming a Unique Transcendent.
The fact that the Array of Stars didn't even ask people to become 13/13 Primals already showed how hard it was to advance in that Realm.
Sure, any Unique Transcendent would easily reach the requirements to become a True Crusher, which would mean becoming an 8/13 Primal, a Fused Primal. 99% would also become 9/13 Primals.
But then, it would drop off.
95% would become 10/13 Primals, assuming they didn't die to something unforeseen.
60% would become 11/13 Primals.
And 12/13?
Probably 20%.
While over 99% of Unique Transcendents would become True Crushers easily, only 20% would become 12/13 Primals.
As for becoming a 13/13 Primal…
That was about as rare as condensing a Level 3.5 Complex Law in the Transcendent Realm.
Most people who chose become an Exchange Seeker wanted an exit strategy.
If they needed to advance into the Compression Realm before becoming a 12/13 Primal, they would be thrown out of the Array of Stars.
Having been part of an affiliate power for centuries would give them an easy entry into another powerful organization.
They wouldn't need to rise through the ranks again.
However, choosing this job also came with a unique kind of danger, which Kyle didn't know about.
Being an Exchange Seeker was just as dangerous as being a teacher, which meant there was barely any danger to one's life.
Yet, the danger of losing one's position in the Array of Stars was greater than the death rate in any other job.
Affiliate powers had plenty of Fulfilled Transcendents, and many of them had been part of the Star Seeking but failed to become Unique Transcendents.
But as the priority shifted from Laws to instincts, many of these people would suddenly find much more success, while previous Unique Transcendents would see that their strengths were no longer as important.
It was like being promoted at work. One could be the most knowledgeable and amazingly skilled technician, physician, engineer, and so on. However, as soon as one got promoted to technical lead, chief physician, engineer lead, and so on, many would realize that their technical skills were no longer as important as their communication and economic skills.
The Star Seeking was not the only way to enter the Array of Stars.
In fact, fewer than 10% of the Array of Stars' powerful members had joined in the Star Seeking.
The remaining had joined somewhere along the line by either showing outstanding achievements and being recruited personally or by replacing an existing Disciple.
Becoming an Exchange Seeker put one directly in front of these people.
If a Disciple from an affiliate power managed to replace an existing Disciple from the Array of Stars, the Array of Stars would hand a hefty reward to the affiliate power. After all, the affiliate power had nurtured such an outstanding Disciple.
Of course, this encouraged the affiliate powers to nurture Disciples specifically to take the spots of the people who successfully got through the Star Seeking.
Counterintuitively, many Unique Transcendents lacked confidence in themselves when it came to the Primal Realm.
One would think that they were very confident in their abilities.
Yet, Unique Transcendents were very good at analyzing themselves, and they could clearly see their weaknesses.
A top surgeon would lack confidence when they suddenly had to do the anesthesia instead of the cutting during a surgery. That was because they could estimate what they didn't know, and the volume of what they estimated they didn't know would not fill them with confidence.
This was why many Unique Transcendents were not confident that they could become a 12/13 Primal, and it was also the reason why so many chose to become Exchange Seekers.
"That's it, right?" Kyle asked.
Assistant nodded with a smile. "Yes, your registration has been completed. Am I right in assuming that both of you are ready to become Primals? Usually, that's the first thing new members do."
"I am," Kyle said.
Swamp Dragon wordlessly nodded.
Assistant smiled. "Then, I will escort you to the advancement hall."
tg://resolv?domain=StrongestHammerGod
The author's patreon. If he gets more than 1000€ per month, he will increase the number of words in the chapter.