I did not understood merit fulfill yet. I was reading past few comments in this thread, but didn't find any concrete information. So, by your words if you do not give or get Merit your rank's raise is kinda going to be frozen, is it really so? Prove or unprove this to me somebody, please :)
If you do not
receive merit, then yes, your ranks raise is kinda going to be frozen. That is the whole point of the merit system. It is also a rule clearly explained in OP on this threada simple rule, which could be readily comprehended by the average five-year-old.
(P.S., how the heck did
you reach Hero rank? I am increasingly grateful for this new merit system.)