126

Chapter 126 — The Swordsman From Europe

The second morning of the international exchange began with a completely different atmosphere from the previous day's introductions. The training complex had been divided into several sections, with one area reserved for ability demonstrations, another for weapon training, and a larger arena prepared for controlled group battles. Awakeners from different countries moved between the sections while instructors and researchers recorded their techniques. The purpose of the exchange was officially cooperation, but everyone understood that the presence of so many powerful Awakeners in one place would naturally create competition.

Subin arrived early and found Liu Wei already standing in the sword-training area.

"You came early," Liu Wei said.

"So did you."

"I wanted to practice before everyone arrived."

Subin looked at the collection of training swords.

"Which one?"

Liu Wei picked up a wooden sword.

"None of them."

He smiled.

"I want to see how you practice."

Subin understood what he meant. He picked up a plain wooden sword and moved toward the empty section of the hall.

There was no audience yet, and neither of them needed to demonstrate anything. They simply practiced.

Liu Wei's movements were precise and controlled, each strike returning naturally into the next. His swordsmanship emphasized continuous pressure and changing rhythm, while Subin's movements were more economical, with each action determined by the immediate situation.

After several minutes, Liu Wei lowered his sword.

"Your movements are strange."

"How?"

"You don't seem to have a fixed rhythm."

"I don't."

"Then what determines your movements?"

Subin thought about it.

"The opponent."

Liu Wei nodded.

"That's what I expected."

Before they could continue, footsteps approached from the entrance.

Yerin entered first, followed by Min-seok and Ara.

Yerin looked at the two swordsmen.

"Already training?"

"Yes," Liu Wei answered.

Min-seok stretched his shoulders.

"You two are going to make everyone else look lazy."

Ara smiled.

"You're the last person who should complain about that."

Min-seok pointed at her.

"I've been training every day."

"After complaining for an hour."

"That is part of my training."

Yerin laughed.

The relaxed conversation was interrupted when Director Kang entered with several Association officials.

"Everyone, we have another participant arriving."

Subin looked toward the entrance.

A man walked into the hall.

He appeared to be in his late twenties, with dark hair and a calm expression. He wasn't wearing combat armor, only a simple black training uniform. There was no visible weapon at his waist.

Director Kang introduced him.

"This is Ethan Han, an A-rank swordsman currently operating with the European Awakener Federation."

Subin's attention sharpened.

Ethan looked around the room before his eyes settled on Subin.

"So you're Subin Vans."

"Yes."

"I've watched your evaluation."

Subin nodded.

Ethan smiled slightly.

"Interesting."

Min-seok immediately noticed the atmosphere.

"You two are going to fight, aren't you?"

Ethan laughed.

"Not immediately."

Subin didn't say anything.

Ethan looked at him again.

"I heard you use only one sword."

"Yes."

"And you've never trained under a formal sword school?"

"No."

Ethan's expression became more interested.

"Then I'd like to see how you developed your style."

Liu Wei folded his arms.

"You're not the only one."

The three swordsmen stood together for a moment.

Yerin watched them and smiled.

"This is going to become a problem."

Ara nodded.

"Definitely."

The morning training session began with demonstrations from the different national teams. Ethan eventually took his place in the sword section.

He still carried no sword.

One of the Association instructors looked confused.

"Where's your weapon?"

Ethan extended his right hand.

Mana gathered around his fingers.

A thin blade gradually formed from condensed mana.

The sword was completely white and almost transparent.

Subin watched carefully.

"It's a mana sword."

"Yes."

"You create it every time?"

"Usually."

Ethan rotated the blade once.

"My ability allows me to condense mana into temporary weapons, but I chose to specialize in swords."

Subin nodded.

"Interesting."

Ethan smiled.

"That's exactly what Liu Wei said when he first saw it."

Liu Wei laughed.

"I didn't expect you to come."

"I was invited."

"Obviously."

The three swordsmen eventually agreed to a controlled three-way spar.

The arena was cleared.

Yerin, Min-seok, Ara, Jae-hyun, and several foreign Awakeners gathered around the boundary.

Director Kang raised his hand.

"Three-minute rounds. No lethal attacks. Barrier activation will stop any dangerous strike."

Subin drew Simple Edge.

Liu Wei raised his sword.

Ethan formed his mana blade.

The match began.

None of them attacked immediately.

They watched one another.

Three swordsmen.

Three different approaches.

Liu Wei relied on continuous movement.

Ethan remained almost completely still.

Subin adjusted his stance according to both.

The first movement came from Liu Wei.

He attacked Ethan.

Ethan's mana sword immediately formed a precise defensive angle, catching Liu Wei's blade before redirecting it sideways.

Subin moved during the exchange.

His sword approached Ethan from the opposite side.

Ethan stepped back, and the mana blade changed shape slightly, becoming shorter to allow a faster defensive movement.

Subin noticed it.

His weapon wasn't fixed.

Ethan wasn't merely using a sword made of mana.

He was changing the sword itself according to the situation.

Liu Wei attacked again.

This time Subin moved between them, forcing both swordsmen to change their positions.

The arena became a constantly shifting triangle.

Liu Wei attacked with flowing combinations, Ethan adapted the length and shape of his mana sword, and Subin avoided committing to any fixed pattern.

The battle became increasingly fast.

Min-seok watched with excitement.

"I don't know who to watch."

Jae-hyun answered calmly.

"All three."

Yerin's eyes remained on Subin.

"He hasn't attacked seriously."

Ara looked at her.

"Neither have the others."

"That's what makes it interesting."

Inside the arena, Subin was learning.

Liu Wei's swordsmanship was based on continuous flow.

Ethan's was based on adaptation.

His own swordsmanship had gradually become centered around choice.

Three different approaches were colliding.

The exchange continued until Liu Wei suddenly attacked Subin from the side.

Subin turned.

Ethan simultaneously attacked Liu Wei.

For a moment, all three swords crossed.

Subin redirected Liu Wei's sword while stepping away from Ethan's blade.

Liu Wei changed direction.

Ethan shortened his weapon.

Subin adjusted again.

No one gained an advantage.

The three-minute timer finally sounded.

All three stopped.

The spectators applauded.

Min-seok laughed.

"That was good."

Jae-hyun nodded.

"Very."

Ethan looked toward Subin.

"You noticed my sword changing."

"Yes."

"Most people focus on the blade itself."

"You don't really have a fixed blade."

Ethan smiled.

"Exactly."

Liu Wei looked toward Subin.

"You were studying both of us."

"Yes."

"And you?"

Subin looked at him.

"You were studying me too."

Liu Wei laughed.

"Obviously."

Ethan lowered his mana sword.

"I'd like another match eventually."

Subin nodded.

"Me too."

There was no rivalry yet.

But there was interest.

That was enough.

After the spar, the participants moved to the cafeteria. The conversation quickly shifted from swordsmanship to food, travel, and the differences between various countries' Awakener organizations.

Ethan sat across from Subin.

"I heard you were in Kazakhstan."

"Yes."

"Did you enter the deepest section?"

"We went deep enough to understand that we shouldn't continue."

Ethan nodded.

"Good decision."

Min-seok looked surprised.

"You're agreeing with him?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Most A-rankers would have kept going."

Ethan shrugged.

"Being strong doesn't mean every opportunity should be taken."

Subin glanced at him.

The statement reminded him of something he had already learned in Greenfall.

Strength was useful.

Judgment determined how it should be used.

The conversation continued until a European Federation representative entered the cafeteria.

"Ethan."

Ethan looked up.

"Yes?"

"We've received new information from Europe."

The room became quieter.

The representative placed a tablet on the table.

"Three new A-rank dungeons have appeared in the last week."

Min-seok immediately leaned forward.

"Three?"

"Yes. One in Poland, one in Romania, and one in northern Italy."

Ara asked, "Any unusual characteristics?"

"The Romanian dungeon is stable. The Polish dungeon has rapidly increasing mana density."

The representative hesitated.

"The Italian dungeon is different."

Subin looked at him.

"How?"

"It has no visible entrance."

Everyone became silent.

The representative quickly clarified.

"Not because it is hidden. The dungeon appeared beneath an existing underground tunnel system, but the structure doesn't behave like a conventional dungeon. There are several access points, and the internal mana flow changes depending on which entrance is used."

Subin listened carefully.

"How deep?"

"Unknown."

Min-seok smiled.

"That sounds interesting."

Yerin immediately looked at him.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

Director Kang entered the conversation.

"We won't be sending anyone yet."

Min-seok sighed.

Ethan looked toward Subin.

"Europe has several experienced teams that can handle the initial investigation."

Subin nodded.

"That's reasonable."

The information wasn't an immediate mission for him.

There was no reason for him to rush across the world simply because another dungeon had appeared.

His own path would continue regardless.

That evening, the international exchange held a casual gathering for the participants.

Music played quietly in the background while Awakeners from different countries talked in small groups. Some discussed abilities, others exchanged contact information, and a few had already arranged future sparring sessions.

Subin stood near the edge of the room with Yerin.

"You've been quiet," she said.

"I'm listening."

"To what?"

"Everyone."

Yerin smiled.

"You're enjoying this."

"Yes."

She looked at him with mild surprise.

"I thought you'd say you were only here to learn swordsmanship."

"I can do both."

"Good."

She leaned slightly closer.

"Because I want to enjoy this too."

Subin looked at her.

"I know."

Yerin smiled.

Across the room, Ara noticed them but didn't interrupt.

She had begun to understand that whatever was developing between Subin and Yerin was becoming more serious, even though neither had formally defined it.

She wasn't sure what she felt about that yet.

But she wasn't going to force anything.

Meanwhile, Min-seok was challenging Daniel to another match, while Jae-hyun and Liu Wei were discussing different sword-fighting philosophies.

The international exchange was already becoming something larger than a simple training program.

Different styles were meeting.

Different personalities were interacting.

Different nations were beginning to understand one another.

And for Subin, the appearance of Ethan Han had opened another door in his sword journey.

There were still countless swordsmen in the world.

He had only met a handful.

That thought excited him more than any ranking ever could.

The following morning, the first mixed-nationality training teams would be formed.

For the first time, Subin would fight alongside Awakeners from several different countries.

And he suspected that understanding how other people fought would become just as important as defeating them.