76

Chapter 76: The First Step Beyond B Rank

Three days passed after the A-rank expedition.

During those three days, Subin Vans did almost nothing except train.

He didn't return to the Indian dungeon because the Association had kept it sealed. He didn't ask when the second expedition would begin. He didn't spend his time chasing monsters in weaker dungeons merely to increase his level.

Instead, he trained with Simple Edge.

Morning became afternoon.

Afternoon became evening.

And evening became night.

His training had changed.

Before entering the Deep Core Territory, Subin had focused heavily on techniques. After leaving it, techniques were still important, but they were no longer the center of his practice.

Now he was studying the moments before techniques happened.

The decision.

The intention.

The transition.

The relationship between his body, the sword, the opponent, and the surrounding mana.

It was difficult to explain to anyone else.

Even Subin struggled to put it into words.

But his swordsmanship was becoming quieter.

There were fewer unnecessary movements.

Fewer deliberate displays of Sword Intent.

Even when he attacked, his movements seemed almost casual.

That morning, Subin stood alone in the Association's private training hall.

A mechanical training target stood twenty meters away.

It was designed to imitate an A-rank monster's movements and could adjust its speed according to the opponent's performance.

Subin held Simple Edge at his side.

The machine activated.

Target simulation beginning.

Simulation rank: A.

Adaptive combat enabled.

The target immediately accelerated.

Its mechanical body blurred as it crossed the distance.

Subin didn't move.

At the final moment, the machine swung toward his neck.

Subin shifted half a step.

The attack missed.

The machine twisted unnaturally and immediately followed with a second strike.

Subin lowered his shoulder.

The blade passed above him.

A third attack came from below.

He stepped backward.

The machine continued.

Strike after strike.

Subin kept avoiding them.

He wasn't attacking.

The machine's movements became faster.

Then faster again.

Its artificial intelligence began predicting his movement.

Subin noticed the change.

The machine wasn't simply increasing its speed.

It was learning his responses.

That made the exercise useful.

He continued moving.

Eventually, the machine predicted his next step and changed its attack before Subin moved.

Subin smiled.

"Good."

The machine's blade came toward him.

This time, Subin didn't dodge.

He changed his decision.

His body began moving backward, then stopped halfway.

The machine's prediction failed.

Subin stepped forward instead.

Simple Edge moved.

One clean cut.

The training target split into two pieces.

Simulation terminated.

Performance evaluation: Exceptional.

Reaction efficiency: 97.2%.

Decision deviation: 41%.

Subin stared at the last number.

"Decision deviation..."

He understood what it meant.

He had deliberately refused to follow his established responses.

That small change had been enough to break the machine's prediction.

The system appeared.

[Decision Transition Understanding: 18% → 21%.]

Subin nodded.

It wasn't a major increase.

But it was progress.

He sheathed Simple Edge.

At that moment, the training hall door opened.

Han Yerin entered.

She looked at the destroyed training target.

"You broke another one."

Subin looked at the machine.

"It was useful."

"The Association's equipment department disagrees."

"I'll pay for it."

Yerin laughed softly.

"That's what you said last time."

"Did I?"

"Yes."

She walked toward him and handed him a communication tablet.

"The Association has made a decision."

Subin glanced at the screen.

There was an official notification.

His expression became serious.

"What is it?"

"They're conducting a new ranking evaluation."

"For everyone?"

"Not exactly."

She pointed at his name.

"For you."

Subin looked at the document.

His current official rank was B.

But the Association had received enough battle records from the Indian expedition that maintaining his existing classification had become increasingly difficult.

The document stated that he was being invited to undergo a special combat evaluation.

The proposed evaluation would determine whether his combat capability justified promotion to A rank.

Subin wasn't particularly interested in the rank itself.

But there was something else.

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Where?"

"The Association's advanced combat facility."

Subin nodded.

"Fine."

Yerin looked at him carefully.

"You're not nervous?"

"No."

"You're going to fight A-rank evaluators."

"I've already fought stronger monsters."

"I know."

She paused.

"But humans are different."

Subin smiled slightly.

"That's why it might be useful."

Yerin understood immediately.

Subin had learned a tremendous amount from fighting monsters.

But monsters had predictable instincts.

Even evolving monsters were still governed heavily by survival.

Humans were different.

Humans could deceive.

They could sacrifice.

They could deliberately choose an inferior position to create a later advantage.

They could change strategies in the middle of combat for reasons that had nothing to do with instinct.

Subin had already learned this from Seo Jin-ho.

Another human opponent might teach him something new.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Yerin said.

"Wait."

She turned.

"What?"

"Who are the evaluators?"

Yerin smiled.

"Three A-rank Awakeners."

Subin's eyes became interested.

"Three?"

"Yes."

"All at once?"

"No. One after another."

Subin nodded.

"That's better."

Yerin raised an eyebrow.

"You were hoping for all three?"

"No."

He looked at Simple Edge.

"I want to understand how different swordsmen fight."

Yerin smiled.

"You really are obsessed with swords."

Subin didn't deny it.

"I am."

She left.

Subin remained in the training hall.

He looked at the broken machine.

Then at Simple Edge.

His sword path was still at 99.9%.

He had remained there for days.

Yet he didn't feel frustrated.

Instead, he had begun to understand why.

The final 0.1% wasn't about learning another technique.

It wasn't about defeating another monster.

It wasn't even about becoming stronger.

It was about becoming completely honest with himself.

What did he actually want from the sword?

The question remained unanswered.

Subin left the training hall.

---

The following morning, the Association's advanced combat facility was filled with Awakeners.

The evaluation had attracted attention.

Subin was officially only B rank.

But everyone who followed recent events knew that classification no longer represented his actual combat capability.

The Indian expedition had changed that.

He had fought A-rank monsters.

He had defeated an A+ Guardian.

He had survived an evolving dungeon.

And yet his official record still said B.

That was about to change.

Subin entered the evaluation chamber.

Three Awakeners stood on the opposite side.

The first was a large man carrying a massive axe.

The second was a woman holding two short blades.

The third was an older man carrying a long sword.

Yerin stood behind the observation barrier.

An Association official announced the rules.

"This is a combat capability evaluation. Victory is not mandatory. The purpose is to determine whether Subin Vans possesses the combat ability expected of an A-rank Awakener."

The axe wielder stepped forward.

"First evaluator. Kang Min-seok. A-rank Warrior."

He rested the axe against his shoulder.

"I've seen your recordings."

Subin nodded.

"I've seen yours."

Kang Min-seok laughed.

"Then you know what I'm capable of."

"Somewhat."

"And?"

Subin looked at his axe.

"You rely heavily on momentum."

The room became quiet.

Kang Min-seok's smile disappeared.

"You're confident."

"Not particularly."

"Then let's test it."

The signal sounded.

Kang Min-seok attacked.

The axe came down with tremendous force.

Subin stepped sideways.

The weapon struck the ground.

The floor cracked.

Kang immediately rotated his body and swung horizontally.

Subin raised Simple Edge.

The two weapons collided.

The force pushed Subin backward several meters.

His shoes scraped against the floor.

Kang Min-seok grinned.

"You're not as strong as I expected."

Subin didn't answer.

He had already understood the important part.

The axe wasn't merely heavy.

Kang was using his entire body to generate momentum.

Every attack began with a change in his center of gravity.

That was his transition.

Subin waited.

The axe came again.

Subin moved.

Another attack.

He moved again.

Kang increased his speed.

Subin continued avoiding.

Then Kang suddenly stopped his swing.

The momentum disappeared.

He immediately changed direction.

Subin's eyes sharpened.

A fake transition.

Kang had deliberately created the appearance of an attack to force Subin into a defensive response.

Subin changed his decision.

Instead of retreating, he stepped inside the axe's range.

Simple Edge touched Kang's throat.

The evaluator froze.

Subin stopped the blade a centimeter from his skin.

Silence.

Kang lowered his weapon.

"...I understand."

Subin stepped back.

The official announced:

"First evaluation complete."

Kang Min-seok smiled despite losing.

"You really are troublesome."

Subin nodded.

"Your fake transition was good."

Kang looked surprised.

"You noticed?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you counter earlier?"

"Because I wanted to see whether you could change it."

Kang laughed.

"So you were testing me?"

"Yes."

The man shook his head.

"Unbelievable."

---

The second evaluator entered.

The dual-blade user moved completely differently.

She was fast.

Much faster than Kang.

Her movements contained almost no wasted momentum.

She didn't commit fully to attacks.

Instead, she constantly changed distance.

Subin immediately recognized the difference.

This opponent wasn't trying to overpower him.

She was trying to control his decisions.

Their battle became a contest of choices.

She attacked from the left.

Subin blocked.

She immediately shifted right.

He moved.

She retreated.

He didn't chase.

She attacked again.

Their blades collided repeatedly.

Neither gained a decisive advantage.

The woman smiled.

"You're difficult to manipulate."

"So are you."

"You don't pursue openings."

"Because some openings are invitations."

Her eyes narrowed.

She suddenly dropped her left blade.

Subin didn't react.

The weapon fell to the ground.

Then she rushed forward with the remaining blade.

It was a deliberate sacrifice.

Subin could have attacked.

Instead, he stepped backward.

The woman expected him to take the opening.

Her expression changed.

Subin said calmly, "You wanted me to think you had become weaker."

She smiled.

"Correct."

"But you weren't weaker."

"No."

"You were trying to change my decision."

"Exactly."

Subin's eyes sharpened.

That was useful.

This battle was different from the first.

Kang had tested his physical reaction.

This woman was testing his decision-making.

Subin changed his approach.

He deliberately gave her an opening.

She took it.

Their weapons crossed.

Then Subin released Simple Edge.

The sword dropped from his hand.

The woman froze for half a second.

That was enough.

Subin caught her wrist with one hand and stepped past her.

He caught Simple Edge with the other hand before it hit the ground.

The woman's eyes widened.

"Weaponless Sword."

Subin nodded.

The official called the match.

"Second evaluation complete."

She retrieved her fallen blade.

"You used losing your sword as a trap."

"No."

Subin looked at her.

"I genuinely let it fall."

"Why?"

"I wanted to see what you would choose."

The woman laughed.

"You're even stranger than the reports."

---

The third evaluator stepped forward.

The older man carried a single long sword.

Subin's expression changed.

Finally.

A swordsman.

The man bowed.

"My name is Park Jae-hyun."

Subin returned the bow.

"Subin Vans."

"I've heard you're walking the Sword God path."

"Yes."

"Then don't hold back."

Subin drew Simple Edge.

Neither moved.

The atmosphere changed.

There was no immediate attack.

No intimidation.

No unnecessary movement.

Both swordsmen simply observed one another.

Park Jae-hyun smiled.

"You understand."

Subin nodded.

"Yes."

"Then come."

Subin stepped forward.

The swords collided.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The older swordsman was extremely precise.

His sword contained decades of experience.

He didn't possess Subin's overwhelming comprehension.

But his fundamentals were refined to an extraordinary level.

Every movement had purpose.

Subin's eyes became brighter.

This was exactly what he had wanted.

A human swordsman who had walked a different path.

They exchanged dozens of attacks.

Then hundreds.

The battle continued.

Neither attempted to overwhelm the other.

Instead, they were communicating through sword movements.

Park attacked.

Subin answered.

Subin attacked.

Park answered.

Gradually, Subin began understanding him.

Park's swordsmanship wasn't based on speed or power.

It was based on stability.

He didn't chase transitions.

He minimized them.

His sword remained centered regardless of the situation.

Subin suddenly understood.

This was another answer.

During his training, Subin had focused heavily on transitions.

But Park had built his swordsmanship around reducing unnecessary transitions.

Two completely different approaches.

Subin smiled.

Park noticed.

"What did you understand?"

"That transitions aren't always meant to be exploited."

Park's eyes widened.

"Good."

Subin changed his stance.

Their swords collided again.

This time, Subin stopped trying to force transitions.

He became stable.

The two swords moved together.

One minute passed.

Then two.

Then five.

Finally, Park lowered his sword.

"I concede."

The observation room became silent.

The official announced the result.

"Third evaluation complete."

Subin sheathed Simple Edge.

The system appeared.

[Human Swordsmanship analyzed.]

[New understanding acquired.]

[Stability Through Continuity.]

Subin looked at the notification.

His eyes widened slightly.

Then another message appeared.

[Sword Intent: 86% → 87%.]

He smiled.

The breakthrough had come naturally.

Not from defeating someone stronger.

Not from obtaining a treasure.

But from seeing another way to walk the sword path.

The Association official approached.

"Subin Vans."

"Yes."

"Based on the evaluation results, the Association has determined that your combat capability meets the requirements for A-rank classification."

A notification appeared.

[Rank Evaluation Complete.]

[Previous Rank: B.]

[New Rank: A.]

Subin looked at the words for a moment.

Then dismissed them.

The rank was useful.

It would give him access to stronger dungeons.

That was enough.

But another notification appeared.

This one was different.

[Sword God Class Evolution: 76% → 78%.]

Subin became still.

For the first time in several days, his class evolution had increased.

Not because he had gained levels.

Not because he had absorbed mana.

Not because he had defeated an A-rank monster.

Because he had expanded his understanding of swordsmanship.

Subin slowly smiled.

"So that's what you wanted."

The system gave no answer.

It didn't need to.

His path had already provided one.

The road ahead had become wider.

And now, officially recognized as an A-rank Awakener, Subin was finally allowed to walk toward stronger dungeons.

But he had no idea that his new rank would immediately place him on the Association's list for a dungeon unlike anything he had entered before.