116

Chapter 116 — Before the Journey

The morning after the National A-rank Evaluation was considerably less peaceful than Subin had hoped.

The Awakener Association headquarters was crowded from the moment he entered.

Reporters occupied the public reception area, guild representatives waited near the administrative offices, and groups of younger Awakeners gathered around the training floors. Every few minutes, someone recognized Subin and whispered his name to a companion.

Subin had expected attention after winning the evaluation, but he had not expected it to become this persistent.

He kept walking without reacting.

"You're getting famous."

Han Yerin's voice came from behind him.

Subin turned and saw her approaching with her spear case over one shoulder. Unlike yesterday, she was dressed casually, wearing a dark jacket and comfortable trousers.

"Apparently."

Yerin smiled. "That's all you have to say?"

"What should I say?"

"Maybe something like, 'I'm incredibly happy to be famous.'"

"I don't think fame changes anything."

"It changes how many people stare at you."

Subin glanced toward the reception area.

Three young Awakeners immediately looked away.

"You're right."

Yerin laughed.

They walked toward the elevator together.

"You know," she said, "you've become much easier to talk to."

"I haven't changed."

"You have."

"How?"

"Before, whenever you finished a fight, you immediately went back to training or entered another dungeon. Now you actually spend time with people."

Subin considered that.

Perhaps she was right.

The Greenfall expedition had changed something.

He had always viewed strength as something developed through his sword. Monsters, dungeons and increasingly powerful opponents had provided the necessary pressure.

But fighting alongside other people had shown him another kind of growth.

Humans made deliberate decisions.

They lied with their movements.

They created false openings.

They changed their plans halfway through an attack.

Unlike monsters, they understood that their opponent was also thinking.

The experience had contributed more to his understanding of decision-making than several dungeon battles.

The elevator arrived.

Before Subin and Yerin could enter, Kang Min-seok came running toward them.

"Wait!"

The doors remained open.

Min-seok stepped inside, breathing heavily.

He looked at Subin.

"You're difficult to find these days."

"Why?"

"I wanted another fight."

Yerin sighed.

"You challenged him yesterday."

"I lost yesterday."

"That's why you want another fight?"

"Exactly."

Subin looked at him.

"Not today."

Min-seok stared.

"Why?"

"We have a mission briefing."

"After the briefing?"

"Maybe."

Min-seok grinned.

"I'll remember that."

Yerin shook her head.

"You're both obsessed."

The elevator reached the conference floor.

When they entered the meeting room, Choi Ara was already there.

She was studying a digital map projected above the table.

Lee Jae-hyun sat across from her, while Park Jae-hyun and Seo Jin-ho stood near the windows.

Two unfamiliar Awakeners were also present.

Director Kang entered shortly afterward.

"Everyone is here."

The room became quiet.

Director Kang activated the main display.

A map of northern Kazakhstan appeared.

A large red region marked an isolated area.

"This is our next destination."

Subin studied the map.

Director Kang continued.

"Three days ago, Kazakhstan's Awakener authorities detected a large mana fluctuation in this region. At first, they classified it as a temporary mana storm."

The image changed.

Several black crystals protruding from frozen ground appeared on the screen.

"But the readings continued changing."

Another image showed mana-density measurements from several locations.

"Instead of dispersing naturally, the mana is moving through the ground."

Ara immediately understood.

"Like a dungeon's internal mana circulation."

"Possibly."

Director Kang nodded.

"We don't know yet whether this is a dungeon, a developing ecosystem, or something completely different."

Subin looked at the crystals.

"Those aren't storing the mana."

Everyone turned toward him.

Director Kang nodded.

"That's also our current assessment."

Subin pointed toward one of the crystals.

"The mana enters here and leaves through another point. The crystal is functioning like a transfer node."

Ara enlarged the image.

"There are more than thirty visible nodes."

"Correct."

Subin studied their positions.

"If they're connected underground, this entire region may be part of one system."

Seo Jin-ho folded his arms.

"Which means destroying the visible crystals could be a mistake."

Subin nodded.

"Yes."

Director Kang smiled slightly.

"That's why we're not sending anyone in yet."

Min-seok looked surprised.

"We're not?"

"Not immediately."

Director Kang changed the display.

"Greenfall taught us that some dungeons are not simply monster-filled structures waiting to be conquered. Destroying an important part of an evolving ecosystem can create consequences we don't understand."

Subin remained silent.

He agreed.

Greenfall's Central Mana Core had been too important to extract.

The Association had finally begun recognizing that not every powerful resource should be taken simply because it could be taken.

Director Kang continued.

"We'll spend the next two days collecting information remotely. Satellite observation, mana measurements, environmental changes, monster movement and local reports."

Jae-hyun looked at the map.

"What are the estimated monster levels?"

"Between one hundred and one hundred sixty."

Min-seok whistled.

"That's considerably higher than most A-rank dungeons we've encountered."

"Yes."

"Any confirmed A+?"

"None confirmed."

Jae-hyun nodded.

"But the possibility remains."

Director Kang looked around the room.

"The mission will be classified as an international A-rank investigation. We are not going there to conquer the area. Our primary objectives are observation, identification and safe extraction."

A profile appeared.

Kim Tae-won — A-rank Defensive Awakener

Age: 32

Awakening Duration: 7 months

Previous Occupation: Firefighter

Combat Specialization: Shield and Defensive Mana

Director Kang continued.

"Tae-won awakened seven months ago. Before awakening, he worked as a firefighter for nearly a decade. His experience in rescue operations and disaster environments made him particularly suited to defensive Awakener operations."

Kim Tae-won nodded.

"I've survived plenty of collapsing buildings. Monsters aren't exactly the same, but the principle of keeping people alive is similar."

Another profile appeared.

Yoo Hae-rin — A-rank Elemental Archer

Age: 29

Awakening Duration: 8 months

Previous Occupation: Competitive Archer and Outdoor Survival Instructor

Combat Specialization: Mana Archery and Wind Manipulation

Hae-rin raised one hand.

"I've been using a bow since I was fourteen. The mana part is new."

Min-seok looked at her.

"So you've only been an Awakener for eight months?"

"Yes."

"Then how are you already A-rank?"

Hae-rin shrugged.

"Talent, training, and a lot of bad days."

Ara smiled.

"That's basically everyone's story now."

Director Kang nodded.

"The world has only been dealing with awakened humans for less than a year. No one here has ten years of Awakener experience. The people who reached A-rank did so through rapid adaptation, prior professional skills, repeated field operations and, in some cases, exceptional awakening abilities."

Subin found that explanation more believable.

Everyone in the room was still learning.

The monsters were evolving.

Humans were evolving.

The Association itself was evolving.

There were no veterans from some distant era who already understood the new world perfectly.

They were all building that experience now.

Director Kang displayed the proposed team.

Han Yerin — A-rank Spear

Subin Vans — A-rank Sword God

Kang Min-seok — A-rank Axe

Choi Ara — A-rank Mage

Lee Jae-hyun — A-rank Sword

Kim Tae-won — A-rank Shield

Yoo Hae-rin — A-rank Elemental Archer

Yerin looked around the room.

"That's a strong team."

Director Kang nodded.

"But strength isn't the only reason you were selected."

His eyes moved toward Subin.

"Subin understands evolving mana environments better than almost anyone in the Association."

Then toward Yerin.

"Yerin has the highest field-command performance among our A-rank teams."

Min-seok received a glance.

"Min-seok is exceptionally effective in direct combat."

Ara.

"Ara provides long-range magical support and elemental analysis."

Jae-hyun.

"Jae-hyun has demonstrated rapid adaptation against other Awakeners."

Kim Tae-won.

"Defensive support."

Finally, Hae-rin.

"Long-range reconnaissance."

No one objected.

The meeting continued for another forty minutes.

They discussed communication signals, emergency extraction, team formations and the possibility of encountering monsters above the predicted level.

Subin mostly listened.

When the meeting ended, the team remained behind to familiarize themselves with one another.

Min-seok approached Kim Tae-won.

"So, firefighter."

Tae-won looked at him.

"Yes?"

"How strong are you?"

Yerin sighed.

"Min-seok."

"What? It's important."

Tae-won smiled.

"I can probably stop your axe."

Min-seok's eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Probably."

"Let's test it."

Tae-won laughed.

"Not in the conference room."

Ara looked toward Subin.

"You see what you've started?"

Subin frowned.

"I didn't start anything."

"You've made everyone interested in fighting each other."

"I don't think that's my fault."

Jae-hyun laughed quietly.

"For once, I agree with Subin."

Min-seok pointed at him.

"You don't get to avoid it either."

Jae-hyun smiled.

"I'll fight you later."

The atmosphere became surprisingly relaxed.

The team that would soon travel across the world had barely known one another a few months earlier.

Yet circumstances had pushed them together.

Yerin eventually approached Subin.

"Are you free tonight?"

Subin looked at her.

"Dinner?"

She smiled.

"You remembered."

"Yes."

"Then don't disappear into training."

"I won't."

"Good."

Ara watched the exchange from across the room.

She walked over after Yerin left.

"You two spend a lot of time together."

Subin looked at her.

"Yes."

Ara smiled.

"Nothing else?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

She walked away before he could ask.

Min-seok immediately appeared beside him.

"You're really bad at this."

"At what?"

"Never mind."

Subin decided not to pursue the conversation.

That evening, he met Yerin near the river.

There were fewer people around than near the Association, allowing them to walk without being constantly interrupted.

Yerin looked toward him.

"Do you ever think about what your life would have been like if the monsters had never appeared?"

Subin thought for a while.

"I'd probably still be looking for a job."

She laughed.

"That's your answer every time."

"Because it's true."

"What kind of job?"

"I don't know."

"You're terrible at planning."

"You've mentioned that."

Yerin smiled.

They continued walking.

After a while, she became quieter.

"Are you worried about Kazakhstan?"

"No."

"Not even a little?"

Subin looked at her.

"The danger doesn't bother me."

"What does?"

"The unknown."

Yerin seemed surprised.

"You just said you're not worried."

"I'm not worried. I'm interested."

She smiled.

"That's probably the difference between us."

"How?"

"You see something dangerous and think about understanding it."

"And you?"

"I see something dangerous and think about whether we can survive it."

"That's useful too."

Yerin laughed softly.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was."

She looked at him for several seconds.

Then she looked away.

"You're getting better at this."

"At what?"

"Talking."

Subin didn't answer.

Yerin smiled.

The following two days passed quickly.

The Association gathered information continuously.

Mana fluctuations increased during certain hours and then decreased again.

The black crystals appeared to be connected beneath the surface.

Local scouts reported that several monster species had recently migrated toward the region.

None of the information explained what was happening.

But it was enough to justify the mission.

On the morning of departure, the team assembled at the Association's international transport facility.

Subin carried almost nothing.

Simple Edge was secured at his waist.

His equipment was minimal compared with everyone else.

Yerin checked her spear.

Min-seok adjusted the straps holding his axe.

Ara inspected her mana-storage devices.

Jae-hyun reviewed the mission map one final time.

Kim Tae-won carried a large shield.

Hae-rin had a bow across her back and several specialized arrows stored inside a compact case.

Director Kang approached the group.

"Remember the objective."

Yerin nodded.

"Observe first. Fight only when necessary."

"Exactly."

Min-seok grinned.

"And if something Level 160 attacks us?"

Yerin looked at him.

"Then we fight."

Subin looked toward the aircraft.

The world beyond Earth had not yet become their concern.

But even on Earth, things were changing faster than anyone could predict.

The invasion had happened only months ago.

Yet humanity had already gone from helpless civilians to organized Awakeners capable of challenging monsters that could destroy entire buildings.

The pace of change was frightening.

And it was accelerating.

Subin entered the aircraft.

Yerin sat beside him.

Min-seok and Jae-hyun sat across the aisle, already arguing about their next spar.

Ara sat behind them, listening with an amused expression.

Hae-rin reviewed the reconnaissance data while Tae-won checked everyone's emergency equipment.

As the aircraft began moving down the runway, Subin looked through the window.

The city slowly disappeared beneath them.

His hand rested naturally on Simple Edge.

For a moment, the sword gave off a faint golden glow.

Subin looked down.

[Simple Edge]

Compatibility: 99.99%

Awakening Condition: Choice

Condition Status: Incomplete

The light faded.

Subin didn't force it.

The sword would awaken when the right choice came.

Until then, there was no reason to rush.

The aircraft climbed higher.

Yerin looked through the window.

"Kazakhstan."

Subin nodded.

"Yes."

The journey that had begun with a sword in his hand and monsters appearing on Earth was gradually becoming something much larger.

But Subin wasn't thinking about the size of the world.

He was thinking about the road ahead.

And somewhere beneath the frozen ground of northern Kazakhstan, an unfamiliar flow of mana continued moving through the earth.