125

Chapter 125 — The International Challenge

The days following the team's return to Korea passed more peacefully than Subin had expected. The Association had assigned him several interviews, but he avoided most of them by spending his mornings in the training hall and his afternoons reviewing combat reports. The attention surrounding him had not disappeared after the National A-rank Evaluation; if anything, it had increased. His victory had made him recognizable to ordinary people, while his involvement in Kazakhstan had attracted the attention of foreign Awakener organizations.

Subin didn't particularly care about either.

What mattered to him was that the world was becoming larger.

The Awakening had initially made Earth feel like a battlefield filled with monsters and dungeons. Now it was becoming something else. Countries were developing their own Awakener systems, different fighting styles were emerging, and individuals who had awakened only months earlier were already reaching levels that would have been unimaginable during the first weeks.

The world wasn't waiting for him.

That made Subin more interested in it.

One morning, he entered the Association's main training hall and immediately noticed that something was different. Several unfamiliar people were standing near the observation area, accompanied by Association officials.

Min-seok was already there.

He waved when Subin entered.

"You're late."

Subin looked at the clock.

"I'm early."

"You're late for me."

"That's different."

Min-seok laughed.

Yerin and Ara were standing beside the visitors, speaking with one of the officials. When Yerin noticed Subin, she smiled and walked toward him.

"They arrived earlier than expected."

"Who?"

She pointed toward the group.

"International exchange representatives."

Subin looked at them.

There were six people.

Two were women and four were men, and each carried themselves differently. None wore heavy equipment, but the mana around them was clearly stronger than that of ordinary Awakeners.

The first person to approach was a tall man with short blond hair.

"I'm Daniel Kraus."

He extended his hand.

"German Awakener Association."

Subin shook his hand.

"Subin Vans."

"I know."

Daniel smiled.

"Everyone knows."

Min-seok immediately stepped between them.

"Don't worry. He's even more boring in person."

Daniel laughed.

"I've heard you're the axe user."

"I am."

"I'd like to fight you."

Min-seok's eyes brightened immediately.

"I like you."

Ara sighed.

"You've known him for ten seconds."

"That's enough."

The second visitor introduced herself as Elena Morozova, an A-rank ice-element Awakener from Russia. She had awakened seven months earlier and had previously worked as a competitive figure skater. Her ability allowed her to manipulate temperature and form ice structures through mana, but she explained that her combat style had developed only after awakening.

The third was Mateo Silva, a Brazilian A-rank martial artist who had previously competed professionally in mixed martial arts. His awakened ability reinforced his body and allowed him to increase the density of his mana around his limbs.

The fourth was Amelia Carter, a British A-rank archer who had spent years competing in traditional archery before awakening. Unlike Hae-rin, who relied heavily on elemental reinforcement, Amelia specialized in pure precision and long-distance combat.

The fifth was Liu Wei, a Chinese A-rank swordsman.

Subin's attention immediately shifted.

Liu Wei noticed.

"You use a sword."

"Yes."

"I heard."

"What style?"

Liu Wei smiled.

"That's what I wanted to ask you."

The sixth visitor was a Japanese A-rank tank named Takumi Sato, who had previously worked in construction and possessed an ability that reinforced his body with extremely dense mana.

Director Kang entered the hall.

"Everyone, welcome."

The international visitors gathered around him.

"This exchange is not a tournament," Director Kang said. "The purpose is to share information, training methods, and combat experience. You are not here to establish national superiority."

Min-seok looked disappointed.

Director Kang noticed.

"That doesn't mean you can't spar."

Min-seok immediately smiled again.

"Much better."

The first training session began with individual demonstrations.

Daniel displayed his ability first.

A massive translucent shield appeared around his arm, but instead of simply blocking attacks, he could redistribute the force through several layers of mana.

Tae-won watched carefully.

"Your reinforcement is structural."

Daniel nodded.

"Yes. I create multiple layers instead of strengthening one point."

Tae-won smiled.

"That's useful."

The two immediately began discussing defensive techniques.

Hae-rin and Amelia moved to the archery range, where their competition became almost entirely technical. Neither relied on flashy abilities, and the other Awakeners gathered around to watch their precision.

Ara and Elena began discussing elemental mana.

Yerin was approached by several foreign Awakeners interested in her spear style.

Subin stood near the center of the hall, watching everyone.

This was exactly what he had expected.

Every Awakener had developed differently.

The system had given people abilities, but it hadn't given them a single method of using those abilities.

The person shaped the power.

Not the other way around.

Liu Wei eventually approached him.

"Would you spar with me?"

Subin nodded.

"Sure."

The training hall became quieter.

Two swordsmen walked toward the center.

Liu Wei drew his sword.

It was longer than Simple Edge, with a slightly curved blade and a narrow guard. His stance was relaxed, but his feet were positioned carefully.

"You've watched my matches?" Subin asked.

"Several."

"What did you learn?"

Liu Wei smiled.

"That you're difficult to read."

Subin raised Simple Edge.

"Then don't try to read me."

Liu Wei's expression became serious.

The spar began.

Liu Wei moved first.

His sword came forward with a fast diagonal cut, but Subin didn't meet it directly. He moved just outside the blade's path and allowed Liu Wei to continue forward.

Liu Wei immediately recovered and changed direction.

The second exchange was faster.

His swordsmanship was fundamentally different from Jae-hyun's. He didn't rely heavily on positional pressure. Instead, he used continuous changes in distance, forcing his opponent to constantly adjust.

Subin recognized the principle.

Flow.

But Liu Wei's flow was aggressive.

It never stopped.

Subin allowed the exchange to continue.

Their swords collided several times, and the sound echoed through the hall. Liu Wei gradually increased his speed, forcing Subin to give ground.

Min-seok watched with interest.

"He's good."

Jae-hyun nodded.

"Very."

Yerin watched Subin carefully.

She knew him well enough to recognize when he was learning rather than simply winning.

Liu Wei suddenly changed his rhythm.

The next attack came slower.

Then faster.

Then slower again.

Subin's eyes narrowed.

Liu Wei wasn't trying to establish a pattern.

He was trying to prevent Subin from finding one.

Subin changed his own approach.

Instead of predicting the next attack, he responded to the space created by the current one.

Liu Wei's sword passed near his shoulder.

Subin stepped inside.

Simple Edge stopped against Liu Wei's chest.

The match ended.

Liu Wei remained still for a moment before lowering his sword.

"Interesting."

"You changed your rhythm well."

"You adapted quickly."

Subin nodded.

Liu Wei looked at Simple Edge.

"Your sword is unusual."

"It's simple."

Liu Wei laughed.

"That's exactly what I mean."

There was no hostility between them.

Only recognition.

Liu Wei extended his hand.

"Another time."

Subin shook it.

"Sure."

The moment ended naturally, but several people in the hall had already become interested in the two swordsmen.

A foreign swordsman had come to Korea expecting to test himself against Subin.

Instead, both had walked away having learned something.

That was exactly what the exchange was supposed to accomplish.

Later, Min-seok challenged Daniel.

Their spar was much louder.

Daniel's layered shield absorbed several of Min-seok's strongest axe strikes, while Min-seok repeatedly changed his attack angle to prevent Daniel from establishing a stable defensive structure.

The battle lasted nearly ten minutes.

Min-seok eventually won by striking the ground beside Daniel rather than his shield. The resulting shockwave disturbed Daniel's balance, allowing Min-seok to place the axe against his shoulder.

Daniel laughed.

"That was clever."

Min-seok grinned.

"I've been practicing."

"You should come to Germany sometime."

"Is there something worth fighting there?"

"There are several A-rank dungeons."

Min-seok's expression immediately became enthusiastic.

Yerin sighed.

"Please don't encourage him."

Meanwhile, Ara and Elena were having their own discussion.

"Your ice doesn't simply freeze water," Ara observed.

"No. I manipulate thermal energy through mana."

"That's more complicated."

"It is."

Ara smiled.

"I'd like to study it."

Elena laughed.

"You sound like a researcher."

"That's because I'm curious."

"You should come to Russia."

Ara glanced toward Subin.

"Maybe."

Yerin noticed the look.

She didn't say anything.

Subin didn't notice it either.

By evening, the first day of the exchange had become less formal than anyone expected. The Awakeners from different countries had begun eating together, comparing techniques, discussing dungeons, and exchanging stories about their lives before awakening.

Subin found himself sitting between Yerin and Liu Wei.

Liu Wei asked him about his sword.

"You really don't use any other weapon?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I want to understand the sword completely."

Liu Wei considered that answer.

"I understand."

Yerin looked at Subin.

"He's been saying that since the beginning."

"And you're still trying?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Subin looked at his sword.

"Because I haven't reached the end."

Liu Wei smiled.

"I don't think there is an end."

Subin looked at him.

"Maybe."

The conversation moved elsewhere.

Later that night, Director Kang approached Subin.

"You made an impression today."

"I fought one person."

"That's not what I meant."

Director Kang looked toward the international Awakeners.

"You've started attracting people who want to understand your path."

Subin looked around.

"That's fine."

"It means your future opponents won't all come from Korea."

Subin smiled faintly.

"That's also fine."

Director Kang laughed.

"I thought you'd say that."

The next morning, the international exchange program would officially begin.

There would be joint training, controlled combat, ability demonstrations, dungeon strategy discussions, and eventually mixed-nationality teams conducting short missions.

For Subin, however, one part interested him more than everything else.

Liu Wei had mentioned another swordsman.

A Korean-born Awakener currently living in Europe.

An A-rank swordsman who had developed a sword style completely different from both of them.

Subin hadn't met him yet.

But he had already decided that he wanted to.

Not because he wanted to prove he was stronger.

Because another sword was another perspective.

And another perspective was another step on the path he had chosen.