74

Chapter 74 — Return to the Surface

The journey back through the dungeon was considerably quieter than the journey inward.

No one spoke much.

The expedition members were exhausted, but exhaustion wasn't the only reason.

Everyone was thinking about what they had witnessed.

The dungeon had been classified as A rank less than a day ago.

Yet within its depths, they had encountered A+ monsters, rapidly evolving creatures, an enormous mana reservoir, and an ecosystem capable of accelerating monster adaptation.

That was enough to change the Association's understanding of the dungeon completely.

Subin walked near the rear of the formation, occasionally glancing toward the surrounding terrain.

The dungeon had already changed since they entered.

Some monsters had moved into new territories.

Several mana crystals had grown noticeably larger.

Small creatures that had previously remained hidden were now moving openly through the corridors.

The increased mana density was affecting everything.

Subin stopped briefly beside one of the crystal formations.

Han Yerin noticed.

"What is it?"

Subin touched the crystal with two fingers.

"Growing."

She looked at it.

"Mana crystal?"

"Yes."

"How can you tell?"

"The crystal wasn't this large when we passed here."

Han Yerin frowned.

"You're saying it grew while we were inside?"

Subin nodded.

She looked toward the Association technician.

"Record it."

The technician immediately approached and began scanning the crystal.

After several seconds, his expression changed.

"She's right."

He corrected himself.

"He's right. The crystal has increased in volume by approximately four percent."

Han Yerin looked at Subin.

"Four percent in a few hours?"

"Yes."

The technician stared at his readings.

"At this rate..."

He stopped.

Subin understood what he was thinking.

At this rate, the dungeon's resources would increase continuously.

That sounded beneficial.

But it wasn't.

More resources meant stronger monsters.

Stronger monsters meant greater territorial competition.

Greater competition meant more evolution.

The dungeon was entering a positive feedback cycle.

Subin continued walking.

"We should leave the dungeon before the next major mana surge."

Han Yerin nodded.

"Agreed."

The expedition increased its pace.

---

The first sign of trouble came thirty minutes later.

A group of monsters appeared ahead.

The scouts immediately signaled.

"Movement."

The expedition stopped.

Subin looked ahead.

Six creatures emerged from the corridor.

They were different from the monsters they had encountered earlier.

Their bodies were covered in dark scales, and their forelimbs had developed sharp blade-like claws.

The Association scanner identified them.

Crystal Claw Beast

Level: 68

Rank: B+

The creatures stared at the expedition.

They didn't attack.

They simply watched.

One of the B-rank Awakeners raised his weapon.

"Should we eliminate them?"

Subin shook his head.

"Wait."

The creatures began moving.

They walked toward the side of the corridor.

Then disappeared into a narrow passage.

Han Yerin lowered her spear.

"They're avoiding us."

"Yes."

"That's unusual."

"Not really."

Subin looked at the passage.

"Their territory changed."

The increased mana had probably altered their behavior.

They no longer needed to fight every creature they encountered.

Their priority was resources.

The expedition continued.

Another group appeared.

Then another.

Some monsters attacked.

Others avoided them.

The dungeon was gradually reorganizing itself.

The deeper they moved toward the entrance, the weaker the mana became.

But the difference wasn't as large as before.

Subin noticed.

"The environmental mana isn't returning to normal."

The technician checked his readings.

"You're right."

He looked worried.

"Even after leaving the mana river region, the density remains elevated."

Han Yerin looked at the readings.

"How long will it last?"

"We don't know."

Subin looked toward the ceiling.

"Probably permanently."

The technician stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because the dungeon already changed."

The crystals had grown.

The monsters had evolved.

The mana circulation had altered.

There was no reason to assume the environment would simply return to its previous state.

The dungeon had crossed a threshold.

It had become stronger.

---

Several hours later, the expedition finally reached the entrance.

Sunlight appeared ahead.

The moment Subin stepped through the dungeon boundary, the difference was obvious.

The outside air felt lighter.

Mana density dropped sharply.

The expedition members relaxed.

Medical personnel immediately approached the injured members.

The Association technicians began transferring data.

Officials gathered around Han Yerin.

"Report."

"How deep did you go?"

"How many A-rank monsters?"

"Did you locate the mana source?"

"Was the dungeon stable?"

Questions came from every direction.

Han Yerin raised one hand.

"One at a time."

The officers quieted.

She took a breath.

"The dungeon is significantly more dangerous than its original A-rank classification suggested."

Several officials exchanged looks.

"Highest confirmed monster?"

"A+."

"Level?"

"Eighty-one."

The surrounding conversation stopped.

One official stared at her.

"An A+ monster already?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

"One confirmed."

She paused.

"But there are likely several others deeper inside."

The officers immediately began recording.

"And the mana source?"

"We located it."

Another wave of murmurs.

Han Yerin continued.

"The dungeon contains an enormous underground mana reservoir. The reservoir is connected to a network of mana crystals that circulates energy throughout the dungeon."

"Can it be harvested?"

"Probably."

"How much?"

"Potentially an enormous amount."

The officers became excited.

Then Han Yerin's expression hardened.

"But harvesting it right now would be a mistake."

The excitement disappeared.

"Why?"

"Because the monsters are evolving around it."

She explained everything.

The A+ Guardian.

The Mana Reversal ability.

The rapidly evolving monsters.

The mana river.

The crystal growth.

The newly opened deeper passage.

By the time she finished, the officials had become serious.

One of them looked toward Subin.

"And you?"

Subin looked at him.

"What?"

"How did you defeat the A+ Guardian?"

Subin answered simply.

"I understood its movement."

The officer waited for more.

None came.

"You don't have anything else to add?"

"Not really."

A few people laughed.

Han Yerin smiled.

"That's basically his entire fighting philosophy."

Subin didn't deny it.

The Association officials eventually turned toward the technicians.

"Begin a full report. We need to submit this to headquarters immediately."

The technicians moved away.

Subin prepared to leave.

Then Han Yerin called him.

"Subin."

He turned.

"Yes?"

"You've done enough for today."

Subin nodded.

She hesitated.

"Will you participate if the Association organizes a second expedition?"

Subin looked toward the dungeon entrance.

"Yes."

Her eyebrows rose.

"You don't want to wait for more information?"

"I want more information."

He paused.

"That's why I'll return."

Han Yerin smiled.

"Of course."

Subin turned away.

But before he could leave, his system activated.

[Dungeon reconnaissance completed.]

[A-rank Dungeon: Indian Mana Valley]

[Exploration Contribution: High]

[A+ Guardian defeated.]

[Environmental Adaptation achieved.]

[Sword God Class Evolution Progress: 75% → 76%]

Subin stopped.

The number was slowly increasing.

He hadn't expected it.

His class wasn't evolving merely through killing monsters anymore.

The Deep Core Territory had changed something fundamental.

Understanding.

Adaptation.

Experience.

Every new environment could potentially contribute to his class evolution.

Subin dismissed the notification.

Then another appeared.

[Global Progression Update]

[Mana density continues increasing.]

[Dungeon evolution rate continues increasing.]

[Awakening probability continues increasing.]

[Global Dungeon Classification may change.]

Subin stared at the final line.

That was new.

The world's existing dungeon classification had been based on current monster levels.

F through A.

But if the entire world was progressing, those classifications might eventually become outdated.

An A-rank dungeon today might not remain A rank tomorrow.

Subin understood the implication.

The ranking system wasn't fixed.

Neither was the world.

---

By evening, the expedition members had dispersed.

The Association headquarters remained busy.

Reports were being sent to regional offices.

Scientists were analyzing the samples.

Researchers were studying the Mana Reversal ability.

The A+ Guardian's core had been transferred to a secure research facility.

The dungeon itself had been temporarily closed.

No independent team was allowed to enter.

Subin returned to his temporary room.

He placed Simple Edge on the table.

The sword looked exactly as ordinary as before.

No brilliant aura.

No legendary inscription visible.

No overwhelming pressure.

Just a simple sword.

Subin sat down.

For several minutes, he remained silent.

Then he opened his status.

Name: Subin Vans

Class: Sword God

Level: 40

Rank: B

STR: 71

AGI: 70

VIT: 63

INT: 36

Mana: 41

Sword God Foundation: 100%

Personal Sword Path: 99.9%

Sword Intent: 86%

Weaponless Sword: 89%

Intent Transition: Advanced Application

Boundary Cutting: Basic Application

Class Evolution: 76%

He looked at the final percentage.

76%.

He had no idea what would happen at 100%.

Perhaps the class would evolve.

Perhaps something entirely different would happen.

He didn't know.

And he wasn't in a hurry to find out.

His gaze moved to Simple Edge.

Synchronization: 99.99%

The sword remained silent.

Subin reached for it.

The moment his hand touched the hilt, the familiar sensation appeared.

Nothing dramatic.

Just recognition.

He drew the sword.

Then stood.

He moved into a basic stance.

The room was silent.

No dungeon.

No monster.

No opponent.

Just him and the sword.

Subin made one cut.

Then another.

He continued for several minutes.

The movements were simple.

But his understanding was different.

The battle against the Guardian had taught him something important.

Strength could be reversed.

Momentum could be reversed.

Mana could be reversed.

Intent could transition.

But the sword did not need to follow those changes blindly.

A swordsman could choose.

Subin stopped.

He looked at the blade.

His Personal Sword Path remained at 99.9%.

Still not complete.

He smiled.

"Fine."

He returned the sword to its sheath.

"I'll take my time."

Outside the window, the city continued its ordinary evening.

People were returning home.

Restaurants were opening.

Cars moved along the roads.

Awakeners gathered at Association branches.

But beneath that ordinary world, something had changed.

Dungeons were evolving.

Monsters were adapting.

Mana was becoming denser.

And humans were beginning to awaken in greater numbers.

The first stage of the world's transformation had been violent.

The second stage would be different.

It would be competitive.

Every dungeon would become a resource.

Every awakened person would become a potential force.

Every nation would begin building its own strength.

Subin looked out at the city.

He didn't know where the world would go.

He didn't need to.

His path was simple.

Become stronger.

Understand the sword.

Keep moving forward.

His system displayed one final message.

[Sword God Class Evolution Progress: 76%]

[Next Evolution Requirement: Continue walking your own Sword Path.]

Subin smiled.

"That's something I can do."

He closed the status window.

Tomorrow, he would begin training again.

And somewhere beneath the earth, the Indian dungeon continued evolving.