138

Chapter 138 — The World Beyond One Country

The emergency meeting continued for nearly two hours.

The map displayed on the wall had changed several times, but the conclusion remained the same. Mana activity was increasing across multiple regions, and the changes were not limited to individual dungeons. Different ecosystems were beginning to display similar patterns of adaptation.

That alone was enough to change the Association's plans.

Director Kang stood at the head of the table while the senior Awakeners reviewed the information.

"We have confirmed twenty-three significant mana fluctuations in the last seventy-two hours," he said. "Nine occurred around established dungeons. Fourteen appeared in areas where no dungeon had previously been detected."

Min-seok frowned.

"Fourteen?"

"Yes."

"Are they all dangerous?"

"We don't know yet."

Jae-hyun leaned forward. "Then what are they?"

Director Kang changed the screen.

Satellite images appeared.

Some showed forests where the vegetation had begun growing unusually fast. Others showed mountain regions where mana readings had suddenly increased. One image showed a lake surrounded by an abnormal concentration of monsters.

Another showed a barren area where several black crystals had appeared overnight.

Subin watched silently.

He had seen similar developments in Greenfall, Kazakhstan, and the Italian dungeon.

The difference was that those changes had happened inside established mana environments.

These were appearing in ordinary territory.

Yerin asked, "Are monsters moving toward these areas?"

"Some are."

"And humans?"

"Some local authorities have already evacuated nearby settlements."

Ara studied the reports. "So we're dealing with natural mana expansion."

"That is the current assumption."

Jae-hyun crossed his arms. "And if that assumption is wrong?"

Director Kang looked at him.

"Then we will adjust."

Subin nodded.

That was the only reasonable answer.

There was no point pretending they understood something that had appeared only months ago.

The world had changed faster than science, government, and the Awakener Association could adapt.

Director Kang continued.

"The International Awakener Development League was successful. We're expanding it."

A new document appeared.

GLOBAL AWAKENER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

The program would no longer be limited to training.

International teams would be formed for reconnaissance, rescue operations, dungeon stabilization, and controlled monster suppression.

Each major region would establish mixed-nationality teams.

The purpose was straightforward.

If a crisis occurred in one country, Awakeners from another country could operate alongside local teams without wasting valuable time learning how to cooperate.

Min-seok looked at Subin.

"So we're going international again."

Subin shrugged.

"Apparently."

Ara smiled.

"You don't sound excited."

"I'm not against it."

Yerin glanced at him.

"That's practically excitement for you."

Subin ignored her.

Director Kang continued.

"There is another reason for this."

The screen changed.

A list of countries appeared.

India.

China.

Japan.

Russia.

Germany.

Italy.

Brazil.

Britain.

Canada.

Australia.

South Korea.

Several more followed.

"We've been receiving reports of high-level Awakeners appearing much faster than expected."

Subin looked at the list.

"How many?"

"Worldwide?"

Director Kang paused.

"Enough that our previous ranking system is becoming difficult to maintain."

The room became quiet.

Until recently, an A-rank Awakener had been considered extremely rare.

Now more were appearing every week.

Some were former athletes.

Some were soldiers.

Some were rescue workers.

Some were ordinary people who had simply awakened with exceptional abilities.

The world was changing.

Not just because monsters were becoming stronger.

Humans were changing too.

Director Kang turned toward Subin.

"I want you to participate in the first international response team."

Subin didn't immediately answer.

"Where?"

"Central Asia."

A map appeared.

Several countries were highlighted.

"This isn't another dungeon expedition. It's a regional reconnaissance mission."

Subin studied the location.

"What's happening there?"

"Three mana zones appeared within fifty kilometers of each other. One is inside an established dungeon. The other two are outside any known dungeon."

Yerin leaned forward.

"Monster activity?"

"Levels between seventy and one hundred have been detected."

Min-seok smiled.

"Sounds like work."

Director Kang looked at him.

"You're coming too."

Min-seok's smile disappeared.

"I was joking."

Ara laughed.

Jae-hyun shook his head.

"You should have kept quiet."

Director Kang continued assigning members.

"Han Yerin will lead the combat formation."

Yerin nodded.

"Kang Min-seok, Choi Ara, Lee Jae-hyun, and two local A-rank Awakeners will accompany you."

He looked toward Subin.

"You'll be the primary reconnaissance swordsman."

Subin nodded.

"Understood."

The meeting ended shortly afterward.

Outside the conference room, the group remained together.

Min-seok stretched.

"When are we leaving?"

"Three days."

"Three days?"

"Yes."

He sighed.

"I haven't even unpacked from the last trip."

Ara smiled.

"You never unpack."

"Exactly."

Jae-hyun looked at Subin.

"You realize something, right?"

"What?"

"This is becoming normal for you."

Subin looked at him.

"International missions?"

"Being sent wherever something unusual happens."

Subin thought about it.

"Maybe."

Jae-hyun shook his head.

"You're getting famous."

"I know."

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"No."

Jae-hyun smiled faintly.

"I suppose that fits you."

He walked away.

Min-seok followed him.

Ara remained behind with Yerin and Subin.

"So," she said, "three days."

Subin looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She smiled.

"Just wondering how long before you disappear into another dungeon."

Yerin glanced at Ara.

"We'll be back."

"I know."

Ara walked away.

Yerin looked at Subin.

"She's worried about you."

"So are you."

Yerin smiled.

"Yes."

The answer was simple.

Subin didn't know what to say.

Yerin noticed his silence.

"Don't make that face."

"What face?"

"The one where you're trying to understand something complicated."

Subin smiled slightly.

"I'm not."

"You are."

She walked beside him toward the training hall.

"You've gotten better at talking."

"Have I?"

"Definitely."

"How?"

"You actually answer people now."

Subin considered it.

"That's useful."

Yerin laughed.

They spent the next three days preparing.

Unlike their previous missions, this one required little combat equipment.

The purpose was reconnaissance.

Each participant received a communication device, emergency beacon, mana detector, environmental scanner, and basic survival supplies.

Subin carried Simple Edge.

He didn't bring Abyssal Emperor's Edge.

Yerin noticed.

"Why Simple Edge?"

"Because I don't need the stronger sword."

She nodded.

That was Subin's usual answer.

If he could accomplish something with a simple sword, there was no reason to use a stronger one.

The morning of departure arrived quickly.

A military transport aircraft waited on the Association's private runway.

The team gathered beside it.

Two local A-rank Awakeners had been assigned to them.

The first was Arman Bekov, a thirty-one-year-old Kazakh Awakener who had awakened seven months earlier. His ability reinforced his body and allowed him to manipulate kinetic force through his limbs. Before Awakening, he had worked in mining operations.

The second was Aida Saparova, twenty-seven, an A-rank healer and support Awakener who could accelerate natural recovery through mana transfer. She had worked as a paramedic before Awakening.

Both were experienced in their professions but relatively new to Awakener combat.

Subin appreciated that.

It meant they weren't relying on years of imaginary experience.

Arman shook Subin's hand.

"I've heard about you."

Subin nodded.

"I've heard about you too."

Arman laughed.

"You probably haven't."

"No."

Arman looked surprised.

Then he laughed harder.

Yerin covered a smile.

Min-seok shook his head.

"He does that."

Aida smiled.

"I think I like him already."

They boarded the aircraft.

The flight took several hours.

During the journey, the team reviewed the information.

The first mana zone was located near a mountain range.

The second was several kilometers east.

The third was inside a newly expanded dungeon.

The three zones formed an irregular triangle.

Yerin studied the map.

"Could they be connected?"

Subin looked at the mana readings.

"Possibly."

"How?"

"Underground circulation."

Min-seok looked over.

"Like Kazakhstan?"

"Similar."

"But these aren't black crystals."

"No."

Subin pointed toward the readings.

"The flow is different."

The aircraft landed near a temporary international command center.

The team was greeted by local officials and researchers.

The area had already been evacuated.

Several kilometers away, the first mana zone was visible.

A faint blue glow covered the ground.

Plants had grown unusually tall.

Trees had twisted around one another, forming natural arches.

Several small monsters moved through the vegetation.

The team approached cautiously.

Arman raised his hand.

"Movement."

Everyone stopped.

Three wolf-like monsters emerged from the vegetation.

Level 82.

Then two more.

Level 85.

Yerin lowered her spear.

"Formation."

The monsters didn't attack immediately.

They looked toward the team.

Subin observed them.

Their bodies were tense, but their mana wasn't directed toward the humans.

Instead, their mana flowed into the ground.

Subin noticed something.

"Wait."

Min-seok paused.

The monsters turned away.

They walked toward a cluster of blue plants.

The team followed at a distance.

The wolves stopped beside the plants and began feeding.

Aida whispered, "They're herbivorous?"

"No," Subin said.

He crouched beside one of the plants.

"The plant is producing mana-rich fruit."

The wolves weren't hunting.

They were feeding on the fruit.

Subin looked around.

The entire area was functioning as a small ecosystem.

The monsters weren't randomly appearing.

They were adapting to the new mana environment.

Yerin approached.

"Does that mean we shouldn't kill them?"

"Unless they attack."

She nodded.

The team continued deeper.

The mana density increased.

Soon, they reached a shallow valley.

At its center stood a cluster of black crystals.

Not like the Kazakhstan network.

These crystals were smaller.

But they were connected through thin blue lines beneath the soil.

Subin crouched.

He touched the ground.

Mana moved beneath his palm.

Slowly.

Steadily.

Like blood through veins.

"There's a circulation network here."

Arman looked at the valley.

"How deep?"

"At least several hundred meters."

Yerin looked toward the mountain.

"Does it connect to the dungeon?"

Subin followed the flow.

"Maybe."

He stood.

"We should investigate the second zone first."

The team moved toward the mountain.

The terrain became steeper.

Monster activity increased.

A Level 94 A-rank creature appeared near a rocky passage.

It resembled a large feline covered in blue mineral plates.

Its eyes followed the team.

Min-seok raised his axe.

Subin stopped him.

"Don't."

Min-seok lowered it.

The creature turned and walked away.

They followed.

It led them toward a cave.

Inside, the team discovered dozens of mineral deposits.

The creature was protecting the territory.

Not attacking them.

Subin studied the walls.

The same blue lines ran through the stone.

"The network is extending upward."

Yerin understood.

"It's feeding the ecosystem."

"Yes."

Subin looked deeper into the cave.

"But this one is different."

"How?"

"The mana isn't only flowing."

He touched the wall.

"It's being filtered."

Aida stepped closer.

"Filtered?"

"Chaotic mana enters from below. The network changes its density before releasing it into the surrounding environment."

She looked impressed.

"So the ecosystem is regulating itself."

Subin nodded.

"Exactly."

The team documented everything.

No unnecessary battle took place.

No core was extracted.

No territory was damaged.

The mission was reconnaissance.

After several hours, they returned to the command center.

The researchers immediately began analyzing the data.

Director Kang joined through a video connection.

Subin gave his report.

"The three zones appear connected by underground mana circulation."

Director Kang listened carefully.

"Any signs of hostile activity?"

"No."

"Monster evolution?"

"Environmental adaptation."

"Risk level?"

Subin thought for a moment.

"Currently moderate."

The room relaxed.

Then Subin added, "But it will probably increase."

Director Kang's expression became serious.

"Why?"

"Because the system is still developing."

He displayed the data.

"The longer it exists, the more efficient the circulation becomes."

Yerin understood.

"It could support stronger ecosystems."

Subin nodded.

"Yes."

Director Kang looked at the researchers.

"Continue monitoring."

The call ended.

The team had completed its objective.

That evening, they ate together at the command center.

Min-seok complained about the local food being too spicy.

Arman laughed.

"You ate three servings."

"Because I was hungry."

"You asked for more."

"I was still hungry."

Aida laughed.

Yerin looked at Subin.

"You haven't said anything."

"I'm eating."

"That's not what I meant."

Subin looked at her.

"What should I say?"

"Something interesting."

He thought.

"The food is good."

Yerin stared at him.

Min-seok burst out laughing.

Ara would have enjoyed this, Subin thought.

He realized something immediately afterward.

He missed the others.

The Association.

The training hall.

Min-seok's constant challenges.

Ara's teasing.

Jae-hyun's rivalry.

Yerin beside him.

His world had become crowded.

And strangely, he liked it.

Later that night, Subin stepped outside.

The air was cold.

The distant mountains were covered by moonlight.

Yerin joined him.

"You disappeared."

"I was here."

"You know what I mean."

They stood together.

Yerin looked toward the mountains.

"Do you ever think about how different your life was before Awakening?"

"Sometimes."

"What would you be doing now?"

Subin thought about it.

"Probably looking for a job."

Yerin smiled.

"Would you have been happy?"

"I don't know."

"Do you regret it?"

Subin looked at the distant mana zone.

"No."

Yerin smiled.

"Neither do I."

They stood quietly.

Then Subin noticed something.

A faint movement of mana beneath the ground.

It wasn't dangerous.

It wasn't sudden.

It was simply flowing.

Like everything else in this changing world.

Subin didn't draw his sword.

He simply watched.

The journey had begun as another mission.

But once again, the world had shown him something he hadn't expected.

Strength wasn't only about how much he could cut.

It was also about understanding what should remain untouched.

And as the mana beneath the mountains continued to circulate, Subin realized that humanity's future would not be decided by one powerful Awakener.

It would be shaped by millions of people learning how to live in a world that was still evolving.