14

Chapter 14: The Official Evaluation

The morning after clearing the Forest Fang Nest, Subin Vans woke earlier than usual.

His body felt different.

There was no severe pain from the battle with the Silver Fang Lord, but his muscles carried the familiar heaviness that came after pushing himself beyond his previous limits. He sat on the edge of his bed for several minutes, quietly reviewing everything that had happened.

A little more than a week ago, he had been an unemployed college graduate who had never held a sword in his life.

Now he was a Level 14 Awakener with a Rare-grade sword, several combat techniques, and enough money from a single dungeon to change his family's financial situation.

Yet Subin did not feel satisfied.

If anything, the realization made him more aware of how far he still had to go.

He looked toward the Silver Fang Sword resting beside his desk.

The weapon's silver-colored blade reflected the morning sunlight coming through the window. It was considerably better than the Association steel sword he had been using before. The balance was almost perfect, and every movement felt natural in his hand.

Subin picked it up.

The moment his fingers closed around the handle, the familiar sensation returned.

[Weapon compatibility detected.]

[Silver Fang Sword compatibility: 94%.]

[Sword Comprehension efficiency increased.]

Subin smiled slightly.

"Still not perfect."

He moved to the open space in his room.

His sword left its sheath.

There was no wasted movement.

He stepped forward.

Slash.

His body shifted.

Another slash followed from a different angle.

His feet moved almost continuously as he combined the principles of Basic Sword Flow and Fang Step.

After several minutes, the movements began to feel less like two separate techniques and more like a single fighting style.

This was what he had called Silver Fang Flow.

It wasn't merely faster swordsmanship.

It was movement that naturally supported sword attacks.

Every step created an angle.

Every change in direction created another opportunity to strike.

Subin stopped after nearly thirty minutes.

His breathing remained steady.

The system appeared.

[Silver Fang Flow proficiency: 17%.]

He looked at the notification.

"Only seventeen percent."

Despite the low number, Subin wasn't disappointed.

The technique had only been created yesterday.

More importantly, he could already feel gaps in it.

The system wasn't simply giving him techniques.

It was showing him possibilities.

The rest depended on him.

Subin sheathed his sword and glanced at his status.

[Name: Subin Vans]

[Level: 14]

[Class: Sword God]

[Strength: 28]

[Agility: 27]

[Vitality: 23]

[Intelligence: 16]

[Mana: 15]

[Unassigned Attribute Points: 35]

[Skills]

Sword Comprehension — Passive

Swordsmanship Growth — Passive

Sword Intent — Locked

Basic Sword Flow — Active

Fang Step — Active

Predator's Sense — Passive

Combat Adaptation — Passive

Silver Fang Flow — Active

Subin stared at the thirty-five unused attribute points.

He had intentionally saved them.

He wanted to understand how his body was developing before deciding where to place them.

Strength and agility were obviously important.

But the battle against the Silver Fang Lord had taught him something else.

Being able to kill an opponent quickly wasn't enough.

If he encountered an enemy that was dramatically stronger than him, his body needed to withstand the difference long enough for his swordsmanship to compensate.

"Vitality should increase."

He assigned ten points.

[Vitality increased by 10.]

[Vitality: 33.]

He then assigned ten to Strength.

[Strength: 38.]

Ten to Agility.

[Agility: 37.]

The final five went into Intelligence.

[Intelligence: 21.]

Subin clenched his fist.

His body immediately felt slightly different.

His muscles weren't suddenly enormous, nor did his appearance change dramatically. Instead, everything felt denser and more responsive.

His mind also felt clearer.

The improvement wasn't dramatic, but the difference was noticeable.

"That's better."

He still had much to learn about the relationship between attributes and his class.

Fortunately, he would have opportunities to test it.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

Subin looked at the screen.

It was a message from the Awakener Association.

[Official Evaluation Reminder]

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Seoul Metropolitan Awakener Association Headquarters

Purpose: Rank evaluation and combat assessment

Attendance required for registered candidates recommended for rank advancement.

Subin looked at the time.

8:42 AM.

He quickly changed clothes, secured the Silver Fang Sword around his waist, and left his room.

His mother was already preparing breakfast.

"You are leaving early again?"

"I have an evaluation at the Association."

His father lowered the newspaper he had been reading.

"The official evaluation?"

"Yes."

His father studied him for a moment before smiling.

"Then eat first."

"I'm not that hungry."

"That doesn't matter."

Subin sat down.

His mother placed food in front of him.

"You've been going into dungeons every day. At least eat properly."

"I will."

"And don't take unnecessary risks."

"I won't."

His father laughed softly.

"Your mother knows you're going to ignore that advice."

"I won't ignore it."

"You say that now."

The conversation was ordinary.

That was what Subin liked about it.

The world outside had changed.

Monsters were appearing.

Dungeons were forming.

People were awakening strange abilities.

Yet inside his home, his parents still worried about whether he had eaten breakfast.

For the first time since the invasion, Subin realized that his family's daily life was beginning to return to something resembling normal.

The difference was that they now had enough money to breathe.

The money from his dungeon expedition had already covered several months of household expenses.

He had also deposited a significant amount into his parents' account.

He didn't intend to make them wealthy overnight.

He simply wanted to make sure they didn't have to worry about money while he pursued his own path.

After breakfast, Subin left.

The streets were busier than they had been during the first few days after the invasion.

Military vehicles still patrolled major roads, but the panic had decreased.

Awakeners could be seen everywhere.

Some wore cheap protective equipment.

Others carried swords, spears, bows, shields, or magical staffs.

A few even walked around wearing specialized armor.

The appearance of Awakeners had already begun changing society.

When Subin reached the Association headquarters, the entrance was crowded.

Several dozen Awakeners were waiting outside.

Some were there for registration.

Others were selling monster materials.

A few were looking for dungeon parties.

Subin walked through the entrance.

Several people recognized him.

"Isn't that him?"

"Who?"

"The Sword God."

"The guy who cleared Forest Fang Nest?"

"I heard he killed the Level 15 guardian alone."

"Level 15?"

"That's what the report said."

Subin ignored the whispers.

He wasn't interested in fame.

At least not yet.

He reached the registration floor and found Kang Min-jae waiting near the examination area.

The field officer smiled when he saw him.

"You actually came."

"You told me to."

"I didn't expect you to treat the evaluation notice that seriously."

"I had nothing else scheduled."

Min-jae laughed.

"That's probably the strangest thing about you."

He glanced at Subin's sword.

"New weapon?"

"Silver Fang Sword."

"I know. The Association has been talking about it since yesterday."

Min-jae's expression became serious.

"You understand what kind of attention this is going to attract, right?"

"Some."

"More than some."

Subin remained calm.

"Does it matter?"

"For most people, yes."

"And for me?"

Min-jae smiled.

"That's what we're going to find out."

He led Subin inside.

The evaluation center was much larger than the training room he had used during his first assessment.

Several testing areas had been constructed.

There were physical measurement devices, mana sensors, weapon testing zones, and a large combat arena surrounded by reinforced barriers.

A group of Association officials were already waiting.

One of them stepped forward.

"Subin Vans?"

"Yes."

"I'm Director Han Seong-ho. I'll be supervising your evaluation."

Subin nodded.

Director Han looked at his file.

"Level 14. Registered D rank. Recommended for C-rank consideration."

Subin's expression remained unchanged.

"C rank?"

"Yes."

The director looked at him carefully.

"Your dungeon record is unusual. Solo completion of an E-rank dungeon, elimination of a Level 15 dungeon guardian, and acquisition of a Rare-grade weapon. Under normal circumstances, we would need considerably more data before recommending a promotion."

"Then collect the data."

The director paused.

Min-jae almost smiled.

Subin had a habit of saying things very directly.

"That's exactly what we're going to do."

The first test was physical.

Subin placed his hand against a strength measurement device.

"Strike when ready."

He punched.

The machine shook violently.

Numbers appeared.

[Strength measurement: 38.]

The examiner looked at the screen.

"That's consistent with your registered attributes."

The next test measured agility.

Subin moved through a series of illuminated markers.

His body changed direction repeatedly, accelerating and stopping without losing balance.

The examiner stared at the final result.

"Your movement efficiency is unusually high."

"Is that good?"

"Very."

The third test measured vitality.

Then reaction speed.

Then mana control.

Subin wasn't particularly exceptional in mana control.

His Mana attribute was only 15, and his class wasn't focused on magical attacks.

That wasn't a weakness he was concerned about.

He didn't intend to become a mage.

His sword was enough.

Finally, they reached the combat assessment.

Director Han entered the observation area.

"The final test will determine your practical combat rating."

Subin stepped into the arena.

A mechanical voice announced the rules.

[Combat simulation initiated.]

[Opponent: Level 12 Armored Orc.]

A gate opened.

An enormous creature stepped out.

It stood more than two meters tall and carried a heavy iron axe.

Subin immediately noticed the difference between this opponent and the monsters he had fought before.

The Orc's body was covered in crude armor.

Its movements were slower than the Forest Fang King.

But its physical strength was clearly greater.

The Orc roared and charged.

Subin didn't retreat.

He moved forward.

The Silver Fang Sword flashed.

The Orc swung its axe.

Subin shifted his body slightly.

The blade passed beside him.

He stepped inside the Orc's reach.

Silver Fang Flow.

His sword struck the gap beneath the Orc's arm.

The attack penetrated.

The Orc staggered.

Subin turned.

A second slash struck the back of its knee.

The massive creature dropped.

Before it could recover, Subin placed his sword against its neck.

[Combat simulation complete.]

The entire exchange had lasted less than eight seconds.

The observation room became quiet.

Director Han looked at the combat data.

"Again."

The system generated another opponent.

[Opponent: Level 14 Orc Warrior.]

This time, the Orc carried a large shield and a sword.

Subin's eyes brightened.

A sword user.

The Orc charged.

Their weapons collided.

CLANG!

The force traveled through Subin's arm.

The Orc was strong.

Subin stepped back once.

The Orc attacked again.

Subin blocked.

Another strike.

He redirected it.

Another.

He moved around the shield.

His Sword Comprehension activated.

[Analyzing opponent's sword technique.]

[Analysis: 21%...]

Subin's eyes narrowed.

The Orc wasn't particularly skilled.

But its technique had a rhythm.

Three attacks.

Defensive adjustment.

Horizontal slash.

Then thrust.

Subin recognized the pattern.

The next time the Orc raised its sword, Subin was already moving.

Fang Step carried him diagonally around the shield.

Silver Fang Flow followed naturally.

His sword struck the Orc's exposed side.

The simulation ended.

[Combat simulation complete.]

Director Han didn't speak for several seconds.

Finally, he turned toward Min-jae.

"How much combat experience did he have before awakening?"

"None."

"None?"

"None."

Director Han looked back at Subin.

"That's difficult to believe."

Subin sheathed his sword.

"I learn quickly."

Min-jae laughed.

"That's one way to describe it."

Director Han entered the arena.

"One final test."

Subin looked at him.

"What kind?"

"A real Awakener."

The doors opened.

A man entered carrying a wooden sword.

He looked to be in his late twenties.

He wore light protective equipment and had a calm expression.

Director Han introduced him.

"Lee Tae-ho. C-rank Warrior. Level 18."

The surrounding examiners immediately became more attentive.

This was no longer a simulation.

Subin's eyes focused on the man's sword.

A real opponent.

A stronger swordsman.

Exactly what he wanted.

Tae-ho raised his wooden sword.

"Don't worry. I'll hold back."

Subin shook his head.

"Don't."

Tae-ho raised an eyebrow.

"Don't hold back?"

"I want to know the difference between us."

A smile appeared on Tae-ho's face.

"Fine."

He took a stance.

Subin did the same.

The arena became completely silent.

Then—

Tae-ho moved.

His sword came toward Subin with considerably greater speed than the Orc Warrior's attack.

Subin blocked.

The impact forced him backward.

His feet slid across the floor.

His eyes sharpened.

Stronger.

Faster.

More experienced.

Good.

Tae-ho attacked again.

Subin countered.

Their wooden swords collided repeatedly.

For the first time since entering the dungeon system, Subin found himself unable to immediately dominate an opponent.

But instead of frustration, he felt something else.

Excitement.

His Sword Comprehension was already analyzing the man's movements.

[Opponent sword technique analysis: 14%...]

Subin's smile slowly appeared.

This evaluation was becoming interesting.