140

Chapter 140 — A New Ranking

The aircraft landed in Korea just after sunrise.

The team had barely stepped onto the runway when they were met by Association officials.

Subin immediately noticed the number of people waiting.

Reporters stood behind the security barriers. Several cameras were already pointed toward the returning Awakeners, while Association staff tried to keep the crowd organized.

Min-seok looked around.

"We were only gone for a few days."

Jae-hyun adjusted his jacket.

"That's enough."

"For what?"

"For them to make another story about us."

Ara smiled.

"You're starting to sound famous."

"I don't want to be famous."

Subin walked past them.

"Neither do I."

Yerin followed him.

"Too late."

The reporters immediately called their names.

"Subin!"

"Han Yerin!"

"Kang Min-seok!"

"What happened during the Central Asian mission?"

"Did you encounter an A+ monster?"

"Are the new mana zones connected?"

"Is humanity entering a new phase of Awakening?"

Subin continued walking.

Yerin glanced at him.

"You're ignoring them."

"I don't know enough to answer."

"That's probably the right answer."

Director Kang had already arranged transportation.

The team was taken directly to Association headquarters.

The first meeting began less than an hour later.

The research data from Central Asia had been analyzed overnight.

The newly evolved monster had become the primary subject of discussion.

Director Kang displayed the creature's recorded measurements.

"Before the mana surge, its level was seventy-eight."

The screen showed the original readings.

"During the environmental surge, its level rose to one hundred and ten."

Another graph appeared.

"But the increase wasn't temporary."

The final reading remained at one hundred and ten.

Min-seok frowned.

"So it permanently evolved."

"Yes."

Yerin looked at Subin.

"Does that mean every monster around a growing mana zone can do the same?"

"Not every monster."

Subin looked at the data.

"Only those capable of adapting quickly enough."

A researcher nodded.

"That matches our current hypothesis."

Director Kang continued.

"This has forced us to reconsider the existing monster ranking system."

The screen changed.

The familiar ranking appeared.

F → E → D → C → B → A → A+

Then another rank appeared beneath it.

S

The room became silent.

Min-seok leaned forward.

"That's new."

Director Kang nodded.

"Until now, S-rank existed only as a theoretical classification."

Jae-hyun asked, "Because no confirmed monster or Awakener has reached it?"

"Correct."

Director Kang looked at the group.

"That is changing."

The researchers had detected several monster signatures worldwide that exceeded the previous A+ threshold.

None had been directly confirmed as S-rank yet.

But the measurements were close enough that the Association could no longer pretend the category was unnecessary.

Subin looked at the classification.

"How will S-rank be defined?"

Director Kang answered.

"Not simply by level."

That caught Subin's attention.

"Then?"

"Combat capability, mana output, durability, ability complexity, environmental influence, and threat range will all be considered."

Yerin nodded.

"That makes sense."

A monster capable of destroying a city shouldn't be placed in the same category as one that merely has a high level.

Director Kang changed the screen.

The same discussion applied to Awakeners.

"Human rankings will also be revised."

Min-seok looked at Subin.

"You're going to be S-rank soon."

Subin ignored him.

The ranking system had been created when Awakeners were still rare.

Now there were enough high-level fighters that the old system was becoming inadequate.

The world needed better classifications.

Not because ranks themselves mattered.

But because governments needed to know what kind of force they were dealing with.

The meeting continued for another hour.

Then Director Kang revealed something else.

"National A-rank rankings will also be updated."

Min-seok immediately sat upright.

"Now we're talking."

Ara laughed.

Jae-hyun looked at him.

"You care about that?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Because I'm competitive."

"You've never hidden that."

The new rankings were displayed.

1. Han Yerin

2. Subin Vans

3. Lee Jae-hyun

4. Kang Min-seok

5. Choi Ara

6. Seo Hyun-woo

7. Park Jae-hyun

The room remained quiet for a moment.

Subin didn't react.

Yerin looked at the screen.

Min-seok stared at his own position.

"Fourth."

Ara smiled.

"Congratulations."

"Don't congratulate me."

"Why?"

"I was third before."

Jae-hyun laughed.

"Then beat me again."

Min-seok looked at him.

"I will."

Subin glanced at the rankings.

He didn't care much about the number beside his name.

What interested him was the fact that Yerin remained first.

She noticed him looking.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were thinking about the ranking."

"A little."

"And?"

"You deserve it."

Yerin smiled.

"Thank you."

Min-seok groaned.

"Can you two stop being nice to each other?"

Ara laughed.

"Jealous?"

"No."

"Then why are you complaining?"

"Because it's irritating."

The meeting ended shortly afterward.

The new rankings were released publicly that afternoon.

The response was immediate.

Subin's rise from an unknown newcomer to second-ranked A-rank Awakener had become one of the most discussed stories in the country.

Guilds renewed their offers.

International organizations requested interviews.

Training academies asked whether he would appear as a guest instructor.

Subin rejected nearly all of them.

He accepted only one request.

A practical swordsmanship seminar at the Association.

It was scheduled for the following week.

Min-seok found him in the training hall that evening.

"You're actually teaching again?"

"Apparently."

"You enjoy it."

"No."

"You do."

Subin looked at him.

"Do you want to spar?"

Min-seok smiled.

"Now you're talking."

They entered the training area.

Yerin was already there.

Ara followed a few minutes later.

Jae-hyun arrived afterward.

Soon, the four of them were sparring.

It wasn't a formal match.

They rotated opponents.

Min-seok fought Jae-hyun.

Ara fought Yerin.

Subin observed.

Human combat was becoming more interesting to him.

Not because people were stronger than monsters.

But because people were less predictable.

Monsters generally acted according to instinct and environmental adaptation.

Humans could choose something completely irrational.

They could sacrifice a winning position simply because of pride.

They could retreat when victory was possible.

They could attack when retreat was logical.

They could change their minds halfway through an action.

That made human combat fascinating.

Subin watched Yerin fight Ara.

Ara created distance with magic.

Yerin continuously reduced it.

Instead of forcing her way forward, Yerin used the arena walls to limit Ara's options.

Ara recognized the trap and changed direction.

Yerin adjusted immediately.

The exchange ended with Yerin's spear stopped near Ara's shoulder.

Ara sighed.

"I hate fighting you."

Yerin smiled.

"You've said that before."

"Because it's true."

Subin nodded.

"Your timing improved."

Ara looked at him.

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"You're terrible at compliments."

"I wasn't complimenting you."

Ara stared.

Yerin laughed.

Jae-hyun and Min-seok finished their match.

Min-seok had won.

Jae-hyun looked annoyed.

"You've improved."

Min-seok smiled.

"You sound disappointed."

"I am."

"Good."

Subin looked at Jae-hyun.

"Your footwork is better."

Jae-hyun nodded.

"I've been training it."

"Keep doing that."

Jae-hyun looked at him.

"You don't think about rankings much, do you?"

"No."

"Why?"

Subin thought.

"Because they measure where you are."

Jae-hyun waited.

"They don't tell you where you can go."

The room became quiet.

Min-seok nodded.

"That's actually a good answer."

Ara smiled.

"Write that down."

Yerin looked at Subin.

"You've become philosophical."

"No."

"Definitely."

They continued training until late evening.

Afterward, Subin and Yerin left the building together.

The streets outside were busy.

Large screens displayed news about the revised Awakener ranking.

Subin's face appeared on one of them.

He looked at the screen.

Then kept walking.

Yerin laughed.

"You really don't care."

"It's strange."

"What is?"

"Seeing myself there."

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't want to."

"You probably will."

They walked several blocks before entering a quiet restaurant.

Dinner had become almost routine for them.

That was what made it comfortable.

There was no pressure.

No formal confession.

No dramatic declaration.

They simply enjoyed being together.

During dinner, Yerin asked, "What will you do next?"

"Train."

She smiled.

"I knew you'd say that."

"What about you?"

"Train too."

"Then we're similar."

"Not completely."

"How?"

Yerin looked at him.

"I want to travel."

Subin paused.

"Where?"

"Anywhere."

She smiled.

"I've spent most of my time fighting since Awakening. I want to see places without entering a dungeon."

Subin considered it.

"That sounds good."

Yerin's expression brightened.

"You'd come?"

"If you want."

She smiled.

"I do."

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Yerin quietly said, "Maybe after your next mission."

Subin nodded.

"Okay."

Outside, the city continued moving.

People walked beneath bright signs.

Cars filled the roads.

Young Awakeners gathered around restaurants and training centers.

The world was changing, but ordinary life continued.

The next morning, however, Subin received another message.

International Awakener Federation — Priority Communication

He opened it.

The message contained only a brief summary.

A new dungeon had appeared.

Not in Asia.

Not in Europe.

Not in North America.

It had appeared on an island in the Pacific.

Its initial mana density was already higher than any newly discovered dungeon previously recorded.

Estimated monster levels were between 120 and 170.

Subin stared at the message.

A second notification appeared.

International emergency meeting scheduled.

Yerin, who had been standing nearby, looked over.

"Another mission?"

"Looks like it."

"Where?"

Subin showed her the screen.

She stared.

"Pacific?"

"Yes."

Min-seok walked over.

"What happened?"

Subin turned the phone toward him.

Min-seok's expression changed.

"Level 170?"

Jae-hyun approached.

"That's higher than anything we've officially encountered."

Ara looked at the message.

"When did it appear?"

"Six hours ago."

The room became quiet.

Subin looked toward the window.

The world had just introduced another boundary.

A stronger dungeon.

A new region.

Higher-level monsters.

And perhaps another stage of humanity's evolution.

He didn't feel fear.

He felt anticipation.

The sword at his side remained silent.

Simple Edge had not awakened.

Subin didn't force it.

There was no need.

Whatever waited beyond that new dungeon, he would meet it when the time came.

And this time, he wouldn't be going alone.