146 - The Limits of Strength

Chapter 146 — The Limits of Strength

The Global Awakener Development Center became operational faster than anyone had expected.

Within a month, the enormous complex on the outskirts of Seoul had transformed from a construction site into one of the busiest Awakener facilities in the world. Multiple training arenas occupied the central building, while specialized sections had been constructed for elemental abilities, close-combat classes, defensive abilities, healing, ranged combat, beast taming, crafting, and ability research. There were also several controlled environments designed to imitate forests, cities, caves, deserts, mountains, and unstable mana zones.

Subin had initially intended to stay away from the facility after helping with its opening program, but Director Kang quickly ruined that plan by assigning him a regular training schedule. He wasn't required to teach every day, yet whenever he appeared, young Awakeners gathered around him almost immediately.

This morning was no different.

More than thirty young swordsmen were standing inside Training Hall Three, waiting for him.

Subin looked at the group and then at Director Kang.

"You said there would be ten."

"There were ten yesterday."

"And today?"

"Word spread."

Subin sighed.

Min-seok, standing beside Director Kang, laughed. "You're famous."

"I don't like this."

"You're going to have to get used to it."

Yerin arrived carrying her spear and looked at the crowd.

"How many are here?"

"Thirty-seven," Director Kang answered.

She looked at Subin.

"Congratulations."

"For what?"

"You're officially a teacher now."

Subin ignored her.

He walked toward the training floor.

"Everyone put away your weapons."

The young swordsmen looked confused.

One of them raised his hand.

"Why?"

"Because we're not training sword techniques today."

Several people exchanged uncertain looks.

Subin continued, "I want to see how you move without a weapon."

The training hall became quiet.

They obeyed.

Subin watched as the group spread across the floor.

Their problems became obvious almost immediately.

Most of them had built their entire combat style around their swords. Without the weapon, their footwork became awkward. Some stood too rigidly, while others moved too much. Several relied on their sword to maintain balance.

Subin walked among them.

"You've trained the sword."

He pointed toward one young man.

"But you haven't trained yourself."

The young man looked embarrassed.

Subin stopped in front of another.

"Your left foot is always half a step behind."

Then another.

"You turn your shoulders before you decide where you're going."

Another.

"You keep your eyes on the opponent's weapon."

He continued until he had identified several basic problems.

The young Awakeners listened carefully.

Subin wasn't trying to teach them advanced swordsmanship.

He was teaching them awareness.

A sword was an extension of the body.

If the body couldn't move correctly without it, the sword would eventually become a limitation.

After an hour, Subin allowed them to pick up their weapons again.

The difference was immediate.

Their movements were still imperfect, but several of them had already become smoother.

Yerin watched from the side.

"You've changed your teaching."

Subin glanced at her.

"How?"

"You're focusing more on fundamentals."

"They need it."

"You're not teaching them techniques anymore."

"Techniques come later."

She smiled.

"You sound like Seo Jin-ho."

Subin remembered his old instructor.

"Maybe he's right."

Yerin raised an eyebrow.

"That's another rare admission."

Before Subin could answer, the doors opened.

A group of officials entered.

Director Kang immediately became serious.

"Everyone, take a break."

The young Awakeners moved away from the training floor.

One of the officials approached Director Kang and handed him a tablet.

"We received confirmation."

Director Kang read the report.

His expression changed slightly.

Subin noticed.

"What happened?"

Director Kang looked at him.

"The first S-rank evaluation has been scheduled."

The training hall became quiet again.

Min-seok immediately walked over.

"When?"

"Three weeks."

"And who's being evaluated?"

Director Kang hesitated.

"Several candidates."

Subin looked at him.

"Who?"

"Five Awakeners have currently met the preliminary criteria."

A screen appeared.

The first profile belonged to an American Awakener named Richard Cole.

Age thirty-four.

Awakened nine months ago.

Ability: Titan Frame.

His body could temporarily increase in density and physical strength while maintaining extraordinary durability.

Estimated rank: A+.

The second was a Chinese Awakener named Zhao Ming.

Age twenty-eight.

Awakened eleven months ago.

Ability: Storm Domain.

He could manipulate atmospheric mana within a large area.

Estimated rank: A+.

The third was a German Awakener named Helena Vogt.

Age thirty-one.

Awakened eight months ago.

Ability: Absolute Barrier.

She specialized in defensive fields capable of protecting large groups.

Estimated rank: A+.

The fourth was a Brazilian Awakener named Rafael Costa.

Age twenty-six.

Awakened ten months ago.

Ability: Predator Instinct.

His body adapted rapidly during combat, increasing physical performance and sensory ability.

Estimated rank: A+.

The fifth profile appeared.

Subin's eyes narrowed slightly.

His own name was on the screen.

Subin Vans — Sword God.

Min-seok laughed.

"They really put you on the list."

Subin stared at the display.

He wasn't surprised.

He had expected it eventually.

Director Kang continued.

"The international committee wants all five evaluated under identical conditions."

Yerin looked at Subin.

"Are you going?"

"Yes."

There was no hesitation.

Not because he wanted the rank.

He simply wanted to understand where he stood.

The meeting continued for another hour.

The evaluation would not be a simple tournament.

The committee wanted to measure several categories separately: combat ability, endurance, mana control, ability versatility, environmental influence, response to multiple opponents, and performance under changing conditions.

No single fight would determine the result.

Subin found that reasonable.

After the meeting, the group returned to the training hall.

Min-seok walked beside him.

"Are you nervous?"

"No."

"You should be."

"Why?"

"Because if you become S-rank, I'll have to work harder to catch up."

Subin smiled.

"You should work harder anyway."

Min-seok groaned.

"That's exactly the answer I expected."

Yerin joined them.

"Are you really going to participate?"

"Yes."

"Do you care about the result?"

Subin thought about it.

"I care about what I learn."

Yerin nodded.

That answer sounded like him.

The next three weeks became one of the most intense training periods Subin had experienced since leaving the early dungeon stages.

But this time, he didn't spend all his time training alone.

The Association arranged controlled sparring sessions with different A-rank Awakeners.

Subin fought Min-seok.

Then Jae-hyun.

Then Yerin.

Then Ethan.

Then Liu Wei.

He fought defensive specialists, ranged fighters, martial artists, mages, and even several younger Awakeners.

Each fight revealed something different.

Human opponents continued to surprise him.

A monster usually followed instinct and environmental behavior.

Humans could intentionally make a bad decision.

They could sacrifice an advantage simply because they believed the opponent expected it.

They could choose something irrational.

That unpredictability fascinated Subin.

One afternoon, Jae-hyun challenged him again.

The two stood across from each other.

"No special abilities," Jae-hyun said.

"Fine."

"No environmental manipulation."

"Fine."

"Just weapons."

Subin nodded.

They began.

Jae-hyun attacked with a straightforward diagonal cut.

Subin blocked.

The next attack came from the opposite side.

Subin redirected it.

Jae-hyun suddenly stepped forward without attacking.

Subin paused.

Jae-hyun smiled.

"Got you."

His blade moved.

Subin shifted backward.

The attack barely missed.

"You hesitated."

"I was checking whether you were serious."

"I wasn't."

Subin smiled.

"Then you failed."

He stepped forward.

The exchange lasted less than thirty seconds.

Subin eventually touched Jae-hyun's shoulder.

Jae-hyun sighed.

"Still too fast."

"You're improving."

"That's not comforting."

Subin lowered his sword.

"You changed your rhythm."

"Did it work?"

"Once."

Jae-hyun laughed.

"I'll take that."

The rivalry between them had become completely different from what it had been months earlier.

There was no longer resentment.

Jae-hyun still wanted to surpass Subin, but he no longer wanted Subin to lose.

He wanted to become strong enough to challenge him properly.

Subin respected that.

That evening, Subin met Yerin for dinner.

She had been unusually quiet during training.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Subin looked at her.

"You're thinking."

She sighed.

"You notice too much."

"You're different when something bothers you."

Yerin looked down at her food.

"I was thinking about the S-rank evaluation."

"Why?"

"Because everyone keeps talking about it."

Subin waited.

She continued.

"You've become so strong so quickly. Sometimes I wonder how long I'll be able to keep fighting beside you."

Subin was silent for a moment.

Then he answered.

"You don't have to keep up with me."

Yerin looked at him.

"What?"

"You don't need to become as strong as me."

She frowned.

"I know that."

"I mean it."

He continued calmly.

"You should become as strong as you can become. That's enough."

Yerin looked at him for several seconds.

"You're really bad at comforting people."

"I wasn't trying to comfort you."

"I know."

She smiled.

"That's why it worked."

They continued eating.

After dinner, they walked through the city.

Yerin eventually asked, "What happens if you become S-rank?"

"I train."

She laughed.

"Of course."

"What?"

"Nothing changes for you, does it?"

Subin looked ahead.

"Some things will."

"Like?"

"The monsters will become stronger."

"And?"

"New places will appear."

"And?"

He looked at her.

"I'll have more people to fight."

Yerin laughed.

"You really are impossible."

The day of the S-rank evaluation eventually arrived.

The international facility was filled with officials, researchers, combat analysts, and representatives from various Awakener organizations.

The five candidates stood in separate preparation areas.

Richard Cole was enormous, his physical presence immediately noticeable even without activating his ability.

Zhao Ming was calm, surrounded by faint traces of atmospheric mana.

Helena Vogt stood quietly near the entrance.

Rafael Costa stretched his arms while studying everyone around him.

Subin simply stood with his sword at his side.

The five candidates eventually entered the first evaluation arena.

The floor was enormous.

Several observation towers surrounded it.

Director Kang stood in the control room above.

The announcer explained the first stage.

"Stage One: Physical and Mana Performance."

The candidates would have to cross a series of obstacles while maintaining controlled mana output.

The test began.

Richard immediately surged forward.

His body expanded as Titan Frame activated, turning him into a massive armored figure.

Zhao manipulated the air beneath his feet.

Helena created barriers to propel herself forward.

Rafael moved with incredible agility.

Subin simply ran.

He didn't use any flashy ability.

He adjusted his steps according to the changing terrain, moving through the obstacles with minimal wasted motion.

The first stage ended quickly.

The results were close.

The second stage tested endurance.

The third tested response to environmental changes.

The fourth tested combat against artificial monsters.

The fifth tested human combat.

That was the stage Subin found most interesting.

Each candidate was given a different opponent.

Subin's opponent was a high-level combat simulation designed to adapt to his movements.

The artificial warrior attacked with a sword.

Subin blocked.

It changed rhythm.

He adjusted.

It copied his distance.

He stepped closer.

The simulation evolved its strategy after every exchange.

Subin smiled.

This was different from fighting a monster.

It was closer to fighting another swordsman.

The simulation suddenly abandoned its sword and attacked with its body.

Subin redirected the attack.

Then it changed its movement pattern.

Subin adapted again.

The battle continued.

Instead of overwhelming the simulation, Subin slowly narrowed its choices.

After several minutes, he touched the opponent's chest with Simple Edge.

The simulation froze.

Evaluation Complete.

Subin lowered his sword.

The final stage was environmental influence.

Each candidate entered a controlled territory and had to stabilize an unstable mana environment.

Subin entered alone.

The environment immediately changed.

Mana pressure increased.

The ground cracked.

Several artificial monsters appeared.

Subin didn't attack them immediately.

He observed the environment.

The monsters were being reinforced by three mana channels beneath the ground.

He cut the channels.

The monsters weakened.

Then he stabilized the remaining mana flow through several precise cuts.

The environment gradually settled.

The evaluation system recorded the results.

When Subin stepped out, Director Kang was waiting.

"How was it?"

"Interesting."

"That's all?"

"I learned a few things."

Director Kang shook his head.

"Of course you did."

The official results would not be announced immediately.

The international committee needed to analyze the data from all five candidates.

Subin wasn't particularly concerned.

He left the evaluation facility with Yerin.

Outside, the evening sky was clear.

Yerin looked at him.

"How do you feel?"

"Normal."

"You're impossible."

Subin smiled.

She looked at him for a moment.

"Regardless of the result, I'm proud of you."

Subin stopped walking.

Yerin looked slightly embarrassed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He continued walking.

But his expression had changed.

For perhaps the first time, the result of a test mattered less to him than the person waiting beside him afterward.

Behind them, the evaluation center remained brightly illuminated.

Humanity had taken another step toward understanding its strongest Awakeners.

But Subin knew the real test had never been about a rank.

Strength wasn't a title.

It was something that had to be proven again every time the world changed.

And the world was changing faster than ever.