15

Chapter 15: The C-Rank Swordsman

The wooden sword in Lee Tae-ho's hand moved again.

This time, Subin was ready.

The first exchange had already told him several things. Tae-ho was stronger, faster, and far more experienced than the opponents Subin had fought inside the Forest Fang Nest. His movements were economical, and unlike the monsters, he did not rely on instinct alone. Every attack had a purpose.

More importantly, Tae-ho understood how to fight another human being.

He knew how to disguise his intentions, change rhythm, bait reactions, and use an opponent's habits against them.

Subin liked that.

His Sword Comprehension continued working in the background.

[Opponent sword technique analysis: 18%...]

Tae-ho stepped forward and delivered a diagonal strike.

Subin blocked it.

The impact traveled through his arms, but this time his feet remained firmly planted.

His increased Vitality and Strength were already making a difference.

Tae-ho immediately followed with a horizontal strike.

Subin ducked beneath it and attempted to counterattack.

Tae-ho twisted his wrist.

Their wooden swords collided again.

Instead of retreating, Tae-ho used the contact between their weapons to redirect Subin's blade and stepped closer.

His shoulder struck Subin's chest.

Subin stumbled backward.

Tae-ho's sword stopped a few centimeters from his neck.

"You're good," Tae-ho said.

Subin looked at the wooden sword.

"You're better."

"Of course I am."

There was no arrogance in Tae-ho's voice. It was simply a fact.

"I'm Level 18, and I've been fighting since the first week of the invasion. You're Level 14, and you've only been awakened for a short time."

Subin nodded.

"Then I have a lot to learn."

Tae-ho smiled.

"That's the right attitude."

The system notification appeared.

[Sword technique analysis: 27%.]

Subin's eyes changed slightly.

He had begun to understand the structure of Tae-ho's fighting style.

It wasn't one technique.

It was a combination of several basic principles refined through repeated combat.

Tae-ho used short movements.

He rarely committed his entire body to an attack.

He kept his center of gravity low and maintained enough balance to immediately transition between offense and defense.

Subin had been relying heavily on his superior comprehension and the techniques acquired from monsters.

This was different.

This was human swordsmanship.

It had been shaped through experience.

"Again," Subin said.

Tae-ho raised an eyebrow.

"You aren't tired?"

"Not yet."

"Fine."

The second round began.

Tae-ho attacked more seriously.

His wooden sword accelerated.

Subin blocked the first strike.

Second.

Third.

He moved backward.

His eyes followed Tae-ho's shoulders, hips, feet, and sword.

Predator's Sense activated.

The world seemed to slow down slightly.

Not literally.

Rather, Subin became more aware of every movement around him.

The slight rotation of Tae-ho's ankle.

The shift in his weight.

The tightening of his fingers around the sword.

The direction of his shoulders.

Subin moved before the attack was fully launched.

Tae-ho's sword passed beside him.

Subin stepped diagonally.

Fang Step.

His wooden sword swung upward.

Tae-ho barely blocked.

Their swords struck with a loud crack.

Tae-ho's expression changed.

He had felt the difference.

Subin wasn't simply reacting anymore.

He was beginning to anticipate.

"Interesting."

Tae-ho changed his stance.

Subin's Sword Comprehension rose.

[Analysis: 41%.]

Tae-ho attacked.

Subin countered.

The two swords moved continuously.

Neither fighter was using their full strength because the purpose of the test was evaluation, not injury. Even so, the battle had become much more intense than the examiners expected.

Subin's Silver Fang Flow began adapting to Tae-ho's swordsmanship.

His movements were no longer identical to the technique he had created the previous day.

The technique changed with him.

One step became shorter.

Another became wider.

A defensive movement became an attack.

A missed opening became a new angle.

[Silver Fang Flow proficiency: 21%.]

[Silver Fang Flow is adapting to human sword combat.]

Subin's eyes narrowed.

That notification was unexpected.

He had thought techniques were fixed skills.

Apparently, they weren't.

A technique could evolve through use.

Tae-ho suddenly increased his speed.

His sword came directly toward Subin's shoulder.

Subin raised his sword.

CLACK!

The force pushed him backward.

Tae-ho followed immediately.

Another attack.

Subin blocked.

Another.

Subin redirected.

Another.

Subin stepped away.

Tae-ho's fourth attack suddenly changed direction.

Subin had expected a horizontal slash.

Instead, Tae-ho reversed the sword and struck from below.

The wooden blade touched Subin's ribs.

The system registered the hit.

[Direct hit.]

Subin stepped back.

Tae-ho lowered his sword.

"That's enough."

Subin looked at him.

"One more."

Tae-ho laughed.

"You really don't like losing."

"I don't like not understanding."

That answer made Tae-ho pause.

Then he smiled.

"Now that makes more sense."

He raised his sword again.

"One more."

The third round began.

This time, Subin didn't attack.

He waited.

Tae-ho moved.

Subin watched.

The first attack came.

He avoided it.

Second.

He blocked.

Third.

He redirected.

Fourth.

He stepped around it.

The Sword Comprehension analysis continued climbing.

[52%...]

[61%...]

[69%...]

Subin could now see the structure.

Tae-ho's swordsmanship was based around controlling distance.

He wanted opponents to remain at the exact range where his sword had maximum efficiency.

Whenever an opponent stepped too far away, he closed the distance.

Whenever an opponent came too close, he used footwork and body positioning to reset the range.

It was simple.

But it had been refined.

Subin suddenly understood why experienced swordsmen were dangerous even without unusual abilities.

Power could be obtained through levels.

Technique required understanding.

And experience turned understanding into instinct.

Tae-ho attacked again.

Subin moved.

Their swords crossed.

Subin's wrist rotated.

Instead of blocking Tae-ho's sword directly, he guided it away.

He stepped forward.

Silver Fang Flow activated.

His wooden sword stopped against Tae-ho's chest.

Silence filled the arena.

Tae-ho looked down at the wooden blade.

Then he looked at Subin.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Finally, he laughed.

"You're ridiculous."

Subin lowered his sword.

"Did I pass?"

Tae-ho shook his head.

"You didn't just pass."

He looked toward the observation room.

"You just adapted to my swordsmanship during the fight."

Director Han's expression was serious.

"End the evaluation."

The system announced the result.

[Combat evaluation complete.]

[Performance assessment completed.]

[Current combat ability exceeds standard D-Rank parameters.]

[Recommendation: C-Rank.]

Subin stepped out of the arena.

Several Association officials gathered around the evaluation terminal.

The results were even more unusual than expected.

His physical attributes were already high for someone who had awakened recently.

His combat ability was significantly higher than his level suggested.

His greatest advantage, however, was his learning speed.

Director Han looked at Subin.

"Subin Vans, based on your dungeon record, physical measurements, and combat evaluation, the Association is prepared to promote you from D-Rank to C-Rank."

Subin nodded.

"Okay."

Director Han stared at him.

"That's all?"

"What else should I say?"

Min-jae laughed.

"You could at least look happy."

Subin smiled slightly.

"I am."

The director continued.

"C-Rank isn't a minor promotion. C-Rank Awakeners are expected to participate in more dangerous dungeons and operations."

"That's what I want."

"You're aware that dungeon difficulty increases sharply?"

"Yes."

"And that the Association won't recommend solo exploration of every dungeon simply because you've succeeded before?"

Subin thought about it.

"That depends on the dungeon."

Director Han sighed.

"That's exactly the answer I expected."

He handed Subin a new identification card.

The card was different from his previous one.

Awakener Association

Name: Subin Vans

Rank: C

Class: Sword God

Level: 14

Subin looked at it for a moment.

C-Rank.

A few days ago, he hadn't even known that such a ranking existed.

Now he had reached it.

But instead of satisfaction, another thought entered his mind.

"If C-Rank is the level of someone like Tae-ho, what does B-Rank feel like?"

Director Han heard him.

"B-Rank?"

"Yes."

"You shouldn't rush."

"Why?"

"Because the gap between C and B is much larger than the gap between D and C."

Subin nodded.

That was useful information.

"How large?"

"Large enough that raw talent isn't enough."

Director Han pointed toward the evaluation arena.

"You saw Tae-ho. He's a good C-Rank swordsman. He has excellent combat experience and has cleared several difficult dungeons. Yet he isn't close to B-Rank."

Subin glanced at Tae-ho.

The swordsman was talking with another examiner.

"So B-Rank is much stronger."

"Usually."

"What about A-Rank?"

Director Han smiled.

"Don't worry about A-Rank yet."

Subin didn't respond.

His eyes returned to his status window.

He had thirty-five attribute points available before the evaluation.

He had spent all of them.

His current attributes were:

Strength: 38

Agility: 37

Vitality: 33

Intelligence: 21

Mana: 15

These numbers were only the beginning.

The evaluation had shown him that his physical ability was growing quickly, but his swordsmanship still had enormous room for improvement.

The system appeared.

[Human Swordsmanship Analysis completed.]

Subin froze.

The message changed.

[Analysis target: Lee Tae-ho]

[Technique structure understood.]

[Basic principles integrated into Sword Comprehension.]

[New sword technique can be formed.]

Subin's eyes widened slightly.

Another notification appeared.

[Technique creation available.]

[Would you like to create a technique based on analyzed principles?]

He immediately chose yes.

The system began processing.

[Combining Basic Sword Flow...]

[Combining Fang Step...]

[Combining Silver Fang Flow...]

[Integrating human swordsmanship principles...]

Subin waited.

Several seconds passed.

Then the final notification appeared.

[New technique created.]

[Technique: Flowing Edge]

Type: Active Sword Technique

Description: A sword technique centered around controlling distance, redirecting attacks, and transitioning seamlessly between defense and offense.

Subin stared at the description.

He hadn't copied Tae-ho's technique.

He had understood its principles and combined them with his existing swordsmanship.

That distinction mattered.

His Sword God class wasn't simply allowing him to learn techniques.

It was allowing him to build upon them.

Tae-ho approached him.

"You learned something, didn't you?"

Subin looked at him.

"Yes."

"What?"

"A technique."

Tae-ho's expression became complicated.

"You learned a new technique after fighting me?"

"More or less."

Tae-ho laughed.

"I suddenly feel like I shouldn't have fought you."

Subin smiled.

"You were helpful."

"That's not comforting."

Min-jae approached them.

"Tae-ho, don't worry. You still have plenty of experience he doesn't."

Tae-ho looked at Subin.

"For now."

The words were casual, but there was a competitive light in his eyes.

Subin noticed it.

A rival.

Not an enemy.

That distinction was important.

Subin liked having people stronger than him around.

They gave him something to chase.

After the evaluation, Director Han called him into an office.

There were several documents on the desk.

"What are these?"

"Available C-Rank dungeon information."

Subin sat down.

The director pushed the first document toward him.

"Now that you're C-Rank, you have access to more dangerous dungeon information. These are currently active C-Rank dungeons."

Subin looked through the list.

Ironroot Dungeon — C-Rank

Flame Beetle Mine — C-Rank

Blackfang Ravine — C-Rank

Stone Guardian Ruins — C-Rank

Frozen Lake Dungeon — C-Rank

Each had different environmental conditions and monster types.

Subin's interest immediately grew.

"Which one has the strongest monsters?"

Director Han looked at him.

"That's not necessarily the right question."

"It is for me."

"Why?"

"Because I need stronger opponents."

The director leaned back.

"You really intend to keep going alone?"

"If possible."

"There are restrictions."

"I expected that."

Director Han handed him another document.

"Then read this first. C-Rank dungeons are where solo exploration becomes dangerous even for talented Awakeners."

Subin accepted it.

He wasn't offended.

In fact, he appreciated the warning.

Danger was not something he wanted to avoid.

But neither did he want to underestimate it.

He stood up.

"I'll choose after studying them."

"Good."

Subin walked toward the door.

"Subin."

He stopped.

Director Han looked at him seriously.

"You've become C-Rank very quickly. Don't let the speed of your growth convince you that you're invincible."

Subin thought about the Silver Fang Lord.

The Level 15 monster had nearly overwhelmed him several times.

Then he thought about Tae-ho.

A Level 18 human swordsman had defeated him during their first exchange.

He understood the point.

"I'm not invincible."

Director Han nodded.

Subin opened the door.

"But I'll become stronger."

The door closed behind him.

Outside, Min-jae was waiting.

"So?"

"C-Rank."

"I know. I was there."

Subin held up the dungeon documents.

"I'm choosing my next dungeon."

Min-jae sighed.

"You really don't waste time."

Subin looked through the list again.

His eyes stopped at one name.

Stone Guardian Ruins.

C-Rank.

Estimated monster levels: 15–22.

High concentration of defensive monsters.

Possible equipment drops.

Possible rare materials.

Unknown dungeon guardian.

Subin smiled.

"This one."

Min-jae looked at the document.

"Stone Guardian Ruins?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Subin touched the Silver Fang Sword at his waist.

"Because I've been fighting monsters that move faster than me."

He looked toward the Association's massive window, where the city stretched beneath the afternoon sky.

"I want to see what happens when my sword meets something that doesn't move."

Min-jae stared at him for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"You're definitely going to cause trouble."

Subin smiled.

"Probably."

He walked toward the registration counter.

His next dungeon awaited him.

And this time, he would enter it as a C-Rank Awakener.