41

Chapter 41: The B-Rank Swordsman

The second exchange began without warning.

Seo Jin-ho stepped forward, his sword moving in a clean diagonal arc toward Subin's shoulder.

Subin shifted his body instead of retreating.

Simple Edge rose.

Clang!

The blades collided.

The impact was heavier than the first exchange.

Subin's arm trembled slightly, but he didn't allow the force to disturb his stance. His feet remained planted for a fraction of a second before he rotated his body and redirected the pressure.

Jin-ho's eyes changed.

He had expected Subin to retreat again.

Instead, Subin had used the collision itself to change their positions.

Battlefield Control.

Subin stepped inside Jin-ho's reach.

Simple Edge moved toward his ribs.

Jin-ho twisted his waist and lowered his elbow, catching the blade with the flat of his sword.

The two weapons slid against each other.

Jin-ho suddenly released the pressure and stepped backward.

Subin didn't chase immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on Jin-ho.

The system activated.

[Sword Comprehension activated.]

[Opponent analysis beginning.]

[Current analysis: 18%]

Subin narrowed his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was that Jin-ho's movements were extremely economical.

There was almost no wasted motion.

Unlike the monster swordsmen he had encountered inside dungeons, Jin-ho didn't rely on overwhelming physical strength.

His swordsmanship was refined through years of actual combat.

Every movement had a purpose.

His stance changed according to distance.

His grip changed according to the angle of attack.

Even his breathing was controlled.

Jin-ho attacked again.

This time, the sword came from below.

Subin blocked.

The instant the blades touched, Jin-ho rotated his wrist.

The sword slipped around Subin's guard.

Subin immediately moved his head backward.

The blade passed within a few centimeters of his face.

He stepped sideways.

Simple Edge flashed.

Jin-ho blocked.

The exchange continued.

Five strikes.

Seven.

Ten.

Neither fighter landed a decisive blow.

The observers outside the arena gradually became silent.

Director Han watched without blinking.

Kang Min-jae's expression was serious.

Subin was being pushed backward.

But he wasn't losing.

He was learning.

[Opponent analysis: 31%.]

Jin-ho suddenly accelerated.

His sword became a blur.

Subin blocked the first attack.

Then the second.

The third struck his shoulder.

A protective barrier activated around his body.

The impact still forced him several meters backward.

Subin looked at his shoulder.

There was no injury.

The evaluation equipment had prevented actual damage.

But the attack had been clear.

Jin-ho lowered his sword.

"You're strong."

Subin looked at him.

"So are you."

Jin-ho smiled slightly.

"But you're relying too much on your ability to understand your opponent."

Subin didn't answer.

Jin-ho continued, "Against monsters, that may be enough. Against experienced swordsmen, understanding the opponent isn't the same as defeating them."

Subin nodded.

"I know."

Jin-ho's expression became slightly surprised.

"You know?"

"That's why I'm still watching you."

Jin-ho laughed.

"Then watch carefully."

He attacked again.

This time, Subin didn't try to analyze the sword.

He watched Jin-ho's entire body.

Shoulder.

Hip.

Feet.

Breathing.

Center of gravity.

Intent.

The moment Jin-ho's weight shifted, Subin moved.

The sword missed.

Subin entered from the side.

Silver Flow.

His blade moved toward Jin-ho's waist.

Jin-ho blocked.

But Subin didn't stop.

The moment their swords collided, Subin changed the angle.

Flowing Edge.

Jin-ho's sword was redirected.

Subin's blade continued.

Jin-ho stepped back.

Subin followed.

One movement became another.

Unified Edge.

For the first time, Jin-ho's expression changed.

Subin's swordsmanship had become difficult to predict.

There was no obvious separation between his techniques.

He didn't suddenly activate one technique and then another.

Everything flowed together.

Jin-ho blocked a downward strike.

Subin's sword turned.

A thrust became a horizontal cut.

The horizontal cut became a step.

The step became another attack.

Jin-ho defended.

Again.

And again.

Then he deliberately left an opening.

Subin's eyes sharpened.

He saw it.

But something felt wrong.

His sword stopped halfway.

Jin-ho's counterattack came immediately.

Subin twisted away.

The sword passed across his chest.

He jumped backward.

The system notification appeared.

[Analysis: 47%.]

Subin smiled.

"So that's your trick."

Jin-ho raised an eyebrow.

"What trick?"

"You intentionally created an opening."

Jin-ho's smile disappeared.

Subin continued, "You wanted me to attack through it."

"Correct."

"And you were preparing a counter."

"Correct again."

Subin raised Simple Edge.

"But you won't use it again."

Jin-ho's eyes became sharp.

"Why?"

"Because now I know."

For a moment, the arena was completely silent.

Then Jin-ho laughed.

"You're troublesome."

He attacked.

This time, there was no fake opening.

His swordsmanship became completely different.

He fought with absolute discipline.

Every strike was direct.

Every defense immediately became an attack.

Subin's eyes widened slightly.

This was the real strength of a B-rank swordsman.

Jin-ho wasn't simply faster or stronger.

He could change his entire approach according to his opponent.

Combat Adaptation activated.

Subin's body adjusted.

The swords collided repeatedly.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Subin's arms became numb.

His feet moved constantly.

Jin-ho pressed him toward the edge of the arena.

Subin recognized the situation.

If he continued retreating, he would lose his movement options.

He needed to change the battlefield.

His sword moved.

Battlefield Control.

He stepped toward Jin-ho instead of away from him.

Jin-ho's eyes widened.

Subin entered the man's attack range.

Their shoulders nearly collided.

Jin-ho attempted to use his shorter movement to strike.

Subin lowered his body.

Simple Edge moved upward.

Stonebreaker Edge.

Jin-ho barely blocked.

The impact forced him backward.

Subin followed with a second strike.

Then a third.

Jin-ho's defense tightened.

Subin continued.

The sword was no longer moving according to predetermined patterns.

It followed opportunity.

A gap appeared.

Subin attacked.

Jin-ho closed it.

Another appeared.

Subin changed direction.

Jin-ho adapted.

The battle became a contest of continuous adjustment.

Neither swordsman was giving ground easily.

Outside the arena, one of the Association officials whispered, "He's actually keeping up."

Min-jae replied quietly, "He's not keeping up."

The official looked at him.

Min-jae's eyes remained fixed on Subin.

"He's learning."

Inside the arena, Subin felt the same thing.

Every exchange was becoming clearer.

Jin-ho's swordsmanship was slowly unfolding in his mind.

Not as individual techniques.

As a complete structure.

He understood why Jin-ho moved his feet in certain situations.

Why his shoulders remained relaxed.

Why he sometimes shortened his grip.

Why he didn't always attack the closest opening.

Why he deliberately controlled the pace.

[Opponent analysis: 62%.]

Subin's breathing remained steady.

Jin-ho noticed.

"You haven't slowed down."

"Neither have you."

"I've been a B-rank Awakener for six years."

Subin's eyes remained calm.

"Then you've given me six years of swordsmanship to learn from."

Jin-ho laughed.

"That's an arrogant answer."

"It's an honest one."

Jin-ho's smile widened.

"Then I'll give you something worth learning."

His mana surged.

The pressure in the arena increased.

Subin immediately felt the difference.

Jin-ho's physical ability had increased.

Not dramatically.

But enough.

The next attack was faster.

Subin blocked.

The force pushed him backward.

Jin-ho followed.

Another attack.

Subin dodged.

Another.

He blocked.

Another.

His shoulder barrier flashed.

Subin's feet crossed the arena.

Then his eyes changed.

He had found it.

Jin-ho's movement had a tiny flaw.

Not a mistake.

A habit.

Whenever Jin-ho transitioned from defense to offense, his right foot shifted slightly outward.

It lasted less than a fraction of a second.

Most people would never notice.

Subin did.

[Sword Comprehension: 78%.]

Subin waited.

Jin-ho attacked.

Subin defended.

Jin-ho transitioned.

There.

The right foot moved.

Subin stepped forward.

Fang Step.

His body changed direction at an impossible angle.

Jin-ho's sword passed beside him.

Simple Edge appeared against Jin-ho's neck.

The evaluation system froze both fighters.

[Critical strike detected.]

[Combat exchange winner: Subin Vans.]

Silence.

Then the arena lights returned to normal.

Jin-ho lowered his sword.

He stared at Subin for several seconds before laughing.

"That's incredible."

Subin lowered Simple Edge.

"You left the opening."

"No."

Jin-ho shook his head.

"You found it."

Subin nodded.

Jin-ho sheathed his sword.

"There's a difference."

Director Han entered the arena.

"Enough."

Both men turned toward him.

Han looked at the combat data.

"Level 34. C-rank registered Awakener."

He paused.

Then looked at Subin.

"You just defeated a Level 47 B-rank Swordmaster in a controlled evaluation."

Subin remained silent.

Han continued.

"The result isn't being recorded as a victory based purely on equipment or attribute superiority. Your combat performance was the deciding factor."

A large screen appeared behind him.

[Official Evaluation Results]

Name: Subin Vans

Class: Sword God

Level: 34

Previous Rank: C

Evaluation Result: B Rank

Combat Qualification: Confirmed

Solo Dungeon Qualification: Confirmed

High-Level Combat Qualification: Confirmed

Specialized Class: Confirmed

The screen changed.

[Rank Promotion Approved.]

Subin looked at the result.

B rank.

He had expected it.

But seeing it officially recognized still felt different.

Kang Min-jae walked over and handed him a new identification card.

"Congratulations."

Subin accepted it.

The card displayed:

B-Rank Awakener

Sword God

Level 34

Subin looked at it briefly before putting it away.

"What's next?"

Min-jae blinked.

"You just became B rank."

"I know."

"And you're already asking what's next?"

Subin nodded.

"I need stronger opponents."

Jin-ho laughed from behind them.

"Don't worry. You'll find plenty."

Director Han looked at Subin seriously.

"B rank changes things."

Subin waited.

"At C rank, you're considered a strong Awakener. At B rank, you're considered an elite combatant. You'll gain access to higher-level dungeons, restricted resources and more dangerous missions."

Han paused.

"And you'll start encountering people who won't be happy about your growth."

Subin shrugged.

"That's normal."

"Don't underestimate it."

"I won't."

Han nodded.

"Good."

Min-jae handed him another document.

"These are the currently registered B-rank and higher dungeons available to independent Awakeners."

Subin opened it.

The list was short.

Much shorter than the C-rank list.

B-Rank Dungeons:

Thunder Beast Canyon

Blood Iron Mine

Black Forest Ruins

Frostfang Fortress

Crimson Valley

Skyfall Dungeon

Subin's eyes moved down the list.

Each dungeon contained monsters from approximately Level 35 to Level 55.

Some had recorded B+ monsters.

One had an unexplored lower section.

Subin stopped.

"Skyfall Dungeon."

Min-jae frowned.

"You picked that one immediately."

"It looks interesting."

"That's the problem."

Subin looked at him.

"What happened there?"

Min-jae shook his head.

"Nothing unusual. That's exactly why it's strange."

Subin waited.

Min-jae quickly corrected himself.

"Forget that wording. It's simply difficult to map. The dungeon's terrain changes after every major mana fluctuation, so the Association doesn't have a complete map."

Subin nodded.

"Then I'll go there."

Han looked at him.

"Tomorrow?"

Subin considered it.

"Today."

Min-jae sighed.

"I should have expected that."

Subin walked toward the exit.

But before leaving, he stopped.

He looked down at Simple Edge.

The sword remained completely ordinary.

Its synchronization still read:

99.9%

No new notification appeared.

No sudden evolution.

Nothing.

Subin smiled faintly.

He didn't need the sword to reveal itself yet.

He had already learned something more important during the evaluation.

There were swordsmen stronger than him.

People with decades of combat experience.

People whose swordsmanship couldn't be understood in a single exchange.

That meant there was still an enormous amount for him to learn.

Subin tightened his grip around Simple Edge.

"B rank."

He looked toward the Association's massive dungeon information screen.

"Then I'll see what B rank looks like."

Outside, the city continued its new life beneath a sky that had once been ordinary.

Mana had changed Earth.

Monsters had changed humanity.

Dungeons had changed civilization.

And now Subin Vans had officially stepped into the ranks of Earth's elite.

But for Subin himself, the promotion meant only one thing.

There were stronger swordsmen ahead.

And that was enough reason to keep walking.