The victory over Lee Jae-hyun didn't just win a competition; it detonated Min-jun's quiet world. The next few days were a blur of interviews, photo ops, and phone calls. Reporters, once dismissive, now hounded him, desperate to uncover the "secret" of his F-rank mastery.
Min-jun stuck to his script: "Hard work. Focused training. Good fundamentals."
He deflected every question about his skill, his "Lucid Dream Training" remaining his closely guarded secret. So-yeon and Chul-soo, now his unofficial bodyguards against the media frenzy, helped him navigate the chaos.
The biggest change, however, came from the Awakener community itself. Top guilds, who wouldn't have given Jinhae Vocational School a second glance a week ago, were now sending representatives. Lucrative contract offers poured in, each one more tempting than the last. They promised elite training, high-ranking missions, and salaries that would change his and his Omma's lives forever.
One particular offer came from the Phoenix Guild, a renowned S-rank organization. Their representative, a stern-faced B-rank Tactician named Commander Han, made a direct appeal.
Commander Han
* Rank: B
* Level: 28
* Strength: 20
* Agility: 22
* Stamina: 25
* Mana: 30
* Skill: Strategic Insight (B-Rank) - Provides enhanced tactical analysis, identifying opponent weaknesses and optimal team formations. Can boost allies' morale.
"Kim Min-jun-ssi," Commander Han stated, his voice devoid of emotion, "your performance was… anomalous. But undeniable. The Phoenix Guild recognizes talent, regardless of initial rank. We offer a fast track to advancement, resources beyond your imagination, and the opportunity to fight on the front lines against true threats."
The offer was staggering. It promised everything he thought he wanted. But as Min-jun looked at the gleaming logo of the Phoenix Guild, an image flashed in his mind: So-yeon's encouraging smile, Chul-soo's solid stance beside him. And a growing sense of conviction about his own path.
"Thank you, Commander Han," Min-jun said, his voice calm despite the momentous decision. "But I must respectfully decline your offer."
Commander Han's expression didn't change, but a flicker of surprise entered his eyes. "May I ask why, Kim Min-jun-ssi?"
"I have my own plans," Min-jun replied, "and people I want to work with."
News of his rejection spread like wildfire, causing even more bewilderment. Who would turn down an S-rank guild? It cemented his image as an enigma, a prodigy with an independent streak.
That evening, Min-jun sat with So-yeon and Chul-soo in their usual quiet corner, away from the school's buzzing energy. "I turned them all down," he announced, a sense of lightness in his chest.
So-yeon gasped softly. Chul-soo just grunted, but a small smile touched his lips.
"I have an idea," Min-jun continued, looking at them. "A crazy one. We start our own guild."
So-yeon's eyes widened. "Our own guild? Min-jun-ssi, we're E-ranks and an F-rank! And we're still in school!"
"Exactly," Min-jun said, a rare, genuine grin spreading across his face. "That's why it'll be different. I… I can help you both grow even faster. My skill isn't just for me. I can show you how to truly maximize yours."
He still didn't reveal the exact mechanics of Lucid Dream Training. He didn't have to. He had spent enough time in his dreams observing their individual skills – So-yeon's mana flow, Chul-soo's shield techniques. He knew their limitations, their untapped potential.
"So-yeon," he began, turning to her. "Your Minor Regeneration is good, but you waste mana on inefficient applications. I can show you how to pinpoint the healing, make it faster, more potent, and less draining. How to even extend its range for minor injuries."
So-yeon looked at him, her eyes wide with a mix of wonder and skepticism. "You... you can?"
"Chul-soo," Min-jun continued, turning to the stoic Shield user. "Your Steel Shield is unbreakable, but your footwork in defense is too static. I can show you how to move with the shield, to shift your weight, to absorb kinetic force more efficiently, even redirect it. How to turn your defense into offense."
Chul-soo just stared, his usual impassive face showing a flicker of genuine surprise. He'd never heard of such specific, personalized coaching before, especially from an F-rank.
"We call ourselves 'Dream Weaver'," Min-jun declared. "Because we'll weave dreams of potential into reality."
So-yeon looked at Chul-soo, then back at Min-jun, a hopeful, excited glint in her eyes. "Dream Weaver," she whispered, testing the name. "I like it."
Chul-soo, after a long moment of contemplation, gave a firm nod. "Alright. I'm in. But you better deliver, Min-jun."
And so, with a shared, silent understanding, the seeds of Dream Weaver were sown. They started small, just the three of them, operating out of Min-jun's dorm room, pooling their meager allowances to register their guild with the Awakener Association. They were laughed at by other D-rank students, dismissed as a joke by the higher-ranked academies.
Their first missions were low-stakes monster subjugations in the city's outskirts, where smaller, less dangerous creatures spawned. These were perfect for Min-jun to test his unique "coaching" method.
In his dreams, Min-jun would immerse himself in So-yeon's healing skill, perfectly mimicking her mana pathways, identifying inefficiencies, and experimenting with new applications. Then, in their training sessions, he would guide her, showing her subtle adjustments to her hand movements, mental visualizations for mana flow, or even breathing techniques to optimize her output.
"Focus your mana like a pinpoint needle, So-yeon," he'd instruct, watching her hands. "Not a broad wash. It will be more potent."
And with Chul-soo, he would verbally demonstrate new defensive maneuvers, explaining the exact angle of the shield, the precise pivot of the foot, the shift in center of gravity. He'd physically guide Chul-soo's stance, replicating the perfect form he achieved nightly in his lucid dreams.
"Your shield is strong, Chul-soo," Min-jun would explain, demonstrating a rapid counter-block with his own un-enhanced arm. "But you can use the force of the enemy's attack. Let it flow through you, then redirect it. Like this."
The results were astonishing. So-yeon's healing became noticeably faster and more efficient, her mana reserves lasting longer. Chul-soo's defense transformed from a sturdy wall into a dynamic fortress, capable of not only absorbing blows but also creating subtle openings for counter-attacks. They were improving at a rate that defied their ranks.
The other Jinhae students who sometimes joined them on these low-rank missions couldn't help but notice. The "prodigy" Min-jun wasn't just skilled himself; he was somehow making his friends insanely good, too. The whispers around Kim Min-jun began to evolve from curiosity to outright awe. Dream Weaver was just getting started, and the future, though uncertain, suddenly felt boundless.