The infirmary smelled like antiseptic and faint mana. Min-jun just lay there, staring at the ceiling, his ribs screaming every time he took too deep a breath. So-yeon was diligently working her E-rank healing magic, a soft, green glow emanating from her palms as she hovered them over his chest. She was surprisingly good for her rank, her mana flow steady and comforting.
Lee So-yeon
* Rank: E
* Level: 8
* Strength: 6
* Agility: 7
* Stamina: 9
* Mana: 25
* Skill: Minor Regeneration (E-Rank) - Accelerates natural healing, capable of mending minor cuts and bruising, and supporting recovery from more severe injuries over time. Can reduce pain.
"Are you sure you're okay, Min-jun-ssi?" So-yeon murmured, her brow furrowed with concern. "That was... a really bad hit."
"I'll live," Min-jun grunted, trying to sound tougher than he felt. "Just got my bell rung."
Chul-soo, leaning against the doorframe like a human fortress, just nodded. He wasn't one for many words, but his presence was a solid reassurance.
Park Chul-soo
* Rank: E
* Level: 9
* Strength: 12
* Agility: 7
* Stamina: 15
* Mana: 5
* Skill: Steel Shield (E-Rank) - Enhances the durability and weight of a shield, allowing for stronger blocks and impacts. Can absorb a limited amount of kinetic force.
"You fought well," Chul-soo said, his deep voice rumbling. "Pushed Jin-woo. No one else has done that with an F-rank."
Min-jun cracked a small, pained smile. "Yeah, well, 'pushed' isn't 'won,' is it?"
But the truth was, deep down, he wasn't as upset as he thought he'd be. The pain was real, but so was the clarity that came with it. Fighting Choi Jin-woo had been like a massive debug session for his Lucid Dream Training. He'd seen every mistake, every missed opportunity, every moment where his physical stats just couldn't keep up with his dream-honed technique.
As So-yeon continued her healing, he quietly opened his own System interface. It was a familiar, comforting sight now, a digital representation of his growth. He'd done a lot of training, both in his dreams and with Chul-soo, since he first saw this screen.
Kim Min-jun
* Rank: F
* Level: 12
* Strength: 18
* Agility: 25
* Stamina: 20
* Mana: 8
* Unique Skill: Lucid Dream Training (F-Rank) - Allows the user to perfectly simulate and learn skills and techniques within a lucid dream state. Proficiency gained in the dream world translates to real-world application. Current Focus: Advanced Martial Arts, Tactical Combat Simulation.
He still couldn't believe his Agility was already at 25. That was pretty wild for an F-rank. His Strength and Stamina had also seen significant bumps, purely from the sheer volume of dream-training and real-world spars. His Mana was still trash, but hey, his skill didn't use much mana anyway.
"Alright, that should help with the immediate pain," So-yeon said, pulling her hands away. "You'll still need rest, but the ribs are mending."
"Thanks, So-yeon," Min-jun said, a genuine warmth in his voice. "You're a lifesaver, literally."
"It's my job," she replied, a shy smile on her face.
The three of them sat in comfortable silence for a bit, the unspoken understanding between them thicker than any formal conversation. They were the Jinhae Vocational School's dark horses, the misfits who weren't supposed to get this far.
"The finals are in two days," Chul-soo finally broke the quiet. "You'll be fighting Lee Jae-hyun."
Min-jun felt a familiar knot twist in his stomach, but this time it wasn't fear or despair. It was a mix of anticipation and something akin to cold, hard focus. Jae-hyun. The guy who'd made his life hell for years. The flashy C-rank Flame Manipulator who seemed to exist solely to remind Min-jun of his "uselessness."
Lee Jae-hyun
* Rank: C
* Level: 18
* Strength: 15
* Agility: 14
* Stamina: 16
* Mana: 45
* Skill: Flame Manipulation (C-Rank) - Generates and controls fire. Can create fireballs, streams of flame, and enhance physical strikes with heat.
Jae-hyun was fast, for a C-rank, and his flames were no joke. He could melt concrete with a sustained blast, and his fireballs could explode on impact. Min-jun knew he couldn't take a direct hit. He'd seen Jae-hyun in action plenty of times, both in school and during the competition.
That night, Min-jun didn't waste a second. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he dived into his dreamscape. He created a meticulous replica of the competition arena. Then, he conjured a perfect simulacrum of Lee Jae-hyun.
He spent what felt like days in his dream, fighting Jae-hyun. He studied every flicker of flame, every wind-up for a fireball, every subtle shift in Jae-hyun's stance before a fiery punch. He practiced dodging until his dream-muscles screamed. He experimented with counter-attacks, looking for the infinitesimal gaps in Jae-hyun's otherwise overwhelming offense.
His F-rank Lucid Dream Training meant the transfer was still slow, but the constant, focused repetition was working wonders. He refined his footwork, developing patterns that would make him an even harder target. He drilled precise strikes, not for power, but for speed and accuracy, aiming for vital points that could disrupt Jae-hyun's mana flow or throw him off balance.
He even practiced absorbing the psychological pressure of a crowd, a simulated arena roaring with cheers and boos, so that when he stepped into the real one, his focus wouldn't waver. He knew Jae-hyun loved to play to the crowd, to taunt. Min-jun had to be a wall, both physically and mentally.
By the time the finals arrived, Min-jun was still bruised, but his body felt incredibly light, almost disconnected from the lingering aches. His mind was sharp, focused, and utterly prepared. He walked towards the arena, flanked by So-yeon and Chul-soo, the two people who believed in him more than anyone.
The crowd was a sea of faces, a roar of anticipation. Min-jun saw Sun-mi and Jae-hyun's other buddies in the front row, already grinning, waiting for the inevitable. But he also saw the hopeful, expectant faces of his Jinhae classmates, and the quiet, encouraging nods from So-yeon and Chul-soo.
He stepped into the ring, the bright lights almost blinding. Across from him, Lee Jae-hyun smirked, a small flame dancing playfully on his finger.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Blank Slate," Jae-hyun drawled, his voice amplified by the arena's speakers. "Guess D-rank trash does make it to the finals, eventually. Don't worry, Min-jun, I'll go easy on you. Wouldn't want to make your last fight too embarrassing."
Min-jun simply looked at him, his expression unreadable. He had spent days in a dream fighting this man. He knew his every move, his every tell. Jae-hyun was about to find out just how much the "Blank Slate" had learned in his silence. The gauntlet had been thrown. It was time for the true ascendance to begin.