The initial days of Dream Weaver were humble, filled with small victories against low-level dungeon creatures. Their first target: a nest of Goblins infesting a forgotten subway tunnel beneath a construction site. These creatures were F-rank at best, but for a newly formed guild of E and F-ranks, it was a test of their new methods.
So-yeon, with Min-jun's guidance, had significantly refined her mana control. Her healing spells, once broad and sometimes wasteful, were now precise, targeting specific injuries with pinpoint accuracy. This allowed her to conserve mana, a critical advantage for an E-rank healer.
Chul-soo, embodying the lessons Min-jun had subtly imparted, moved with his shield like a dancer. No longer just a static wall, his defense was fluid, parrying blows with surprising grace, redirecting impacts, and creating small openings for Min-jun to exploit.
Min-jun himself moved with a newfound confidence. His agility, now truly formidable for an F-rank, allowed him to dart around the clumsy Goblins. His strikes, though still lacking raw power, were perfectly aimed, targeting weak points and pressure points he'd tirelessly practiced against phantom foes.
Their tactics were simple but devastatingly effective for their level. Chul-soo would engage the front line, his shield holding firm. Min-jun would then become a whirlwind of precise strikes, darting around Chul-soo's defense to strike exposed targets. So-yeon would keep them both patched up, her mana flowing effortlessly.
Word of their efficiency began to spread amongst the other D-rank vocational schools. They weren't flashy, but they got the job done with minimal fuss and surprisingly few injuries. This efficiency started to attract the attention of other struggling, low-ranked Awakeners who felt overlooked by the major guilds.
One such Awakener was Han Ji-won, an F-rank Awakener with the peculiar skill of Minor Illusion (F-Rank).
Han Ji-won
* Rank: F
* Level: 6
* Strength: 7
* Agility: 10
* Stamina: 9
* Mana: 18
* Skill: Minor Illusion (F-Rank) - Creates small, short-lived visual or auditory illusions, capable of minor distractions or misdirection.
Ji-won was a timid girl, often overlooked, her skill deemed too weak for combat. She approached Min-jun nervously after seeing Dream Weaver in action during a joint F-rank monster extermination quest.
"Min-jun-ssi," she mumbled, fidgeting with her hands, "I… I saw how you fought. And So-yeon-ssi and Chul-soo-ssi… they're so strong. My skill… it's just illusions. It's useless."
Min-jun looked at her, his expression thoughtful. He didn't see uselessness. He saw potential. He'd spent time in his dreams studying the concept of misdirection, of creating openings.
"Illusions aren't useless, Ji-won-ssi," Min-jun said calmly. "They're a tool. We just need to find the right way to use it."
He offered her a spot in Dream Weaver. Ji-won, stunned by the unexpected invitation, eagerly accepted.
That night, Min-jun delved into his dreamscape, focusing intensely on the concept of illusions. He simulated scenarios where visual and auditory distractions could be used to create openings, to confuse, to draw attention. He imagined using small, flickering illusions to hide his own movements, or to make a monster believe an attack was coming from a different direction.
When he guided Ji-won, his instructions were precise. "Don't try to create anything big, Ji-won-ssi. Focus on small, momentary flickers. A sudden flash of light, a faint rustle in the shadows behind an enemy. Just enough to draw their attention for a split second."
Ji-won, under his guidance, began to experiment. Her F-rank illusions, once clumsy and easily dismissed, became sharp and precise. She learned to use them to create brief blind spots, to distract patrolling Goblins, or to make them hesitate just long enough for Chul-soo to land a solid shield bash or for Min-jun to slip past their guard.
Their next few missions saw Dream Weaver operating with even greater synergy. Ji-won's perfectly timed illusions added a new layer to their tactics, creating a chaotic advantage in their low-rank skirmishes. The small guild, initially just three, slowly began to grow, attracting other F and E-rank Awakeners who heard whispers of Min-jun's uncanny ability to elevate even the most seemingly mundane skills.
The financial situation, once strained, began to improve. Their consistent success in clearing dungeons and completing subjugation quests meant a steady income from the Awakener Association. They were able to upgrade their basic equipment, invest in better training dummies, and even afford slightly better meals for their small, growing team.
The most significant change, however, was the shifting perception. The initial laughter and dismissive glances from the S-rank and A-rank guilds were replaced by a cautious curiosity. Their scouting reports, once focused solely on high-tier Awakened, now included a peculiar entry: "Dream Weaver Guild – Exceptionally efficient, low-rank, led by F-rank Kim Min-jun. Unusually rapid skill growth observed in all members."
During a large-scale F-rank monster clean-up operation in a neglected park area, Dream Weaver found themselves working alongside a scouting team from the Golden Lion Guild, a respected A-rank organization known for their offensive prowess.
Jung Ho-jun
* Rank: A
* Level: 25
* Strength: 35
* Agility: 30
* Stamina: 32
* Mana: 10
* Skill: Enhanced Axe Mastery (A-Rank) - Greatly increases proficiency and power with axes, allowing for devastating cleaving attacks and shockwaves.
Jung Ho-jun, an imposing A-rank Awakener and the Golden Lion's team leader, watched with a puzzled expression as Min-jun's small team moved with unexpected precision. He saw Chul-soo's shield block a charging Orc with impossible fluidity, absorbing the impact then slightly redirecting its momentum. He saw So-yeon's quick, almost imperceptible healing save a guild member from a nasty cut. And he saw Min-jun, an F-rank, moving with a grace and tactical awareness that rivaled his own.
He also noticed the subtle, perfectly timed illusions Ji-won created, momentarily disorienting a pack of Goblins just before Chul-soo engaged them.
"That F-rank leader… Kim Min-jun," Ho-jun muttered to his second-in-command. "He's not just good. He's making his whole team look like B-ranks out there. How is he doing that?"
His second-in-command, a grizzled B-rank veteran, shook his head. "No idea, Commander. Heard he just has some strange knack for 'coaching.' But I've never seen anything like it. It's almost... like he's downloading the skills directly into them."
The Golden Lion team completed their objective, but their focus had shifted. They were observing Dream Weaver, no longer with amusement, but with a growing sense of unease. The old guard, accustomed to the slow grind of traditional Awakener progression, found themselves facing a phenomenon they couldn't explain. The whispers were turning into questions, and some of those questions carried a sharp edge of suspicion. Dream Weaver was no longer just an underdog; they were a growing anomaly in a rigidly structured world.