The transformation of Dream Weaver, fueled by Min-jun's unique coaching and his team's disciplined application, was becoming impossible to ignore. Their efficiency in clearing C-rank dungeons, once a topic of hushed whispers, was now openly discussed on Awakener forums and in guild halls across Seoul. They were no longer just the "underdog" from Jinhae Vocational School; they were an anomaly, a guild operating far above their collective rank, pulling off feats that should, by all conventional logic, be beyond their capabilities.
The Awakener Association, a sprawling bureaucratic entity responsible for regulating guilds and dungeons, started sending more "inspectors" to their missions. These weren't just low-level observers; they were high-ranking officials, often B-rank and A-rank Awakeners themselves, tasked with figuring out how Dream Weaver was consistently outperforming established guilds. Their reports, filled with words like "unprecedented synergy," "uncanny tactical cohesion," and "anomalous growth rate," only deepened the mystery.
Min-jun, with his new short blades, was a blur of motion in every dungeon. He moved like a dark phantom, his blades a shimmering arc of death against the tougher C-rank monsters. His agility, now pushing into levels unheard of for an F-rank, made him seem almost untouchable. He could engage multiple Ironhide Goblins simultaneously, cutting through their formations with practiced ease, his dual blades a symphony of precision.
Kim Min-jun
* Rank: F
* Level: 22
* Strength: 35
* Agility: 55
* Stamina: 42
* Mana: 20
* Unique Skill: Lucid Dream Training (F-Rank) - Enhanced information processing and real-world transfer for complex combat scenarios. Can generate very brief, intuitive "danger sense" flashes based on simulated threats. Current Focus: Advanced Dual Blade Combat, Mana Signature Recognition, Counter-Illusion Tactics.
So-yeon, under Min-jun's guidance, was now a true asset, her healing mana flowing like a lifeline. She could not only mend injuries but also preemptively apply a mild protective aura, reducing the impact of blows, or dulling pain, allowing her teammates to push harder.
Lee So-yeon
* Rank: E
* Level: 18
* Strength: 10
* Agility: 12
* Stamina: 16
* Mana: 55
* Skill: Minor Regeneration (E-Rank) - Significant increase in healing speed and mana efficiency. Can now create a localized, short-duration mana barrier (E-Rank) for minor damage absorption.
Chul-soo was a veritable moving fortress, his Steel Shield skill evolving dramatically. He wasn't just blocking; he was controlling the battlefield, using his shield to push, shove, and even briefly stun multiple enemies, creating openings for Min-jun or protecting Ji-won.
Park Chul-soo
* Rank: E
* Level: 19
* Strength: 28
* Agility: 10
* Stamina: 28
* Mana: 12
* Skill: Steel Shield (E-Rank) - Drastically enhanced durability and kinetic absorption. Can now briefly emanate a concussive force field (E-Rank) upon impact, pushing back enemies, and can perform a short-range shield charge.
And Ji-won, once timid, was blossoming into a surprisingly effective combat support. Her illusions were no longer just simple distractions. She could create convincing auditory loops – the sound of an entire squad of Awakeners approaching, or the terrified screams of monsters – to lure or misdirect. Her visual illusions could create flickering clones that drew monster aggro, buying precious seconds, or shroud their movements in convincing shadows.
Han Ji-won
* Rank: F
* Level: 15
* Strength: 10
* Agility: 20
* Stamina: 16
* Mana: 45
* Skill: Minor Illusion (F-Rank) - Greatly improved clarity, duration, and versatility for both visual and auditory illusions. Can create multi-sensory (visual and auditory) minor illusions and project a faint, temporary "fear aura" illusion.
The Awakener Association wasn't the only one paying attention. The powerful, established S-rank guilds, especially the Lionheart Guild, began to take a keen, hostile interest. Lionheart was led by Grandmaster Lee Jin-ho, an S-rank Swordsman, and they prized raw, innate talent above all else. They saw Min-jun's F-rank as an insult to the System, his success an affront to the natural order they upheld.
Grandmaster Lee Jin-ho
* Rank: S
* Level: 65
* Strength: 80
* Agility: 70
* Stamina: 75
* Mana: 90
* Skill: Blade of Resonance (S-Rank) - Channels mana directly into his sword to create powerful, resonating energy slashes that can cut through reinforced structures and mana barriers. Can also create temporary mana clones of his blade.
Their methods were less subtle than Golden Lion's had been. Lionheart operatives would openly show up at dungeons where Dream Weaver was operating, often "observing" from a distance with palpable hostility. More often, they would use their significant influence to try and block Dream Weaver's access to lucrative or strategically important dungeons, claiming "priority clearance" or "safety concerns."
One afternoon, Min-jun received an official summons from the Awakener Association. It wasn't a request for an interview; it was a demand for a "comprehensive skill assessment" for all members of Dream Weaver. This was highly unusual for a low-ranked guild. It reeked of external pressure.
"This is Lionheart's doing," Chul-soo stated flatly as Min-jun explained the summons. "They want to expose us, find a reason to shut us down."
So-yeon wrung her hands. "But what if they find out about your unique skill, Min-jun-ssi? Or how you train us?"
Min-jun remained calm. He had anticipated this. In his dream training, he had already begun simulating scenarios involving intense scrutiny, magical probes, and attempts to uncover his secret.
"They'll be looking for something conventional," Min-jun said, a glint in his eye. "A hidden A-rank skill, a magic item, illicit mana manipulation. They won't understand Lucid Dream Training. How can you quantify a skill that happens entirely in someone's head?"
He had a plan, a strategy to navigate the assessment without fully revealing his hand. He would rely on his and his team's vastly improved physical attributes and application of technique, rather than attempting to display the raw mana manipulation that typically characterized higher-ranked skills. His team's E and F-rank skills, while much improved, were still fundamentally simple in their manifestation. The magic would be in how they used them.
The assessment took place in a sterile, white training facility owned by the Awakener Association. Three assessors sat observing, their faces stern. Among them was Director Ahn Jung-ho, a seemingly jovial but highly perceptive A-rank Mana Sensor.
Director Ahn Jung-ho
* Rank: A
* Level: 40
* Strength: 15
* Agility: 20
* Stamina: 25
* Mana: 80
* Skill: Mana Sense (A-Rank) - Can perceive and analyze mana signatures, flow, and anomalies across a wide area. Can detect hidden mana pathways and skill fluctuations.
Each member of Dream Weaver was put through a series of tests: combat simulations against various monster holograms, mana output measurements, endurance drills, and skill demonstrations.
When it came to Min-jun, he performed flawlessly. He moved with impossible grace for an F-rank, his short blades a lethal dance of precision. He evaded, countered, and struck with a level of tactical awareness that baffled the assessors. They measured his mana output: it was still low, consistent with an F-rank. They probed for hidden skills: nothing registered beyond Lucid Dream Training, which, as an F-rank skill, seemed almost irrelevant to his combat prowess.
So-yeon's healing was efficient and targeted, but her mana signature remained that of an E-rank. Chul-soo's shield demonstrated incredible resilience and kinetic absorption, but his skill still clearly registered as Steel Shield, an E-rank defense. Ji-won's illusions were convincing but small-scale, precisely what an F-rank illusionist could do if they trained for decades.
Director Ahn, his Mana Sense skill at its peak, focused intently on Min-jun. He detected no hidden mana reserves, no forbidden augmentation. He saw Min-jun's mana flow, small but perfectly utilized, guiding his movements. What he couldn't detect was the method of training, the sheer volume of simulated practice that had forged Min-jun's body and mind. The raw output was low, but the efficiency and precision of application were off the charts.
After hours of assessment, the lead assessor sighed, looking exasperated. "Their skills are exactly as reported," he said, gesturing to the readouts. "E-rank, F-rank, normal mana signatures for their Awakened abilities. Yet their performance... it defies logic."
Director Ahn leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. He looked at Min-jun, a flicker of something akin to awe in his eyes. "Perhaps," he murmured, "logic is simply adapting to a new kind of genius."
The official report from the Awakener Association was inconclusive. Dream Weaver was deemed "legitimate," their rapid growth attributed to "unparalleled dedication and innovative training methods." It was a vague, unsatisfying explanation for their rivals, but it cleared them of any wrongdoing.
The Lionheart Guild, however, was far from satisfied. The assessment had failed to 'expose' Min-jun, only making him a bigger enigma. Grandmaster Lee Jin-ho reportedly threw a vase in his office upon hearing the results. Their subtle attempts to impede Dream Weaver had failed. The rising tide of Min-jun's unique power, and the unique guild he was building, was now too strong to contain with mere bureaucratic hurdles. They needed a new approach, something far more direct. Min-jun could feel the weight of their gaze, cold and dangerous, settling upon him. The real storm was brewing.