Days turned into weeks, and Ji-woo's training intensified. She spent her mornings sparring with Borin, honing her combat skills and learning to utilize her Mana Thread in increasingly creative ways. Her afternoons were dedicated to mastering her healing abilities and exploring the various training grounds, each designed to test different aspects of a player's abilities.One afternoon, while practicing her Soul Link on a docile forest creature (a fluffy, six-legged rabbit-like creature called a "Fluffle"), she felt a tap on her shoulder."Ji-woo? Is that really you?"She turned to see a familiar face grinning at her. It was Kim Min-jun, his mischievous eyes sparkling with excitement."Min-jun!" Ji-woo exclaimed, surprised and delighted. "What are you doing here?""What am I doing here?" Min-jun laughed. "I got the invitation too, of course! Though, I almost deleted it thinking it was spam. Glad I didn't!"He pulled out his phone, showing her the same message she had received weeks ago. "It's insane, right? A whole new world! Magic! Monsters! It's like all our games rolled into one!"Ji-woo laughed, relieved to see a familiar face in this strange new world. "I know! It's been crazy. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all."Min-jun's grin widened. "So, what class are you? I'm a Pyromancer! Check out these skills!"He proceeded to demonstrate his fire magic, conjuring small flames in his hands and shooting fireballs at a nearby target dummy. Ji-woo watched in awe, impressed by his control and power."That's amazing, Min-jun!" she said. "I'm a Soul Weaver."Min-jun's eyebrows shot up. "Whoa, seriously? A Soul Weaver? Those are super rare! You're like, a legendary healer, right?"Ji-woo shrugged. "I'm still learning, but yeah, I can heal and stuff.""This is awesome!" Min-jun exclaimed. "We should team up! Imagine, a Pyromancer and a Soul Weaver! We'd be unstoppable!"Ji-woo smiled. She'd missed Min-jun's infectious enthusiasm. "That's actually a great idea. We could use a good damage dealer."As they were discussing their potential team-up, another familiar voice interrupted them."Ji-woo? Min-jun? What are you two doing here?"They turned to see Cha Eun-woo approaching, his expression a mixture of surprise and… was that a hint of a smile?"Eun-woo!" Ji-woo said, her heart skipping a beat. She was suddenly very aware of her appearance, wishing she'd spent a little more time fixing her hair that morning."You got the invitation too?" Min-jun asked, clapping Eun-woo on the back.Eun-woo nodded. "I was as surprised as you are. But I couldn't pass up an opportunity like this.""What class are you?" Ji-woo asked, curious."Guardian," Eun-woo replied, his voice as calm and steady as ever. "It seems my role hasn't changed much."Ji-woo and Min-jun exchanged excited glances. This was perfect! Their entire gaming guild was here in Aethelgard."This is fate!" Min-jun declared, throwing his arms around both of them. "The three of us, together again! We're going to dominate the Ascension Games!"Ji-woo laughed, feeling a surge of warmth and camaraderie. It was good to have her friends by her side, especially in this strange and unfamiliar world. They had faced countless challenges together in the virtual world, and now they were ready to take on the real thing.But as Ji-woo looked at Eun-woo, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind. He seemed distant, preoccupied. Was he truly happy to be here? Or was he just going through the motions, fulfilling his role as the responsible leader, just like he always did in their games?She pushed the thought aside. They had a tournament to win, and she needed to focus on her training. But she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Eun-woo than met the eye. Perhaps this new world, with all its magic and wonder, would reveal hidden depths within him that she had never seen before.