2:00 PM - Research Laboratory, Level B5
The research laboratory hummed with urgent activity as everyone gathered around the central analysis station. Multiple screens displayed scrolling data streams showing Min-woo's qi patterns, brainwave activity, and the disturbing fluctuations in his consciousness during the morning's training session.
Ji-eun sat at the primary workstation, her fingers flying across holographic interfaces as she compiled data from the Lightning God's Descent session. Her usually calm demeanor showed cracks of deep concern as she studied the readings.
"This is unlike anything I've seen before," she said, pulling up a three-dimensional model of Min-woo's qi circulation during the consciousness contamination event. "Look at this—when The Infinite One takes control, it's not just personality suppression. It's complete neural pathway hijacking."
The display showed Min-woo's normal qi patterns in blue, overlaid with violent red streams that had completely dominated his energy flow during the contamination spike.
[CONTAMINATION ANALYSIS COMPLETE]Current Baseline: 34% (Elevated from previous 29%) Peak Contamination: 43% during technique demonstration Recovery Rate: Slow (2% reduction per hour without intervention) Pattern Analysis: Exponential increase with technique complexity Critical Threshold Confirmed: 45% = Point of no return
Min-woo sat in a monitoring chair, electrodes attached to his temples as advanced scanning equipment tracked his current state. He could feel the residual presence of The Infinite One like a weight in the back of his mind—dormant but definitely still there.
"How long before I'm back to baseline?" he asked, though part of him dreaded the answer.
"At the current recovery rate, about ten hours," Park So-ra replied, checking the medical monitors. "But that's only if you don't use any advanced techniques. Any Heaven-tier practice will spike the contamination immediately."
Lee Tae-jun stood before a large tactical display showing their training timeline. "This is the problem we're facing. Every major technique Min-woo needs to learn will accelerate the contamination. At this rate, he'll hit the critical threshold before he's mastered even half of what he needs for the tournament."
Developing Solutions
"There has to be a way," Kim Chul-su said, pacing behind the workstations. "The system evolved specifically to give Min-woo these abilities. There must be countermeasures built in."
Ji-eun turned from her analysis screens, her expression thoughtful. "Actually, there might be. Min-woo, during the session, when you were fighting for control—what exactly did you feel?"
Min-woo closed his eyes, trying to recall the terrifying moments when The Infinite One had been asserting dominance. "It was like... like he was flooding my mind with his memories and personality. But when I focused on your voice, on our connection, it felt like I had something to hold onto. An anchor."
"Emotional anchoring," Yoon Sung-min nodded, consulting theoretical texts he'd brought from the university. "It's documented in cases of qi deviation. Strong emotional connections can provide stability during consciousness disruption."
"But that's just temporary," Lee Tae-jun pointed out. "We need something more systematic. More reliable."
Ji-eun's eyes suddenly lit up with inspiration. "Wait. Min-woo, what was the last technique you used during the contamination event?"
"I was starting to activate multiple techniques at once," Min-woo replied. "Iron Wall Internal Force, Phantom Step Method, and several others were beginning to layer on top of Lightning God's Descent."
"But before that," Ji-eun pressed. "What was the very last thing you consciously controlled?"
Min-woo thought carefully. "The Void Swallow Technique. I was preparing to use it for absorption, but then The Infinite One took over..."
"That's it!" Ji-eun exclaimed, turning back to her workstation with renewed energy. "The Void Swallow Technique doesn't just absorb external qi—it can absorb any qi-based phenomena. Including consciousness contamination!"
The Breakthrough Discovery
The research lab fell silent as everyone processed the implications of Ji-eun's revelation.
"You're suggesting," Lee Tae-jun said slowly, "that Min-woo could use Void Swallow to literally absorb his own contamination?"
"Not just absorb," Ji-eun said, her fingers dancing across the analysis displays. "Look at this." She pulled up the technical specifications for the Void Swallow Technique. "The technique's core function is energy conversion—taking hostile or foreign energy and transforming it into usable qi. Consciousness contamination is essentially foreign energy patterns overriding Min-woo's natural mental state."
[THEORETICAL ANALYSIS: VOID SWALLOW CONTAMINATION ABSORPTION]Base Principle: Foreign qi absorption and conversion Target: The Infinite One's consciousness energy Expected Result: Contamination reduction through active drainage Risk Level: Medium (requires precise control) Success Probability: 73% (High compatibility confirmed)
"But there's more," Ji-eun continued, her excitement building. "If we can time it correctly, Min-woo could theoretically use Void Swallow in real-time during contamination spikes. Instead of waiting for natural recovery, he could actively neutralize The Infinite One's influence as it happens."
Min-woo sat up straighter in the monitoring chair. "You mean I could deliberately trigger contamination and then immediately absorb it?"
"Exactly. It would allow you to access The Infinite One's knowledge and abilities without the permanent personality damage." Ji-eun's eyes sparkled with the thrill of discovery. "The ancient consciousness could teach you techniques directly, but you'd remain in control by constantly draining the contamination."
Testing the Theory
"This is incredibly dangerous," Lee Tae-jun warned. "If the timing is off, if Min-woo loses control of the absorption process..."
"Then I become The Infinite One permanently," Min-woo finished grimly. "I understand the risk. But without this, I'll never be strong enough to compete with the national champions. And eventually, the contamination will reach critical levels anyway just from normal training."
Kim Chul-su stepped forward. "What do you need for a test?"
Ji-eun began setting up additional monitoring equipment. "We'll start small. Min-woo, I want you to deliberately spike your contamination to about 37%—just enough to activate The Infinite One's influence, but not enough for full takeover. Then immediately begin Void Swallow absorption."
"And if it doesn't work?" Park So-ra asked.
"Then we use the emergency shutdown protocols," Lee Tae-jun replied. "Sedation, qi disruption, and hope we can bring him back manually."
Min-woo took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's try it."
The First Attempt
The team arranged themselves around the monitoring station as Min-woo began the process. First, he started the Lightning God's Descent circulation pattern, deliberately pushing his qi into electrical form to trigger contamination.
[CONTAMINATION RISING]Current Level: 34% → 35% → 36% → 37% The Infinite One Consciousness: Stirring Personality Influence: 12% and increasing
"You're making the same mistake again," The Infinite One's voice whispered in Min-woo's mind. "Fighting against your true nature instead of embracing it."
Min-woo felt the familiar pressure as the ancient consciousness tried to assert control, but this time he was ready. Instead of fighting it directly, he began the Void Swallow Technique circulation pattern.
The effect was immediate and startling. The contamination energy that had been building in his system began to flow toward the absorption points in his meridians, drawn in like water flowing toward a drain.
[VOID SWALLOW TECHNIQUE: ACTIVE]Absorption Target: Consciousness contamination energy Absorption Rate: 3% contamination per minute Conversion Efficiency: 67% (Excellent) Side Effects: Mild disorientation, temporary qi fluctuation
"What are you doing?" The Infinite One's voice carried notes of confusion and alarm. "This... this shouldn't be possible."
"It shouldn't," Min-woo agreed, continuing the absorption process. "But apparently, your own technique works against you."
Within three minutes, his contamination level had dropped from 37% back to 32%, and The Infinite One's presence had faded to a whisper.
[REAL-TIME CONTAMINATION MANAGEMENT: SUCCESS]Peak Contamination: 37% Final Level: 32% (Active reduction achieved) Recovery Time: 3 minutes (vs. 10+ hours natural recovery) Process Control: Maintained throughout absorption Revolutionary Achievement: First successful contamination reversal
Expanding the Applications
"It works," Ji-eun breathed, staring at the monitoring displays in amazement. "Not only does it work, but the absorption rate is incredible. Three minutes for a 5% reduction—that's faster than we dared hope."
"But there's something else," Min-woo said, his expression thoughtful. "During the absorption, I could still access The Infinite One's knowledge, but without his personality taking over. It was like... like borrowing his memories without becoming him."
Lee Tae-jun leaned forward intently. "Explain."
"While I was absorbing the contamination, I could feel his understanding of Lightning God's Descent flowing through my mind. Technical details, advanced applications, even the emotional memory of creating the technique. But I remained myself throughout the process."
[ADVANCED APPLICATION DISCOVERED]Controlled Knowledge Access: Absorb contamination while retaining transferred memories Benefit: Learn from The Infinite One without personality compromise Requirement: Perfect timing and absorption control Potential: Access to 300 years of martial arts mastery safely
"This changes everything," Kim Chul-su realized. "If Min-woo can learn directly from The Infinite One's experience while staying in control..."
"He could master techniques in days instead of months," Yoon Sung-min finished. "The knowledge transfer would be incredible."
Ji-eun was already working on calculations. "With this method, we could probably get Lightning God's Descent to 60% mastery within a week. And if we introduce other Heaven-tier techniques..."
"The contamination management becomes the key to everything," Min-woo said. "I can afford to spike the levels high enough to access advanced capabilities, as long as I can absorb it back immediately."
Setting New Protocols
Over the next hour, the team developed comprehensive contamination management protocols:
[CONTAMINATION MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL - VERSION 1.0]Safe Operating Range: 25% - 37% contamination Emergency Threshold: 40% (Immediate absorption required) Critical Point: 45% (Point of no return) Absorption Frequency: After every technique practice session Monitoring Required: Real-time qi analysis and personality assessment
Phase 1 - Controlled Spike: Deliberately trigger contamination through advanced technique practice Phase 2 - Knowledge Extraction: Access The Infinite One's memories and skills during peak contamination Phase 3 - Immediate Absorption: Use Void Swallow to drain contamination while retaining learned knowledge Phase 4 - Stabilization: Return to safe operating range before next session
"This protocol lets us turn Min-woo's greatest weakness into his greatest strength," Ji-eun concluded. "The consciousness contamination that threatens to destroy his identity becomes the method for rapid advancement."
"But it requires perfect execution every time," Lee Tae-jun warned. "One mistake, one moment of lost control during the absorption process, and we lose him forever."
Min-woo stood up from the monitoring chair, his eyes clear and determined. "Then we make sure there are no mistakes. This is our path forward. The only way to bridge the gap between where I am and where I need to be."
As the afternoon light filtered down through the facility's concealed ventilation systems, the team prepared for the most dangerous training regimen ever attempted—a delicate dance between power and contamination, knowledge and identity, that would either forge Min-woo into a warrior capable of standing against gods, or destroy him in the attempt.
[EMERGENCY COUNTERMEASURES: COMPLETE]Status: Revolutionary breakthrough achieved Contamination Management: Active absorption protocol established Risk Level: Extreme but manageable with perfect execution Training Acceleration: Potential 10x improvement in learning speed Next Phase: Controlled consciousness manipulation for ultimate technique development