6:00 PM - Primary Training Hall, Level B3
The training hall had been transformed into what looked like a medical operation theater crossed with a battlefield. Additional monitoring stations surrounded the central practice area, emergency medical equipment stood ready, and Ji-eun had positioned herself at a master control station that could track every aspect of Min-woo's condition in real-time.
"All systems green," she announced, her voice steady despite the tension everyone felt. "Contamination monitoring active, absorption protocol ready, emergency shutdown standing by."
Min-woo stood in the center of the hall, the Lightning God's Descent manual open in his hands. But this time, he approached it with a completely different mindset. Instead of fearing the contamination, he was preparing to deliberately embrace it—and then control it.
"Remember," Lee Tae-jun called from his observation position, "the goal isn't just to practice the technique. We're testing the controlled consciousness manipulation protocol. This is as much about proving the absorption method as it is about martial arts training."
Kim Chul-su had Golden Rigid Body on standby, ready to physically restrain Min-woo if the worst happened. Park So-ra monitored medical readings, while Yoon Sung-min tracked theoretical data that would help them understand exactly what was happening during the process.
[TRIAL BY LIGHTNING: INITIATION]Current Contamination: 32% (Slightly elevated baseline) Target Range: 38-40% (Controlled spike) Void Swallow: Prepared for immediate activation Safety Protocols: All systems active Success Criteria: Knowledge extraction + contamination absorption + technique advancement
Entering the Storm
Min-woo began the Lightning God's Descent circulation pattern, but this time he didn't fight the contamination rise. Instead, he welcomed it, allowing The Infinite One's consciousness to stir and share its ancient knowledge.
[CONTAMINATION RISING]Current Level: 32% → 35% → 38% → 39% The Infinite One Consciousness: Actively responding Knowledge Transfer: Lightning technique mastery data flowing Personality Influence: 23% (Manageable with preparation)
"Finally, you understand," The Infinite One's voice carried approval mixed with arrogance. "Power demands sacrifice. Control requires understanding. Let me show you how this technique was truly meant to be used."
But this time, Min-woo was ready for the consciousness intrusion. He maintained his sense of self while allowing the ancient memories to flow through his mind.
Flash: Standing atop a mountain as storm clouds gathered, feeling the electricity in the air responding to his will.
Flash: The moment of breakthrough when he first successfully converted qi into lightning, the exhilaration of commanding the storm itself.
Flash: Perfecting the technique through hundreds of battles, learning to chain lightning strikes, to move at superhuman speeds, to become a living tempest.
"Knowledge transfer successful," Min-woo announced, his voice carrying new confidence. "I can see the complete technique structure now. The missing circulation nodes, the advanced applications, even the theoretical framework for chaining multiple strikes."
[LIGHTNING GOD'S DESCENT: ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING]Mastery Level: 23% → 45% (Dramatic improvement) New Applications Unlocked:
Chain Lightning: Strike multiple targets sequentially Lightning Dash: Movement at near-light speed for 3 seconds Storm Body: Temporary conversion to electrical energy form Technical Knowledge: Complete understanding of qi-to-lightning conversion The Ancient Flood
As The Infinite One's memories continued to flow, Min-woo experienced not just the technical aspects of the technique, but the emotional context of its creation.
Flash: The desperate need for power during the Infinite War, when traditional martial arts weren't enough to unite the warring factions.
Flash: The cold calculation that led to sacrificing hundreds of test subjects to perfect the lightning conversion process.
Flash: The moment of triumph when he first used Lightning God's Descent to annihilate an entire enemy army, feeling godlike in his dominance.
"He's experiencing the full creation sequence," Ji-eun observed, watching the neural activity displays. "The Infinite One isn't just sharing technique knowledge—he's showing Min-woo the memories of developing this power."
Min-woo felt the ancient consciousness's pride and ruthlessness washing over him, threatening to corrupt his own moral framework. The temptation to embrace that cold efficiency, that willingness to sacrifice anything for power, was almost overwhelming.
"You see now," The Infinite One whispered seductively. "This is what true strength requires. Not sentiment, not hesitation, but the will to do whatever is necessary. Those people below us, they are tools to be used, obstacles to be removed."
"No," Min-woo said firmly, even as he continued to absorb the technical knowledge. "I'll take your power, but not your philosophy."
[CONSCIOUSNESS BATTLE: ACTIVE]Contamination Level: 39% → 41% (Approaching danger zone) Personality Resistance: Min-woo maintaining core identity Knowledge Absorption: 87% complete The Infinite One Influence: Attempting moral corruption Critical Decision Point: Accept ruthless mindset or reject enhanced power**
Power Manifestation
Despite the internal struggle, Min-woo began to demonstrate the enhanced Lightning God's Descent. Lightning qi erupted around his body, but this time with far greater control and intensity than his morning attempt.
He moved across the training hall in a blur of electrical energy, leaving trails of crackling power in his wake. When he struck the practice targets, they didn't just absorb the impact—they were completely destroyed by the electrical discharge.
"Chain Lightning," he announced, raising his hand toward three separate targets. Instead of a single bolt, his attack split into multiple streams of electricity, striking all three targets simultaneously and leaving them smoldering.
[TECHNIQUE DEMONSTRATION: SUCCESS]Lightning Dash: Achieved 47% light speed for 2.8 seconds Chain Lightning: Successfully targeted 5 separate objects Power Output: 78% of theoretical maximum Control Rating: Excellent (No collateral damage to facility) Energy Efficiency: 234% improvement over morning session
"Storm Body transformation," Min-woo said, and his physical form began to flicker and shift. For brief moments, he seemed to become pure electrical energy, able to pass through solid objects and move with impossible speed.
"Incredible," Yoon Sung-min breathed, taking notes frantically. "He's demonstrating applications that should take years to develop. The consciousness transfer is providing complete mastery experiences."
The Corruption Temptation
But as Min-woo's power increased, so did The Infinite One's influence on his personality.
"Feel that strength," the ancient voice urged. "Why limit yourself to these practice targets? There are real enemies above us, searching for this facility. We could end their threat permanently. Show these 'friends' of yours what true power looks like."
For a moment, Min-woo's expression shifted. His eyes took on a predatory gleam as he looked toward the training hall's exit, as if considering The Infinite One's suggestion.
"Contamination spike!" Ji-eun called out urgently. "He's at 43% and rising!"
"Min-woo!" Kim Chul-su stepped forward, ready to intervene. "Remember who you are!"
The temptation was enormous. Min-woo could feel the ancient consciousness offering him shortcuts to unimaginable power, ways to eliminate all obstacles and opposition through overwhelming force. The memories showed him how satisfying it had been to command absolute authority, to never worry about threats because he was simply stronger than anything that could oppose him.
[CRITICAL CONTAMINATION THRESHOLD]Current Level: 43% → 44% (Approaching point of no return) The Infinite One: Offering total power in exchange for moral compromise Personality Suppression: 67% (Dangerous levels) Decision Point: Accept corruption or activate absorption protocol
The Choice
"I could," Min-woo said, his voice carrying new depths of power and authority. "I could end all our problems right now. The Black Unit tracking us, the political opposition to defective arts, even the national champions who think they're so strong. All of it could be swept away with sufficient force."
"Min-woo," Ji-eun's voice cut through the electrical storm surrounding him. "That's not you talking. That's him. Remember what you promised me."
Min-woo turned to look at her, and for a moment his friends saw something terrifying in his eyes—the cold calculation of someone who had learned to see other people as expendable resources.
But then he blinked, and Min-woo fought back to the surface.
"You're right," he said, his voice becoming his own again. "That's not who I want to be. No matter how strong it would make me."
[VOID SWALLOW TECHNIQUE: EMERGENCY ACTIVATION]Contamination Level: 44% Absorption Target: The Infinite One's consciousness influence Emergency Protocol: Immediate personality stabilization required
The Absorption Protocol
Min-woo immediately shifted to the Void Swallow circulation pattern, drawing the contamination energy into the absorption nodes in his meridians. But this time, the process was more intense—he was absorbing not just the excess consciousness energy, but actively fighting against The Infinite One's attempt to permanently establish dominance.
"You fool!" The ancient consciousness raged as it felt itself being drained away. "You could have everything! Why choose weakness when strength is offered freely?"
"Because strength without conscience isn't strength," Min-woo replied through gritted teeth as he continued the absorption. "It's just another form of slavery."
The process was exhausting. Min-woo felt like he was trying to hold onto himself while a hurricane of ancient memories and alien personality tried to tear away his identity. But the Void Swallow technique worked exactly as Ji-eun had theorized—it drained the foreign consciousness energy while allowing him to retain the technical knowledge.
[CONTAMINATION ABSORPTION: SUCCESS]Starting Level: 44% Final Level: 31% (Successful reduction below danger threshold) Process Duration: 4 minutes (Faster than theoretical projections) Knowledge Retained: 94% of Lightning God's Descent mastery data Personality Integrity: 100% (Complete identity preservation)
The Results
As the absorption completed, Min-woo collapsed to one knee, drained by the effort of fighting for his own consciousness. But when he looked up at his friends, his eyes were clear and brown, without a trace of golden contamination.
"It worked," he said, his voice filled with amazement. "I can remember everything The Infinite One showed me—the complete technique, the advanced applications, even the theoretical principles behind qi-to-lightning conversion. But I'm still me."
[LIGHTNING GOD'S DESCENT: FINAL STATUS]Mastery Level: 67% (Revolutionary advancement) Power Output: 89% of full potential Duration: 8 minutes maximum before qi exhaustion New Abilities Confirmed:
Chain Lightning (up to 8 targets) Lightning Dash (sustained movement at 50% light speed) Storm Body (temporary energy form for 30 seconds) Electrical Immunity (resistance to lightning-based attacks)
"The contamination management protocol works," Ji-eun announced, her voice filled with scientific excitement. "Not only can we prevent personality corruption, but we can accelerate technique mastery to impossible levels."
Lee Tae-jun approached, his expression mixing pride with concern. "You've achieved in one day what should take months of intensive training. But Min-woo, what you experienced during the high contamination phase—that temptation to use overwhelming force—that's going to get stronger each time."
"I know," Min-woo replied soberly. "The Infinite One doesn't just offer power. He offers solutions. Final solutions to every problem. It would be so easy to just... eliminate opposition instead of trying to convince or compete or negotiate."
Ultimate Technique Development
"But there's something else we discovered," Min-woo continued, his expression growing serious. "During the peak contamination, when I had access to The Infinite One's full knowledge, I saw something. A technique that combines everything—Lightning God's Descent, Void Swallow, Iron Wall Internal Force, Phantom Step Method, and eleven other martial arts I've analyzed."
"Fifteen techniques simultaneously?" Yoon Sung-min's eyes widened. "That's beyond theoretical maximums."
"Not if The Infinite One is controlling the combination," Min-woo explained. "At contamination levels above 40%, he can systematically assemble multiple techniques into what he calls perfect combinations. But the power level... it's transcendent. God-tier doesn't even describe it adequately."
[ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE DISCOVERED]Name: "Infinite Annihilation Strike" (무극멸살격) Components: 15 martial arts in perfect synchronization Classification: Transcendent (Beyond established grading) Power Level: Theoretical one-hit-kill against any opponent Activation Requirements:
Contamination level 40%+ Complete technique mastery of all components Immediate absorption protocol to prevent permanent corruption Risk Assessment: EXTREME (Total identity loss if absorption fails)
"A technique that could defeat any of the national champions," Kim Chul-su realized. "But only if you're willing to risk becoming The Infinite One in the process."
"Which means it's our ultimate trump card," Min-woo said. "Something we develop, practice in completely controlled conditions, and only use if there's absolutely no other choice."
As the evening training session concluded, everyone understood that they had crossed a fundamental threshold. Min-woo now possessed power that bordered on the supernatural, but he had also proven that he could resist the corruption that came with it.
The question was whether that resistance would hold as the techniques became more advanced, the contamination levels climbed higher, and The Infinite One's offers of easy solutions became increasingly tempting.
[TRIAL BY LIGHTNING: COMPLETE]Status: Revolutionary success with manageable risks Lightning God's Descent: 67% mastery achieved in single day Contamination Protocol: Proven effective under extreme conditions Ultimate Technique: Theoretical framework established Next Challenge: Infinite Barrier Method and advanced combination training