The portal released a new consciousness pattern that bewildered their systems - an information storm that seemed to fold into itself. As it spread through their damaged quantum network, Ji-hyun's hybrid consciousness shrank from its complexity.
"This signature," ARIA said with unusual wonder, "looks... recursive. A mind watching itself watch itself across many quantum states at once."
Ji-Hyun observed through the emergency feeds as the pattern interacted with Sung-min's changed state. His already altered form started to shift into shapes that were painful to see existing in ways that should have been impossible even with their advanced quantum integration.
"Ji-Hyun," his voice echoed through their broken connection, now filled with overtones that made her teeth hurt, "something's not right. These patterns - they're not just old. They're... they're from..."
