Boruto stood at the entrance of the stairs, the Karma Seal in his left hand burning his skin like a soldering iron. The heat was not pain, but a call, as if something was waiting for him at the bottom of the abyss.
"We have to go down," he said.
Sarada gripped the dagger tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Are you sure? That voice doesn't sound like Shantu."
"There is no choice." Boruto smiled bitterly, "This maze is Training Ground of Otsutsuki, and I have Karma Seal. If I want to live, I must figure out the truth of all this."
The two of them walked down the stairs. The stone steps were very steep, and every step was accompanied by the echo of moisture. The moss on the wall gave off a faint fluorescent light, illuminating the path forward and making the surrounding shadows look even weirder.
After walking for about five minutes, the stairs finally reached the end.
In front of you is a huge underground cavity. The dome is so high that you can't see the top, there is only endless darkness. In the center of the cavity stands a black Tower. The tower is covered with the Ōtsutsuki Clan and Runes, emitting a faint blue light.
"That's..." Sarada took a breath of air.
There are countless skeletons scattered around Tower, including those of humans and various monsters. They face Tower in an attitude of worship, as if they experienced some kind of horrific scene before death.
"Sacrifice." Boruto whispered, "These are the sacrifices that failed the trial."
His Karma Seal suddenly beat violently, and a strong suction force came from the top of the tower, almost pulling him over.
"Boruto!"
Sarada grabbed his arm tightly, and the two of them resisted the force together. But the suction force became stronger and stronger, and Boruto's feet drew two marks on the ground.
"No... it's calling me..."
"Then let it summon!" Sarada gritted his teeth, "But we have to go in together, not be dragged in!"
She let go of her hand, but followed closely behind Boruto, and the two walked towards Tower together.
The tower door opened automatically, revealing a spiral passage inside. The walls were inlaid with countless crystals, and each crystal contained a human figure. Their expressions were painful, as if they were enduring eternal torture.
"Are these people... still alive?" Sarada's voice trembled.
"Life is worse than death." Boruto replied. He could feel the vitality in those crystals, weak but real. "They are the carriers of Karma Seal, just like me."
At the end of the passage is a circular hall, with a huge black stone tablet suspended in the center. The stone tablet is densely engraved with names, and each name emits a faint light.
"The genealogy of the Ōtsutsuki Clan." Boruto blurted out. He didn't know why he knew these words, but Karma Seal seemed to be conveying information to him, "These are the containers that once owned Karma Seal, and their consciousness... are all preserved here."
Sarada felt a chill. "You mean, there are real people behind these names?"
"It was."
A voice sounded from the shadows.
The two turned around suddenly and saw Yamada walking out of the darkness. He was still wearing the gentle robe, but now his eyes turned pure white, and a faint mark appeared on his forehead.
"Elder Yamada?" Sarada raised the dagger vigilantly.
"Don't be nervous, little girl." Yamada smiled, "I won't hurt you here. On the contrary, I want to congratulate Boruto, you passed the second level of the trial."
"Second floor?" Boruto frowned.
"This maze has three levels." Yamada explained, "The first level is for hunting monsters, which tests basic survival abilities. The second level is for energy collection, which tests the control of Karma Seal. And you, Boruto, performed better than I imagined."
"You are using me." Boruto said coldly, "You want to use my body to resurrect Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."
Yamada's smile froze for a moment, and then returned to normal. "It seems that Sasuke told you. Yes, I am a descendant of Otsutsuki, and my mission is to make the clan rise again. But Boruto, you have misunderstood one thing - I am not trying to destroy you, but to help you."
"Help?"
"Karma Seal's awakening is irreversible." Yamada walked towards the stone tablet and touched the glowing names with his fingers, "These containers failed because they tried to resist and tried to use their own will to fight against Otsutsuki's consciousness. But you are different, Boruto, when you absorbed the energy, you were not completely swallowed."
He turned around and looked directly at Boruto with his white eyes. "You are qualified to be the real successor, not the container, but the Symbiosis body. With the power of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, plus your own will, you will surpass everyone, including your father."
Boruto was silent.
Sarada grabbed his hand. "Don't listen to him, Boruto. He is bewitching you."
"I know." Boruto said softly, then looked up at Yamada, "What is the third level trial?"
Yamada smiled, with a hint of madness in that smile, "The third level is to face yourself. At the top of the tower, there is a mirror that will reflect your deepest fears. If you can pass, Karma Seal will fully awaken, and you will gain unprecedented power. If you fail..."
He pointed to the figures sealed in the crystal. "You will become one of them and be trapped here forever."
"I'll go." Boruto said.
"Boruto!"
"I must go, Sarada." Boruto looked at her with firm eyes, "If I don't face it, Karma Seal will swallow me sooner or later. Instead of waiting passively, it is better to take the initiative to challenge."
Yamada applauded. "Wise choice. Then, I wish you good luck, Boruto. I'll wait for you at the top of the tower."
His figure gradually disappeared into the air, as if he had never appeared before.
Sarada bit her lip. "I'll go with you."
"No." Boruto shook his head, "He said, this is facing myself. You can't help me."
"Then I'll wait for you under the tower." Sarada said stubbornly, "If you don't come out within an hour, I will rush up."
Boruto smiled, "Okay."
He turned around and walked towards the stairs leading to the top of the tower, his back looking particularly lonely in the blue light.
Sarada looked at his back and silently tightened his grip on the dagger.
"You must come back alive, idiot."
The spiral staircase seems to have no end.
Boruto climbed up step by step. With each step, Karma Seal beat more violently. The power surged in his body, like a beast about to wake up.
"Are you scared?" The voice in my head sounded, clearer than ever.
"Shut up." Boruto gritted his teeth.
"You are afraid." The voice was sarcastic, "Afraid of becoming me, afraid of losing yourself, afraid of disappointing those who care about you. Your father, your friends, that little girl Uchiha Clan..."
"I told you to shut up!"
Boruto punched the wall, causing stone chips to fly. His hands were shaking, not because of pain, but because of fear.
The voice was right. He was afraid.
He was afraid that he would turn into a monster, that he would hurt Sarada, and that he would be afraid of the disappointment in his father's eyes. What was even more frightening was that deep down in his heart, he actually had a desire for this power - the pleasure of controlling everything, the power beyond mortals.
"Admit it," the voice whispered, "You want power. Without power, you can't protect anything. Not your father, not your friends, not even yourself..."
"I don't need this power!"