Ling walked step by step toward the ink-black sea. Every step felt like treading on knife points, the agony in his body and the weakness of depleted chakra battering his will like waves. Yet the light in his eyes grew ever brighter, like a candle in the wind burning its fiercest just before going out.
In the sky, at the center of the dark-purple vortex of evil clouds, the enormous shadow formed from pure malice grew increasingly distinct. It had no definite shape, yet seemed to embody every negative emotion, coldly "watching" the tiny figure of Ling below as though he were an insignificant insect. Heize's crazed laughter echoed on the level of the soul, filled with the frenzy of a lifelong wish about to come true.
"It's useless! An ant's struggles mean nothing before the great Sacred Lord!" Heize roared, driving the ritual onward. The dark pillar connecting heaven and earth grew denser, and the oppressive force of the descent left Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura barely able to stand. Only their stubborn wills kept them holding on, buying Ling that faint chance.
Ling finally reached the shore. Cold seawater, carrying a corrosive aura, submerged his ankles. He did not look back, only slowly raised his hands as though to embrace this polluted sea.
[Ling! Are you sure you want to do this?] Tobirama's voice had never sounded so urgent or grave. [Forcing this much natural energy into motion, in your current state-your soul and body could both...]
[There's... no other choice.] Ling answered inwardly, his resolve absolute. [Tobirama, help me... stabilize my soul's core and guide the energy.]
[...Understood.] Tobirama fell silent for a moment. Then cold, tenacious soul power surged from the depths of Ling's mind, pinning his consciousness's crumbling core in place like an unbreakable anchor.
"With