Beyond Soulbreak Ridge, the landscape grew even more desolate. The earth was cracked, the vegetation withered, and a suffocating stench of sulfur and decay filled the air. In the distance, the towering yet dilapidated Shrine resembled a black beast crouched upon the earth, radiating ominous pulses that made their hearts tremble.
The closer they drew, the stronger the oppressive presence emanating from Moryo's body became. Shion's small face turned deathly pale, and her body trembled slightly. The priestess's power within her resonated with the distant seal, allowing her to feel even more clearly the evil that was on the verge of breaking free.
"It's just ahead..." A barely perceptible trace of fear colored her voice.
Ling extended his senjutsu perception to its fullest, scanning ahead like the most precise radar. [An extremely powerful barrier surrounds the Shrine, interfering with perception. The energy inside is utterly chaotic. There are at least a hundred high-energy signatures, and... one very well-concealed spatial fluctuation.] Tobirama swiftly analyzed the situation. [Yomi wouldn't leave all his forces out in the open. There must be an ambush.]
Shikamaru's brow was tightly furrowed as well. "We're in serious trouble. The terrain is too open. There's no way to approach unnoticed. If we attack head-on, they'll be fresh and waiting while we..."
Before he could finish, everything changed!
Countless eerie purple runes suddenly lit up beneath their feet! A massive layered barrier rose in an instant, enclosing the entire squad!
"A trap!" Ino cried.
At the same time, the Shrine's doors burst open with a thunderous crash, and a dense legion of Stone Terracotta Soldiers poured out like a tide, deep purple light flickering in their eyes! These soldiers were clearly larger than those they had encountered before, and the dark chakra enveloping them was more concentrated. Among them