The Shrine's interior was incredibly dim, lit only by a few clusters of ghostly blue flames dancing along the walls, casting twisted, wavering shadows. The air was thick as a swamp, every breath laden with crushing oppression and icy malice. Vast quantities of extraordinarily pure dark chakra flowed through the air like a living thing, originating from the deepest part of the Shrine-a massive altar covered in ancient runes. Above it floated a writhing, churning mass of dark-purple energy, like an enormous, hideous beating heart. Every pulse sent out waves that made their souls tremble.
That was the core of the seal imprisoning Moryo's body!
"Ugh..." The moment Shion entered, she clutched her chest in pain, her face white as paper. The evil energy here battered her far more fiercely than it had outside. It clashed violently with the Shrine Maiden's power within her, leaving her barely able to stand.
Ino hurried to support her, though the omnipresent malice left her dizzy as well. Shikamaru and Choji also felt intense discomfort, even their chakra circulation growing sluggish.
Only Ling remained unaffected. A faint glow of senjutsu chakra automatically flowed around him, resisting the dark energy's corrosion like a reef against the tide. His gaze remained calm as he surveyed the Shrine's interior.
[The seal is already dangerously weak.] Tobirama's voice was graver than ever. [Energy is constantly leaking from the core, trying to reconnect with the soul Miroku sealed in the Land of Demons. We must begin the reinforcement ritual immediately.]
Just then, a low, hoarse voice, steeped in boundless temptation and malice, emerged from the writhing mass of dark-purple energy and sounded directly in everyone's minds:
"Heh heh heh... another generation's Shrine Maiden... so young, so afraid..."
"Can you feel my power? Insignificant humans... fear, anger, despair... how delicious