The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 481 Rebirth from the Ashes
"Annie, what's wrong?"

Cynthia asked with concern.

Anne's face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were filled with exhaustion and pain.

She spoke with difficulty, "I forcibly filled the gap in the faith base using the power of the earth's ley lines, but my divine body suffered severe damage as a result. The degree of fragmentation has reached 40%."

Cynthia and David were both shocked and saddened upon hearing this.

They knew what it meant for the divine body to be 40% fragmented—Annie's life force was in grave danger and could be extinguished at any moment.

"Annie, why did you do that?"

David asked, his voice trembling.

Anne forced a smile and said, "I...I can't just stand by and watch you sacrifice yourselves for me. I have to do my part."

Cynthia and David were filled with emotion and guilt as they looked at Anne's weak state.

They knew that everything they had done before was to protect Annie, but now, Annie was paying such a huge price for them.

"Annie, don't worry, we will definitely find a way to repair your divine body."

Cynthia said firmly.

David nodded and said, "Yes, we won't give up on you."

However, faced with such a dire situation and Anne's precarious lifeline...

The earth was shaking violently, as if an invisible giant hand was tearing it apart.

Dark clouds filled the sky, thunder roared, and streaks of lightning ripped across the horizon, illuminating the land shrouded in despair.

In this desolate land, the lava god, the nemesis of the leyline titans, finally descended upon its projection.

The Lava God's enormous body was made of flowing lava, and its eyes were like two burning furnaces, radiating intense light.

Its appearance filled the entire space with oppression and fear.

David stood before the Lava God, his eyes filled with determination and fearlessness.

He knew that this battle was not just for himself, but also to protect all life on this land.

He took a deep breath and then shouted, "Believers, unite your faith and fight alongside me against this Lava God!"

As David called out, the surrounding believers responded enthusiastically. They raised their hands high, praying devoutly and channeling their faith into David.

David felt this powerful force, and his heart was filled with gratitude and courage.

He clenched his fists, and his body radiated a dazzling light.

He charged towards the Lava God, throwing a punch that carried the power of the believers' faith, colliding with the Lava God's blazing lava fist.

boom!
A deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth.

The Lava God was knocked back several steps by David's punch, but there was no fear in its eyes. On the contrary, it roared even more angrily and charged at David again.

Undeterred, David threw another punch.

This time, he was not only fighting with his own strength, but also drawing on the power of faith of all his believers.

He engaged in a fierce battle with the god of lava, each collision accompanied by deafening roars and overflowing lava and light.

The battle lasted a long time, and both David and the Lava God suffered injuries of varying degrees.

But with his unwavering faith and the support of his followers, David gradually gained the upper hand.

Finally, in a fierce battle, he seized the Lava God's weakness and punched it in the chest.

The Lava God let out a shrill scream as its body began to crumble and disintegrate.

David successfully killed the true god, but his divine status was on the verge of collapse as a result.

He felt a powerful force impacting his body and mind, as if it were about to tear him apart.

Just then, Anne stepped forward.

Looking at the dying David and the collapsing God, she was filled with resolute determination.

She took a deep breath and then shouted, "The divinity of the Lava God belongs to me!"

As Annie cried out, a powerful force of earth veins surged from the ground, instantly absorbing all the remaining divinity of the Lava God.

Anne's body was enveloped by this power, and her eyes shone with determination and hope.

When the light faded, Anne had completed her transformation.

She not only absorbed the divinity of the Lava God, but also transformed this barren land into "Vein Creation".

The once barren land began to radiate vitality, and the land that had been crystallized gradually returned to its original state.

Anne looked at this newly born land, her heart filled with joy and satisfaction.

She knew that this was the result of her joint efforts with David and all believers.

She turned around and looked at David lying on the ground, her eyes shining with tenderness.

She walked over to David and gently helped him up.

David opened his eyes, looked at Annie's familiar face, and a smile appeared on his lips.

He said weakly, "Annie, you did it."

Anne nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

She said, "Yes, we did it."

David, you need to rest now.

David nodded, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Looking at David's peaceful sleeping face, Anne's heart was filled with gratitude and love.

She knew that they had made too much effort and sacrifice for this victory.

Just then, a faint voice whispered in Anne's ear: "Anne, thank you."

Annie turned her head and saw the spirit lying weakly not far away.

Its body has returned to its original appearance, but it still appears very weak.

Annie walked over to it and said gently, "You've worked hard too."

The spirit looked at Annie, its eyes shining with gratitude.

It said, "Annie, I know I've done many wrong things before. But please believe me, I've changed for the better."

Anne smiled and nodded, saying, "I believe you. The most important thing now is to restore your strength so we can rebuild this land together."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in the spirit's eyes.

It said, "Thank you, Annie. I will do everything I can to help you."

So, under Anne's leadership, the believers began to get busy.

They used the power of the ley lines and the divinity of lava to create the "ley line creation" power, healing the wounds of this land.

The barren land gradually regained its vitality, and the villages and farmlands that had once been crystallized were also revitalized.

David and Annie sat quietly to the side, watching everything unfold.

Their hearts were filled with contentment and happiness.

They knew that although they had endured countless hardships and difficulties, the final victory belonged to them and all life on this land.

Although the final divine punishment of the Lava God brought destruction and suffering, it also strengthened their resolve and belief in protecting this land.

In the days to come, they will join hands to face more challenges and difficulties together, and fight to protect life and peace on this land.

The sky remained shrouded in thick, dark clouds, and thunder rumbled in the distance, as if nature were lamenting the state of the land.

David stood at the center of the ley line network, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.

He knew that in order to protect this land and all believers, he had to make a difficult decision.

He took a deep breath, slowly stretched out his hand, and deeply embedded the anchor of his faith into the network of earth veins.

The anchor points emitted a soft light, intertwining with the power of the earth's veins to form a stable and complex network.

David felt a powerful force surging from the earth's veins, flowing into his body, temporarily freeing him from the world's rejection of him.

However, this power comes at a price.

As the anchor of faith becomes solidified, the extreme beliefs of believers begin to show their terrible influence.

Frenzied and chaotic leyline sacrifice rituals broke out in various regions, with many people sacrificing their lives and wealth in order to pray for more miracles and protection.

This fanaticism not only caused immense destruction, but also disrupted the originally balanced and peaceful power of the earth's veins.

David watched all this, his heart filled with pain and struggle.

He understood that all of this was because he had solidified his anchor in his beliefs.

But deep in his heart, an invisible and heavy unease gradually spread.

He knew that in order to protect this land, he had to endure all the pain it brought, but when the images of those who had been victimized by these extreme acts came to mind, he felt an immense weight in his heart.

Just then, a gentle yet firm voice interrupted his thoughts.

“David, you did the right thing. But we have to find a way to solve these problems.” Anne stepped forward, her large, clear eyes fixed on him without the slightest hesitation.

David turned and gave her a grateful yet complicated look.

"I know. But I haven't thought of a good solution yet."

Anne pondered for a moment, then nodded firmly and said, "Perhaps, I can become a 'faith filter'."

I used a spiritual contract to bear the distracting thoughts and negative emotions of my followers, thus purifying the earth's ley line energy.

Hearing this, David was deeply moved.

He looked at Anne, whose familiar and warm face illuminated the darkest corner of his heart like the North Star.

He knew what this decision meant; she was using her life to protect this land, all its people, and that precious yet increasingly distorted and unyielding belief.

“I agree with your plan,” David replied almost immediately, without the slightest hesitation. This was not just a choice, but a responsibility, a shared risk and courage to bear for each other and for the future of this land.

The thunder rumbling through the leaves was like a symphony foreshadowing the coming war, accompanied by howling winds, seemingly cheering on their decision.

Under immense pressure, David and Anne began to cast complex spells, causing the surrounding air to vibrate as they converged.

Amidst the shimmering light, they collectively forged a new force—a force brimming with hope yet fraught with danger.

However, as time went on, the fine beads of sweat on Annie's forehead gradually became a silent testament—this spell was consuming a great deal of her divine power and energy, and each casting seemed to push her to an irreversible state.

“I can’t let you bear all of this alone,” David said anxiously, but Anne’s eyes showed determination. She smiled slightly and said, “This is part of my choice, and it’s my responsibility.”

Finally, after a deafening roar, the dazzling light condensed and took shape.

A dazzling light enveloped Anne, and she gradually became transparent, as light and ethereal as morning mist.

She used her spiritual contract to bear those chaotic and restless thoughts, allowing nature to regain peace amidst the chaos.

But the price was not just energy, but also the near disappearance of her own sense of existence.

Seeing this scene, David was filled with fear, worry, and sadness, which surged like a tidal wave.

He tried to reach out and touch it, but found himself powerless.

An invisible constraint filled him with despair; he could only stand there, watching his dearest friend being swallowed by beams of light.

Just then, a figure stood between them—Liliana, the one who brought the truth, but also an even greater crisis.

“I must tell you the truth,” Liliana said in a low voice, yet with an undeniable air of authority. “Annie is actually the first experimental subject of the Star-Eyed Clan’s ‘Divine Hive’ project. She is the only surviving individual among the ten thousand artificial divine bodies, and the Night Eternal Mother has always wanted to transform her into a vessel for the Godhood of Time.”

All of this came as a bolt from the blue, leaving David and Anne in shock, countless questions swirling in their minds, yet they could hardly put them into words.

They couldn't believe that someone they had always considered a close friend and partner could have such a tragic fate.

But faced with the harsh reality, they had no choice but to confront it.

“The Night Mistress will not give up the hunt,” Liliana continued. “We must find a way to protect her as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing these words, David clenched his fists, feeling the blood boiling in his chest.

He understood that this was not just about himself, but about everyone, and that they had a responsibility to everyone.

“I will not let the Eternal Night Mistress succeed. I will protect Anne with my life.”

His voice echoed, as resounding as a vow, and he would never back down, no matter how treacherous the road ahead.

At the same time, he secretly vowed to uncover all the darkness behind these conspiracies in order to save his loved ones and all justice in this precarious world.

“But we cannot rely on our own strength alone.” Liliana pondered for a moment. “We need to unite more believers, as well as those who are willing to rebel against the Night Mother.”

I know that some ethnic groups may not be friendly to us, but for a greater purpose, we must put aside our prejudices.

“You’re right!” Anne replied weakly but resolutely. “I am the deity of this land, and it is my responsibility to protect it and my followers. This sacrifice is not the final choice, but merely a stepping stone to a greater goal! We need to awaken the consciousness of more people, so that they understand that our struggle is not alone and hopeless.”

Upon hearing this, David felt a new surge of power welling up from the depths of his heart.

(End of this chapter)