The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 549 The Void-Eroding Insect Swarm

David stood silently beside the snowdrift, looking at the massive stone covering it.

The frigid winds of the far north seem never to cease, still sharp and biting, cutting through every inch of air under the night sky.

Snowflakes drifted down slowly, landing on the frost-covered land at the edge of the crack, as if draping this tormented earth in a cold, silvery veil.

Deep within the crack, the scarlet veins still faintly flickered with an eerie and sinister light, like the undying demonic fire in the eyes of a sleeping behemoth.

David knelt before the underground fault line, which was steeped in an aura of calamity. His body was engulfed in eerie blue flames, which shone like a lighthouse in the cold night of the North, radiating a steadfast and unyielding light in the deep darkness.

He took a deep breath of the fresh air, which was as cold and sharp as if cut by a knife, his gaze solemn and profound.

The sound of the wind was like a whisper, yet also seemed like an uneasy and mysterious call from the other side of ancient time and space.

He slowly extended his right hand, his arm still bearing irregular shallow marks left by the previous fragments of spacetime, and a faint blue fluorescence emanating from his skin.

The fingertips lightly touched the small, broken, and rapidly spinning spacetime debris that was hovering not far away in the air. Its sharp edge emitted a cold and piercing aura, as sharp as a hunter staring at its prey.

"We must rely on their residual power to control the higher dimensions."

David whispered, his voice trembling slightly in the cold wind, but his eyes were unwavering.

He closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into the deepest part of his soul—the place where the special bloodline and ancient will of his clan intertwined and merged.

With the Frostwolf bloodline surging within him, a warm and pure power rapidly gathered.

He slowly opened his palm, using the spiritual power woven from his soul and flames to envelop the spinning fragment of spacetime, carefully absorbing it into his body.

Instantly, a strong wave of dizziness crashed into his mind, almost causing him to lose his balance, but he gritted his teeth and firmly anchored his consciousness to reality.

The eerie blue flames around his body suddenly surged several times over. These flames burned even more fiercely in the cold air, yet they also possessed a touch of gentle purity. They seemed contradictory, yet they were miraculously blended together.

Gradually, the fragment of the shattered space that had been swallowed into the core of his mind transformed into countless tiny streams of light, constantly rotating and changing shape within his body. They wove together intricate patterns, resembling the trajectories of stars, subtly altering the boundary between reality and illusion across David's entire body.

"Primary dimensional folding."

His voice was deep and filled with awe. “Being able to temporarily fold parts of the body into a parallel space, free from the constraints of reality, and thus avoid attacks, is the first time I have truly grasped this minor principle that transcends spatial boundaries.”

Amidst the howling wind, he opened his eyes, his bright, clear gaze, imbued with the unwavering will of a northern hunter, resembling that of a frost wolf on a rock.

He stretched out his right arm, then suddenly made the arm part appear as a pale blue, semi-transparent shape—like a projection of a vast galaxy—before instantly solidifying it again.

The movements are fluid and seamless, yet possess an indescribable sense of novelty and agility.

"Although this power is temporary, it is enough for me to evade the deadly attacks emanating from the residual spatial fault explosions at the edge of the fault rupture."

He stood up, his whole body appearing stronger and more upright due to the abundance of energy.

"It's like an invisible shield, not only protecting me from harm but also allowing me to get closer to the core area of ​​the pollution source."

At this moment, the earth remained shrouded in deathly silence and cold, with endless darkness and scarlet mycelium intertwined and spread out, like a demonic web woven from nightmares.

However, a fine ripple spread around David's body, and every subtle movement was accompanied by a brief but clearly perceptible spatial distortion, as exquisite as the trajectory of celestial bodies projected onto the surface of his skin.

“We must speed things up,” David clenched his fist. “Time is running out for us; this moment is all we have.”

His lips were slightly pursed, leaving no room for retreat.

On this land where winter has frozen the very essence of life, even as pain strikes, one can only bear the mission and grit one's teeth to move forward.

Snowflakes began to dance in the air once more, and a chill seeped into the bones, bringing a suffocating, ultimate feeling of freezing.

But compared to the mental erosion and sharp spatial-temporal cutting damage I had just experienced, this coldness seemed much gentler.

Snowflakes clung to his shoulders, hair, and the scars that were gradually revealing their ethereal glow. Every inch of them reflected an indomitable spirit, a symbol of resilience that stood firm despite all hardships—life, even when riddled with holes, would still radiate its most dazzling and intense light!

With his newfound understanding, he stepped deeper into the crack. This time, his steps were no longer hesitant, each one steady and solid, as if he were stepping on one solidified timeline segment after another, allowing the broken and distorted earth to be repaired instantly, its shape extended and life continued. The power of hope was spreading from his body to every part of his body!
The whispers still echoed in his ears, but they could no longer shake the core of his will.

The parasitic spores drifted in the wind, but could no longer penetrate the edge of his mental defenses;
Lena, Amy, and the others silently guarded the rear, using their silent vows to build an eternal barrier, cutting off the path of the continuous spread of the source of darkness's invasion.

This is a team community with a shared destiny forged by shared beliefs, an inseparable bond connecting each other's lives!
Suddenly, a familiar yet long-lost jarring audio rang out through the void. It was a violent wave that erupted from the center of the crack, causing countless tiny suspended particles to swirl and dance, forming a magnificent spectacle like a dazzling meteor shower under the moonlight.

But these are not beautiful; rather, they are the most primitive and fierce manifestation of chaotic power, an apocalyptic signal released by the impending explosion at the end of the pollution chain!
David took a deep breath, and the dark blue flames all over his body suddenly burned violently to the extreme. At the same time, he activated his new understanding "Primary Dimensional Folding". Faint, transparent, twisted ripples began to appear on the surface of his right shoulder, half of his chest, and even part of his lower limbs, spreading like dreamlike ripples.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he used dimensional distortion to quickly slide part of his torso, which had been fatally impacted by the attack, through real space into a parallel realm, achieving a true body displacement avoidance!
This scene shocked everyone in the camp, including Zelllos, who was constantly reinforcing the grid structure of the protective array's runes. He couldn't help but widen his eyes in amazement.

This is not merely a combat skill, but a breakthrough in understanding the fundamental laws of another universe. It is an initial manifestation of an important technique that even the ancient sages of their race have never fully mastered!

The attack was fierce and sudden, with a deafening roar. A large number of fungal hyphae and tentacles mixed with a thick fog of decay rushed madly towards the position where the body had already been dislocated and crossed the edge of certain death.

However, even such a fierce threat could not reach the warrior whose true form was cleverly concealed within another parallel dimensional entity, its parts scattered and arranged in a chaotic manner! The data feedback from the enemy's chaotic struggle directly showed that they were facing a human weapon that was both real and elusive. A new combat mode had emerged that transcended conventional physical limitations, using interdimensional jumps to extinguish its own crisis and seek opportunities to counterattack!

At the same time, Lena wielded her silver blade, swiftly slaying the parasitic infected swarms attempting to breach the barrier and infiltrate the camp's perimeter. Meanwhile, Lia deployed her Holy Shield to stabilize the defensive barrier. In an instant, the entire team once again unleashed their strongest fighting spirit. Even as the environment grew increasingly harsh and perilous, they showed no sign of retreat or hesitation, determined to fight to the last drop of their flesh and soul to stop the calamity from spreading further for their homeland!

At this moment, being prepared for the unknown and terrifying challenges of the future, having the ability to further refine and improve their own skills, and having a clear understanding of the diverse ways of teamwork are all indispensable and important foundations for them to continue their journey.

But after tonight's initial display of strength, the call to a greater war has already sounded and awaits their summons. They must become stronger and wiser to meet all the unknown challenges and earth-shattering changes that are about to unfold.
The far northern wilderness remains desolate and barren, shrouded in silence under a blanket of snow, save for the occasional howling sound of a blizzard sweeping through the valleys and canyons.

A pale moon peeked out from behind thick clouds, illuminating the snow-covered fields in a silvery white.

In the darkness, blurry figures gradually gathered, some kneeling, some standing, all watching with piety and determination as the warriors, who had just finished devouring the remaining fragments of the otherworld and were returning to their physical world from the illusion to awaken and revive, walked toward a new dawn.
David paused and looked toward the camp, a long-lost tired but satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"This is the first step, and an essential step on my path to higher levels."

He said, "Only by constantly challenging our own limitations and forging new skills with our blood can we truly protect our home from destruction."

The cold winds of the far north had not yet subsided, and as night deepened, an indescribable unease permeated the air.

The aftershocks of the rift-sealing ritual had not yet completely subsided, and the people in the camp were still immersed in the emotions of victory and sacrifice they had just experienced.

On this land that has temporarily regained peace, an even more terrifying disaster is quietly approaching.

In the distance, beneath the vast sky, the stars had been swallowed by thick, dark clouds, leaving only faint, ghostly, and blurry shadows.

It was an unusual and undeniable force that was slowly eroding the very essence of space—the Void-Eroding Insect Swarm.

This sacred land, a large ancient tree rooted deep in the frosty north and considered holy by the Star-Eyed Clan, is now shrouded in a suffocating oppression.

The ancient sacred tree stood like a giant pillar between heaven and earth, yet it teetered on the brink of collapse in the face of this invisible calamity.

From afar, swarms of dark insects tore through the edges of the void like a black tide, pouring into the real world from an unknown dimension.

These insects are composed of countless tiny segments, their surfaces covered with an exoskeleton that shimmers with an eerie, icy blue light. Each twist is accompanied by a chilling creaking sound, like sharp swords gnawing at the very essence of space.

"They're here. They came so fast."

Zellos stood at the outer edge of the tent, his expression as solemn as an ancient rock, yet he couldn't help but clench his fists.

Those eyes, weathered by countless years and etched with wrinkles yet still bright and piercing, were now filled with worry and vigilance.

"Star-Eyed Clan Sacred Tree"

Lena whispered, her gaze fixed on the massive canopy of the ancient tree in front of her. Beneath the layers of leaves, the tree trunk, which formed crystalline blue patterns, now showed fine cracks and mysterious, irregular deformations.

"If it collapses, we will all lose our last refuge."

David stood firmly, clad in a Frostwolf battle robe, his body wreathed in faint blue flames, a symbol of the power emanating from the intertwining of his blood and will.

His brows furrowed, his eyes sharp as knives: "These insects are not merely simple creatures; they gnaw at the spatial structure, representing the most direct and brutal attack on the spatial and temporal fabric of our land."

The air suddenly trembled, as if invisible fingers were forcefully sweeping across the void, drawing twisted and shattered lines in the darkness—like glass being struck and instantly shattered into countless sharp fragments, each carrying an eerie, cold, and ghostly light.

This is the bizarre byproduct of the Void-Eating Insect Swarm's passage: the boundary between reality and illusion shatters and breaks down in an instant, while the Star-Eyed Clan's sacred land, though its foundation is as solid as a rock, cannot withstand the gradual erosion and expansion of this seemingly invisible but actually heart-wrenching attack!

"Observer."

Zellos's voice was deep as he slowly took out a crystal-clear talisman from his robes, engraved with complex rotating runes. "They are the ones who released these destructive creatures. Whatever their intentions, we must stop them."

Amy hurried out of the tent, her white robes fluttering, like an ice sprite in the winter morning light, but the anxiety and determination in her eyes were unmistakable.

"I will assist in repairing the formation as soon as possible, but if it is even a minute later, you must fight with all your might to resist the swarm of insects! Do not let them get close to the core of the sacred tree!"

Lena gripped her twin blades tightly, their cold edges reflecting the surrounding snow-white moonlight. She took a deep breath, gathering all her strength at her fingertips: "We must be ready to charge at any moment! We absolutely cannot let those terrifying parasites break through our defenses!"

David stared at the dim sky ahead, where the malevolent beings banished by the observers loomed like endless, terrifying dark clouds.

He silently chanted the incantation, pushing his newly acquired "Primary Dimensional Folding" ability to its limit. His body parts would occasionally teleport and change dimensional positions, slaying the parasitic tentacles and corrosive spores that pounced at him with incredible speed. Each punch was accompanied by icy blue flames that burned away the decaying aura!

The surrounding space echoed with clanging and shattering sounds. The residual energy that had caused him to struggle painfully to comprehend new spells was spreading outwards, now appearing in an even more violent form, sweeping out like a tidal wave, creating immense chaos and pressure on the battlefield.

The heavy snowfall concealed the traces of decaying fungal hyphae beneath, but the pungent stench still lingered, further emphasizing the heavy sense of threat posed by the calamity.

Suddenly, not far from the camp, a huge, void-devouring tentacle burst forth from the ground. Its surface was covered with lightning-shaped patterns and decaying mycelium, constantly twisting and stretching in an attempt to clamp down on the giant ancient tree trunk above!
The tips of the tentacles spewed out venomous miasma that burned the air, making even the cold winter winds sticky and unbearable!
"Attention! This is one of the most powerful mutated parasitic weapons deployed by the Observer!"

Zelos shouted, and at the same time quickly cast a forbidden spell to summon a circle, hoping to restrain the dangerous creature and buy time for his teammates.

(End of this chapter)