The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 579 Dragon Judgment
“You two,” Cronus’s voice was deep and carried an undeniable authority.
Why did you approach the Sacred Tree Foundation?

Why would it carry the remains of an ancient elven artifact?
Why is the World Tree, which should be peaceful and serene, disturbed by your presence?

His voice seemed to pierce through the void, each word striking heavily into their hearts, like a cold iron hammer striking a hard stone wall, or a sharp blade piercing through the deepest, most hidden doubts of their souls.

David held his breath, knowing that any words of defense needed to be carefully considered at this moment.

He breathed steadily, and answered with his most genuine yet gentle and firm words: "Respected Guardian, my name is David. We did not intentionally desecrate the sacred tree, nor did we covet forbidden power."

Liliana and I were merely caught up in this temporal catastrophe, and we did our utmost to protect all living beings and the sundial.

As the 'Time-Eroding Worms' eroded the core, we fought to avert destruction and salvaged surviving fragments from the heart of the chaos.

He pointed to the small artifact fragment in his hand that still shone with green light, and although broken, contained a huge life rhythm and energy of order: "This is a fragment of the core of the Elf Stardial that was lost in the flames of war. Although it is broken, it still carries the power of the sacred wood's origin."

This is also important evidence that the crisis did not completely destroy the foundation of the system.

However, Kronos's gaze remained fixed, his deep dragon eyes flashing with complex emotions—

There was skepticism mixed with wariness and even slight anger: "Otherworldly being, are you aware of the ancient taboos?"
The 'Time-Eroding Worm' is a blasphemer of time, incompatible with the sacred tree's origin, and an ancient curse upon the world.

Anyone who attempts to manipulate or exploit such power, regardless of their intentions (good or evil), will invite disaster.

He stretched out his massive claws and pointed them at the two men: "Have you been tainted by this corrupting power?"
Did I touch a door that I shouldn't have touched?

If that's the case, we will have no choice but to conduct the judgment as guardians!

David felt a sudden increase in pressure, as an unstable energy emanating from the very source of time, distorting the very fabric of his being, spread from within him.

He knew that if he failed to clarify the misunderstanding in time, it would only backfire and escalate the conflict between the two sides to the point of no return.

Faced with the majesty and powerful aura displayed by the guardian deity before him, he felt an unprecedented unease, but more than that, a resolute determination.

He gritted his teeth and said, "I acknowledge that we bear an extremely heavy responsibility, and this path is full of unknown dangers, but please believe that we have reverence for the rhythm of life and the order of the sacred tree, and we will never become those who disrupt the order!"

Tears welled in Liliana's eyes. Her voice, though soft, was firm and resolute: "We are willing to accept judgment and pay any price to protect this world, but please give us understanding first, instead of blind accusations or hostility!"

A cool morning breeze blew across the vast plains beneath the World Tree's shadow. The lingering smoke of battle had not yet completely dissipated, yet the air was filled with an indescribable sense of new life.

David stood on the land once marked by battle, still clutching the fragment of the stardial core that faintly shimmered with green light.

Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, falling on him and casting his long shadow onto the earth.

He took a deep breath, sensing that the flow of spiritual energy within his body had reached a new level—the powerful stability and clarity brought by the breakthrough to the seventh ring made his mind as calm and resolute as still water.

Faced with the sharp, star-like scrutiny of the silver dragon Kronos, he knew he needed to show the utmost sincerity and unquestionable attitude.

David spoke slowly, his eyes clear and full of power: "Honorable Guardian Kronos, I understand your concerns about the loss of the Sacred Tree Foundation and the artifact fragments."

But please allow me to explain: everything we carry was a gift from the World Tree's original trial, not a desecration or exploitation of forbidden power.

He gently lifted the shard of the sundial in his hand, and the faint green glow appeared even softer and warmer under the sunlight, pulsating like the veins of a living thing.

He continued, “I have experienced the trial of the spacetime vortex. In that illusory realm, I instinctively sensed and communicated with the purest and most ancient elemental spirits in nature—the spirits of the four elements: wind, fire, water, and earth, which were born from the earliest life rhythms in the world.”

"It was through this fragment of the 'Natural Affinity' law that I was able to resonate with the elemental spirits, which not only enhanced my mental power but also made the environment respond to my will."

For example, the subtle runes in the surrounding air rippled, and the life-giving waves of the earth slowly spread out in rhythm with my thoughts—this was a gift bestowed upon the trial-takers by the World Tree.

As soon as he finished speaking, he stretched out his palm and gently touched the thin layer of soil beneath his feet.

In an instant, a gentle and warm green energy quietly overflowed from Liliana's palms. Unconsciously, she clenched her hands, and that power spread from the inside out along the roots into the depths of the earth.

Beside their feet, a tiny sprout quickly broke through the soil, its leaf tips faintly shimmering with temporal and spatial fluctuations similar to, but more elegant and ethereal than, those of the core of the stardial, like a new life factor containing untold secrets.

A complex expression flashed in Kronos's eyes. His deep blue dragon eyes, as dark as the abyss of the universe, stared at the strange sprout, revealing a look of surprise and uncertainty.

He said in a low voice, "This is... one of the essences of the sacred tree? It can even resonate with the spacetime ripples? People from another world, your actions are extraordinary."

David nodded in response, but his tone was calm yet cautious: "That's true. Liliana possesses a special life rhythm within her, which resonates strangely with this remnant of the stardial."

Everything stems from our experience of the cycle of trials within illusions, and is inextricably linked to the will of the World Tree.

This is why the fragment was able to 'return' to reality, rather than being completely annihilated.

"As for the specifics of how to construct that mental spacetime model... I cannot go into details. This is a protective rule that also serves as an important barrier to prevent further chaos."

But please believe that we have no intention of desecrating the sacred tree's order; we only wish to protect the peace of all living beings. His voice was firm and sincere, without the slightest hesitation.

The air gradually became clearer, and the newly emerging buds seemed to be nourished by the warm sunlight, constantly releasing a faint green glow to the surroundings, forming a gentle yet resilient connection with the environment.

Every ancient vine in the Eternal Forest seems to be responding to this change, transmitting information through its root network, and a long-lost vitality is quietly reviving.

Kronos lowered his gaze, shifting from intimidation and pressure to cautious observation.

He said slowly in a low voice, "Although you come from a foreign land, the reverence and sincerity you show in protecting us are undeniable."

This catastrophe is certainly fraught with danger, but perhaps you truly have the potential to become the new guardians of order.

However... vigilance must not be relaxed.

The dragon roared, its voice piercing the distant sky, like a message of admonition and expectation flowing through the torrent of time.

"Though the laws of the world are as hard as rock, they need to be broken open to give birth to new life. And you carry not only the broken artifacts, but also the hidden hope for the future... It is my choice to allow you to continue to exist for the time being, and it is also the arrangement of fate."

David felt a slight sense of relief, but he still kept a cautious eye on the deity before him. "Thank you for your leniency. We will cherish our mission even more and live up to your trust."

As the dawn faded in the Eternal Forest, the thick clouds began to disperse, revealing a pale blue sky.

The vast plains, illuminated by the World Tree projection, were immersed in a rare tranquility.

The majestic yet not entirely cold dragon shadow of Cronus slowly receded, leaving behind a subtle yet heavy atmosphere of the confrontation.

David took a deep breath and gently put the fragment of the sundial, which still shone with a green glow and contained powerful life rhythm and orderly energy despite its damage, back into his pocket.

His gaze was solemn and firm as he turned to Liliana, who still stood there, pale-faced and slightly tired, yet resilient.

“Lord Kronos,” David said in a low voice, maintaining a cautious and respectful posture, “we will do our utmost to investigate the issues you are concerned about and will truthfully submit all the findings of our investigation into the core fragments of the stardial.”

Hopefully, this will clear up any misunderstandings and allow us to contribute more to protecting this world.

His tone was sincere, yet it also hinted at delaying tactics—after all, the power and the secret had not yet been fully revealed, and he needed time and space to continue exploring the truth.

"Currently, we wish to return to the Material Plane with the fragments for further research, and we also hope to gain more understanding and support from you and the Guardians."

Liliana nodded slightly. Although she still seemed to be affected by the aftermath of the trial, the determination in her eyes remained undiminished.

"I will also stay behind to study this remaining power and try to understand the internal changes as soon as possible." Her voice was weak, but every word was firm and resounding.

Kronos sighed, his dragon eyes, deep and blazing with green flames like the stars in the universe, illuminating them. "Fate is sometimes like intertwined branches and roots, not easily shaken."

But I will trust your word for now and allow you to leave temporarily, though being monitored like prisoners is not what you desire.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a rapid, subtle yet exceptionally clear information fluctuation suddenly emanated from the Blood Prison Token in David's arms—the fragment of the Blood Core—which vibrated violently.

The flashing red light suddenly surged to a fiery scarlet, leaping and raging like a raging fire in the dark night.

David frowned, and subconsciously pulled the blood core from his pocket, holding it high in the air. The ominous aura, woven from life and magic, instantly spread out, like a corrosive mist spewed from a dark abyss, sending chills down one's spine.

The soul message pierced the silence like lightning, and a frantic, almost desperate voice entered his mind. It was Arya's message: "Blood Prison Core... Anomaly... Grand Duke... The Last Blood Demon Core!"
The situation is critical!
We must go immediately!

The voice was short and sharp, but full of urgency. Every word seemed to strike the heart, making it impossible to ignore the impending catastrophe surging beneath the calm surface.

David's expression changed drastically. He quickly withdrew the blood core from his hand and turned his gaze to Liliana beside him, who was still pale but whose anxiety was evident in her brows: "It seems we have no time to linger. She is referring to that 'Blood Prison'—the location of the last ancient demon's power core."

She forced herself to sit up, but felt that the energy fluctuations within her body were still unstable. "I still need time to recover. I will stay here for the time being. You must go there first to deal with the most urgent crisis."

Before the words were even finished, the wind and clouds rose and the earth seemed to be disturbed by the sudden turbulent waves.

A terrifying, ominous red light faintly emanated from the distant horizon, revealing a world steeped in endless blood mist, where a catastrophe about to engulf the world was quietly brewing.

"This journey is fraught with peril, but it concerns our very survival," David nodded solemnly. "I will not hesitate, nor will I let anything stand in our way." He tightened his grip on the staff handle, each step firmly planted in the eye of the unknown storm, and the earth beneath his feet seemed to respond to his resolve.

David's gaze was solemn, and he gripped the fragment of the blood core tightly in his hand.

At this moment, the token trembled violently in his palm, like a pulsating red heart, releasing a suffocatingly oppressive aura.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly sank his consciousness into the fragments.

The spiritual energy converged into a distorted flow of energy, which rapidly spread throughout the space.

As he guided them, a void gate woven from dark red light quietly opened before them, a temporary passage to the Blood Prison World.

The air was thick with a nauseating stench of decay and rust, as if death and despair had solidified into a tangible form.

David stepped into the passage, and a strong sense of discomfort immediately followed. He felt as if the space around him was enveloped in thick blood, and every step felt as heavy as stepping into a swamp.

But he suppressed his discomfort and focused all his attention on the unknown and terrifying world ahead.

As he stepped out of the void portal, a suffocating stench of decay assaulted his senses.

He opened his eyes and saw that the sky looked like a frozen patch of dark red blood.

But now, the thick, viscous magma has countless spiderweb-like cracks, like the cracked, parched surface of the earth. Countless distant, unidentified energy bodies, shimmering with a dark gray light, are scattered among them, giving the entire sky an eerie gray-brown hue.

The air was so murky and turbid, as if it had been corroded by decay, that it was impossible to discern directions. A chaotic sound wave of deathly silence and wailing emanated from it, and with each breath, one felt a sharp pain deep in one's lungs, as if being cut by a knife.

On the distant horizon, the once surging, giant river of blood, composed of vibrant red liquid, has almost dried up, with only a few large, dark, stained drops of blood occasionally dripping from its parched cracks.

The earth's surface was crisscrossed with cracks, and within countless faults flickered the embers of residual magic, but these sparks were like dying fireflies, about to be extinguished completely.

The vegetation had long since withered and died, leaving only twisted, skeleton-like branches scattered among the ruins.

Those once towering, life-force-driven, and vibrantly demonic beasts, spewing forth their own blood, are now growing increasingly sparse, unable to even look around, and seeming to struggle to breathe.

They were once the most vibrant symbols of life on this land, but now they seem to be gradually disappearing as their very essence is lost.

David frowned; he not only sensed the deathly silence, but also clearly perceived that the very essence of this world was rapidly disappearing—

That was not a simple depletion, but a deeper, emerging crisis that even the laws of time could not withstand.

(End of this chapter)