The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 595 Oath of the Holy Flame
This is both a defensive battle and the first step in a long-term defense, with no brief respite.

Eileen, the chief wizard of the technology, stood in front of the data terminal, checking the system status from time to time. She slowly spoke: "Judging from the spatial frequency feedback, an abnormal spacetime distortion field has formed in the central area of ​​the 'Black Mark'. This is caused by the active crack and its crystalline veins, and its influence range is gradually expanding."

This distortion not only hinders physical attacks but also severely interferes with the transmission of mental energy fluctuations, creating a major obstacle to the repair process.

“The only feasible solution,” Eileen continued, “is to interrupt this malignant diffusion link through a brief cross-domain intervention technique after the ‘plane bridge’ spatial connection nodes are about to be completed, while simultaneously using the stable release frequency of the void star core to construct a reverse barrier.”

However, this is contingent upon the rapid elimination of high-risk mutated infected individuals on the periphery; otherwise, any attempt could exacerbate the risk of a backlash or even lead to the complete collapse of the chain!

David clenched his fist, a resolute flame burning in his eyes. "This also means that every step we take must be meticulous, decisive, and swift."

There can be no room for error; otherwise, the consequences will be dire and incalculable!

He paused for a moment, then asked the scout next to him, "Regarding Irene... is there any eyewitness testimony indicating her final destination? Where did she go?"

The messenger was still weak, but his voice carried a hint of determination.

"Your Majesty... According to witnesses, on the night the royal court was closed, she entered the deepest forbidden area alone."

They disappeared without a trace.

Some servants claimed to have heard what sounded like whispered summons and piercing wails, but no one dared to follow up or investigate.

I'm worried she's trapped in a situation she can't escape..."

These words were like a sharp blade piercing everyone's chest in the dead of winter, plunging the entire temporary command post into a deathly silence.

Just as everyone was listening intently to the howling snow and wind outside, a strange wind suddenly drifted in from afar, accompanied by faint murmurs. The sound was faint yet chilling, like the wailing of thousands of lost souls, or like some ancient evil spirit awakening an ominous sign that was about to fully awaken.

Hill stood by the window, sword in hand, his sharp gaze piercing through the misty, distant horizon.

"I am willing to go to the front lines to investigate the truth and ensure the safety of the surrounding area. If I discover anything unusual, I will report it immediately and take appropriate action!"

Anne calmed herself down. "We will also continue to use our mental power to monitor the magic array and observe changes in the surrounding area, and carry out rescue or isolation treatment for those trapped in the area affected by the evil, in order to curb the spread of the pollution."

Lia softly echoed, "Protecting His Majesty is protecting the future of Silver Moon. We will not let the gloom engulf everything!"

The afterglow of the setting sun illuminates the broken snow and collapsed rubble, and the cold glint in the air shines like a nightmare, yet it also stirs up the most tenacious will to live in this desolate fortress.

Ahead of the defensive line, a dark torrent that sent chills down the spines of all witnesses was quietly gathering.

Hundreds of demonized knights emerged like the Grim Reaper descending upon the world, clad in the tattered yet still gleaming armor of the Imperial Royal Knights.

The armor was covered with dark patterns and cracks, and those patterns seemed to be alive, spitting out ghostly black flames.

Their steps were heavy and powerful, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly, while at the same time, a horde of abyssal demons surged out of the cracks and surrounded them like a tide.

Among this demonic legion were high-level abyssal creatures: colossal abyssal colossi towered into the clouds, their bodies covered in shimmering purplish-black crystals, and their fists slammed with a sharp, piercing sound.
The succubus lord is light and graceful, yet exudes a deadly allure. Her eyes are cold and deep, making it difficult for any opponent to resist.

These monsters followed the knights' ranks like claws reaching for prey, silent yet posing a tremendous threat.

Amidst the smoke and the sound of war drums, a fierce battle erupted.

The Silver Moon Knights on the human defense line gripped their longswords and shields tightly, their faces etched with unwavering will and indomitable spirit.

However, when faced with their former comrades who once fought side by side but are now tainted by darkness and transformed into nightmares, their hearts are filled with pain and struggle.

Those familiar combat techniques and extremely precise coordination methods pierced their most vulnerable spots with every move.

The mental burden of having to take up arms and push their former brothers to their deaths nearly drove them to the brink of collapse.

"Don't let them near!" Hill roared through gritted teeth, his eyes burning red like flames, reflecting both grief and rage.

He brandished his longsword, and a burst of icy blue runic sparks erupted from the tip, tracing a powerful arc that slashed down three charging demonic knights.

Each swing seemed to burn away the unspeakable pain in his heart, but he knew there was no way out at this moment, and he could only write his resistance with blood!

The deafening explosions all around caused the earth to crack open in several places as the incantations roared, sending countless claws, flames, and sparks flying into the air from the collision of steel.

Human wizards braved the harsh environment to continuously activate the protective arrays, replenishing the energy shields for the front lines. However, these protections proved extremely fragile in the face of the ever-increasing chaotic power.

Hill led the reserve team in a counter-offensive, striding forward, each step seemingly crushing countless memories.

He saw his comrades fall to the ground, brutally torn apart by those who had once fought alongside him;

He heard cries and wails, the most real and desperate echoes of a soul being torn apart.

"We must not fall! For Silvermoon! For our homeland!" His voice was stirring and resounding, like a horn sounding, instilling boundless strength in everyone.

However, the enemy's offensive was exceptionally fierce—the demonized knights not only possessed their original superb martial arts skills, but also combined them with the undead resistance and terrifying power bestowed by the abyssal demons, making any ordinary attack ineffective. They wielded greatswords accompanied by fel energy explosions, striking with unerring accuracy, severing limbs and shattering bones from their opponents;
Their command ability was also extremely precise, with multiple groups of different people taking turns to encircle and flank the defenders, gradually forcing them back with swift and unpredictable movements.

"Look there!" Hill pointed to the flank, where a mutated leader was leading a squad of elite knights around the main defensive line, its crimson eyes burning with bloodthirsty ambition.

"We must resolve this first, or the entire army will fall into chaos!"

Although weakened, Cynthia's projection extended a ghostly blue hand, guiding soul fluctuations to disrupt the enemy's mental links. The blue and white light on her face revealed a resolute determination. "I will restrain some of the infected, but time is limited. You must seize this opportunity to break the deadlock." The wizard team followed closely behind, continuously casting spatial barriers, holy rune arrows, and elemental storms, hoping to deal with this chaotic situation.

But as time went on, the number of casualties gradually increased, and the human camp was stretched thin. Many veterans fell one after another, and some lost their minds, struggling and wavering between fear and anger. This war has transcended the simple matter of life and death, and has become a test of willpower and faith!

Seeing his former friends and comrades turn into enemies, Hill clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. "Our sacrifices cannot be in vain!" he roared, issuing a command. "All Witch Knight reserves, assemble on the left flank! I will personally lead the vanguard to raid the mutated leader group!"

At his command, the team charged forward, runes of all sizes shimmering in the night, and the power of various elements surging through the air. They were like a torrent of steel tearing through the decaying darkness, their blood reflecting the dawn of hope!

But at that moment, a dark shadow suddenly leaped out from the side—it was a chaotic monster, as large as a colossus.

What's terrifying is that its body is covered with crystalline veins and it constantly spews out a viscous, corrosive liquid, causing the surrounding air to rapidly disintegrate as if it were being corroded.

In an instant, it became the greatest threat to everyone, pinning several wizards to a corner and sweeping its tail to overturn many people and horses, triggering another round of brutal slaughter!
Arya reacted swiftly, drawing her sword and leaping to a crucial position. She used frost magic to condense a massive, icy blade to cleave the monster's hard shell, which was incredibly tough. Yet, her resolute expression remained unwavering; every attack was a life-or-death challenge to the brink of death!
Anne followed behind, using her powerful mental shield to protect the wounded and casting healing spells to stabilize the remaining personnel. Her expression was solemn, yet she was always alert to the dangers lurking around her. She devoted herself to maintaining the overall vitality balance of the entire army and was an indispensable pillar in this bitter battle!

David stood silently before a broken wall leading deep into the fortress, his gaze deep and heavy.

Beside him were the remnants of the Royal Knights, their faces stained dark red with blood, exhausted yet still resilient. They wore tattered armor, every scratch telling a story of countless brutal battles.

“This battle has taught us,” David said in a low voice, his tone steady yet resolute, “that conventional armies are not only outnumbered by demonized knights and abyssal demons, but the bigger problem is the erosion and corruption of their minds.”

This is not a problem that can be solved by simply attrition of troops; it is a crisis of a fundamental nature.

He turned to the team of technocrats accompanying him, who were constructing a complex data matrix around the stardial fragments and the void star core.

The dazzling runes flowed like a river, forming countless virtual spatial nodes in the air, constantly uploading, analyzing, and deducing.

"After several hours of continuous analysis, I conducted an in-depth study on the 'Black Mark' crack and its diffused energy using the chaotic core."

David lightly touched the pillar of light floating on the screen with his fingertip, "These demonized knights have a dual energy intertwined body: the souls of beings from the prime material world are eroded and fused by heterogeneous energy from the abyss space, and they restrain each other while constantly assimilating each other."

He frowned and continued, “Based on this, I devised a massive purification barrier scheme—the ‘Dawn Holy Flame Array’.”

Its core principle is to utilize the abyssal heterogeneous energy and the pure soul power of the prime material world to generate a strong positive-negative clash effect, thereby completely purifying and sealing away filth and evil in the form of a super barrier.

“Simply put,” Chief Technologist Eileen interjected, her voice trembling with excitement, “this grand array is like a soul-level baptism. It not only removes surface contamination but also reverses spiritual erosion, making it the only viable solution to combat the ‘Black Mark’ and its spreading infection!”

The air was filled with flashing runes and mysterious fluctuations. The patterns of the large magic arrays, which were activated by hundreds of wizards, gradually appeared in the void. The holographic projection spread out like the dawn, enveloping the far northern wilderness in a sacred blue and white glow.

However, this grand plan did not come without a price.

“Activating this Dawn Holy Flame Array requires an extremely demanding and massive spiritual medium,” Eileen added with a slightly solemn tone. “A person with a powerful, pure soul and unwavering will must be chosen as the medium to withstand the enormous backlash and to continuously infuse the barrier with power.”

This process is extremely risky, potentially leading not only to the mental breakdown or even death of the media member, but also to causing severe upheaval in the surrounding environment.

David's gaze swept over the human knights who were still barely surviving, yet each step was fraught with wounds, their faces as pale as snow, but their wills were unyielding.

Among them were generals who had once commanded thousands of troops, and new recruits who had just entered the battlefield. But at this moment, they were all like steel flowers about to bloom under the ice and snow, gathering their last bit of life force in the coming storm.

“I know that means…” Hill gripped the hilt of his sword, his voice low and resolute, “that some people must make sacrifices in exchange for the future of countless others.”

Cynthia's projection was surrounded by an icy blue light, and her voice was distant and solemn: "This is a baptism, and also a redemption."

To ignite a spark of hope on the brink of collapse, we need to use our own bodies and beliefs to set that eternal flame burning.

Anne closed her eyes and prayed softly. Her hands, which had once healed countless wounds, were now trembling uncontrollably: "I will do everything in my power to protect those sacrificers and make them the undying beacons that guide the dawn. Even if the road ahead is fraught with danger, I will never back down."

Lia gripped her staff tightly with both hands, her pale face showing determination.

"We must not forget that this is for our people, for all those who are still alive, and for the Silvermoon to rise again!"

David slowly reached out and stroked the core of chaos. The small energy sphere, containing ancient secrets and destructive power, emitted a faint blue light and intertwined with the surrounding magic array to form a magnificent network.

He knew that this path was arduous and bloody, but only in this way could the long night end and allow the Silver Moon to usher in its own glorious moment!

Inside the temporary command post, a profound silence enveloped everyone.

But as the morning breeze blew through the windowpane, the chill was gradually replaced by an unyielding belief burning brightly in my heart.

This place was once a strategic location fought over by military strategists, but now it has become the stage for the ultimate choice of destiny.

David stood in the center of the hall, wearing royal knight armor that was slightly worn but still gleaming.

His face was resolute and cold, and his eyes burned with a will as cold as flame.

Beside him lay an extremely complex blueprint of a grand array composed of star runes, the blueprint as intricate as the trajectories of stars, shimmering with a ghostly blue light in the darkness.

The remaining members of the Knights stood silently around.

Some of them were covered in dust and blood, some had bandages wrapped around their arms, and some were weak but still gritted their teeth and held on to their principles.

These people, who once swore an oath of honor and protection, now all have faces etched with unconcealable weariness, confusion, and struggle.

(End of this chapter)