The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 602 The Bell Tolls, Trial Begins

At that very moment, a continuous chime came from the distant clock tower, each strike striking the heart of everyone and causing their heartbeats to resonate. Some of the young priests even clenched their fists and held their breath.

The “Guardians’ Trial” has begun—the highest precepts of the entire Royal Guard and the most solemn ceremony for protecting the foundations of the world.

At this juncture, no one is exempt, and no fate can be reversed. We can only follow the will, resolve the crisis with wisdom, and carry out our mission with faith!
As the clouds and mist outside the square gradually dispersed, a pale moon peeked out from behind the thick clouds, its soft light casting a dreamlike veil over the entire royal court.

A chilly wind blew in the corner of the courtyard, scattering withered leaves that mingled with the falling snow, as if nature itself was silently praying for a new chapter to unfold...

The guard leader stood quietly, his hands behind his back on his sword hilt, his chin slightly raised as he gazed at the gray sky in the distance: "The real test has only just begun. We cannot back down, for this is our era!"

Beneath the eaves, a large magic circle, enveloped and protected by azure magic, faintly appeared. Each line was intricate yet orderly, drawing upon the veins of the elements of heaven and earth, maintaining balance amidst wild twists and precise rhythms.

This is the last line of defense that the Silver Moon Royal Court has forged over a thousand years, and it is also one of the indispensable cornerstones for resisting the erosion of countless calamities in the future.

David took a deep breath of the cold air, opened his eyes again, and looked thoughtful.

He knew that he was responsible for not only the honor and disgrace of one person, but also the fate of an entire race, an entire continent, and even the myriad worlds.

On this solemn night, he resolved to answer all challenges with his life:
No matter how treacherous the road ahead, I will uphold my vow and live up to the expectations of all beings!

His voice, though not as resounding as it had been on the battlefield the day before, was all the more resolute and solemn, like the first ray of sunlight piercing through the long night, lighting a beacon of hope for all those who longed for dawn...

Time passed slowly and solemnly, the lamplight in the hall swayed gracefully, and people left one by one to prepare for the upcoming "Guardian's Judgment".

David stood at the entrance of the hall, gazing at the stardial, which had become even more solemn after experiencing the shock of the oracle.

Its ancient and complex design showcases the extraordinary wisdom of the elven civilization during its glorious past, yet at this moment, it is operating quietly in some unusual way.

With a hint of worry, Lia slowly walked to David's side. She frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on the pale blue light projected by the sundial. The runes slowly emerged in the void, emanating a broken and chaotic aura as they were scattered, like fragments torn apart by an invisible force.

“These runes… are not ordinary arcane symbols.” Leah gripped her Frost Staff tightly, speaking softly with barely concealed shock and unease. “They point to an ancient and long-forgotten location—the ‘Time Corridor’.”

The hall was filled with a crystalline magical aura, which mingled with the cold wind to create a gentle yet incredibly sharp chill.

The flickering lights illuminated the worries on everyone's faces with exceptional clarity.

The priests stood silently, most of them their eyes gleaming with a mixture of tension and anticipation.

Cynthia suddenly stepped forward, her fingers touching the ice-blue runes on her chest, the patterns glowing slightly with her movements.

“I feel…” she paused, “that the stardial resonated with the Chaos Core Meditation Technique within you, David, in some incredible way.”

Everyone turned to look at David. A warm blue divine light of redemption still faintly emanated from the center of his chest. That power seeped into the depths of his blood like an undercurrent, producing a strange and strong response to the information projected by the stardial.

“Resonance?” Leah frowned. “What does this mean? Are our actions triggering the awakening of a deeper, more mysterious power?”

“Perhaps,” Cynthia said thoughtfully, biting her lip, “this is not a coincidence, but a call of destiny, a door to the unknown slowly opening.”

The air instantly became heavy, and every breath in the hall seemed exceptionally clear and oppressively weighing on everyone's hearts.

The border guards in the distance also sensed the energy fluctuations, gripping their shields tighter and watching the shadows surging around them with heightened vigilance.

Even the lingering corrosive aura in the sky seemed to become more restless due to this fluctuation.

David closed his eyes, repeatedly feeling the entanglement and collision between the old and new consciousness surging within him.

He knew that he had to personally embark on this path to find out the truth, otherwise the unsolved mysteries would only devour everyone's future hopes like an undercurrent.

A complex expression appeared on his face—a mixture of unease about the dangers lurking in the unknown abyss and a firm determination to shoulder a mission that could not be shirked.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with the vastness of the endless stars and an unwavering will: "I must enter that 'time corridor' alone to find the truth, and I cannot afford to fail."

Leah rushed forward and grabbed his arm: "David, this path is too dangerous. Once you step into it, there's no turning back! We should face it together!"

Hill and Cynthia also stood on either side, their eyes resolute, yet unable to conceal their worry and vague fear of their leader venturing alone into the unknown.

“We respect your decision, but remember, this is our backing,” Hill said solemnly. “No matter what happens, we will protect you and bring you back!”

A tacit understanding was instantly reached in the hall, and the silent vow transformed into the strongest defense line surrounding David. Even the onslaught of wind and snow and the approach of darkness could not shake their unwavering belief in steel.

This is the last stronghold of the Silvermoon remnants, and also the initial thread of the future dawn!
At this moment, the enormous elven sundial in the center of the hall once again erupted with a blazing, dark purple light, and its core rotation speed increased several times compared to before.

Broken ancient elven runes shattered and scattered from the raging flames, drifting like fragments of a broken blade. Each collision triggered a low murmur from the valley, echoing the distant thunderous roar outside the plaza, as if the world was preparing for a new era of catastrophe!

The onlookers held their breath, watching as the incomplete yet still dazzling and beautiful emblems formed an intricate pattern, with countless details revealing hidden trajectories flowing through them.

“Lia,” Cynthia whispered, “these runic trails point to an extremely ancient and important coordinate system known as the ‘Chain of Time’.”

It connects the past and the future, yet it also warns us not to trespass lightly… Too many unspeakable tragedies have occurred here; it is the final boundary set by the gods.

The air seemed to tremble with the sound of the voice, and an invisible pressure spread to every corner, making it almost impossible for the listener to breathe.

In an instant, everyone's eyes in the hall were focused on the large mechanical device that was suspended, rotating, and flashing with ever-changing images. Everyone knew in their hearts that it would become the next crucial decision or even the dividing line between life and death!

David reached out and touched the cold, metallic surface. The power flowed directly through his meridians into the Chaotic Holy Flame within him, resonating intensely with the core of redemption deep within his soul. He felt the torrent of time surging through his soul, as if he were transported to the very beginning of the universe billions of years ago, or as if he were immersed in the ceaseless spiral of history amidst the turmoil of the heavens!

The powerful impact nearly forced him to his knees, but he gritted his teeth and held on, focusing his attention firmly on the exploration that was about to begin:

"Everything is predestined. I will personally uncover the mystery and forge a new order with the truth!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he straightened his body and stepped into the center of the large teleportation array, which was woven from the rhythm of stars and emitted a deep blue holy light.

In an instant, countless arcane energies surged and converged, like a galaxy pouring down, sweeping across heaven and earth and then devouring his body completely, leaving only a faint aftertaste of the Holy Flame of Redemption that had not yet dissipated...

The hall fell into a deathly silence, with only the faint sound of priests praying with their hands clasped together, while the guards stood solemnly with their swords drawn, using their flesh and blood to build a solid defense line at the rear.

This is a battle between faith and fate, and also the only burning flame of hope at the end of endless darkness!
As night deepened, a lingering warmth still enveloped the corners of the Silver Moon Royal Court, and every body and soul trembled with excitement at the impending new chapter...

Space seemed to be gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, and the brilliance of the stars dimmed in an instant. David, adorned with the holy light of redemption, slowly dissipated in the dark blue halo.

Time and space intertwine and break apart, and he is drawn into a strange and ancient vortex of time and space.

Before he was fully conscious, the surrounding scenery had already changed.

When he opened his eyes again, what came into view was a vast and broken wilderness, with the sky hanging low in the distance, as if it were being suffocated by endless darkness.

The sky was not a clear starry sky, but a heavy picture scroll woven from deep blue and pitch black, with countless undercurrents seemingly stirring and pressing this world to its ultimate edge.

Beneath my feet lies a vast ruin, the last glory of the ancient wizarding civilization—the Star Fortress.

The towering, cloud-piercing city walls, inlaid with dazzling magic runes, are now riddled with holes, covered in dust and charred traces. Countless broken carvings, like incomplete ruins, creak and groan in the wind, like the last weak struggle of an ancient life.

In the distance, the void was churning and tearing apart, with jet-black, ink-like gusts of violent air sweeping across the sky and enveloping the fortress. The demonic, twisting ripples seemed to possess the power to devour everything, each roar taking away a sliver of the world's life force, causing all living beings in the world to feel immense fear.

David stood at the edge of the ruins, his tall figure appearing particularly lonely and resilient in the dim afterglow.

He took a deep breath of the cold air, and a layer of blue-white holy flames surged from his body, appearing both tiny and magnificent in this apocalyptic scene.

He gazed intently at the collapsing, all-consuming void storm, lost in thought: What kind of calamity could possibly drive a civilization to destruction?
Just then, a light yet historically weighty footstep came from deep within the ruins.

David turned his head and saw a figure slowly walking out—wearing a tattered robe but still maintaining an elegant posture, with an old face full of wisdom. He was Glenhill, the last prophet in the twilight of wizarding civilization.

Glen Hill's eyes were clear as autumn water, yet they faintly revealed despair and exhaustion.

With each step he took, it seemed to carry an unspeakable yet extremely heavy message: "You've finally come. I've waited for far too long."

His voice was hoarse, yet still carried an undeniable authority: "This is the place we were once proud of, and also the place where we ultimately fell."

As they gazed at each other, a feeling that transcended time and space, a connection of souls, quietly arose between them.

David bowed slightly in greeting: "Your Excellency the Prophet, I come from the future. I must understand the truth of the disaster and hope to find a way to stop the destruction."

Glenhill nodded, and he pulled out a yellowed tattered page from his wide robe. It was covered with dense, shimmering runes, one of the fragments of the elven tome, the Book of the End.

"These are the most precious legacies of our civilization that have survived to this day, and they are the only things that can guide us in the future."

“The Anchor of the World,” he said in a low voice, “the only immortal relic of creation capable of stabilizing and distorting spacetime, preventing chaos from ravaging the cycle of creation and destruction.”

But it is now lost in the deepest part of the seamless void, protected by a storm of destruction, and no one dares to touch it lightly, otherwise it will surely bring even greater disaster…

His gaze pierced through the mist, connecting seamlessly with David's will. "You possess the divinity of redemption. You may be the only one capable of approaching the 'Anchor of the World,' and our last hope!"

The surrounding air suddenly vibrated violently, and the earth seemed to tremble and decay along with time.

Scattered across these ruins are broken magical veins and ancient runes, each one sealing away past glories and inscribing tragic laments.

As the storm swept past, an unstable vortex composed of star fragments and crystalline magical dust gradually took shape, with a faint silver anchor-shaped pattern shimmering in its center. It was as stable yet fragile as a cosmic bond, inspiring both awe and fear.

“This is the gateway to the ‘End Realm,’ the realm where the ‘Anchor of the World’ is located,” Glen Hill said. “Only those who truly understand their own destiny and the meaning of their sacrifice can pass through.”

"And your bloodline meditation method is the key to passing through this gate."

Upon hearing this, David felt a surge of emotions, but he also realized that he was about to face an even more severe and dangerous test of humanity and strength.

But there was no sign of retreat on his face. On the contrary, his eyes shone with a firmness like the brightest star in the night sky: "I am willing to die to protect this land and prevent history from repeating itself!"

Their eyes met in an unwavering resolve, and the surrounding silence gradually faded, replaced by the roar of thunder and the fury of the storm.

When David and Glen Hill's eyes met, time seemed to stand still for a moment, yet it was also like an undercurrent surging endlessly.

The star fortress, swallowed by the void storm, stood far away, casting a long shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun, like an indelible scar in the long river of history.

Glenhill slowly took out the yellowed tattered page from his bosom, his robe sleeves lifting a wisp of starlight like dust.

His voice, though weary, was as firm as an ancient rock: "You must understand, this is not a mere coincidence, but a crucial link in the inevitable cycle of history..."

(End of this chapter)