The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 608 Statues of the Gods

“This holy book… hides secrets far beyond our imagination,” she murmured, her voice filled with awe and a hint of unease.

The crowd sat around, their faces showing fatigue and tension, all infected by the solemn atmosphere.

Lia gripped the Staff of Life tightly, her gentle yet firm gaze fixed on Lucia. "While the Pope's Shadow Manipulation Technique reveals the darkness outside, the 'Scripture of Light' is the key to unlocking the truth of the entire universe."

David stood by the window, gazing at the stars twinkling in the dark night sky.

He felt the chaotic core within his body being drawn by some subtle force, constantly churning and agitating.

He gently closed his eyes, and an indescribable sense of oppression rose in his heart.

That was the aura emanating from the ancient god Yog-Sothoth, subtly permeating the depths of his soul.

“Destiny… has been quietly etched.” David murmured to himself, slowly clenching his fist, his entire body faintly ignited with blue and white holy flames, like the last vestige of strong flame before dawn.

At this moment, Lucia finally stopped flipping through the pages. She slowly raised her head, her silver eyes filled with complex emotions.

“Here… I found the key forbidden chapter: ‘Those who unify the three hearts shall become new gods, but their souls shall bear eternal loneliness.’”

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed slightly.

Hill frowned, his usually steady and composed physique now revealing unconcealed worry. "Three hearts united?"

Is this what the Pope meant by 'the fusion of life, shadow, and light'? To become the ruler of the new era?

Cynthia gazed coldly into the distance. "Ten thousand years of solitude means that becoming a new god is not only a gain of power, but also a punishment of eternal torment of the soul and isolation from mortal emotions."

Lia clenched her fist, and the warm life rune shone even more intensely. "Perhaps that is why we should uphold free will and not let anyone use a false dream of creation to cover up the truth of enslavement."

The air grew heavy and solemn. Under the soft blue and purple glow of the arcane array, everyone was immersed in contemplation about the unpredictable yet inevitable truth of their future destiny.

“I can feel my soul beginning to be corrupted by the aura of the ancient gods,” David said in a low but resolute voice. “This power surges in like a tide, sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce—it gives me both boundless wisdom and causes me to struggle in agony.”

But I must control it, or it will become my greatest fear.

He turned and gazed at the crowd, his eyes filled with a resolute determination like stars reflecting in the night sky over the plains, fearless and fervent: "We are facing not only the Pope, but also a powerful threat that has been hidden for a long time at the foundation of the entire universe, waiting to be awakened."

I will not let myself become that victim, nor will I allow any conspiracy to devour our future!

Leah slowly walked to David's side, placed her hand on his shoulder, and conveyed silent encouragement through the life runes: "You are not alone. The will of all of us will become a torch and will illuminate this long night."

Hill gripped his sword to his chest and said, word by word, "Our conviction is our only shield, and also our sharpest blade! No matter how far the road ahead may be, we must wholeheartedly protect the free world that belongs to us!"

Cynthia sheathed her icy blade and said calmly but firmly, "Every guardian will eventually face the darkness within, but only clarity can guide them to the dawn."

We will not allow any delusional thoughts to disrupt our mission!

At this moment, a storm was brewing outside the headquarters.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, like a purple-silver serpent winding and twisting, tearing a gap in the layers of clouds and allowing the brilliance of the Milky Way to spill down from the crack, as if the world was undergoing a baptism of destiny.

Lucia stood by the window, raising her left hand. A delicate arcane rune flew from her fingertip, resonating with the runes in the floating array inside the room and bursting forth with dazzling starlight.

"Though time may be full of twists and turns, justice will never be extinguished. This forbidden chapter reminds us that even if we become gods and bear the burden of loneliness, we must not give up the precious emotions of the mortal world, otherwise we will lose ourselves and fall into the abyss like the Pope."

The candlelight flickered inside, and although people looked tired, they were even more determined.

They knew that this new era war about the integration of three hearts and the resistance of freedom had quietly begun;

The grand scheme hidden behind the torrent of time is gradually unfolding, and the true protagonists may well be themselves...

Everyone's chest heaved as they gazed at the scroll of the Holy Scripture of Light. Its forbidden chapters, like a black hole in a vast galaxy, possessed a powerful yet irresistible pull, drawing everyone's attention.

The words were like whispers from another era, or warnings from the future transmitted through time and space, forcing them to be doubly vigilant: only by upholding their beliefs and igniting hope with wisdom, could they bravely greet the dawn, even when faced with the most vivid, confusing, and terrifying truths!

Looking out at the vast starry sky, they silently vowed: We must never let the world fall into eternal loneliness, but break the shackles and open up a true path of freedom for all living beings!
The Witch Knights, fully prepared, stealthily infiltrated the last stronghold of the Eternal Night Council, a dark fortress hiding countless secrets and conspiracies.

David stood at the very front of the group, clad in armor surrounded by blue and white holy flames, the intense flames reflecting his unwavering gaze.

He took a deep breath of the night air and sensed the oppressive and ominous atmosphere permeating the air.

Every step taken seemed to tread upon a heavy destiny, and also tolled the bells signaling the imminent arrival of justice.

“Morse…we’re here,” Hill said coldly, gripping his longsword, its blade gleaming with a chilling light that pierced the soul like an icy blade in the moonlight.

He looked around at his companions, whose resolute and solemn faces reflected an iron will as strong as tempered steel.

Lia gripped the Staff of Life tightly, her bright eyes scanning the surrounding ruins, golden runes dancing with a warm and resolute light in her palm.

"This time, no matter how dark the situation is, we must eradicate it completely."

Lucia, draped in a silver robe, gently flicked her fingertips, creating a faint arcane ripple that circled around her.

Her words were delicate yet powerful: "Though the celestial orbits are far away, justice will never lose its way."

The Witch Knights will surely dispel the gloom of eternal night and restore light to the world.

In silence, they slowly walked into the depths of the hall, a dark and oppressive feeling washing over them.

The walls were covered with dense, indistinguishable runes and blood-red marks, forbidden traces left behind by the Eternal Night Council, each seemingly telling a story of unspeakable secrets and sins.

Suddenly, a heavy iron gate slowly opened, and a tall, gloomy figure walked out.

His hair was completely white, but his eyes were still as sharp as a hawk's.
That was the last Speaker—Morse. Although his face was aged, it contained an undeniable air of indomitable spirit and cunning authority.

“You’ve finally arrived…” Morse’s voice was hoarse, yet filled with desolation and stubbornness. “The Witch Knights… I admit you are stronger than I expected. But all of this is just another contest on the chessboard of destiny.”

David looked him straight in the eye, his expression unwavering and serious. "Morse, you once swore to protect the dignity of the continent, but now you've become a puppet of the Pope's dark pawns. Why are you willing to be manipulated?"

Morse's expression twisted slightly, as if his heart was being torn apart.

"The Pope... his avatar has been controlling me through the 'Heart of Shadow' for a century."

This shackle binds me, I cannot break free, nor can I resist it…

His voice was low, yet filled with helplessness and pain, like the final, poignant confession of a prisoner trapped in a cage, powerless to escape.

Hill gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes blazing with anger. "But even so, you once had a choice!"
Why give up? Why willingly become a tool of evil?

Morse gave a wry smile. "Choice? That's just an illusion."

When the 'Heart of Shadow' possesses you, it erodes your will, turning you into the humanoid puppet it desires, rendering countless struggles futile.

I hate this constraint, but I can only endure the pain it brings.

Lia calmly raised the Staff of Life in her hand, infusing holy power into the air, causing it to rise with a bright golden light.

"Today, we must win liberation for all victims; this is both revenge and redemption!"

The battle was fought without words. Hill took the lead and swung her sword to slash at the ghostly aura spreading around Morse. At the same time, the other members displayed their strengths: Cynthia condensed her frost sword energy into a sharp ice blade and made a fierce impact.

Lucia unleashed an arcane torrent that tore through space, preventing the enemy from escaping;
Lia used life runes to construct a shield to protect her teammates from a counterattack.

Although Morse was in decline, the eerie energy emanating from the "Heart of Shadow" within him made his movements swift and ruthless. Each punch brought up ripples of eerie blue shadows, like the Grim Reaper's scythe sweeping away the world's vitality.

His eyes revealed despair and madness, and he was willing to sacrifice himself in an attempt to drag everyone down!
David clenched his fists, and his entire body erupted in a burst of blue and white holy flames. He shouted, "Everyone, work together! We can't let him escape! We must end this nightmare!"

The battle reached its climax in an instant: the flashing blades intertwined to form a web of fate, sometimes the frost and ice flashes ripped through the sky, sometimes the soul energy burst forth, and each collision stirred the air and made it deafening.

Everything seemed like the grandest and most brutal epic drama in the world!
Finally, with everyone's combined and relentless efforts, the "Heart of Shadows" emitted a deafening explosion, like a meteorite crashing into the abyss, shaking the entire hall to its breaking point!

Morse screamed repeatedly as he was thrown far away by the powerful impact and fell to the ground, his body covered in blood but his eyes still held a stubborn determination.

Hill approached and pressed the tip of his sword against the man's throat, while David silently watched the last Speaker, seeing the final, complex expression on his face.

Pain, regret, despair, and a sliver of longing for liberation in the unknown future.

“Tell us the truth,” David whispered. “How many more secrets does the Pope hold? How long will his conspiracy continue?”

Morse exhaled with difficulty: "The Pope... is no longer a simple being, but an ancient power avatar scattered throughout the multiverse."

This 'Heart of Shadow' is just one of the key elements, through which numerous forces have been controlled for nearly a century... You are facing a vortex far larger than you can imagine..."

Before he finished speaking, his pupils suddenly lost focus, and he fell into a deathly silence as if his soul had been ripped away.

But those words struck the hearts of everyone like a heavy hammer, and they knew that this war was far from over, and foreshadowed a new, broader and more complex situation that was about to unfold!

David slowly withdrew his gaze, turned to his teammates, and said in a firm voice: "From this day forward, we will officially take over the legacy of the Eternal Night Council."

This is not only a responsibility, but also a key that can unlock a new chapter in the future!

Cynthia said coldly, "Protecting the dignity of the continent is our duty and mission. We will not allow any evil to spread and breed again!"

Lia smiled gently but firmly: "We have free will, and this belief is enough to illuminate the darkest night. No matter how bumpy the road ahead, we will surely reach the dawn."

Lucia raised her hand and lightly touched the arcane array projected by the Star Orbit Calibrator. Her silver eyes sparkled with wisdom: "Use wisdom to restore order, use courage to protect hope, and we will reshape a new era of order in this chaotic world!"

The chilly night still enveloped the earth, and the stone walls of the Witch Knights' headquarters cast pale and deep shadows under the moonlight.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees moistened by dew, accompanied by the rustling sound of a gentle breeze rustling through the treetops.

Lucia stood quietly atop the towering observation tower, her long, silvery-white hair fluttering in the wind, her deep silver eyes, as dark as the night sky, gazing at the vast starry sky.

"The oracle of the sea god and the elven god... has suddenly been interrupted." She murmured softly, her fingertips lightly tracing the star map floating before her eyes.

A faint blue-purple light surged within the arcane array, slowly shifting like a galaxy.

Lia stood not far away, gripping the Staff of Life tightly, its warm golden light illuminating her resolute and fearless face.

“The images of the gods… they are beginning to crack.” Her gaze was cold and worried, the cracks spreading out like a spider web, each break seeming to tear apart the deepest peace between heaven and earth.

Hill frowned, his grip on the longsword tightening until his knuckles turned white, and a chill emanated from the blade.

He gazed at the fading, fragmented remains of the large statue on the distant horizon. “This is no accident; it is the foundation of an ancient order that has been shaken.”

The members of the Witch Knights gathered in the observation hall.

The reflection on the wall is an anomaly from the starry ocean: the large sculptures that represent the power and soul protection of the ancient gods begin to crack and peel off like waves crashing against rocks, their surface textures seeming to have been corroded for thousands of years, or to be gradually peeled away and disintegrated as if eroded by an invisible force.

“The dormant period…” Lucia’s voice trembled slightly, but remained solemn. “This is a sign that the realm of the gods has entered a period of hibernation, an irresistible and inescapable catastrophe.”

David stood in the center of the hall, clad in blue and white holy flame armor, his entire body surrounded by holy flames like the last blazing flame before dawn.

His brows were furrowed, yet they revealed an unspeakable indomitable spirit and determination.

He slowly raised his right fist, which seemed to contain the power of all things in the universe, and each slight tremor ignited the arcane energy in the surrounding air.

"This is the prelude to a new era." His voice was firm and powerful. "The once high and mighty guardians will gradually retreat into seclusion, while mortals will, from this moment on, take control of their own destiny."

(End of this chapter)