The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 609 War of Ten Thousand Races
The hall fell silent for a moment.

The flames in the fireplace flickered, leaping and burning as if in response to this declaration.

The group exchanged glances: a mixture of boundless hope for the future and an unconcealed unease and solemnity about the unknown challenges ahead.

Lia exhaled softly, stepped forward, and planted the Staff of Life into the ground, weaving a shield with warm golden light.

"We will no longer rely on distant illusions, but must use our own wisdom and courage to lead the new era of the future."

Cynthia sheathed her icy longsword, a cold glint in her eyes. "The dark tide is about to surge, but we will do everything in our power to protect this dawn and prevent any evil from ravaging the continent."

Hill stood at attention, sword in hand. His silver armor reflected the moonlight, and every breath he took seemed to be welcoming an impending fierce storm.

"Let us break free from the shackles of fate with our iron will, and build a bulwark of freedom with our flesh and blood!"

Lucia gazed at the distant, swirling clouds where purple lightning coiled like a giant dragon across the sky. Her tone was resolute: "Though the slumber is near, time will not stand still. Human wisdom and courage will surely become a new beacon, guiding the lost back to the right path."

The storm outside the window grew increasingly fierce.

Striking streaks of lightning flashed across the sky, tearing the Milky Way and stars apart.

Everything seemed to foreshadow a great transformation taking place in the world, and they were the pioneers of a new era, carrying hope and faith.

David slowly closed his eyes, and a vast, ancient power surged into his body from the core of chaos.

He felt the aura of Yog Sothos, both awe-inspiring and alluring yet incredibly dangerous, subtly permeating the deepest recesses of his soul.

This power brings both wisdom and painful struggle, and it attempts to devour the core of his will.

But his holy flames suddenly burned to their peak, like the most intense sparks before dawn, gradually dispelling the darkness in his heart.

Under everyone's gaze, he opened his eyes again, and they shone with a cosmic brilliance and unwavering determination:
"From this moment on, we step into the mortal era!"
There is no illusory rule, no shackles of destiny!
Only our own beliefs, struggles, sacrifices, and victories!

Leah stepped closer to him, placing her palm on his shoulder, channeling energy and encouragement through the life runes: "You are not alone. The will of all of us forms a prairie fire that will illuminate this long night until dawn!"

Cynthia straightened her back and said firmly, word by word, "Even if the forces of darkness are surging, only clarity and perseverance can usher in the true dawn!"

Her cold gaze swept across everyone's face, and her unwavering resolve commanded respect.

Hill surveyed the team; though his comrades had endured hardship, their will had not faltered.

"Let our swords sever the cage, and let all living beings regain their freedom! The era of mortals begins now!"

The crimson sunset slowly sank, staining the sturdy walls of the orc capital city, "Bloodhowl Fortress," red.

Here, the scent of iron and blood permeates every inch of the land, and the rough stones are etched with the blood and glory of countless warriors.

The city remained bustling as orc warriors of various races gathered around the vast arena, eagerly awaiting a gladiatorial spectacle destined to shake the entire continent.

Wearing a blue and white Holy Flame Armor, David looked down from the towering viewing platform at this battle holy land filled with a wild and untamed atmosphere.

He slowly raised his right hand, and a ripple of dark blue arcane energy spread from his fingertips, instantly covering the entire arena.

This intense and hidden chaotic pressure was like an invisible torrent, making the air heavy and suffocating.

The "Chaos Arena" has officially opened.

As if the world had fallen into chaos, the magical runes on the ancient arena awakened one by one, emitting an eerie glow in the twilight, weaving darkness and light into the same space, with countless fragments of stardust shimmering and scattering.

The orc chieftain Karok sat on the massive stone throne in the main hall, his muscles bulging, and with each breath his chest trembled as if struck by a hammer.

His long, silver-gray hair was tousled by the wind, and his amber eyes, burning with intense anger, were fixed on David's location.

The ancestral spirits in the courtyard appeared as phantoms, swirling around like ghosts, infusing this wild tribe with ancient and resilient power.

"David, you have forcibly taken control of our holy land with the power of chaos. This provocation will ignite the primal rage of the orcs!"

Karlock roared, his fists clenched, the ancestral spirits roaring and echoing behind him, merging with the wildness within him.

He stood up, his muscles tense like a tiger ready to pounce, and a violent power erupted from his body, causing ripples in the surrounding air as if it were being torn apart.

However, just as Karlock unleashed his most ferocious roar, a gentle and solemn divine radiance emerged from David's body, like the dawn breaking through the night, instantly dispelling the oppressive gloom.

This divine radiance enveloped the violent energy surging forth from Karok, gradually softening and dissolving it.

A complex mix of emotions suddenly flashed in the depths of his eyes—anger, confusion, and bewilderment intertwined.

“This is the power of redemption.” Lucia stood beside the viewing platform, her silver robes swaying gently in the breeze. “Even the wildest and most savage heart can find its way back to reason and dignity.”

At the edge of the arena, a swirling shadow suddenly rose from the darkness.

A group of werewolves silently infiltrated the camp, their movements swift and agile, their eyes burning with cunning and ruthless cunning.

They attempted a night raid to kill the members of the Witch Riders in an effort to break the stalemate.

However, just as they were about to launch their attack, a dazzling arcane chain shot out from the depths of the shadows, quickly binding and confining them like a net.

The chains released tiny, icy blue runes, each one like a sharp blade slicing through the werewolf's soul, gradually slowing its movements and rendering it powerless to struggle.

Hill wielded his silver longsword, weaving effortlessly through the chains, before suddenly slashing the werewolf totem pole with the spine of his blade—

The large tree stump, which represented the pillar of the wolf clan's spirit, was shattered into dust by his power and scattered in the wind.

"This declares victory in the first battle!" Hill's eyes flashed with a cold, murderous intent, his deep, powerful voice echoing through the night sky. "The Witch Knights will not allow any force to lay a finger on the land we protect!"

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, including orcs and other races, cheering for this moment of determination and power, and preparing them for the complex and perilous new situation to come.

Behind all this, an even bigger vortex is brewing...

At that moment, the sound of an ancient ritual activating came from afar at the base camp. It was an information transmission array generated by Lucia controlling the arcane array.

A sliver of pale moonlight pierced through layers of mist, resonating with the star trail runes and weaving into a dazzling grid. She gazed at the shimmering array: "The war of all races has begun. We must adapt quickly to the changes and establish an order that truly belongs to us with wisdom and courage." Lia stood not far away, her eyes fixed on the faint afterglow of the wolf howls that could be discerned in the dim light.

"Although we won the first battle, it was only the prelude."

The fate of all living beings has been drawn into a vast conflict; what we must protect is not only the earth, but also the new world that all believers in free will yearn for.

Cynthia sheathed her sword and calmly surveyed her surroundings, but she couldn't hide the unease that had been building up between her brows for some time.

"The real challenge is yet to come. We must remain vigilant, because every trap is more deadly than the last."

Hill stood tall, his silver armor reflecting a cold light in the afterglow of the setting sun. "We will become the blade that cuts through shackles, and create a new era for the future with our own will!"

Spiderweb Abyss—this dark and silent ruin of the Dark Elves, like an ancient wound that has slumbered for thousands of years, lurks in the most hidden borderlands of the continent.

A thick haze rolled in slowly like a tide, pressing down on every corner.

The walls were covered in sticky spider silk and corrosive venom, emitting a nauseating stench.

A dim, bluish light shone through the cracks, illuminating the twisted, ancient runes and indistinguishable sacrificial patterns, as if silently whispering secrets lost to time.

David and his group stepped deep into the passageway, each step causing the air to vibrate and echo.

He was extremely vigilant, yet he could still feel an invisible darkness creeping silently into the depths of his soul. The suffocating unease that gnawed at him made him furrow his brow slightly.

He was clad in blue and white holy flame armor, which emitted a faint glow in the shadows, like a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding everyone forward.

“Attention,” Lia said, raising her staff. A frost rune appeared in her palm and slowly spread, encircling the surrounding walls and ground, freezing the corrosive venom into brittle crystals.

"This corrupting force is extremely dangerous; it not only erodes the body but also shackles the mind."

The runes were cold and clear, reflecting her calm and resolute face.

Her expression was solemn, but her fingers were steady and unshaky, and each spell she cast was precise and effective.

Cynthia followed closely behind, her silver sword hanging at her side, serene like a soul yet containing a sharp killing intent.

"I can feel a strong resentment surging within the Shadow Crystal," she whispered, closing her eyes and concentrating her mind to pinpoint the crystal's location through soul resonance.

The chilling atmosphere in the air suddenly rose into layers of mist, making the passageway even more oppressive.

David's steps were steady; he felt the chaotic core within him intertwined with that dark power—

It was a fragment of the most dangerous and cunning remnant consciousness of the ancient god Yog-Sothoth, which attempted to control his will through mental infiltration.

Pain flashed across his face, but his hands clenched into fists, and holy flames suddenly rose from his body, burning away the shadows and flames that were gradually spreading in his heart.

He muttered to himself, "We cannot let it succeed... We must purify this abyss with the power of redemption."

As the group approached the end of the passageway, a huge, dark blue crystal stood in the center, its surface faintly shimmering with an eerie light that resembled the pulse of blood.

A torrent of resentment surged from within, forming distorted ripples in the space, occasionally emitting low, mournful cries that sent chills down one's spine.

“That is the ‘Heart of Shadows’…” Lucia whispered, her silver eyes sparkling with wisdom. “It seals away fragments of the Dark Godhood, and is the true source of the curse on this ruin.”

Leah pointed her staff at the crystal, "Seal it with frost. We must stop the spread of resentment, otherwise it will not only devour us, but may also cause an even greater disaster!"

She silently chanted a spell, and a chill suddenly descended upon the surroundings, freezing the air itself. The giant crystal was gradually enveloped in thick frost.

However, this was only a temporary restraint—the twisted and evil energy hidden within was still stirring.

Cynthia stood quietly to the side, lightly touching the ground with the tip of her sword. Ripples of soul resonance spread outwards, while simultaneously probing the core of the evil fluctuations.

"We must strike the core precisely, otherwise these fragments will backfire on anything that tries to get close!"

David gazed at the enormous crystal, covered in frost yet still gleaming with a deep blue light. He slowly walked forward, spreading his palms and pouring out the divine power of redemption from within him.

This power is pure and warm, yet it possesses the ability to penetrate all the shackles of darkness and evil.

When his palm touched the frozen surface, a tremor was accompanied by an eruption of intense holy flames, and the frozen cracks instantly shimmered with a strange interplay of brilliant golden light and azure flames.

"It has begun." Hill gripped his sword to his chest, his eyes flashing with fierce fighting spirit as he intently scanned his surroundings, alert for any possible surprise attacks.

"Anyone who attempts to sabotage the purification will be met with an iron fist!"

Suddenly, a muffled sound was heard, and ripples of shock emanated from the frozen crack.

A series of sharp, piercing sounds, yet echoing with an ancient, low growl, exploded out. Then, a large amount of unstable energy that was bound within it annihilated and rebounded, forming a vast torrent of resentment that violently erupted out!

Space was torn into fragments, and countless tiny, blood-like patterns spread and intertwined in the void, releasing a terrifying and malevolent aura amidst the billowing clouds and smoke.

Like a raging sea crashing against the shore, or like a thunderclap tearing through the dawn sky—utterly terrifying!
But at that moment, David’s eyes blazed with holy fire, and his whole body radiated a divine redemption that was surrounded by stars.

He shouted, "Now! Focus all your energy into the core!"

Golden flames, accompanied by a pure arcane vortex, gathered in his palm like falling stars, gradually dispelling and engulfing all the negative black mist.

Meanwhile, the huge, dark blue crystal at the center began to violently pulsate and deform!
It gradually transformed into a small entity that leaped and pulsated with a lifelike rhythm, its entire body a dark purple with swirling patterns—the legendary "Heart of Shadows"!
Its pulse beats rhythmically, as if it were alive, constantly releasing a faint, eerie afterglow. It seems to be fraught with danger, yet it also contains some unsolved, forbidden truth...

Everyone held their breath, not relaxing for a moment. David clenched his fist and poured his concentrated divine redemption into the fragment, hoping to wash away the bloodshed and hatred accumulated over a thousand years. Countless howls of the underworld vanished under the vast universe...

Lucia sighed softly: "Many secrets, but this is only the beginning... The real test has just begun."

Lia's eyes were resolute: "We will not back down. Although this road is difficult and dangerous, as long as our faith is not extinguished and hope remains, we will see the dawn."

Cynthia sheathed her sword, gazing into the dark, boundless abyss before her. "A guardian must never allow fear and despair to take hold of their heart, or they will lose themselves and become the next 'Shadowheart'..."

(End of this chapter)