The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 610 The First Appearance of Three Hearts
Hill gripped his longsword tightly, surveying the decaying labyrinth woven from spiderwebs around him.

"We have taken a crucial step, but a greater crisis is looming, and everyone must be prepared to face the unknown fate that is about to befall us..."

As dusk settled and the last rays of sunlight still lingered on the horizon, the Witch Knights entered this forest shrouded in ancient legends—the sacred land of the Elves.

Here, a faint green light shines through the lush green leaves, as if the trees are absorbing the essence of heaven and earth day and night.

A gentle breeze rustles through the woods, carrying the natural scent of flowers, grass, and earth, and every leaf seems to whisper ancient secrets.

The giant tree, revered by the tribe as the "Mother Tree of Life," stands majestically in the heart of the forest.

Its roots intertwine and spread out like a giant net, deeply embedded in the earth, with a pale green sheen entwined around the surface of its branches.

The entire tree exudes a calm and sacred aura, like Mother Earth protecting this forest and its guardians.

However, it also resolutely and coldly rejects external interference and domination.

Amidst the thick, towering branches and leaves, a hidden barrier surrounds it, causing any attempt to approach to encounter strong resistance.

David walked slowly toward the Mother Tree of Life, his gaze firm and profound.

The blue and white Holy Flame Armor shimmered with a fierce glow under the afterglow of the setting sun.

He reached out and gently touched the rough, weathered bark. A strange tremor spread through his body—an ancient rhythm woven from the flow of millennia-old life force and the power of nature.

Suddenly, he felt the roots wrap around him like invisible tentacles, not only binding his body but also penetrating deep into his soul.

His brows furrowed, and a look of pain and struggle appeared on his face—those entanglements took him back in time to the eve of the destruction of the ancient wizarding civilization.

A series of visions surged forth like a tidal wave: towering city walls collapsed with a deafening roar, flames engulfed the sky, terrifying cracks appeared in the heavens, and countless souls wailed and struggled...

That was the terrifying and desperate tidal wave before destruction, a scar that has remained indelible for thousands of years, branded into the void.

“You must face the past to win the future.” A gentle and comforting voice came from behind. It was Aliya—dressed in a silver-white robe, her gaze gentle yet firm. She slowly approached and gently stroked David’s shoulder with her fingers.

“As a saint, I have communicated with the Mother Tree of Life, and it has seen the price and effort you paid to purify the abyss.”

A faint fragrance filled the air, the sacred aura stirred by the awakening of Alia's bloodline, which seemed to invigorate every plant in the forest and send a warm response to the sleeping giant tree.

Lucia and Hill stood on either side, solemnly watching the entire process, their silent respect for the trial evident in their expressions. Cynthia, on the other hand, vigilantly scanned her surroundings, not allowing any potential threats to approach.

Gradually, under everyone's gaze, the entangled forces that had been entangled within the massive root system began to loosen.

A small, translucent crystal, shaped like a jade fruit, slowly solidified among the branches and leaves.

This is the legendary "Heart of Life"—a vital entity symbolizing the spiritual core and hope of rebirth of the Elven race. Its birth signifies new life, but at an extremely high cost: half of its branches and leaves wither and decay due to energy transfer, like fallen leaves covering the soil at a winter's dusk.

Lia looked at the withered and decaying parts, her brows furrowed but her eyes resolute. "Sacrifice is also part of protection; this precisely reflects the choice and responsibility under free will."

David brushed the fine beads of sweat from his forehead, gently stroked the jade fruit again, and said softly, "This is a gift to us, and also a warning. I will remember and protect this covenant."

Aliya turned to face the crowd, her eyes filled with tears but her smile warm. "We once lost our freedom because of fear and constraints, but today, we have gained a new path through courage and sacrifice."

This 'Heart of Life' is not only a barrier, but also a bridge that will guide us into the future.

As dusk faded, a soft golden ray of sunlight pierced through the trees, falling upon them and illuminating the entire forest.

This dawn seemed to echo their heartfelt vows: no matter how difficult the obstacles, they would use their wisdom and courage to create a new era of common prosperity and freedom for all races!
Hill stood at attention, sword in hand, his silver armor gleaming, steady and resolute. "Let us protect this peace with our iron will and defend our future with our blood!"

Cynthia sheathed her sword, its cold gleam still sharp and piercing. "The real test has only just begun. We cannot afford to relax in the slightest; every step is a matter of life and death."

Lucia gazed at the rising stars in the distant sky, her voice soft yet resolute, "Though order may be chaotic, wisdom will guide the lost back home."
Even a faint hope can become a spark that illuminates the darkness.

The bright moonlight cascaded down like a silver waterfall over the ancient and solemn Holy See, its towering spires piercing the night sky, magnificent and sacred.

However, this former symbol of faith and authority is now shrouded in deep darkness.

The church echoed with a low, hoarse chanting, a mixture of roars and wails, like the screams of twisted souls from the depths of hell, sending chills down one's spine.

Standing in the center of the altar was the Holy Light Pope, who had transformed into a seraphim.

He was clad in brilliant golden armor, and his enormous, snow-white wings spread out like flames soaring into the sky, each feather shimmering with a dazzling light like divine flames.

His face was solemn yet filled with fanaticism and madness, and his eyes shone with a divine radiance as intense and scorching as the sun.

The air was torn apart by his aura, creating ripples as if all the light in the world had gathered there and then transformed into destructive power.

"You mortals, how dare you think you can shake the will of the gods!" The Pope's voice boomed like thunder. "Tonight, I will use the spear of divine punishment to cleanse you of all your rebellion and blasphemy! Let this world be filled with the flames of purification!"

Before he finished speaking, he slowly raised his hands, and a thick, ancient scroll of the Holy Scripture of Light floated up from behind the altar.

Runic flames surrounded the tome, burning and leaping like living things.

Immediately, a massive, dazzlingly brilliant forbidden spell array, interwoven with blinding gold and silver hues, appeared above the altar.
That was the core array of the legendary ultimate forbidden spell, "Spear of Divine Punishment," whose power was enough to instantly annihilate all darkness and crush any force of resistance.

David stood opposite the altar, his entire body shimmering with blue and white holy flame armor, his chaotic core churning excitedly, as if it were carrying the condensation of endless stars.

He clenched his fists, radiating an overwhelming aura that fiercely confronted the Pope's incomparably powerful divine punitive energy.

He stared ahead, every muscle tense, every breath steady and heavy, showing no sign of backing down even in the face of devastating blows. "I will not allow you to impose your will on the world with false pretenses!" David declared in a deep voice. "The Witch Knights and all of us who hold firm to our beliefs will break through your tyranny with true free will!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air instantly solidified into a thick barrier.

Lucia, Lia, Cynthia, and Annie followed closely behind, each unleashing their strongest arcane and magical powers, converging their spirits into an unbreakable shield to resist the immense, epic forbidden spell with the power of the Wizard Knights.

Lucia waved the sleeve of her robe, and a vortex of arcane starlight swirled from all around, canceling out the fluctuations of the forbidden spell.
Lia raised the Life Rune Staff, channeling life energy to continuously infuse the shield;

Cynthia coldly wielded her icy sword energy, gradually freezing and disintegrating the enemy's attacks;

A sly smile flashed across Anne's face as she cast the Soul Eater Curse—an ancient curse capable of stripping away the essence of the soul and dismantling the target's mental structure to its very core—which quietly spread through the shadows.

The conflict reached its peak—a massive spear-shaped energy, interwoven with gold and silver and adorned with countless swirling runes, shot straight down from the sky towards David.

However, his entire body's blue and white chaotic core erupted to its limit, and he used his iron will to withstand the impact.

In an instant, the space trembled and exploded with sounds of explosions, and countless fragments and dust flew up and down, just like the most violent and magnificent storm erupting between heaven and earth!

At that moment, Anne seized the opportunity to break through the enemy's defenses. She stared at the Pope's true form within the massive magic circle that imprisoned him high above, and activated the Soul-Devouring Curse with all her might.

The black shadow spread rapidly like a spider web, attaching itself to the enemy's body in the blink of an eye, constantly stripping away the hidden and long-hidden divine power within him, gradually causing him to lose his ability to protect and retaliate.

"The storm has come, and we will surely wash away the dust!" Lia shouted, a dazzling light bursting from the tip of her Life Rune Staff, instilling her teammates with unwavering courage and indomitable determination.

Hill swung her sword, slicing through several magically blocked paths under the glow of the azure blade, creating an opening for the team.

Meanwhile, Lucia guided the Arcane Star Orbit array, constantly dismantling and disrupting the enemy's defensive barriers, striking every key point precisely as she moved like a dragon!

The battle reached its climax: lightning flashed and thunder roared, the earth trembled and howled, and endless sparks burst into the air, making the entire space like a furnace for forging destiny!
Finally, under the combined and continuous onslaught of everyone, the evil source that had been entrenched deep within for thousands of years began to collapse and dissolve. Its internal structure twisted and crumbled, and a dense, dark vortex suddenly exploded!
The Pope screamed in agony, his body began to disintegrate violently, his once magnificent golden robes gradually dimmed and faded, and his roars revealed a chilling despair:

"The...the gods will not tolerate...the birth of false...false gods! You will all...fall into the eternal abyss!"

Before he finished speaking, his entire body shattered and dissipated, leaving only a small, slightly pulsating crystal with flowing golden and purple patterns floating in mid-air—the legendary "Heart of Light"!
David slowly approached and gently extended his hands toward it. This crystal contained immense potential for divine reversal, and was an important symbol of the Witch Knights' fight against evil forces, as well as the key to opening a new chapter in the future war.

His gaze remained unwavering:
"We have gained true hope of our own. This war is far from over, but we will not be afraid, because our faith has been forged into steel."

Lia's gentle laughter, accompanied by the warm glow of the setting sun, illuminated everyone's faces: "This is the dawn bought with blood and tears, our lighthouse, guiding the lost to freedom."

Hill responded coolly: "The future still holds many obstacles, but as long as we stand united, nothing can stop us!"

Cynthia sheathed her icy longsword, but remained on guard. "Victory is just the beginning. We must always be prepared to face an even greater wave of darkness."

David sat on the stone platform, three crystal-clear beads gently suspended in his hands.

The shadowy heart, a tapestry of dark blue and murky purple, throbbed with an uneasy rhythm, as if it were alive.

The Heart of Light, intertwined with gold and purple and radiating a holy glow, would sometimes violently erupt with intense heat and scorching flames;
And the heart of life, with its emerald green hue and vibrant pulse, pulsates gently, rising and falling slightly like breathing.

But these three crystals, representing completely different powers and intertwined destinies, unexpectedly emitted an unprecedentedly strong repulsion in David's palm.

His forehead was furrowed, his brows were sunken, and his eyes were faintly flushed with pain.

Sweat dripped from his forehead. He clenched his fists to steady himself, but felt an invisible force pounding against his chest like a raging wave. Each pulse felt like a thunderous explosion within his body.

“They…they cannot coexist…” His voice was low and suppressed. “Shadows corrode life energy, while light burns chaos…I must endure this irreconcilable tear!”

In a short time, streaks of golden blood spread rapidly from his body, like fine cracks cutting through his skin, but no blood flowed. Instead, they shone brightly with sparks of life and holy flames intertwined.

He gritted his teeth, trying his best to suppress the surging, violent energy within him; the pain felt like it was tearing him to pieces.

Liliana hurried through the camp, her long silver-gray hair cascading over her shoulders, her plain white dress fluttering in the night breeze.

Her expression was solemn and focused, her emerald green eyes gleaming with wisdom, as if piercing through the abyss to see into the mists of the future.

“David, if this continues, you will eventually be torn to nothingness by the three forces.” Her voice was calm but firm. “Only by finding the roots of the ‘World Tree’, concentrating and refining them, and injecting them into your body can you act as a neutralizer to balance the conflict between the three.”

Upon hearing this, everyone gathered around.

Anxiety flashed across Lucia's brow as she bit her lower lip. "Hidden within the Eternal Forest is the core of ancient natural power. It is the source of the Mother Tree of Life and the only possible source to alleviate the instability of energy within you."

Hill frowned, gripped his sword hilt tightly, and nodded slowly: "Time is of the essence. We must set off immediately, or the consequences will be unbearable."

Cynthia gently placed the scabbard aside, her eyes solemn and resolute: "The road ahead is still fraught with danger, but this is our only hope. We cannot hesitate!"

The camp sprang into action instantly, with warriors and shamans of all races quickly preparing for battle.

Under the moonlight, everyone's face was filled with a complex mix of determination and anxiety.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of trees and vegetables as we were about to enter the ancient forest, along with a faint, damp, earthy fragrance.

Accompanied by the occasional distant howls of wild beasts and the quiet chirping of insects, it was as if all things in heaven and earth were holding their breath and watching this new chapter that was about to unfold.

The group finally stepped onto the edge of the Eternal Forest, where the air instantly became calm and heavy. Every step they took was on the soft moss-covered, winding forest path, causing a soft rustling sound that was almost swallowed up by the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves.

(End of this chapter)