The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 628 The Truth About Becoming a God
Hill gently brushed away the surface dust, carefully unfolded the parchment, and lines of text emerged from the darkness like secrets that had slumbered for a thousand years.

He frowned and concentrated, using his spiritual senses to carefully discern the truth behind each symbol:

"...Sothos's remains... require activation with Chaos Divinity... require the flesh and blood of a god as the key... and the god himself is the twenty-seventh candidate in the purification process..."

This information struck Hill like a thunderbolt, sending a chill down his spine.

He suddenly stopped moving, his breathing becoming slightly rapid.

The broken text before us seems to reveal a shocking and extremely dangerous truth.

Those beings in the universe who are considered to have "become gods" are actually just tools or nodes in a larger purification plan.

David, however, may be one of them, marked as candidate number 27. From the moment he stepped into the abyss, everything about him was destined to become a part of a grand machine.

The sound of wind echoed through the abyss, intertwining with the faint, decaying fluctuations emanating from afar, making the place appear even more desolate and lifeless, yet irresistibly filled with a sense of unknown threat.

Hill's eyes turned cold. He folded the logbook and carefully put it into his magical protective bag.

"If this news gets out, it will not only shake people's morale, but may also trigger a new wave of panic."

He muttered to himself, "But the truth will have to be faced sooner or later, otherwise the dark forces of the Eternal Night Council will only become more rampant."

Meanwhile, in a distant divine kingdom's sanctuary for healing, David, still unconscious, drifts into a hazy dream.

He seemed to have returned to the past, and fragments of memory slowly surfaced: back then, he had ventured alone into the heart of the abyss and been marked by an unknown force. That mark seemed to have nailed his fate firmly to some irreversible cycle of reincarnation.

In his dream, the void twisted and changed unpredictably, with chains of runes encircling it, binding his soul like chains and making him feel an unprecedented suffocating pressure.

But at the same time, a faint flame of will burned within it, an indomitable cry for freedom and against the shackles of fate.

Before he woke up, he vaguely heard a voice echoing in his ears for three days: "You are the 27th candidate in the purification process. You must complete your mission, no matter the cost..."

Heavy, oppressive, yet strangely familiar, the voice haunted his mind like a ghost, causing him to oscillate between painful struggle and unwavering resolve.

That unforgettable scene also foreshadowed the revelation of more hidden darkness. Reality is far more complex and chilling than we imagine!
Liliana stood guard by the bedside. She saw that the commander's brows were furrowed, the veins on his forehead were bulging, and although his breathing was steady, it was extremely heavy.

She gripped her staff, channeling a faint arcane warmth into it, while softly chanting prayers to weave a mental protective net for David, shielding him from the erosion and harm of the vicious storm of consciousness.

The room was filled with the dim, flickering candlelight, which, under the heavy curtains, made it appear particularly solemn and dignified.

Several precious books, arcane instruments, and a few remnants of divine artifacts were placed to the side.

As important tools for aiding healing, they constantly emit a faint glow, providing the commander with a continuous stream of energy support.

Upon arriving at the Sanctuary of Healing, Hill immediately reported his findings to Liliana: "These logs not only reveal the activation mechanism of the Sothos remains, but also indicate that the secret behind David's identity is extremely dangerous."

“It seems we are facing not only external enemies,” Liliana sighed, “but also the inescapable shackles of fate, which makes the path to redemption even more thorny.”

The two looked at each other and understood without words that they would have to shoulder a heavier responsibility, not only to protect a sleeping king, but also to face the shocking mystery hidden in the torrent of history and the new crisis that could erupt at any time!

At this moment, the holographic star map slowly rotated, and the multi-dimensional space nodes marked on it flickered.

Dotted lines connect the vast network center, bringing together and analyzing the dynamics of various forces and intelligence networks.

The shadow of the Eternal Night Council looms over its most secret areas, as dangerous and menacing as a tiger lurking in wait for its prey to strike...

The council convened another emergency meeting. Representatives from all sides sat around the table, their faces serious. Some clasped their hands, some had tears in their eyes, and some gritted their teeth.

The experts present engaged in a lively discussion about the newly received deciphered information and how to deal with potential risks:

"If the truth is revealed, it will shake the very foundation of faith throughout the world. We must ensure that the information is kept strictly confidential!" The elder priest said firmly and resolutely. "At the same time, we should strengthen patrol and defense measures and accelerate the recovery of David's mental state, so that his power can become our greatest shield."

The young female mage calmly analyzed: "We need more clues to find out the specific action plan of the Eternal Night Council; otherwise, acting rashly will only give the enemy an opportunity."

Hill put down the report and stared intently at the entire room: "I have dispatched my most trusted shamans to conduct an in-depth investigation. This mission is extremely dangerous, but only by facing the darkness can we truly seize the initiative!"

Anne sat upright at the ancient stone table, the heavy "Scripture of Light" open before her, its yellowed parchment pages slightly curled, vaguely revealing a long-hidden mysterious power.

Her fingertips gently traced the page, and the dense, complex, and difficult-to-understand characters and runes seemed to pulsate with life under the dim candlelight.

With an unyielding flame of seeking the truth burning in her eyes, she knew that this was not just a sacred text, but a history that had been deliberately buried, distorted, and even manipulated.

And she is standing at a crucial juncture in opening this long-sealed door.

“The Pope… he is not the pure messenger we imagined,” Anne murmured to herself, her voice filled with undisguised shock and pain.

Everyone sat around, listening intently.

Liliana gripped her wand tightly, her brow furrowed.
Hill stared intently at the pages of the book, the tip of his sword lightly touching the ground as if making a vow;
The other representatives' faces were filled with a mixture of confusion, anger, and complex emotions.

As the decryption deepens, hidden chapters gradually emerge:

“The Holy Light Pope is one of the core implementers of the Wizarding Civilization’s ‘Sowing Plan’,” Anne read slowly. “This plan was originally intended to select qualified gods in order to maintain cosmic order.”

However, its true purpose is far from being as pure as it appears.

He deliberately instigated a divine war, eliminating all those who did not meet the standards in order to purify their bloodlines and spiritual genes.

The air suddenly became heavy, like the silent eve of a long-suppressed atmosphere before an explosion.

Some delegates involuntarily lowered their heads and remained silent, some gritted their teeth, and some had tears welling up in their eyes, but no one dared to break the solemn atmosphere.

“Even more shocking,” Anne turned to a page with hidden runes, “was the path to godhood that the Pope promoted and taught to his followers, the so-called ‘Three Hearts in One.’”

Essentially, it activates the 'anchor chain,' an ancient forbidden mechanism that permanently binds an individual's soul to the world's anchor, achieving dual control over their mind and body. Upon hearing this, whispers suddenly spread throughout the hall, only to be suppressed in an instant by Liliana waving her staff to signal silence.

"This is a message that completely overturns the very foundation of our faith!"

If the truth were to be revealed, it would be tantamount to destroying the entire authority of the church and the very foundation upon which countless lives depend!

Hill gripped his sword tighter and said coldly, "There must be a deeper conspiracy behind these secrets!"

Is the Eternal Night Council using this mechanism to manipulate the fate of multiple realms?
We must find that legendary underground observatory, said to hold the most crucial intelligence from before the civilization's destruction!

No sooner had he finished speaking than a servant rushed in with news: "Your Honor, an ancient entrance to the underground ruins of the church has been discovered, and preliminary investigations suggest it connects to the core area of ​​the observatory."

The entire audience erupted in uproar, as if struck by lightning.

Some representatives turned pale instantly, while others revealed resolute smiles. "It seems we are groping for the truth in the right direction!" Hill's eyes shone brightly, now filled with even greater determination.

The flickering lights in the council chamber sculpted each face with exceptional clarity.

Some people clenched their fists so tightly that their knuckles turned white, while others lowered their heads in deep thought, lost in painful memories.

All the expressions intertwined form a true reflection of humanity at the eye of the storm: wavering faith, heavy responsibilities, and undying hope...

Meanwhile, deep underground, a church underground observation station, sealed for a thousand years, stands silently.

The massive stone gate was covered with strange runes, and its connection to the outside world was only through a crack through which a dim light shone.

The walls are adorned with tattered murals depicting past glories, yet also subtly revealing omens of impending doom and the structure of a massive, mysterious magic array.

Through the cracks, one can glimpse the complex internal mechanical devices and intricate energy coils, where a flow of information that seems to transcend the constraints of time and space is quietly surging.

Many priests and mages were already on high alert on the outskirts, waiting for orders to delve deeper and decode the mystery, unveiling the final enigma of the dark veil!
Amidst the turbulent winds and clouds, a resolute oath once again resounded in the council chamber of the tower:

"No matter the cost, we will pursue all remaining truths and restore the true destiny of wizarding civilization! We will protect the future and prevent historical tragedies from repeating themselves!"

David slowly opened his eyes, his gaze gradually clearing from its daze. He was wearing crimson gold armor, and embers of the sacred fire still lingered on his chest as it rose and fell, but his eyes remained as firm as ever.

Beside them, Hill and Liliana stood guard.

Hill gripped his longsword, its blade reflecting the dim candlelight, his brow furrowed with a heavy and resolute expression. Liliana, on the other hand, tightened her wand, her expression cold yet revealing an unconcealable worry.

Through the broken archway, one can vaguely see an ancient path covered with thorns and vines, a place long untouched.

“Commander…” Hill called softly, leaning forward slightly and carefully lifting David’s still weak and pale shoulders. “We have found the entrance to the observation station, and everything is ready. We await your instructions.”

David took a deep breath and concentrated his remaining strength in his palm. The holy flame reignited, as warm and intense as the rising sun.

He slowly straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the ancient walls around him, weathered by time yet still standing strong, carved with mottled and profound runes, each one seemingly containing endless secrets.

"Let's set off." His voice was deep, yet it struck everyone's hearts like a hammer blow, instantly invigorating them.

Without the slightest hesitation, the team, led by Hill, stepped into the dark and narrow underground passage.

The torches on the stone wall were lit, and gusts of cool wind swept through the deathly silence, intertwining with their breathing to create a tense rhythm.

Spiderwebs swayed in the corners, and thick layers of dust and gravel covered some places, indicating that this place had been sparsely populated since ancient times.

At the end of the passage, a huge arched doorway stood in the darkness, forged from obsidian, its surface inscribed with complex runes that shone with a cold, eerie blue light, like the pulse of blood.

Liliana gently stroked the door frame and sighed softly, "This is the door to one of the most crucial secret chambers left behind by the wizarding civilization—the underground observatory."

"Let me do it." David stretched out his hands and poured the holy fire surging in his palms into the runic network inside the door. The cold symbols then came to life, spinning and shining like stars reviving.

In an instant, the gate burst open, and a powerful surge of spatial energy rushed out, causing everyone to involuntarily retreat, yet also bringing an unprecedented sense of awe.

Stepping inside, you'll find a large, complex, and futuristic circular hall surrounded by intricate and futuristic installations.

The ceiling of the hall soars like a dome, with star patterns formed by countless luminous crystals. At its center floats a huge silver-blue crystal ball, and holographic projections constantly change, showing the outlines of multi-dimensional spatial nodes and markings of many unknown and secret areas.

Hill stared at the flowing data on the surface of the crystal ball. "This is an important instrument used by the wizarding civilization to monitor the operation of the world link and the interweaving of multiple dimensions."

David stepped to the central control panel, lightly touching the various precision control knobs as he uttered the activation incantation.

A melodious arcane wave rippled outwards, and the holographic star map instantly expanded to cover the entire hall, making every detail clearly visible: the fractured continent, the time rift, the spatial node, and the most astonishing scene.

A massive device, constructed from green fluorescent chains and featuring a huge anchor-shaped totem in its center, has appeared and is now emitting eerie energy pulses.

As the holographic imagery was explored further, a blurry yet gradually emerging video data fragment appeared.

It was an image pieced together from fragments of dried-up consciousness: after Sothos's body was reduced to countless fragments, his consciousness split into multiple independent personalities, the most dangerous of which was an existence called "Inducement Personality".

He continuously wrote and disseminated a taboo book called "The Book of Becoming a God," guiding those who had not yet awakened to become so-called "gods" through extreme rituals. In essence, it served as a key node in the world's purification process.

In order to activate the core of that massive anchor chain and supply power, all individual souls would eventually converge there, where they would be permanently bound and firmly controlled.

The news struck the depths of everyone's soul like a thunderbolt. Whether it was the Witch Knight General or the representatives of various tribes, everyone's face changed drastically. Some had veins bulging on their foreheads, some had trembling lips as if they wanted to speak but could not, and some even closed their eyes tightly to endure the turmoil in their hearts.

A sense of oppression filled the hall, as if an invisible behemoth was lurking all around, its silent roar threatening everyone's mental defenses.

Hill gripped the hilt of his blood-stained longsword, the cold metallic touch seemingly giving him boundless power.

(End of this chapter)