The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 631 The New Era of Investiture of the Gods
The air was filled with the aura of arcane magic intertwined with bloodline, a testament to unwavering resolve and expectation forged through countless trials and tribulations.

The End Corridor is carved from massive stones into the form of a solemn and majestic altar, inlaid with ancient runes that extend like veins throughout the four directions.

At this moment, under the gentle caress of the breeze, they emit a faint bluish-gray glow, intertwining with the dawn to create a magnificent picture.

David stood in the center of the altar. He raised his head, and his eyes, which had once held the weight of life and death and the entanglement of fate, were as clear and bright as the stars.

He spoke slowly, each word striking the hearts of the crowd like a hammer blow:
“From this day forward,” his voice was deep yet resounding, each word shaking the air, “the authority of the gods will be permanently sealed within the world’s anchor!”

Before the words were finished, the entire room fell silent, yet an indescribable shock and awe swept through.

The earth seemed to fall silent as well, and countless ancient taboos were awakened by this declaration, only to gradually subside with the passage of time.

“No civilization should ever again tread the path to godhood,” he said. “We once pursued power and authority, believing that only the extraordinary could protect the world.”

But now we understand that what truly deserves protection is the will of ordinary people, freedom, and the future.

At this moment, a stream of dark blue energy surged from his palm, flowing like a river into the ground below the altar.

The new anchor base was forged from the Blood Demon Core and fragments of the Chaos Core. The base gleamed, but upon closer inspection, it sent a chill down one's spine.

This place embodies the most primal and dangerous forces, yet it is also a new starting point for the hopes of all living beings.

Hill stood solemnly to one side, gripping his blood-stained longsword tightly; at that moment, the light reflected from the blade seemed to have become even purer.

“Commander-in-Chief,” his voice was deep and respectful, “your decision will lead us into a new era.”

Liliana gripped her wand lightly, her eyes flashing with complex emotions—awe, relief, and endless worry.

"This path is full of unknowns, but we will do everything in our power to protect this mortal will."

As the last sentence fell, the entire audience fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.

This applause carries the power to cleanse the soul, as well as an undying hope for the future and a resolute vow.

The runes on the altar suddenly burst forth with stunning blue-purple light, and countless energy lines radiated out from the base, spreading across the entire End Corridor like twinkling stars.

Those god-level beings were forced into deep slumber, their enormous divine bodies and presence receding like the tide, leaving only faint aftertastes lingering in space.

The atmosphere on site suddenly became extremely tense, and everyone felt that an unprecedented transformation was taking place: this was an important moment when the age of gods was coming to an end and the era of mortals was about to rise, and it was also the most urgent moment before all life ushered in a new chapter!
Clouds rolled across the sky, and a golden ray of sunlight pierced the heavens, illuminating the entire End Corridor with dazzling brilliance.

The wind blew through the cracks in the stone pillars, causing the sleeves of their robes to flutter, further stirring the fighting spirit and beliefs of the crowd.

An irresistible aura of a new era permeated every inch of the space, making all who witnessed the scene feel their chests rise high, and they couldn't help but take a deep breath, taking in all that excitement!
David closed his eyes slightly. He knew that this road was destined to be full of thorns, but as long as their faith remained, no matter how cruel fate was, it could not stop them from protecting their homeland and their freedom!
"May every mortal write their own legend in this new era!" His voice resounded through the heavens and earth once again, a steadfast and fervent promise to the future, and a deepest blessing for countless lives!

David slowly stood in front of the new anchor base, a colossal structure formed by the fusion of the Blood Demon Core and fragments of the Chaos Core, radiating a faint crimson and deep blue-gray glow.

The air was filled with intense arcane energy fluctuations and the lingering aftertaste of boiling flames; each pulse seemed to foreshadow an epic, ultimate transformation.

He wore crimson gold armor, but now the armor no longer shone brightly. Instead, it revealed a mottled, grayish-white, keratinous texture, as heavy and resilient as an ancient tree that had weathered a hundred years of wind and frost.

The keratin layer slowly peeled away, revealing his body through the cracks. He was old and tired, his skin dry as a cracked desert, yet still as tough as iron.

His breathing was heavy and steady, each breath seemingly bringing endless pain, yet also boundless strength.

His left eye was slightly closed, and when he slowly opened it, a burst of intense starlight erupted instantly. It was the "Eye of Law Observation" that contained the entire trajectory of the laws of the star ring. It reflected the myriad phenomena of the universe in a magnificent way, yet it was also deep and cold, like an immortal god looking down on the cycle of fate of all living beings.

Liliana knelt beside him, her hands gently resting on David's shoulders, a single, glistening tear sliding down her cheek.

Her voice trembled but remained firm: "Commander... you gave up eternity... stripped away most of your divinity and injected it into the World Anchor, leaving you with only the strength of a seventh-ring mage."

David opened his tired but steely eyes and replied softly, "To protect all living beings, I must relinquish those transcendences and eternities."

Only in this way can I truly become a mortal being.

The surrounding shamans stood solemnly, clad in armor, gripping their blades, their gazes utterly reverent.

As the array of runes embedded in the stone wall emitted a cold, eerie blue light, a series of sealing spells gradually activated, enveloping the new anchor base in a powerful arcane barrier.

Liliana pointed her wand at the central control panel and began activating the Anchor Chain Lockdown procedure.

A series of complex runes flowed from her fingertips, like silver streams, drawing elegant arcs in the air.

These runes gradually intertwine to form a vast energy network, firmly binding the divine fragments injected into the World Anchor, preventing it from activating any more latent chaotic power.

But as the program started, the forbidden power within the embers seemed to sense the threat, and frequent shockwaves emanated from it, causing strange ripples to spread throughout the underground hall.

The forbidden patterns on the mural flicker in and out, like the roar of a dark beast, exerting invisible pressure to test the mental defenses of every guardian.

Hill gripped his longsword tightly, his muscles taut like a string.

He gazed at David's figure, weathered by time yet still unyielding, and said in a deep voice, "Commander, no matter how treacherous the road ahead, we will follow you through thick and thin!"

The delegates' faces were filled with strong determination, yet also with hidden worries.

Some people frowned, some bit their lips and held back tears, and others silently gazed at the dark clouds in the distance, wondering what the future held.

But at this moment, they united into an unshakeable force, fighting alongside David to fight for the last hope for this shattered world!
As the final sealing rune was completed, the binding network on the hologram gradually stabilized. Countless shimmering chain-like structures rotated around the center of the base, firmly binding all the soul fragments within. A myriad of data streams converged and jumped, weaving a vast net that even the boundless universe could not tear, completely suppressing the chaotic consciousness!
However, at that very moment, an unfathomable, chilling aura surged from the depths of the secret box, sweeping through every corner of the hall like an unparalleled demonic tide.

This aura seemed to devour all life and will in the world, making it hard to breathe, but it was firmly blocked by the Holy Flame Shield that David had condensed with his last remaining strength.

He closed his eyes with difficulty, sensing the changes within his body. "This is the final blow, the last frantic counterattack of Sothos's remnant body against free will!"

Outside, a storm raged, and the earth trembled continuously.

A gust of cold wind swept through the cracks in the dilapidated stone pillars, stirring up dust, as if time itself had begun to collapse and distort.

In the dark patterns projected by those broken murals, an ancient prophecy is slowly emerging: the mortal era has begun, but the darkest hour has only just begun...

Beneath the lotus-shaped totem, the Blood Demon Crystal Core, sealed for many years, floats silently, its red pulses accompanied by arcane vibrations, constantly probing the weaknesses at the edge of the barrier.

However, at this moment, it was completely encased in a protective grid built with the lives of the most outstanding mages of the wizarding civilization, leaving no possibility of leakage.

Hill walked up to David, his eyes burning with passion. "Perhaps we have lost our former divine power, but we have won dignity and a future."

“That’s right,” the swordsman’s thin lips parted slightly, “True strength lies not in controlling destruction, but in upholding one’s beliefs in adversity and igniting hope with the passion of ordinary people.”

Liliana softly chanted an ancient purification spell, her fingers tracing across the ethereal blue flames. Each syllable carried a healing and calming power, injecting a stabilizing force into everything that was unpredictable and precarious.

"May our sacrifice bring true peace," she murmured, "may free will endure forever in this world!"

Inside the hall, the crowd stood solemnly around the new anchor base, holding holy swords, staves, or shields, silently gazing at the large arcane device whose fluctuations were gradually subsiding.

Everyone has a clear understanding in their hearts: this scene is not just a declaration of victory, but also a ritual of sacrifice, an indispensable step in paving the way for future generations!
The magical elements on the prime plane experienced brief but intense fluctuations, like towering waves surging in a storm, but as time slowly passed, these chaotic elements began to return to order.

A new natural rhythm emerges from the earth, with wind, fire, water, and the power of the earth rewoven into a stable and vibrant cycle.

The runes and magic circles left behind by the wizarding civilization were also repaired and strengthened in this round of elemental rebirth, paving a smooth and lasting path for the development of the mortal world.

David stood atop the World Tree, a great tree that spanned heaven and earth and connected all realms, now radiating a pure, lustrous glow like jade.

His gaze was fixed on the depths of the universe, where the endless stars slowly unfolded like a vast scroll, and the last warning light projected by the "Spirit Stardial" in his hand was even more dazzling and bright.

“The shackles of divinity have been broken…” he murmured to himself, his voice carrying a hint of relief, but also an undisguised solemnity.

"This means... the era dominated by mortals has officially begun."

Those shackles were once an important bond that bound the authority of the gods and connected ancient power with the order of the present world;
The moment of rupture also signifies the forced retreat of transcendent beings, while the era truly belonging to mortals will embark on a new journey.

A gentle breeze blew around him, ruffling his battle robes and shawl, and causing his hair to flutter lightly.

David took a deep breath, filling his chest with a heavy sense of responsibility.

He sensed that countless ordinary lives were awakening at this moment. They may not have extraordinary magic or remarkable talents, but they possess irreplaceable human will and free spirit, which is the indispensable cornerstone of the new era.

The runes on the elven sundial spun faster, and a dark blue trail danced in the air, as if weaving a network of future destinies.

However, it also issued a final warning: the seal on the seventy-fourth layer of the abyss showed signs of weakening and needed to be monitored by a large mortal alliance for a long time, otherwise its hidden darkness would disrupt the order of multiple realms and trigger a new round of calamities.

Liliana knelt at the base of the World Tree, her hands clasped in prayer, her eyes bright and clear, yet unable to conceal her inner tension.

"Commander, we must form an unprecedented alliance, with elites from all races joining hands to protect this crucial seal, otherwise..."

Even the strongest will cannot withstand the increasingly active darkness.

Hill stood beside her, his longsword gripped tightly, the tip lightly touching the ground.

"We must build a solid wall with our flesh and blood, and forge an unbreakable defense with our faith."

This responsibility to protect our homeland will be shared by all who are willing to sacrifice themselves for it!

Representatives from all races around the world gathered, their faces solemn yet unwavering. Among them were rugged warriors from dwarves and orcs, veteran wizards from high elves and dragon-blooded families, and representatives from small militias who silently guarded the borders.

They jointly signed a pledge called the "Abyss 74 Layers Oversight Convention," an unprecedented and important agreement in the history of cross-sectoral cooperation, and a crucial cornerstone for ensuring safety for thousands of years to come.

At the same time, new outposts, altars and defensive arrays were rapidly built across the mainland to strengthen the monitoring of the latent threats lurking in the spatial rifts at the edge of the abyss.

Ancient secret techniques have been rediscovered and integrated with modern arcane technology, providing stronger protection for imprisonment contracts;
Every sentinel and every priest carried the initial hopes of David and his companions, and were willing to defend freedom and peace with their lives!

The sky in the distance began to clear, and a ray of sunshine pierced through the clouds, casting golden light across the earth.

From ruins to rebirth, from despair to hope, this is a new chapter that is both awe-inspiring and profoundly meaningful.

David climbed to a high vantage point and looked out. He saw a new world quietly awakening under the morning light: birdsong was crisp and melodious in the forest, the ocean waves rolled with silvery white foam, and tender green vines sprouted from the ruins of the tower. Every corner was full of vitality.

The land, ravaged by war, has quietly healed with each change of season, leaving endless possibilities for the future!
He whispered, “Though the gods of old have fallen into slumber, they left behind a teaching: true strength is not eternity itself, but the human spirit that can embrace change, is unafraid of sacrifice, and unite as one.”

Liliana walked slowly closer, gazing at the sky. "We must remember that era, and we must also protect this land with our hearts, so that every life can have dignity and freedom."

(End of this chapter)