The Witcher: Start with the Lord Marrying a Wife.

Chapter 649 Sandbox Crisis
She held her breath and stared at the constantly changing software structure graphics on the instrument screen. "The Zeroer is not simply a program destroyer. It learns dynamically based on the environment and hostile resistance, and optimizes its attack strategy accordingly."

And at the opportune moment, launch a fatal strike, utterly annihilating the target beyond the rhythms of time and space.

“In other words,” David said gravely, “we are facing not only an external enemy, but also a viral plague that has been lurking in multiple systems for centuries. If it gets out of control, its destructive power will be enough to engulf the entire divine kingdom and even a wider realm!”

Upon hearing this, the data flow in the holographic projection seemed to pause, and the complex geometric symbols and fluid patterns seemed to carry an indescribable aura of danger, shining with an ominous light that made one's heart tremble.

“We must act immediately.” David’s tone was resolute. He scanned the magnificent yet chilling array of runes around him, their last line of defense against the corruption of chaos.

"First, thoroughly remove all illegal instructions, then activate the purification process to block the residual energy flow in the entropy-increasing conduit, leaving no opportunity for the Zero-Returners!"

Anne nodded in response. She had already begun adjusting the purification process. Strings of complex symbols danced and flashed among the magical devices on her wrist, each containing astonishing power yet as delicate as a woven net.

Outside the battlefield, the city of New Rainbow Bridge was brightly lit, but a tense and oppressive atmosphere lingered in the air.

Cynthia, Lena, Sophia, and other key guardians are closely monitoring the cross-dimensional data and law fluctuations. Their expressions are grave as they prepare to deal with any new crisis that may erupt at any moment.

The sky was covered by thick clouds, with only a few streaks of starlight occasionally peeking through, like mottled gunfire piercing the night, sending chills down one's spine while also bringing a glimmer of hope.

Meanwhile, in the deepest corner of the star core's data space, within an information vortex woven from dark blue and crimson gold, a cold and sharp new force is gradually awakening...

Time seemed to stand still for several breaths. A soft but sharp data break echoed, stirring up ripples throughout the vast, labyrinthine information network.

“Commander!” Anne suddenly looked up, her eyes sharp with an almost frantic focus.

"I have successfully bypassed several key security measures, and now I can try to retrieve more comprehensive log data!"

David approached steadily, his crimson-gold holy runes still faintly shimmering. He felt a long-lost hope being activated within his divine power by this opportunity.

"Be careful not to trigger any more traps; we cannot afford any more destructive fluctuations."

As the fingers danced across the screen, a large amount of previously scattered and even broken data began to organize, gradually revealing a clear image. The crucial node from five hundred years ago, after being covered by layers of corrosive code, finally revealed its true traces:
It was a tall, upright figure manipulating a highly intelligent mechanical life form, weaving rules and constraints between the laws of the void, and defining the boundaries of order with silver-white engravings.

But behind his actions lay a strange, chilling smile, a smile that seemed to pierce through the long river of history and strike the deepest recesses of the souls of all the guardians…

What emerged from his palm was no longer pure justice, but a twisted, chaotic, and emerging force that sought to devour everything.

That is the true meaning of what our ancestors called "returning to zero," the prelude to another earth-shattering change that the entire multi-realm operating system is about to undergo...

David and Annie stood side by side in front of an ancient rune array, with the floating data around them surging like a tide, yet threatening to turn into an abyss that could devour everything at any moment.

“The illegal entries in the code have been extended,” Anne’s voice trembled slightly as her fingers slid rapidly across the rune touchpad, beads of sweat constantly rolling down her forehead.

Her eyes were focused, catching the fluctuating data lines and alarm symbols on the screen.

"This level has far exceeded our expectations; every conflict of laws is tearing apart the multiverse structure."

David frowned, feeling the pressure further amplifying the divine power within him that had not yet fully recovered.

He raised the arm holding the Phase Dagger, a blade that combined the power of order and chaos, radiating a ghostly blue light that intertwined and spun with crimson flames, like an inextinguishable flame burning endlessly in purgatory.

He said in a deep voice, "Traditional purification methods alone are insufficient to quickly contain the spread. We must use the power of chaos to construct an 'isolation sandbox' to completely block the source of infection."

Anne nodded, and a strong yet delicate and complex magical ripple spread from the alchemical device on her wrist, resonating with the crimson gold holy runes on David's body.

She continued to adjust the purification process, seemingly gentle yet containing immense power, peeling away and solidifying those distorted and self-evolving data instructions like a spider web.

However, just as the isolation sandbox was slowly taking shape, a terrifying black tide of data suddenly surged forth. It was a data entity formed by the "Zero Returner" virus, which devoured all the surrounding order energy like a black hole in the void, constantly strengthening itself.

The air was distorted as if it had cracked open with countless fissures, and the invisible pressure suddenly increased, causing the space to be layered and rearranged.

David frowned deeply. He forcefully suppressed the surging, violent divine power in his chest and thrust the dagger into the core. A burst of blazing crimson-gold flame suddenly erupted, fiercely entangled with the dark blue shadow power.

Sofia sped in from the flank, her figure surrounded by shadowy aurora, like a ghostly queen from a deep, cold sea, chilling and exuding deadly elegance.

"Commander!" Her voice was clear and resonant. "The virus is using the sealed fire within the sandbox to fuel itself. We must speed things up, or this siege will become a furnace for its own growth!"

David's eyes were icy. He brandished his phase dagger, drawing an arc in the air, and countless crimson-gold holy runes ignited, like a blazing phoenix spreading its wings and soaring.

He roared, "Everyone, give full support to the purification array! We must make this inferno the final graveyard for the Zeroers!"

The battle was ever-changing, the earth trembled and shook, and invisible ripples of law collided with the spatial barrier, triggering a chain of dimensional shocks and explosions.

Each explosion was accompanied by a devastating shockwave that swept in all directions, but it also allowed the guardians to experience that fragile yet precious moment before the birth of a new life after destruction.

Annie's eyes flickered with complex emotions as she quickly manipulated the rune array, causing it to continuously absorb and transform interference signals from allies that were invading the core of the virus.

This holographically woven information network appears to be alive, creating an intricate web of information traps within the star's core.

However, the "Zeroing One" is not just simple code; it possesses a developmental consciousness that transcends the rules themselves. When it consumes external energy, it begins to simulate the operating logic of the guardian system and attempts to counter the blocking mechanism.

A chilling and sharp wind of information blew in from the data void, freezing the edges of the array and causing multiple temporary paralysises within the array.

“It’s getting more and more cunning!” Annie cried anxiously. “It’s not only consuming energy, but also upgrading its protective code by simulating guardian rules. I can’t handle such complex changes alone!”

David gritted his teeth and persevered. He adjusted his breathing, his entire body exuding a heavy and steady aura. "Sophia, increase the range of Shadow Aurora and use your mental domain to interfere with its simulation program!"

I reinforced the array barrier with chaotic flames, making it impossible for it to break through easily!

Sophia responded swiftly, her eyes flashing with a cold, eerie blue light. Her entire body was gradually enveloped in a large, dark forest illusion formed by the fusion of cold and intense energy, with each leaf tip containing a sharp, informational edge capable of tearing through the void.

This spiritual aura rapidly permeated the entire star core data structure, providing a solid barrier for the purification array.

At this moment, the entire star core seemed to be caught between two extremes of ice and fire. Every surge of information brought about a breathtaking, massive tremor, but it also gave the guardians a glimmer of hope. As long as they held fast to their will, this catastrophe would eventually be dispelled by their furnace-like, burning determination!

As time passed, the isolation sandbox constructed from the Chaos Fire became increasingly solid and stable, while the "Zero-Returner" virus seemed to sense a deadly threat, and its core data began to fluctuate violently.

The data tentacles, resembling monstrous void creatures, retracted, but left behind even more lurking fragments, like venomous snakes shedding their fangs, silently awaiting their next attack across multiple realms…

The guardians of New Rainbow Bridge City exchanged furrowed brows, sensing the monstrous waves sweeping across the entire territory.

“Commander!” Lia’s voice came through the communication array, with a rhythm of determination and anxiety. “We must use the ‘purification’ method of the Law of Life to completely eradicate the corrosive root of the ‘Zero Returner’ virus.”

David gripped the phase dagger tightly, his eyes as sharp as ice.

"Purify...the laws of life?" he murmured, feeling a glimmer of hope mixed with a growing unease.

Annie stood beside him, her brows furrowed, her fingers trembling as she tapped the rune control panel.

"Purification is the purest life force, and it is very effective against corruption and viruses. However, if the spell is cast out of control, it may trigger a chain reaction, leading to a violent conflict between the laws."

David took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the flickering dark red light at the center of the star's core.

He knew that the battle had entered its most critical stage, and that every decision could determine the fate of many worlds.

In the battle command center, Cynthia stared intently at the constantly fluctuating energy data on the screen.

Lena calmly analyzed the spreading trend of the elemental catastrophe, while Sophia continuously cast a mental purification barrier, trying her best to suppress the endless stream of corrupt evil thoughts.

"Attention everyone," David's voice was deep and powerful, "Activate the 'Purification' array of the Law of Life, and coordinate with Annie and me to cast the spell in sync."

Everyone must maintain formation; there can be no mistakes.

Lia appeared on the outer edge of the star core, wearing a long, radiant silver robe, and condensing brilliant life rune energy in her hands.

She took a slow step, her lips slightly upturned, yet her expression carried an indescribable determination and resolve.

As she slowly raised her hands, streams of pure light gushed forth like a spring, converging into a massive purification network that enveloped the star core.

The net of light contains the power of endless life laws, and each rune shines with the sacred radiance of protection and regeneration.

However, just as the purifying power began to penetrate the core of the corrosive code, a cold and distorted wave of information suddenly erupted from the depths of the star core.

That was the countermeasure mechanism simulated by the "Zeroing" virus, which quickly captured and reshaped the Purification Law, twisting it into destructive backlash energy.

The air suddenly froze, and a suffocating sense of oppression enveloped the entire venue.

The determination on Lia's face was gradually replaced by fear. She felt the life force within her being reversed and absorbed, and its pure radiance began to dim and deform.

"Commander!" Anne cried out urgently, "The virus is mimicking the 'purification' law, converting it into its own energy source! We've fallen right into its trap!"

A cold glint flashed in David's eyes. He swiftly brandished his phase dagger, and a burst of chaotic flame erupted from his palm, colliding violently with the distorted and surging waves of data in the void.

The flames contain the intertwined power of order and chaos, burning away all corruption and pollution like the flames of purgatory.

But as the battlefield violently shook, the temperature of the star core soared rapidly, the earth trembled uncontrollably, and countless elemental forces were activated and erupted out of control.

Volcanic eruptions, glacial collapses, raging lightning, and howling storms—all sorts of natural disasters swept across the divine kingdom like demons wreaking havoc.

The guardians responded urgently, but the disaster struck fiercely, and each magical defense proved as fragile as covering a volcanic eruption.

Outside the city walls, the earth cracked open in countless places, and molten lava rolled and swallowed all living things;
Lightning flashed and thunder roared, accompanied by billowing sandstorms, turning the battlefield into a scene of apocalyptic hell.

Lia gripped the staff tightly, her eyes welling with tears, but her resolve remained unwavering.

"This is the price... but we have no other choice."

Inside the city, Lena, clad in silver-blue armor, had a gaze as sharp as a cold blade.

She stood atop the city's tallest tower, gripping the Elemental Authority tightly in her hand. The staff, formed from pure elemental power, shimmered with a blend of eerie blue and fiery red light under the moonlight.

"Amy, guide out those out-of-control elemental energies!" Lena's voice was low but authoritative.

Her gaze swept over the destroyed ground and the constantly churning elements in the air.

Beside her, the girl Amy looked focused. Her figure was as light as the wind, and her hands moved slowly, with dazzling elemental light bursting from her fingertips.

She skillfully channeled the power of fire, frost, lightning, and storm, slowly gathering it together as if a raging beast had been tamed.

"The Elemental Cocoon is about to take shape..." Amy murmured softly, her body trembling slightly, clearly indicating that this process of control had consumed a great deal of energy.

As elemental energy was gradually guided, a huge, semi-transparent sphere composed of flames, ice, lightning, and wind fury slowly took shape.

Energy surged within the cocoon, like the core of a small storm, temporarily sealing off the surrounding catastrophic forces.

Lena's expression was solemn, yet she also showed a hint of relief.

"This 'cocoon of elements' has temporarily stabilized the situation, but it is by no means a long-term solution."

We must find the core source of the virus as soon as possible and eradicate it completely.

Amy nodded, her eyes glowing with a deep blue light. "The energy inside the cocoon is complex, but I sensed an unusual fluctuation in information, a signal frequency that is ancient and difficult to detect."

(End of this chapter)