The Council of Elders, a gathering place for different species.

Todd sat on the grass, staring blankly at the children running and playing among the tents, his hands tightly clasped together, but his face remained expressionless.

Illid, leaning on his cane, walked up behind Todd, looked at the scenery in front of him, and asked softly, "You've been coming very early these past few days?"

As if he hadn't heard the old man's question, Todd muttered to himself, "What will the future hold for these children?"

Elijah found an empty spot next to Todd and sat down, rubbing his aching back as he said, "Nobody knows what their future holds."

Todd turned his head and stared into Elijah's eyes: "At least these children should be given a chance to decide their own future."

Iliad asked, puzzled, "What are you trying to say?"

Todd continued, "There are some things you haven't told me the truth about Sutherland, and you haven't told these aliens either."

Eliard did not directly answer Todd's question: "Sometimes, a lie is more real than the truth."

Todd gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "Sutherland is actually a necromancer, am I right?"

Iliad shuddered, offering neither rebuttal nor excuse.

Todd: "In that soul transfer ritual a hundred years ago, you inadvertently created the world's first undead using the Resurrection Worm, the Tyrant, and the remains of Sutherland."

Eliad said in a low voice, "That was the only way at the time."

Todd: "But you never realized how much harm this necromancer would cause to the entire world!"

Iliad repeated what he had just said: "That was the only way at the time..."

Todd instantly flew into a rage, his enormous dragon tail bursting out of his body and sweeping away the tent behind him. Countless scales grew from his arms, and dragon wings also burst out of his back.

Todd, the half-human, half-dragon, grabbed Illid by the collar, lifted him into the air, and roared, "Do you even know what you've done?!"

Illid, who had been grabbed by Todd, did not struggle at all in mid-air. He coughed and waved his hand, signaling the aliens around him not to make any rash moves.

Iliad said with difficulty, "The alien races need Sutherland. No matter what he becomes, we need him..."

"madness!"

Todd, now fully transformed into a dragon, is completely consumed by rage.

He completely abandoned his human form, and his spiky dragon tail, extending to a length of over ten meters, left a deep, bottomless mark on the grass with a flick of his tail.

Amidst the screams of the people around him, Todd lifted the tiny Eliade in front of him, his cold, golden dragon eyes reflecting the old man's pale face.

"Tell me, what exactly is Sutherland plotting?!"

"The so-called protection of alien species, the so-called savior, are nothing but lies!"

"What does a necromancer want to do?!"

"I could guess with my own feet that he wants to turn these innocent people into dead spirits, into his servants as he becomes a god!"

Facing the dragon's roar, Eliard laughed and asked Todd a strange question: "So, just now... you asked me what the future holds for these children? You're actually worried about these aliens, right...?"

Seeing Elijah's smile, Todd's rage intensified. He opened his massive maw, and a blazing flame gathered in his throat, threatening to kill the old man on the spot.

"Release the elder! You demon!"

A childish voice came from Todd's feet.

A teenager wearing a linen robe threw a stone with force, which hit Todd's leg.

Todd lowered his head and looked at the trembling boy who was groping for a second stone on the ground, and slowly stopped moving.

Soon, several bolder children broke free from their parents' restraints, rushed up to Todd, and picked up stones to throw at the winged, scaled "demon."

The stones hit Todd but did not cause him any harm.

However, Todd seemed to have all his strength drained away by what he saw.

He slowly lowered Iliad, sitting blankly on the ground, his dragon wings folded together, shaking his head in pain.

Iliad straightened his clothes, let out a long sigh, and said to the gathered aliens, "It's alright, it's alright... Go away, yes, you heard me, go away."

Watching the people run away with worried expressions, Elijah walked to Todd's feet, looked up at the enormous creature before him, and said to Todd, "Even if you kill me, you will not be able to change any of this."

Todd looked at Elijah, his words filled with sadness and helplessness: "I finally understand what you just said... Sometimes, a lie is more real than the truth."

Elijah shook his head slightly and continued, "Todd, there's nothing you can do to change anything."

Todd raised his dragon head, looked around, and said, "These people gathered here because they admire Sutherland and seek his protection. They have no idea that death will be their only destination... But can you and Sutherland bear to deceive and betray them?"

Eliard spoke up, "Todd, I have a question. These aliens are not your subjects, you have no obligation to take care of them, so why do you care about their lives?"

Todd slowly lowered his head and looked at Elijah, saying, "These alien species have been oppressed and displaced for thousands of years. They deserve a better life, instead of being used as stepping stones on some ambitious person's path to godhood."

After listening to Todd's words, Elijah stared at him for a long time before finally sighing, "I admit, I'm not as good as Sutherland at judging people..."

Todd asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by all this?"

Eliard picked up his cane from the ground, rubbed his back and waist, and said, "Todd, you have passed Sutherland's test."

Todd: "A test? What test?"

Iliad: "I thought it would take longer, but to my surprise, I think you're ready..."

Todd: "What are you talking about?"

Eliard raised his cane and pointed to the towering Supuha Mountains: "I think you're ready to see Sutherland."

Todd asked in surprise, "You mean, I can see Sutherland now?"

Eliard walked a short distance forward, then turned back and saw Todd still hesitating in place. He said, "Are you worried that Sutherland might do something to you?"

After a moment's thought, Todd flapped his dragon wings and followed Eliard, saying firmly, "I must see Sutherland. He has something I need, something that can save the world."