Sutherland: "Yes, my life has come to an end, but this only means the next journey will begin soon."

Todd: "I've seen the souls of your wife and children in your soul realm. What happened to them?"

Sutherland: "With the death of my physical body, their souls will be reborn with me. This is the greatest use of the Soul Space ability for us reborn beings."

After saying these words, Sutherland's insect body bulged upwards, and a protrusion on its anterior abdomen grew larger and clearer.

A face that looked like it was covered by a thin film slowly emerged from beneath the insect's carapace.

As the human face and mouth opened and closed, Sutherland's faint voice reached Todd's ears.

"Perhaps my daughter is right. It is my duty to take care of these alien species, and I should not impose these responsibilities on you."

Todd looked at the human face beneath the insect's exoskeleton and asked in a low voice, "What will happen to this body if you die?"

Sutherland: "It will be completely taken over by the undead, becoming a mindless, utter monster... But in the end times, such a monster will ultimately not escape destruction."

Todd didn't say anything more, he just closed his eyes and sighed.

Sutherland turned to Meredith and said, “My daughter, listen carefully to what I have to say. After you kill me, immediately enter the portal and leave this world.”

Meredith looked at her hands and murmured, "I can't do it."

Sutherland: "You can do it... just like we agreed before, it will all happen very quickly..."

Meredith flew to Sutherland, found the spear that Evie had pierced into the insect's carapace, and pulled it out with force.

The necromantic parasites, following the carapace, had slowly crawled around Sutherland's body, getting closer and closer to his face.

Meredith raised her spear and looked at Sutherland, tears welling in her eyes.

Goodbye, Father.

The spear pierced Sutherland's body beneath the insect's membrane with force. Accompanied by a piercing shriek and violent tremors, the enormous insect struggled and twisted, smashing the surrounding rocks to pieces.

Todd flapped his dragon wings, constantly dodging the twisted insect bodies and flying stones. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Meredith was kneeling beside Sutherland's main body, without moving an inch.

Todd shouted, "Meredice!"

Upon hearing her name called, Meredith slowly raised her head, her expression towards Todd carrying a mixture of sorrow and relief.

Seeing the enormous insect slowly slide down into the sea of ​​lava, Todd shouted to Meredith again, "Meredith! Get out of there!"

Large tears slid down her cheeks, but Meredith gave Todd a beautiful smile: "I'm sorry, I can't leave."

As Todd dodged the flying limbs and tentacles, he shouted to Meredith, "You still have a long way to go!"

Meredith shook her head: "No matter how long the journey, the destination will always be home."

Gazing at the dragon's silhouette in the sky, Meredith slowly closed her eyes and whispered in a voice only she could hear, "If... if only I had met you sooner..."

The enormous insect body plunged into the sea of ​​lava, and the surging fire waves instantly engulfed everything.

...

In that quiet and peaceful vineyard, a girl in a white dress ran happily along the path between the fields, bathed in the gentle breeze and bright sunshine.

Her younger brother and sister chased after her, their clear and melodious laughter echoing in the air like silver bells, lingering for a long time.

At the gate of the manor, a mother holding a fruit platter called out her children's names.

The girl ran up the hillside, through the gate, hugged her mother's waist, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the comfort.

Inside the manor, the father, who was repairing the fountain statue, saw the girl, laughed loudly, dropped his tools, and opened his arms.

The father said only one simple sentence, but it instantly brought tears to the girl's eyes.

Welcome home.