Farina had a dream.

The whistling of whips, the curses of enemies, and the piercing pain gradually faded away from her.

All around was a expanse of white, the ground so smooth it reflected her image.

This world seemed to have no boundaries, the only landmark was a towering stone gate in the distance. Behind the gate, faint music drifted, sacred and melodic.

This might be the scene one sees before death, she thought.

Walking this final distance would lead to a place of eternal peace.

Farina felt a pang of regret. In the end, she failed to personally kill the traitor and avenge those who had followed her this far.

She also felt a lot of guilt. The task entrusted by Tok.塔尔 ultimately came to nothing… she was indeed not material for shouldering great responsibilities alone, not even a qualified leader.

Her talent was nothing more than this.

The only reassuring thing was that she hadn't uttered a single word begging for mercy.

Especially when the red-hot iron pierced her fingertips, she almost thought she would completely collapse in the next moment. Looking back now, she still found it incredible that she had managed to hold on until the end.

Otherwise, she would have no way to face those comrades who had gone ahead.

However, these emotions didn't last long, dissipating like dust.

After all, she would soon enter eternal sleep.

What was the point of thinking about it, since there was no way to change it?

Farina walked step by step towards the stone gate.

Legend had it that there would be no more pain or sorrow there, time would freeze, and everything would remain in its most glorious moment, existing forever as the cornerstone of the kingdom of God.

This should have been a happy thing, but for some reason, she couldn't feel happy at all.

What exactly… was the reason?

"Farina…"

In her daze, a vague voice sounded beside her.

She remembered.

It was Joe's voice—

He hadn't participated in the attack, nor could he have been captured by Lorenzo, so this was just her hallucination.

Even so, Farina suddenly felt her heart relax.

So that's what it was, she thought.

She just didn't want to walk this final journey alone.

Even if she was entrusted with responsibilities far beyond her capabilities, even if it was a form of shirking, it didn't matter. She craved the feeling of being needed.

She didn't want to go forward alone anymore.

"Don't go away, stay with me for a while, okay?"

"I will…" the voice replied intermittently, "No matter where you go, I will be by your side… even in death!"

That… would be enough.

Even if it was just a hallucination.

She seemed to be back in that winter several years ago, climbing the Hermes alone. Staggering through the wind and snow, about to fall, a carriage stopped in front of her…

Farina stepped onto the stairs of the stone gate and reached out to push open the door.

"Thank you."

The light behind the door burst forth, instantly engulfing her.

…

When the light dissipated, Farina opened her eyes and found the ceiling above her slowly swaying.

Was this what the kingdom of God was like?

It didn't look as glorious as she had imagined…

And time didn't seem to have stopped flowing either.

She tried to turn her head and saw a familiar face in her eyes.

Farina hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Joe?"

The latter was lying beside her, as if asleep. After calling him several times, he finally opened his eyes in a daze and looked at her—then Joe's face showed a look of ecstasy, "You… you're awake?"

"Awake?" Farina frowned, "Shouldn't I already be… uh—" Halfway through, she realized that the fiery pain had returned to her body, and even the slightest movement was excruciating.

"You just fainted from exhaustion," Joe covered her head, "Don't worry, everything will be alright."

Farina couldn't help but be stunned, and it took her a long time to come back to her senses—not only was she not dead, but she had also escaped from the dungeon, which meant…

"Lorenzo, he—"

"Is dead."

Hearing this unexpected answer, Farina was immediately invigorated, "Really? How did you do it?"

"I didn't kill him," Joe shook his head, "It was His Majesty Roland Wimbledon, the King of Graycastle."

Roland Wimbledon… a name she least wanted to hear. "What are you talking about? How could he help us take back Grand Duke Island?" At this point, she looked around sharply, "Wait… where is this? Are we not on Grand Duke Island?"

"We are currently at sea, our destination is Neverwinter City in Graycastle, and you have been unconscious for three days, only saved by the First Army's medicine." Joe said softly, "Don't worry, I will tell you everything."

Half an hour later, Farina understood what kind of story had happened behind this.

"Regarding His Majesty's trial, I also asked the guard Sean," Joe was still saying, "As long as you haven't stained your hands with witch's blood, haven't participated in the persecution, and haven't slaughtered the people of Graycastle, you won't be sentenced to capital punishment. You are a warrior of the Vanguard Camp, stationed in New Holy City all year round to fight against the demonic beasts, and I was a divine official assistant before, so I couldn't possibly touch those witches—that is to say, both of us have a chance to survive!"

He became more and more excited, "Although you are seriously injured, there is a witch named Nanaqua in Neverwinter City who can completely heal any injury, as long as you spend money! I will find a way to solve the fee problem, no matter how much she wants, I will definitely make you stand up again!"

In order to prevent her from escaping, Lorenzo severed her hand tendons and foot tendons, and smashed her knees with a hammer. Now she can be said to be a disabled person. But this is not the focus of Farina's attention—

"Because of me…"

"What?"

"Because of me, did you make a deal with that devil!" She scolded with disappointment, "He destroyed the church and destroyed all hope! How can you be worthy of Tork.塔尔! Cough… cough cough…"

"Farina!"

"Don't touch me!" She choked out a little blood, "The fate of this world, the fate of all mankind… has been shattered by him alone, how can you ask him for help! My life started in the Divine Will War, it is not worth mentioning at all, what is the point of saving me? I would rather go to hell and wait for him, waiting for the moment he falls into the abyss—"

"Clap, clap, clap."

Applause suddenly sounded outside the room.

"I'm almost moved, I didn't expect that after more than four hundred years, I could still get such support from mortals, it's really surprising." A woman pushed the door open and walked in.

"What I support is the church that is dedicated to the future of mankind, not the pawns of the King of Graycastle—" Farina endured the severe pain in her chest and scolded, but before she could finish speaking, she was stunned. "Aynoa… Legion Commander?"

At that moment, she almost doubted her eyes.

In the martial arts hall of the New Holy City, hung the portraits of outstanding leaders of the Judgment Army in the past, most of whom had received the highest honor bestowed by the Pope—the God's Punishment Warrior Transformation Ceremony, which can be regarded as the elite of the elite. Aynoa once served as the high-ranking Legion Commander of the Judgment Army, which can be said to be the highest peak that female warriors can reach. Because of this, Farina has always regarded her as the goal she pursues.

But the problem is… Aynoa was a figure from more than a hundred years ago.

"Keep talking," Zoe leaned against the bed, "Let me hear how much you support us, don't be shy, I haven't heard flattery from mortals for a long time."