Story Reader / Floating Record / ER05 Sands of Wrath / Story
Nigel!
Without holding back, Noctis lands a punch squarely on Nigel, sending flashes of lightning through his body.
The punch sends Nigel flying. Having given that last punch his all, Noctis collapses into a kneel on the ground.
Argh...
Nigel finds himself unable to get back to his feet from the excessive damage his frame has taken.
Spewing "poison," his right arm has become a goner from the punch, too, no longer able to manipulate magnetic objects.
Ha... Cough, cough, cough...!
Nigel struggles for breath—a naturally occurring behavior that has persisted from his days as a former human, despite the fact that a Construct doesn't need to breathe.
At the same time, Noctis can feel that the poison in him has worn away and that his connection with his partner's consciousness has become stable.
This... is what I'm talking about...
Nigel's cloudy eyes close... Noctis has won the fight, one where Nigel himself has given his all and fought in all the ways he knows.
Noctis has visualized fights where he has defeated Nigel more times than he cares to admit—and yet, with Nigel lying defeated in front of him now, Noctis seems to have difficulty wrapping his head around what's happened.
Nigel... why? What's all this for?
Noctis remembers having asked this question before—still, he hopes to hear a different answer from this man who was once a dear friend.
Is it because that "Generalissimo" made you do so...? Who the hell is he?
Nigel struggles to his feet and shakes his head.
I got an order from him to attack the town... and get rid of everything that stood in his way from a place where people wouldn't be able to see me.
But I saw it as a personal goal to fight you here—and I see that as me being rebellious against him.
Aflame with sparks showering down, the warehouse is now on the verge of collapse.
So why are you fighting for him, then?! Just why...
Well... who are you fighting for yourself, then, Noctis? For humans... or for Constructs?
Huh? What difference does that make?
Nigel smiles, apparently having seen this reaction coming.
I asked that commandant... what the difference between a human and a Construct is.
I don't know what sort of answer you got... but...
Noctis straightens himself. He walks up to Nigel and extends his hand to him.
...This much I can tell you—that my partner will never treat people differently because of who they are.
You and that commandant are just so incorrigibly naive...
Noctis shows Nigel a smile, apparently oblivious to the riposte.
Well, so what if we are... naivety makes us strong, as we've seen.
Nigel slowly stands up—and, without taking Noctis' hand, he takes half a step back.
But it's too late now... It's all for his dream...
Noctis is taken aback when Nigel suddenly kicks him.
!!!
Noctis blocks the kick, but the sudden attack has sent him a few steps back nonetheless.
Nigel!
Right when Noctis is about to charge at Nigel, a burning beam falls and lands where they were just standing moments ago.
And with it, the entire warehouse caves in avalanche-style, setting off some of the older weapons in the warehouse, which causes an explosion so strong that it sends Noctis straight out the warehouse's door.
Before Noctis passes out, the last thing he sees is Nigel standing with his back facing him amidst the fires.
...
