Aria looked at Nick with a complex expression.
"Is that really you, Nick?" she asked.
"It is me, but many things have changed," Nick answered. "I am working for many people and many sides, but my heart lies with humanity."
"Why do you have Specter Zephyx?" she asked.
"I worked closely with the Left Arm and the Technician, and I decided to go for a Peak Elder for my Consumption."
When Aria heard that, she took a deep breath.
Consuming a Peak Elder was literally physically impossible.
Even if the person was a machine that acted perfectly for several weeks, the most they would achieve would be a draw.
"I was willing to die with the Specter. We were both about to die to each other and as a last resort, the Specter willingly fused with me. Specters don't want to die, and continuing living as a mindless machine was better than just outright dying. Specters are logical like that."
"Then, when I advanced, the Manipulation Lines of my Zephyx Synchronizer fused with the Manipulation Lines of my Specter Core, and my Zephyx Synchronizer also fused with the Specter Core, turning me into a Specter," Nick explained.
"But my loyalties have never shifted. I have been working closely with Aegis ever since then."
"I lured out Pride to give the Knife the chance to kill it."
Aria's eyes widened.
She knew that Pride was dead, but she had no idea that it had been Nick who was responsible for its demise.
It was unbelievable!
Back then, Nick must have been only a Specialist. Yet, he was able to essentially kill a powerful Peak Fallen?
Yet, the more Aria thought about Nick, the more believable it was.
Nick had always done shocking things.
As a mere Initial Expert, he managed to infiltrate Anatomy.
As an Expert, he managed to completely revamp Crimson City.
Alone,he fought against the most powerful people in the city, including several Heroes.
If it was Nick, it was possible that he killed a Peak Fallen as a Specialist.
Of course, he wouldn't be able to kill it on his own, but he could create the circumstances that led to its death.
"I also lured out Lust and gave the Right Arm an opportunity to kill it."
Aria was shocked again, but if Nick had managed to kill a Corruptor once, he could have done it again.
"And I also helped the Champion of Light in killing the Envious Researcher."
Aria had already thought that Nick was involved after hearing that he was responsible for the two dead Corruptors.
"Why are you here? Why did you make it seem like I died?" she asked.
Nick sighed.
"Things are much muddier than you think. Not everyone who works for Aegis does so for the good of humanity. Not every Specter is the enemy. Trustworthy people are not trustworthy, and traitors seem to be trustworthy." 𐍂ÃꞐỐ𐌱ÊṢ
"I can't tell you everything. You know a bit about science, right? Do you know about the speed of information?" he asked.
"Information can not travel faster than lightspeed," Aria said with a nod.
"Information is a physical thing. If it has a limit to its speed, it must exist in some way, which means it can be measured. We are in the Sun's domain. We are in the Sun's world. Sharing information risks alerting the Sun," Nick explained.
Aria took a deep breath.
The Sun was ever-present, but due to its constant presence, it was easy to forget about it.
Yes, the Sun was a Specter, and it was humanity's biggest enemy, despite the Champion's words.
"These are things that involve the very survival of humanity. I can not share the information with you. The only way you can get it is by seeing it for yourself."
"I intend to do that."
"I have built a secret resistance group. Our enemy is not Aegis, and it is not humanity. Our enemy also isn't the Specters."
Aria became confused.
Then, who was the enemy?
"I can not tell you much more about it," Nick said. "I can only tell you that there is an enemy lurking in the shadows that almost no one knows about."
"The Shields, my resistance group, and I are the only ones who know the true enemy."
"With the Envious Researcher's demise, we have much more freedom now. We are going to grow much bigger, and-"
"What do you need me to do?" Aria asked, interrupting Nick.
"I need you to become the leader of the resistance group. I need somebody capable who shares my ideals. I believe you are the right person for that job."
Aria nodded. "I accept."
When Nick saw her accepting his request this readily, he felt warmth.
There were not many, but humanity had people who were willing to sacrifice their own gain for the collective good.
There were people with the power to change things who were willing to make use of that power for the good of humanity.
"Thank you," Nick said. "How long until you can become a Protector?"
"Assuming perfect Zephyx production, about 30 years," she answered.
Nick nodded. "I can provide that for you."
Next, Nick summoned a Specter Cage. "I'm sorry, but I still have to keep the location a secret. You will know where it is when you become a Protector and know the true enemy."
"You will see the true enemy when you become a Protector."
Aria grew interested, and she walked into the Specter Cage of her own free will.
She hadn't seen Nick in several decades, but she knew him.
Nick was the very reason why her attitude had changed.
As Kugelblitz's CZE, she had turned a blind eye to the corruption and suffering of the people.
But when she saw Nick putting his life on the line for the good of the people, she was inspired.
She had the power to change things, but out of complacency, she hadn't been willing to.
If a mere Expert could force several Heroes to change, why couldn't she?
She wanted to make a difference!
She wanted to help humanity!
Aria idolized Nick for his self-sacrificial attitude.
That was also why she was willing to enter into a relationship with him.
Sadly, things didn't work out, and she could tell that they never would.
Nick was someone who was solely focused on the good of humanity.
She knew that Nick would never allow himself to feel happy.
That was not a good thing, but without people like Nick, humanity would be much worse off.
Nick sacrificed his own happiness so that others might be happy.
While such a personality was admirable, it sadly didn't leave a place for companionship or romance.
And Aria was fine with that.
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