The Last Verse
CHAPTER 14:
Redemption
The Imperial Capital
Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto discuss whether the crystal could really purge the demons or not. A moment later, Biggs and Wedge inform them that they are reaching Gralea shortly. A moment later, some monsters breaking through inside the train and Noctis finds out that he cannot use his armiger power so they decided to avoid and run away from the monster, going to the front cart where Biggs and Wedge are. Reaching Gralea, the train being bombarded by imperial troops guarding Gralea. But some imperial bombs managed to wreck the walls and roof of the train, forcing Noctis and friends to jump while the train is moving. A moment later, the train flipped over off the rail and end its trip after being wreck by a bomb. Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto are all separated due to jumping out of the moving train.
<<< Gladiolus, Ignis, Prompto left the party
Noctis find himself being alone inside Gralea, Nihlfeim territory. Shortly after some monsters try to attack Noctis, forcing him to run away and hide himself inside an empty room nearby. Feeling desperate, with no one around but monsters, unable to use his armiger to defend himself, Noctis forced to wear the Ring of Lucii for his final resort to deal with matters on hand. The moment Noctis wear the Ring of Lucii everything goes dark and some giant king figures appears around him….
Old King:
“You should not run from your destiny Young Prince! It runs in your royal blood”
Noctis: (sitting on his knee showing his desperation)
“I never chose this destiny! All that I care is gone…. I don’t think I could do it…. I am not strong enough”
Old King: (angered hearing Noctis reasoning)
“How can the ring ended up to a weakling like you?! You are not worthy of Lucii power”
Noctis body burn by the power of Lucii. Torturing Noctis to death. A short moment later, a smaller king figure approach Noctis…
King Regis:
“Please….”
Noctis: (shocked while recognizing the voice of his dad, King Regis)
“Dad!”
King Regis:
“It was my fault to hide your destiny. All a father want for his son is to live happily ever after. All this time I was just trying to take you away from the reality…. but knowing now we cannot escape from our destiny makes me sad. Please Noct, don’t you ever give up, as my sacrifice will be pointless and the world will crumble. You are better than this, fight it on, claim your rightful power and make it through the day, and remember, no matter how hard the future lies, I will still be with you”
King Regis: (handing over his hand to Noctis)
“Walk tall my son!”
Resisting to give up, Noctis try his best to standup while his body being burnt by the Old Kings, troubled but Noctis managed to reach his father’s hand and fully claiming the power of Lucii
Noctis:
“I will….”
Noctis regain his consciousness and aware that he is being surrounded by monster after wearing the ring. Noctis now able to use the power of Lucii, Death, Holy and Alterna spell to ousted the monsters.
A King’s Struggle
With the power from the Ring of Lucii, Noctis now bravely moving forward to challenge the might of Niflheim empire, finding his friends and crystal alone. Along the way Noctis fight a bunch of demonic imperial troopers that recently found at Tenebrae. Accidentally Noctis saw Ravus who is currently being surrounded by by monsters from higher floor. Noctis jumps out to save Ravus immediately. Noctis with Ring of Lucii and Ravus with Sword of Father, hand in hand bashing out the monsters but Ravus barely surviving as he has been injected with demons that slowly consuming his body.
Ravus:
“Get away from me you wretched creatures!”
Noctis:
“How come there are some many of them?!”
Ravus:
“They are all those magitek troopers guarding Gralea created by Verstael but the chancellor seems to have part in this demonic work”
Noctis:
“We cannot win these!”
Ravus:
“Go Noctis! Save yourself!”
Noctis:
“I am not leaving you!! I am tired running, all that I care have been taken away from me. We will survive this together or die together!”
Ravus shocked and amazed hearing what Noctis said just now. It was totally different from what happen years ago when King Regis left him to the imperial attacks. At this moment, Ravus admit that Noctis is ready to be a king sworn to protect his people.
Ravus: (throwing the Sword of Father to Noctis)
“Noctisssss! I believe you now..... so don’t fail me!”
Noctis catches the Sword of Father and put good use of it to finally able to destroy all of the demonic imperial troopers. Apparently, by throwing his sword to Noctis, Ravus now totally defenseless. At his final moment, Ravus jumps up protecting Noctis back from a fiery flame shot by the demonic imperial troopers, just like the way his mother protect him a long time ago.
Noctis:
“What have you done?!”
Ravus:
“I have finally seen what Luna told me about you. And I have done my part. The rest lies in your hand, King Noctis….. You… shall… not…. fail….”
Ravus draw his last breath after acknowledging Noctis to be proven worthy of being the king…
Noctis:
“Rest easy Ravus... your work is done”
Zegnautus Keep
Noctis continue his journey to onward into the imperial kingdom. On his way, he saw Prompto running around. Apparently it was just a trick done by Ardyn to lure Noctis to get closer to the crystal. Noctis ended up in a corridor with a some imperial troops body lying on the floor. Eventually, Noctis found out that it was a trap. Luckily, Gladiolus and Ignis suddenly came to rescue Noctis. Noctis then reunite with Gladiolus and Ignis…
Gladiolus:
“That was close”
Noctis:
“Thank God you guys are okay”
Ignis:
“After we jump out the train, we received “help” from the usual suspect”
Gladiolus:
“That bastard is playing with us. But at least, we’re together now”
Noctis:
“Where is Prompto?”
Gladiolus:
“I haven’t seen him since we got separated”
Ignis:
“All of us but one”
>>> Gladiolus, Ignis, join the party
Reunion and Recovery
Noctis, Ignis and Gladiolus reach the monitoring room where they can see Prompto being held captive by the imperial. Of course, Noctis, Ignis and Gladiolus find their way to where the imperial held Prompto….
Arriving in front of the gate where Prompto being held captive, Verstael show up to welcome Noctis and others.
Verstael:
“Be careful prince Noctis, you may have not want to find out the truth about your friend here”
Noctis:
“Let Prompto go!”
Verstael:
“Of course, I have no reason to keep him here…. (pressing a button to open the gate where Prompto being held)…..
but the question is can you convince him to go?”
While Verstael take his leave, Prompto draw his gun and start attacking Noctis, Ignis and Gladiolus.
Noctis:
“Wait Prompto, What are you doing?!”
It seems that Prompto being under control by Verstael. Noctis, Ignis and Gladiolus don’t want to attack Prompto back so they decide to run away and chase Verstael to find out how they can help Prompto out of Verstael control. Noctis and friends reach a big area where Verstael board his giant mecha to defend himself. Noctis have to take out Verstael while avoiding Prompto’s attacks.
After the giant mecha destroyed, Verstael thrown out from the giant mecha and Prompto start to regain his control and consciousness.
Verstael:
“Such a waste, you could have been my greatest invention Prompto. If it is that you want, then you have no use for me. Begone!”
Verstael inject a serum into his body and transform into a demonic creature. Noctis reunite with all his friends and take Verstael down for good.
Noctis:
“What is wrong with this kingdom?!”
Gladiolus:
“At leat we now know what happens to those magitek troopers”
Ignis:
“Are you okay Prompto?”
Prompto:
“I’m okay…. I’m sorry to put you guys into trouble”
Noctis:
“It’s not your fault. You were under his control”
>>> Prompto join the party
Noctis and friends continue onward their exploration inside the Niflheim kingdom to find what keeping Noctis from drawing his armiger ability. On their way, Ignis notice a mysterious high pitched sound that he had heard at the train, just before Noctis finds out that he no longer able to use his armiger ability. This might be the reason Noctis cannot use his armiger ability. Ignis lead the way to the source of the sound and finally reach a locked door.
Noctis:
“Door’s locked”
Ignis:
“It is coming from within. Is there no way through?”
Prompto:
‘There’s a way”
Prompto open the locked door by scanning his wrist, revealing that Prompto is part of Niflheim troops.
Prompto:
“So, MTs…. they have these codeprints, just like I do. So, as it turns out, Verstael, the guy that we just took down, he is not just controlling my mind, he created me…. I’m one of them. Not exactly something I could tell people growing up in Lucis. Still… You guys are like the only friends I’ve ever known. I just hope that things can stay the way they were”
Noctis:
“Whatever…. who cares where you were born?”
Ignis:
“I don’t see you turning against us. Not now, or ever”
Prompto:
“Thanks guys…. Still, I can’t change where I came from. What I am”
Noctis:
“Since when does where you come from matter to you?”
Prompto:
“huh?”
Noctis:
“You never once treated my as a prince”
Gladiolus:
“He’s got you there”
Ignis:
“Never so much as a “highness””
Noctis:
“We’re done here. C’mon, crown citizen”
Gladiolus:
“You are one of us right?”
Ignis:
“Unless you’d rather not be”
Prompto relieve that even though his friends found out that he was an MT from Niflheim, his friend still accept him the way he is. Noctis and friends continue onward through the corridor from the gate that just opened by Prompto. Apparently, the corridor lead to the imperial throne.
Niflheim’s King
Inside the throne, Iedolas Aldercapt, the king of Niflheim kingdom sitting on his throne with Ardyn standing beside him.
Iedolas:
“Well well, nice of you to come and visit our lovely kingdom, prince Noctis. Should you have come with a proper notice, I could have prepare a better escort to accompany your touring at our capital”
Noctis:
“Cut the crap Emperor Iedolas! Where is the crystal?”
Iedolas:
“Is that the tone and manner of a Lucis prince to address a king from other kingdom? Learn your manners little brat”
Noctis:
“You are no king, you are just a coward hiding behind these walls while rely on other to finish your job, a lowly creature that betray my father just to steal our crystal”
Iedolas:
“Silence! Ardyn finish these brats”
Ardyn:
“Ckckckck…. My king, I am a chancellor not your henchmen. Following your order is not in my job description”
Iedolas: (standing up from his throne)
“What?! How dare you!”
Ardyn:
“Why don’t you just do it yourself? For once, you could just prove that Noctis is wrong and probably, it might be the best time to try out your newly found power that I gave”
Ardyn left Iedolas and walks away from the imperial throne room.
Ardyn:
“Oh by the way Noctis, once you deal with him. I’ll be waiting for you in the crystal room down below. Make sure you come”
Iedolas:
“Should’ve never trust that guy”
In an instance, Iedolas draw his gun and shooting madly. But Iedolas proven that he is no match compared to Noctis. In an instance, Iedolas fall and admit his defeat.
Noctis then destroy the machine that create the barrier that holding his armiger power.
Iedolas:
“That ring…. It is the only thing I miss…. It should completed my collection…. How dare you bring destruction to my kingdom….”
Noctis:
“You have brought it yourself”
The Crystal
Noctis and friends left Iedolas in the throne room mopping by himself and decide to find a way to the crystal room deep down below in the deepest floor of Niflheim kingdom.
Prompto:
“Just realized that you decide to rock the ring”
Noctis:
“Had to. No weapons, no friends, no choice, really. Y’know, somebody here’s got to fight and rescue the crystal…not to mention rescue all of your asses”
Gladiolus:
“Spoken like a true king. About time”
Ignis:
“The ring represents a great burden, but you don’t bear it alone”
Noctis:
“You can say that again. Especially now that you all have your weapons back”
Reaching the hangar that will lead to the central elevator room, Noctis and friends hearing some announcement made by Ardyn…
Ardyn:
“Your majesty, your precious crystal awaits you. To liven things up, I thought I’d take you on a stroll down memory lane. Of course, memories decay with time”
Ravus, who is now completely taken over by the demons, showing up to prevent Noctis and friends reach the central elevator.
Ravus:
“Kill me…. End it….”
Gladiolus:
“Is that Ravus?”
Prompto:
“Or what’s left of him….”
Noctis:
“Noooo….”
Ignis:
“I can no longer sense any human left of him…. he is all demon”
Noctis and friends fight together to bring down the demonic Ravus for good. Noctis deliver the final blow to end the demonic Ravus from moving forward.
Noctis:
“I am sorry Ravus…. I wish there is any other way…”
Ardyn:
“What will the ghost of Lunafreya think when she founds out that his beloved Noctis is the one who kill her brother? Must be so heartbreaking”
Noctis:
“I AM GONNA KILL YOU ARDYN!!!”
Ardyn:
“O really? I guess you have to come and get me first before the demons get you”
Gladiolus:
“Look alive - company!”
More demons appears to stop Noctis get into the central evelator room. After bashing countless demons, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto ask Noctis to move forward by himself while they prevent the demons from getting to Noctis.
Ardyn:
“O Prince… the crystal is waiting. You better think fast. I don’t envy you your decision”
To make things worse, the gate leading to the central elevator is closing. Although hesitated, Noctis decide to leave his friends and reaching to the central elevator by himself.
Ardyn:
“Betraying your friends for the greater good - the mark of monarch! Step forth, your Majesty! If you wish to obtain the crystal’s power, you must be preparef to lose all else”
Noctis left the hangar, watching his friends fighting the demons while the gate is closing in front of his face.
<<< Gladiolus, Ignis, Prompto left the party
Noctis then take the central elevator down to the crystal room but apparently he is not alone. A creepy monster suddenly chase Noctis out of nowhere. It turns out that the monster was Iedolas who fully turned into a demon.
Iedolas:
“I am the one True King…. My precious ring… It’s mine!”
Noctis:
“Iedolas?! You just don’t quit don’t ya?!”
After some fights, Noctis decide to run away from the demonic Iedolas, making his way directly to the central elevator, hoping to get the crystal as quickly as possible to purge the demons that are currently fighting with his friends. But the chase is not over, the demonic Iedolas breaking the roof of the moving elevator to get to Noctis. With the limited space inside the elevator, no where to warp out to escape, the demonic Iedolas cornered Noctis.
Iedolas:
“You have nowhere else to go little brat! Now give me…. the ring….”
Noctis:
“You want the ring so bad?! Here…. take it!”
Noctis punch his hand into the demonic Iedolas mouth and burst out Alterna spell from inside, blowing its head into pieces.
A moment later, the elevator arrive at the deepest part of Niflheim kingdom where the crystal lies….
Ardyn:
“Do you suppose your dear friends are still alive? Those who died for you - do you ever wonder what went through their minds? Can you even recall their final words?”
Noctis:
“I’ll come back for you all. I swear”
​
Noctis finally see the crystal in front of him. Without thinking too much, Noctis touch the crystal hoping the crystal would help him purge the demons…
Noctis:
“Please…. Help me stop the demons”
But suddenly the crystal pull and grab Noctis’s hand, pulling him into the crystal little by little…
Ardyn:
“Unharmed by the Light, The Chosen King, indeed. Allow me to regale you with a tale. In an age long past, an incurable scourge ravaged mankind. A tiny menace that twisted men into monsters, the likes of which you’ve seen. In Lucis lived a savior that could cure the afflicted. His body would come to host myriad daemons, that countless lives be spared. But a jealous king, one not yet chosen by the Crystal, ostracized and demonized this healer of the people. Making a true monster of him. I gave you my name earlier, but you should know that it was not the name given to me at birth. Ardyn Lucis Caelum is my proper name. You’ll never guess whose name Izunia was. Noct, killing you as a mortal will bring me scant satisfaction. Claim the Crystal’s power. Arise as its champion. Only once the Crystal and King are no more… can I know redemption. Come back soon. I shall keep your friends company until you are ready”
Noctis fully absorbed into the Crystal while his friends managed to catch up with Ardyn. Gladiolus slash him, Prompto shot him but Ardyn still alive and revealing that he is immortal demon. Ardyn then walks away and left the Crystal, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto…
Editor’s Note
The fact that SquareEnix decide to add more content to this chapter is the proof that the storytelling is handled miserably. Probably because they are confuse which part should maintain in the main game and which part should go to future paid DLC content. (-___- uughh). I just cannot accept the fact that they already charge us for the game but they still want us to pay more in order to get the completed version of the game. Even after they released "Chapter 13 verse 2", I didn't feel satisfied. Yeah rite, I don't think I want to wait for all those DLC contents released to get the whole story. For me, Final Fantasy 15 is messed up game in terms of storytelling. This is an RPG, the story should be completed in the game, not to be parted in future DLC contents. IMHO.
​
Anyway, in this chapter since Regalia never coming with Noctis and friends, so they have to breakthrough the Niflheim fortress by train. Which ended up by having the train flipped over, blown to pieces and made Noctis separated with his friends. In the end, Noctis being alone and desperation that led him wore the Ring of Lucii. But adding more scene to when he wear the ring for the first time bring a more emotional relation with his father, King Regis. The scene similar to when Nyx wear te ring in Kingsglaive: The Movie. The moment when the ring inside Noctis's finger, everything stop and faded to black, with the appearances of the Old Kings figures to determine whether the wearer valid enough to bear the power of Lucii. A bit different situation with Nyx when he is not valid descendant of Lucis to bear the ring but ended up given the power of Lucii because King Regis believe in him. Noctis is on the other hand is a valid ring bearer but doesn't have enough confidence and trust to wear it. Only in the moment of desperation he finally forced to wear it. It made the Old Kings angry to see such determination from Noctis and plan to burn Noctis to death. But, again, King Regis show up to save his son and ask the Old Kings to give him another chance. The situation when the ring is wore for the first time more or less similar between Nyx and Noctis which provide different protagonist reasoning to bear the power of Lucii.

The event where Ravus is sided with Noctis should be shown while he is still alive. I am really pissed that SquareEnix kill him off-screen and provide the background story about Ravus just from some writings on some papers laying on the ground where Ravus died. And, again, it is a really weird situation where you murder someone then you spoils written evidences on the crime scene. I kinda laugh when Ardyn threw some written papers after killing Ravus. Can't they think a better way to explain the situation? ooh okay, just throw some written papers on ground so the players can read it and understand the situation (-___- duhhh). My version is that Ravus is still alive by the time Noctis found him. And the fought along side-by-side that ended up Ravus killed the same way his mother died, by protecting someone else worthy protected. In this case, Ravus acknowledge Noctis for being better king by not abandoned him but instead fight together even though it may cost both of their lives. And in my version, Ravus really did hand-delivered the sword to Noctis while he is still alive. Not just a sword (even prepared by the culprit!) picked up beside a dead body on a crime scene. At least this way, Ravus could die in honor and have a more peaceful feeling since he completed his mission.
​
Since Noctis and friends got separated during a train wreck, a lot of things could happen. One of them is that apparently Prompto is also separated by himself. Noctis meet Gladio & Ignis just the way "Chapter 13 verse 2" explain but they are still missing Prompto. In search of Prompto, it is the best part to include Verstael, who is somehow missing from the game. I guess future Episode Prompto will explain that. But since I am pissed with these paid DLCs content idea, I just have to create my own version of Verstael appearance in the game. Verstael is the one who created Magitek Troopers (MT) including Prompto, which is the reason why he can control Prompto. The battle will be more challenging since you need to kill Verstael without killing Prompto. I have no idea why Niflheim people tied-up Prompto in a cell and do nothing about it. 

Also in this chapter, of course, we want to see the Niflheim emperor who put us in a witch-hunt from the beginning of the game, Iedola Aldercapt, in action! Not just his suit laying on his chair! I guess at this moment of the game I do realized that the developer is either very lazy or they no longer have time or energy or interest or money to develop further. The idea of meeting Iedolas before he transformed into demon is to have a better knowing about the way he talks and what he wants so that by the time we met with his demon version, we know for sure that the demon is Iedolas. In the game, Ignis is way too OP for recognizing and being sure that the monster Foraz is Iedolas without having known in person what Iedolas character in the first place. I guess Ignis gain a new superpower after being blind. Somehow, I also feel that Foraz was not supposed to be Iedolas when in development. There is no resemblances or relation or whatsoever between the appearance of Foraz and Iedolas IMHO.
​
But SquareEnix somehow making sure that the one Noctis fight next is Ravus because it still look like Ravus afterall, except the dark liquid on his half part of the body. Shouldn’t Iedolas look like this when transform into a demon? Oh well, probably the developer just too lazy to create new asset for demon version of Iedolas, then to save some time and energy, they chose one of the monster asset that have been developed to be the demon version of Iedolas. (-_____- ckckckck).
​
Added a more ambitious scene for Iedolas’s by having a one-on-one battle between Noctis and Iedolas after Iedolas transformed into a demon. Since Noctis have met the human version of Iedolas who seems to be overly-attracted to the ring, Noctis able to recognize that the demon chasing him was Iedolas because it is clearly said the same thing. The end for Iedolas should be related to the ring for a more impactful scene. Iedolas died by a blast from the Ring of Lucii, the ring that he wanted so bad…