Duster had stood near the back throughout almost the entire confrontation, the entire fight, and now he was prepared to wait and let the others do the talking. That is, he had until everyone started telling that they were tired of listening to her, because she was a monster, because she was arrogant--and they were right. People like her and Porky existed in the dying worlds of Crystallis and the Nowhere Islands, and for what reason?

Duster didn't know, so he stepped forward. He had a chance to finally speak to her as a person, rather than a target of her power.

"I knew someone similar to you," he said softly before straightening up and raising his voice. "Someone who was immortal, who couldn't die. The world was his playground, and he hated everyone in it. By the time I met him, he was ready to destroy all of existence out of boredom...never caring about the lives he ruined to complete his plans.

"Kalki...what are you going to do if there is no life or death? If nothing changes? Are you going to wish things were different and erase everything? Are you going to suffer for all of eternity and wish you did something different?

"The point is...so what if suffering still exists? That's life. Everyone here has had hardships, me, you, Cid...those hardships taught us things, for good or for worse."

He fidgeted with the hem of his vest and sighed.

"...I think I can say I feel pity towards you, but at the same time, I can't forgive you for what you did to this world. Because of you, thousands have died.

"But." He looked into Ramza-Kalki's eyes. "They still live on. Haven't you seen the cities they're rebuilt? Despite everything, they refuse to give up. They found a new joy in supporting each other and surviving. Humans...humans are stronger than you think. For so many years, we're endured hardships, but that doesn't make life any less precious.

"Your goal is to turn the world into one devoted to eternity...We want one devoted to life."