Log.04: The Truth of V.IV Rusty and "Buddy" - The Trajectory of the Wolf Who Brought Dawn to Rubicon

© Bandai Namco Entertainment, © FromSoftware

Under the thorough exploitation by Extraterrestrial Corporations and the absolute violent control of the Planetary Closure Administration (PCA), the planet Rubicon 3 exists as a dystopia semi-permanently covered in ash and gunpowder smoke. On this harsh frontier planet, the product of Transhumanism known as Augmented Human technology has degraded humans into mere “parts” and “consumables,” giving rise to a sterile chain of violence devoid of free will. The value of life exchanged between corporations is nothing more than a number in credits, and mercenaries are treated as disposable pawns one after another. Yet, amidst such a gruesome battlefield system, there is an entity that emits an exceptionally distinct light and an intense existential brilliance: V.IV Rusty, the fourth squad commander of the Arquebus Corporation’s elite Augmented Human squad, the Vespers.

From the early stages of the story, he takes a strong interest in the protagonist, the Independent Mercenary C4-621 (Raven). Fighting shoulder-to-shoulder through numerous grueling missions, he addresses them with affection and respect as his “Buddy.” However, behind this approachable demeanor lies the coldly calculating face of a double agent, concealing a noble and self-sacrificing “Resolve” to achieve the liberation of Rubicon.

This report comprehensively integrates the fragmented archives hidden in the abyss of the game, the intentions behind his AC assembly, the iconography of his emblem, and the dynamic dialogues during combat to discuss how the man known as V.IV Rusty was constructed. Furthermore, it unravels the “philosophy of choice” he sought to find in 621 and the full picture of his resistance against the dystopia of corporate domination, strictly distinguishing between explicit “Facts” and the “Analyses” derived from them.

1. Feigned Loyalty: The Position and Contradictions of a “Hound” in the Corporate Domination Apparatus

In the Coral War set on Rubicon 3, the Arquebus Corporation is a giant Extraterrestrial Corporation attempting to seize hegemony through overwhelming technological prowess and political maneuvering. Operating in the shadows as the vanguard of this corporation is the Vespers, a task force composed of Augmented Humans.

1.1 [Fact] The Singularity of V.IV Within Arquebus and the Vespers

As an explicitly stated fact in the game, Rusty belongs to the Vespers and operates as an ace pilot bearing the fourth rank, “V.IV.” His rating in the virtual combat simulator “Arena” managed by ALLMIND is 09/B, objectively proving his exceptionally high combat capabilities. Since fighting alongside 621 in Operation Wallclimber early in the story, he sends encrypted communications at key moments, sometimes takes on diversionary tactics, and assumes the most critical role of dictating the tide of battle as the sniper of the Overed Rail Cannon (ORC) in the Ice Worm subjugation mission.

With the exception of V.I Freud (a non-Augmented Human), most members of the Vespers have undergone the latest Coral-substitution Augmented Human surgeries, ranging from the seventh to the tenth generation. The squad features pilots like V.II Snail and V.VIII Pater, who are ruthless, calculating, or harbor psychological distortions. As a matter of fact, when his colleagues V.V Hawkins and V.III O’Keeffe are killed in action, Pater briefly feigns sorrow before immediately rejoicing over his own promotion, exposing an abnormal psychological structure with a dual nature (suspected dissociative identity disorder). In a corporate military culture dominated by such madness and cold-bloodedness, Rusty’s calm, composed demeanor and unfailing respect for others make him stand out entirely within the squad.

While objectively evaluating V.II Snail’s abilities by warning, “Snail isn’t a high-ranking Vesper for nothing. Don’t let your guard down,” he clearly shows disgust toward the organization’s inhumane methods. In his communications, he sees through the fact that the corporate higher-ups are trying to conveniently dispose of him and 621 as entities that are “Too dangerous to keep around,” indicating that he always maintains a certain psychological distance within Arquebus.

1.2 Analysis: Rejection of the Corporation and Technological Independence Hidden in His Assembly

The assembly of Rusty’s initial AC, “STEEL HAZE,” conceals crucial clues to unraveling his internal standing and his rebellion against his affiliated organization. Depicted here is the resistance of Transhumanism—an attempt to preserve one’s identity while being subordinated to a system.

As an in-game fact, the frame of STEEL HAZE is uniformly composed of the lightweight “NACHTREIHER” parts manufactured by Schneider, an Arquebus group company. Additionally, its armaments employ kinetic weapons manufactured by Belius Applied Weapon Systems (BAWS, a local Rubiconian corporation) and energy weapons from VCPL. The critically important fact here is that, despite being a member of the Vespers, his AC incorporates absolutely no core parts, frames, or weapons directly manufactured by the Arquebus headquarters (such as Arquebus ADD).

The first analysis derived from this fact is tactical suitability. Schneider is a corporation with an eccentric design philosophy focused on the pursuit of aerodynamic characteristics, mobility, and aerial combat capabilities, which perfectly suits Rusty’s combat style of “extreme hit-and-run and ultra-high-speed combat.” However, secondly, and as a more essential analysis, the intentional exclusion of mainstream Arquebus parts is presumed to be an unconscious or deliberate manifestation of the “psychological rejection” he harbors toward the corporation. While outwardly acting as a loyal Hound of Arquebus, he thoroughly distanced the “colors” of Arquebus from the machine to which he entrusted his life.

1.3 Analysis: The Exception in Naming Conventions and the Implication of “617”

As a further notable fact, many of the pilot names in the Vespers are derived from prominent historical artists and thinkers, such as Freud (psychoanalyst), Maeterlinck (playwright), Swinburne (poet), and Pater (critic). However, there is no clear historical figure serving as the source for the name “Rusty.”

As an analysis of this exceptional fact, it is suggested that the motif might be a painting of a wolf titled Rusty by the painter Leon Kelly. Astonishingly, the catalog number of this painting is “617.” In the story trailer for this game, one of the squad members who launched a suicide attack on the PCA’s laser artillery as Handler Walter’s Hound and was wiped out (or left with an unknown fate) was “617.” In the depths of Rusty’s existence, there is a link to the sorrow of being a “disposable weapon,” just like the nameless Augmented Humans who perished as Walter’s dogs. This can be interpreted as the source of the unique empathy he later directs toward 621 (a Fourth-Generation Augmented Human).

2. Uncle and Nephew: The Rubicon Liberation Front (RLF) and the Mechanics of Covert Operations

Rusty’s true affiliation is with the Rubicon Liberation Front (RLF), a local Rubiconian faction that advocates for coexistence with Coral. How did he slip through the strict background checks of the mega-corporation Arquebus and infiltrate its core, the Vespers? The answer lies in the intelligence network of the RLF’s de facto leader, his “uncle,” Middle Flatwell.

2.1 [Fact] Schneider’s HR Network and Flatwell’s Covert Maneuvers

According to facts explicitly stated in in-game data logs and Arena descriptions, Middle Flatwell operated covertly as a spy against Extraterrestrial Corporations and had “extremely influential connections (pipelines) within Schneider’s human resources department.” Furthermore, Rusty’s own Arena description clearly states that he was “Discovered through the recruitment program operated by Schneider.”

The historical and causal analysis derived from this is as follows. Flatwell maximized his connections to elaborately forge the background of Rusty, a native Rubiconian with outstanding AC piloting skills. By routing him through the recruitment program of Schneider, an Arquebus group company, he bypassed the scrutiny of the Arquebus headquarters’ audits and planted him into the Vespers. It is highly probable that Rusty, while probing the trends of Coral exploration from within the squad, secretly laundered the massive rewards (mercenary earnings) he obtained as a high-ranking Vesper and remitted them to local Rubiconian corporations like Elcano Foundry, thereby economically supporting the military expansion of the RLF.

2.2 Fact and Iconography: What the “Muzzled Wolf” Emblem Signifies

Rusty’s emblem during his time in the Vespers is a masterpiece that visually expresses his extreme psychological state as a double agent.

As a fact, this emblem depicts a “muzzled wolf” amidst bluish hues. The background uses the “shield” motif, which is the common standard for the Vespers. The wolf’s eyes are lifeless, and its sharp fangs are completely sealed by the muzzle.

The analysis derived from this design is an extremely self-deprecating and symbolic declaration of intent: he is an undercover operative for the Rubicon Liberation Front, “intentionally playing the role of a watchdog (Hound) that hides its true nature and blindly obeys the corporation.” The wolf, which should be a symbol of the wild and rebellion, has muzzled itself and is pretending to be tamed. His emblem is a visualization of the existential agony of having to play a role assigned by others (the corporation), and the quiet murderous intent to one day shatter that muzzle and raise the banner of rebellion.

2.3 [Analysis] The Extreme Pressure and Cold-Bloodedness of a Multiple Agent

While showing an approachable face as a “Buddy,” it is also his true nature to make cold-blooded decisions for the sake of his goals.

As a fact, Rusty flexibly changes his stance for his objectives, acting like a bat. At times, he participates in operations where RLF members are sacrificed, and he does not hesitate to strike down his compatriots with his own hands. This does not mean he is heartless; rather, it indicates that he has fully prepared himself to intentionally kill and sacrifice even his own ethics and personal emotions for the “greater purpose” of the RLF’s dearest wish.

In order for an individual to resist within the overwhelming system of a giant Extraterrestrial Corporation, one has no choice but to degrade oneself into a cold, machine-like “cog” and completely isolate one’s emotions. This sorrow and spirit of self-sacrifice, characteristic of dystopian sci-fi, are precisely the factors that make him a hardboiled avenger rather than just a “good-natured older brother figure.”

3. The Mirror Named “Buddy”: Existentialism and the Philosophy of Choice

The most important element that philosophically defines the character of Rusty is the appellation “Buddy” he directs at the protagonist C4-621, and the existential questioning behind it.

3.1 [Analysis] Why Does He Call Them “Buddy”?

Independent Mercenaries and Old-Generation Augmented Humans on Rubicon 3 are literally treated as “dogs” or “objects” by Extraterrestrial Corporations and employers. In fact, the Redguns’ commander G1 Michigan yells at his subordinates, calling them “Maggots,” and Handler Walter dismissively calls 621 a “Hound.” In such a world of absolute hierarchy and exploitation, Rusty treats 621—whom he has just met and who does not even speak a word—as an equal human being, a “Buddy.”

A powerful metaphor of a mirror image exists here. As mentioned earlier, Rusty himself was an entity playing the role of a “muzzled dog” within the corporate system. Perhaps he superimposed his own image of being tamed by the corporation onto 621, who dispassionately exercised violence and survived deadly situations solely on the orders of their owner, Walter. That is precisely why he directs not mere sympathy toward 621, but persistently questions their “own will.”

3.2 [Fact] The Pinnacle of Trust and Skill in the Ice Worm Subjugation

In the final phase of Chapter 3, during the subjugation mission of the giant C-Weapon “IA-02: ICE WORM” dropped by the Planetary Closure Administration (PCA), a strange bedfellows operation unfolds among the corporations. As a fact, in this operation, Rusty is solely entrusted with the role of the sniper for the Overed Rail Cannon (ORC) providing rear support.

His dialogue in this mission explicitly demonstrates his overwhelming skill and his absolute trust in 621.

• “Shield loss confirmed… I won’t miss.”
• “Disabling limiter…! 100, 110… 115… Rail Cannon at maximum output. All or nothing!”
• “It’s all on you now, buddy!”

As an interesting fact, in a pinch where the player’s (621’s) AP drops below approximately 30%, he shows concern by saying, “Don’t die on us now, buddy. This operation will fail without you.” If the player fails to strip the shield in one strike, he encourages them with, “Stay cool, buddy.”

During the operation, there is a moment where he receives a scouting offer from the Redguns’ commander G1 Michigan, to which he replies, “Sure is an honor to be praised by the Redguns’ ‘Hell on Four Legs’…but I’ll pass,” lightly brushing it off. This is because corporate turf wars and promotions are nothing more than trivial games to him, whose goal is the true liberation of Rubicon. The only thing he truly respects and trusts is the “undeniable strength and potential” of 621, an Independent Mercenary bearing no organizational banner.

3.3 [Fact] The Rupture at Watchpoint Alpha and the Existential Question

At Depth 3 of Watchpoint Alpha in Chapter 4, “Underground Exploration,” Rusty, under orders from Arquebus, finally stands in the way to eliminate 621.

As a fact, at the beginning of this battle, he confesses that it is an agonizing decision, saying, “I don’t want to dance to their tune, but this time, I don’t have any other choice.” The Arquebus higher-ups intended to have 621, an uncontrollable Independent Mercenary, and Rusty, who was under internal investigation, destroy each other as two dangerous entities (“Two birds with one stone”).

Furthermore, if certain conditions are met (completing RLF-leaning missions in NG+ or later), his “uncle” Middle Flatwell interrupts this battle, turning it into an irregular 1-on-2 fight. As a fact, while Flatwell shows an attitude akin to pleading with Rusty not to kill them (621), he realizes that Rusty cannot back down under the corporation’s surveillance, and as a result, they both turn their blades against 621.

In this duel, Rusty poses the following critically important questions to 621:

• “You’re sharp…but that’s not the only thing that makes you dangerous. I’ve fought alongside you several times, but I never could figure you out. Tell me, buddy. What drives you?”
• “Rubicon still needs me. So, buddy. Who needs you?“

3.4 [Analysis] The Demand for an Existential Leap

The French Existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre argued that “existence precedes essence.” This is the philosophy that humans are not given a purpose (essence) at birth, but must define themselves through their own choices and actions.

The Augmented Human C4-621 was literally brain-fried and created as a “tool whose essence preceded its existence,” solely to obey Walter’s commands. Rusty, on the other hand, is also treated as a “tool” of Arquebus within the social structure. However, by choosing the autonomous purpose of the “liberation of Rubicon” of his own free will, Rusty achieves a leap from a tool to an “existing human being.”

He is demanding the same leap from 621. It is a fundamental question: “Who are you fighting for? Will you die as a dog that merely follows its handler’s orders, or will you choose something of your own will?” It can be interpreted that Rusty was not simply trying to eliminate 621, but was attempting to draw out the “free will” that should lie at the “bottom” of 621 amidst the extreme conditions of battle. That is exactly why he continued to call them “Buddy” to the very end, even while crossing blades.

4. Project ALBA: Technological Usurpation and the Reversal of Transhumanism

As the story approaches its climax and Arquebus bares its fangs to seize all the Coral on Rubicon, Rusty also completely defects from the corporation. When he reappears, he is piloting an entirely new, state-of-the-art AC, “STEEL HAZE ORTUS.” Behind this machine lies a fierce covert struggle between corporations and an astonishing drama of technological usurpation by the oppressed.

4.1 [Fact] Elcano Foundry and the Stolen Data

As a fact, the “ALBA” frame adopted for ORTUS was developed in top secret by the local Rubiconian corporation “Elcano Foundry.” No Arquebus-affiliated parts are used whatsoever.

The development history of this machine is intertwined with the conspiracies of multiple corporations.

• Fact 1: The ALBA frame was designed by “stealing and analyzing” the latest AC data from Schneider, an Arquebus group company, and optimizing it for aerial combat capabilities.
• Fact 2: The machine’s Attitude Control System received technological provisions from the Extraterrestrial Corporation Furlong Dynamics.
• Fact 3: In the archive “Message for Uncle,” it is suggested that the new machine was completed thanks to technological support from Furlong.

4.2 [Analysis] The Grudge of the Jupiter War and the Structure of a Proxy War

As a historical analysis derived from this, the mystery of why Furlong, a giant Extraterrestrial Corporation, secretly cooperated with weak local organizations like the RLF and Elcano is solved. Behind this lies the grudge from the past “Jupiter War.”

During the Jupiter War, the Furlong armed fleet was a massive military force that included G1 Michigan and others, but ultimately, they fell behind in the inter-corporate competition against Arquebus and Balam Industries. While outwardly feigning neutrality, Furlong was secretly supporting the Rubicon Liberation Front as a pawn in a proxy war to chip away at the forces of the Redguns (Balam) and Arquebus on Rubicon without getting their own hands dirty. The miraculous machine that materialized from Flatwell’s intelligence network, the data Rusty extracted (or stole) from within Schneider, and Furlong’s funding and technology—that was ALBA.

4.3 [Analysis] The “Artisan Flair of Rebellion” Embedded in ORTUS

As a fact, the part descriptions for ALBA mention that it demonstrates “Elcano’s artisan flair.”

In dystopian sci-fi, reclaiming the advanced technology of the ruling class (megacorporations) through hacking or theft and reconstructing it as weapons for the underclass is a classic cyberpunk trope. Rusty pilots a machine built by the manual labor and sheer tenacity of native Rubiconian artisans, based on the Schneider aerial combat data he gathered as a spy. This is not merely a change of AC; it is the physical embodiment of the resistance philosophy: “Use the ruler’s system to strike down the ruler themselves.”

The fact that the only equipment he carries over to ORTUS is the “Laser Slicer,” an Arquebus (VCPL-made) weapon, is highly intriguing. Analytically, this can be interpreted as it being completely ingrained in his body as a piloting habit, while simultaneously serving as an expression of atonement and resolve: “I will not forget the bloodstained past of my time in the Vespers (or I will condemn them using that very power).“

5. The Unleashed Wolf and the Dawn: The Symbolism of the Emblem and Names

Along with the change of his AC to ORTUS, Rusty’s emblem also undergoes a dramatic transformation. This change boasts some of the highest perfection in the game’s art and symbol design, speaking of his inner self with an eloquence beyond words.

5.1 Fact and Iconography: The Silent Wolf and the Banner of Liberation

As a fact, in the new emblem engraved on ORTUS, the muzzle that bound the wolf’s mouth has been completely removed. The bluish fur indicating oppression has changed to a wild ash-black, the seemingly dead eyes now harbor a strong light (vitality), and its fangs are bared. Furthermore, the background has been changed from the Vespers’ “shield” to the “Banner” common to all RLF pilots (such as Father Dolmayan, Middle Flatwell, and Rokumonsen).

As an analysis, the removal of the muzzle is, needless to say, a direct metaphor for “baring one’s true fangs” and “acquiring freedom.” Additionally, in natural ecology, it is known that the “Wolf” and the “Raven” share a symbiotic relationship. It is an interdependent relationship where the raven spots prey from above and guides the wolf to the hunt, and after the wolf takes down the prey, the raven gets the leftovers. The relationship in which Rusty (the wolf) is repeatedly guided in operations by the player C4-621 (Raven), helping each other survive deadly situations, brilliantly embodies this ecological metaphor, highlighting FromSoftware’s meticulous symbolic design.

5.2 [Analysis] The Etymology of ORTUS and ALBA and Their Musical Synergy

As a fact, in Latin, “ORTUS” means “Sunrise” or “a new beginning.” Also, in Spanish, “ALBA” means “dawn.”

Why “dawn”? The analysis derived from this is that it forms a striking contrast with the name of the AC bearing the title of the true Independent Mercenary Raven in this game, which is “NIGHTFALL.” The former Raven (NIGHTFALL) brought about an information leak on Rubicon, consequently inviting the “long night (darkness and bloodshed)” of the endless Coral War to the planet.

Rusty entrusted the very name of his AC with a fierce sense of mission: to drag Rubicon out of the darkness of corporate domination and guide it to a new “sunrise (ORTUS/ALBA),” whether alongside 621, who inherited the name Raven, or even by confronting them.

As a fact, the lyrics of his battle theme Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) (composed by Kota Hoshino) include the following passages:

• “My steel core peeling away / All my blood / Let me rise / Rusted pride”
• “Watch the sun rise in the dawn… I fly high”

These lyrics prove that the ideology of him stripping away the false armor (steel core) of the Vespers, reclaiming his rusted pride, and taking flight toward the dawn of Rubicon permeates deeply even to the level of the BGM.

6. Two Endings: The Consequences of Choice and “Flight”

The story of ARMORED CORE VI branches in its final stages depending on the player’s (621’s) choices. Rusty’s fate also meets two extreme conclusions based on 621’s “choices.” What is noteworthy is that in neither route do Rusty’s behavioral principles and his goal of liberating Rubicon waver in the slightest.

6.1 Route A: Despair and Respect in the Fires of Raven

Inheriting the wills of Cinder Carla and Handler Walter, 621 makes the terrifying decision to burn all the Coral on Rubicon along with the cosmos. Standing as the final wall before 621—who single-handedly annihilated the Extraterrestrial Corporations’ interception fleet beyond the atmosphere (the Kármán line)—is Rusty, piloting STEEL HAZE ORTUS.

Dialogue as Fact:

• ”…And just where did this resolve come from? You must have chosen something… sacrificed something… You found your purpose, didn’t you, buddy?!”
• “I won’t stop. I’m gonna chase the clouds from over Rubicon. Only I can fly high enough!”

Analysis:

Here, Rusty realizes that 621, confronting him, is no longer blindly obeying as Walter’s “pet dog,” but has “chosen” their terrifying decision (the incineration of all Coral and the annihilation of the Rubiconians) with firm resolve. Rusty understands 621’s heavy decision and clashes it head-on with his own decision to “save Rubicon.”

His blood-curdling cry, “Only I can fly high enough,” is not merely a boast of the ALBA frame’s anti-air performance. It is a cry of existential resolve: that he alone bears a “Heavy purpose” capable of shouldering the future of Rubicon and taking on both all the Extraterrestrial Corporations and his worst friend (Raven) who seeks to burn the world, and that he alone can reach the heights of space.

Upon defeat, his final words are, “Farewell, buddy. Things will change—but I’ll remember you.” To the very end, he does not flatly deny or resent 621’s choice; whether it be madness or anything else, he pays his utmost respect to them as a human being with a will, before scattering into the cosmos.

6.2 Route B: The Ultimate Joint Struggle in the Liberator of Rubicon

On the other hand, in the route where 621 heeds the wish of the Coral wave mutation Ayre and throws everything away to rebel against the corporations in order to protect the Coral and the Rubiconians, Rusty rushes in as the greatest possible ally.

Dialogue as Fact: During the mission to destroy the power block of the giant Coral plant “Xylem,” ORTUS flies in before 621, who is fighting a solitary battle against a countless Arquebus fleet and the Smart Cleaner.

• “Never thought I’d be rubbing shoulders with the liberator of Rubicon… Let’s show them there’s a future for Rubicon beyond these scorched skies.”

Analysis:

In this route, Rusty receives the ultimate answer from 621 to the question he posed in Chapter 4: “What drives you?” 621 severed Walter’s curse and chose the “liberation of Rubicon” of their own free will. For Rusty, there is no greater hope and joy than this. The two resonating ACs set out together to crush Arquebus’s ambitions.

During the mission, communications come in showing RLF soldiers rising up one after another in response to Raven’s (621’s) uprising. This means that the revolution in the consciousness of the Rubiconians that Rusty desired was triggered in a chain reaction by the catalyst that is 621.

However, after the gruesome decisive battle with V.II Snail, Rusty’s communication, having taken on the remaining forces of the Arquebus fleet, abruptly cuts off following the sounds of fierce combat. His life or death is not explicitly depicted in the game. Yet, the role he fulfilled—single-handedly stalling the Extraterrestrial Corporations’ superweapons and fleet, and inciting the uprising of the Rubiconians—was the very act of clearing the dark clouds and calling forth the “dawn (ALBA).” Through his self-sacrificing devotion, Rubicon escapes the shackles of corporate domination for the first time in its long history.

Conclusion: V.IV Rusty as the Symbol of “Free Will” Resisting the System

The work ARMORED CORE VI depicts a world of thorough macro-level violence and nihilism, where an individual’s life holds less value than credits. The player, C4-621, is also thrown into a system that consumes them as a “commodity,” beginning the story as an entity that merely follows orders.

In this utterly ruthless dystopian worldview, the impact that a single man named V.IV Rusty had on the player and the characters in the story is immeasurable. He perfectly embodies the philosophical themes of this work on the following three levels:

1. Political and Sociological Rebellion (Resistance Against Dystopia) He voluntarily infiltrated the absolute ruler, Arquebus, siphoned their technology (Schneider’s latest data) and funds from within, and forged them into “ORTUS,” a sword for the oppressed (the RLF). This was a brilliant system hack that turned the mechanisms of capitalism and corporate domination against themselves, serving as the most rational resistance tactic for the weak to overthrow the strong.

2. Preservation of the “Soul” in Transhumanism While the majority of pilots who underwent Augmented Human surgery (or direct interference with their cranial nerves via Coral-substitution technology) saw their humanity diluted and fell into madness, Rusty never lost his extremely human passion and ethics to “save his homeland and liberate the oppressed” until the very end. Even with his body and brain connected to the system and turned into a cyborg, he never surrendered his existential essence (soul) to the corporation.

3. Completion as an Existentialist Hero By continuously asking 621, “Who needs you?” and “What is your purpose?”, he strongly urged the player themselves to break away from being a “machine that merely follows orders” to becoming a “human who chooses their own fate and ending.” The reason he unsparingly bestowed the word “Buddy” was none other than his desire for a solidarity of souls between those possessing free will who had deviated from the system, rather than a mutual licking of wounds between cogs incorporated into the system.

V.IV Rusty was a “wolf” who would deceive himself and sometimes resort to ruthless means for the sake of his goals. However, at the root of his cold-blooded tactics was an unconditional love for the cinder-covered planet of Rubicon, and a deep understanding and fraternity toward a single nameless mercenary crawling through the same hell. The trajectory of STEEL HAZE, which removed its own muzzle and soared high into the sky of its own free will, etched the undeniable light of “dawn (ORTUS)” into the darkness-shrouded history of Rubicon. It can be concluded that the resonance of the word “Buddy” he left on the battlefield is the ultimate hymn to humanity, affirming the dignity of all human existence that seeks to resist the system and choose freedom.