Root of Nightmares, Essence

The Guardians search for Nezarec's body in its encasement.

Nezarec: [laughs ominously]

The Guardians proceed in search for Nezarec's body in its encasement.

Nezarec: Oh, you have arrived. Good.

The Guardians continue in search for Nezarec's body in its encasement.

Nezarec: I'm glad my messages reached you. I considered you might leave me here to rot, but we both know you Guardians can't resist unanswered questions. Or a challenge.

The Guardians continue exploring the Pyramid, "Essence", and enter the root.

Nezarec: Oh, these sensations! The tingle in my fingertips! This power is familiar, yet... different. Oh, it's invigorating.

The Guardians continue exploring the Pyramid, "Essence".

Nezarec: If I had a modicum of my original power, I'd have killed one — or three — of those citizens to expedite your arrival. Instead, I suffer from the incompetence of these... new recruits.

The Guardians proceed to cross the chasm (first message from this section).

Nezarec: Mmm... I can hear the shifting roots across the Pyramid's architecture. Taste the paracausality on my tongue. Progress.

The Guardians proceed to cross the chasm (second message from this section).

Nezarec: After that witch killed me and cursed my remains, I assume that's when she whisked away the Veil to Neptune. The coveted key to the Witness's plans... and the sapid secret of its first victims. As much as I loathe her, I must applaud her efforts.

The Guardians continue to cross the chasm (third message from this section).

Nezarec: Lightbearers have always seemed... efficient at creating their own chaos. Your Warlords did a masterful job of that. Do you enjoy hearing the final screams of your enemies? Screams are the most delicious when they're wrenched directly from the throat. An echo that reverberates through eternity. Aah... beautiful.

The Guardians continue to cross the chasm (fourth message from this section).

Nezarec: As I've gathered, there was barely anything left of me for the Witness to collect. Hmm... has anyone suffered from the pieces they took? I wonder if I could track them down. Do you happen to know who took them? Consider the information reparations for my untimely death.

The Guardians confront the Explicator and disrupt his influence.

Nezarec: Tear that useless sack of meat apart for me, won't you? He hasn't accomplished nearly as much as you in your short time here.

The Guardians traverse the roots to locate Nezarec's body at the place of his newfound power.

Nezarec: Such tenacious adventurers. It's fascinating to see the lengths you'll go to reach your goals. Emissaries of pain and death. It's inspiring.

The Guardians approach Nezarec's tomb.

Nezarec: I have been trapped for a very long time. Such a cruel fate for simple fulfilling my duties... don't you think? Free me. I want to experience this world with my... new perspective.

The Guardians confront Nezarec to lay him to his final rest.

Nezarec: [laughs maniacally] Oh, a shame we cannot entertain our one-sided conversations further! Ah, but this... this feels too good. Guardians! Let me devour your fear!

The Guardians defeat Nezarec, the Final God of Pain.

Nezarec: My memory will never extinguish. In your calmest moments, your deepest slumber... you will remember me, Guardians.

The Guardians approach Nezarec's weapon.

The scythe of infinite nightmares lies before you awaiting your cooperation.

With the Neomuni now free of Nezarec's influence, Osiris only has one question: Where has the Witness gone?

Osiris: While our attention was drawn to Neptune, something wicked stirred in the Witness's Pyramid... a life force thought to be lost, unknowingly revived by the Traveler's terraforming power. Its defensive display forever imprinted upon the vessel, the infamous "final god of pain" sought to use this paracausal power for his own curiosities. But it proved to be his final mistake. The people of Neomuna may now be free of Nezarec's influence, but the Cabal and Vex remain at their doorstep, though an unanswerable question remains of all our minds... Where has the Witness gone? We must begin our search in the pieces it has left behind. It will not succeed for as long as we remain in existence.

Neomuna, Hall of Heroes

Jisu Calerondo informs the citizens of Neomuna that Nezarec is dead.

Jisu Calerondo: Vanguard forces recently engaged an independent provocateur identified as "Nezarec" within a derelict Black Fleet vessel. Described as "the Final God of Pain" in pre-Collapse sources, he possessed potent psionic abilities. Authorities believes these abilities allowed him to access and disrupt CloudArk operations here in Neomuna.