Part 9: Super Viguro Bros

Update 9: Super Viguro Bros








Music: Voz Forest


I feel something...I feel Songi's presence! Songi is here! Vahn, Noa, I need you two to promise me something! Even if Songi appears before you, don't fight him. I know this is asking a lot, but...If a Seru possesses his soul as you say, then I want to be the one to take care of him. I will detain you no longer. Come, let's hurry!


I get that Songi and Gala are rivals for life and all, but I don't see a Gala solo battle going very well. Maybe it will be one of those things where the game expects Gala to lose.





There are a few new enemies around. Twin Tombs confuse me a little; their damage output seems to be wildly inconsistent. They can do upwards of 75 damage, or as little as 20, assuming all hits land. Noa couldn't quite one-round (well, two-round with Spirit) them at first, but then she gained a level and gained just enough power to finish one off with a single Tempest Break.





Gizam has a water attack that I like. It's not really that powerful though it can hurt Vahn a fair bit if he isn't Spiriting.

I mentioned before that Vahn and Fire Seru do reduced damage to each other because they are the same element. Well, Vahn and Water/Ice Seru do more damage to each other because they are opposing elements. I think it's also harder for Vahn to learn Gizam than it is for Noa, though I might be mistaken; I'm also just about certain that he has decreased power with Gizam's magic. In other words, Vahn is good at killing Gizam but sucks with its magical properties.

I managed to get both Vahn and Noa to learn Gizam. I also got Vahn to learn Nighto. Sadly, I forgot to actually use them to show them off. I'll get around to it someday. Really!





Mushrins are able to inflict Venom but that's about it. However, it's worth noting that I previously said that Healing Mushrooms are finite in supply, and it turns out I was wrong; Mushrins drop them as well.







East Voz Forest has several of these prickly plants blocking the path at various places. However, this super awesome Weed Hammer can destroy them! It's one of the more fun dungeon gimmicks because who doesn't like smashing fragile shit?







And here are some goodies you can get from blocked off areas. I should really have someone chug these waters down.





This prevents Venom. I don't really think Venom is that worrisome to begin with, so I'm not that thrilled, but it might sell for something once I find something better.





Finally, a weapon for Gala! This boosts his strength substantially (15 points, versus Noa's current weapon which boosts her attack by 9). I think Gala is finally shaping up to be a respectable character!

Also, I apologize for all these treasure chest shots, but the forest is really not that different from West Voz (besides the excellent hammer and color shift) so there's not really much to show off that we haven't seen already.





Eventually we reach a path heading north for a long time, and...





Vahn! Gala! It's the Genesis Tree! And it's alive! The Genesis Tree is still alive!

This Genesis Tree does seem different from the one in West Voz Forest. Did Songi find this Genesis Tree? Or did the Genesis Tree mislead him into taking a wrong turn somewhere?


...huh? What does that even mean?







Music: Songi's Theme


Gala! I knew you'd come! You're so predictable! How thoughtful of you to come all the way here to check up on me! I'm flattered! But don't worry about me! I'm the picture of health – physically and mentally! I may be wearing a Seru, but I haven't done anything stupid like let it control me! This is a special Seru! It gives me pure energy, extraordinary power! Gala, you're no match for me now! Fight me! I'll destroy you just like I destroyed Biron Monastery!

That's it! I'm gonna knock your block off, Songi! Let me at him!

Noa! You promised to leave him to me, remember?





You...You are not the Songi I know! You're nothing but a bloodthirsty beast! I don't know what happened to you, but you are obviously devoid of a human spirit. If you want to fight me that badly, then I'll fight you! I'll beat the evil out of you and return you to normal! Now fight me!


The thing about everyone's shock/denial about Songi's evil evilness is that we're never given a reason for anybody to have ever trusted the jerkwad in the first place. It feels off when Gala talks about returning Songi to normal, because evil Songi IS normal Songi.

Also, Songi has a spitting animation, which he uses at this time.


You hopeless simpleton! You still don't understand the situation! Well I'll show you! I'll hammer it into that thick skull of yours!





The two have a “fight” which consists of Gala punching Songi, Songi turning black (to signify that Gala missed? I dunno) and Songi punching Gala to the ground.


Gala, I thought you were stronger than that! You're not even a worthy opponent! This is ridiculous. Absurd! You need more practice. You're not even worth dirtying my hands over. I'll leave you to one of my cohorts! Have a nice, enjoyable, pleasant...death!





Music: Battle Theme


So now we get to fight these assholes.









The Viguros are nasty. Thunder Break does about 60 damage if you Spirited that turn, and a whopping 240 if you haven't. That's a good third to half of my character's hit points, and there are two Viguros to contend with.





And when they don't do that they'll smack you around with their arms for a good hundred to 250 damage. These guys really aren't kidding around with their attacks.





Needless to say, I saw Vera a few times in this fight.





Now, Gala has gotten some levels and a weapon, so he's not the total joke he once was. However, he's still really not up to snuff to participate in this battle as a combatant.

With that said, he can still make himself useful as a utility character. I need to get rid of one of these Viguros as soon as I can, meaning I want Vahn and Noa on the offense as much as possible (which is to say something like 1/3 turns between Spiriting and damage control). He can't use Vera, but he can pop healing items instead, and I've still got all those Healing Shrooms that Noa gave me before on top of several Leaves if I need them.

I also still have him with the Ra-Seru Egg, which you may recall decreases thunder damage taken. Gala is also a Thunder elemental himself, meaning that the Viguros deal like one third the damage to him that they would to Vahn or Noa. It might be more practical to give the Egg to Vahn or Noa instead, but I decided to maximize Gala's survivability instead.





I haven't really talked about AP yet. AP is what you use to perform Arts. Using Spirit charges 32 AP, and you also gain AP when you get damaged (you also gain less AP on turns you don't Spirit...I forget how much, though).

I normally try to hold back my Arts use just a little to keep my AP up at it's max of 100. However, you also gain AP when you take damage. I take a ton of damage in this fight, and thus everyone's AP regenerates very quickly, so I can have Vahn spam double Tornado Flames every other turn, which I think is stronger than anything else he could be doing.





God damn, that was tough. And it's far from the hardest fight I'm going to get myself in to...





You're holding everyone down! As a fellow Biron monk, I'm ashamed! You were so bad, I was ashamed to even watch! Oh, I've had enough! I'm going home! Let's play together again another time, Gala...if a wussy like you can even manage to stay alive, that is! Ha ha ha!


Songi flip-jumps up the mountain and out of our lives...for now.


What an insolent man!

I hate him!

But Songi's Seru, that definitely was a...Nevermind! We don't have time to talk ! We must revive the Genesis Tree!





Music: The Genesis Tree

Music: Reviving a Genesis Tree















Finally, the Mist Generator is revealed!





It's a Ra-Seru!





Ra-Seru! Is it me you have chosen? Very well! I submit myself to you! To defeat Songi, the villain who attacked Biron Monastery...I submit myself to you, Ra-Seru! Take me!





Music: The Ra-Seru Speak


I am a Ra-Seru. I sense you do not wish to open up your mind to me. Please do not fear me! We Ra-Seru exist only to lend our strength to humans, not control them. Your mind will remain your own. I will not tamper with it. And besides, I have chosen you. Just as you submit yourself to me, I entrust you with my very destiny. Never forget that! Gala, I am counting on you, and the future that you will create for us.





I feel it! I feel the strength in my arms! The Ra-Seru's strength! Vahn! We must return to Biron Monastery! I fear for Master Zopu's safety.

I hope the Genesis Tree's powers reached Biron.


And the game mercifully takes us straight back instead of making us fight our way out. I get to keep that Door of Light for another time, it seems!





Music: Biron Monastery


Biron has been freed from the Mist. I thank you again. But you, Master Teacher! You defied the teachings of Biron and wore a Seru. As ruler of the Biron Order, I cannot forgive you. I hereby excommunicate you!

...I understand. I was prepared for that.

Zopu, what does “excommunication” mean?

(Silence)

Noa, it means I'm no longer welcome at Biron Monastery.

What?! That's not right! Gala didn't do anything bad! How can you kick him out after he fought so hard for us? Zopu, that's wrong!

Noa, stop! Zopu is only doing what he must. Monks like me all take a vow to obey certain rules. I broke those rules, and so I cannot be a monk of Biron anymore.

That's OK, Gala! Vahn and I won't ever turn our backs on you!





Vahn!





I heard about what you did. That's really something! I'm so proud of you. I also heard that the Genesis Tree caused the Mist in the northwest valley to thin, revealing a strange castle.





Silly! You have more important things to do than worry about a middle-aged woman like me. And you call yourself Val's son? You call yourself a native of Rim Elm? After traveling so far with Noa and Master Teacher and meeting so many people...Don't you feel anything? Is your heart made of stone? I am not going back to Rim Elm! If you won't go to the castle, then I'll go instead!


You know...as much as I like Mei, I really don't like Maya a whole lot. Actually, I think my dislike of Maya is partly because I like Mei. Seriously, what's it going to take to get you to go visit your daughter? And you accuse me of having a heart of stone? Yeesh.


Ha ha ha! They've completely ignored me, too. Hmm. It was ten years ago when that castle was built and the Mist flowed into this region. Unless we destroy that castle, the Mist will never go away and more tragedies will occur. I am sure of it. Vahn, Noa. I'm counting on your Ra-Seru. And you, too, Gala. I want you to take care of Songi! Even if it means wearing a Seru against the rules of Biron. You and Songi...You are two of my dearest pupils. Like my own flesh and blood!





I like how this game uses (parentheses) to denote things at times. In particular, I like how it does that instead of ellipses for silence. I can't say it's necessarily better or worse than anything else, it's just unusual and I guess that's refreshing somehow.





Now you're acting like someone from Rim Elm! I'm counting on you! Good luck, all of you. I'll be waiting here for your safe return.





The store has a lot of new equipment. I bought Vahn and Noa's weapons and Vahn's headgear. I'll spend a little time grinding up some more money to see what else I can get. Gala could definitely stand some armor.





And I think that's about it for this update.

Oh, and it's about time I formally asked – who should I give all these waters to? My current plan is to give Noa the power/defense/HP ones and Gala the speed/agility ones, with no real preference for who gets INT/MP ones (probably Vahn just so I don't feel like I'm neglecting him). Does that sound okay or does anyone have any other preferences?