7th Dragon III Code: VFD Part #25 - Update XXIII - Featuring: The exact same dungeon

Part 25: Update XXIII - Featuring: The exact same dungeon

Update XXIII - Featuring: The exact same dungeon

Music: Ladyin - Sacred Tranquility

What immense power...!

Now that we've killed one (1) (uno) dragon in front of Ulania and Tallieri, their doubts have completely vanished.

Nice job, Unit 13!

The burning light of hope that I felt from you...

Lady Ulania...?

*nods*

I see. Then I will promise as well... I shall revive the power of the Dragonslayer.

Please wait, Lady Ulania! You must not heed their reckless words...!

We have not let despair's grip upon us loosen... and even meant to destroy our own kingdom. However, these people are different. They wish to transcend despair... If there is any glint of hope left in this world... I wish to grasp it.

You plan to risk everything on the suggestion of this foreigner? I simply cannot allow—

I may be inexperienced, Tallieri, but I am the ruler of this kingdom. It is my job to lead our people to the light. So, in the name of the Atlantis Royal Family...

And like that, the suicide plan has been completely abandoned.

...! I never expected this light to reach the depths of Atlantis... But it would seem that I was mistaken. As consul of this kingdom, I will heed your wishes... Queen Ulania.

Wait...

Waaaaait wait wait wait wait...

several thousand years from now posted:

That's Takehaya's spear, what the hell is this?

Did the Hypnos sisters steal it from the ruins of Atlantis after Nyala was forced back? Is it just blatant asset reuse? Who knows!

Please accept it as an heirloom from your father.

Father...

Alright!

It seems I will be unable to join you on the other side just yet...

Unlike our arrival in Berg, we don't get a quick cut to the world map.

So we have to manually leave the palace.

Forgot to stock up on Escape Kits? Have fun heading back up to B1F to take the only warp here.

Music: UE77 Tokyo

Music: Cladeon - An Undersea Shimmer

It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

C'mon, we don't have time for the formalities. Let's just get right to it.

And we'll be taking the Star Crystal with us, so monsters are gonna start pouring in soon. Everyone, prepare to evacuate! Gather your belongings!

Young Militiaman: E-Eigur, there's no way! We have trouble enough even with the Star Crystal's protection...

Stop whining! It's just gonna be for a bit until we can get all the citizens out!

Young Militiaman: B-But still...

We would be willing to leave some ISDF soldiers here to help out.

Just one and a half dungeons after getting our backrow teams, they introduce a new gimmick:

And the other can stay here and stand guard over the residential area.

Removing the backrow entirely.

*nods*

I owe you guys!

We have already sent the Dz we collected over to Nagamimi. However, we'll still need another 30 Dz for the construction.

30 Dz? 30 Dz????

That's more expensive than any project in 2020! That's more than you needed to access the bonus dungeon in 2020! For that much Dz, the new floors better be a 1:1 recreation of Atlantis!

With the Star Crystal gone, this settlement will be a prime target for dragon activity. Let us ambush them here and gather the remaining Dz.

*nods*

Sounds good to me! Alright, once Unit 13's ready to go, we can get this plan under way! Lemme know when you're all set!

Take your time organizing your teams. Don't worry, you're not holding us back.

Now that the evacuation is in full swing, everyone has something new to say.

~

Rude Militiaman: Shut your trap. Didn't we tell you we were gonna handle this area? You're not the only strong ones around here! Beat it!

~

Young Militiaman: Now is the moment of truth! We must give it our all! You think I am too excited? This is all about to end...! Who would not be excited for that!?

~

Novice Smith Cub: Holy crap! You guys managed to beat the High Dragon without divine protection...! I really underestimated you land dwellers!

Except Cub, for whatever reason.

~

Blind Smith Auroth: If you want to forge the Dragonslayer, you must be able to hear the voice of orichalcum.

~

So, this is Cladeon... My advisers always told me this place looked like a dungeon... but it is actually quite beautiful.

Carefree Girl: Am I gonna change, too~?

Inept Militiaman: Oh... I'm safe... I don't know what I woulda done if I got called up... I-I'm not freaking out or anything! I-I'm serious!

~

Anxious Old Woman: Can I truly trust in you...? No, I want to believe. I must believe...

Positive Old Man: The tide has changed! I will put all of my faith into you... into the possibilities of youth!

~

Negative Old Man: What is Lady Ulania doing here...? I thought the capital had abandoned us...? Could it be... No. I will not let myself be tricked into having hope. Cladeon is still doomed...

I mean, he's not wrong...

Vigorous Old Man: Nrgh! M-My hip...

Determined Girl: At least know that I'm fighting alongside you in spirit.

Longing Lucier: No! Times of hardship are when the fruit of romance is most likely to ripen...!

And with that, the last Cladeon trip is done.

Of course!

Valerie nods.

Do not worry about us. I will pray that your forging of the Dragonslayer goes as planned.

Ulania and Eigur nod.

And Unit 13, if you find yourself in danger, do not hesitate to return to Nodens and regroup. The lives of the people of Atlantis depend on this plan. Please proceed with caution.

Y-Yes, though there is nothing in particular that I need to prepare...

Novice Smith Cub: All the tools should be over at the forge. We'll teach you how to use 'em!

Blind Smith Auroth: It shall prove a simple task for one who can hear the voice of the orichalcum, Lady Ulania.

...I understand. Then let us depart, Eigur.

Alright! Off to the forge!

Now, just as they said:

Valerie and the rest of Team 2 have been completely removed. No Buddy skills in a fight, no swapping teams out of fights.

However...

Yuma's line about heading back to Nodens is a hint.

If we go back...

Team 2 returns!

You can then swap them into the front.

Head back to Cladeon.

And now Team 2 is heading to the forge.

But we're sticking with Opal for this section.

So, what do the devs make us do after going through a dungeon consisting entirely of straight lines and easy dragons?

A second trip through the dunegon we just cleared, with a bunch more dragons to block our path.

All of it.

Might as well get this started.

Music: Battlefield - Furious Predator

At the very least, the devs were kind enough to put in some new dragons for this bit.

The Hammerstrike Dragon has more health than its less spherical counterpart.

But at the end of the day, all it is is an upgraded Hammer Dragon.

And this is VFD, where a simple health bump makes no difference to how hard I can murder things.

Music: Finish Them Off

As an extra kick in the pants, Team 2 being gone means that they get zero leaked EXP/SP for this entire trip.

Music: Cladeon - An Undersea Shimmer

Don't get your hopes up, this is the only new civilian here. Everything else from here to the forge is just dragons and random encounters.

Up next is dragon 2.

Scapegoat is why I kept Opal in charge for this. Normal fights just don't last long enough for Aria's Moonlight Poetry to really make a difference, but Aiden just needs to land a Hack and he can give everyone 30 MN in one shot.

One more dragon to clear this area out.

We get a quick cutscene near the exit.

*pant* *pant* No... Not... at all...

We should stop for now.

But that thought is all that I needed to revitalize me. Let us continue forth...!

What the heck...? She didn't even respond to me...

~

The queen deserves a rest.

Don't go pampering her like that. She's about to go forge the Dragonslayer, you know? She won't even be able to handle a paring knife if this is enough to stop her.

*pant* I... am fine. I shall not give up yet. We do not have time to rest! Let us continue on to the forge!