Part 37: The Great Forest of Moore

Chapter 35: The Great Forest of Moore

No humorous title here. Instead, here's The forest's music. Just something about this haunting melody gets to me. At first, I thought it was annoying. But now, it's grown on me.


Anyway, approach the hedge blocking your way with the guardian branch in inventory and...

Look, the tree branch, it's-



The forest...
...It's letting us in...


The penultimate dungeon of Galuf's world wouldn't be complete without random encounters, though.


The trees cast berserk on allies, so they hit you even harder. The Mini Magicians cast Osmose to drain away your MP and Liliputan Lyric, a Blue Magic which inflicts Mini. I never knew that they cast Blue Magic since I made sure to kill them fast before Osmose hit.


Galajellies have 50% evasion and absorb every element but Wind. It's mostly a test of you having Aera or Aeroga.


Really, running is a good idea. These guys are really mean about taking away HP and MP before this area's boss.


To advance, search each area until you find a tree with a hole in it, then examine it.


Doing so opens up a path to the next screen.


Imps have 2000 HP and can cast Confuse or HP leak. They are simply not worth the effort it takes to kill them.


Titan rocks things that aren't Galajellies, Imps, or Wyrms.


Speaking of Wryms, they're just big mean guys who can cast Breath Wing.


This save point lacks the glow effect. Makes it seem more... sacred, for whatever reason.


Here it is, the first upgrade from the Flail. This staff has 50 power opposed to 16. Otherwise, it behaves like the Flail.


Past this choke point...


And shit hits the fan.

What the-






All you can do is run around helplessly.


You have to wait for this moogle to jump out of his hole in the ground. His dance is infuriatingly long due to the lag. Currently, there are 9 sprites on the screen.


Jump down his hole...


And Burtz lands gracefully.

Let's hide out here until the flames die down!


Free healing before the game's hardest boss.


All you can do is wait until this Moogle starts moving.


The forest...


I know, if I got it while the flames were raging, I could've gotten an Aegis Shield.


I just think that the Flame Shield is better. See, the Aegis Shield has a 1/3 chance of blocking a magic attack, while the Flame Shield absorbs fire elemental attacks. That 1/3 chance just isn't reliable enough for the kinds of things you need to block. Besides, the Flame Shield has more tactical applications.


Random encounters in the burnt forest. You can't go back to the save point, and the next boss is the hardest boss in the game. You have to watch that scene every time you fail. You can see the issue here.


Fire-element Knightsword.





The Guardian Tree... That's what protects the seals...?
Look, the branch!


Reacting to the guardian branch, the lesser trees receed, and the hedges rearrange themselves...


...opening a passage inside...


Make sure you're healed before going inside. All the hi-potions in the world mean jack if you're dead.


...I'm always nervous while getting in here.


Great, we're stuck.



They must be whatever's sealed in here! Here they come!

BOSS FIGHT: SEALED CREATURES


I'll be honest; I sucked at this fight. I'm usually really good at it, if a bit cautious.


The things start out hitting you for mild physical damage. There's four of them, so it can add up if you aren't careful.


Rods broken: 22

Clockwise from top: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind. All 4 are immune to Lightning, Holy, Water, and Poison and absorb their own element.


What you should do is hit them until they get near 3333 of their 7777 HP.


What you shouldn't ever do is hit them like this. !Zeninage hits too hard sometimes.


They break out the magic when low on HP.


Clockwise from top: Firaga, Aqua Rake, Earth Shaker, Aeroga. Yes, the water creature doesn't cast a water-elemental spell.


Aeroga can save your ass sometimes. The Fire creature is far and away the hardest hitter of the bunch.


I think I rely on Curaga too much sometimes. I feel like I deserve a loss here, mostly for stupid use of !Zeninage.


I didn't have Float cast at the start because I assumed I wouldn't suck this bad.


After a good Firaga, the last one finally falls. Thus ends me playing poorly at the worst possible point.







How ironic! The seals broken by the power of the four warriors meant to protect them!



The crystals which bound me for so long... Now, their power is mine! Bow down before my crystals- and my power!!!





Meanwhile...





What? They're in the forest of Moore? Come on, let's go!


viscera are basically one's intestines.


Luckily...



Krile... Exdeath-
Don't worry, he shouldn't be doing anything for a while...



Impudent little fool!



Die!


Already encased in a ring of fire, Krile is hurled into walls by Exdeath...



Kr...Krile...!


Exdeath resumes using the crystal's energy...


Galuf doesn't care.

So certain you want to keep moving, Galuf? Try to dispel this power, and your precious crystals will shatter!




Galuf doesn't care. The crystal breaks...


He steps into the ring of fire and throws Krile out...


He withstands the flames, gaining a fearsome aura in the process.

Exdeath!

EXDEATH VS. GALUF


Exdeath starts with a Thundaga.


Galuf begins pummeling him.


Normally this would be the end...


But Galuf pushes on.


Try as he might, Exdeath can't break this man!

Take this!!!



Now I'll show you my true power! Prepare yourself for the afterlife!


First he casts Flare! It hits for 2849 damage!


Then he casts Holy! It hits for 2619 damage!


Then Meteor, hitting for over 5000 damage!


Galuf won't give up!

Why... why won't you die!?
It takes a lot more than that... ...For me to kick the bucket! I'll destroy you, Exdeath, even if it means I have to take you into the afterlife myself!



Fool! All the hatred in existence would never be enough to defeat me!
This... isn't anger... isn't hatred... ...it's...



Then... what...?




The three remaining crystals retreat to Exdeath, and he teleports away...


All is silent for several moments, until...


Burtz gets up. Krile awakens, and notices...



Galuf!
Grandpa!!!



No good... 'S too late... f'r me...
Galuf! Don't talk like that!
Galuf!
Get up, you old bat! Quit playing around, this isn't funny!
Wake up... wake up, please!
Burtz... Lenna, Faris... My dear Krile... Exdeath... destroy... him...
Grandpa-! No! You can't die, you can't!!!
Galuf! Curaga!
Please... Raise!!!
Open your eyes! Phoenix Down! Elixir! Anything!




Krile lays there for several moments, saying nothing, until...



Grandpa is calling...!





borrow it's power to speak to you. I don't have long. I want to give you my strength. C'mon Krile... don't cry... Stand with Burtz and the others, be strong, and fight!
No! You do it, come back! Don't leave me alone!
You know I can't do that. But you're not alone, Krile. You understand that, don't you.



I'll be in your heart, always.
Grandpa... I understand.



Krile...
Grandpa has told me that right now, Exdeath is trying to destroy the crystals. We've got to hurry to Exdeath's castle!


And so, on the wind drake we fly to Exdeath's castle, to put an end to this.