Part 35: Even more Explosions

Chapter 33: Even more Explosions



The fleet's only a decoy-the real plan is to get to the barrier by submarine!
Well, huh. That's kind of brilliant, actually.
You expected any less? The tunnel that leads to the barrier tower's been completed. Let's go!


Okay, hold your horses...


But you just said...


Oh, okay. Explosions.


...You're messing with me.



Indeed. All that's left is to take it out, and the barrier will be destroyed! I'll take care of the generator downstairs. You hit the top floor and find the antenna.
Find it and destroy it, I assume?
You got it. I'll cut the power, and once that happens, you blow up the antenna! Here you'll need this.



What's this do?
With this, we can keep in contact. All right, let's move! I'm counting on you! Good luck!


However, since this is a JRPG, there's something to grind for.


Travelers cast Time Slip, a blue magic that inflicts old and sleep.


Yoink.


Reflect Knights have innate Reflect and high defense. How crass. They also have a very valuable rare item drop.


Reflect doesn't stop Titan or Comet.


Oh my god, he's only 1 ABP away!


Take that, you motherfucker!


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


Weaker meaning 1/2 damage. There's 4 of them, though, and they never miss and ignore defense. Completely bonkers.


Compare that to Burtz' whole hit above.


And I got my ring! Now I can give my characters innate reflect!


Usually, I'd revel in the chance to get a few extra gil. After murdering statues and fending off the Gil Turtle, 9K is such a pittance.


This chest has something more valuable.


Red Dragons are pretty odd. They're weak to water, ice, earth, and are undead. They use Atomic Ray for about 600 to each party member.




Rods Broken: 21

It never stood a chance.


The Blood Sword drains HP from the target. Has a pitiful chance of hitting, though. It's also a Knight Sword, so it can't be used by anyone but Knights.


Titan rocks out, man.





My entire party being level 28 against enemies called Level Tricker is a bad idea. Level 4 Graviga hits like a train if it does hit.


There's still Level 3 Flare and Level 2 Old. Level 3 Flare is actually good, while Level 2 Old is an interesting gimmick spell.


Like hell I'm wasting my time with these punks.



What was that-the whisperweed?
Xezat!
*hiss* Repeat, Galuf, do you copy? Over!
I hear you, loud and clear!
...Good. *hiss* I've made it to the generator, over.





Xezat! What was that?
...*hiss*...Don't worry about it. *hiss* You just get to the roof as fast as you can! Over!
Gotcha-er, over!


I love what's in this chest.


Burtz is a Time Mage that throws things.


I think it's awesome.


The Gold Hairpin is far more valuable than the Blood Sword. Any mage can equip it, and it halves MP use.


It's hat, too, so it doesn't interfere with your Elven Mantles.


Rest up. A boss is, of course, at the top of the tower.



Roger that! Over!


...Should you really be next to all the tower's mechanics while saying that?


Yeah, it's him.

BOSS FIGHT: ATOMOS


Atomos casts Comet a few times in a row. Atomos has a magic stat of 80. However, when one party member is KOed, he instead opts to pull them, drawing the character ever closer to him before devouring them with Wormhole. The usual strategy is to let one character get almost to Atomos, revive them, let another fall, and repeat until you run Atomos out of his 19997 HP.


For whatever reason, Atomos is open to Sleep. Unless you hit him with a physical attack, he'll stay asleep for the rest of the battle.


So we hit him with comets.


Faris (or was it Bartz?) Stops Galuf so I won't have to keep entering Defend, and then Atomos is pelted with space rocks and biohazards.


Booya.


The antenna explodes for no adequately explored reason.

And that's how it's done!
Xezat! Can you hear me? It's done, we destroyed the antenna!


...Xezat's trapped by that lightning arc...



Xezat! We're coming to get you!
No! Don't come down here! Wait for me in the sub, and I'll catch up with you. Just go!

The Wind Drake! He can fly us out!
Idiot! He's gonna die! But I'm not gnna let him-
Galuf! It's too dangerous!
I don't care.
...Lenna, you and Faris go ahead.


In this scene, everyone falls really, really fast.

Xezat... You knew all along something like this would happen, didn't you! You knew, and still you sacrificed yourself...
Galuf, wait for me in the sub. Promise me you'll go. Over and out!
Damn it, Xezat!



But it would've been too dangerous for any of you to go in my stead. Four new warriors have been chosen by the crystals.... They must be the ones to fight Exdeath. Galuf... and Burtz, Lenna, Faris... The rest is up to you. Don't worry... I'll always be with you when you need me.




...Xezat?

Damn it, Xezat!
Galuf... I'm sorry.


Burtz knocks him out with a tackle.




They land on the Wind Drake.

Ughhh... Burtz... Take me to the sub...
Galuf, Xezat-
We made a promise. Please, let me keep it.



Galuf... Nothing could've survived that blast.
Let me wait-just a bit longer. Just a minute more...





Yeah, a lot easier than swimming! How's he holding up?
He'll be all right... He just needs a little rest.
All right, we've got to keep moving!


At least, now, we have a sub...

NEXT TIME:


I hate you so much Metamorph.

SPECIAL BONUS:
Ghido is going to arrive soon, but he doesn't have a portrait for how much he does for the plot compared to, say, Dorgann. It's up to you, my viewing audience, to decide on which smiley I use for Ghido. I don't need any reason. Hell, I've used for Tycoon's Chancellor! Keep in mind that Ghido talks a lot, being a sage.