Part 11

So today I am in Williamsburg, VA and tomorrow I'm going to hang out with Red Chocobo who lives here. We just had some really great authentic mexican food. . . in Virginia. . .

In the game, however, I'm going to go investigate this town that was supposedly completely destroyed by one guy. I mean it couldn't be THAT bad right, it was just one guy, right? Right? Guys?


That looks pretty bad.


A Giant? Oh well that's different I thought it was just some guy.


Yeah, he won't. Because I'm going to go kick his fucking ass.


Yeah, I guess I can't upgrade equipment here.


You know, Selan has this spell called Light, it costs nothing and I can't use it out of battle or in battle.


Because it doesn't DO anything. What's up with that? (I know but you might not)


So there's this tower right, evil is eminating from the top. So I'm going to go kick ass and take names.


And there's, of course, a locked door on the first floor. But that doesn't matter, this locked door is superfluous because we can circumvent it. I did well on the SAT.


Doben is I guess Doberman, and those guys are Orks. Wait we've already fought orks.


There's this place for an elevator here but uh


No elevator, I guess I'll come back later.


this is annoying, you have to wait for that jerkbag orc to step on the switch, then shoot him with an arrow and quickly run through the left door. He moves randomly so it takes forever. I got through eventually though.


A strange puzzle. Hitting the switch turns it blue and lowers the barrier, but raises it on the other side. So you need to be able to hit it from behind the barrier. Luckily, if I move a block. . .


And it moves down! Now I can shoot it from behind the barrier!


The thing moves back up for some weird reason, but whatever I'm across. Anyway hey there's a switch


Which is kind of stupid I mean you have to hit this to continue, what's the point?


The switch is in plain sight and you have to hit it, I mean, what the hell people? Just to make sure you have a pulse, I guess.


The weirdo snail is an EVIL SHELL and the lobster is a Red Lobster. The snail and lobster are weak to fire, and I figured out the scorpion is weak against water, which makes sense I guess you'd associate scorpions with the desert right?


Second floot (or is it third floor?) and still no elevator.


Yes this must be the third floor, which I will be coming back to periodically.


However the corridor outside leads to nothing so I should find some stairs up inside.


This is this silly thing on the fourth floor, basically you take the pot, put it on one of the switches, then the floor tiles on this little road turn black and you walk to the corresponding (left or right) door without walking off the little road, and the door opens. The left door leads to


Not an elevator but the right one leads to stairs.


Hmm all these pillars, you know if I had that hookshot from Zelda: LttP I'd be able to cross this.


Wait wait WAIT HOLD THE PHONE.

This is like, blatant plagarism! That is exactly the hookshot from zelda. What the hell, Taito? Come on now.


Well it looks a LITTLE different but. . .


Totally right out of LttP. Whatever. Note that you can paralyze enemies like with an arrow, except the hook will never travel off the screen, so you're limited to hitting what you can see, which a lot of the hook puzzles are based around.


Goblin Mages and Ork Fighters, oh my! The Goblin Mages are so cute they look like they're ready for bed! They cast annoying spells but their physical attacks miss, and they use them quite often. Ork fighters can hit hard but whatever I can kill them easily.


This is not that locked door from before, this is a different one on the fifth floor. It leads to the top of the tower, and that super being, but I need the key first.


THERE is the elevator! I'm not going to use it yet, though. I have unfinished business on this floor.


I have this dilemma, if I lift this crate off this switch, I can cross those spikes, but then I'm stuck in here! Of course, this can be easily remidied with a bomb.


It's like magic.


Yes, the save point, another thing I'll be coming back to. Outside,


I can flip this switch


To complete the ladder. I just need the key now and I can get up there.


I'll start at the first floor and make my way back up.


I can get to new areas now look at that!


Boom, some might call it destruction, I call it renovations. The hole in the wall here really opens up the room and creates a sense of flow. . .


I fought hard to get one of these way back when. But I guess two can't hurt!


Oh shit, they look kind of scary without pupils. Anyway, they're weaklings.


This is the door leading out, however I can't go through until I fight the boss. Note that I did not say beat the boss.


This is that locked door from the beginning, which is only useful for getting through to the exit door. There are some stairs here, which lead to


A totally sweeet right


Attack+20


Only thing here is a chest we saw earlier but couldn't get to


Guy needs the AGL like whoa.


Third floor presents us with. . . an impassable gap?! Nah I go around it.


A hook puzzle! This one isn't too hard, but it involves being able to see the pillars to hook onto them. If I push this pillar over. . .


Then I can hook it from the other side.


Push the bottom one down, then walk around and hook onto it


Then finally push it onto the switch. Not too terrible mind bending.


Through the now open door is yet another puzzle!


An enemy blocks the way and will regenerate unless you can turn all the switches blue. However, you can only hit them in a specific order, which is shown to you by stepping on the switch, and you have to memorize it quickly. I'm awesome so I was able to do it and get rid of the monster.


Ta dah!


I could go face the boss, but there are two things left:


Foahth flooah


PRAISE THE LAWD!

Secondly, this boss is really hard. In fact, you're NOT supposed to win this fight. Normally, you'd just fight this boss and he would use a move that kills your party in one hit. But see, I'm not satisfied with this. The fight is winnable, you just need to be strong. My guys are like, level 22-23 right now. Hell no. I need to beef up a few levels. Maybe like two or three?


Oh wait before I do that these are some enemies you only fight outside. They're faster than all my people and cast a lot of magic, but Gale can take them out pretty quickly.

First things first, to prepare:

The enemies here drop fransciscas (an axe, I spelled it wrong okay) and Blue Berets, which Foomy likes, and along with the massive amounts of money levling brought in, I was able to feed him until he burst and reformed into


AN EVEN BIGGER FOAM MASS! So anyway, one more thing I noticed:


They were supposed to have gotten rid of all the crosses, I guess they forgot this one. Well anyway so I gained one or two levels.


Or, you know, seven or eight.


30 is the MINIMUM level for fighting this guy. MINIMUM. Otherwise his attack-all spell will destroy your whole team (laffo pun intended)


I tried to boost his attack as much as possible so he can hit hard.


The heal all IP of holy wings is invaluable.


And Selan is able to boost Guy and Maxim's attack with the anger brace's Battle Lust IP. She has also the Mind Ring which can use Stronger for backup. I won't be running out of IP this battle, believe me.


A sudden chill runs down all our spines.

Yeah, I sense it too.

Be careful, it's strong!


OH SHIT HERE IT COMES LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!


DUN DUN DUNNNN! GUESS WHO! (he kinda looks like the juggernaut lawl)

Hmm, I don't recognize your energy pattern. Strangers? Traveling warriors, perchance?

You're the one who destroyed that town!

I expected them to at least put up a fight. They didn't even begin to amuse me. Pity. . .

Why, you. . . !

But you, you seem much more up to sport! What is your name?

Maxim!

I AM GADES, MASTER OF DESTRUCTION!

He's back! Actually this is the first time he's appeared, but you get it. Now with a 10x more awesome battle sprite!


Way more badass than the one from the first game. So Gades is the Sinistral of Destruction, and he actually gets a move based on his power in this game!


It causes a massive explosion. And I do mean massive.


As in, reduces the girls to critical and Foomy will not make it to the end of this battle. Luckily I heal every battle, and I also have another trick up my sleeve:


You may have noticed that I gave both Maxim and Guy Jet Helms. Or maybe I didn't in the screen but I did in the battle. This is because reducing Gades' speed is crucial. I used sluggish four times, and Tia and Selan were able to attack before Gades, making healing a million times easier. Tia only died once, and since I don't have any revives yet, I had to call upon God Almighty to make a miracle happen.


HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE YOUR HUMBLE SERVANTS. PLEASE SHOW US YOUR POWERS! I CALL UPON THE POWER OF GAAAAAAWD THE FATHER ABOVE AND LORD OF US ALL PLEASE HEAL THIS DAUGHTER OF CHRIST!


IT TRULY IS A MIRACLE SHE HAS ARISEN FROM HER DEATHLY SLEEP TO FIGHT AGAIN OH THANK YOU JESUS LORD HEAVENLY FATHER ABOVE!

I spent the rest of the battle boosting Maxim and Guy's attack and beating him in the face with Burning attack. When Selan didn't need to heal, she used Glacial Blast. Eventually, after healing every turn (but never running out of IP!)


YEAH WHO'S LORD OF DESTRUCTION KNOW BITCH?!


Everyone gained two levels. Except Selan who gained one. And Foomy who is MIA. He'll be back.

So why kill this boss? Why level grind for an hour just to kill a boss I can lose at and still continue with the story? This is the best part:


YES YES YES a sword for Guy that is unmatched in power until the very end of the game, AND you can bring it into the Ancient Cave with you! YEAH BITCHES! The only problem is, it misses undead enemies, but as a nice goon informed me, the undead ring solves this. Hehehehehehehehehehehe Guy is going to be so powerful now it's not even funny. Wait yes it is HAHAHHAHAHAHAH!


Apparently he was holding back during that battle. Or maybe this is just his last ditch effort. Either way, he knocks out my whole team.


And runs away. We're all lying dead, what will we ever do? If only someone would come heal us.


Oh gee she has such good timing!


He's always so shocked.


That's the first thing people always ask when they wake up. At least I do.

Yes.

Once again, you have come to my aid. Thanks.

No, it's nothing.

Maxim, who is she?

She's the one who told me it's my destiny to travel and fight.

I am called Iris. You seem to have found friends, Maxim.

You mean. . .

Yes. Guy. Selan. You too are fated to travel and do battle.

Me?

Yes, you.

But why me?

You also have the power to resist the evil light.

The power to resist evil light. . .

You also have the power to repeat everything I say.

Repeat everything you. . . hey wait a minute!


Hey wait you just got here relax.

Why are you traveling?

I'm looking for answers.

Answers to what?

Time passes. Everything else is up to you.
*she leaves*

My destiny is to travel with you. . .

Kinda heavy, huh?

What do we do now?

I guess we should report back to Parcelyte. The king should know what's up.

Good idea. Tia, is something wrong?

Oh? No, it's nothing, I was just thinking about something.

If you missed the important part. . . she said Guy and Selan, but not Tia dun dun dunnn well duh I mean we knew that was coming, but. . .


Oh yeah, OH HELL YEAH!

It also has the IP Octo-strike, which lets you hit 8 times in one turn! HELL YEAH!


Oh wait I forgot about that door, hey more treasure!


Yes, let's just escape from here and warp to. . .


You know the game is quality when they mispell a town name in the game itself.

Hey you know I have some extra money. . .


Why not, right?


Note that, he has different moves from the winged lion. Also his name may have changed.



It was my fault. I overestimated my abilities.

That isn't true. In any case, we must do something about this Gades.

With your permission I'd like to find out more about him. Of course I'll do it alone because I can't seem to get over this loner gimmick.

Hmm yes well we can't rely on Maxim for everything.


No no no you are NOT taking Guy away, when I just got an amazing sword for him! HELL NO!

What is it? What do you want?

A messenger from Tanbel is here. He says your sister's condition has worsened.

What?! Hilda!

Go, go to her right away!

But, Gades is so powerful. . . I can't just leave you guys like this.

Hilda needs you. Besides, we can use Selan, right kingly guy?

Yes Selan can accompany you.

Yes, your Majesty. . .



I hope Hilda is okay.

Hey, she's my sister, she won't give up so easily! Besides, Jessy is with her. Welp, Maxim, don't get your ass kicked.

Who do you think you're talking to, eh?!

Laterz

Hilda will be okay, right?

Why, afraid you'll never get to press your lips against hers?

Uh, no, I just. . .

So Selan, tell me the truth.

Huh?

Are you coming with me because the king told you to, or. . . ?

I'm curious about what Iris said, and. . .

So you're starting to trust me?

Yes, but not completely yet.

As cold as ever!

Let's go to Merix village, it's past that tower.

Alright so we can go to Merix village I guess which is past the tower.


Yeah, we kicked his ass and scared him off although act like he beat us up though.


Yes I can go through here now.


To Merix. But first, you know, there were some places that had pillars/stakes from way before, hmm I should check that out. . .

Okay so should I use Foomy or Dongs next update? Remember that Dongs (blaze) is on a low level, and I could make him catch up, or I could continue to power up Foomy. It's up to you guys. I get another capsule some time soon, but not just yet. So until then,

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY!