Part 22: The End of a Journey

First thing this update is that we are no longer in the Doom Castle. As we're about to go fight a final boss, Art decided he needed to eat his wheaties, so we're off doing a little training in Pazuzu's Tower. While there, we learn a few things. First, everything in the damn tower is weak to shooting attacks. Second, that little swirl is definitely drain resistance, which results in this exchange:







Despite this, their drain attacks still don't actually drain your HP to heal them.

Back to the Focus Tower:



Turns out these chests are only represented as such; they're actually loot boxes that refill themselves.



One last look at our stats before we head in. This is as good as it gets, and it's still not enough to one-shot some of the enemies in Doom Castle with Excalibur. It really is a useless weapon.



Asteroids flying around? Giant eyeballs? Starry background? It's showtime.




That Prophecy? Ages ago I started that rumor! Welcome to the power of Darkness!

Well that certainly explains a lot about the prophecy. Also, if you don't go through his dialogue fast enough, his battle music starts before you actually get into battle, which is a little jarring.

Music: Dark King



So, the Dark King. You can cheese the ever-living fuck out the fight and win in two turns, or you can slug it out with him until the end. Most people go for the former, given that it's one of the best "bugs" in the game and fighting him legit is actually pretty hard.



This was a critical hit, but nevertheless it amply demonstrates that he is more than capable of wrecking your shit. Damage him enough, and he'll go into phase 2:


Is that all you can muster?



At this point, his attacks all change to utilize his new weapons. He has a lot of attacks like Fire Sword, Ice Sword, Dark Sword, and Quake Axe which are all actually non-elemental and will slam you for anywhere from 600-800 a piece, and some of of them hit both you and Phoebe. Cure Arrow will do about 500 damage and heal him for 1000. Damage him some more, and he goes into Phase 3:


Now see what I really am!



Stage 3 is probably the hardest of all the stages. He picks up three big attacks: Silver Web, which does a huge amount of damage and confuses and poisons the target. And he loves to target Phoebe with it, so you know this stage goes well. Spider Kids will do a little over 800 to one, and Lazer, which is straight up his most damaging attack.



This is a critical Lazer. That's more HP than even Art has.



This is a screen that you will probably be familiar with, especially since he loves to target Phoebe.



Once you beat him down far enough, he gets reduced to this spider...squid...thing. At this point he gains Gold Web, which is very much like Silver Web, except replace poison with petrification and make it do more damage. Fortunately he's more or less on the ropes at this point.

Now, that's the hard way. There's a much easier way to go about this though.





Yeah. Now, there is a small catch. He's only vulnerable to the Hero's casts of Cure. If Phoebe does it, you'll actually heal the fucker. What causes this? I don't know. It's too easy to exploit to be a bug, but at the same time, there's no way they actually intended for you to do almost 15 times as much damage as your best spell on the final boss, plus Phoebe can't exploit it. Not that it being a bug would really surprise me, given everything else, but still.

E: Thanks to a little sleuthing, the TAS Video Forums have come up with this:


So, it's just an overflow error. Still, the more you know, right?





Wait, what? Captain Expostion was a goddamned crystal?!?


Evil can't thrive if you keep hope alive, use your courage, and respect your World. A bright future awaits you now. Go, and enjoy all the World has to offer.



At this point, the game takes control and we go back and visit everyone again. First, we hit up Otto.





It's a lot of this, really. Not that I was expecting anything riveting out of Mystic Quest, but still. Next up, Kaeli's house.


What are you going to do now?


I need a little more adventure in my life...

Really Art? You got conscripted to save the world by a talking crystal based on a prophecy made up by the final boss. And you want more adventure?





Wonderful. Next up is Spencer.





Well, that's not surprising. Hell, I'm shocked he stayed around as long as he did.



I... No Art, weren't you listening at all? He just said Tristam had gone off treasure hunting.

Next, the Inn in Fireburg.



Art, you tried to kill him twice. Then tormented him afterwards when he managed to live through it. Why are you so happy to see him again?





Fine. I guess we owe you enough that we'll let you be there when we abandon you idiots and head out to sea.

Finally, everyone gathers at the Ship Dock.





What are you doing here? Hell, you weren't even given a name.





No. Little girls' dreams crushed today: 1.







No one likes you or your family Reuben. And frankly, being a bum and staying at home is about all you're good for.





It's worth noting that up until this point, we've been dragging Phoebe along to every single one of these places. Given that Mac has had enough time to make it all the way to the Ship Dock from Foresta and make sure the ship is still seaworthy, it's probably been a while. Either Phoebe is like an abused puppy who bleakly follows Art around, or by some small miracle he's won her heart. My money's on the former.





With that, all of our goodbyes are finally said and we can get the hell out of Dodge.







And with that, Art sails away, never to be seen again.



Okay, seriously? Where the fuck did you come from? For god's sake, we're out at sea.





Finally, the credits roll.



Of particular note, these two guys did a damn fine job. Ryuji Sasai would go on to work on Bushido Blade 2, and Yasuhiro Kawakami on Chocobo's Dungeon 2. Both left Square by 1999.