Part 131: The Man Festival's Climax!

YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH THE VIDEOS


Let's finish this.

Tower of the Holy Ring, Level 93



I'll take this one! You all go on up!

Curry Prince: Ah ha ha! So you think you can take the heat of the Curry Prince?!


So, in this section, everyone gets their own mini boss fight while the rest of the party climbs higher up. Since I waited so long to come here, they aren't very challenging at this point, as long as you remember a few vital pieces of equipment. Kurando gets the Curry Prince. He's...really not anything special. He likes to use Fast Ring. He might have a light-based attack spell, like Nova, but he didn't use it this time.



Tower of the Holy Ring, Level 94



There's a change of pace! Gone all matter-of fact, eh? I'll take you on!

And Gep steps up to the plate!

Dry Curry Man: Thank you very much. I like to keep business the same as my curry...dry. So, shall we?


Gepetto's physical attacks are adorable. Dry Curry Man cast Surge at the beginning of the fight and then...proceeded to spam physical attacks. Despite his lackluster AI, he can be quite dangerous, as every physical attack has a very high chance to cause Deadly Poison, the strongest poison effect in the game, so equipping something on Gep to null Poison is essential.



Tower of the Holy Ring, Level 95



Wait a minute! ...That smell! You're not curry at all! You're not curry at all! You can't trick my nose!

Hashed Beef Man: Huh?! You smelled my darkest secret! Okay, I admit it! I'm not a curry! I'm just a regular stew! So what?!

Lucia make friends good.


Hashed Beef Man can cause Up Ring, where the Ring indicator starts out slow and speeds up as it makes its way around the circle. This fight is a little harder, if only because Lucia is designed as a support mage, unlike Gepetto (offensive) and Anastasia (balanced). Her Aromatherapy isn't even available, because it affects everyone in the party except Lucia.



Tower of the Holy Ring, Level 96



You go on. I'll deal with this one. I was born poor. This one's for me!

Poor Man's Curry: An innocent little child like you could never understand the pain of the poor! You'll make good meat for my stock!


I have no idea what Poor Man's Curry has for a special attack because he never used it. Not that it matters, because Karin should have Anne's Cross by now anyway.



Tower of the Holy Ring, Level 97



Awroo! Aw-awroo...! (Looks like it's my turn...)

Curry Sage: Oh! So a wolf has chosen the path of curry?! Well, well! Let's see how you measure up to the Curry Sage!

I have spared you all an ass-shot of a curry man here. You're welcome.


Curry Sage's main attack is an SP-Lowering one. Nothing too difficult.



Tower of the Holy Ring, Level 98



Egg! This one's for me! Let's see who's number one, shall we?!

Egg Curry: He he he! Sure, you're on! My eggs are pretty hot! They're soft-boiled!


Egg Curry is easy, as long as you protect Anastasia against Instant Death.


Anastasia no what are you doing.


Almost the~ere!



Yeah, yeah, whatever! Looks like this one is up to me...

Cutlet Curry: Gwa ha ha! Gwa ha ha ha! No one will take away the glory of curry! No one!


Whatever you say. Cutlet Curry is no match at all for Yuri at this point. He has a skill called Blood Loss, which I think is like Poison and reduces HP every turn. I'm not sure, though, because once Yuri was buffed up, he killed Cutlet in one strike.







Well... That wasn't so bad...
Oh, man... Why me?
Joachim! That was amazing! We're finally at the top!



You've done well to come this far. This is the true battleground!
Teacher!
I am NOT your teacher!


Oh. My. God.

My name is the Great Question. Champion of the Man Festival!
Great Question? ...Fine, then! Great Question it is!



Great Question?
They've gone nuts, those guys. Totally lost it!
Now, then, my little challenger! Bring it on!



Before we start, can I ask you just one thing?
Why sure. What is it?
This baptism you were talking about... What exactly is it?
Ha ha ha ha! You're thinking about defeat already, aren't you, huh?


You're...you're not in school, Anastasia.

Excuse me!
Yes, dear.
I want to know, too!
Hmm. Well, very well, then. I will tell you.



Those who fail in the Man Festival must receive, as a punishment, the winner's FULL manhood!

...
.........
............AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!



...Man hood?
Ugh! Y-you don't mean... Gross!

Yuri scoots back closer to the ropes.

Exactly! That is correct!
So, Great Question, if you win...?



*p-sching!*



Ah... And if I win?
*p-sching!**p-sching!*



What kind of choice is that?! A battle for manly dignity, huh? I'd say it's pretty sick!
Oh, man... No way! Not this guy!



Well, the time for talk is over! The rest will be decided by sweat!
Oh...!
Ho ho ho! Are you afraid, trembling boy?


Oh no. No, no no nonono.



Do what you like to me! In the name of justice, this fist!



In the name of truth, these muscles.



In the name of beauty, this butt!



Champion of Truth and Justice, Grand Papillon! Ready to fight all evildoers!
Evildoers?! Ooh, me! Here we go!


IT BEGINS.




The fight with Great Question is just like the other fights with Gama, including the Key gimmicks. He'll use a Seventh Key on his seventh turn, so it's a good idea to have a Replacement Man equipped if you're going after this earlier in the game. Oh, and make sure Joachim has an accessory equipped to prevent Instant Death.


And then this happened. I had Spikes equipped, which gives Joachim the Resist Defense. He takes a lot less damage, but also loses one SP each time he is hit. So of course Question used Deathtron Hammer twice in a row.


Lucky for me, Question died on the next turn.


Unfortunately, since Joachim ended the battle Berserked, he doesn't get any XP.





Hah... hah...



You won! Heehee!
N-nice job... Nice job!

Yuri inches away some more.



Oh, what a relief! Take my title, I beg of you. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
But...but, Teacher...



You have done it. This belongs to you now.
This is...
The Mask of Question. From this day on, you are the true hero. You are the Great Question!



I-I'm...the Great Question?



Well, now! You've passed the physical. Now it's time for the mental test!
Huh?



The Man Festival must end with the final expression of love between two men!


Anastasia, honey? You really shouldn't be watching this. I don't think I should be watching this.

Isn't it beautiful? Love comes in so many different shapes!



Ugh! I'm not... i-into that shape...



AH HAH! HAHA HA HA!!
AAAAAAUUUUGH!!!
No way!











Tatsuichiro: Time's nearly up now. Tatsuichiro Furui, reporting live from ringside! Over to Hirotoshi Yamamoto for the commentary.




So, uh, that was a thing. But, hey, we got a power-up to Joachim's Grand Papillon form.


Anyway, last section of Solomon's Key.

And here's the clues:

Astaroth: Dark angel that rules all death and rebirth. Next to his castle lies the Wilderness of War and the Eternal Boneyard.

Asmodeus: Demon lord of authority. He lusts for power, for no other reason than to wield it. Beside his castle is the Spring of Wisdom.

Amon: One of the three great lords of mayhem, with Astaroth and Asmodeus. His castle is next to the Enchanting Sea, source of all life.

Orobas: The devil that arouses humanity's forbidden desires. He can reawakenhuman souls. Next to his castle is the Bastion of Riches.

Gaap: Once a gifted angel, evil stole his heart. Rejoices in bewildering human souls. Next to his castle lies the Forsaken Hill.

Baal: Demon that sows discord amongst men. He causes murder to be committed for no reason. His castle lies at the center of the Palace.