Part 18: Update 16 – Green Giant

Right then, where we?





Oh, right. Rampaging Gigas on the loose. Vengeful Armada. Right.


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I don't know about you, but I have a bad feeling about this. Didn't we establish last time that flying to war alongside your Gigas is a bad idea?



Particularly when your opponent is someone who thinks collateral damage is a bonus.



Oh, really? What gave it away? Was it the roaring? Maybe it was the stomping.

Vice Captain: Admiral De Loco! The experimental Moon Stone Cannon is ready!

Looks like it's time for me to test out my newest weapon! Target King Ixa'taka's ship!

Vice Captain: ... What?, Sir, you're not going to fire at the Gigas?

The Gigas only follows the commands of the person holding the Crystal. So, if we destroy King Ixa'taka's ship, the Gigas will be defenseless.



Oh, Alfonso. When Admiral “Screaming Crybaby Tantrum” De Loco can come up with a better strategy than you, you really suck as a commander.





That's really, really bad, by the way. In Skies of Arcadia terms, a Moonstone Cannon is the equivalent of a tactical nuke. It's the most powerful weapon the world has to offer, bar the Gigas themselves.







Fortunately, De Loco's version still isn't perfected, or King Ixa'taka would probably have been vaporised along with his entire ship.



Well, except Isapa. Apparently it's not just Drachma, all men over 50 are made of cast iron and granite.



See? Four men on that ship and Isapa is the only one left standing.

Isapa: This is not good... he passed out. We must retreat! King Ixa'taka was controlling the Gigas... Until he wakes up, it's going to destroy everything in its path!



This is genuinely creepy. With nobody to command it, Grendel just slumps over and collapses.



And then it just sits there almost completely immobile, twitching its fists. I don't know what it is, but there's something about it that just screams wrong.



But ultimately, with nobody to control it there's only one thing a Gigas can do.



Backhand a fucking island.



This just raises further question on how the floating island work. I don't think there's a big enough to express -



I stand corrected.



I'm sure Vyse has seen the Gigas and he's probably on his way right now to try and save everyone. Be ready for him.

Vice Captain: Sir! A ship has been spotted off port side!

He's here! He's here! I've been waiting for this! Well, Vyse... it's time to die... Wait till you feel the power of my Moon Stone Cannon! You should feel honored that you are helping me test out my greatest creation ever!



It looks like we'll have to get past De Loco first. Look out for that cannon.

Aye aye, Captain! Bring it on, De Loco!





It looks like he's serious this time, boy. He's trying to get behind us.

Vyse! Just make sure to watch out for that big cannon that he fired at King Ixa'taka! One hit of that and we're dead!

De loco is out for blood this time, and his ship is kitted out for combat rather than deforestation. But you know what? I give no fucks. Today, I have bigger fish to fry.



De Loco is going down. Gear Grease is an amazing item that instantly restores 10SP, so if you stock up on them you can totally replace Focus by just tossing one out every few rounds.



Have I mentioned that De Loco really likes his superweapons? Once again, his reliance on them is going to cost him the fight.

Hehehe...you can't knock me off balance if my ship isn't moving, Vyse! Heehee...now, feel the power of my Moon Stone Cannon!!



It looks like he's got somethin' up his sleeve. But, now's our chance. We need to hit him as hard as we can while he's stopped. We'll take a bit of a beating, but we can take this chance and hit him as hard as we can...or we can play it safe and back away. We won't be able to do as much damage, but neither will he.



Yeah, we're not backing off. All hands to weapons stations!



And now you know why I chose to cast Increm on the 4th turn. Increm in ship battles wears off after two rounds, so if I'd cast it on the first turn it would have worn off just in time for the Harpoon Cannon.



On the other hand, this way requires me to take the full might of De Loco's Test Cannon. There are no fancy tricks here, the best you can do is to defend against it.







But you know what? I don't care. Come the next round, this fight is over.













And down he goes.


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De Loco burbles and gibbers like a baby through this. It's pretty pathetic, to be honest. And yet he still managed to outstrategise Alfonso.





Vice Captain: We can't face the Gigas in this shape! All ships, back to Valua!



It's still to early to celebrate. We still have to stop Grendel!

But... he's too big! How can we stop him?

See that canyon? No matter how strong that thing is, if it falls into the canyon, it will be stuck.



Uh, that canyon? The one that comes up to about its ankles?

Aye! Wait for him to pass in front of it, then hit him in the back!

Got it! Alright everyone, let's take him down!





Just keep an eye on the damage levels of the ship, boy. We'll try and damage him little by little.



Compared to Recumen, Grendel is another kettle of fish entirely. There's no way to knock his aim off or avoid his attacks, which means this fight is going to involve a lot of guarding.







Honestly, if you keep Increm up and just defend against yellow and red turns, his attacks really aren't too bad.









Specifically, his two attacks here have the same attack power De Loco's subcannons and torpedoes respectively, which is kinda disappointing for something that just knocked an entire island out of the sky.





So you know what, let's give Grendel a fighting chance. Just like Recumen, going anywhere near his feet is a very bad move.







Now that's more like it! Stomp is considerably more powerful than De Loco's Test Cannon, and if I wasn't Increm'd and defending I'd be in some serious trouble. Since I am, it's still no big deal.



Here's the big thing about this fight, though. See that HP bar? It's actually going down. Grendel has a whopping 110,000hp, but it's still a finite amount. You could, if you kept at it long enough, actually take him down in the Little Jack. Sadly you get no extra reward for doing this and it changes nothing – I know because I've done it.



The more practical way to do it is to keep whittling him down until he starts clutching his head in pain, just like he did before.



Uh oh...why am I getting a bad feeling about this?

Wait...this might be our chance. Watch it carefully...it's not actin' normally. If we attack it now, we might be able to knock it off balance.



The valley which, as I've said before, is about ankle-deep to Grendel.



Not that that's going to stop me taking a free shot with the Harpoon Cannon, of course.







In motion, this is really cool. The Little Jack flies right under the arm of the collapsing Grendel to avoid being crushed.





Huh. Maybe Grendel really IS an EVA. It certainly changes size enough.



The Grendel Wing is a boomering for Aika. According to the description it's made from the bones of Grendel, with power rivalling the Fist of Grendel. I'd say that's about right, meaning it'll be replaced at the next weapon shop.



King Ixa'taka: We were wrong. We should have never summoned the Giant.



Uncle Ben has some 'splainin to do.

The Gigas are far too dangerous...

King Ixa'taka: Yes, we now realize that. And I am truly sorry... Vyse, you have proven yourself worthy...



Wait, isn't that the symbol of succession in Ixa'taka? Is...is Fina the queen now?

Thank you King Ixa'taka... We will do our best.

Isapa: The Valuans have abandoned their encampments to the north. Now that they have left, perhaps you might be able to travel through the Iron Net.

If we pass through there, we'll reach North Ocean. That will take us back to Valua.

The Yellow Crystal should be hidden there.

Okay everyone, now we'll head back to Valua. They're really upset with us now... Getting the Yellow Crystal isn't going to be easy.



Isapa:It's an island paradise... We've got exotic foods, nectars, waterfalls, beautiful sunsets...

What do you say, Aika? Who knows? Maybe you'll find some more ghosts too.

Vyse!!! Don't even joke about them around me... You know I'm afraid of them... I've had enough ghosts to last me for a long time.



I love happy endings.



Two crystals down, three to go. We may have braved ancient temples and travelled to forgotten lands, but the next crystal is in Valua itself, as deep in enemy territory as it's possible to be.

Next time, then, we take the fight to the enemy. See you then!

Video List
Chameleon 2
Grendel