Part 106: The Erealumen Crystallands

Watch the cutscene!





It's beautiful... Like we're in a dream.
It's aer that crystalized at low density... Is this mana? I have to take a sample.
Just how do they come up with such different reactions...?



You're so stupid. Nature didn't make this, you know.
Huh? What do you mean?
The center of a new land that just crystalized... Somewhere around here is the one who made that happen.
And an aer krene.
Woof!
What's up, Repede? Find something?
This is...



Looks like someone got here before us. Watch out.



Erealumen is an alright dungeon, if a bit long. It also, for some reason, has its own unique variation of the battle theme.



Very quickly we run into some familiar human enemies. Looks like the Hunting Blades are here!

Skit: How Phaeroh Feels
We're lucky Phaeroh decided to help us out.
He's a little extreme, but there's no doubt he cares for this world, just like Judy said.
I've been hard on him in the past, but he has helped us out all this time.
We must defeat the Adephagos and save the world for Phaeroh, and his love of the world!
Agh, no cheesy lines.
Yeah, come on...
Honestly, you two should learn to show your feelings.




Here's the gimmick of the dungeon: There's a lot of those crystals here.



Some of them can be destroyed by shooting them with the Sorcerer's Ring.



We can find treasure, paths to continue, or occasionally just plain nothing this way.


And of course, what would a dungeon update be without new artes? Here's Rita's Ivy Rush, altered from Stone Blast with Great Deluge.












This giant crystal here can be toppled over to build a bridge.






Skit: The Invincible!

Ya let yer guard down any more, ya'll trip over it!
C-come on! I was in such a good mood, too...
You drop your guard more than any of us, old man...
Oh? Isn't that just acting?
Oh my dear Judith, how very perceptive. I guess it takes an adult!
Things like this just whizz right over these young'uns heads, ya see.
*Woof woof!*
You ever notice how the old man's ears wiggle when he's lying?
Oh, look! Raven's ears are wiggling!
I never heard anythin' more ridiculous in my life.
Ya never met anyone as calm and careful as ol' Raven!
Look at those ears go...
A-anyway, the important thing is to proceed with caution, right?

This skit triggers for getting everyone to Level 60, I believe.




Right around the next corner...

Watch the cutscene!




Huh!



Nan!







These wounds are terrible...
Come on, Nan!
Karol...
What are you doing alone!? Where's the boss and Tison?
Master and the others went on...



The boss is one thing but I can't believe Tison wouldn't take you... What happened?
We wound up fighting our target here.
I-I couldn't do anything, just like always... Master said it's because I had doubts.
Doubts?
I hate monsters. They shouldn't be alive. I still feel that way. But now, at a time like this, hunting monsters isn't that important. There are other things we should be doing... When I told him that...



Fools. With everything the way it is, how can they not take another look at their lives.
That's terrible! I mean Nan's right!
Relax Karol. Hey, the Hunting Blades are after entelexeia, right?
We should hurry.
Yeah.
Nan, can you walk?
Huh? Yeah, but...
It's too dangerous to be alone here.
Come with us Nan.
Karol... OK.


It would be incredibly cool if Nan actually joined the party here, even just temporarily, because her weapon is awesome, but nope. Oh well.






There's another mimic chest here that gives a ton of money.







Pretty great. Shortly after that, we reach our target destination:





...But instead of going up here we can go further into the dungeon for more treasure and a giganto.







Watch the battle!





Fenrir is actually incredibly easy. Enjoy the all-out damage and stun fest.









Skit: Karol's Sidekick
...Good work... Yeah... Get some rest, you did well...
Who are you talking to, Karol?
Waaah...!
Aaaah...!! ...D-don't startle me like that...
I-I'm sorry. Did you hear that just now...?
Yeah, we heard it.
You talk to your sword?!
It cuts better when I do that.
Actually, we just won this battle because I gave my sword lots of encouragement before.
Really...?
...Whatever floats your boat.
Well that was unexpected.
What?
Nothing... Thank you for all the work you do. We can't wait to see how well you perform next time!
It must be tough having such an unreliable owner! You're the only one we can count on.
Umm, err... Good luck next time...
Wow, thanks, guys! I'll bet my attack power will double in the next battle!
Don't get carried away!


Anyway, let's actually do what we're here for.



Watch the cutscene!



Gusios!
That's Gusios?! Back at Caer Bocram...
So the Hunting Blades have a history with him.
Judith, wait. Something's wrong!









Ugh! ...Why? Why won't anything hurt it?!



It's eating the aer. But this is...





You don't know what you're doing! I told you you'd just get in the way!
Run! There's nothing you can do here!
No. The guild is my family. I can't just leave you to die!
Damn it!



You...



Gusios, calm down! Tell me what happened!











Undine!
Wh-what is that...?
A spirit.
A spirit...
...Gusios. You...
Undine. What happened to him?
It doesn't look like he's in the mood for talking!
Even Entelexeia cannot ingest limitless amounts of aer.



And...
No!
Become Adephagos themselves.
What?!
So he got like this by trying to protect the world.
Gusios...
...Save him. While he is still Gusios...
...Right.
...Okay.

Video: Jump to battle



Listen to the full conversation!

Guess this is how it has to be.
I can't believe we have to... kill him...
Isn't there some other way besides fighting?
Looks like we don't have any other choice.
If there's no other way, then... then we'll do it.
For Gusios' sake too. Before he becomes an Adephagos.
Woof woof woof!
There's no way to save him if he becomes an Adephagos.
You're right.
Let's get this over with.



Remember the Dreaded Giant in Caer Bocram?



This is more or less a redo of that fight.



Gusios is stronger and has a few more attacks and artes this time, but otherwise he's pretty much the same.



His breath attacks are pretty annoying because they can inflict various status effects, so try to avoid those.



Even his Secret Mission is the same as last time! Attack him when he's preparing for an attack while standing on his hind legs.













Estelle learns Holy Lance during this battle, a high-tier light elemental spell that's fairly common in the Tales series.











And that's that.

Achievement/Trophy:

Secret Mission 19 (360) / Secret Mission 21 (PS3)

Video: Jump to after battle







...That's the soul of that monster. I've got to crush it.
He's not a monster! They were trying to protect the world!
I don't care what the Entelexeia were for!
...You knew. All this time, you knew what the Entelexeia were.
You knew and you still hunted them?! With the world like it is?!



And it's not just me. Most of the Hunting Blades have lost something important to monsters... No matter what happens to the world, my feelings for these...things...will never change!
...But you're wrong.
What?



You aren't the only ones who lost loved ones in the war.
But some try to be positive, and keep living.
I think it's admirable to protect a city from monsters. But...
Don't just be pig-headed about it. Do it when the world is, you know, OK.
...It's too late for me to change.












Get up, you maggots! We're withdrawing!





...Who knows.
So, let's make a spirit.





I...guess it worked?
His consciousness itself was nearly taken. He will not wake for a while. Now, give him a name.
...What's his element?
A power rooted deep within the world... Earth itself.



The spirit of earth, Gnome...
Let us tell him once he awakens.



Humph. People can't understand anything except what they see with their own eyes.
So after all that happened, it turns out the worst thing in the world is people.
Which means we have to work that much harder.
...Yeah, you're right.





Skit: The Hunting Blades
So his family was killed by the Entelexeia...
Clint was it? The grudge he's got against them won't fade anytime soon.
Maybe he has his reasons, but I think just hunting monsters has been his purpose for a while.
I was like him once... I only lived to destroy blastia.
Then maybe he can still change. Like you did, Judith.
I don't know... Either way, we've got our own goals to worry about.
Right, Karol?
Huh...?
...Yeah, you're right!


Alright, we're done here. Let's get out. Yes, they actually make you run the entire way back, sadly. There's a way to skip the way back but it involves doing this spirit last.




Skit: So Sparkly
It feels so mysterious here, almost like a fantasy novel... I like it here...
Are you serious...?
It'd be even nicer if these sparkling crystals weren't hurting my eyes so much.
Oh, I've already gotten used to that.
...Hmm? Now that you mention it, it's not really bothering me, either.
I guess I'm okay with it.
Huh? Yeah, me too...
What? You mean I'm the only one who's still getting blinded here...?
All right, let's get back to the task at hand. I don't wanna be here any longer than we have to.
Hee hee, I'm ready for more!

Yuri, Estelle, Rita, and Raven leave.

...I feel so left out...
...



Loot:

This is a really good accessory! There's also a blue version you can synthesize from it that doubles gald gain.








Hit Plus: Tap the attack button repeatedly during a mystic arte to add hits to the attack.
O.L. Boost: Increases the duration of Over Limit.


Extra Combo I: Press the attack button at just the right time at the end of a combo to inflict an extra hit on the enemy.
Extra Combo II: Press the attack button at just the right time at the end of Extra Combo I to inflict another hit on your enemy.
Evade 3: Increases agility by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


Super Chain 5: Able to link altered to arcane artes.
Resurrect: Occasionally revive from KO automatically.


Aerial Combo 2: Adds 2 more hits to an aerial attack.
Strength 3: Increases physical attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


High Tension: Increases rate at which Over Limit gauge fills.
(translation note: This (ハイテンション "High Tension") is a different Skill than Yuri's High Tension (ハイパーコンボ "Hyper Combo").)
Hunter 2: Increases EXP earned after defeating an aerial enemy. (Applies to all allies in party.)


Break Down: Hit a stunned enemy to extend Stun once.
Strength 3: Increases physical attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.
Magic 3: Increases spell attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


OVL Bonus 2: Occasionally fully restores TP during Over Limit.
Evade 2: Increases agility by 10%. Increase due to equipment not affected.










Skit: Gusios to Gnome
Whew. Old Goosie turned into Gnome, safe and sound. That's a load off.
Yes... It would have been tragic if he'd transformed into an Adephagos...
Yeah. He's just fulfilling the role he was meant to play.
I doubt he ever thought that his transformation might have caused the cataclysm itself.
...I feel for the poor Entelexeia who became Adephagos in the past...
If only they'd had the option of spirit conversion...
Young lady, don't dwell too much on all the "what ifs."
Maybe they didn't have a choice. But those who became Adephagos are trying to devour this world.
That is the reality.
I know... But it's just so sad...




Skit: Gusios' Crystals
So Erealumen is something Gusios created.
Right. I remember seeing a similar crystal back at Caer Bocram.
Yeah, you were pretty absorbed in that thing.
The Rita radar never lets any objects of interest go undetected.
...Oh...I forgot... If Gusios undergoes spirit conversion, I won't be able to investigate him...!
There goes the Rita radar.
Don't get carried away, now.




Skit: Gusios' Sacrifice
Was Gusios in Caer Bocram in order to feed on the aer?
Yes. That's how the Hunting Blades managed to trap him in their reverse barrier.
So is that what you and Ba'ul were doing there, Judy? Did you go to save Gusios?
Not originally. We went there to destroy the hermes blastia creating the reverse barrier.
Besides...in the end I was unable to save Gusios.
...!
He wasn't allowed to decide whether he was for or against becoming a spirit.
It's not your fault... There was nothing else you could've done.
We won't let his sacrifice be for nothing. We'll use the spirits well, and defeat the Adephagos.
Right...
...!
Yes... Ba'ul says that aside from spirit conversion, he will do everything in his power to aid us.
I'm glad he's on our side.



Before we head to Relewiese for the last spirit, let's take a little side trip to the Yumanju hot springs.









Hey, are you done cleaning the baths?
Yes, sir! The open-air baths are sparkling clean, and ready for your enjoyment!
Heeey! Sounds nice, sounds nice!
Well then, can we go into the baths, then?



F-fifty thousand Gald?!
T-that's highway robbery!
The principal customers of our establishment are well-to-do nobility. Our prices are merely the result of our sincere desire to meet every conceivable need of our esteemed clientele. I believe that once you experience our services, you won't feel that the prices are too high for the level of satisfaction you receive.
What should we do, Yuri?
We don't need to pay for Repede, so that's six people, right? Here you go.
Thank you very much! The ladies' bath is on the right, and the men's bath is on the left. Enjoy!




Patience is a virtue, young'un. Grown-ups move at a slower pace than you do.
This resort seems to have a very peaceful feeling to it. Don't you think?
Ya, check out that bamboo fountain over there. This place is pretty zen.
Come on, we can talk about all of that once we get in the water! Let's go!



Okay, sure! See you outside!



Yeah, that's what I like most about Captain Karol.
But is it really okay if your chest gets wet, old man?
Hmmm... I don't think there'll be any problem. 'Sides, a little electrocution is good fer ya! ♥
...Stay out of the water when I'm in there.



What's all the fuss, young'un? Yer not gonna tell me something fantastic like we can see inta the women's baths, right?
That's exactly what it is! There's a hole in the middle of the wall separating the two baths!



Hurry, hurry! The water's-a waitin'!











Yes. That was so refreshing!



Heh. Why are you so mad, Rita?
We overheard what Karol was going on about. That's why we got out of the water so soon.
I don't see what the problem would've been with giving the boys a little show, myself... We could've gotten Karol and Raven wrapped around our little fingers...
What are you talking about?! You realized that they could see us from their side, didn't you?! That's why you got out so quickly!
Well, I wouldn't have minded staying in.



Judith... You're mean.
Oh, I'm sorry.





I never really got the appeal of hot spring scenes in anime and anime-inspired media. This one isn't too bad, thankfully, but I still have to wonder why it's in so many things.


Anyway, next time: Relewiese Hollow.