Part 28: Caer Bocram Part 2

Skit: Built Like a Maze
Hmmm, how interesting...
Estelle looks as interested in cities as always...
Estelle! C'mon, let's stick together!
I'm fine!
The buildings are run-down, it's overgrown, and this place is seriously built like a maze...
With all these obstacles in the way, it's pretty tough to go where you want to go.
Huh...? Estelle?!
Sorry, I got sidetracked!
I thought I just said to stick together!
You all need to be more careful. I've never seen anyone get lost so easily!


To continue, we need to make our way down this way too long staircase, it takes like half a minute.





Down there, we find a door and a cutscene.



Wh-what's up? I feel kind of sick all of a sudden.
Even someone as dense as you can feel it?
Who are you calling-- Wait, does that mean you can feel it, too?
Ugh, what a feeling...
Yuri...Estelle, too?
I'm f-fine.
Don't overexert yourself. We can rest here and have a look around.
Seriously, what's going on? Ever since we got here...
If a monster attacked us right now, I don't think I'd be up to it.
Saying stuff like that is the best way to attract monsters, you know.
...




Yuri...!
If you're going to keel over, couldn't you do it in the middle of a crowded city street? I can't be expected to be there to catch you every time.
Y-yes, thank you. I'm still doing okay.



What? I thought aer couldn't be seen with the naked eye.
If it's dense enough it can be.
Estelle, weren't you saying something about that earlier? That dense aer is bad for the body.
Yes... "High-density aer can occasionally have very negative effects on the human body."
It made you pass out in the Quoi Woods, too.
...Really? Wow.
Maybe we should get out of here.



I guess that's true, but...
Let's keep moving.



How do we open it?
It seems that we have to carefully put together the symbols to form the right phrase.
Wouldn't it be faster to break it?
That's not a good idea. What if it makes the door stop working?
Hey...something's coming out of it.
...So should we just put some letters in here?
Hey, didn't we pick up some odd pieces of paper?
Actually, come to think of it... Could this be a clue to the passcode?
Seems we need to use our mind to get an answer. Let look at the paper again.


Password clues again, in case you forgot them:





Some people seem to have problems with this puzzle, but it's quite simple when you think about it. A sphere of light in the sky is, of course...





Let's head in there.

Watch the cutscene! (recommended)





It looks like that blastia is causing it.
And probably this strange feeling as well...
...Huh? He's similar to the ones at Ehmead Hill and Capua Nor.
Is it broken...?
When a blastia breaks, it loses its ability to take in aer. There's no way it would get like this.
So... What's going on...?
I don't know... What could he be trying to do?

A roar can be heard.

W-Was that a monster?



Take it easy--you're not feeling well. And there aren't any doctors around here.
Huh...? But... But I...

Another roar.

Uaaaah...!
The barrier's gonna fail...!
Don't worry, that's a reverse barrier.
Reverse...barrier...?
It's a powerful barrier for holding monsters. He won't get out of there any time soon.



I've got a bad feeling about this...



Rita runs off to fix the blastia.

Rita?!
...Calm down... I'll have it fixed in no time...

Woof!!





Humph. You don't say... Well now, if it isn't that runt Karol who got his sorry butt cut from the team. The aer must be affecting 'em. It looks pretty thick over there.
That's just what we want. You all just sit tight and behave yourselves. We're only interested in taking out this big brute.
You sure talk big. Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility, you know. Don't go abandoning him for someone else to take care of.



Aaah!






Him again!





Th-the barrier's down!
Of course! That dragon freak broke the blastia! You're dead freak! Dead!!

Meanwhile, Clint takes the opportunity and starts attacking the monster.



Now I'm gonna mop the floor with you!

The dragon rider does not approve.




...Huh?



Well, come and get some, then!!











The monster stomps on the floor, destroying parts of it.




...I've never seen anything like it before...
Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh...



Boss video included in cutscene video.




The Dreaded Giant is a unique boss fight, in that you only start off with Yuri. It's also got some neat music we haven't heard before.



After a few seconds, your remaining party members start to join, one by one.

Apart from that gimmick, he's not that interesting. His attacks are pretty standard, some swipes with feet, head and tail. They hurt quite a bit if you don't block or avoid them.










One attack you should be careful about is this one, where he stands on his hind legs and prepares to slam the ground, as that attack hits everyone on the field.




The Secret Mission is making him lose his balance when he prepares this attack, so just attack him when he's standing up.



And of course he can also Over Limit.



Fatal Strikes can also be used on bosses, but they only deal damage.



Still, 1000 damage in a single hit is pretty nice at this point.



The Secret Mission reward is a Defense Ring, an accessory that increases defense by 10%.


Achievement/Trophy:

Secret Mission 5









...What about Karol?




Seems like our battle with the Dreaded Giant caused this room to break apart, stuff is falling from the ceiling. However, Tison doesn't care about that and still wants to take on the dragon rider's dragon.



Master! It's too dangerous!
This monster is mine, even if it costs me my life!









We can't afford to stay here now that the mark has escaped!
Damn. Hadn't seen a monster like that in a while... What a letdown. All right, pull out!



It's not fair. I wanted to beat the hell out of that freak, too!
Wait, where did Karol go?
If he isn't out here, he probably left before us. We'll look for him as we go.


Now we get to run up that staircase again. Fun!




Outside...

Watch the cutscene!




Not like what?!
Like I said, back in Halure...
I'm not talking about Halure! If you're not ashamed of anything, then shouldn't you hurry back to your friends?
It's just that...
No need to explain to me. I think you've got other people who'll listen to you.
Huh...?



Karol, I'm so glad you're safe.
Where the hell did you go? We were really in a jam back there.
I'm... I'm sorry...



I'm leaving.
Wait...
You think long and hard about what you've done. That's all I have to say to you.

Nan leaves.



Let's get going, Karol. We're all tired.
Yuri...
Man, we were way off. The Blood Alliance was nowhere to be seen.
No kidding. We'll have to take any information that guy gives us with a grain of salt.
"Guy"...? You don't mean...?
Yeah.
Ooh! I am gonna roast that deadbeat the moment I see him.
Let's...let's take it easy on the way back.

Everyone except Karol starts leaving.

...It's not like I...
Hey! You're gonna get left behind!
I'm coming!


Skit: Aersick
So aer is more than just a handy substance for making blastia work, huh?
The questions amateurs ask, I swear...
Aer affects everything in the world.
Our own bodies, the growth of living organisms, even the weather.
So the blastia in Ragou's palace that controlled the weather was interfering with the aer?
Correct.
So then, that means the aer here is interfering with the processes in our bodies.
I mean, I can handle it, but is it really a good idea for us to be in aer this dense?
We shouldn't stay here too long. Especially runts like you who are still growing. The younger you are, the more of an effect the aer will have.
Huh, guess that makes sense.


Alright, let's get outta here.

However, there's a surprise waiting for us at the entrance.

Watch the cutscene!



Grrrr...
Ah, the common rabble. So I've finally found you. That's far enough.



Humph... You're in no position to talk down to the likes of me. Now, Princess, right this way.
Huh? What does he mean, "princess"?



Y-Yuri... But how did you...?
What? ...Estelle's a princess?
I suspected as much myself.
Rita... You, too?
W-wait, you've gotta be kidding...
...And what will happen to my friends?
Why, they'll be drawn and quartered for abducting a member of the royal family, of course.
Please wait. I wasn't abduc--
Ah, what a mouthy young lady you are. This way, please!



Estelle...!






Just a minute! This prize catch is mine! I won't let you take him from me that easily!
"Catch?" Our duties are not to be carried out in the fashion of a hunt.
Humph...
Did I not also hear someone mention "dying" earlier...?
You did. What is wrong with condemning criminals to their deaths?
Should not criminals be captured and judged in accordance with the laws?
...Humph... I suppose I can let you have these little worms.



If it isn't Schwann, it's Flynn. These upstart commoners are so full of themselves...





Um, but I...
Yes, right this way!
Arrest them in the name of Captain Schwann!
Okay, Yuri Lowell gang, it's curtains for you, I say!
What do you mean "gang"?! Hey, get your hands off me! Do you know who I am?!
B-but I haven't done anything!
Don't hurt them! I beg you...!
Estelle, don't worry.
Yuri...!
Just start walking! Walk, I say!
Ow! Hey, watch it with the pulling...!