Part 92: The Enduring Shrine of Zaude, Part 2

With Yeager down, we can push on further into Zaude.



Skit: Overthrow Alexei!



However, I'm not convinced that everything you said to me was a lie. At the very least, I hope I can find out why things turned out this way before we fight.
If you keep acting tense like that, all the fish will swim away!
... Sorry. I get all wound up whenever I think about settling things with Alexei.
Aye, I know what you mean.
I want to put an end to things with Alexei, too.
I guess everyone feels the same way.
But we still have a ways to go until we see Alexei, so how about we calm down and enjoy some oden?
...You're right.
So do you want some? Oden is my speciality!
I'd love to try some.






Oh hey what's this giant enemy?

It's a Giganto, of course! It's been a while since we last saw one of those.





This battle is more or less a repeat of the boss in the Shaikos Ruins way early in the game.





Be careful about your equipment here though, Poseidon has a resistance to all elements not Light or Dark, and your newest equipment is probably water elemental.



Apart from that, he's nothing special.



Raven gets Crime in this fight, but that's about the only noteworthy thing that happens. Fires several arrows in quick succession.







So have some pretty pictures of some attacks.











Like all Gigantos, Poseidon may drop some rare synthesis material.





But the actual reward is behind Poseidon: Three chests with pretty cool stuff!


Dispersion: Altered Arte skill.
Great Deluge: Altered Arte skill.


Super Chain: Able to link arcane to base artes.


Special: Mystic Arte skill.

And with the Rod, I believe we now have all Mystic Arte skills! Well, in the 360 version anyway. I think we might also have Flynn's and Patty's at this point but since I'm playing the PS3 version with a New Game+ save and lots of stuff transferred I honestly don't really know.

Defeating the Giganto also triggered a skit I really should have gotten after my first Giganto but didn't. Not completely sure why, the "escaped from a tough enemy" skit might have overridden it.

Skit: Bring 'Em On
That was a pretty strong monster, but... I guess we're done.
"I guess we're done"?!
Come on, we just defeated that gigantic monster!!
Calm down, Karol. Pull yourself together.
Come on, Yuri, you could at least be a little bit happy...
...Huh? What's the matter, Estelle? Why are you sitting?
...How can both of you take it so easily?
What, did you get scared, Estelle?
That huge monster... I was so nervous, I, I...
You were doing just fine while we were fighting.
But if I got like this during battle, I'd end up causing trouble for everybody...
Don't worry about it, Estelle. ...Here, let me give you a hand.
I-I'm sorry...
There we go! Now, who do we get to fight next... Bring 'em on, right?
I'd rather have "nobody" be next...
Huh? Hey, Yuri... You're really ready for another fight, aren't you?



Running up either of the stairs in this room triggers a cutscene in the PS3 version.



Watch the cutscene!



Hm? Something the matter?



This looks just like... Could this be it?
Oh? What could that be?





Aye.
Whoa, seriously? Who'd a thought you'd find that here.
...
This is what I've always been searching for. And I finally found it.



So? What are you gonna do now? I thought you wanted to use that as a clue to finding your grandfather.
Aye. But now's not the time for that.
But wait. Wasn't Aifread the one who hid the Maris Stella?





We found the Maris Stella! That was kinda anticlimactic.



Either way, no matter which version, you can't open this door right now. So let's try going another way.










Judith gets Piercing Moon. It's more or less just an upwards jump/stab.


Skit: Taking Alexei Down
Guess there's no lookin' back now.
We're taking Alexei down! It's that simple!
We can't let the world become any more chaotic than it already is.
It's up to us to stop him.
Everything we've done is for this moment.
Every one of us is ready for whatever may happen. Let's do this!
Woof!


We can go either left or right, but we hit a dead end pretty quickly to the left.







Alright, a puzzle room! Take note of this broken platform here.



Before we try anything fancy, let's see what happens when we raise the water here.







Down here is something interesting. These pedestals float upwards with the water, and we have a place we can't cross. Hm.





Well, let's lower the water again.



Skit: The End of Leviathan's Claw
Yeager, huh?
For someone who's got the same kind of history as you, he sure walked a different path in life.
Yeah. On one hand, we get a guy who sticks with the knights, and on the other, a boss of a guild.
*Whine*
But in the end, we were the same. Both miserable men who only did what we were told.
In fact, I originally only came to know the Don because I was ordered to do so.
Really?!
I slipped into the Union as a spy.
The Don figured me out, but he didn't really care, so he just kinda ignored it.
Let me guess. "If yer after my head, then come and get it!"
Wow, Patty. Yer right on the mark. You really got him down pat.
Then, out of manly admiration, you settled right in with the Union!
You got it. It kinda became a double life.
Ain't I bad news?
Woof!
If Yeager had met someone like that, maybe his life wouldn't have had to end that way...





Back down, we can move one of these pedestals.



So let's try building a bridge with them!



That looks about right.





There we go!




Skit: Mental Work Is... Work
Urgh... I can't figure this out... Man, what a pain...
Why would anyone bother to set up such complicated mechanisms on the ocean floor...?
It's a common way to keep intruders out.
The Shaikos Ruins were the same way. Places only certain people could enter, that kind of stuff.
So only people who know the correct steps can enter?
Exactly. But if we rack our brains a little we should be able to figure it out.
So why haven't we figured it out yet?
You tell us, Captain! You're the master puzzle-solver.
Wha...?! Since when?!
Since now. So put on your thinking cap and figure this out!
Agggh... I can't believe this...


While fighting some enemies up here, Raven alters his Arrivederci to Inverno with Great Deluge.






Pretty cool.




Remember how I said you should take note of this platform when the water was lowered?



We need to shoot the lowering device from the left here.





Otherwise you'll end up back down by the entrance.



Skit: Just a Little?
The dog's looking a little spooked.
*Woof!*
Why do you look so happy, Rita?
Who, me?
Repede being scared makes you happy, huh.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
*Whine*
He's just not too good with water, okay? Being at the bottom of the ocean is a little tough on him.
*Woof*
A "little" tough, huh...




Going left, we come back to the central room, except on the top this time.





There's a device here, but we can't use it at the moment.



So let's move on.







So this room has a neat puzzle. Here's a little overview of what we have:









Our target are those chests on that platform.



Figured it out?



First, we need to push that pedestal here into the water.



Further to the right is recommended.



This pedestal is completely unused and just here to confuse you.


Skit: The Monster Book is Mine
You've filled up quite a bit of that Monster Book, Karol!
We still have half of it to go, but it's filling up nicely.
You've been pretty diligent filling it in. I thought you never stuck to anything at all.
O-oh yeah... Ah hah hah...
He probably had to stick with it since he showed it to just about everybody.
N-no, it's not like that!
Oh, it isn't? Well, then, as long as you've made it halfway, let's see you finish it up.
Of course I will!
All right. Good luck.
If you get tired of it, I'd be happy to carry on from where you left off, Karol.
I imagine you'd enjoy it, too, huh?
Hee hee...
I want to finish this myself, so I'll keep at it!



Now we push this pedestal with the water rising orb close to the one we pushed into the water.



Then we stand on the one in the water, shoot the water orb, and...



Voila!





Shooting that device breaks the barrier so we can go back out.





So now that we have a Red Orb, let's go back to that inactive device.


Karol alters his Nice Aid Smash to Nice Healing Smash with Great Deluge.





Pretty much the same thing as the Aid Smash, just better.




Back here, we can insert the Red Orb,



and shoot it to break the barrier over the big door.



We can't go back down to the right, so back to the left it is.








Skit: Done Growin'
Stop making food I don't like! Make somethin' else! I won't take this bullyin'!
Okay... No food for you, then.
All of us have things we don't like, but you don't see us complaining. Live with it.
You should be thankful. I stopped reading to come here and eat with you, you know!
An unbalanced diet can lead to an unhealthy body!
I'm done growin'! I can afford a little lack of nutrition at my age!
*Woof woof! Woof!*
Repede's making fun of you, Old Man. He says you're a disgrace to humans.
You're the oldest one here... Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
No way. I'm a poor excuse for a grown-up.
Sheesh, listen to him...
You're terrible.




And we're back in the main room!





Oh boy.

Judith alters Raging Luna Storm from Luna Storm with Gale in one of those fights here.








It's fairly neat!




Skit: The Maris Stella
So, that treasure you just got. Uh, what exactly is it?
It's the Maris Stella! Now that I've got it, everyone will honor me as a great pirate! I think.
You think? Really? That thing? Even though it's so small?
Oh no, it's not just small!
With this thing on my side, I can even scratch my head when it's itchy!
Even your head?!
Aye, and with just a LITTLE elbow grease, I can polish it up into a fine little mirror! It's perfect for spotting food stuck on your face!
And it's a mirror too?!
And that's not all! With some wild flailing, it can even pass as an extremely dangerous weapon!
AND a weapon?!
...Wait, what does that have to do with anything?! Why do I always get caught up in everything you say?
You see that? This is the power of the Maris Stella! I am now a great pirate!
...Really?
Of course not!






Anyway, down through this door here,



we find four random knights that are somehow designated as special.


Watch the cutscene!





He's gotta be. All right, guys! Let's do this!



Despite their event triggering attribute, there's nothing special about this fight.



Yuri!





The boats are moored at a safe distance. We're the only ones who've come.
Taking out Alexei with as few sacrifices as possible.
Like a suicide mission.
That's smart. If you came in force and got caught, that'd be the end of that.
We will be taking over from here. You civilians will pull back.
Perky as ever, aren't you? Sorry, but we're gonna ignore you on that one.
I think we should cooperate, but that's just me.



Well, and save the world in the process, right?
Yeah, I heard.





And with that, we're right in front of the door to Alexei.



Next time: The Final Showdown!




Notable loot:


Recast: Resume casting the same spell without additional casting time when interrupted.
Magic 3: Increases spell attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


Aerial Combo: Adds 1 more hit to an aerial attack.
Evade 3: Increases agility by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.