Part 47: Nightmare Castle A

Last time, Pearl said goodbye to her daddy for the final time, and everyone resolved to defeat Beatrice.
Except reaching and harming her is pretty tough. Fortunately, Boone has a plan.

... we're doomed.


Update 47: Into the Void

Over in Baskar Colony, Boone's gathered everyone to suggest his plan. What tactical brilliance awaits?



MUSIC: Preparations for the Valley of Bygone Days and Tomorrows

Okay, hear me out guys! Beatrice went to the Sacrificial Altar and used an acolyte, Shane, to try and extract the planet's life energy. But that energy is most likely much too huge and impossible for her to utilize... But even still, Beatrice came empty-handed when she tried to obtain the energy! Which leads me to believe that she must have already had a means of utilizing this energy! And the secret to that is the Sacrificial Altar itself! What do you think of my theory!?



Halle smacks Boone with her stick.

Owwww!! What gives, Granny!?

I'm stupefied by your stupidity!
What'd you say!?

Brother, please calm down!
Shane... Why don't you explain.



The Sacrificial Altar has always been an energy transmitting device. It's no secret...
I-I-I didn't know that! Memory loss!?



It's not that you didn't know... You didn't keep up with your studies! I have explained this to you and Shane in the past!
There is a cloister atop the structure of the Sacrificial Altar, said to be left behind by the Elws. Supposedly, it is a mechanism which can reduce a life-form to its energy level, and transmit it to a faraway place.
This 'supposedly' sounds fishy.
There hasn't been any record of the cloister activating... I really don't know...
Ah, whatever... We know enough.



Hold on, there. Where do you think you're going?
Don't stop me, Granny... If we don't do this, everyone's memories will be taken away. My lineage as a priest will activate the cloister!



Jesus Halle, you trying to kill him? This guy's shrugged off golems pounding his head in and demons swinging at him, but somehow that stick still cuts to the bone!

Stop trying to take all the credit. You're not the only one entrusted with this mission. I can't leave the activation to a good-for-nothing like you. Shane, you will activate it.
I... get to help Brother with his fight?
Hmph... They can't afford to be down a man, just when they're about to attack the enemy's throat. I'm just taking the most definite and reliable approach. Come now, time is ticking. Let us head to the cloister!

Off we go! To victory! To destiny! To blindly teleport ourselves to god-knows-where in the hope that we'll end up somewhere near the villain!



If you head around the back of the Sacrificial Altar, you'll find some stairs.



There's a couple of treasure chests back here (3x Gella Card, a Gimel Coin) and the entrance to the cloister.



Sure, that looks like something I wouldn't have any reservations about throwing myself into.

Even if we are able to activate this shrine, do you really believe it will take you to the enemy's stronghold? You would risk your life over my good-for-nothing grandchild's silly little speculation? Hm?
Well... I don't think we have any other options at this stage. We have to believe, or else there'd be no point in doing this. And... I think we are the only ones capable of defeating this intangible dream-demon, Beatrice.
I see... But what makes you so confident you can beat this dream-demon?
The four of us have been bestowed the power of the Ark Scepter. You once told us that this qualifies us to fight guardians, which in turn means... that we are capable of communicating and interacting with an intangible force. We don't have a plan or scheme to defeat the dream-demon, but... All I know is that we are the only ones who can fight her!



Pearl holds out the key Beatrice gave them at Mimir's Well.

This key is like an invitation from Beatrice. I'm sure this will take us to her!

Halle looks down and shakes her head.

This is foolish! Absolutely foolish!! Even if you do make it to her stronghold, you are most certainly bound for the jaws of death... Yet, you still wish to go?
One can still survive in the field of death. That's what it means to fight. We will prevail...



While three of the Drifters step onto the platform, Shane gets out a bag and hands it to Boone.

Brother, take this...

We got the Exodus Orb!

It's a sacred artifact of Baskar. It allows you escape from any labyrinth or dungeon.
Whoa... Awesome... I'll take good care of it. And when we're all done here, I'll be back to return it. Just you wait.



Everyone gets on the platform, Shane starts up a prayer, and...



We vanish. Where to? Dunno.

They say a fool may go to any extremes, but... that may just mean it takes a fool to do the extreme...

In another location... Beatrice needs a smaller chair.



MUSIC: Succubus Princess


The guests have arrived. Let the grand ball commence.



A... something... teleports in. I guess it's a weird looking robot. Not sure.

I am the Fortress of Seven. No one shall penetrate our fortress of disasters...

I have confidence in you, my Disasters. I need a sacrifice to carry out my plan. My Filgaia needs to draw energy from the sacrifice in order for it to exist. Now go, and help me create my planet. But do not underestimate their abilities. They have invoked guardians.

Guardians! They will meet their match when they face the disasters! Please witness the power of our destruction!



Yes... The grand ball is proceeding according to plan... Everybody must perform their own dance... Everybody, including the rowdy gang, the Disasters, and even... that man...



MUSIC: Omen

Outside, the drifters have teleported into a creepy environment filled with static. I really like what they're doing with the background...

Th-This sensation feels as if...
... we're inside a dream. So fanciful and surreal...
Looks like we made it to the dream-demon's domain...
This is where it all started...



And this is where it all ends!



A castle sits in front of them. They approach the door, and hear Beatrice's voice.



I'm glad to see the Dream Key will come in handy...
Beatrice!
As a dream-demon, I'm unable to exhibit my abilities in your physical world... But here in this dream world, I would be more than happy to dance with you. You're here to do just that, right? Because I know you all possess the power to kill me...
Don't think you can play around with people's lives because we can't see you! We're here to stop just that! And we've come here by our own will!
Heeheehee... I'm really glad you could make it. We'll have so much fun together! Welcome to my Nightmare Castle!

The door swings open and Pearl leads the way into it.



MUSIC: If You Reach Your Dream...

Filgaia's just beyond these doors. If we can make our way back here, we can go back any time. But we need to keep going, to that we'll have a place to go home to.

... technically we don't need to make it back here, since we have the Exodus Orb anyway.



This place is a real palace, but even though the first room we come to is a huge hall, there's only one door heading out of it.



That door leads to this hall, and another door...

A powerful, wicked aura is oozing from beyond the door.

The source of this evil aura seems to step from beyond this door...

Open the door and confront the enemy
We're not ready to fight yet.

People's memories are at stake! Their precious memories! There's no time to lose, because memories! We press on! For memories!

I am Disaster... the power that guards the Nightmare Castle... Let it be known to those who trust in the power of the guardians... your life ends here...


BOSS BATTLE: DISASTER LUCK



MUSIC: Blood, Tears and the Dried-Up Wasteland

Fought a guardian before? Good, you can fight these guys. It's surprisingly trivial.



Each Disaster has a basic physical attack and can also copy the Summon of one of our first seven guardians.
In the case of Disaster Luck, he copies Chapapanga's Lucky Hand summon, though it does much more damage for him than when we use it.



Hilariously, he also copies Chapapanga's tiny stature when he uses it. (I am easily amused)

However beyond that his offense is nothing special and he is 100% vulnerable to Weaken, so he's quickly defeated.

Only...



I am a fortress of seven... Witness the destructive succession of Tiamat's disasters!



Earth, water, fire, wind, moon, light and misfortune... May the seven disasters obliterate your existence!

So, Tiamat...

This guy only has one move. Unfortunately it's seven moves.



He uses the water, fire, moon, light, wind, earth and luck summons all in one go. It's a high-damage action that covers seven different damage types and takes a fucking long time to animate. It is likely that only Boone, with his high HP and magic defense, will survive; and alone he is boned because Tiamat will do this every turn until you are dead.



Even if you survive the first round, chances are the situation is hopeless.

We can't go on like this. We clearly need to find a way to stand up to him. I suppose maybe we should go back to that hall and have a look around.

Right. If you've not played the game before, take a good look at these pictures...

Image A


Image B


Image C


Image D


Image E


Image F


... and give me your best guesses about what we can do in this room.


Next Time: Whatever you guess...


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