Earning our JRPG black belt - Let's Play Legend of Legaia!

Alright, no more messing around; it's update time! LET'S DO THIS

Chapter 16: Van Saryu's Madness



♪♪Peaceful Path♪♪

I could use a Door of Light and warp out of here, but I'll walk back down instead. This will give me a chance to teach everyone their last regular Art, as well as show off Mushura.



♪♪Brand of the Holy Knuckles♪♪





This is Cyclone, learned by inputting ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑. Don't ask how Blue can go from a spin-kick to a flip-kick in the same jump, because I'm not entirely sure myself.









This is Tempest Break, learned by inputting → → ← ↑ ↑ ↑. It's the only regular Art in the game that hits four times and is damn cool to boot. Handy for regular encounters.









Lastly, this is Bull Horns, learned by inputting ← ↑ → ↓ ←. Would've been a bit ironic to use this during the Xain battle, but eh.

Oh! Can't forget about that Thunder Book II. I wonder where Songi found it...?



But who cares about that? It's about time Umber learned another one; let's see it in action.

Aw yeayuh. That is some quality ass-kicking right there.

One last thing before we return to Ratayu - Mushura.















Pretty ridiculous (and expensive), but also pretty damaging, too. It also has the best sound effects out of the magic we've acquired (you'll see what I mean in the video), and even lowers enemies' defense at higher levels.

Okay, enough messin' around. Time to head back.



♪♪Night Requiem♪♪

Well, we're here, but... something's not right. We haven't heard this track since way back in Rim Elm, and it wasn't used on the happiest of occasions.



Hmm... maybe talking with the townspeople can shed some light on the gloomy atmosphere.

Walking around town
Old man: The innkeeper's daughter was summoned by Saryu. Poor, poor girl. {Bwuh? Why is that a bad thing?}
Girl: I don't want to grow up! 'Cause if I do, I'll have to be a bride of the Seru!
Man: You guys are wearing weird Seru! Juggernaut, the monster Saryu is raising, is also a type of Seru. Be careful! They say that all Seru, no matter what kind, suck the life and sould out of people. {Well that was ominous.}
Man: "Brides of Seru"? Ha! The word "bride" sounds nice, but all it is is human sacrifice!
Old woman: Saryu used to be a good lord. But he changed completely after that man named Dohati came. {Dohati? Xain mentioned him briefly. Hmm...}
Old man: The long, long nightmare of the Mist has hardened our hearts. But reality is worse than the nightmare. In this town, living is harder than dying.
Old woman: Seru monsters in the Mist aren't the only ones who murder.
Boy: My sister became a bride of the Seru, and had her life sucked out of her by a monster. {What?!}
Woman: It's you. You're the ones who drove the Mist from Ratayu, right? {Indeed we are.} You're horrible! Just horrible! Why did you do that? Everyone is suffering because of what you did! Put things back the way they were! Bring the Mist back to our town! {Huh? Maybe this whole "brides of the Seru" business has something to do with her mood.}
Old woman: Even all that time in the Mist didn't seem to change Saryu's mind.



Yeah, sure.

Man: Just between you and me, if someone killed Saryu, this town would be saved! Some men whose wives and daughters were killed tried to get close to Saryu. But his bodyguards watch him so closely, they couldn't get close enough to kill him. I heard Saryu shows himself when he offers the brides of Seru to the monsters. We could get him then, when he's vulnerable.

So let me get this straight: Saryu is raising some kind of gigantic, monstrous Seru called Juggernaut, and he's doing this by offering women as sacrifices. Becoming Seru monsters in the Mist must have been the townspeople's only way to protect themselves. It's not like they could escape, either - they're trapped between the ocean, a mountain and a bigass pit. No wonder everyone's in such a bad mood - they're screwed.

Unless we do something about it, of course. Make no mistake, Saryu's getting his ass kicked if we have anything to say about it - we'll just need to find a way to get to him since he apparently stays hidden when not sacrificing women. I think a bit more information-gathering is in order.



Sim-Seru? Whazzat?

Old man: Satisfying some conditions induces Seru to self-reproduce. It's the basic Seru production method. One Seru becomes two. Strength Seru produce strength Seru, and fire Seru beget fire Seru. Everyone used to think that humans couldn't create new kinds of Seru with new powers. But there are rumors that a method for creating an advanced type of Seru was discovered in Karisto. It's called a Sim-Seru! A Seru created by human hands! It almost seems sacrilegious! That monster Juggernaut must be a Sim-Seru, too. What a dreadful creature!

Wow, that was quite an info-dump. Something about artificial Seru sounds really dangerous, especially if this Juggernaut is one. We'll have to search the Karisto Kingdom more thoroughly once we get there.



These people are quite knowledgeable, it seems.

Old woman: The legend says Juggernaut will come to life when the Mist covers the land... That he's a child of the Mist... Larger than Mt. Letona, faster than a flying cart! Juggernaut is a Seru not meant to live in the human world! He feeds on human life and eats hearts! But that was supposed to be a legend. Just a legend! But that thing sucking the life out of those young women in the caverns under the castle...

Oh, great - a Godzilla-sized Seru that does nothing but kill people and cause destruction. Seems like we'll have to kill it eventually... but how are we supposed to take on something so huge? And why does its description seem familiar...?

We'll worry about that later. For now, let's finish talking to the townspeople.

In the shops and houses
Old man: Oh, how horrible it was! I saw it with my own eyes! On the day the Mist covered the earth, I saw Juggernaut come out of Saryu's castle! Saryu must be draining the life force from those young girls to feed Juggernaut.
Woman: Saryu took all three of them... Fin, Fow and Fem. I asked the castle guards after the Mist cleared, but they didn't know if my daughters were alive.
Man: We used to have three daughters. It was a cheerful home with their voices and echoes. All three of them were taken to Saryu's castle to be brides of Seru. I know my daughters won't come back. I'm not even sure if they have any life force left in them...
Woman: Saryu's taxes are very high! We have to work hard to earn enough to pay them.
Man: What else can I do? If I disobey Saryu, he'll have my whole family killed!
Woman: I don't have any daughters, but just between me and you... Happiness is not having to go through sorrow like that.
Boy: My sister was summoned by Saryu. She's going to be a bride of the Seru.
Woman: I managed to survive the Mist, only to be forced to send my daughter to the castle... I wish I could go in her place.
Man: When I woke up from the Mist, I saw my daughter, Eliza, right next to me, and was so relieved. After everything that had happened, I thought that there was no danger of her being taken as a Seru bride. But I was wrong. After all those years in the Mist, Saryu's heart didn't change. Soon, they'll be coming to take my daughter away to be a Seru bride, just like they used to do. If this is what we have to go through now, I wish the Mist had never cleared.

There's one NPC we have yet to talk to, but we'll get to that in a minute. For now, let's see what's for sale.

There are a few new equipment upgrades for sale, but they're all freakin' expensive. To be honest, we're pretty good for now, so I'll hold off on making any purchases.



Here's what's for sale in the item shop, not counting the consumables on the next page. You can see what the Chicken Safe does here; the Chicken Guard prevents enemies from running away, and the Slowness Chain guarantees that the wearer will get the last turn in battle. Not sure why you'd buy that...

Alright, we're all set. Time to talk to that NPC.



Eliza: I have been chosen by Saryu to be a Seru bride. Soon the soldiers will take me away. But, please, don't worry about me. After all, I'm fortunate not to have died in the Mist... And all of my good friends have already gone to the castle, too. And besides, if I don't go to the castle, my parents will be hurt... or worse.



Eliza: That's why I have a favor to ask you. I'm concerned about my parents. Please check up on them once in a while after I'm gone.
*Ruby freaks out a bit.*



Ruby: Blue! We can't let Eliza go! Don't let her be a Seru bride! I'll... I'll go in her place. I'll be the Seru bride instead! I'm strong! I won't die!



I'm all for saving innocent people from getting sacrificed to hulking abominations, but is this the best way to go about it? Then again, this seems to be the only way to go about it, if the townspeople are to be believed. We'll just have to stay close to Ruby and keep an eye on her.

Blue: OK.
Ruby: Thank you, Blue! I knew you would understand. But don't worry about me. Terra is with me, so we'll get that Saryu. *chest-bump, spin-jumps* Wait, Eliza. After I get ready, I'm going to go to the castle in your place.

I guess now would be the time to prepare, but we already did that. I'll just go make a quick save and come back.



Huh... I wonder what it says?

Harvest Month, Day 5
You are fortunate to be able to
give your life for our
great mission!
Be happy, Eliza!
You have been chosen to be
a Seru bride!
Tomorrow I will send
guards to retrieve you.
Clear your mind, purify
your body, and wait.
Bon Saryu, Lord of Ratayu

Morbid!



Not really, but it's the only plan we have at this point.

*Blue nods.*
Ruby: I'll be alright! Don't worry about me! Here, give me that dress!
Eliza: Oh, I am so fortunate!
*The screen and music fade out as rustling is heard. A few seconds later, there is a knock at the inn door.*





*Ruby and the guards walk out of the inn. Blue motions as if to step forward, but Umber stops him.*



*The screen fades out once more.*



♪♪The Quiet Tree of Creation♪♪

Wow, tonal dissonance much?







So far so good...

You can't see it in the screenshot, but the curtains in this hallway are rippling in the nonexistent breeze. Creepy!



Do... do I want to know what that stuff is? I don't think I do.



Woman: Oh, the pain...
*Ruby freaks out, but the guards point their weapons at her.*



Damn it, we can't do anything. Gotta keep walking...

*Ruby and the guards do so.*



That must be Juggernaut in the background. And a bride... getting a sense of dread, here.

Guard: Here we are. Now wait here for Saryu to arrive!
*The guards back out of the room, pointing their weapons at Ruby while they do so.*



Oh hey, we can control Ruby. I had forgotten about that.

Scientist-lookin' dude: Hee, hee! Here's a vigorous-looking girl. So full of life! Now Juggernaut will grow even faster! Hee, hee, hee!
Scientist at the control panel: Heh, heh, heh. When Saryu arrives, you will all join those young girls! Soon you won't even be able to walk! Time to lament what remains of the world!



*The music stops. Ruby grabs hold of the girl and begins shaking her, but gets no response.*



♪♪An Unpredictable Happening♪♪

Scientist: Heh, heh, heh. Not yet! It's not your turn!
Both: Heh, heh, heh. Hee hee hee!



Uh...





Oh, god, is that thing about to-







JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST!

Ruby: Where did that woman go?



Crap, this is not good. Wherever the hell Blue and Umber are, they better be hurrying up!

Screw this, we're getting out of here!



Uh... or not. Crap!

*The music stops as Saryu walks into the room.*



♪♪Van Saryu♪♪

Saryu: So consider yourselves lucky to be brides of Seru. Now be quiet! That's an order!
*Saryu makes a gesture to his guards, who both point their weapons at Ruby.*
Ruby: Saryu, what you've done is unforgivable!
*Ruby steps forward.*



*Ruby is knocked to the ground.*
Saryu: The brides are not dead. Their vigorous bodies live. Now, connect them to the machine.
*The screen fades out.*



♪♪The Misty Nest (Ver. 2)♪♪

*The camera fades in to just outside the palace, where Blue and Umber have just arrived.*
Ozma: Umber! We must hurry! Ruby is in danger!
Meta: Ruby should be where Saryu is, so let's find Saryu.
Umber: Blue, it looks like we're next!
*Blue and Umber nod to each other, then run inside the palace.*

Alright, let's go. We'd better hurry!



The way to the door we're heading for isn't very long, but we can still get into random encounters, so we need to stay on our toes. Not that we're likely to get into more than one battle, but still.



Remember those strange statues blocking the door?





Turns out they're the next Earth Seru. They can dish out a lot of damage, have a bunch of health, and are incredibly fast, so don't take them lightly.



Make damn sure at least one of your characters absorbs a Kemaro, even if you have to reload a save to do so; it will be incredibly helpful in a minute.





Why is this hallway so long?!

The game gives us some nice camera shots as we run to Ruby's aid. You'll be able to see it in motion in a minute.



Scientist: Hee, hee, hee! Juggernaut is nearly full of life force.



And just in the nick of time, it seems!



*Umber leaps like a gold metal-winning Olympic gymnast.*



THUUNDAAAAAA.....



PAAAAANCH!!!



Heh, sorry about that. Couldn't resist. ^^;

Meta: It's time to give Ruby our fighting powers!

♪♪The Quiet Tree of Creation♪♪







I guess by "fighting powers" Meta meant "her regular outfit".

*Ruby's eyes tear up in relief.*
Ruby: I never stopped believing! I knew I could count on my Blue and Umber!
*Umber gives a monk-salute in response.*



♪♪Van Saryu♪♪

Saryu: You have done something I have not ordered. I don't like you! You must die! Die! That's an order! I will kill you!







Van Saryu's transformation is... somewhat creepier than the other bosses we've fought.



Boss Battle 7: Van Saryu
♪♪Attack♪♪

Van Saryu isn't a very fancy boss battle, but he doesn't really need to be, either. He's got two attacks, plus another one that only happens once.

The first is to simply alternate between clawing and headbutting you. There can be anywhere from three to five hits in the combo, but Van Saryu will rarely go beyond three in the first part of the fight.



His second attack is much deadlier.







If you aren't using Spirit, Earthquake can easily take off half a character's health. He likes to use it every other turn or so, but after the first few rounds of battle it gets harder to predict.



Still, a single use of Orb should take care of the damage you take from it. Be sure to heal yourself immediately after an Earthquake, even if you didn't take very much damage; Van Saryu can still deal out a lot of hurt in a pretty short time.







As for damaging Van Saryu, Hyper Arts and long combos are your friend here. He only has about 1,000 more health than the second Songi battle, but you'll want to blow through it as quickly as possible.



To that end, it's a good idea to use Kemaro.

No, you aren't misreading that screenshot; Kemaro really did just deal 1,811 damage to a boss. You can't just spam it and call it a day, though; it's expensive enough that you'll only get two, maybe three castings out of it. A use at the start of the fight certainly couldn't hurt, though.

Once Van Saryu has lost either half or two-thirds of his health (I'm not entirely sure which), this happens:





Yes, that is as bad as it looks.





After Van Saryu uses Jugger Power, his combo attack will almost always have five hits to it, and deals double the damage it used to. He'll also get much faster, and take his turn right after Ruby (sometimes even before) instead of nearly last. Earthquake also deals slightly more damage than it did before, as well.





It's imperative once Jugger Power has been used to take out Van Saryu as soon as humanly possible; the longer he's alive, the longer he can beat the holy crap out of you, and the more items and magic you'll use keeping your party alive. Use whatever you can to kill him - Kemaro, the most damaging Arts you have, maybe even the Point Card if you think it's necessary (though I didn't).





Bosses defeated by Umber: 6

I'm not doing this on purpose, I swear!



♪♪Van Saryu♪♪

Umber: Blasted Sim-Seru! It deserves to be destroyed.

Okay, but how are we gonna-

Oh. I guess the problem took care of itself!

*Ruby kneels down to check on Van Saryu. He gets up on shaky feet.*



♪♪The Quiet Tree of Creation♪♪

*Saryu looks around at the room, seemingly confused.*
Saryu: W-Where am I? What room is this?
*Saryu looks around a bit more, then notices the control panel behind the party. He walks up to it.*



*Saryu presses a few buttons on the panel.*
Saryu: This machine must never be turned on! Turn it off! You must turn it off!



*The music stops as Juggernaut gives a piercing roar and turns to face Saryu, who begins frantically pushing buttons on the panel.*







*Umber and Blue look on in silence as Juggernaut sinks into... wherever it's going. Ruby actually waves at it.*
Saryu: Thank goodness! That must never reach the surface. It's... a forbidden Seru.
*Saryu holds his head in his hands as the screen fades out.*



♪♪The Lively Imperial Palace♪♪

*Saryu slowly nods to himself as the camera begins zooming in on him.*
Saryu: Yes, I am entirely at fault for the tragedies that occurred in this town. One day, a man named Dohati came to the castle with a most unusual Seru. Foolishly, I put the Seru on. It was an evil Seru they had created -- a Sim-Seru! My mind was controlled by the Sim-Seru. It made me turn on the device sealed underground.
*Saryu bows his head.*



Saryu: The device's records show that I made one Juggernaut before the Mist came. The Sim-Seru gave me only one command: to create an infinite number of that monster!
*Saryu raises his head again.*
Saryu: Ironically, that resulted in your helping us to revive the Genesis Tree. *turns to face his throne* Had it not been for you, I probably would have remained a foolish puppet of the Mist. *turns to face the party* I will do anything for you! Ah, yes -- here! I give you this!



Awesome! Now we can get to the Mist Generator.

Saryu: That will enable you to get to Dohati's castle. Please destroy the Mist's henchmen -- Dohati and Juggernaut.

Don't worry, you can count on us! This whole Sim-Seru business clears up a lot - assuming they all allow transformation capabilities, that would explain Zeto's crab-monster shenanigans, Xain freezing the Fire Path, and possibly Songi's "berserk ass-kicking mode" as well. It seems like Dohati is at the bottom of this mess, or is a prime suspect at the very least.

Something about Juggernaut troubles me, though. Saryu was only able to make two of them - one we just took care of, but that leaves the other unaccounted for. He claims to have made it right around the time the Mist came, but we haven't seen anything resembling-

Oh, wait. We totally have. This... this is worrisome. How the hell are we supposed to kill something that monstrously huge and powerful?

A question for another time, I suppose. For now, this update is over. I hope you'll join me next time as we head off for this region's Mist Generator, and start getting into the Super Arts!

Next time: The second Mist Generator!

I had wanted to replay this (mostly for the story) for a couple of years now, but never found the time. This LP has been a really fantastic stand-in. Thanks for doing it!

What were your thoughts on Legaia 2? I thought the story was weaker, but they came up with some fun nuances for the battle system.

Sure thing! Incidentally, the next update is ready to go; I'll edit this post with the start of it after dinner.

I actually haven't played it past the first hour or so, and that was so long ago that I don't really remember it. Once this game is over with, I'll hunt down a copy and play through it, to get an idea of how I should go about LP'ing the game. That's a long way off, though.

EDIT: Okay, let's get this show on the road!

Chapter 17: The Sebucus Islands Mist Generator



♪♪The Lively Imperial Palace♪♪

Before we leave for the Mist Generator, we'll have a talk with the palace residents.

In the throne room
Saryu: Mist Generator... Yes, Dohati said he's going to build something in the Western Sea. That may be somehow related to Juggernaut.
Guard: It seems we were being mind-controlled by the Sim-Seru that was attached to Saryu. Please forgive me for all the rude things I said to you.
Woman: The Seru brides returned to town when the Mist cleared. I respect you all so much.

In the room leading to the basement
Guard: I apologize, but this room has been sealed under orders of Saryu.
Guard: I feel like I had this horrible, horrible nightmare...
Guard: I couldn't say this before, but I never trusted that Dohati.
Guard: Don't bother me! I'm trying to get some sleep!
Guard: So Ratayu's young girls are safe. As a young guy, that makes me very happy. {Really dude? Come on.}

In the entrance hall
Guard: In Ratayu's western wall there is a checkpoint. You can get to the Western Sea through there.
Woman: Now that everyone's back to normal, preparing meals is a big job!
Guard: The Mist seems to be flowing in from the Western Sea.



I, uh, somehow missed this during our first visit here. Whoops!



The music remains the same in Dohati. Hopefully the people's mood has improved a bit now that they're no longer being oppressed and sacrificed to monstrous Seru.

Walking around town
Old woman: Poor Saryu. He may have been ordered by the Mist's henchmen, but he did take many lives with his own hands. The guilt he feels must be unimaginable.
Boy: My sister never came back. {Uh... damn.}
Old woman: So a Juggernaut was born... Juggernaut breaks down thick walls and shakes the earth. They say he is a Seru who serves the Mist.
Old man: I'm an old man, but I want to spend what little time I have left in a fulfilling way.
Woman: It's you. I know it. You're the ones who drove the Mist from Ratayu, and freed the brides of the Seru, right? {You are indeed correct.} Oh, thank you! All the townspeople are so grateful to you!
Old woman: Speaking of Dohati, before he left, he said he was going to build a castle in the west.
Man: Do you remember me? {Yeah, you're the secret-guy.} So you do? Then where's your gratitude! Because I'm the one who told you about the plot to assassinate Saryu! {Geez, calm down.}
Man: I don't believe it! The surviving brides of Seru came back!
Man: So those Seru you're wearing are called Ra-Seru, eh? I didn't know that type of Seru existed.
Girl: I can't wait to grow up! 'Cause when I grow up, I want to marry Blue! {Uh... he's already taken. Also, that's a bit creepy.}

In the shops and houses
Woman: Taxes are lower now, but we still have to earn whatever we can.
Woman: My daughters told me that it was you who saved them! Oh, thank you so much!
Fin: We're triplets.
Fow: The three of us have a dream -- to become a singing trio someday.
Fem: Some day, we're going to write a song about how happy we are today!
Man: They came back! My daughters were taken away to be Seru brides, but they came back!
Woman: I don't have any daughters, but just between me and you... I wish I could experience the hoy of seeing one's daughter come home like that. It makes me wish I had a daughter.
Man: Now I'll have to find a nice man to marry Eliza.
Woman: Thank you so much. You really saved us. By the way, we once had a guest from Biron. He left a book here. {This book would have taught Cyclone to Blue, Mirage Lancer to Ruby, and Bull Horns to Umber. We already learned those, though, so we're good.}
Boy: My sister and Ruby are both safe! I'm so happy!
Man: It pains me to think that Ruby went to the castle in place of my daughter. But everyone came back safe! I just can't express the gratitude I feel now! At our hotel, we'll treat you as first-class guests! Please stay at our hotel whenever you're in town. {That's right, folks, more free healing! You can bet your ass I'll be abusing this.}
Eliza: Thank you all! You saved my life! That's why I'm going to be so grateful just to be alive from now on!

Well, that's everybody. Before we set off, we'll want to prepare a bit.



The new equipment is still expensive as hell, but this time I'll be buying some anyway. I purchase the Expert Boots for Blue, the Tempest Robe for Ruby, and the Valor Plate for Umber. I could also buy him the Survival Axe, but the Power Ring he's wearing already gives him a pretty good ATK boost, so he's pretty covered. I also sell one of our Incenses while I'm here, since I can't imagine using one anytime soon and they're worth 1000G a pop.



While I'm in the neighborhood, I stock up on a few Healing Flowers and Blooms. I figure we might need them for out-of-battle healing, and we'll certainly need the Flowers for the upcoming boss.





♪♪Barren Fields of Mist♪♪

How's about we start learning some Super Arts on the way there, eh?

Like I said earlier, a Super Art is used by combining several regular Arts, which results in a special attack at the end. They're more expensive than regular Arts and require more inputs, but they're also incredibly damaging moves. How about we get some demonstrations to show what I'm talkin' about?



♪♪Brand of the Holy Knuckles♪♪

Well hi there, guinea pig! (These guys can buff their Agility, by the way.)







You know how when a character learns a new Art they go in slow-motion for a bit? This is... slightly magnified. This particular Super Art is used by combining Charging Scorch, Somersault, and Slash Kick. It has to be in that order, too - Super Arts are very specific about that kind of thing.

I think one more should be good for now.







Super Javelin is used by combining Rushing Gale and, of course, Sonic Javelin. Something to keep in mind is that if you plan on using a Super Art, you can't link it to anything else; you have to use the exact combination for a particular Super Art on its own, or it won't activate.

Now, something you've probably noticed in the videos is that Super Arts are incredibly damaging; even the weaker ones we've just learned are enough to one-shot almost any enemy we've encountered. I don't recommend using them all the time - since you'd just be Spiriting every other turn - but if you just happen to be in the mood to murderize dudes? Go for it.

In any case, now that all that nonsense is out of the way, we can at last set off for the Mist Generator.

It's a straight shot to the Mist Generator, with the Mist getting thicker the closer we get. The encounters you'll get into are the same ones right outside Ratayu, plus the High Gomboo shown earlier; the only difference is that they'll appear in groups of three instead of two. Nothing you shouldn't be able to handle, though.



♪♪The Misty Nest♪♪

Now, those NPCs that were calling Zeto's Dungeon a castle? They're crazy. This is a castle. It's not the most impressive one we'll encounter, either.



There are two paths to take in this room, one left and one right. Take the left one first.





Heading down from here leads to a Wonder Elixir.



Heading up, meanwhile, leads to a Healing Flower through that door.



While you're running around doing all this, you'll likely encounter a new Light Seru, the Aluru. These things are vicious; if they aren't clawing the crap out of you...





They're shooting fireballs out of the bottom of themselves for a bunch of damage. (No, I'm not sure how that works, either.) They're really tough to absorb, too, even with the Ivory Book; you'll likely have to defeat several of them before you get one.



It's not impossible, but it is difficult - this is the only Aluru I was able to get, for reference. Unlike the other Light Seru we've encountered, Aluru doesn't act as a healing spell - but we'll go over that once we're done with this place.



In any case, it's time to head right back in the first room.



There's a Power Elixir through that door, should you want one.

Heading further down leads to... escalators. The one on the bottom moves down, while the top one moves up, so take that one.





There's only one path here at the moment, so follow it down.



You can find a Healing Bloom through that door; it's probably a good idea to take it.





Continuing on, you'll reach an intersection. The bottom path leads to a Phoenix...





While up is the way forward.





I like these bridge sections; they really give you a sense of how huge this place is in comparison to everywhere else we've been so far.



Now that we're back inside, another intersection greets us. Heading up will reward you with a Healing Fruit; grab it if you wish and proceed to the left.



This section of the castle brings with it a new enemy group, and another Fire Seru, the Gola Gola. To be honest, they aren't very threatening; their damage output is pathetic, and they likely won't survive more than a turn or two.



Like Alurus, however, they're rather difficult to absorb (though not as difficult); Ruby here is the only one who managed to get one. Again, I'll show what it does once we're out of here.

Heading left brings us to more escalators. The one on the right goes down, while the left one heads up. Before you take it, though...



Be sure to grab this Life Water off to the side.





Right next to the elevator is this neat little accessory. The War Soul increases the damage dealt by Arts by a pretty decent amount; I put it on Blue, but feel free to throw it on whoever you wish.



Not far from the escalator is another doorway leading outside.





Seriously, this place is gigantic.







Yet another intersection. Heading through the door gets you a Fury Boost, and another door further down leads to a Healing Berry.







New enemy groups you'll encounter in this section. You've probably noticed, but this is the first dungeon since Zeto's, uh, Dungeon, with Seru-only encounters. I only ran into a Freed once, though, and I wasn't able to absorb it.





We're almost at the end of this castle; just one bridge section left. Heading up from here will get you a Magic Fruit, by the way.

Well, we're here. Prepare your party the best you can, and make sure they're as fully healed as you can get them. Once you're ready, head forward.



There are some doors to the left and right of the save point.



They lead to these strange tube-pipe-things. More importantly, there's treasure behind them!



This is in the left door; there's a Shield Elixir in the right one.



Here we go...

*Blue and co. enter the door; the music fades out as they do so.*



Terra: We can destroy this machine by combining our power!
Ozma: But be careful, everyone! I sense the presence of evil!



Evil presence or not, we aren't leaving until this thing is destroyed.



Dohati: How naive! To enlist the powers of Ra-Seru in creating Juggernaut... No doubt that is the best he can do with that second-rate Sim-Seru.



Where the hell is he?

*There is a sudden flash of light.*



Heh. Cut from the same cloth as Zeto, I see. Meaning you're just as punchable!



♪♪Fight the Mist Guardians♪♪

Dohati: It is I who created Juggernaut and ordered Xain to kill that meddlesome Hari. I, with the superior Sim-Seru I received from Prince Cort! {Prince Cort? Zeto mentioned him...}



Dohati: Now I shall show you which is stronger, your Ra-Seru or my Sim-Seru!

Oh no, it's a... bipedal frog with... wings?





Boss Battle 8: Dohati
♪♪Disciples of the Mist♪♪

Like Van Saryu, Dohati isn't a very complicated fight (at first), but a tricky one nonetheless. He only has two methods of attack, but they're both pretty deadly.



Chaos Breath is his deadliest attack, and one he likes to open the battle with.











When blocked, Chaos Breath hits a little harder than a blocked Terio Punch (just for comparison's sake). If you take the full brunt of it, though, your party will likely lose a good two-thirds of their health right there. What's worse is that there's a chance - though not a guarantee - that Chaos Breath will inflict Toxic or Venom on some of your characters.



You'll want to use Orb as soon as you can, both to heal your party and get rid of whichever poison effect they have - the longer it stays on a character, the lower their ATK will sink. A single turn under Venom or Toxic is a rather negligible decrease, but you want to keep it that way.





Dohati's physical combos are downright ridiculous in their damage output. Unblocked, it's likely that his headbutts and wing-flaps will be just as damaging as Chaos Breath. Don't be afraid to be liberal in your usage of Healing Flowers and Fruit, because you'll probably have to be to keep up with healing.

Dohati has a lot of HP to work through - a little over 17,000, to be exact - so don't hold back on the offensive.







Like other bosses, Dohati gives you visual cues as to when he'll use Chaos Breath... but it's a bit more subtle than a message that says "USE SPIRIT NEXT TURN, FO REALS, Y'ALL". You see, as you attack him, Dohati actually increases in size, starting from roughly as tall as your characters...



To more than double that height.



Once he's reached this size, he'll use Chaos Breath as soon as he can. If his turn hasn't been taken yet, he'll let fly immediately; likewise, if he's already attacked, he'll use Chaos Breath at the start of the next turn.



With this knowledge in hand, you can plan around his barrages of Chaos Breath, and know precisely when to attack, when to heal, and who will take the brunt of the damage.



From there, it's a matter of picking your attacks carefully and piling on the damage. You'll have to take this fight a bit more strategically than the others, but as long as you pay attention to what you're doing and how big Dohati's gotten, you'll come out on top.





Oh hey, it's about time someone else defeated a boss. Been a while since that happened!



*Dohati reverts to his normal form.*



*The camera begins slowly zooming out.*
Dohati: Rim Elm. That wretched cave. The Biron Monastery. All those foolish humans who think they have escaped the Mist! Juggernaut has unleashed the hand of destruction on them all!



Dohati: Though I may die, Juggernaut will live.





*The fragments of what was once Dohati swirl in the air and slowly disappear.*

Of course we are; it is what we came here for, after all. Let's do this!

*Blue nods.*
Meta: Listen, everyone! We must work together! Let's go!







*The Mist Generator slowly flashes red, green and blue.*



FMV out of nowhere!











*The Mist Generator crumbles into dust.*



♪♪The Quiet Tree of Creation♪♪







Fantastic! Another region saved! Hopefully the Mist around Vidna should start dissipating soon.



Wait - what the heck is that thing? Another Sim-Seru, maybe?

No, wait, Sim-Seru don't react like this. It must be a Ra-Seru!





What the- it's like back in Zeto's Dungeon, only that was just an egg. This is a fully-formed Ra-Seru, from the looks of it. Just what is going on here...?



*Ozma hesitates.*
Ruby: Terra, something's wrong! You were talking to it in a language I don't understand.
Terra: I'm sorry, Ruby. This is something I still can't tell you about.
Meta: Blue, I promise that someday I'll tell you who I was talking to.
Ozma: So please don't ask us to tell you now.
*Ruby begins to cry.*
Umber: Ruby, there's no use crying about it. All you can do is believe in that promise.
Ozma: I'm sorry, Umber.



Meta: That's right! By the time we reach the outside, both towns should be back to normal.
*Everyone nods to each other, and they begin running outside the castle as the screen fades out.*



♪♪The Lively Imperial Palace♪♪

Saryu: Your homes were damaged by the Juggernaut I created. I am terribly sorry.



Saryu: Ruby... *looks up* I am told you are searching for your parents in Conkram.
Ruby: That's right! Hari told me they were there!
Saryu: There is but one way from the Sebucus Islands to Karisto Kingdom, where Conkram is. That is by the flying train. There is a flying train station in Octam. I do not know if it is still in operation, but it's worth a try.
Umber: *crosses his arms* I see. Songi is where the Mist is. Blue, we must go to Karisto Kingdom!
Ruby: Blue, did you hear that? I want to go to Octam and ride a flying train!



That sounds like a fine idea... but it will have to wait until later, since this update's over. I hope you'll join me next time as we set off for a new region!

Next time: The Karisto Kingdom!

Oh yeah, this sounds totally aboveboard.

Hey, everyone! I finished the update sooner than I thought I would, so I'll post it now. A few things before we start, though: first, there aren't any new videos in this update, mainly because during the course of writing it I was in all of one battle.

Second, I thought I'd try something new with screenshots, in an effort to help this game look better (or at least less pixely): I'll use the enlarged size I've been going with for battles and FMVs, but everything else will be in the default size. Let me know what you guys think!

Chapter 18: Unexpected Reunions



♪♪The Lively Imperial Palace♪♪

It's not likely we'll be back for a while, so let's have one last talk with the people of Ratayu. I'll be omitting repeated conversations.

In the palace throne room
Saryu: I spoke with the townspeople after you left for the Mist Generator. I have committed horrible atrocities for which I do not expect to be forgiven. However, I will work hard in the hope that the people will understand.

In the entrance hall
Guard: Saryu, too, has many troubles and worries.
Guard: I wish I could give up soldiering and find a nice wife somewhere.

Walking around town
Old woman: Saryu has been here many times to apologize.

And... that's it. Kind of disappointing, really. But hey, that's less dialogue I have to type, so hooray!



Free inn-stays are so great, you guys.



♪♪The Earth of Joy♪♪

Ah... it's good to hear this track again. But anyway, before we head to Octam, I think we should see how Vidna's getting along.

*A quick Door of Wind use later...*



♪♪Town Square♪♪

Seems like everything's okay. Awesome! Hang on, though... do you think anyone ever found Danpas? It was thanks to him that everyone isn't dead. Maybe the townspeople know something.

Walking around town
Mayor: The Mist is gone! We don't need the windmills anymore!
Woman: I wonder if he went home when the Mist cleared? {I think she's talking about Pepe here.}
Tour guide: With the Mist gone from the Sebucus Islands, the tourists will ride the flying wagons and come again. Then I'll go back to work as a tour guide, like in the old days. But, hey...



Yeah, sure! We don't really know anything about the region, besides the fact that Conkram is there... somewhere. We could stand to learn a few things.

*Blue nods.*
Tour guide: The Karisto Kingdom tour costs 100G. That's OK, right? {Yes, yes, just get on with it. Grumble grumble...} Way to go, big spender! Alright, here we go. Eh hem... ladies and gentlemen. The Karisto Kingdom is the heart of Legaian civilization.



I, uh... can't say I do, no.

Blue: No, not really...
Tour guide: What? You don't know? You say you don't know? Ladies and gentlemen, it's because of the Seru. Karisto is the only place where Seru are born. New Seru are born only in Uru Mais, which is in the Karisto Kingdom. All the Seru around here can be traced back to Uru Mais. We breed the Seru from Uru Mais. But don't even think about sightseeing in Uru Mais! Uru Mais is a forbidden zone. You can't get in without special permission. Well, that's about it. Of course, now that Karisto is enveloped in the Mist, who knows what's happened to Uru Mais now. But if you're going to go to Karisto, I do recommend Sol Tower. It's a fun town. Once you get there, you won't want to leave.

Well, that was quite a bit of information. We'll have to check out this Uru Mais place if we get the chance. As for Sol Tower? It is, indeed, a fun town, for reasons that will become apparent once we get there. For now, let's finish that talk with the townspeople.

Walking around town (again)
Old woman: Danpas survived the Mist! He's a great man! {Awesome! We'll talk to him in a minute.}
Old man: We may have lost our hot springs, but the pride of Vidna is still the great hero, Danpas.
Seru-wearing man: Because of the Mist, the Seru I was wearing did something to me. But now that the Mist is gone, the Seru can be worn safely again.
Hunter: Take your memories home with you! Buy a Camera Stone! Do you want to buy it for 100G? {Sure, I'll take it! The purpose of this will be apparent in a minute.}
Woman: The hot springs may be cold, and the windmills may have stopped, but there's no Mist! Wonderful!

On the beach
Girl: Oh, a Camera Stone! I like those! Can I try it? {Sure thing.}



So yeah, that's what the Camera Stone is for. They have five uses per Stone, and are purely for silly things like this. I've never gotten all of the pictures, but I assure you I'll give it my best shot (pun unintended). If you know of any picture locations, be sure to speak up!

Boy: The machines that make the windmills move stopped working.
Relaxing lady: Hey, little boy. You have a nice Camera Stone. Will you take my picture? {I don't see why not.}



Relaxing dude: Oh, you have the Camera Stone! Take a picture of me! {'Kay.}



Nice shades.

In the shops and houses
Old man: Now that the Mist is gone, I bet business will pick up again, eh, sonny?
Hunter: I see! So the Gate of Shadows was an entrance to the subterranean parts of Octam.
Woman: With the Mist gone now, the flying carts of Octam must be back in operation.
Seru-wearing man: This is the skin of a dead Seru. I'm sick of live ones.
Seru-wearing man: Your... what do you call it? A Ra-Seru? Someday I'm going to get a Seru like that, one that the Mist can't change!
Worker: You came just when I was bored. Hey, take a picture of me with that Camera Stone, looking cool! {If you insist.}



I'm not sure what those blue flecks are, to be honest. They don't show up very often, though; I think it's some kind of graphical glitch.

Old man: The engines are still now, but for a long time they protected us from the Mist. It makes me sad to see the engines like this.
Girl: They say that daddy and mommy are missing. What does "missing" mean? When are they coming home?
Boy: Mommy and Daddy are in the Mist. I just know they are.
Woman: Oh, if you're looking for Pepe, he doesn't live here anymore. When the Mist disappeared, he turned this house over to me and said he was going home.

At the no-longer-hot springs
Woman: I wonder if there's a nice hot spring out there somewhere...
Merchant: The hot spring isn't hot anymore, but if you want to get in, go ahead, help yourself!
Relaxing dude: I used to come here every day, and even though the water's cold, I still come out of habit.
Old man: Hey, perfect timing. Just when I wanted my picture taken with a Camera Stone. Take a good picture of me, would you? And get my good side. {Alright then.}



Oh god that face



Good thing they're only 100G a pop! But anyway, that's almost everyone in town, except the monks who were staying here.



♪♪We Are the Biran Priests♪♪

There's fewer of them, but at least they're still around.

Monk: Sir! I learned firsthand how dreadful the Mist is.
Monk: Sir! Now that the Mist is gone, I plan to return to Biron Monastery soon.
Sashia: With the Mist Generator stopped, I'm sure Octam is bustling with people and flying carts again.

Okay, now to go see Danpas.



I missed a line here; he says "I'm a complete idiot!" first.

Danpas: Ha ha ha! This shelter is always ready for use! When I go into town, they can't praise me enough, saying I'm a hero! That's why I stay hidden in the shelter like this. Oh, that's right. I have something for you.



Danpas: When the Mist cleared, I found this stuck to me. Well, take care, all of you!

The Chicken Heart is an item that increases the chance of successfully running away from combat. We won't be using it anytime soon. An interesting note: if you haven't talked to Danpas by the time you defeat Xain, then he remains missing when the Mist is cleared.

In any case, now that we're done checking out Vidna, let's pay Pepe and Zalan a visit to see how they're doing. I'll walk there manually since it isn't very far away.

Zalan: So you drove the Mist from the Sebucus Islands. Now I can see Pepe...
*Someone's head becomes barely visible through the door. Zalan reacts in surprise.*



♪♪The Ra-Seru Speak♪♪

Zalan: Pepe! Pepe, it's you! Oh, Pepe!
Pepe: Father! I'm so glad to see you! Father! I'm so happy!



Ruby: Blue! This is such a happy day.
*The camera fades out as the inn-staying tune plays.*



♪♪The Light of the Town♪♪

Zalan: Thank you so much! I spent the entire night talking with Pepe. My poor wife is gone, but I'm so happy you've reuinted me with my son!
Pepe: Thanks to you we're together again! Please, take this. I found it during the trip. I hope you can use it.



Pepe: I hear the Karisto Kingdom to the east is still covered by the Mist. Be careful!
Zalan: I will be praying for your safety.

The Miracle Water is a very nice item; it increases every stat of whoever you use it on by 4. I'll be saving this for now.



Okay, time to visit Octam. I'm betting that beam of light coming from the town is connected to the flying carts somehow.



♪♪The Light of the Town♪♪

It must be weird for the townspeople to not be in danger of dying for once. Let's talk to them.

Walking around town
Old woman: The mayor? He's in the shrine, in the north part of town.
Man: Oh, Blue! Someone's waiting for you at the station. {Really? Huh... we'll look into that soon.}
Boy: The sky, the clouds, the stars, the rain, night and day, the wind, the sea, the flowers... Now I know what they all are!
Old man: I'm sure that Hari is watching your bravery from the other world.
Girl: Hey, it's Blue! The Mist disappeared, so we came up to the surface from underground!
Woman: The air is so fresh! The sky is so bright!
Hunter: I think I'll make a new garden outside town!

In the bar
Man: Ah, it's been ten years since I've been here!
Guard: This is a party to celebrate our return to the surface!}
Man: Are you going to Karisto Kingdom? {Yep.} Karisto Kingdom is said to be the cradle of civilization. It's the home of the megalopolis Sol and Uru Mais, where Seru come from.
Guard: Peacetime like this is the best! It's all thanks to Hari -- and to you!
Man: Here's to Hari! Here's to Blue! Here's to Umber! Cheers! And here's to cute little Ruby! Cheers!
Barkeep: Thanks to you, I can reopen this place. I owe it all to you!

In the shops and houses
Woman: It's so nice to have a house with lots of light.
Man: I love big houses...
Boy: I like my house. It doesn't shake!
Woman: After being gone for ten years, it's going to take a long time to clean up!
Hunter: I'd like to give you heroes a better price, but I have to turn a profit...
Woman: It's amazing how different a town can seem, even if you've already been there once before.
Man: We'll be raking in the money once the Mist leaves Karisto Kingdom to the east!
Debora: Oh, look at all the houses! I'm not afraid of earthquakes anymore! This is my house!

Well, that's everybody. I wonder what the shops have for sale...?



The armory has a few new things, as well as some equipment we already have. It's been a while since Ruby's had a weapon upgrade, so I buy her the Bloody Claw, and I pick up the Master Armor for Blue as well. Umber can do without the Survival Axe for now, since the Power Ring he's wearing already boosts his ATK pretty nicely.



The item shop sells each of the elemental accessories, as well as the usual consumables. I buy a few Healing Flowers and some Doors of Wind before heading on my way.

Before heading to the station, what do you say we visit the mayor? He still probaby wants these Spring Salts we have, after all.



Mayor: Oh! These are Spring Salts! Thank you so much! Ha, ha! What are these for, you ask? Oh, ha, ha, ha! Why, they're for putting into bathwater! They make it smell just like a natural hot spring! Ha! Please take this in return, although I know it's not much of a reward. Please use it.



Mayor: Thank you all so very much! Ha, ha! Thanks to you, now I can laugh from the bottom of my heart! A-Ha, ha, ha, ha!

A Slowness Chain? Really? That's a terrible reward! Ah, well, might as well hold onto it; we... might need it for something, maybe? Eh, let's just talk to the people here and be on our way.

Woman: Hari used to be in this shrine.
Man: I feel so sad when I think of what happened to Hari -- after guiding us for so long.
Old man: Hari is still alive -- in a distant world, somewhere! I just know he is.

In the Books of Prophecy room
Priestess: Someday, a person like Hari will appear to carry out the will of Rem. That is what we believe.
Priestess: I want to read all the books I can to learn about the Mist and the Seru.
Priestess: We took the place of the nuns who died with Hari.

In the elevator room
Girl: Did you know that there are still some people underground? {Really? We'll have to check that.}
Old man: Everyone used this elevator to return to the surface.



Huh, what do you know? None of them say anything different (the ones I checked, at least), so we'll head to the station.



Heh, wrong door. This must be the waiting room.

Man: The Mist is gone from the Sebucus Islands now. Soon Karisto Kingdom's Mist will be gone, too! I know it! That's why I'm waiting here.
Woman: I have relatives in the town of Sol, in Karisto Kingdom. I hope they're alright.



Train guy: Oh! Blue! I didn't know it was you! I'm sorry. You want to go to Karisto Kingdom? Of course, I'll make an exception for you. The crewmen are waiting up there. Oh, and... Before you go, I recommend buying plenty of the Doors of Wind!

I appreciate the advice, but we're already covered on that front; we have ten of the things.



Going up!

♪♪Octam Station♪♪

Nice tune. Let's head outside and get a look at these flying carts.





How are we going to get to Karisto on this thing? I suppose we'll find out in a minute. Also, you can't see it, but those clouds in the background are drifting to the right almost contantly. It's a pretty nice effect.

Train worker: Thank you for what you did for us in underground Octam! I just knew you would be heading to Karisto Kingdom next! That's why I was waiting here.
Train worker: The gondola is good and ready, but... We can only take you halfway to Karisto Kingdom because of the Mist there! Oh, don't worry! We'll unhook the gondola midway, and the momentum will take you the rest of the way! Until Karisto is Mist-free, you could say it's a one-way ticket! {That sounds... pretty dangerous. Still, it's not like we have a choice in the matter...}



Whoa, that's a strange-looking Seru.

Train worker: Now, then...



Sounds like a plan to me.

Blue: Let's go!
Train worker: Affirmative! Yessiree!



♪♪The Lively Imperial Palace♪♪

*The train operators move into position; the one with a Seru on his back climbs on top of the train.*



*The operator leaps off the train; there is a flash of light as he does so.*





Holy crap! Apparently Flying Seru let you transform into a bigass... thing.







I do believe we've seen this thing before. Looks pretty snazzy without the sepia tone.

*The door to the gondola opens; Ruby runs inside and begins waving out the window enthusiastically. Blue and Umber approach more calmly.*



*Blue and Umber get into the train as the operator closes the door. The Flying Seru lowers its head, allowing the operator to climb behind it.*

♪♪Gondola♪♪

I'll admit, this song makes me smile when I listen to it.

*The camera continues to shake in time to the Flying Seru's movements.*
Ruby: Look! Look! Octam is already out of sight! We're already at Karisto Kingdom!
*Blue nods, and the two of them go back to staring out the window.*
Ruby: Soon we'll be in Conkram. Yes, Conkram!



*Umber turns to face Blue.*
Umber: Blue... When I was in Biron Temple, I once heard...
*Umber hesitates; Blue nods for him to continue.*
Umber: In Karisto Kingdom, Sol and Conkram were at war when the Mist first covered the earth.

Umber: I think he was right, Blue! But that's not all. Behind everything -- deep inside the Mist -- I sense a horrible evil!



*The music fades out as the Flying Seru begins slowing down.*
Ruby: Blue, something's wrong! The flying train stopped!
Umber: That is strange. We're still in the middle of the ocean, and Karisto isn't even in sight.



*The operator opens the door of the gondola and climbs on the roof.*



*The driver hops out of his position and goes to meet with the other worker.*



♪♪Gondola♪♪



Train worker: What? What?
Umber: What's wrong? What happened?
Train worker: We were just talking about it over here and...
Driver: This is not good!
Train worker: They say the Mist in Karisto Kingdom is much stronger than they expected.
Driver: So if we go any further, the Mist will start affecting the Flying Seru. I thought we could go farther than this.
Train worker: *looks up* Oh, don't worry. It's a nice downhill slope from here on in!



Train worker: Leave everything to us! Just close the gondola door and wait!
*The door closes.*
Train worker: We're counting on you!
Driver: Affirmative!
*The driver goes back to his position at the Flying Seru's head.*
Train worker: OK! Are you ready? Hold on tight!



*The music fades out once more as the Flying Seru begins to pick up speed.*





Train worker: Heeeyyy! HEY! That's enough! Unhook us! Unhook us! Blue, Ruby, Umber! We're counting on you! Good luck!









*The camera cuts to the water, as the train worker's head appears above the surface. The sound of the ocean can be heard in the background.*



♪♪The Lively Imperial Palace♪♪

*The train driver's head appears above the surface.*
Driver: The Mist disappears, and next thing I know, we're swimming in the ocean!
*The worker wearing the Flying Seru surfaces.*

Train worker: They're gone!



Seru-wearer: Too bad the gondola doesn't have any brakes!
Train worker: But, hey, those guys have Ra-Seru!
Driver: *nods* You said it! Nothing can beat a Ra-Seru by your side!
Train worker: Alright, let's go back!
*The camera begins panning upward.*
Seru-wearer: Shoot! I wish the Flying Seru could swim!
*The screen flashes white as the music fades.*



♪♪Disciples of the Mist♪♪





Damn it, we are going way too fast!







Oh crap, brace for impact!









*A large crashing sound is heard as the music stops and the screen fades to black.*



*The camera slowly fades in.*



♪♪Cara♪♪

*Umber rises to one knee.*
Umber: Cara!



*Ruby sits up as Cara kneels to check on Blue.*
Cara: I can't keep getting you out of trouble, you know!
*Ruby rises to her feet.*
Ruby: Hey, I never asked you to help me!
Umber: *stands* Cara! What are you doing here?
*The screen suddenly darkens.*
Umber: What is that?!
*Ruby and Cara turn to see what Umber is talking about.*

*Blue gets up at last.*





*The Floating Castle inches its way into view.*









That thing is huge. And it's spewing Mist into the region! Seems like we'll have to find a way to get up that high eventually...



Ruby: The Floating Castle... it's gone.
Umber: Tell me, Cara. How are you able to travel freely through the Mist?
*Blue turns to face Cara.*
Umber: How do you escape possession by Seru when you don't have a Ra-Seru like us?
Cara: Ra-Seru? What is a Ra-Seru? All I have...



Ruby: Cara! That's a Ra-Seru Egg! Wow!



Cara: Oh, so that's what you call it -- a Ra-Seru Egg! I didn't know that!
Ruby: Cara, can I have that Ra-Seru Egg?
*Cara puts the Egg away and chuckles.*
Cara: I don't think so! No you can't have it! It's mine! Why should I give it to you? Ha, ha! Well, I have to get going. I have things to do!
*Cara backflips down the stairs and runs off.*
Umber: Wait! Cara, where are you going?



*Cara leaves as the music fades out.*
Umber: Oh, that woman! But... I wonder where she got that Ra-Seru Egg.



♪♪A Town Enveloped by Mist♪♪

Well, regardless of her intentions, we have more important things to worry about right now, like finding a town. Or a Genesis Tree. Or basically anywhere other than here.

We'll worry about that later, though, since this update is over. See you guys next time!

Next time: hopefully finding some sign of civilization in this region.

I think the smaller screenshots are fine, and maybe even a little easier to read when we're dealing with dialogue. Though if you still want to do boss fights/magic demostartions in the larger size, that could be sweet.

It's funny the bits of this I remember--I remembered the Flying Seru and I think I remember some of the events in Conkram, but I blanked pretty much everything in the hot springs. I remember being so disappointed that the Flying Seru didn't, in fact, fly!

Hey, everyone! Sorry for not updating yesterday; I was way too tired. I'm good now, though, so let's get underway!

A fair warning first, though - this is the largest update yet. I'm serious, this thing is actually kind of monstrous! You might want to get a sandwich or something.

Chapter 19: Welcome to Sol Tower



♪♪A Town Enveloped by Mist♪♪

It's probably a bad idea to stick around the smoking wreckage of our ride, so we'll be going.





i'm getting mixed messages here



Hmm... this could help us get our bearings.



From the top, please.

Sol
The world's largest city, Sol, is known by many as Legaia's entertainment capital. Visitors enjoy the full facilities, theaters, fighting arenas, amusement parks, and more! Sol is actually a single giant structure with a history going back hundreds of years. Enjoy the breathtaking view of Karisto Kingdom from the observatory at the top floor.

Buma
Tucked into East Karisto Ravine, Buma is famous for its Genesis Trees and its lively streets. The beauty of the three cliffside Genesis Trees paints a picture of awe-inspiring majesty. Houses lining the river have also helped make Buma famous the world over for its quaint appeal.

Uru Mais
Uru Mais -- the mysterious city of ancient ruins. Who built it? Why? The answers, like the city itself, are shrouded in mystery. But Uru Mais is also world-famous for the new type of Seru that come from there. Most Seru, of course, are born of two Seru parents. But in Uru Mais, a new type of Seru occasionally appears from out of thin air! Some say they come from a hidden Seru world somewhere, but their true origin is unknown. The unshakable fact is that in Uru Mais, Seru appear suddenly from out of nowhere! Seru trappers sent by the Emperor of Sol monitor the ruins day and night.

Nivora Ravine
Nivora Ravine, famous for its beauty, is located in northern Buma. Climbers wishing to visit Nivora Ravine should travel through the limestone cave in northern Buma.

Well that was a lot to take in. It seems like our best course of action for now would be to find Sol; that way we can see the general lay of the land around here.



I... is that a little girl?





Oh, okay. Might as well see what's in these things.



Ah. We already have plenty of items, so we'll pass. We should've already left this place, anyway.



♪♪Barren Fields of Mist♪♪

Oh hey, a path! Hopefully this leads to Sol, or at least somewhere other than here. Good grief, though - the Mist is really thick here. We'd best stay on our toes.



♪♪Brand of the Holy Knuckles (Ver. 2)♪♪

Not long after setting off, we encounter some new enemies. The Queen Bee can take a hell of a beating and blocks attacks quite often. The Acid Slime is pretty bad, too, mainly because of a particular attack it can use:







Yeah. Needless to say, you'll want to take them out quickly before they get a chance to use that or Divide.



The Moldy Worm isn't too tough, to be honest, unless they have an attack I didn't see; all they bothered to do was try to headbutt me. *shrug*

Grudes are a somewhat rare encounter, which is good considering how tough they are. They can somehow take even more of a beating than the Queen Bees, and their combos are five fairly-damaging hits long (though not as bad as Dohati, thankfully).



Not to mention they can buff themselves! It's probably in your best interest to have the party dogpile a Grude when you encounter one.

But hey, at least we have a couple new Super Arts to learn.







Super Arts like Rushing Crush, which is used by combining Battering Ram, Flying Knee Attack, and Guillotine. And yes, it is more than capable of taking out a Moldy Worm or Acid Slime by itself.







Fire Tackle is also pretty powerful; it's used by combining Hyper Elbow, Power Punch, and Charging Scorch. I think that should be enough for now; I'll continue learning Super Arts two at a time, if you guys are okay with that.

Before we continue, how's about we see some of that tasty magic? I'll show Aluru first.