Nanashi: Owwwwwww... I guess we're all alright though. That waterfall dumped us back in the main chamber.
Vodyanik: The froglet-k-k-k lack-k-k-s sea legs!
Mermaid: You're never going to impress your 'dangerous girl' sticking landings like that, you know...
Jack the Ripper: Oh sweet Lucifer this again. Please tell me there's no mushy teen drama subplot! I want nonstop blood!
And speaking of girls I forgot to mention this last time. In the main chamber there's a door in the wall, leading to... the Spirit of the Spring (f.k.a Lady of the Fount) from Nocturne! She's back in this game to provide in-dungeon full heals in exchange for Macca. Asahi seems peeved that Nanashi notices that she's wearing nothing other than her veil...
Nanashi: Umm, wow.
Morax: BWOOOOOOOOOOH! TIS ONLY NATURAL THAT YOUNG HUMANS SHOULD FEEL THE RAW STRANGULATION OF HORMONES! TRULY THERE IS NO GREATER ENGINE OF DESTRUCTION!
Character notes: The legendary first true boss of SMT: Strange Journey, Morax is a Goetic demon lord with a bull's head (swapped out for an American bison in Kaneko's art for some reason) who is known for instructing his summoner in science, particularly astronomy. He gets mainly physical skills including Oni-Kagura, and is, bizarrely, one of the hardest demons in the game to get, as there's only one combination that makes him: Gremlin and Zhu Tun She.
Personality notes: Still the same violence-obsessed Morax we all know and love from SJ.
Toubyou: Kyashashashash! So little meat on this one but so much Magnetite! Have you got war it takes to defeat this shrine's guardian? I'd be happy to assist you...
Character notes: Toubyous are Japanese snake familiars that are sealed in pots, much like Agathions; it's said that taking good care of one brings prosperity to one's family and ruin to one's enemies, while mistreating them gives the reverse. He gets Zionga, which will be great later on. Too bad about the Ice weakness though. You'll see what I mean.
Personality notes: Seemingly supportive but kind of creepy old man.
Agathion: Why does he get a better jar than me?
The crystal acquired from the angels fits into the pattern on the leftmost door behind the waterfall, opening a passage further in, leading back into the main room with the waterfall.
Koppa Tengu: Put 'em up, put 'em up! You all think you're tougher than me! Ya gotta get by me ta get to the bottom here! Put 'em up!
Nanashi: He joined me for pocket change. Some guardian of this place he is.
Character notes: The weakest of the Tengu, a family of Japanese yokai. They're often used by messengers by stronger ones. Though said to be the spirits of long-lived wolves, they're depicted as birds for some reason. He gets Sukukaja and Zanma, the mid-tier Wind spell, so be sure to pick him up.
Personality notes: Acts like the Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz.
Nanashi: Ow. Feels like something's grabbing onto... me... what the shit!?
Obariyon: Hey there friendo. You're nice to stick to!
Nanashi: Help.
(IPPON-DATARA pries OBARIYON loose)
Character notes: Obraiyons are also called "piggyback ghosts" and are yet another breed of yokai. They latch onto travelers, getting heavier and heavier, but if you make it back to your house carrying one, it turns into a fortune in gold. He's most notable for Sukunda, the hit rate de-buff.
Personality notes: Likes sticking onto things, and accordingly has a rivalry with Ippon-Datara.
Anyway, this next path will take Nanashi into the shrine's bottommost level, where Navarre stops to caution him that nearby there's a stream of poison, which Navarre remembers from someplace called "Naraku." A poison-resistance app becomes available after this scene; grab it if you need it and cross the river. Heal up in needed and approach the cave before you.
Inside is a large demon, Ose, holding another jewel to be used to open the doors up above. Just as before, he's not letting you have it so easily!
MINI-BOSS: FALLEN OSE
Level 19. Null Dark
Ose is much less of a threat than the angels were. On paper, he seems pretty scary: he gets two actions per round, has no apparent weaknesses, and comes with your favorite attack and mine, Blight. The trick? He has no elemental weaknesses... but he is weak to both Bind and Charm. Hit him with one and watch him stand still doing nothing or beat himself to death.
Apsaras: Mufufufu... it truly is demonesses that run this world. Male demons will do ANYTHING for us...
Grab the crest and ascend the ladder to be dumped back in the waterfall again.
Agathion: My jar better not break due to this, you!
This crest goes in the rightmost door. The stairwell down leads to a path blocked by a Wraithwall, so power up at the Power Spot on the top level to break it. Your destination is a tiny room on the east side of the main waterfall chamber. In it, Nanashi discovers the final crest just... wedged into a wall.
Nanashi: Did those idiots just never come in here?
Melchom: Well you can hardly be surprised. Angels are automatons, after all, and that Ose is a thug with military command; there's no worse sort of person. But you, young one, you no doubt appreciate the thinking man's demon!
Nanashi: Actually I've just been recruiting every demon I see. I have important work to do around here.
Melchom: Ah! He sees the hidden worth of every employee! How divine! May I introduce myself: Melchom M. Melchomson (actually just Melchom but that doesn't look good on a card), Esquire, certified financial officer and not bad in a fight besides.
Character notes: A Canaanite god, often considered an alternate form of the major god Moloch. When demonized by Christianity, he became the manager of Hell's finances, carrying his trusty wallet everywhere he goes. He gets healing, fire, and the attack buff, Tarukaja.
Personality notes: Still the same lovable Miser Advisor of my prior LPs. He'll be a major recurring character yet again in this one.
Head back to the main room and insert the crest into the central door. There's nothing beyond this one except a long, long, long drop, through the central waterfall, into the very bowels of the shrine...
Nanashi: Gaaaaack... can I still drown after coming back from the dead? Sure feels like it...
There's nowhere to go but foreword, anti the most singularly gargantuan room in the game (not joking), featureless except for a perfectly round boulder in the center. Approach it, and you'll be confronted by a mysterious figure...
Spriggan: Derh, dat guy's not very tall...
Fortuna: Even so, I sense his power vastly surpasses ours individually...
The figure introduces himself as Sukuna-Hikona, the great dwarfish land-sculptor of Japanese lore. He is the guardian of the Ark, and warns the party that inside is a dangerous god from a country other than Japan who will only increase the furor of the great cosmic war. Regardless, you have to tell him that you want to open it to proceed.
Nanashi: I don't have time for this, Pipsqueak, I have a world to... save... here... Shit.
BOSS: KUNITSU SUKUNA-HIKONA
Level 22. Resist Ice, Weak Elec, Resist Light, Resist Dark
How about a round of applause for this game's Minotaur, demons and demonettes? While he doesn't have Minotaur's raw brawn and absurd critical rate, Sukuna more than makes up for them with the sheer variety of attacks he has at his disposal. He uses two completely different elements, Ice and Wind, embodied in his signature moves Infernal Hail and Needlestorm respectively; the former is a medium-tier, hits-all move that reduces defense, while the latter is also mid-tier hits-all and can inflict Daze, majorly costing you your turns.
Nanashi: How is this guy so strong? He's the size of a doll!
Archangel: You would give up against this fell pagan god so easily, young valiant? Do not make me regret taking your contract!
Character notes: The second-highest of the Christian Heavenly Host, Archangels are the brawn of the Heavenly army, valiantly fighting off demons. Confusingly, the beings often referred to as the "Four Archangels" - Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, and Raphael - are not Archangels but Seraphim, much, much higher on the pecking order. This archangel is quite strong, getting the Heat Wave skill the opponent one had and Hama, and I gave him Zionga as well.
Personality notes: Glory-obsessed knight.
Suparna: Hi.
Nanashi: Why are you... perched on my head in the middle of a battle?
Suparna: Cuz I want to be.
Character notes: Suparnas are the Buddhist counterpart to Garuda. While in Hinduism there's just one of him, in Buddhism there's an entire tribe of bird-men called Garudas or Suparnas with Conservation of Ninjutsu in full effect. The Suparnas really, really hate the Nagas. He's most notable for Rakukaja, the almighty defense-buff, and gets Mazio as well, making him good for this fight.
Personality notes: Perches on people's heads and speaks in really blunt statements.
Mokoi: Crikey that little wanker's tough! Don't worry though, little joey, your boy Mokoi's got you here!
Character notes: A sinister spirit of Australian aboriginal lore, specifically of the Yolgnu people of Arnhem Land. They punish people who use black magic but are also known to abduct kids to eat, so they're kind of hypocrites in a sense. He comes with Zionga, which is why I made him here, though he's sadly weak to Wind. Also gets ailment-inflicting Phys moves.
Personality notes: Speaks in Australian slang.
As you can see, Sukuna was tough enough that he warranted the making of new friends to fight him. In addition to his powerful attacks, he's also got Majakam, which inflicts Mute, rendering a character unable to use magic, and a hard-hitting physical attack besides.
Like Ose though? There's a trick here involving ailments. Specifically, he's weak to Sick, which will weaken his attacks and prevent him from getting Smirks, so cough on him a lot!
Preta: Eat this, Mr. Big Important God!
At half health he will ask you why you wish to open the Ark. Answer "We're doing this for humanity" for a boost to your Assist Gauge... and an attack buff for Sukuna! Yup, in this game Boss Banter responses aren't all-or-nothing; you might get positive and negative effects from the same response!
Keep up the Elec, buffs, and sickness, and eventually he will collapse, accepting his fate as reprisal for Japan's brutal past.
Nanashi: Man was he tough... he didn't seem particularly evil though. Is this really the right thing?
Odin then zaps himself into the room, congratulating Nanashi on his victory and imploring him to open the Ark; he reveals demons can't do it, only humans can.
Nanashi: You know what? No. That little guy made some good points. I'm not about to release more gods onto To- To- AUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
If Nanashi refuses to open the Ark, Dagda ASSUMES DIRECT CONTROL and forces him to do it! The entire room pulses with an unearthly light as the great god within the stone is freed... the great cosmic trickster of India... KRISHNA!
Apsaras: Lord Krishna Svayam Bhagavan! To think this was where He had disappeared to all those years ago!
Krishna proclaims that the threads of destiny are unwinding and the time has come for Salvation. For which he needs Flynn... Odin rewards us and Krishna assures us he isn't an enemy, but that probably won't assuage you of the feeling tat you've massively screwed up as they zap themselves away.
Fuxi: Told ya so...
Dagda claims things are going to get "interesting," as Asahi falls into despair, prompting another Peace/Anarchy decision on whether to comfort her or not.
Nanashi: Naturally, I hold her. I hold her to stave off the feeling that even I think I might've just caused the world to kill itself... even faster...
