In the last chapter, we'd run into a bit of trouble dealing with the random encounters on the second floor; now that everyone's properly leveled, it's time to tackle the second floor for realz.
A quick note: Starting in this chapter, I will start being a little bit more precise with map locations. To do so, just keep this in mind:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
Each section (1A, 5B, etc.) of the map is divided up into 25 smaller squares; if I want to specify exactly where something is, I'll give the coordinates of the section and the number of the square.
Ex:
Stairs to B1F: 5C-24(Map column 5 and row C, in the fourth square on the bottom row)
Keep that in mind, and we'll be fine.
Anyway...
Back on the second floor, I leave the area with the stairs and through the hallway.
Warp Point 4D-13: 4D-14; face left and check wall
Report: Whoa!
Gabe: What?
Report: Part of the encounter gauge swung out.
Ere: Looks fine to me.
Report: Well, it retracted when you all turned around.
Ere: Uh-huh, sure.
Ranko: The encounter gauge is designed to tell when something's nearby.
Ere: It's probably nothing to worry about.
Be sure to mark that warp point, because if what's about to happen gives you trouble, then this will be a saving grace (among saving graces, anyway)
South around the corner and —
>With your first steps into a new floor, your spirits are high as you advance through the forest. However...a sudden, sharp voice calls to you from behind.
Sharp Voice From Behind: "Hold, explorers! There is much you should know to survive these depths. Heed my advice."
>You turn to find a young explorer before you. He is blond and has a stern look that hints at greater maturity than his youth would suggest.
Sharp Voice That Supposedly Came From Behind But Was Actually To Our Left Because We Sidestepped: Is this your first time on the second floor?
>As he asks, he wears an appraising look, as if gauging your mettle. Though he is alone, his presence is somewhat fearsome. You wonder how best to respond...
>>"We're novice explorers."
Ere: Technically, this is our fourth time on this floor, but until now we didn't go very far from the stairs. What's it to you?
>On hearing your honest answer that you are (technically) novice explorers, the man smiles and continues.
Sharp Voice Now In Front Of Us: "Welcome, newcomers to Armoroad."
Report: Wouldn't it make more sense for you to say things like that while we're actually in Armoroad?
Sharp Voiced Blond Man: Technically, the Labyrinth is Armoroad. Legally, anyway. By now you must have been to the Senatus, no?
Oh, god, that "no?" at the end of a sentence that makes thing rhetorical...
Ere: And what makes you think that we have?
Sharp Voiced Young Explorer: The fact you are here on the second floor means you got past the guard on the first floor.
Axel: He does have a point.
Sharp-Voiced Person: You...
Axel: Hm?
Sharp-Voiced Person: Never mind.
>The man, who is clad in a red outfit of foreign design, speaks much more amicably than before.
Red Outfit of Foreign Design-Wearing Man: My orders from the Senatus are to give useful advice to novice explorers in this Labyrinth.
>The man stops for a moment and shifts his gaze toward the dense thicket of trees further in.
Man Once Again To Our Left: Those who come here swaggering in triumph from the 1st floor...usually die at the hands of...those beasts...
You follow the man's gaze to an empty corridor, the likes of which you have already seen a lot on the first floor.
Report: There's nothing there.
Man Pointing to an Empty Corridor: You will recognize it when you see it. Too many novice guilds perish from foolishly charging towards monsters beyond their abilities.
That's why they're novices.
Amicably-Speaking Man: ...I must caution you as well. Watch the enemy's movements before making your own.
Duly noted. His advice will make sense in a minute.
The man brushes past the party, but is stopped by Axel
Axel: That all sounds familiar. Where'd you get it from?
The man gives a faintly sardonic smile
Sardonicly-smiling Man: From you.
Axel: What...?
The man bows and turns away
Man Turned Away: "If everyone was smart enough to back away from fights they clearly can't win, there'd be no issue." You've gone dull, Blade.
The man shoots Axel a condescending glance before walking deeper into the forest.
Man Walking Deeper into Forest: I look forward to meeting you again should our paths cross. [Leaves]
Thank god; I was running out of different monikers to use.
Ere: I don't like him. He's like Axel, but worse.
Report: Is it possible for you to hate someone more than you hate Axel?
Ere: I honestly have no idea.
Gabe: Dude, what was that about. It seemed like he knew you from somewhere.
Axel: I...I'm not sure. This whole place seems familiar, but I can't quite piece it together...
Ranko: Maybe if we find that guy again and ask him?
Ere: Oh, hell no! The last thing I want to have to deal with is Axel and another person who's exactly like Axel!
Gabe: Ere, maybe you should calm down.
Ere: No! I'm in every right to be justifiably angry!
Report: Ere, please don't storm off again...
Ere: I'll do what I feel like! [Storms off]
Gabe: Great...
Ranko: Should we go after her?
Report: That usually isn't a very good choice; it's best to let her work things out on her o-
Axel: But this is...Sh!t! [Runs after Ere]
Report: Okay, now we follow.
Party catches up to Axel and Ere, who are facing a giant lizard.
Giant Lizard: Skree!
Report: What the hell?!
Ranko: A giant lizard?!
Axel: I knew it...
Gabe: Knew what?
Axel: "Formido Oppugnatura Exsequens"...
Giant Lizard: SKRAH! [Lunges]
Ere: Look out!
Here we go. This is why I waited to proceed until level 10.
F.O.E.: Greedy Lizard
Alright, it's time for our first F.O.E. F.O.E.s are considered by many to be the EO series' trademark. Unlike regular encounters, these powerful enemies are actually visible both on your map and during exploration, appearing as floating orbs (the color of which signifies their type). This sucker is a Greedy Lizard, and serves as our first difficult enemy in the game.
Greedy Lizards hit decently hard and are sturdier than rocks, but their real threat lies in their skill, Greedy Fang, which not only damages a person but has a high chance of inflicting them with Poison. Zurcamos recommends being at least level 9 before tackling this thing, so at 10 I should be okay.
Helpful Skills
I have no way of determining if the Greedy Lizard has elemental weaknesses or not yet, so I play a game of balanced offense and defense.
On turn 5 Gabe sealed his head with Hanging, preventing the Lizard from using Greedy Fang and opening the thing up for a Charged Bind Cut. Unfortunately, the Bind wears off before the move can get off.
Beating the thing nets me 9064 exp and a Lizard Crest.
>You've discovered a new monster! Greedy Lizard
>Discovered a new item: Lizard Crest
Ranko: Phew. That lizard was strong.
Report: "Nothing to worry about", huh?
Ere: Eh heh heh...
Axel, thinking: (Man, I have dulled a little...)
Gabe: I'm glad we stopped to train; otherwise, that would've been the end of us.
Report: So, Axel, you figured out where we are?
Axel: Yeah. I'll save the explanation for later, though.
I think I'll end this update here, but first, I loop around to activate the warp point I marked earlier. If you didn't engage the Greedy Lizard, this provides an easier way past it.
Warp Point 4D-13: 4D-12; face right and check wall (Activated)
Next time: More of B2F
