All right, time for another update (largely because I'm bored). This one'll cover the second half of the ankh collection, which requires me to go north from the monument room.
Immediately after heading north, we encounter a useless empty chest and a flower monster. After having Ein tough it, I'm given the option to ambush it, or to have either Cierra or Serene attack the thing. I tell Cierra to burn it, gaining some affection for her and a rhythm minigame to pull the attack ff. I pull it off and earn 3000 points. This allows me to go to area 5-5: Northern Catacombs.
I'm actually going to put off the ankh collection for a bit, because there's something I want to do first. It has to do with the suspicious set of fangs on the first screen, covering a passage north. In order to get rid of them, I need to find some stakes and pound them into the ground.
The first stake is easy: just head east (the only way you can go). After a mash minigame, I've dealt with it.
The next stake is to the north, then east from there. It is promptly pounded in like the last one.
The last stake is south and then east of the first one. It, like its brethren, is pounded, opening the door back on the first screen. Each stake also got me 2000 points.
Now, I head back to the first screen, then through the now-opened door. This room contains a sword chained to a gravestone. That sword's part of my goal, but before I can get it, I'll need to fight its now-undead previous owner. He's a member of the last class of skeleton, so I bring lots of holy power (including Disaresta, of course). I manage an S-rank, which gets me the second half of my reward, a Rosier. If you'll remember, this was supposed to be stuck in the ground way back at Heaven's Gate, but Sting thought nerfing me was a suitable reward for being good at the game. The point, though, is that after replacing my Holy Sabre, I am finally as strong as I should be!
At any rate, the skeleton passes on, confident that his sword is now in the right hands. I therefore obtain the Kiku-ichimonji, the second of the game's two katanas. This one hits twice as many times as the Zantetsu, though only Fia can use it. It replaces the old katana. I then take some time off to master my new rapier:
Ein:
- Rosier: Terre Promise: Level 2, 6-hit physical holy-elemental attack, power of 163
Fia:
- Rosier: Cadenza: Level 3, 8-hit physical holy-elemental attack, power of 183, unblockable, last 2 attacks hit enemies behind the target
Serene:
- Rosier: Judgment: Level 1, 1-hit physical holy-elemental attack, power of 429, low accuracy
Cierra:
- Rosier: Holy Blight: Level 1, 4-hit magic holy-elemental attack, power of 148
Now that I have caught up with the game, it's time to actually get around to dealing with those ankhs. First off, back to where we found the second stake. On the way, I discard a Holy Sabre from a random chest because I don't need it.
Anyway, this time the priest in question is Xenon, priest of death. He's above Askus in fire, below Iduna in lightning, and below Lokin in ice. His guards have a golem, but are otherwise uninteresting. After killing them I get the usual Magic boost, along with the X Ankh.
Now, back to where we found the first stake. I head east, to the grave of Lokin, priest of chaos. He's above Xenon in fire, below Xenon in lightning, and below Iduna in ice. Killing his nondescript minions gets the usual Magic bonus and the L Ankh for my collection. Now, on to the area with the last stake. First, though, I examine an open chest on the path and get a Fire Emblem, which replaces the Book of Kylier (I have a way to get another one). I then master the Fire Emblem for these abilities:
Ein:
- Fire Emblem: Blazing Rose: Level 3, 7-hit magic fire-elemental attack, power of 77, may inflict Heat status, Mot-Vit
Cierra:
- Fire Emblem: Fire Resist: Level 1, raises everyone's fire resistance
Anyway, on to the last tomb. It contains Askus, priest of birth. He is above Teula in fire, above Xenon in lightning, and above Yumel in ice. His forces include another Black Knight, a skeleton, and a female mage who couldn't hurt Cierra with her Break Out. They drop a mighty Phoenix Wand to replace my Fire Emblem. I then get the standard Magic boost and the A Ankh.
Now, I can go finish this place up. First, though, I've got to master the Phoenix Wand, as it's the next staff and has these Over Skills:
Ein:
- Phoenix Wand: Flame Bind: Level 1, 4-hit magic fire-elemental attack, power of 116
Fia:
- Phoenix Wand: Carmine Cutlass: Level 2, 6-hit magic fire-elemental attack, power of 113, can't hit flying enemies
Cierra:
- Phoenix Wand: Prominence: Level 3, 7-hit magic fire-elemental attack, power of 163, last attack hits all
Now that I'm done that, it's time to head back to the central area. After passing the monument and the room beyond, we reach a room where Lina talks about the water on the wall. Fia notes that this means that we're close to the source, and I'm allowed to move on.
What is found beyond the graves, however, will have to wait until next time. Then, we'll tackle the most certifiably irritating puzzle in the game, bar none.
