Well, yesterday I learnt that the most difficult part of FFIV Complete Collection is braving all of the DNS errors to download Cecil's DLC alt costume for Dissidia 012.
Today, however, we've got other things to do. Like finally go after Golbez, get Rosa back. Maybe try to defeat him, we'll see how it goes. To start off, let's get on our airship. Kain flies right to us.
Kain: Where is the Earth Crystal!?
Cecil: Here. Where's Rosa?
Kain: In the Tower of Zot. Follow me.
We fly directly upwards and somehow reach the tower. We come out somewhere different from Kain.
Cecil: Kain!
Cid: Come out!
Kain: Now, now. First, Master Golbez would like a word.
Tellah: Golbez!
Golbez's music starts up.
Golbez: Well done, Cecil. You have exceeded even my expectations.
Tellah: Wretch! Show yourself!
Golbez: Rosa stands beside me at the top of this tower. Bring the Crystal here ans we will make the trade.
Cecil: She had better be safe!
Golbez: You had best hurry. Or else something... unfortunate might happen to her.
The Tower of Zot starts difficult, but starts to get easier after a while. It never truly becomes easy, though.
So many back attacks... So many back attacks...
Cecil learns Esuna on the way to a chest containing a Flame Mail, which halves ice damage. Ice is a big theme in this dungeon.
On 2F, we find a chest on the path...
Monster-in-a-box!
Oh damn it! We go up against a Flamehound, which at this point in the game, really frigging hurts. We get a Flame Sword for winning. Deals fire damage, of course.
3F has nothing interesting. On 4F, we can go to various sections on 5F to get items. We get Hell Claws for Yang, which inflict Poison and influence his Attack power. We also get a Flame Shield, which halves ice. We then get a Gaia Hammer for Cid, which deals earth damage. And finally, a Sage's Surplice, which is a nice robe for any mage.
In the main section of 5F, we get a chance to heal, then climb the stairs, then a woman appears out of nowhere!
Welcome to the Tower of Zot!
Another one appears.
Charmed, I'm sure.
And a third.
Welcome! We are the Magus Sisters. We serve Barbariccia, Lord of Wind. Mindy...!
...Sandy...!
...and Cindy!
We're afraid your journey is over. We will take your Crystal. Say goodbye to your Rosa. Delta Attack!
And they fight us. We have Sandy, the tall one, Cindy, the fat one, and Mindy, the small one. We target fatty first, as she can revive the other two. As for the Delta Attack...
Sandy: Ready, Sis?
She casts Reflect on Cindy.
Cindy: Cast the spell, Mindy.
Mindy: Reflect it!
Sisters: Delta Attack!
Mindy casts something on Cindy and reflects it onto one of us. It's annoying. Once Cindy's dead, the other two just resort to flinging spells at us. It's a lot easier than the rest of the tower.
This can't be! Our Delta Attack failed!? Nooo!
No idea who was talking when, nor do I care because they're all dead. We heal and save again, remove Tellah's equipment, and head to 6F. Golbez's music starts up again.
Golbez: Welcome.
Tellah: Golbez!
Cecil: Where's Rosa?
Golbez: First, the Crystal.
Cid: She'd better be all right!
Golbez: Hand over the Crystal now or she dies.
Cecil: Here, take it!
We hand it over.
Cecil: Now where is Rosa?
Golbez: Rosa? Whomever are you talking about?
Oh you son of a bitch Golbez!
Cecil: What!?
Cid: You two-timing cur!
Tellah: Return her this minute!
Golbez: Ignorant dotard. Have you no idea whom you are dealing with?
Tellah: How could I ever forget the monster who killed my daughter!? Vengeance will be mine!
Tellah enters battle with Golbez. Tellah flings Bio and Firaga at Golbez.
Golbez: Such feeble spells. A vain attempt at revenge.
Tellah flings Thundaga and Blizzaga at him. Still no luck, and he's used 20 more MP than he has.
Tellah: I must cast Meteor.
Cecil: No!
Yang: It will destroy you!
Tellah: I have no choice. Witness my final power!
Tellah casts Meteor. The camera swings up to the sky, where a few lights shine, then meteors start falling onto Golbez. A huge one appears, and hits Golbez with enough force to destroy everything on screen.
Golbez: I-impossible!
Both fall.
Golbez: Ugh... Hoe could he know Meteor...?
Cecil: Tellah!
Golbez: It matters not. The Crystal is mine. Kain!
We look to Kain, and he's collapsed, too. Odd.
Kain: ...
Golbez: So Meteor broke my spell over him. So be it. He no longer serves any purpose. Mark my words, Cecil. Someday, I will destroy you.
He starts to leave.
Cecil: Don't think you can escape so easily!
Cecil charges at him.
Golbez: Impudent fool!
Golbez casts a huge lightning bolt at Cecil and knocks him into a wall, but before he can inflict the killing blow...
Golbez: ...!?
Cecil: Ugh... Why don't... you finish me...?
Golbez: You...
Cecil: ?
Golbez: What is going on? Ugh... Arghhh!
Cecil: !?
Golbez: W-we will settle this the next time we meet!
He leaves. Cecil gets up, he's OK. But Tellah...
Tellah: ...I failed...
Cid: Keep still!
Tellah: I'm such a fool... I lost myself... in my own hatred. Avenge my daughter... for me... I beg of you...
He collapses again.
Cecil: Tellah!
Yang: !
Tellah: ......
Cid: Get up, you old geezer!
Tellah: ...
Yang: Tellah...
Cid: ...I'll bet your daughter's mighty proud of you. You did good.
Tellah fades away. One of our characters... is actually dead? What is going on here?
Cecil: Tellah, Anna... I swear on my life... we will avenge you!
We better check on Kain, too.
Kain: Cecil... I... I'm so sorry... What have I done?
Cecil: Don't blame yourself. You had no control over your actions.
Kain: But... a part of me inside was awake and yet... I just stood by and watched...
Cecil: ! Where's Rosa?
Kain: Beyond those doors! We must hurry!
We head into the next room. Rosa's still tied up under that axe thing.
Rosa: Cecil!
Cecil grabs Rosa a split second before the axe falls.
Cecil: Rosa...
Rosa: I knew you'd come.
The two embrace. It's hard to tell if they're kissing or not. Sprite limitations and all that.
Cecil: I missed you so much... And I realised... I...
Rosa: Cecil...
Kain: ...
Cid: You realized what!? Be a man! Spit it out!
Would you MIND? They're trying to have a moment here!
We have to tell Rosa that Kain is no longer evil.
Kain: Forgive me, Rosa. It's true that I was being controlled, but I also... Rosa... I wanted to keep you with me at any cost!
Rosa: Kain...
Kain: ...
Cecil: ...
Rosa: Let's fight together, Kain.
Kain: After all that I've done... It's too late.
Cecil: ...
Cid: Hey! Save the corny drama for later! We gotta scram!
I agree, let's fly! We convince Kain to come with us.
White mage Rosa and dragoon Kain have joined the party.
We get given a chance to equip Rosa. Good thing too, because as we try to exit this room...
???: Hahahaha! It seems Master Golbez has underestimated you.
Kain: The Lord of Wind, Barbariccia!
Barbariccia: You disappoint me, Kain. Returning to the comfortable prison of your old life, despite all of your powers.
Why not? It's comfy, like you said. After a bit more banter, Barbariccia comes in, the elemental archfiend boss theme starts, and we have to fight her. Pretty standard at first, but then she turns into a tornado.
Blinding winds prevent frontal attack! Only jump attacks will connect!
Yeah, that sums it up pretty well. We have to Jump quickly, or she starts flinging HP to One and Petrifying spells at us. Jumping breaks the tornado form and we're free to wail on her again. She dies eventually.
Barbariccia: It's not over... The last elemental archfiend still remains! Regardless, you'll never leave here alive!
She dies, and the tower starts falling apart.
Barbariccia: Hahahaha!
Luckily, we have a way out.
Rosa: Hold on to me! Teleport!
We get teleported straight to Cecil's bedchamber. Um... I'll just ignore the uses of a spell that teleports the user to their boyfriend's bed.
Kain: Cecil, there is something I must tell you...
Cid: What is it?
Kain: It's about the Crystals.
Cecil: Well, we've lost Troia's Earth Crystal to Golbez, which means he now holds all the Crystals.
Kain: Not quite. He only has four.
Rosa: You mean there are more?
Cid: Of course! So the legends are true after all!
Kain: Yes... The Dark Crystals.
The Dark Crystals are a second set of elemental Crystals. They're underground. Gee, that'll be fun to get to. Kain says this is what Golbez told him.
Kain: He also said that when all the Crystals are gathered, the path of the moon will open.
Cecil: A path to the moon?
Kain: I'm not sure exactly what it is, but this is the key for unlocking it. Here, you keep it.
He gives us the Magma Stone. It should open the path to the Underworld... somehow. We don't know where we could use it.
Cid: Ah, no worries! We'll just fly around the world on the Enterprise till we find something.
Cecil: But we lost the airship near the Tower of Zot.
Cid: Pshaw! My baby's equipped with auto-pilot. I'll bet she's flown back already.
Wow, that's some nice technology for a medieval setting.
Cecil: But I still don't understand it... Why didn't Golbez finish me off at the tower?
I'm sure it will be revealed at a plot critical moment. We heal up, and we're done for now. Next time, we might head for the Underworld, but I have some other ideas on what to do first.
Stats:
Cid: Lv 26 HP:1247 MP:0 Strength:33 Speed:12 Stamina:30 Intellect:5 Spirit:5 Attack:79 (5 attacks) Defence:44 Magic Defence:8
Kain: Lv 28 HP:1019 MP:0 Strength:27 Speed:22 Stamina:25 Intellect:8 Spirit:19 Attack:68 (5 attacks) Defence:42 Magic Defence:10
Cecil: Lv 25 HP:1183 MP:106 Strength:26 Speed:18 Stamina:25 Intellect:14 Spirit:19 Attack:77 (5 attacks) Defence:42 Magic Defence:10
Rosa: Lv 27 HP:782 MP:224 Strength:25 Speed:15 Stamina:17 Intellect:16 Spirit:42 Attack:51 (4 attacks) Defence:20 Magic Defence:14
Yang: Lv 26 HP:1415 MP:0 Strength:41 Speed:19 Stamina:31 Intellect:2 Spirit:3 Attack:64 (7 attacks) Defence:25 Magic Defence:7
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