Our party for the next segment will be Palom, Porom, Luca, Leonora and Golbez. As we make our way down, Leonora learns Fira.
We make our way to B7. From now on, the Save Point is before the boss, however, we'll take the boss on first. B7 is also a lot more... yellow than previous floors. Palom learns Thundaga on the way to our first treasure on the floor, the Murasame. It's a pretty strong katana and can cast Protect. We also find the Dragon Shield, which resists all elements and dragon attacks, and a Protect Ring, which resists all elements.
We approach the Crystal, which has also been tinted the colour of the floor. Touching it forces us into battle with four Skulnants. This is pretty pathetic for a Crystal fight.
Porom: Those zombies... We fought them on Mount Ordeals!
Palom: I can see where this is going!
Leonora: I-I can feel an intense evil nearby... It's filling up the entire chamber!
Luca: Come on out, you coward!
Golbez: (An archfiend... The one with control over the dead!)
The Crystal shatters, revealing Scarmiglione.
Palom: Haven't changed much, have you?
Porom: I'll put you to sleep for good.
Golbez: Scarmiglione, archfiend of earth!
Scarmiglione: Ngh... Gah...!
Scarmiglione can summon a bunch of Revenants. They go down easy. He counters everything with Thundaga, but as long as we keep healing, we'll be fine.
Well, we SHOULD be fine, but Porom goes down in one Thundaga. Not good.
We do eventually get him.
Scarmiglione: Nnngh... Please... Before... my very soul... is crushed!
He falls. And we are immediately thrown into a back attack with his second form. Didn't think it would be THAT easy, did you? That being said, he mostly uses Poison and Slow, and he's a zombie, so weak to Fire, and Holy. Potions will also damage him.
Scarmiglione: I... thank you... I... am one of the spirits... of the land... Master Golbez... I was hideous... and yet... You came for me... You alone...
The archfiends get extra lines in their dying speech if you bring Golbez. Leonora learns Dispel after the battle.
Palom: That left a bad taste in my mouth.
Porom: We may have been enemies... but he lived on the same ground from which we are all born.
Luca: He may have been an enemy from an age gone by... but all the same, I feel a tad sorry for him.
Leonora: Wh-why? Why are all these sleeping souls being tormented like this?
Golbez: (To the earth with you once more... and may it be a more peaceful slumber this time.)
We now get treasure instead of Save Points for beating bosses. Scarmiglione leaves behind the Stardust Rod, a rod with a lot of attack that casts Comet. Also has a nice Intellect boost.
We head back to this floor's Save Point. Resting is still free for first use. That night...
Leonora: ...
Porom walks up to her.
Leonora: Lady Porom...
Porom: "Porom" is fine.
Leonora: Oh no, I couldn't speak to you in such a tone! You are the great white mage of Mysidia, my lady!
Porom: No, please, call me Porom. The same way you refer to Palom. It's fine, really.
Leonora: Are... are you sure... Porom?
Porom: Hee hee... Well, if you insist, I'm not going to stop you.
Leonora: Y-yes, my lady...
Porom: What were you thinking about?
Leonora: W-well, are you sure this is all right? Taking an Epopt on a journey like this...
Porom: Palom recommended you.
Leonora: What...?
Porom: He gave us a very convincing account of your natural talents. He talked about how, as your teacher, he feels responsible for you.
Leonora: R-really?
Porom: Mm-hmm.
Leonora: I... I really can't believe it...
Porom: Are you regretting the journey?
Leonora: Oh, no! Not at all! I'm happy to be here! I'm... I'm so happy, in fact, that I've forgotten about how scared I should be right now.
Porom: That's good to hear.
Leonora: ...Oh?
Porom: I think I'm starting to understand why Palom hasn't brought up his dream of becoming a sage lately.
Leonora: What?
???: What're you two talking about?
Busted... Or it could just be Luca.
Leonora: Oh, it's...
Porom: Luca?
Luca: Look, I'm just gonna ask. Do you like Palom or what?
Leonora: Wh-what!? That's... that's a rather sudden question! I... er, I simply meant that I admire and, um, respect... I mean, as a teacher... That is, um...
Luca: I'm not asking for all the gory details. You like him, don't you?
Leonora: Ah... Well, yes. Yes, I do.
Luca: Oh? Well, good.
Leonora: Huh?
Luca: That makes me feel a lot better!
Meanwhile, Palom is spying on the lot of them.
Palom: (Women can be fearsome things, sometimes...)
Well, that was awkward. Palom, Luca and Leonora learn Ice Crush. Luca aims at all enemies, while Palom and Leonora freeze them, then Luca throws, smashing them. It does decent damage, but Luca may hit and damage Palom in the process.
I've already picked five people for next update, so sorry, no voting. Thankfully, there is an Interdimensional Elevator point here, so we don't have to backtrack to B3. See you next time.
Stats:
Palom: Lv 43 HP:1637 MP:443 Strength:26 Speed:18 Stamina:28 Intellect:60 Spirit:21 Attack:66 (5x85% Accuracy) Defence:40 (2x29% Evasion) Magic Defence:6 (2x16% Evasion)
Golbez: Lv 51 HP:2971 MP:405 Strength:62 Speed:31 Stamina:81 Intellect:48 Spirit:37 Attack:132 (9x99% Accuracy) Defence:87 (6x38% Evasion) Magic Defence:16 (2x22% Evasion)
Leonora: Lv 42 HP:1514 MP:323 Strength:32 Speed:19 Stamina:37 Intellect:48 Spirit:55 Attack:63 (6x70% Accuracy) Defence:48 (2x33% Evasion) Magic Defence:29 (3x39% Evasion)
Luca: Lv 48 HP:2897 MP:124 Strength:73 Speed:24 Stamina:62 Intellect:7 Spirit:7 Attack:120 (11x92% Accuracy) Defence:69 (3x0% Evasion) Magic Defence:6 (0x5% Evasion)
Porom: Lv 43 HP:1615 MP:434 Strength:19 Speed:22 Stamina:20 Intellect:22 Spirit:60 Attack:69 (4x85% Accuracy) Defence:44 (2x34% Evasion) Magic Defence:12 (2x18% Evasion)
