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Update 79: The Final Trek... Again
I told you I saw Princess Gutrune the other day, right?
Yes, you did...
Well, later I heard that some bad guys went into the royal forest looking for her! They said they seemed like explorers... They weren’t talking about you, were they?
You... probably shouldn't believe everything you hear.
Edie has nothing new to say on this route, but let's see what Shin's drop unlocks.
The Gorm Glas is a decent Rapier, but don't bother with trying to inflict Plague with it. It only has a 9% inflicting rate, and the Plague only ticks for 56 damage. Yeah, even the spread chance is higher, though not by much since the base chance of that is 10%.
While I was grinding everyone back up to their proper levels, I unlocked another item.
The Velocity Choker is a nice accessory, since it increases someone's action speed by 10.
In fact, she was particular in saying not to tell Tidehunt. You’ll have to come back later.
...I see.
Hmph, course haggy couldn't make this easy.
Not that it will help, ho ho!
Nope! We're fine!
No? Whew... I heard you got through to the Deep Ones’ stronghold, so I was worried. Fixing up wounds I can do, but if you die, you’re beyond my help. There’s no harm in taking a day off from the grind to rest here, is there?
Angie actually has new dialogue in the Deep City route instead of being stuck saying the same thing for a few floors, so I'll show hers off again.
And lets hand in the mission that we didn't fail this time.
With this, we enter the terminal phase of the plot to exterminate the Deep Ones. You may accept the new mission when you are ready.
I have here another reward for you as well, in honor of your work. Use it to prepare yourselves.
MAXIMUM POWER! WOO!
We get the same rewards as the equivalent mission on the Deep City route.
Now they shall feel the wrath of a queen several times over!
Susan now knows Swashbuckling. It should let her fill up her Limit gauge a bit faster.
As for Smith, I decided to increase Overheat to level 8. This increases his damage output by 30%, at the cost of forcing him to lose 67 HP per turn. At this point, he is definitely a respectable physical attacker, and a force to be reckoned with. He's no Scott or Sidney, but he can definitely hold his own now.
But to offset the HP loss, I decided to level up Ascetic Deeds to 8, which now restores 70 HP to Smith every time he uses a skill.
Hoo wee! What a battle, huh? What you all say we take a little break?
I think I'll take you up on that.
Yeah, I'm sleepy. I'm going to take a nap.
Hey, you all got that mission done?
Oh, Faye. There's something I wanted to take to you about. Let me see, how do I put this...? What were you thinking sending a team like that down there!?
...Didn't go that well, huh?
I tried to tell her, but she didn't listen.
Do you have any idea what you put us through!? We barely made it through that mess because-
AHEM! So, about that Moon Key Olympia gave us. What do you say we check out what it opens, huh? I bet there's lot of treasures to be found, and crap like that. Just please stop yelling, you're overloading my audio sensors here.
Y-Yes, I agree! We should all take a leisurely stroll in the Labyrinth and see what we can use it for.
Snrk. Leisurely stroll, sure. Besides, there's not much we can even use that for.
Actually, there's one place I wanted to check out again.
Faaaaaye, this was not my idea of a leisurely. strooooollllllll ♪
You can stop singing now, there's no more lava here.
Why are we here again?
Dunno, I just went my gut feeling.
Was it... really worth... exhausting my lungs... for...?
I dunno, checking up on the prisoner here is always good for a laugh! As long as he doesn't try to sic his personal army on you anyway. Made cleaning this place a pain!
The outwardly human, yet utterly alien, creature is there, staring at you as before.
The Eldest One’s rasp grates on your ears, as his mocking manner grates at your pride.
I’m surprised you had the stomach to return. Was it your whim to speak with me? How comical...
The Eldest One laughs, but its expression suddenly darkens as if remembering something...
...I'm sorry, what!?
I met a Girl... once. She spoke to me without Fear--I, the Eldest One of the Deep Ones... I ask you this, Children of Man. Do you believe it possible for our two Races to live in Harmony?
The question from this cracked, hoarse voice that seems to echo from the depths surprises you. You are taken aback and honestly unsure of how to answer...
...Considering that every member of your kind has tried to kill us on sight, you included if I may add, and hasn't even made any attempts at diplomacy... I'm going to have to say no.
AHAHAHAHAHA! Hoo hoo... Told you checking up on him was good for a laugh! Ha ha... Hoo...
The Eldest One gives a wry smile on hearing your answer, followed by a heavy sigh.
I see. I thought you might have been different... I was a Fool to believe that. Our home lies across the void-black, starry Sea. You are Seeds of the Earth. Our Enmity is eternal...
You think you see a flicker of sadness in those scarlet eyes, but... You aren’t entirely satisfied, but the Eldest One has already closed its eyes and lips decisively. You decide to act in deference to the unnerving creature and leave this place.
Uhh, I think you went a bit too far there, Smithy. He looked like he meant it.
Nah trust me, you can't make friends with any of them. If we could, we wouldn't be in this whole mess in the first place. He was probably faking it or something to get out of here. Don't worry about it.
Uhhh, sure? I mean hey, the power of friendship makes anything possible. I guess.
The Eldest One gives a wry smile on hearing your answer, followed by a heavy sigh.
That was the Answer I expected. Perhaps I asked the Question in Hopes of hearing it... But this Answer is a Skeleton, lacking the Flesh of Deeds. You carry no Proof of your Claim.
Um, what?
I think he saw through you.
You aren’t entirely satisfied, but the Eldest One has already closed its eyes and lips decisively. You decide to act in deference to the unnerving creature and leave this place.
If we talk with him again...
The outwardly human, yet utterly alien, creature is there, staring at you as before.
You aren’t entirely satisfied, but the Eldest One has already closed its eyes and lips decisively. You decide to act in deference to the unnerving creature and leave this place.
Sorry. Guess that was a waste of time. Again. I mean he didn't say all of that last time for some reason, but...
Maybe he wanted something other than the answer you gave.
Whatever he wanted, I think we missed the boat on that.
Eh, don't worry about it! I think he was just trying to use you to get out of that place! Anyways, we really should get back to the King, he can't wait on us forever, you know!
We accept!
First, you’ll need this.
The Porcelain Forest is the royal family’s sanctuary; few may enter. That will hold true for you, too. That crest will prove useful in gaining entry. It holds the power to nullify the forest’s barrier. Once you enter, the task I put to you is to subjugate the Deep One lurking deep within the forest. It is a crafty villain... It wears human form and adopts human manners. Let not its form deceive you! Slay the Princess possessed by the Deep One to save Armoroad! Afterward... You may do as you wish. You have done much to aid our mission. I thank you.
Let's see what he has to say normally.
...Tidehunt. I expect great things.
We won't let you down, sir!
Deep within that vast space, you spot a figure watching you.
Oh, we dare!
The young man gives a shrill whistle before you lose sight of him in the forest.
The choice is yours whether to subdue it by force or attempt to maneuver around it.
Pfft, this again?
Why me!?
Just be thankful it decided not to cut off your head.
I dunno, that was a good look for you back then.
Maybe you should let it cut yours off if you think it's so fashionable!
No thanks.
Thanks MEGAQUEEN!
Um, Smith? Her name's Susan.
ROSE!
Oh, is MEGAQUEEN like a nickname or something?
...You could say that.
Okay, MEGAQUEEN! Lets-
I just said it wasn't her real name!
Oh, I like to call people by their nicknames. Makes things much less stuffy and formal, you get what I'm saying?
Uggghhhhh... 
Could ya spend less time arguing, and more time killing this thing...?
Oops. Sorry about that, Sidney.
SHORYUKEN!
Here's a bit of a damage comparison between Smith and 2 other physical attackers. Note that Scott and Rose used Charge beforehand, so Smith is on fairly even standing with Rose. Scott is far stronger, though.
Also managed to kill the Mortal Hunter on turn 4. It's amazing what a team with actual damage can do, right?
Hey, what's that gold thing over there?
Something good! After it!
But first, I decided to change Scott's equipment around a bit, since I want a lot of firepower to deal with this.
This one looks... different from the others.
Were they always that blue?
I don't think so, but let's take it down anyway!
Blue Pasaran
Level: 58
HP: 650
STR: 38
VIT: 49
AGI: 58
LUC: 59
TEC: 49
Attack Type: Strike
Exp: 2500
Item Drops: N/A
Description: A friendly, blue fluff monster. When many gather, they all explode at once in excitement.
Damage Resistances: Slash: 25% Strike: 25% Pierce: 25% Fire: 25% Ice: 25% Volt: 25% Almighty: 25%
Ailment Resistances: Sleep: 1% Confusion: 1% Plague: 1% Poison: 1% Blind: 1% Curse: 1% Paralysis: 1%
Bind Resistances: Head: 100% Arm: 100% Leg: 100%
Other Resistances: Death: LR - 25% Petrification: LR - 50% Stun: 10%
Skills:
Self-Destruct: Uses the Head. The Pasaran explodes, dealing 140% Strike damage to the whole party, disappearing from the map and denies them exp. Has an action speed of +0. Has an accuracy of 99.
Multiply: ???
Blue Pasarans are the final kind of Pasaran you can encounter, and they're a bit easier to take down than the previous ones. For one thing, they can't lower their arms or run away, so the only thing you have to worry about is them blowing up. On the other hand, they're pretty much nearly impossible to hit with status effects if you don't have a Wildling.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to charge up my party's Limit gauges, so I'm just gonna have to come out swinging. I don't have enough time to charge up with these two since Blue Pasarans are very fast.
However, Scott is fast enough to get off a Pincushion before the Blue Pasaran can act.
Susan will buff them.
While Smith does nothing.
RAH, RAH, SIS BOOM BAH!
Slice and oh come on!
Wish I packed more gunpowder for this thing.
Okay, if Scott can roll at least 2 hits on Pincushion, I think I can kill it.
Gotcha!
YES! 
These things are really tricky to chase down, especially in the 5th Stratum. But the reward is...
...That's it?
What a waste of time!
I feel like I got ripped off.
Not worth it! Blue Pasarans give out less exp than the ones in the 1st Stratum! 
Anyways, new floor. Let's see what the town has to say now.
Most likely, I’d say she went to protect the Princess.
We're... not gonna have to kill an old lady, are we?
Hey, not a fan of the idea either, but if the hag puts up a fight... well, we could probably just knock her down unless she's some sort of master of the Kung Fu ninja arts or something.
Let's just hope knocking down Flowdia is as bad as it gets.
It's a pretty busy city. A lot of people sail here from different places for business or to explore the Labyrinth.
Huh... people come by ship from all over the world? No wonder it’s known as the ocean city.
Yep! But it had a bit of trouble since the Calamity. We had to sail out to find good sea routes to other cities.
So you also set sail now and then to restore the sea lanes... It must keep you very busy.
Oh, indeed! But our private ship makes that so much easier.
...Wait, what!? You have your own ship!?
Yep! The Senatus gave it to us when we completed the first mission!
The Senatus gave it to you...? W-Wow, that was generous of them...
It’s a dreadful forest that plays havoc with your sense of direction and position. But if you give in, Armoroad will fall into the hands of the Deep Ones. You must not succumb!
Sorry, but we can't back down now!
However, Kujura seems to realize from your reaction that the point of no return is long past.
An idle question, I suppose... Then perish, like the dew of the forest!
Your mind races over the question of whether to dodge the fiends or force your way through.
How do they even control those things anyway?
Perhaps they're trained. Ooh, I would like a pet mantis someday!
Only if it's smaller than those. Like, much smaller.
I didn't elaborate on what this gate says on the Armoroad path, as it was fairly irrelevant at the time. However, now that we found out a bit more about what's going on, I'll tell you now. It's a referring to the Ningyo. (Apparently the gate itself is missing a character for some reason if it doesn't read that way.) It's a reference to an old Japanese myth where a girl ate an unusual fish called a Ningyo and attained immortality. (Thanks to fellow goon BlondRobin for clarifying what the gate said.)
Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and say that the Porcelain Forest is kind of a pain to play through on a NG+. So I'm gonna take a bit of a break and talk with the townspeople again.
Listen... A lot of people say a lot of things about the princess... But she’s a good person. Remember that.
We'll uh, see about that.
She’s taken the initiative to protect the Princess from some suspicious characters there. She may be old, but she’s still got spirit...
Hey... You think Charlotte knew about all this? You know, with the whole princess being a Deep One and all that?
I don't think she was that close to Flowdia and the princess, so maybe not. You can ask her yourself if she comes back.
I sure hope she does...
Olympia told me you’re venturing into the Porcelain Forest to defeat the Deep Ones. It sounds dangerous... but it’s probably necessary to keep the world safe. So hang in there! I’ll be rooting for you from here.
That forest is part of my homeland. Even now, I carry many fond memories of it with me. I cannot believe the forest of my memories has fallen into the hands of the Deep Ones... I have high hopes that you will be the one to reclaim it!
Nothing interesting happened on the 19th floor, so back to town again!
Reckless idiots keep flocking to register here because they want to be just like you folks. I got my hands full taking care of them so they live even one day longer. But that’s my lot in life. You guys need to focus on your own duty right now. Even if no one else understands... If there’s something you believe in, see it through to the end.
Easier said than done.
She said that she and Kujura will keep the enemy there from harming the Princess.
She really isn't gonna make this easy.
Olympia told me so, anyway. If that’s so, you should be sure to rest here before taking on something like that. After all, if you win, that’ll be a huge burden lifted from the Abyssal King...
Our target is in the depths of the Porcelain Forest... the Princess ridden by a Deep One. I trust that you will not be swayed by its appearance or pleas. Slay the demon swiftly.
There was actually an event I failed to show off in my last playthrough, so I'll do it now.
Look at all those clovers!
I bet we could lay in them! They almost look like a bed!
A large patch of earth is entirely covered in clover. The cluster of white buds looks just like a bed... The sight tempts you to lie down on the soft clovers and take a brief rest. While you do have much to accomplish here, you'd hate to pass up such a chance to rest...
Let's take a little break here. We're probably gonna need it.
Each of you quickly scans the area to ensure no monsters are nearby before laying on the clover bed. The patch of clover is quite comfortable and its cool softness does much to soothe your fatigue.
Nice bit of recovery, and this is how you're supposed to know where the clovers are for that quest. If you decide to look in the Porcelain Forest anyway, since finding the clover on the first floor and giving it to the boy nets you greater rewards.
You may seize this opportunity to challenge the Deep One-possessed Princess, or withdraw and rest.
Flowdia, Kujura, and the princess are waiting for us, huh?
Perhaps we should rest up before we confront them.
Like the last time we arrived here, there's one thing left to do. Voting for the team that will take on the final boss.
I won't say too much, but I'll just warn you right now, bring lots of supplies. The final confrontation is actually considered to be easier than the Armoroad path's final fight, but it will take a bit longer.
Speaking of Shoguns, if you happen to have one for this fight, it should be a cakewalk for you. And bringing one will break the space time continuum, and we wouldn't want that, would we? To prevent such a thing from happening, Charlotte is banned. Don't try voting her in.
Like before, vote for up to 5 characters to handle the final confrontation. Votes must be in bold.