Bustin' makes me feel - Let's Play MapleStory v251

Put your Let's Plays in here.
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Back in our main timeline, Lucid is defeated at last.

Image I miss having that much power…

Image It was power that was already yours. You'll get it again someday, for sure.

Image Yeah, you're right. Anyways…

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Image Is it over? Is that it?

Image I... think it's over. But the barrier around the city isn't gone yet.

Image What are you going to do now?

Image Dreams and reality are separate once more. And now, just like any other, this dream will slowly fade away...

Image But if the dream ends, then you'll…

Image The nightmare's over. All of it. If the people, or the Erdas, are safe, I've fulfilled my purpose. I don't need to be here anymore.

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Image Once the fog's lifted, I assume you'll get back to your quest. It won't be easy for you, but I think you‘ll come out on top.


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Image So… that's it. Nothing to do but wait, huh?

Image Seems like it. Good job, Tear. You really saved the day this time.

Image I'd feel better about it if I was saving real people… but Erdas in the shape of people aren't that different, in the end.

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For our troubles, we got our hands on the Lachelein Arcane Symbol, which is a butterfly for obvious reasons. Using our Hyper Burning bonuses, we then also grab a level 5 one immediately and equip it. This'll put our AF back over where we want it to be for the next area.

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This also fills up our first full row of Symbols. The next row doesn't appear until we have access to a fourth to equip, but it'll pop up automatically. Our gear is coming along as well, though we need better "Everything but rings and a weapon." Even our outfit, while technically BIS gear, will need replacing. The clock stops for no one.

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While we do have the levels necessary to move on to the next area right now, though, I decide to stop. This is for a couple of reasons.

The first (and most important) is that for this and the next few updates I was busy playing in the morning after work before I went to bed. This meant I would frequently be playing until a fair bit of time after I was supposed to be in bed, so it was vitally important that I keep my playtime relatively short. It wasn't, of course, and I wound up finishing today's footage at around an hour after I should have gone to sleep, but in the end my wife didn't find out and as long as I don't do anything stupid like advertise the fact in a publicly available Let's Play forum no one will ever be the wiser.

Image Uh..?

What?

Image I think you should go to sleep at a reasonable hour!!

Anyways, reason number two—

Image Don't just ignore your health! Everyone, remember to play video games in moderation!

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We're going to talk some more about Lucid, because her place in the story is left unfinished by just Lachelein alone and we're skipping a bunch of bonus content that gives context to what she was actually trying to accomplish here. We've done enough Maple, it's time to talk Story!

So Lucid is an elf, and in MapleStory canon all elves were frozen as a direct result of the Black Mage's curse on Mercedes—queen of the elves and one of the ancient heroes. Unlike most elves, Lucid had a power over dreams that left her mind completely awake, and she wound up falling into despair over how alone she was over the next several hundred years. This lasted until she met the Black Mage (pictured above) by complete accident, touching consciousnesses in the dreamworld. The Black Mage promised her a whole new world, and she took his hand to break out of the ice and become one of his commanders.

This was all well and good, and she did some shenanigans with an alternate future dreamworld that was sent to people's dreams to give them insomnia—we would have done something about that, but we were busy being in a hat at the time. It's ok, Kaiser has our back or something.

Image Maybe Velderoth saved everyone this time?

Sure, let's go with that.

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Unfortunately, before the Black Mage's plans came to fruition, she asked him to show a glimpse of the new world they were working to make, and he thought that'd be just awesome, actually. So he showed her the world they were working towards.

She saw nothing.

The new world would have nothing at all. Not even the Mage himself.

Finding out that the Black Mage wished for his own nonexistence, Lucid decided to rebel. She set up shop in the Arcane River and made Lachelein as a city that would exist without sadness or pain, just people being eternally happy. Her goal was to party so hard that even the Black Mage would realize there was something better than nonexistence, and put an end to his plan to destroy everything forever.

Unfortunately for her, Lucid spread her powers too far and got trapped in her own dream. She could control almost anything there, but certain Nightmares were beyond her ability to control and she couldn't wake up anymore even if she wanted to. She resolved herself to change the Black Mage's mind once and for all and shroud the entire world in sweet dreams, at which point she would allow the nightmare to swallow her whole.

Then she got the shit kicked out of her by a magical girl idol flinging dragons around.

This knocks her further into her nightmare, and she will be spending the next while trying to contact the Black Mage. Once she does, she'll touch his memory and immediately get cut off from the guy forever, left completely alone in a prison of her own nightmares. This will go on until Protective Mask pulls her out of there, because that's what Protective Mask's there for.

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It is also revealed that Protective Mask was actually Dream Mercedes all along. After this, she's taken into custody by Mercedes and brought back to Elluel, the homeland of the Elves.

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Once you've viewed all of this plot, it's actually possible to see her inside a little prison bubble in Elluel if you feel like going to visit. She's sleeping there and while she's yet to wake up, while Queen Mercedes hopes that she has nice dreams this time.

And so ends the story of Lucid…

…Or it would, except this is the DREAMER update. See, Lucid's having a new dream.

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In it, she's brought back all of her friends from Lachelein and given them all a proper party atmosphere to deal with so that they can actually be happy this time. It's a fluffy event that's supposed to show that she's slowly recovering and maybe someday will wake back up again. Unlike before, nobody's trying to break out.

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Instead, they're all trying their best to make Lucid happy because they all know that they're dreams and ultimately ephemeral. They don't want Lucid to catch on to the fact that she's wound up in a dream again, and would really like the party to go on without a hitch until it winds down and Lucid returns to her rest with good memories this time.

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Except Lucid also knows it's a dream, and knows what they're doing. So she's trying not to let them know she knows, while they don't let her know they know, and it's all an elaborate dance that's so very, very heartrending if you think about it for more than a minute.

This event would hit if anyone in MapleStory bothered to read event dialogue, basically.

In conclusion, Lucid is the best-written villain in the entire Arcane River, and it's not particularly close.

But I know what you're thinking: "Gee, TeeQueue, that's an incredibly large amount of information out of nowhere about a sympathetic anti-villain. I don't see how it has anything to do with our plucky magical girl idol, though."

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And that's because you didn't let me finish, because it always comes back to magical girl idols.

You see, while in her dream Lucid decided to abuse her power over everything to create a Dream Angelic Buster to hold an impromptu idol duet concert with her. As a consummate professional, even as a figment of someone's imagination she's willing to drop everything if it's to make her fans happy. This leads us to ABxLucid, which is not implemented in v251.

—That's not an error, it's because it's slated for v252, don't worry about it for now, we'll get to it at the very end of everything. I promise.

All of that is to say, we beat Lucid so hard that she became a fan. Goodnight, everybody!








I play this game as a joke.

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Image Never stop until the world fades away~!

Image Wow… that was your 23rd encore. They're really eating it up out there, Tear.

Image Well… I thought that since I'd be moving on soon, I should hold a concert. The Erdas here can feel things like happiness or sadness after all, you know?

Image And they can also grant honor!

Image Well, there's that too… but I just want to make people smile!

Image Image Image Image ONE MORE SONG! ONE MORE SONG!

Image Alright, alright, I hear you. Fine, but I really have to get going after this! Here goes~!


While Magilia is busy with. That. There's a little more to mention about the Dreamer event: In GMS it was a summer event, while in KMS it was actually a winter event. This means that Lucid has two different outfits based on where you were playing!





I really like the sleeves on this outfit. There is no ABxLucid art of it, because ABxLucid was not run in KMS—their Angelic Buster remaster and DREAMER updates were two separate things, meaning no overlap was possible.

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Moving on to the meat of the update, the first thing I do is check on the AF requirement for the next area. The highest level parts of it have a requirement of 360 to break even on the opponents.

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As a reminder, we have 340 AF. It's time to pull something out of nowhere to trivialize this minor gap that wouldn't really cause problems in the first place.

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It's time for Arcane Symbol Selector coupons. ASS coupons allow us to select any symbol we currently have, and get one symbol per coupon for them for that symbol. In present day MapleStory we can merge them directly into the Symbol with no middleman.

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This is not implemented in v251, meaning that I have to use these coupons in stacks of up to 48, the number of open slots in my Equipment menu.

I am carrying over 1500 of these things.

I can only use them 48 at a time.

ASS coupons, indeed.

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I burn a handful of them to get us to a comfy 400AF. Hitting 560 for the functional invincibility in all of the next area and 1.5x damage would be nice, but we don't need it.

Image Fingers were cramping from all the clicks, huh?

Oh, looks like Magilia's done singing. Let's move on.

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The next area is named Arcana, and we can access it by clicking the lightbulb over Magilia's head any time after we hit 225.

Image (Lucid's red fog has not yet dissipated. It looks like it will be some time before the city is completely free.)

Image ...What‘s that sound? (I should follow the sound and see what it‘s coming from.)


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Image Huh? That sound... I've heard it before.

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It's Flying Fish! The hero of Arcane River, back once again!

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Magilia is all too happy to see them again.

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Time to ride it down the river. The red fog is gone where it's traveling. Trust in the Fish. The Fish knows the way.

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Image Goodbye, Lachelein. Maybe I'll see you again!

The Arcane River is the sort of place where rivers can just. Go up sometimes. It's fine.

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And we go up… and up… and up…

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Image Woahl What's that huge vortex?

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It is indeed huge, big enough to be seen even offscreen.

Image Well… we can't just go back. Go around it, Flying Fish!

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We are unsuccessful.

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Astoundingly unsuccessful. Farewell, Flying Fish, true hero of MapleStory. :sadwave:

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If you are watching this video, please note that only the first 15 seconds of it play. This is the only copy of it I can find anywhere online, and it has the second cutscene appended at the end.

Related: there is a second cutscene.

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Image Where... Where am I?

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Image There was a vortex… and it brought me over here…

Image You okay?

Image Just a horrible backache.

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Image This place sure is quiet. I don't even hear birds in the distance.

Image Maybe it's empty..?

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Image What are these motes of light?

Image It's a path… I guess I should follow it?

Image Eh, good idea as any.

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Image Huh. The trail ends here. What were those lights?

Image Hey, what's that? Just offscreen!

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We approach a sad… something. It is crying, so we approach.

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Image The Spirit Tree... It's crying…

The sprites for the spirits are very incompatible with Photoshop so they look kind of bad.

This one thing cannot be blamed on MapleStory.

Image (Sniffs) Spirit Tree, don't get sick. Please return to normal soon…

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Image The forest was so beautiful... (Sniffs) Why did this have to happen?

Image Everything's going wrong, the spirits are out of control… I'm scared..!

Image (What's he talking about..?)

Image Hey there…

Image Wahh!!

Image I'm not here to hurt you, I'm just trying to get answers.

Image No… behind you!

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Image Ahh man… I hate it when they come from offscreen.

Image Aaaaa…!

Image Let's do this! You ready?!

And so Arcana begins. We've got a giant tree, a mysterious problem, a sad spirit, and a bunch of enemies breathing down our throat.

Next time, we'll find out how this leads into us beating up a handful of every single mob in the area.

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Previously, on Maplegical Girl Site β:

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Evil spirits.

And now: Violence.

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Image Feel it in your heart!

It doesn't take us long at all to take down the half-dozen spirits.

Total Kills: 11,113

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Image Waah… Waah..!

Image Wow he's… really going.

Image Yeah… we should wait for him to stop crying, first.

Image Ahh… We're… okay? …How did you get here? Who are you?

Image I'm Angelic Buster Magilia! I got dragged here by a whirling vortex of light.

Image Huuh… That's strange. Maybe it's related to what's happened here.

Image Something happened?

Image Yeah… this place used to be full of life. Just thinking about it makes me sad.

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Image That tree you see in the distance used to resonate with the song of a harmonious forest, and blossomed with beautiful flowers. We would stroll beneath the Spirit Tree's branches.

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Image The Spirit Tree sheltered us from danger, and the places where its petals fell overflowed with life.

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Image ...But the song of the forest grew silent, and tragedy came down on us.


Image The forest started to die, and wild, discordant spirits appeared. The Spirit Tree began to wither as well…

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Image As it did, this evil stench began to shroud it.

Image It was after that the Vortex of Light appeared. It must be connected to the Tree's condition.

Image Meaning if we want to go further, we'll have to fix that tree. And it happened once the song stopped playing?

Image Mmhm.

Image Tell me more about the Song of the Forest.

Image There are plants called songblooms that grow through the forest and make beautiful sounds. Those sounds harmonizing through the whole forest are what make the Song of the Forest… but one day they just fell silent all at once. I've tried everything to restore them… but nothing worked. I'm… tired. And the Spirit Tree is still in such pain…

Image Woof… heavy.

Image Alright then. So we have to restore the songblooms! If it's music you need, Angelic Buster's on the scene! How can I help?

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Image I believe the Spirit Tree could restore itself, if only the Song of the Forest could play again. I tried to revive the Songblooms, but…

Image …Waaaaah..!!

Image Do you need a minute?

Image I'm… I'm sorry… (sniffle) I'm such a crybaby…

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Image It can be felt, but not seen. You cannot hear it, but you know it is there. What is it?

Once again, trying to turn these big icons with a bunch of floaty particle effects into an icon utterly ruins them. Still not MapleStory's fault, but it seems we'll be having to deal with this for the whole of Arcana. :shrug:

Image Friendship, love, and kindness. Your tale tugs at my heart, like the breeze on one's tendrils. Very well, I will assist you.

Image Oh… that's the Wind Spirit! He's a bit unusual.

Image My song is mine alone, but you may sing it.

Image Uh-huh… Well, will you help us restore the Songblooms and restart the Song of the Forest?

Image If we do, we might be able to fix everything! What do you say?

Image Hahaha, you have my assistance. Just tell me what to do! I wait with bated breath. Ah! An urgent quest. I pulsate with excitement.

Image Now, speak speak! Tell to me your quest!

Image Can you carry us down the cliff to where the Floral Flute is?

Image Dooot~ The flute below the cliff. the floral flute that toots. Dooooooot~ Yes, we'll ride the wind. zoomy and free. Down, down, to the flute that toots. Ready?

Wind Spirit is my favorite spirit. :3:

Anyways, this is a quest marker and we accept it.

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We spend the next few seconds falling down a map while the Wind Spirit helps the Small Spirit get down safely.

Image Uh… You can land from up here, right?

Image It's okay. All this dance practice has made my calves really strong!

Image Okay, but what about your knees?

Image You know, I always thought landing was kind of a shins-and-below thing.

Image Uh… Well, good luck, Angelic Buster.

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Image Woosh woosh… did you land well from the breeze's blow?

Image I… ohh… geez, that was rougher than I thought.

Image The knees?

Image I felt it in my spine.

Image Down a Power Elixir, you'll be fine.

Image Flying on the winds brings great joy… Hehee, woosh woosh~~

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Image So the Wind Spirit left… I never know what he's thinking.

Image Speaking of thinking… what're you thinking we should do?

Image Well… we'll need to collect life force from the spirits around here to revive the flute.

Image Hunting? Leave it to me! I LOVE HUNTING!

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Image In that case, can you please get me 10 of the essences of the three Spirits around here?

Image On it!

We will be fighting Water, Sun and Earth spirits for the first main quest of this area.

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Thankfully, these items drop somewhat regularly from the mobs in question…

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So we're able to get the Water and Sun spirits pretty quickly.

Total Kills: 11,296

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Earth, however, gives us a problem: The Earth Spirit map happens to be one of the most convenient training spots for players in the 230s or so, and this means there are a number of other people around. This brings us to Map Sharing etiquette!

It's considered incredibly gauche to show up on a map where someone else is and start killing enemies, with the exception of "Newbies in Vanishing Journey trying to do dailies before they have the power to 1-2 shot mobs" (which is usually fine if you ask the other party first) and "Newbies trying to get their 1 kill for the first symbol" (which doesn't even require you to ask, everyone remembers how annoying that is the first time).

This brings us to the generally agreed-upon rule: "If someone is already on the map killing things, don't kill things." Because someone is here, we get to change channels to another one of the 40 Kronos channels, in hope of finding an empty map.

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And then we change channels again.

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And again.

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And again. Each of these has a 2-3 second black screen as the channel change goes through.

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And another…

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Oh, two people on this one. That's unusual! Next.

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Another held map. We continue on!

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…How did a Hayato get up there..?

Image What's a Hayato?

6% Crit Damage. Keep moving.

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Even when I can't immediately see other Maplers, I can see their damage skins from hitting the enemies. Most players use the Unit-type skins (which put a K/M/B at the end of the damage number) to help ballpark their damage better. Full numeric damage skins are more rarely used, and while there are damage skins that don't show any numbers at all, only the truly deranged ever use them.

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…I have a Kanna that uses the XOXO damage skin, because I am truly deranged.

Anyways, next.

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Once again we need to change channels. This is still pretty normal: with any event that encourages making a new character, early maps will get very full for the first few days.

Next!

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There we go. That floating blue orb is the AFK mob for this area, so it being here means other people aren't. It's time to get to work.

Image Hunting time!

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Total Kills: 11,406

It takes us less time to get the Essences than it took us to find the channel. :shrug:

Image All done? Let's head back to the Small Spirit and fix that plant.

Image Right! Let's go!

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Image Ah! You have the essences! Let me just put them on the flowers and we'll see if that does the trick…

Image You're not sure?

Image I'm pretty sure!

(The Floral Flute appeared briefly revitalized. but quickly returned to its withered state.)

Image (sniff) Why… why didn't it work..! Maybe we need some more?

Image More hunting! Got it. How many then… Twenty? Thirty of each?

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Image I was thinking 100!

Image A HUNDRED?!

Image …This… may take me a minute.

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Image All… done..!

Total Kills: 12,133

Image Huh. That felt pretty fast, actually.

That's because I used a cut to skip the actual killing. It took nearly 1k mobs to get all the things, all told.

Image And that explains why my EXP jumped up! Neat.

Image You brought the stuff? I'll get to work right away. This'll work… it has to work.

(It doesn't.)

Image It… didn't work?

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Image What if… the Floral Flute can never be revived? (Sniffs) Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

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Image I heard your cry on the wind. and wooshed over. What is the matter? Will the flute still not toot?

Image Exactly! There's no flute tootin' here at all! It's becoming a real problem.

Image Hmm… A flute toot that's kaput! Ah, I know! I heard a whisper on the wind from a pretty pink flower. I Know not what was said, nor who made the call. Twas important I'd wager… but I don't recall.

Image (That... largely unhelpful soliloquy suggested one of the Whispering Flowers might know something. But there's no way of telling which one.)

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Our next quest is to talk to these conspicuous pink flowers that have been on every map we've seen so far.

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If nothing is done. all will wither and die. Me, you, everyone.
-Pessimistic Spirit


I do not know how the flower manages to properly cite its source, so please do not ask me.

Image Cite… source? What's that?

Image Don't worry about it, it only matters if your song sounds even remotely like anything any popular artist has released in the last thirty years, or also unpopular artists, or maybe if one measure is the same but it's a catchy hook someone thinks they made once.

Image …Right, let's go looking for something else.

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The Floral Flute's all shriveled up. Do you think it will ever stand tall under the moonlight again? Will the song of the forest ever return? Someone's coming… Hurry, hide!


Image …Not this one. I hope they're okay, though.

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Everything in this forest will one day wither and die...

Image Huh… How existential.

Image I guess you won't wither, will you?

Image Maybe if I don't eat stones for long enough… but I'm not interested in finding out.

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The Floral Flute thrives on moonlight. The most moonlight falls on the highest place in the forest.
-Passing Spirit


Image …This is it! We found it!

Image Great job, Angelic Buster!

Time to head back to the Small Spirit and deliver the good news!

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Image Small Spirit, Small Spirit! I figured out the answer!

Image What? You did?

Image Yeah! We need moonlight!

Image Oh… yeah, come to think of it the flute used to be BATHED in moonlight. Then maybe… Alright! Let's transport it to where it can get the most moonlight. Except it's too big to move right now…

Image Let's cut a trimming of the Floral Flute and plant it in the moonlit spot!

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Image Let's cut a trimming from the Floral Flute! Just walk over there and mash the Interact/Harvest key.

Image Plant, plant. Transplant the plant! The flute will toot beneath the moon~

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We take the clipping and get moving. Time to bring it somewhere high up to catch some moonbeams.

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That place is actually about ten feet to the right. Seriously, I drew little arrows on the minimap between where we were and where we are. This was the entire issue.

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Image Okay! The cutting is planted. Now it's all up to the moon... Please flute, grow! Please…

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There's a brilliant flash…

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Image *gasp*

And it's just that easy. We've fixed the Floral Flute. :toot:

Image (Sobs) The Floral Flute… It's been revitalized! The moonlight did the trick.

Image Neither sun nor light of stars will do~ Only the moon can make you bloom~

Image What a beautiful sound! What a relief... Then there's still hope.

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Image Hahaha! I feel like back in the good old days. (Giggles) Say, do you think there have been any changes to the Spirit Tree? I want to go see! Hey, Wind Spirit! Take us to the Spirit Tree!

Image Yes, yes! Faster than wind, lighter than air! Wooosh, woosh! Away we fly~


And one scene transition later…

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Image We're here. And now, I vanish as I appear, just like the wind!

Image Never fear~ Whenever you need help, I will be near~


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Image There he goes… as mysterious as ever.

Image That's the Wind Spirit for you.

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Image Oh well. Let's check on the Spirit Tree.

Given that it is still dark purple and gray, it is not doing well.

Image (Sniffs) The Floral Flute was restored, but nothing's changed. Hold on a little longer, Spirit Tree. We'll restore you. Don't give up!

Image Yeah… it's too early to say it's over yet!

Image Right. This is just the start!

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This drops us into the main hub area of Arcana, the Spirit Tree. here we have a merchant and a storage keeper to help us if we need them, and this area will slowly get more NPCs as we go.

Image Alright, let's go looking for the next Songbloom! It should be at the heart of the forest. Let's go!

Image Okay. Lead the way! I'll protect you.

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Leaving through the portal on the far right, we're dropped into a cutscene as we head deeper into the forest.

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Image (It's that trail of light again... The light led you to the Small Spirit, maybe it can help you find the Tree Spirits too?)

We follow the mysterious lights once again.

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Image Err... The trail of light splits here. What do you want to do?

Image Looks like we have to split up? I'll take the upper path.

Image Then I'll take the lower. If you find the Tree Spirits, meet me back here.

Image Sure thing!

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Image (There are no Tree Spirits here. You should head back.)

Image ...Ugh (Something is sapping your strength.)

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Image I can't believe… the lights would betray me..!

Image Angelic Buster..? Tear, what's wrong?!

Image Can't… move…

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Image Ah… This isn't good.

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Previously, on Star Twinkle Angelic Buster…

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Gang violence.

Let's continue.

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Image We caught the stranger!

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Image Is it the stranger from before?

Image Give us back our friend. Where are you taking the spirits!?

Image Yeah, we saw you trying to lure the Small Spirit off too!

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Image Return our friend! Or else!


Image (I can't even talk… I'm too weak…)

Image Hey! Answer us!

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Image Stop it, stop it now!

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After a momentary surprise from the Tree Spirits, a magical flashbang goes off and the screen fades to white.

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Image Magilia! Run, nowl

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Image Vision… returning… Legs.. working… Uuugh, I feel terrible. What happened?

Image It seems like you made the Tree Spirits mad… Maybe they don't like how you look? Anyways, what now?

Image They mentioned something about me taking their friend…

Image Oh no! Their friend is missing? But how are we supposed to find…

(woosh)

Image Wind Spirit, with the save?

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Image I saw a Tree Spirit, while I was whizzing and wooshing. All by his lonesome… One can't help but worry.

Image Wind Spirit with the save! Aww yeah!

Image I wonder, I wonder, could it have been playing Hide-and-Seek?

Image Where'd you see it, Wind Spirit?

Image The Tree Spirit was somewhere in the forest's heart. Somewhere deep deep under the trees!

Image Trees and trees and trees and trees, it all looks the same to me~

Image …And it's gone. Again.

Image Well, we have a hint on where to look now! Let's go!

Image Then… We'll head to the heart of the forest. The sooner the better, right?

Image Right. We don't know how long it's been alone, and it might be in trouble from whatever's been corrupting everything else.

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We head off to the right now, to get to the heart of the forest. It takes a couple screens.

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Image There it is! Right down there!

Image It looks a little… different, doesn't it?

Image Yeah, it's a bit purple.

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Image It seems like it's being corrupted by the bad spirits around it. We need to get it back to its friends, ASAP!

Image Right… every minute it spends away from the others might be one minute too many. Let's roll.

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We're dropped unceremoniously into another instanced series of maps where we need to beat up all the spirits to move on.

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It ends in under a minute.

Total Kills: 12,193

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We then walk right back to the Tree Spirits.

The Tree Spirits, who previously nearly killed us.

…What's our INT, again?

Image Four?

Yeah, fair enough. I have no complaints about this.

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Image It's that spirit-napping stranger! Everybody, get them…!

Image Stop! There are more important things to worry about. Look at this poor spirit! If we don't do something quick…


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Image Wait…!

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Image That's our friend! How did we miss them?!

Image Oh, they were just offscreen. Happens all the time.

Image Silence, intruder!

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Image Don't give up, friend! Take our strength…

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The Tree Spirits bounce, and their energy is transferred to their friend.

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Image Oogh…

Image (Sniffs) That was a close one. But what was this spirit doing out there all alone?

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Image Dunno… but we have something else to be doing, anyways.

Image Right! We're trying to fix the Songblooms to restore the Spirit Tree and help fix everything. Can you tell us where the Bramble Harp is and how it's doing?

Image …………You should give up. The tree is corrupted, and even all of us together couldn't fix it.

Image But when we fixed the Floral Flute, the tree—

Image The Spirits in the forest attack others, and can't be reasoned with anymore. Don't you see? It's hopeless. You should find somewhere safe to hide.

Image But…

Image And you! The stranger! Leave here at once. We'll give you this one warning, as thanks for finding our friend.

Image …Yeesh, stubborn much? Hold on a minute: we need a pow-wow.

Image A what..?

Image We need an idea, Small Spirit.

Image Yeah… I don't know what happened. I used to really like these guys, why are they such jerks?

Image Uugh… I told myself I'd stop being such a crybaby!

Image
Image But the tears won't stop coming…

Image Hey, wait a second! It's the lights! They're back again…

Image Think they're trying to lead us somewhere?

Image Hopefully not to the Tree Spirits again…

Image Not much chance of that, I think.

Image …Mm.

Image
Image Small Spirit, we should follow that trail of lights. It's led us this far…

Image

It doesn't take long to reach the end of the trail.

Image The trail stops here…

Image Oh! There's a passageway between the trees!

Image Let's check it out!

Image

We head into the hidden portal hidden in the middle of the tree tunnel, to see where it goes.

Image
Image This part of the forest sure is dark.

Image Look, over there! Is that...?


Image
Image It's the Bramble Harp!

It looks like it's seen better days.

Image It's wilted away, like the Floral Flute… But something's not right.

Image Something… isn't right? What is it?

Image I remember that when I went to see the Bramble Harp, I could see the stars really well. Better than the rest of the forest! But now…

Image I see. It's time for logging.

Image Logging? But what?

Image

Image Oh… I have an idea.

Image Hey, yeah… I don't remember that tree at all. Maybe it got moved here?

Image
Image Greedy, greedy tree~

Image Wind Spirit!

Image Do you know something about this tree?

Image Twaaanggg~ The tree blocking the harp's starlight loves loud sounds.

Image Thanks for the information.

Image And away I go~ Woosh woosh!!

Image Soooo… Am I cutting down the tree?

Image Don't be silly. It's a tree! We can't do anything so cruel as to cut it down.

Image Right… So then, what DO we do?

Image If we made enough noise on the opposite side of the tree, maybe we could coax the leaves into moving in that direction.

Image
Image But what could we possibly use to make enough sound? Hmm, perhaps the crystalized screams of Toxic Spirits would do.

Image What?

Image
Image Magilia, could you gather Deathcry crystals from Toxic Spirit monsters? 50 should be enough.

Image Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?

User avatar
Image

Image …Um… Well. It's… done.

Total Kills: 12,540

Image Not that I'm second-guessing you or anything, but couldn't I have just… you know. Thrown a concert?

Image Oh. Yeah, I guess that would have been way faster! But this way you got to hunt, right?

Image Well… I do love hunting… B-but actually capturing the screams was a little..!

Image Enough about that. Let's give it a try. Just smash them against the side of the tree, and…

Image Smashing the crystalized death cries of spirits on the side of a tree… Oh man, is this okay for my image?

Image Hey, don't worry about it! There's actually a huge underground niche market for metal idols.

Image

The loud cries sound, and the tree wiggles a bit to the left…

Image

Pictured: A Spirit realizing how stupid their idea was, actually.

Image
Image It didn't work. (Sighs) It looks like the noise wasn't loud enough.

Image Maybe… we should cut it down now? Or maybe even do a concert?

Image I have a better idea. More screams, from louder spirits!

Image …Seriously? For serious?

Image

Image Fifty Volatile Shrieks, please. They scream real loud.

Image I'm getting the feeling that Small Spirit was bullied by these guys before…

Image Could be. So, are we hunting?

Image

Image I! Love! Hunting!!

I'm not going to pretend this quest is anything but filler. It's filler. We are literally a magical girl idol who has three dedicated concert buttons that play 0.23 entire songs, we could solve this problem in a couple of minutes.

Image

Total Kills: 12,878

Image Well… that was only a little traumatic, in the end.

Image Let's hope that bottling the death shrieks of our enemies winds up being good experience for the future.

Image Shouldn't we be hoping I never needed to learn this in the first place?

Image …Eh. It's a tough industry.

Image
Image You brought the Volatile Shrieks! Quickly, place them on this side of the tree…

Image
Image Yes, yes, it worked! Now that the tree is out of the way, when the stars begin to shine--

Image NOW what are you up to?! Whatever you're doing, stop it right now!

Image Uh oh... those shrieks got the attention of the Tree Spirits…


Image Well, we DID make a lot of noise…

Image
Image We warned you to leave this place…

Image I knew it! You pretended not to be the same stranger, but you're clearly up to no good...

Image
Image We were just trying to revive the Bramble Harp! Just wait, any moment now it will be brimming with life!


Image And the countless screams of our brethren?

Image There were only 100 of them, that's not exactly countless…

Image Not helping..!

Image Well, we needed them to make the tree move!

Image You used the screams of our fellow spirits to move a tree?





Image My plan is great! :)

Image Your plan is TERRIBLE! The Bramble Harp is dead! It's not coming back!

Image
Image You ignored our warning, stranger. Now you will face the consequences.

Image

We get cutscene owned once again. One of the most frequent rules of MapleStory is that Magilia is nowhere near as strong inside of a cutscene as she is outside of one. Things we should be able to instantly beat up absolutely clown us.

She's like an inverse Dante DMC.

Image
Image Can't you see?! The Bramble Harp is beginning to bloom!

Thankfully, our one friend has our back… and the insane plan somehow works.

Image

Image See..?! Now can you let us go?

Image The harp is back… But did you have to slaughter our friends?

Image Well, they were corrupted so they were kind of like. Craig Spirits.

Image ………………………

Image

We are freed not because we saved the day, but because nobody likes Craig.

Image Well… thank you. We'll be going now.

Image Oh… um. Bye.

Image Wait. Before you go… Can you tell us anything about that stranger you saw?

Image
Image Curious, are you? Then I'll tell you. But... it is a painful memory.

Image It was on a day so quiet, even the winds were still. We Tree Spirits were tending to the trees, like any other day.

Image
Image But then we felt an aura of immense evil enter the forest. It was calm, but so very powerful...

Image Our first instinct was to hide, and we watched in silence.

Image
Image The trees, flowers, grass, and rocks of the forest... Everything in the strangers wake vanished, transformed into something else.

Image ...All from coming into contact with that stranger's aura. She was only walking by, but in an instant it was all gone… Others followed behind her... I don't remember how many. I was too consumed by fear. That's all we saw. Just thinking about that day brings back so many terrible feelings. Fear, anger, helplessness…


Image

Image …That's all.

Image So there's another person who came through here… and they spread destruction as they went. I have to chase after them.

Image Before that, we should look for the next Songbloom.

Image Well, it's not like I CAN leave before we deal with that maelstrom thingy, so I'm in.

Image Alright then! Follow me to the Marimba Blossowoms of Marimba Laguwun!

Image …the what now?

Image No time! Let's gowo!

Image

Image Are we there yet..?

Image We should be hewe, but… Where's the laguwun? It's all dwied up!

Image Why is it talking like that?

Image I have nowo idea.

Image

Image

Image

Image I'm going to pretend that didn't happen. Let's see what's up.

User avatar
Just a heads up, since Library of Ruina is very nearly over with I'm going to put this LP on a short hiatus while I finish up with it.

Once that's done I'll be able to prowoperly showocase the truwu terrowo that is to come.

Image You're not going to explain why that keeps happening, are you.

If you knowo, you knowo.

Image ............. ew-u.

User avatar
Kept you waiting, huh?

Image Not… really? Were we waiting? The last thing I remember is some kind of tewwible pun.

Image Tear, your voice…

Image …Oh nowo.

No time to worry about cutesy speech or the subjective nature of time within an already-completed narrative! Let's get back to work!

Image
Image Let's head down into the lagoon... Or what's left of it.

Image

We descend into the lagoon, weady for anything that may come.

Image Back when the lagoon was full, the dew that collected on the bwossoms would dwip onto the surface of the lagoon. Since each flower was a diffewent distance away, they‘d make diffewent sounds. The wesult was a calm concerto of water!

Image

Image The flowers are okay. But something is obstwucting this section of the lagoon… Hey, look at that huge wock. Maybe that‘s what's bwocking the flow of water?

Image So… we should bweak it, and see if that fixes it?

Image Seems like an idea.

Image

We punch the rock with our trio of dragons until it breaks apart. This doesn't take very long.

Image
Image (The rock breaks open with a resounding crash, revealing a passageway.)

Image Huh? A path under the lagoon? Bweaking the wock didn't westore the flow of water, but if we follow this path, we might find the bwockage.

Image

Image This is… beawtifuw…

Image It's still happening, Tear.

Image Oh nowo. What is this?

Image Ug… Ugh..! Can someone hewp me?

Image Wait! Who's that?

Image
Image Someone wescue me from these stuffy woots!

Image

One QTE later…

Image
Image Phew, what a welief!

Image That's a wock spirit..! I haven't seen any since the song of the fowost stopped… They must have been here undergwound the whole time!

Image Are they why everyone's talking awall funny?

Image We wive off the enewgy, we don' make it. This pwace is jus speshil.

Image Gweat. We'd better mowove fast, then.

Image Right. Don't want you talking like that forever, after all.

Image Anyways, it's dangewous undagrownd wight now.

Image What happened?

Image
Image I was swimming awound undagwound wif my bwudders when suddenwee a big wave came and swept us away! When I woke up, I was twapped undah these wootsl They've gwoan weawwy big. Must be the same foh the Spiwit Twee. And... and... I'm fohgetting somefing impohtant...

Image
Image Us, you dodo! You awe fohgetting us!


Image

The camera scrolls up to show us the Rock Spirits stuck inside of a giant root.

Image Oof! We awe stuck undah these bwasted woots too! My butt is getting
cohd and wet!


Image Cold and... wet? They must be bwocking the water! We have to free them. (Sighs) But they're so high up. Maybe if we piled something up to stand on…

Image I know, I know! Go and find the west of my bwudders wost in the cave! You can stack them on top wun anudder and cwimb up! I have ten bwudders awtogether. And we have… Two...Thwee... Fowuh of us here, incwuding me. That means I have seven bwudders that need
saving! Pwease find them!


Image Magilia, if we free them, the water will flow, and the Mawimba Bwossoms will pway once more! Let‘s search the cavewn for the missing Wock Spirits!

Image

Image I guess we'we off to find his bwothers, befowe this place gets to us any mowore.

Image Please hurry.

Image I'll keep watch ovew these ones in the meanwhile!

The other Rock Spirits are throughout the entire area down here, and we'll have to wander around to find each of them.

Image

Total Kills: 12,899

Thankfully, none of them are that hard to find.

Image
Image I just want to woll fwee!

Image Hold on, I'll bweak you outta' thewe.

Image

Each one takes a short QTE to release, just like their bwudder. In one short branch we can find two of them quickly.

Image How wong am I going to be stuck wike this? I don't want to die!

Image

Total Kills: 12,903

Image That's two… Five mowe and we're done.

Image Hurry up… I'm not sure how long we have before it even starts to affect me.

Image

As we get more of them, they follow behind us automatically.

Image Pwease protec us fwom the scawy bad spiwits!

Image What happened to them, anyways?

Image Dey couldn't take wistening to owe talking any wonger, so dey went to da dawkness!

Image Oh no! That's tewwible!

Image
Image Why did this happen? I miss the Spiwit Twee! Hey, who awe you!?

Total Kills: 12,909

Image I'm the Battlegwound Idow, Angewic Bustew! Come wif me if you want to wive!

Image Thank you, Angewic Bustew!!

Image
Image Cwazy spiwits came out of the woots! Wun away!

Image Not wifout you guys!!

Image

Image Fanks so much!!

Image
Image I‘m stuck! This is tewwible!

Image Hold on!

This part of the quest is just traveling from point A to a LOT of point Bs.

Image
Image I got swept up by the cuwwent, and now this! Somebody pwease save me!

Image Is that the last one?

Image No, that's only six. Thewe's one more to go!

Image And you're gowing to beat up the baddies too, wight?

Image The wha.

Image

It turns out this mission has a secret extra requirement: beating up 100 of each of the mobs in this area.

Image What does that have to do with helping the wock spiwits?!

Image It's a chance fow you to do hunting!!

Image …Well…

Image

Image I!

Image

Image Do!!

Image

Image Love!!!

Image
Image Ahhl Gwabby woots and cwazy spiwits! Somebody save me!

Image Oh hold on there, sweetums. I got you.

Image

Image Hunting!!!

Total Kills: 13,179

With our quotas met, it's time to go home and unclog that drainpipe.

Image
Image My bwudders awe stuck and you awe the ownwee wun who can pwy them woose! Wet‘s go. chop chop!

Image Just weave it to me!

Image
Image Awwight! You know what to do fewwas! Wet's go save those fatsos!

Image

Image Now! Cwimb on up!

Image

Once again we get a QTE. This one requires us to hit the Alt button in a specific window, with Alt being the default jump button.

Image

After two timed Alt prompts, we have another Mash Space QTE.

Image Hewe goes somefin!!

Image

Breaking out the Rock Spirits gets the water flowing down here again.

Image Wheeeeeeee!

Image Phew! All's well that ends well, I guess.

Image And your voice seems to be back to normal.

Image The enewgy got bwasted elsewhere wif da water!

Image And not a moment too soon… All we have to do now is go back and make sure the Spirit Tree's recovered, right?

Image Um…

Image
Image Am I imagining things, or is the ground shaking?

Next time we finish Arcana, come hell or high water.

User avatar
Previously, on Arcana Force Angelic Buster Reversed,

Image
Image Am I imagining things, or is the ground shaking?

And now, the thrilling conclusion.

Image
Image (The ground is definitely shaking... What‘s going on?)

Image The plump one cries, and we must fly. We should depart, immediately.

Image

The Wind Spirit swoops back in with news, as it so often does.

Image
Image The Spirit Tree sings a pained and mournful tune~

Image No... What's happened to the Spirit Tree?!


Image

>Barges into any scene
>Drops plot-critical information
>Refuses to elaborate further
>leaves

That's our Wind Spirit. :allears:

Image We have to hurry!

Image The Spiwit Twee‘s in twouble!? I have an idea!


Image An idea..? At this point, I'd take anything! What's the plan?

Image Fowwoe me! I know a showtcut!

Image

Image Looks like he's not the only one who knows the shortcut.

Image This is a lot of Spirits.

Image Dey hav suwenduwed to tha dawkness! Wip and teaw, Angewic Bustew!

Image

We get to work, like most of these quests we're stuck with clearing the entire map out before we move on. We're also running into some damage issues here: Celestial Roar isn't able to oneshot the enemies so I swap over to Trinity for bonus damage. It hits fewer enemies, but since they're in groups of 3-4 it works out to being better than CR anyways.

Image

As usual, there's three total stages. One of the things I want to note here is actually the holes in the map. Holes are actually rare in MapleStory maps, and around here they act as teleporters. Falling in a hole will instantly teleport us to another spot on the map—here, that spot is near the beginning of the area.

There are a number of training rotations for Arcana that take full advantage of these holes to save movement and maximize efficiency, and none of them have been relevant for a half a decade because Arcana is a level 225 area and that's early game now.

Come to think of it, it's only been used in one area since this.

Image

Total Kills: 13,239

Image That's everyone. We're clear to go!

Image Gud job! Now go make suwe the Spiwit Twee is okay!

Image

Despite the Rock Spirit following us the entire time, we get back to the tree alone. Let's see what's going on.

Image (Sobs) The Spirit Tree has been completely engulfed by the evil aura! I don't understand... We revived the Songblooms! The tree should have been restored. Why is this happening?

Image Ahh! The evil in the tree... It feels like it's trying to spread!

Image

With no options left, we decide to try to beat the everloving hell out of the evil that's infected the Spirit Tree.

Image Wait… was that always an option? I feel like we should have tried that sooner.

Image

We launch into battle against corrupted spirits coming out of the tree.

Image

Total Kills: 13,249

They do not last very long.

Image

Image Woah..! I've never seen a spirit that big before!

Image
Image This aura... it's so much darker than the other tainted spirits…

Image I won't allow you to corrupt this forest!


Image

We're thrown into a fight against the Corrupt Spirit of Harmony. Our boss fight for this area, the CSoH has two different attacks. The first is telegraphed by this coloration, and is a short-range attack. He also has a long range attack we can see coming when it—

Image Great job, Angelic Buster!

Image

…When it dies in two hits. :sigh:

Total Kills: 13,250

Someday I'll get another good boss fight. Someday. :negative:

Image
Image Oh! There's someone laying where that giant evil spirit disappeared… Who's that?

Image
Image It can be felt, but not seen. You cannot hear it, but you know it is there. What is it?


Image
Image Friendship, love, and kindness.

Image Wind Spirit!

Image Hmm~ Hmm~ One needs only look into your eyes to know the truth~


Image
Image Ugh…

Image (The strange spirit groans in pain.) (Images flutter into your mind, accompanied by a quiet voice...)

Image

Image As long as I have lived, I have been shy. When I first opened my eyes, I was inside this big tree. Perhaps that is why I could never bring myself to leave it. I spent all of my days the same way… Counting the passing clouds, watching the leaves grow. But I was not completely alone. I had friends too. At least, that is how I thought of them...


Image

It's flashback time.

Image Tra-lala~ The sky, the breeze, the birds and the bees. Each one I love, perhaps equally~ But if a spirit had to pick favorites, only one could there be. The leaves and the branches of my plumpity tree! Plumpity, plump, plump, plump~

Image Hehe. I guess it is a little portly, as trees go. But I like it!

Everyone is calling the Spirit Tree fat, apparently.

Image Wace you wosers to the twee! Come on, bwudders, woll faster!

Image Ah, they‘re coming! I need to hide!


The mysterious Spirit fades into the tree.

Image
Image Hehe, watch me swing!

Image
Image Ahh, these weaves awe so cozy! I might faww asweep!

Image
Image .......

Image Huh? Did they all leave? I think they're gone. I‘m so embarrassed. Every time they come, I can't help but hide. Maybe tomorrow is the day I'll speak to them. But... what if I scare them away? I'm happy like this, just listening to the chattering of the spirits as they play…


Image

We move forward in time, to a SAD day. We can tell it's sad because the Spirit Tree is purple now—the saddest of all colors.

Image
Image (Sniffs) Spirit Tree, what happened to you? Why did you wither up so suddenly?

Image The forest is changing, and spirits are going wild... I'm so very scared. And worst of all, I have nowhere to go! Wahhh...

Image
Image (Try as I might, purging this dark aura is beyond me... What should I do?)

Image (If the corruption cannot be purified... Then there is only one choice.)

Image
Image (I must seal it away... It is the only way to protect them.)

Image (Do not cry, Small Spirit. I will keep the darkness contained.)

Image
Image (...Good bye, my friend. I'm sorry I could never work up the courage to talk with you...)

Image (I want you all to be happy... To go on playing in the leaves...)

Image
Image Farewell, my friends.


The Spirit slowly fades away.

Image
Image ...I know who you are. We've been friends for a long time, haven't we...?

And we return to the present.

Image On days when l was happy, and days when I cried... You were always right there beside me.

Image
Image You were the spirit within the Spirit Tree!


Image Aww, he's still a bit of a crybaby, huh? :3:

Image Oh, hush!

Image
Image (Sobs) You've been fighting alone all this time…

Image You used up all your strength to prevent the corruption from spreading throughout the forest... (Sniffs) That's why your leaves withered and grayed.

Image
Image T-the Spirit Tree!

Image The dawkness is fading away!

Image Don't you see, everybody? He was protecting us all along! Even though it cost him everything… (Sobs) Please open your eyes...

Image The miracle is already around us. It sprouts beneath our feet, it blooms in the starlight, it sips from the lagoon.

Image
Image It toots and it twangs, it drips and it drops~ Listen, to the song of the forest~


Image

The beat drop of life thrums through the forest, engulfing the Spirit Tree in light.

Image
Image H-huh...?

The miracle happen! :peanut:

Image The Spirit Tree... It's been revived…!

Image (Cries) I‘m so relieved.

Image Hehe. Well, if it isn't my favorite plump friend! Plump~ Plumpity~

Image Brudders, a new fwend! Wet's pway a game! It'ww be fun!

Image Fun? That's my specialty! Fun~ fun~ fun~

Image No! The Spirit Tree is still weak. Rest first... Fun later.

Image Hmm... The Tree Spirits are right!


We finally fade to black, and…

Image

Well that… happened.

Anyways, let's talk with the Harmony Spirit and finish things off.

Image
Image (Harmony Spirit bows its head. and a feeling of profound gratitude enters your mind.)

Image (Gazing into the distance, you notice that where the Vortex of Light once stood, there is now nothing but clear skies.) (You should say goodbye to the Small Spirit before leaving.) (The two of you have been through much together, but now your shared journey has come to an end.)

Image Hey… Small Spirit?

Image
Image Thank you for everything. Because of you, the forest is returning to normal. I want you to have this for all you've done!

Image This is… another Arcane Symbol!

Image It will take time for the wild spirits to come to their senses. I suppose you'll be leaving. now that the Vortex of Light is gone. Off to somewhere dangerous beyond the forest… …my friend. (Sniffs) You may be going far away, but anytime I listen to the harmony of the forest or dance under the leaves of the Spirit Tree, I'll think of you.

Image (Waves) Farewell! Bye! Safe travels!


At last, Arcana is over. This means we've got a little bit of busywork to do before we move on, though.

Image

Image How do they keep having these?

Image You're not asking the right questions, Tear. The more important thing is: can we have more?

In addition to grabbing the Arcana symbol, I power our Arcane Force up to 530 to prepare for the next area.

Image

Even after doing this, I've got plenty more ASS coupons left over. Eyeing the clock for the morning, I then make a judgment call: I decide I can knock out the next place on the Arcane River because I have some time left over and figure it won't take THAT long.

So I start up a new recording session and get ready to head over to the next area, Morass, where surely nothing will go wrong at all.

Image

Image I thought you said nothing would go wrong at all..?

Oh, it doesn't. Everything works exactly as intended.

Next time: the worst area in the Arcane River.

User avatar
Image

Accounting time. I've made a chronological error.

It turns out that I did Lachelein and Arcana on the same day, not Arcana and Morass. That means technically the shiny End of Day thing should have shown up back then, but also: Lucid is prettier than anything in Arcana anyways. :colbert:

That means today is a new day, and the actual dawn of Day 5. Things should be picking up soon, we just have to finish doing All This Plot.

Anyways, this is a big and important day for us, as we've got something to talk about the second we log in.

Image

It's our first ever Sunny Sunday! On Sundays in MapleStory, everyone gets some kind of special bonus. Today's is what's known as a "Rune Sunday," which means the Runes give even more EXP, and Monster Park gives us a hefty bonus chunk as well.

Rune Sundays are notable because they tend to make finding a clear map incredibly annoying, as all the most commonly used maps are full to bursting on the entire server. This is not a problem anywhere but Kronos…

Image But lemme guess, we're in Kronos?

We are, in fact, in Kronos. Thankfully we're still low enough level that this shouldn't cause us problems, but it's something to keep in mind.

Anyways, we start things off by going into our little lightbulb menu and selecting [Morass] The Flow.

Image

We're offered a chance to skip the story as usual… but this area is important, and we have to do it. In my footage I actually pause here and mouse over the Yes button to Skip it for about thirty solid seconds before I finally hit No and continue.

I really did not want to do Morass.

Image
Image Bloop!

Image Ah! That sound! That wonderful bubbly sound!


Magilia knows who the best character in the Arcane River is.

Image It can only mean one thing! The Flying Fish is back! Time to hurry over to Cavernous Cavern!

Image

Our good fish is waiting for us. Let's roll!

Image
Image Flying Fish! You're back!

Image Bloop!

Image We did it! The forest is rebalanced, and the Arcane River's flow is back to normal! Time to ride the Flying Fish to the next area!


Image

We hop on without any further hesitation, and head off down the river.

Image
Image Huh?

Image (Is the flying fish... sinking?!)


Image That might be me. Those Arcane guys had some reeeally yummy stones, right? And—

Image You're a spirit! How are you weighing down the fish?!

Image Huh. Well YOU haven't had a chance to eat since we landed, so it can't be you either. You need to hydrate more, too, you know.

Image Blooooop!!

Image W-we don't have time to get into that right now!

Image Uh oh! Ahhhh!

Image

We start to dive down into the waters of the Arcane River.

Image
Image (Well, that was a wild ride!)

Still riding the fish, we proceed downward deeper still into the river.

Image What is THIS place?

Image
Image It's the edge of the Arcane River.

Image
Image You can talk now?!

Image
Image Well, this is quite a magical place, and I'm not just any flying fish, you know.


:allears:

Image But you've never spoken before!

Image I couldn't. But here, near the morass where the Erda is more concentrated, things are quite different!


Morass is the only word that's in blue here, so I just bolded it.

Image Morass? Erda? I knew we went downstream, but… I had no idea the Arcane River was this deep. How amazing! And somehow I can even breathe underwater here!

Image It is amazing, isn't it? Oh, and I should introduce myself. I'm the Will of Erda.


Image What do you mean you're the Will of Erda?

Image
Image Oh, nothing special. Just think of me as a proxy for the Erda, just trying to save the world like you.

Image That sounds pretty special to me.

Image Well, it's a long story, and we're not safe here. Why don't I give you the details later? Here, follow me. For now, just follow me off to the right here. This way!


The fish swims off to the right, so we follow right after.

Image
Image What are Xenoroids doing here?!

Image The Erdas here mimic the memories of others. It's a survival technique. They can become their enemy's greatest fear if need be.


Image No, I mean, what are they doing here. I've never seen them before!

Image You… didn't stop Black Heaven from destroying Maple World? Around level 190 or so?

Image I was in a hat at level 190!

Image Just how busy was Kaiser, anyways..?

Image Th-they must still be mimicing your fears of robots somehow. Just stop them, because they're as deadly as you remember.

Image Or DEADLIER. Because, you know, you don't remember them at all.

Image …Got it.

Jokes aside, we are actually in incredible danger. That blue-topped Xenoroid there is the AFK mob for this area, and is constantly bonking us for 10% of our HP for the entire duration of this cutscene. I had to back out of the cutscene right here to avoid getting murdered.

Image

Total Kills: 13,257

It still lops off half of our HP. :shepface:

Image Ahem… sorry about that. Where were we?

Image Right. So, what you see here is from somewhere within your own memory.

Image But…

Image Just go along with it, Tear. Thinking too much about it will just bring harder monsters.

Image Right. Then… If everything mimics something, then what about you?

Image I learned this form on Chu Chu Island. As a flying fish, I can easily travel by both air and sea. Plus, I like the look! Isn't it pretty? Chu Chu is a fascinating place even for me. A fish with wings is about as strange as a Crilia.

Image Actually, flying fish originated in Maple World.

Image You know, there are quite a few monsters following us. You should thin their numbers a bit before we continue.

Image Well, that was an abrupt change of topic…


Image I think he's mad you corrected him.

Image I think 200 would be enough.

Image

Image Whatever… Hunting time! Aww yeah!

200 enemies… It's not a lot of enemies, at this point.

Image

It winds up taking us under 2 minutes to clear them out.

Total Kills: 13,460

Image I'm back.

Image Oh good. Did you happen to remember what these things are based on?

Image Oh… uh… yeah! These things, I definitely, for real, remember them. And that is why I can say, that these sea robot guys..?

Image
Image They're much stronger than Xenoroids!

Image The Erda will take whatever form it thinks it needs to protect itself. Sometimes that includes incredible strength.

Image That incredible strength is slowing us down. Where are we going, anyway?

Image You'll see soon enough. And now that you've decreased their numbers, let's continue onward. I‘ll meet you at the Path to the Coral Forest 4.


Time to get back to the important work of running to the right!

Image

Image I'd rather use my Teleport Rock to just skip the walk, really.

Image Hey, do you know why there's a city there?

Image I do not. It doesn't exist right now…

Image Maybe the map is broken?

Just wait for it, it'll all make sense soon enough.

Image Riiight. Warp time!!

Image

This time, I kill the AFK mob before starting the quest.

Total Kills: 13,461

Image
Image There are Xenoroids here too.

Image Is that... coral growing on them?

Image These enemies must hold some significance for you if this is the form the Erda chose to mimic from your memory.


Image Well…

Image Teear..! If you argue, we'll be here longer. Just wing it.

Image I have to fight them more often than I'd like, yeah.

Image Dodging the question just like a true idol! Oh, I'm so proud..!

Image They're clearly a very prominent figure in your mind. For the time being, reduce their numbers by 200 as before.[/i]

Image

We get right to work hunting the enemies.

Image Hey, Eskalade? I had a thought. You know how we're breathing just fine even thought we're underwater, right?

Image Well, YOU are. I don't have to breathe. But… go on.

Image Most crabs also breathe underwater. Does that make this that carcinization thing?

Image …Maybe. If you grow any crab claws, I'll let you know.

Image Huh. I appreciate your service.

So we wipe out some mobs…

Image

Jump through a portal to a snowy land where we wipe more mobs out…

Image Wait, this isn't doing my job at all!

Eh, the EXP is good and it takes like 30 seconds. Just spotlight and jump to the right and left to wipe everything.

Image Right… I guess it's fine then. Since it's hunting.

Image Which you love.

Image Which I love.

Image

Total Kills: 13,908

It doesn't take us too long after that portal's done to finish defeating the fish-robot-erda-memories.

These maps are kind of a pain to get around on, because they're really big and the enemies are spread all over the place. On the upside, that means no one is trying to compete with us for them. Hooray!

Image
Image No matter how many I defeat, there are always more!

Image Wonderful isn't it, the ability for the Erda to be born anew?

Image Wonderful isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind…

Image Wait... I can sense her nearby. She's much closer than I expected.

Image Her? Who are you talking about?

Image Tana! Her presence alone is enough to effect even me… Let's proceed with caution.

Image
Image She's directly ahead.


You're not hallucinating, by the way. Tana's never been mentioned by name before this point, and we've only seen her once—and only if the YouTube videos actually worked.

This is a problem, because she's about to become the most important person in the entire goddamn river.

Image
Image Isn't that Arkarium?! Who's that next to him?

Arkarium is another new character to us, but we actually should know who this one is. Being 20% forehead by volume, Arkarium is one of the Black Mage's commanders and was doing nefarious things involving the Transcendent of Time. He's important to a plotline we never touched because of the hat dimension, and his most important feature now is being a daily boss fight we can beat up who theoretically drops a really good pendant that lasts you through most of the game.

Emphasis on theoretically. MapleStory drop rates for any kind of endgame-adjacent gear are memetically terrible.

Image Auugh.

Image Your mental state appears to be deteriorating.

Image
Image Who... uugh... Who are you? Who am I? Augh... Why do I hurt?


Energy flows into her, making her hair change color to match her icon.

Image
Image Your name is Tana. Do not fear. The Great One is waiting for you. He can keep you from pain if you share your power with him.

Image The Great One... You mean the Black Mage? Yes... I remember. But, didn't he seal me away?

Image He did. But it was for your own safety. in sealing you away, he saved you from unbearable pain and eventual madness. You should be grateful to him. But we've already been through this many times. We don't have time to repeat it again.

Image They're going to get away! Can you catch up to them? I'll explain more later, but we have to get that girl away from Arkarium now! She doesn't understand the damage she could do!

Image I'll do my best.

Image
Image Arkarium!! Stop right there!

Image Magilia?! What are you doing following me? How dare you interfere!

Image Interference? No. Auugh... NO!


The screen starts shaking here.

Image Whoa. Why is the river's current is getting stronger?! What's going on?

Image It's Tana. She's scared, and her power is unbelievably strong. She's affecting everything in the area. I can barely withstand her influence.

Image How is she doing it?!

Image
Image And where did that castle come from?!


It just kind of sparkled into existence just now.

Image Is THAT why it was on the map? How did it know?!

It's a good map. :colbert:

Image
Image Trueffet? How can I still be here? No!

Image Not again!

Image She's regressing. We need to get out of here, or we'll get caught in her memory loop!

Image *gasp*


Image

Tana explodes.

Image

As the screen fades to white.

Image
Image Auuugh!

Image This power is... too much... You must maintain control of yourself, Tana.

Image Gasp... huff…

Image Have you managed to calm your mind again?

Image I- I think so. But that castle. That can't be real…

Image It is at once real and not real. Your mind has made it real. Now, come with me.

Image No! I…


Image

With Flying Fish superimposed over the other two, we fade to black…

Image
Image We're safe here.

…And back in, just offscreen from the previous explosion.

Image What happened? Isn't that the sealed castle of Kritias?

Image Wait, how did you know that?

Image I'm adlibbing! Shh!

Image Only an imitation, just a shell. It's a sort of morass, if you will.

Morass!

Image Morass?

MORASS!!

Image Yes. It's a distorted plane of existence that has been created from Tana's Memory. We see it as it exists in her mind, but in actuality, it's a living coral reef that has been transformed.

Image So it's mimicking her memories? But I thought the monsters I saw were from MY mind…

Image Correct. But Tana's memory has overridden everything now. You see, her power exceeds even that of the Black Mage.

Image What?!

Image Her power is even strong enough to disrupt the Erda here. That's why the Black Mage wants her. We cannot allow Arkarium to exploit Tana's power. Quickly! They're headed that way!


To the right side of the screen!!

Image All right, let's move!

Image
Image Does Tana really want to help the Black Mage destroy the world?

Image It is unlikely she knows what she's doing. The Black Mage is taking advantage of her weakened mental state.

Image So she could be convinced to stop…


Image
Image Perhaps, but you need to be careful. If something goes wrong, you could end up stuck forever.

As Flying Fish speaks, the screen starts to fade to black.

Image But it could be our only chance to rescue her!

Image Yes, but remember, the morass is incredibly…


Image

Image What? Incredibly what?!

Image

Image Ahh, beans. I'm not gonna' hear the answer, am I?

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Image
Hekatonian Year 52, Trueffet Square

Ladies and Gentlemen… we've done a time travel.

Image
Image What?

Image
Image A bit more to the right…

Image
Image Slowly... slowly…


We've got a number of new characters showing up all at once, which makes sense as we're in the square of a castle. I do not have icons for all of them, but if you've seen any movie about a French bookworm, you'd get the idea here.

Image

Castle town, quiet village, every day like the one before.
Castle town, full of castle people waking up to say bonjour.

You know the bit.

Image
Image Where…

Image Where am I? And where's the Flying Fish… Last I remember, we were at the bottom of the sea. There was something about a mission. And the Arcane River… The Arcane River! We were following the Black Mage!


Image
Image Ow! Hey! Watch where you're going!

We get bumped into by a scruffy-looking gentleman, which means we've just been pickpocketed.

Image Wait, we were pickpocketed?! Hey!

Image
Image Heheh! Thanks Shey! I‘ll be sure to put this money to good use!

Image Dark Sight! Ha! You'll never find me while I'm invisible!

Image Jean! You come back here with my money, or you're gonna get it!


Image

We run off after the mysterious Jean.

Image

To catch him, we need to do the unthinkable: Go to the left.

Image Why does that feel so wrong? …Ugh, it doesn't matter right now! Get back here with my money, Jean!!

Image
Image Ha! Found you!

Image My magic wore off already?

Image Yes! Now give back my money!

Image Nah... I think I‘ll just... um... give it to these cats! Ha! Look, kitties! Shiny, new toys!

Image No, no, no! Bad kitties! Those aren't toys!

Image Better hurry up and catch them, or those cats will run off with all your cash!

Image Bah! Come here, kitties! Come on!

Image Remember, Jean the thief always has a backup plan! Ha HA!

Image I have to get back all the coins they took!


Image

Our objective is to pick up the special golden coins, of which we'll need 20 to complete our mission.

Image

Total Kills: 14,135

It takes us a couple of minutes to get them all back. That should be more than enough time for Jean to get away, as long as he's competent.

Image
Image Phew! I barely managed to track all of them down.

Image Just wait until I catch you Jean.


We fade out, and then back in to…

Image
Image All right, bring it down a bit!

A researcher, setting up a special monument of some sort!

Image Careful... careful…

Image
Image All that work for no payoff. And now I'm hungry too!

Image Hmm… Another traveler... Maybe I can scrounge up a meal after all.


Jean walks right up to Tana, and the screen shakes for just a moment.

Image
Image Huh?

Image You…

Image
Image I wasn't expecting you.


Image Wh-what do you mean...?

It seems she recognizes Jean. Unfortunately…

Image
Image Waitl Stop! The rope's fraying!

The rope holding the crystal thingy isn't working right.

Image
Image It's about to snap!! Take cover!

It's a pretty big crystal, and it'll probably make some shrapnel so it'll be important to keep everyone away from it. Good call, there.

Image

Unfortunately, the rope snaps immediately after this sentence is said. Nobody is able to take cover, but any normal crystal won't do that much damage since no one is directly underneath it…

Image

Unfortunately, this is no normal crystal.

Image

It explodes in a blinding flash.

Image
Image Ahhhhh!

Tana shoves Jean away as the crystal hits the floor…

Image

Letting him get just out of range of whatever explosion ripped through the area.

…You know, this one is 100% on the researchers. It was a terrible idea to keep a magic crystal that could explode on such a flimsy rope.

Image
Image Ah... ouch…

Image (Why did she push me?)

Image There's been a horrible accident!

Image Accident? That flash of light…

Image
Image This can't be…

Image All those people just... disappeared?


Image What happened?

Image I-I don't know. I was told it was an ordinary anti-magic stone!

Image Hey, look! What's happening over there?


Image

A mystical power starts to coalesce at ground 0 of the crystal's explosion.

Image

It fades more starkly into view, looking quite like what we saw from Tana earlier.

Image

It reforms into the girl, who does the Maplestory classic of 'leave her eyes closed until she dramatically snaps them open with an appropriate flare of power.'

It's everywhere in this game, I'm not showing every one.

Image
She reformed right there before our eyes.

I couldn't look away.

She was... beyond human.

It was terrifying, but...

magnificent.


Image

Bubbles appear on the screen, meaning that the scene in Morass is changing.

Image

It's now year 54. Two years after what we've just seen.

Image
Image Whoa! What just happened?!

Image Magilia! Snap out of it!

Image Huh? Wha? Who... Who is that?

Image It's me, the Flying Fish! Remember?

Image What just happened? Why am I... in Kritias? Am I Shey? Magilia? Which?

Image Like I warned you, you forgot you're not part of that world.

Image It's all so jumbled…

Image We've been absorbed into Tana's memory. Your mind is inhabiting someone from her memory now.

Image Did she do this?

Image No, she's a prisoner of the morass just as you are.

Image Morass…


MORASS!!!

Image Those trapped in the coral forest morass become lost in memories of the past. They'll remain in those memories forever, eventually becoming an Erda themselves.

Image What?! How do I stop it? And why did I come here in the first place?

Image You wanted to discover Tana's identity and rescue her!

Image Okay, yeah. I remember that now. But there's a way out, right?

Image Well, this is Tana's memory, so it depends whether you can break her out of the memory loop and…


Image What? I can't hear you! Flying Fish? Flying Fish!

Image
Image (What're all those candles for?)

Looks like we aren't going to hear the rest this time, either. Back to the stage.

Image ('Kritias... a memorial for those lost on that fateful day.')

Time to pick up the next quest.

Image
Image A soldier said that merchant will arrive soon.

Image (Merchant?)

Image One of the deliveries for the reception is late. Could you go get it?

Image Oh... Uh, sure. I'll go get it.

Image Just head to the right. You can't miss it.

Image (May as well gather information until the Flying Fish contacts me again.)


On the upside, Magilia remembers who she is properly this time—we shouldn't get lost in the story any longer.

Image

We head over here to the guy with the delivery, and a couple of gangsters.

Image It's not very nice to judge people on appearances.

That is literally what the tag says.

Image That's a very good point.

Image
Image Hey, old man. Did you not hear me, or are you just stupid? I said pay up! You want a primo market spot, you've gotta fork over the dough.

Image W-well, you see, business has been down l-lately…

Image (That man seems to be in trouble.) Is there a problem here?

Image Nothing that concerns you. Get lost!

Image Oh, Sheyl Perfect timing! Help me out here! Back off, you greedy thugs! This guy's a priest of the great temple!

Image (Priest? Hm... so Shey's a priest.)

Image Hmph. Fine.

Image Hey! Give that back! You can't just go around taking anything you want! That's my livelihood you're running off with! Shey! Would you please, please get my Ripe Apples back from them? Business is bad enough as it is.


Image Alright… I'll take care of it.

Image Thanks! They'll be in Bully Blvd.

Image That's a little on the nose, isn't it?

Image I guess I remember living in Priest Place, so maybe it's just how things work here.

Image

We get right to work. Unfortunately for us, our main attack sometimes requires two shots in order to down the gangsters here. This makes it a little more annoying than before.

Image I just have to work even harder!

Image That's the right attitude, Angelic Buster. You're saving people even when you're pretending to be someone else. That's pretty heroic of you, you know?

Image Heehee… thanks, Eskalade. But I'm just doing my best.

Our goal here is to get 20 Ripe Apple items. This means the time we spend here is slightly based on drop rate and luck.

Image

There's no punchline or anything this time, I didn't get held up by the drop rate at all this time. The apples seem to have a drop rate of ~10% so this is about right after Decent Holy Symbol's drop rate buff.

Total Kills: 14,327

Image
Image Thank you, Shey.

Image You're welcome. Let me ask you, what do you know about the crystal disaster?

Image The disaster? Well, it's been quite a while... Didn't it happen before you left for your studies?

Image I heard there was a survivor.

Image l-l don't know anything about that. I'm sorry. You should try asking someone else. Maybe the pottery shop lady over there?


Image

We find her just below our man. Time to continue poking into this mystery to find out about our survivor.

Image
Image Yes, there was a survivor. I'd be happy to tell you, but…

Image Would you mind doing me a favor first?

Image A favor?

Image Yes, please. I'm really in a fix, and that lazy guard there is no help at all. Would you teach the Strong Gangsters a lesson about manners? They always cause trouble around here, and it's really hurting my business.

Image Who're you calling lazy?! I told you, my old knee injury is getting to me today!

Image Don't you play the helpless victim with me! It seemed just fine this afternoon when you chased down that vendor and 'rescued' a meat pie from him! If only my problem was having too many meat pies on my hands...


Image

Image Will you please help me out, Shey?

Image Sure thing. Always happy to help!

Image Thank you! Teach around 200 Strong Gangsters some manners. They like to loiter around Bully Blvd. 3 like a bunch of hoodlums.

Image Thanks for helping out, Shey! I'd do it myself, you know, but my back... it's just really been a problem lately.

Image Oh, quit your bellyaching! Shey's already agreed to do your job for you.


Image

Strong Gangsters are recolored Gangsters, which means they are stronger.

Image Makes sense to me.

Image

Total Kills: 14,533

The map is slightly harder to move on than the first one we were on, and we're still occasionally having to 2-shot the enemies. This is really just more filler, honestly.

Image Hey now, we saved the day for someone. That makes it worthwhile.

Anyways, we head back to town and turn the quest in. :toot:

Image
Image You know that monument in the center square?

Image Mm hm, yes. They put it there after that anti-magic stone fell and broke all those years ago. The moment that stone shattered, everyone in the vicinity disappeared without a trace. It was so sad.

Image Is it true there was a survivor?

Image You mean the Angel of Death?

Image People call her the Angel of Death?

Image Yes. I mean, she was quite a frightening sight. I'll never forget her. Couldn't sleep for days after that. She just vanished and rematerialized like it was nothing. And the way she looked too... that darkness... her eyes… Only someone incredibly powerful could have managed something like that. I suppose that's why they took such an interest in her.

Image Who took an interest in her? What happened to her?

Image The soldiers... Once they got a hold of her, no one ever saw her again. There have been rumors though. You know, there's one person who might know more. He's been asking about those rumors too, but I haven't seen him lately…

Image Who's that?

Image Well, Jean, of course. He was the last one to see her alive... or so they say.

Image Hmm... Jean... I'll have to track him down. Thanks.

Image
Image (Hm? What's this journal doing in your bag? Who does it belong to? And why is it glowing? Maybe you should take a look at it.)


Image

Looking in our inventory shows us that we've gotten a journal. Let's pop it open.

Image Remember, everyone: It's not normally a good thing to look in other people's diaries!

Image Though given that this is a magic one that popped up in our pocket… it's probably Shay's. Which is to say: ours.

Image Right! So this one time, it's fine.

Image

Double-clicking it opens up the journal interface, which has little musings on the events of the Morass plot. I'll transcribe them below, and add more as they unlock.
Chapter 1 wrote: Hekatonian Calendar Year 52

Angel of Death


Any story worth telling has an unexpected start.

We lost many lives the day the Anti-Magic Stone fell, and its destruction gave us our first glimpse of her new form.

She took on a spectral appearance as her body reformed before our very eyes. A sinister light surrounded her in a halo of darkness!

Terror overtook us, and many proclaimed this sight was an omen of disaster.

Years later, our worst fears became reality.
Chapter 2 wrote: Hekatonian Calendar Year 54
Orphan's Empathy


I've not heard the name Jean in quite some time. The last words that boy ever spoke to me still echo within my mind.

"If I had died in that accident… would anyone have missed me?"

As an orphan with no home or family, it seems his greatest fear was of being forgotten.

Perhaps his own circumstances sparked compassion for the girl within him.

But I could never be sure, and time has clouded my memory of him.
Image …Are we SURE sure this is Shay's journal?

Image Sure as anything else. Maybe as we see more we'll get more of his thoughts.

Image Mmm… it'd be nice to know what he's thinking, but I think more than anything else we HAVE to find Flying Fish again—er, Jean, I mean.

Image Oh, that reminds me: A researcher came by to see you. It seemed urgent… you may want to find him.

Image Right, I'll go track them down. Thanks for everything!

The researcher is just a little bit to the left.

Image
Image You're late. I looked for you everywhere. I was worried something might have happened.

Image The High Priest has arrived and gone straight to the observatory. Aren't you supposed to be there too?

Image (High Priest?)

Image Anyway, you should go see him.


We say yes, of course…

Image You've never met the High Priest before today, have you, Shey?

Image Not yet.


We fade to black here. It's cutscene time.

Image
Image Welcome. You must be tired from your journey.

Image

I don't have a portrait sprite for this guy with his hood up so, uh…

:question: I'm fine.

That should do.

Image Sir? What are you looking at?

Image
:question: I've never seen a bird fly that high.

Image Ah, yes sir. The birds in Kritias are known for that. I once heard a tale of a man who went blind from staring at the skies wishing to become one of them.

:question: It's a miracle that blindness was the worst of it.

Image What?


Image

We dramatically zoom in on the hooded High Priest…

Image
Image Humans have a remarkable stubbornness that defies even grievous injury.

…Oh. That's.



That's awkward. :ohdear:

User avatar
Previously, on Hekatonian Return; Magilia MAX Charge δ:

Image

Trapped in the past, Magilia takes over the body of Shay, a priest in Kritias, as she lives through Tana's past through his eyes.

Image
Image Humans have a remarkable stubbornness that defies even grievous injury.

However, her old enemy Arkarium returned unexpectedly as the High Priest of religion. Does he remember their previous battles (that totally happened)? Find out… now!

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Image Arkarium?!

Image
Arkarium the High Priest...

As a boy, he displayed remarkable devotion to the goddess, earning himself a coveted position high in her ranks.

It was a great honor to work with him.

However, I was never comfortable with his pessimism or stony expression.

Looking back, I know... he was truly cold-blooded.


Image

We get bubbled again, so it's time to go to a different time.

Image Ahh!

Image
Image If the High Priest was Arkarium…

Image Then Tana and Arkarium already knew each other. These two must be connected to the sealing of Kritias. But where are we? Is this Trueffet's dungeon? This place is creepy.


Image
Hekatonlan Year 54, Trueffet Dungeon

Magilia looks around, and heads deeper into the dungeon in search of Tana or Arkarium.

Image

It doesn't take very long to find one of them.

Image
Image Do you know who I am?

Image What do you mean?

Image No one remembers me. I remember no one. All I have is my name.

Image Wh-

Image But you... I know you. Aaagh!

Image She looks like she's in pain.

Image We're only testing whether we can transfer her regenerative power to others. The subject is fine. It's just a side effect of the daily experiments.

Image Daily?

Image Yes. If the experiment fails, the test recipients vanish, but her power enables her body to restore itself perfectly every time. She's barely even aware of it happening.

Image Isn‘t this inhumane?

Image Whatever she looks and acts like, she's not human. What you see is a shell formed by the power she possesses. She barely even exists at all. She experiences no emotion, desire, or memory.

Image But…

Image I'm not explaining this well. The notes in our Research Journal explain far better than I can. I‘ll get it for you.


Ya'll I'm beginning to believe that Kritias probably should have been destroyed.

Image
Image Hm, the Research Journal seems to be missing. One of our researchers recently had a bit of a scare in the lower dungeon. They must have dropped it there before they ran out.

Image The flickering torchlight in the corridor plays tricks on your eyes. Our rather flighty researchers tend to let their imaginations run away with them. After that last incident, I haven't been able to get any of them to go down there anymore. You're the only one left that will go down there. Would you look for the missing Journal entries?

Image Will do.

Image l have the entry for Hekatonian Year 53, Month 9, Day 18. It will be the most helpful, but you'll need the prior entries to get a proper understanding. You'll find them in either Shadowdance Hall 2 or 3.


Image

We once again move to the left to get things done. This leads to our first major problem inside the Morass.

Image

You see, Shadowdance Halls 2 and 3 are both very popular grinding maps at this stage in the game, and with so many Hyper Burning characters around they're busier than normal.

And it's still Rune Sunday, so grinding traffic is even higher than usual. I look for an open map to mob on.

Image

This takes quite some time.

Image What happened to "I haven't been able to get any of them to go down there anymore," huh?!

I could answer that question, but first we'd have to talk about parallel universes, and—

Image Oh, I already know all about that. Move backwards for twelve hours and go four at a time, right?

That's something else. Anyways, just ignore them—they don't matter.

Image Then can we take their map? I want to hunt.

We could, but that would make us the bad guys.

Image Phooey!

Image

Anyways, we eventually find a clear map and start beating up Blue Shadows to find research papers.

Image "Tricks on your eyes," huh? These aren't tricks at all…

Image We shouldn't trust anything the researchers say around here. You saw what they were doing to Tana.

Image

Our goal here is to find these little pages that the Blue Shadows drop. These are the papers. Picking them up does not advance our quest forward through any popup or anything else, because that alone doesn't finish the quest.

Image

That's because each of these papers are a usable item! We have to pick them up, use 'em, and hope it fills out our quest counter.

Image
Hekatonian Year 52, Month 3, Day 17

Subject No. 618.

They obtained a high-value subject to study the power of immortality. All prior attempts to harness the power failed.

Obtaining the power to heal even a pinprick could be the breakthrough necessary to eventually overcome death.

It is at once magnificent and terrifying.

We have only just begun the ascent to immortality.


Image (So they'd started researching immortality already…) I need to find more of that Research Journal.

As we finish reading, a second person shows up in our map. They quickly change channels, though, so it's fine—people actively and purposely stealing maps is relatively rare.

Image
Hekatonian Year 52, Month 5, Day 13

Memories and emotions seem to be tied to the body rather than the soul.

She lost much of herself when her physical body perished.

Now...

What remains is but an echo of the person she once was.

Image So, she lost her memories when she disappeared? I need to find more of that Research Journal.


Image Well we've got like, four more pages here? Might be all we need. Let's see.

Image Right, right.

Image
Hekatonian Year 53, Month 9, Day 17

A year of exhaustive research with No. 618 has revealed nothing to us.

I fear the clues we need may have been lost with her memories.

Even her own name is a mystery to her now.

My only chance is to risk more... extreme methods.

We must force the subject beyond her regenerative capacity.

Image (Beyond her capacity... But... won't that kill her?) This was written just before the day the researcher specified. I should keep looking.


Image
Hekatonian Year 53, Month 9, Day 18

The results of today's experiment were... shocking.

The subject went berserk and unleashed a flash of light just as it had done the day the anti-magic stone broke.

Six of our best researchers vanished without a trace.

Then she spoke to us.

My name is... Tana.

Her voice was so... calm.

Image (She looks like more than just a shell...)


Image I think that's enough information. Let's get moving, Magilia.

Image Oh… Right. Let's go.

Sure enough, reading those three reports lets us advance further in the questline.

Total Kills: 14,786

Image
Image Did you find the Journal?

Image Yes. Who wrote this?

Image The former High Priest. He resigned shortly after that incident. Here's what he put in his final entry.

Image
This is neither magic nor science.

It is beyond human; it is of the gods.

We have overstepped our bounds.


Oops!

Image What does he mean by that?!

Image That is why you're here. We needed you to bring in High Priest Arkarium.

Image Is that why Arkarium…

Image Sh! The high priest is coming this way.


Image
Image 35% damage to recipient due to rejection.

Image Regeneration rate 100%. Full restoration complete.

Image Success... for now.

Image Congratulations!

Image (Arkarium...) (Is he just a copy, from Tana's memory?) (Or is it the real Arkarium trapped in the morass with us?)


MORASS!!!

Image Increasing output.

Image Stop. Any more will tire the subject unnecessarily.

Image Understood.

Image We have finally made progress on the path to immortality. Our next step will be to prevent recipient rejection entirely. We must find a way to ensure Hekaton survives the transfer of power. That's enough for today. Good job, everyone.

Image
Image The high priest is exactly what we needed to progress.

Image If this continues, we may yet succeed on the day of Hekaton's Ascendancy.

Image (Hekaton‘s Ascendancy?)


Oh… I'm going to have to talk about Hekaton, aren't I.

Uh. After this cutscene.

Image Well done, everyone. Let's celebrate.

Image


Image

Okay then. Hekaton. Time for another round of everyone's favorite section of MapleStory the LP!

Image

So Hekaton and Kritias have come up before, starting all the way back in the MapleStory RED update from 2013. This update introduced Kritias to the playerbase, as a place that seemed to come from an entirely different era which the Black Mage wanted to invade for some reason. The current story of Kritias has our character going there to investigate, and getting wrapped up in a mystery trying to track down the princess. None of that is important to our story, because the important part is this guy:

Image

His name is Cantor, and while everyone else thinks the Black Mage was responsible for a magic pentacle over the city and thinks Hekaton was a good king who tried to evacuate all of the residents before the castle flew up into the sky, Cantor knows better.

Cantor has seen some shit.

He tells us all about Subject 618 (That's Tana!), and how he himself used to be a priest who saw all manner of terrible grotesque things come about as a result of Hekaton's experiments into immortality, so traumatized by it all that he is still shaking with fear. He reveals to us that Hekaton's attempt to become immortal failed, and this giant magic source attracted the attention of the Black Mage—and that 618 had vanished.

We also know what wound up happening to Hekaton, because he was introduced in KMS, JMS, and MSEA as a boss fight during the RED update.



His soul wound up merging with the castle of Kritias, to create a giant midair castle golem that up to 100 players could fight at a time. Doing this would give a number of coins and unique equipment, but the boss was poorly optimized and very few people actually participated so it was closed down. This means, of course, that it is not implemented in v251.

All this is to say, we are currently playing AS Cantor, whose original name is Shay, and reliving the events that led to Kritias getting flung into the future (which we should have already dealt with, but… Hat dimension).

We will not be leaving this traumatized, because while idols are weak to trauma and magical girls are neutral, dragons are naturally immune.

Image I thought you were here as a joke… How do you know all this stuff?

Because it's funnier if I do.

Image I'm not sure comedy works that way…

Anyways, let's take on our next quest.

Image
Image H-hi... Are you... okay? Are you in pain?

Image It is... unbearable.

Image How can you stand it? Don't you want to escape? Don't you hate the people doing this to you?

Image Hate? I don't understand... hate.

Image What do you mean? How is that possible?

Image
I'd never seen anything like her before.

Everything about her was dark, cold, and bleak, just like her prison.

The last thing I ever expected...

...was that a ray of hope would find its way into that place.


Image
Image What's that light?!

Image Shh! Hide! Now!

Image Flying Fish? Is that you?


Image

We run away offscreen, to ensure we don't get caught.

Image
Image Ooof! Ugh. That wasn't very stealthy...

…As Jean falls flat on his face. Graceful.

Image
Image Cough, cough... sputter... So, I guess this really is a dungeon.

Image (Jean?! What's Jean doing here?!)


Image
Image Hey, I remember you... Do you remember me? I‘m Jean. Jean the thief...? You saved me from that crystal... Who are you?

Image ...T-tana.

Image That's a pretty name. Nice to officially meet you, Tana. You don‘t seem like a big talker... You seem kind of sad, really. I don't blame you. This place just sucks the happy right out of you!

Image Sad? I... I don't know what... sad is.

Image Really? Must be nice.

Image (How did he get in here?)

Image
Image Hm... Uh... I don't think I can get you out of these chains. There's something strange about them. I'm sorry.

Though they had been reunited at last…

Image
Jean knew he couldn't rescue her from that terrible place.

But he returned every day after that, and did his best to keep her loneliness at bay.

Image I thought you might be bored so I brought you a book... Can I read it for you?

Image Bored…

Image
Image ...What does it mean to be bored?

Image Being bored is well... um… You know what? It's not important. Why don't I iust start reading? A long time ago, in a kingdom far, far away, there was a beautiful princess who was held captive on a magical island...

Image
Image Are you hungry? I brought bread for you…

He was so determined… so dedicated.

Jean did everything in his power to help Tana.

Image
Every day Jean came back to see her again.

But Tana remained distant.

There was no way to tell what effect his visits had.


Image

Image Aww… that was really cute! Except for the part where Tana's still being tormented for weird magic experiments.

Image I have a feeling the story won't stay cute for very long…

Image I know. It wouldn't be showing up here if it wasn't related to Tana's fear.

Image
Image His majesty is growing impatient.

Image What should we do? We can't minimize the rejection value… Have we exhausted even the high priest's abilities?

Image What's going on?

Image We're preparing for an unscheduled experiment. Could you gather some materials?

Image Will do.

Image I need some of that Red Reagent in either Shadowdance Hall 3 or 4.


Image

It takes us five different channels to find an empty one, but we get right to work beating up the Red Shadows to take their stuff.

Image

The stuff drops directly from them, already-captured inside a vial. Because these maps are very good for farming, once we find one that's open it doesn't take very long to grab all we need.

Image

Like so.

Total Kills: 14,982

Image Let's get these back to that researcher. I've got a bad feeling about this…

Image
Image Auughhh!

Image
Image (What are they doing to her?!)

Image Rejection is nearing critical.

Image Has she reached her regenerative capacity yet?

Image
Image This is the girl that will bring me immortality?


Please note that, despite all appearances, Hekaton is not yet a giant castle golem.

Image
Image (What is King Hekaton doing here?)

Image Y-your majesty…


Image

Hekaton steps towards Tana.

Image You disappoint me, Arkarium. Your progress in these experiments has been far too slow. Raise the intensity.

Image But, your majesty, the rejection levels…

Image Do not question your king! Raise the intensity!

Image ...As you command.

Image
Image R-rejection is rising!


The screen starts shaking here.

Image Aauuughh…

Image We‘re losing control!

Image We must stop the experiment, your majesty! Stand back!

Image Do not stop the experiment!

Image Nnngh!

Image RUN!


Image

The researchers book it as an explosion starts from whatever they're doing to Tana. The screen fades to white, and then…

Image
Image T-that was a close call.

Image ls his majesty safe?


Image

Something's up with Hekaton, as a blue spirit version of his body wavers out of him before disappearing back inside his form.

Image The king's body… How did he survive? Is he even human?

Image Arkarium.. the day of my planned ascendancy approaches.

Image I…

Image Use any means necessary to ensure it is a success. If you fail me again… You may not live long enough to regret it.

Image
Image Why can't we find the solution?

Image It doesn't matter. This is the last time we'll ever be in this horrible place. The test subject will vanish regardless of whether the King‘s Ascendancy succeeds or fails tomorrow.

Image I…

Image (The book... What's in the journal?)


Image

We have a third chapter all of a sudden.
Chapter 3 wrote: Hekatonian Calendar Year 54

Hekaton the Benevolent


That is how the people of Kritias saw their king. His strength, wisdom, and compassion
surpassed even his extraordinary knowledge of magic. Under his brilliant leadership, Kritias entered into its grand renaissance.

But as the city flourished, the king became weak and frail with age. His once great mind
became warped by fear, and his benevolence turned to cruelty.
Image What's there to be frightened of? He grew up and made a great kingdom the whole time. He's got a whole legacy, and all the glory you could ever want. If he was me, I'd be level 300 by now.

Image That's just it, though. Everything runs smoothly because he's still alive. So if he dies… what's going to happen to Kritias? People get terrified enough about death already, even without a kingdom on the line.

Image You think so..? I always figured I'd just become a spirit like you.

Image Hahaha… Well, who can say?

Image Mm… But Tana…

Image
Image (She looks the same as before. It's like the experiment didn't happen.)

Image
Image So Hekaton is forcing Arkarium to perform these doomed experiments over and over.

Image Yes, that last one revealed Hekaton for the monster he truly was.

Image Flying Fish?

Image Shh, he's coming. This is important.

Image
Image How have you been Tana?

Image You don‘t need to come anymore.

Image Why? What's wrong?

Image The book... I‘m... tired of it now. I've lost interest... Please stop coming here.

Image I don't believe you.

Image
Image This is the last time we'll ever be in this horrible place.

Image The test subject will vanish regardless of whether the King's Ascendancy succeeds or fails tomorrow.


Image
Image Vanish…

Image Tana?

Image Not... human... vanish…


Image
Image Auauughhhh.

The screen once again begins to shake under the force of Tana's power.

Image Tana? Tana!

Image It hurts... please... stop…

Image Calm down. It's me. It's Jean. You're going to be okay.

Image Stay back...lf you get caught…

Image Stay back, Jean!! She can't be stopped now!

Image No! Shh! It's not time to get involved yet. Jean survived until the day of the invasion.

Image How is she doing it?!

Image
Image Vanish... Was that... what I wanted?

Image Why…

Image It's okay, Tana. It's okay…

Image No!


Image
Image It's okay, Tana. I'm here.

Image I mean it, it's okay! I'll always be by your side, because... because I need you as much as you need me. And you know it. Let's always stick together.

Image Stay... back! I don't want to hurt you!

Image
Image Did she just... stop the transformation?

Image Jean…

Image I'll protect you.

Image I… I'm... fine now.

Image You are?

Image
Image I'm glad.

Image I… You can't keep coming back here. It's not safe.

Image But… You don't know how the story ends! The princess is rescued by a brave knight!

Image No! You‘re not a knight.

Image And you're not a princess, but that's not stopping me.

Image

Image
Image I may not be a real knight, but you're my princess. I'll find a way to save you.


Morass: A better love story than Twilight.

Image ...

Image (She... she smiled!)

Image
Her smile warmed my heart more than I knew was possible.

I would have loved to see the two of them smiling forever.

But fate can be cruel.

Sometimes I think it all had a purpose.

Each story, each person…

individual, but working together like cogs in a machine.

The final product was slowly taking shape.

And it appeared in an unbelievable form.


Image

User avatar
Image The escape failed in the end.

Image How?

Image
Image More than that, it triggered the fall of Kritias.

Image But that means I have to…

Image Help Jean successfully escape. Change the story. It's the only way to draw out Tana's consciousness. And... oh…

Image What's wrong?

Image It's time. Soon, I too will become trapped in the morass of Tana's memory.


MORASS!!!

Image What? But you won't be able to talk anymore!

Image If you ever want to escape, you must complete this task.

Image Wait! I need more to go on than that!

Image Don't worry. In this place, there's always another chance… always a backup plan.

Image What? How do you know for sure? Hey! Flying Fish! Wait!

Image
Hekatonlan Year 54, Trueffet, Abandoned Area


Time to get back to work.

Image Hmm... Why did you want to meet me here again?

Image You're not suspicious of me, are you?

Image Suspicious? Me? No.

Image Be careful. It's dangerous this late at night.

Image Hmph! I am Jean the thief, master of darkness. I'm the last person you need to worry about.

Image
Image Ah!


The screen shakes and Jean winds up stumbling forward slightly.

Image I told you to be careful. Look, I'm helping you, because the whole of Kritias is at stake if the King's Ascendancy goes wrong.

Image Hmm... take it from a thief. Nobody helps anybody for no reason at all. And anyway, Tana is special. This is really important.

Image Don't you think I already know that?

Image
Image You don't understand. It's more than Kritias at stake.


I just had to get this face. :kimchi:

Image...What?

Image Look, I have a special gift for her, but somehow I managed to lose it. Could you help me find it first?

Image I thought you were preparing to escape! (Hm, the journal is glowing again. Has another entry appeared in it? Better take a look.)


Image

This one is a two-pager. Lots to cover, apparently!
Chapter 4 wrote: Hekatonian Calendar Year 54

Dire Repercussions


The most terrifying part of that dungeon wasn't the shadows cast by the flickering torches.

It was the sounds echoing through its halls... the low, guttural moans, the endless pounding on the thick iron door. Enduring the constant sound of despair and agony issuing from beneath our feet was enough to drive anyone mad.

After exhaustive research, I finally discovered the shocking
truth behind it.

We had been conducting experiments to see if we could transfer the girl's power of immortality to another test subject. But the recipient‘s body always rejected the magic. Every one of our attempts failed, and each time they did, the recipient vanished.

We thought nothing of it until the day a researcher went downstairs to retrieve supplies and discovered the horrifying byproducts of our work.

It was only then that I realized… The test subjects' bodies may have been destroyed, but their souls... their souls remained. What we found in the dungeon were their vain attempts to reform bodies they could never again inhabit.

The horror of what we had done was sickening. We had no choice but to seal the dungeon and turn a deaf ear to the tormented souls hidden below.

But Hekaton was relentless… bordering on inhuman… and the experiments continued for years. How many lives did we doom to an eternity of suffering?
Image Woah. We are definitely the bad guys.

Image They were the bad guys, Magilia. You haven't done anything wrong.

Image A dragon-punch to the face would have at least made things a little better for people, though.

Image Woulda'. Shame we weren't around back then for real.

Image Right. For now, I'll help Jean as much as I can.

Image I think I dropped it somewhere here.

Image What is it that you dropped exactly?

Image It's just... something Tana would like. I got distracted and dropped it somewhere around here.

Image Is it jewelry or what?

Image Sort of…

Image (Why is he being so weird about it?) (And what would Tana want with jewelry?) One of these monsters must have taken it.

Image Oh! Well, you're really strong. Do you think you could get it?

Image Yeah. I-I think so.


Image

Our enemies this time, the Experiments Gone Wrong, are even more solidly in the 2shot category than the shadows were. They're still not much of a threat to us, however.

Image

Our goal is this pendant with a lowish drop rate.

Total Kills: 15,020

But hey, new milestone! :toot:

Image
Image Got it! So... it was a necklace!

Image Perfect!

Image Wait a minute... this looks like an anti-magic stone fragment. Ah!


Image

We fumble it, and Jean barely catches the thing.

Image Whoa! That was close. Be careful! Don't you remember the last time one of these broke? Shatter this, and every living thing nearby will disappear without a trace.

Image Why are you carrying something so dangerous?!

Image Anything worth having comes with a little risk. The more beautiful and special something is, the more dangerous... just like Tana.

Image Well, you ought to be more careful.

Image Let's get moving. The next place we need to go is in the Abandoned Area. I'll go first.


This is well and good, but there's one problem.

Image

All four of these map nodes are called Abandoned Area. We are in the Abandoned Area right now.

The one we need is Abandoned Area 3, which we could get to by just running to the right… but I warp there instead because :effort:

Image
Image You're quicker than I thought!

Image Yeah, sure. So what's your plan?

Image Simple. We unchain Tana then quickly use the anti-magic stone to get outside. They drop the magical barrier over the castle when they perform their experiments.

Image That barrier really exists?

Image Yeah. If it wasn‘t for that, I could have gotten her out a long time ago.

Image And then what?

Image Well, the guards will be hot on our tail, so I've already got a getaway vehicle ready.

Image You do?

Image Of course. I've been planning this for a really long time.

Image Well, you've thought this through more than I expected.

Image I had to.

Image Okay, well, how do we make this happen?

Image The only thing we still need is the key to unchain her! I know there's an extra one hidden here in the Abandoned Area. I‘ll unlock the door to the next area while you distract the monsters. I can get it unlocked in the time it takes you to defeat about 200 of them.


Image Hunting time. Don't worry, I got this.

Image

Next up is 200 Big Experiments Gone Wrong. They're like normal EGWs, but… big.

Still a 2-shot.

Image

To speed things up, I use Spotlight. The song might not be correct, but this is still a very good skill to clear out a large number of mobs in a very short amount of time.

Image If the song being wrong bothers you so much, why don't you just fix it yourself?

Because I tried, but I need something to talk about when we're in The Grind so I haven't brought that up yet.

Image Uh-huh. And when is this grind?

You'll know it when you see it.

Image

This is all still just plot. The grind has not even started.

Total Kills: 15,250

Image
Image All right. We're all set. Now let's go get the key. Head to Abandoned Area 4.

Image

It is, of course, to the right.

Image
Image I'm curious about something.

Image Hmm?

Image How'd you get into the dungeon?

Image Did you leave the note about the secret passage?

Image Note? Ah… (Maybe Shey left it?)

Image What?

Image Y-yeah. I left that note. How did you know?

Image It said... Use your sneaking for more than stealing wallets.

Image
Image Don't come any closer! I'll activate the shield magic.


Image
Image Arkarium?!

Image Oh no!

Oh, hi Arkarium. I was wondering when you were going to throw a wrench in this plan.

Image
Image Calm down. I'm here to help.

…Oh. Nevermind then, carry on.

Image
Image How did you know we were here?!

Image I noticed you sneaking in ages ago. I found it... curious. Shey, I understand. No. 618-- I mean, Tana doesn't deserve this.

Image You're lying! There's no way you could have hurt her like that if you had any compassion!

Image Didn't you know? Our success or failure depends entirely on her.

Image How?

Image If Tana refuses to share her power with us, there's nothing we can do to force her. Hekaton will figure that out soon enough. I fear what he will do to her when he does.

Image No!

Image That's why we need to get her out now.

Image Why should we believe you?

Image Yeah. You've been leading this experiment.

Image What's in it for you?

Image You know so very little about this place.

Image (Wait, is he stuck in the morass too?)


MORASS!!!

Image As a Guardian of Time, I can see some events before they unfold. I don't know how, but Hekaton will soon unleash horrors upon us all. So, I chose this human form in order to thwart him. Take the key.

Image Jean!


Image
Image Shey, our only chance of succeeding is to trust him.

Arkarium isn't lying here, for the record. At least, not about being a Guardian of Time. He can kinda see the future. It's part of why he was a boss fight we had in order to unseal the Goddess of Time, who he's also a little obsessed with.

But I digress, it's time for a scene transition!

Image
Image Keep in mind, once the Ascendancy process begins, you cannot stop it.

Image Tana, if you transfer your power to Hekaton, your body won't survive.

Image Am I going to vanish?

Image If the Ascendancy succeeds... yes. If it fails, your body will recover immediately but... You'll be trapped forever in an endless loop of disintegration and reconstitution. It would mean endless pain for you.

Image I... understand.

Image That's why it is imperative that you remain focused. Keep your mind intact. You cannot fail.

Image I believe in you, Tana. You can do this. And don't worry. Jean the thief always has a backup plan.

Image
Arkarium spoke the truth.

I, too, have a Guardian of Time's vision.

I cannot fully see the future but... I see the cogs.

...Tana, Jean, Hekaton, Arkarium…

The future they will create holds no tragedy.

Image
Image

Image In the end, Shey was wrong. The King's Ascendancy failed. The future he saw didn't happen. But... What did he miss?

Image
Image The magical seal is ready.

Image Test subject is stable. We're ready. We will begin the Ascendancy process shortly. Are you ready?


Image Umm….. Yes.

Image
Image (The escape will fail, but why...)

Image (Looks like I‘ve got no choice but to let things unfold for now.) (There's at least one difference between me and Shey. l have the power to change the outcome.)


:hellyeah:

Image I'm here, Shey.

Image
Image You're late. What were you doing?

Image The hero always makes it in the nick of time. Oh…

Image What‘s wrong?

Image That mark on your head, it‘s getting darker.

Image Mark?

Image The one from your note. A purple eye.

Image The purple eye from... it can't be.


Image

Image

Uh-oh.

Image
Image Is there a problem, Magilia?

Image
Image Arkarium?!


Image Just offscreen! I should have known…

Image How did it go, now? Horses and carts… in a bubble bubble!

Image Those aren't the right words at all—!

Image
Image Be quiet. Things are about to get interesting.

Image Arkarium! It was you all along!

Image Did you really think a Guardian of Time would ever become lost in the past?


Image I have no idea what that is! We just met twenty minutes ago!

Image Yes, well, that Kaiser boy wouldn't shut up about how amazing your streams were. I feel like I know you quite well as a result.

Image
Image I'll set you free, Tana.

Image I'm leaving now?

Image Yes! Right now.

Image Jean! No! It's a trap!

Image Huh? The key... It's not working.

Image Yes, right about now… I made Shey interrupt things back then… But I'll do it for him this time.

Image Arkarium! Stop!

Image Intruder!

Image What?! But they‘ll see me!


Image
Image Hmm?!

It turns out Dark Sight, the signature ability of thief classes in maplestory, can be broken by someone just pointing out that you're there.

Thief classes are still somehow incredibly popular despite this. :shrug:

Image Arkarium, is this the key you spoke of?

Image
Image What is the meaning of this?


Hekaton pounds his staff against the ground, and the room shakes.

Image
Image Remove him! And make sure he regrets meddling in things he doesn't understand.

Image

The soldiers don't just drag him off, striking Jean instead.

Image Oh!

Image
Image Tana…

Image Y-yes…

Image I failed you. I'm sorry. I wasn't... good enough...

Image Jean...?

Image I‘m sorry, princess... for breaking... my promise… I can't be your knight... after all.


Image

Jean shuts his eyes, and becomes unresponsive. He got the snot clobbered out of him, after all.

Image
Image Rejection is at 0%! It worked!

Image It worked?

Image
Image The shock of Jean's appearance was just what we needed to weaken the subject's willpower.

Image How could you?!

Image I'll admit I had a penchant for theatrics back then. But I accomplished our goals just the same.

Image
Image Jean!!

Image I can feel it... the power is growing.

Image Your majesty. He's still breathing. We may be able to save him…

Image The peasant doesn't matter. Get rid of him.

Image
I wasn't a knight in a fairytale.

But I was still determined to save Tana.

I promised to stay at her side.

If the process is interrupted…

She could suffer forever.

But that won't happen. This will work.


Image

Even if she forgets me after this.

New memories can be created…

Better memories... together.


Image
Image Jean…

Image Hahahaha. Behold my power as l ascend to divinity!

Image I must end this. I'll forget, but... we can make new memories. We'll be together. Somehow.

Image
Image Is that... the anti-magic stone?!

Image No! Tana! You'll be in pain forever if you stop the process now! She can't!


Image

And with a single QTE…

Image

We crack the bubble open a fair amount.

Image
Image My pain doesn't matter.

Image Hekaton…

Image
Image If I must endure endless pain to stop you, so be it.


Image

And so, Tana shatters the anti-magic stone with her teeth.

Image

We get a bright white screen, as the explosion from before happens once again. And when the world fades back in…

Image
Image No! What have you done?

Tana is gone, and everything is shaking.

Image
Image What's happening? Arkarium!

The king's blue spirit thingy is starting to move out of his body again, as well.

Image
Image This is what I hadn‘t anticipated. I wasn't aware the crystal could have such an effect.

Image The moment that crystal broke, the Ascendancy failed.

Image What could you possibly gain from doing this?!

Image I told you. I knew this would fail, but I wanted to know how it failed. And now I do.

Image You're insane!

Image As I said all those years ago… Humans can be stubborn even to the point of their own destruction.

Image You're as much of a monster as Hekaton!


Image And that's all you'll be seeing. Goodbye.


Image

Unfortunately for Arkarium, we pre-cracked the bubble so Magilia's able to just bust her way out.

Image
What I didn't consider…

The one flaw in the plan…

Was my own imperfection.


Image

Image What the-?! Where did Arkarium go?! What's with all these uh… what ARE they?

Image I think they're you, but with your spirit leaking and corrupt?

Image Well… that would never happen. Let's get out of here!

Image

Image Oh… and let's beat these things up as we go? They're kinda creepy.

Image I hear ya'.

Once we beat them up (there are 3, they do not really exist, I do not count them as kills), we can leave through a portal that appears.

Image
Image Is it over?

We come back to a room that's been cleared out of everyone except Jean.

Image Cough... No, not yet. Magilia.

Image Jean?! You're alive!

Image It's me... Flying Fish…

Image What? How?!

Image I told you there would be another chance. I gained useful information by entering Jean's consciousness, but for a while, I lost myself.

Image Are you okay?

Image As the will of Erda, my consciousness isn't as fragile as yours, however this new form is much more cumbersome. But you must go to the tower. There's one more magic seal. Arkarium will have taken Tana there to try stealing her power one last time. Go. I'll be right behind you.


Image

It's time to get out of here and go see about this last magic seal.

Don't worry, you haven't missed anything—this is the first time any of us have heard about it.

Image Oh, good, I was starting to wonder when that came up.

Image

We emerge in the middle of, uh…

Upheaval. That's a good word for it.

Image
Image So that's what happened. In the end, Hekaton gained the immortality he sought, but at a terrible price.

If you look in the background, it's possible to see his face already kind of taking shape among the castle ruins.

Image Never had there been such darkness and despair in the world as the day Kritias fell. And Shey was helpless to change any of it.

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In that moment, I could feel the flow of time like never before.

All of Kritias was swept away like a fallen leaf in a rushing river.

I wondered briefly if the Goddess Rhinne had done it.

But the aura wasn't of the Goddess.

My intuition told me it was something more sinister.

A great darkness awaited us.

Image
Image So... Jean said to go right.

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Image
Image Oh, the journal's glowing again. Another of Shey's entries must have appeared.

Before we get on with heading to the right, let's take a peek at the journal.

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Chapter 5 wrote: Hekatonian Calendar Year 54

Shattered Kingdom


When I finally came to my senses, it was far too late. The whole of Kritias was nearly obliterated in the aftermath of Hekaton's failed ritual. What‘s more, the resultant time disruption was forcing the doomed kingdom into the future.

It was then that the Black Mage discovered Tana's existence and invaded Kritias. A burst of magic that intense could never have gone unnoticed.

Ironically, Hekaton regained his humanity only as the failed experiment began to destroy his
body. He spent his final moments evacuating the people of Trueffet

The memory of those lost will forever haunt me.
Image And then he went on to go right back to trying to beat people up… it's really tragic.

Image Eh, that's royals for you. If they don't die young, they go off like an orange you left on the counter.

Image I didn't think it was possible to leave an orange sitting around that long. They're so delicious.

Image

We use some sick parkour and our grappling hook to make our way over to the right. This is another of those maps with pits, falling will send us back a bit.

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Image The soldiers…! Are they being dragged into the disruption?!

We are immediately thrust into an instanced fight, where we get to beat up soldiers and move from left to right.

Image
Image They're disintegrating.

Image It must be because of that Ascendancy ritual.

Image This is really dangerous… we've got to hurry to the right!

The monsters here come in several types, and because they're all several levels higher than us they take a few hits each. These maps are all very large and spread out, so we're running all over the place to find them all before we can move on.

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Image What's happening to their weapons? Better finish them all off. The fewer enemies protecting Arkarium, the better.

These Thralled enemies are the last of the enemy groups we can locate on the Morass map, so we're approaching the climax of the area.

Image

Total Kills: 15,304

Image That's everyone. Let's get moving.

Image Hurry!!

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We come upon the scene of the final seal, where Arkarium and a bunch of guards are still surrounding Tana. Everything is shaking, of course.

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Image Arkarium!

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Image Magilia, you arrived more quickly than I expected.

Image What are you doing?!

Image My past self thought that girl's only power was eternal youth and immortality. But the Great One revealed to me that it was far more than that. It is the power to manipulate Erda, the source of life! It's amazing!

Image No…


This explains why Tana's mere presence back in Arcana made everything go to shit. She doesn't have any control over herself, so just being in the presence of Erdas makes them go wonky.

Image
Image Yes, and now I'm going to steal that power.

Image I will achieve vast magical knowledge and gain immortality. That shell of a human isn't worthy of the Great One's favor.

Image Stop!

Image No... please... Auugh!

Image Yes! Embrace your anger!


Image
Image (You must defeat Arkarium quickly!)

And now, here at the top of everything, it's time for another Arkarium boss fight!

Image It's all or nothing! Lock in, Angelic Buster!

Image Right!!

Image
Image Stop this!

The boss fight isn't like Arkarium's actual boss fight, as our main job here is actually to just survive until the timer at the top is completed.

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Our attacks are damage limited to 100, and Arkarium fires off little snake pillars that do damage.

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Image It's too late, hahaha! Every moment of her rage brings me closer to ultimate power!

He also summons his snake minions (already dead in this image) and uses bigger snake pillars as well.

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Lastly, he has this bullshit right here.

Oh, I guess this is the first time it's come up, isn't it. Enhance.

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This. Fucking. Icon. It is one of the many things that denotes Old MapleStory boss design. This little icon right here denotes that the boss has a Damage Reflection buff. Bosses in older Maple content will sometimes just have abilities that add this on to them quietly, so we have to constantly keep an eye on the bar of buffs over their head to see it. If they do, we get to stop attacking entirely. If we don't, or if we miss it? Then every single attack we make against them will do no damage and instead will hit us for a massive chunk of our health.

Image

Because I did not know they were still using this trashpile technique at this point in Maple's development history, I didn't even think to look for it and die horribly.

Rude.

Image You're telling me. I don't want to be a ghost!

Image You should have thought of THAT before you ran right into my anti-punching spell!

Anyways, we respawn and have to do the fight again.

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This time, I do not hold back.

Image Gah…! Too much… pink! Why is this song so damned catchy?!

Image It's my time now, Arkarium! You won't get away with this any more!

Image

This also lets us see another problem with MapleStory. For the entirety of my time playing Magilia, I'll be doing so with opacity all the way up. This lets us see all of her incredibly well-designed skills each time we use them.

It also ensures we cannot see a single goddamn thing on the screen. Most players play with the transparency slider set to maximum just so they can see what the boss is doing.

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Anyways he does the reflection again and we die.

Image And then you notice he's doing it and we win, right?

Image

God no. I get cocky and stand on a snake pot and then he does his normal attack and we die. Again.

Image OH COME ON!! I am getting really tired of this—!

Image Once more unto the breach, Angelic Buster!!

Image Right… here goes..!

Image

This time, I wind up falling off the platform dodging attacks, landing on the field with the symbol in full view over Arkarium's head.

Image Hoo, so you aren't going to kill yourself off this time?

Image No way! This time… This time, you're going down, Arkarium!!

Image

I then proceed to continue punching Arkarium, because I had thought Nexon had stopped using Damage Reflection in bosses several years before Morass was made and still wasn't looking! :bang:

Image Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.

Image You were saying?

Image

In the end, I just heal faster than I can kill myself and we finally get through the Damage Reflection part of the fight.

Image BRAAAAAGH!!!

Image No… this can't be! I… You mean to tell me that I…

Image Lose?! Darn skippy!

Image You mean to tell me that I have to try?

Image BORF!

Image
Image It's useless to struggle.

We are unceremoniously defeated during a scene transition once the timer is over.

Image NO! Snap out of it Tana…

Image

Image Ah… argh!

The screen shakes violently once again, focused entirely on Tana.

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Tana!

Tana!

Snap out of it!!

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Image Jean...?

Image
Image It's okay, Tana. I'm here.

Image It can‘t be... argh. You were...

Image It's me!

Image But how?

Image I told you I'd always be at your side.

Image Jean…

Image Everything will be okay.

Image
Image Why is it stopping?!

Image Arkarium… I can... control the Erda. I can stop you!

Image You can try to stop me all you want, but your pitiful understanding of the Erda is nothing compared to my power!


Image

"You might only be able to alter the basic foundation of life itself, but that doesn't mean anything to me, a living person made of it!!" -Arkarium, basically.

Image Ohh… it's buttkick time, huh?

Image Yeah. Let's watch the fireworks. We've earned it.

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In an instant, Arkarium's entire cohort of enemies are gone.

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Tana's not done yet, though. There's an old man to murder.

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Image What? N-no! NO! Aaaaaaahh!

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And just like that, Arkarium is blown to smithereens.

Image Thank goodness he didn't think to use his damage reflection.

Image
Image Is it... over?

Image You're not Jean, are you?

Image No. This body was formed from memories like everything else in the morass.


MORASS!!!!

Image I'm sorry.

Image It's not your fault.

Image What happens now?

Image The Black Mage will find us soon.

Image Black Mage?!

Image Yes. He's aware of Tana's existence now that she's learned how to control her power. He seeks to seal Kritias, removing it from the normal flow of time. If he does, she'll be trapped. He'll only release her when he knows he can use her power for his own purposes.

Image Then why did his forces attack Kritias?

Image To prevent her being discovered before he's ready. There will always be evidence of her somewhere in Kritias... a document, an eyewitness. We should leave right away. The Black Mage in the memory won't be as powerful as the real thing, but it's still incredibly dangerous here. Now that the morass is deteriorating, we'll be able to escape.


Image

Everything starts shaking, as the bubbles rise up to show the MORASS!!!! is losing coherence…

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Magilia finally comes to outside of the false Kritias. We've escaped with Flying Fish-Jean.

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Image Magilia! Are you awake?

Image Ugh... yeah. I guess we're finally out. But your form…

Image Looks like I'm stuck as Jean.

Image What about Tana?

Image She must have been dropped somewhere else.

Image Oh no! We have to persuade her to-

Image Impossible.

Image What?

Image You still don't understand her purpose. Only one thing can end her pain, and I'm afraid that is-

Image Destroying the world?!

Image Yes.

Image Are you telling me this was all for nothing?!

Image There's a bigger problem… Hang on. What's in my pocket?

Image Isn't that an Arcane Symbol?


While the two talk…

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Image If they intend to thwart the Black Mage, I should stop them now.

Tana watches from just offscreen, where no one can see her.

Image
Image Hmm…

Image

Rather than killing us, she just walks off instead. Cool!

Image
Image Not... yet…

Meanwhile, in the Morass, Arkarium isn't finished yet.

Image I'm sure the Great One will appear soon. The Goddess Rhinne‘s power will allow him to travel to the past.

Image
Image He will restore my power…


He's looking a bit ghostly, though.

Image
Image Oh! B-black Mage!

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The Black Mage does not ever actually speak in MapleStory, with all of his dialogue coming in the form of these red text overlays. While I will be having him speak with a normal icon, please keep this in mind.

Image Arkarium…

Image G-great One! Please give me another chance…

Image I am not the one you seek. The Black Mage commanded me to relay this message to you.

Image Huh?

Image You have done well. Rest.

Image Aaahhh!


Image

We hear a thunk, and the screen goes to black.

We do not see Arkarium again in MapleStory. He died as he lived, an asshole obsessed with powers significantly beyond him.

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Image Trueffet didn't disappear like we expected. The morass is still intact.

MORA—

Image Come on, we're almost done here! You don't have to yell "Morass" anymore!!

Image Yes, you've done well, but it seems I still have more to do. This won't be easy.

Image Hmm?

Image This body makes it harder to follow the Black Mage.

Image What?

Image I didn‘t expect I'd turn out like this.

Image But…

Image I'll return to the morass and find a solution. I changed while I was there, so if there's a way to change back, that‘s where I'll find it. Once I've done that, I can keep working to stop the Black Mage. Thank you for all that you've done. If I ever need your help again, I'll find you.

Image So that's it for now. At least we discovered what happened with Tana, Arkarium, and King Hekaton all those years ago. But what happened to Shey? Ah, the joumal is glowing again. Maybe the last entry has appeared.

Image Find me if you lose that journal. I can make another inside the morass.


....morass!

Image Mrrrgh.

Image
Chapter 6 wrote: Hekatonian Calendar Year 54

Atonement


So many lives ended with Kritias's demise. How could I remain a priest after being party to such heinous acts?

So I exiled myself...

I intend to spend what remains of my life atoning. I know it is impossible, and I will forever be consumed with sorrow, but it is the only fate I deserve.
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And that's the Morass plot! It's a little bit out-of-nowhere with the Tana stuff, but it actually wound up being just the right length for an Arcane River plot. We've gotten our Arcane Symbol, everything that needed to happen happened, and we can finally move on—

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Image Magilia! Can you hear me?

Image Huh? Flying Fish?

Image l have something important to tell you! Talk to me right away!


Image Umm… I'm standing right here?

Image Oh. Right! Well then! I‘m glad you're here, Magilia. I've been waiting.

Image What's wrong, Flying Fish?

Image Call me Jean. It makes no sense to call me Flying Fish anymore.

Image Uh... okay. Jean! Did you find a way to get your old body back?

Image Not yet. Her power really affected me. it'll take time for me to regain my old form. For now, I'm just going to store my power. But we have a problem.

Image What kind of problem?

Image Jean's memories are starting to overwhelm me. The longer I stay here, the faster I lose my own identity. I got trapped in the Morass. l'm slowly becoming a part of it.


—Is what I would be saying, if we weren't still STUCK IN THE MORASS!!!!

Image What?!

Image If it keeps up like this, I will cease to exist as Flying Fish. I'll end up spending the rest of my days here, as Jean…

Image *gasp*

Image ...Ahaha! Just kidding! You can relax!

Image (Hrm... He was a lot less annoying when he was still the Flying Fish.)

Image I will say, this place is having some kind of strange effect on me. It's not a huge deal, but I'm sure it isn't good for me to stay here much longer.

Image Is there something that I can do?

Image Well… If there's a way to turn me back into myself somewhere in the Swamp of Memory…

Image
Image My memories will stabilize for awhile if I absorb Memory Sliver items. They're known for gathering and clarifying scattered memories.

Image Could you gather some Memory Sliver items so I can keep myself out of the Swamp of Memory?

Image Sure, just let me know where to find them.

Image Memory Sliver items can be found on every monster in Morass. I think 30 will be enough.

Image Alright, sit tight! I'll be back before you know it.


Image

Image Alright. Back to hunting cats.

This is really my main problem with Morass as a whole. It overstays its welcome for no discernible reason, making us do errands well after it's given us our new Arcane Symbol before we can get to our new dailies or even unlock the next area.

Image Oh it can't be THAT bad, right? Just another couple of quests and we're out of here.

You'd think… but I still have over 20 minutes of footage left.

Image Wait. How long have we already spent here?

Just under an hour, which is about as long as any of the other areas have taken so far.

Image …Huh. I guess we really ARE stuck in the Morass.

morass!!!!

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Okay, we still have some Morassing to do, and we're starting by beating up cats because they have a history of hoarding shiny things.

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Image Hah! I knew they'd be carrying these things.

Image That Jean guy did say they'd drop from any enemy…

Image Right. So then, what matters is who drops most. And these guys took my money, so they love shiny things. It makes sense!

Image Mmm… Say, Tear. Are you okay with everything? It seems like stuff got really heavy all of a sudden.

Image Huh? Should I not be fine?

Image It's just, all that stuff you saw…

Image The stakes have been high this entire time, but the solution hasn't changed: Find the biggest baddest guy on the other team and punch their lights out! If that doesn't fix it, punch the next one down. Eventually it'll fix everything.

Image Heh… I knew I made the right choice.

Image I thought you didn't HAVE a choice.

Image Hey, I coulda' just said nothing. That was a choice.

Image Well… I'm glad you didn't.

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Total Kills: 15,430

Image Would you look at that. It didn't take long at all. We can get back to the Jean and get everything set right.

Image Yeah! We're way ahead of schedule so…

Image

Image One quick detour should be fine. I've earned a good hunt.

I head into a Pollo portal (first mentioned in Hat Time), because they're ultimately decent EXP and it happened to spawn at the right time.

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There are a few different types of Pollo portals, and today we got the Tower Defense one. There are two levels, with the arrows on the screen serving as quick up/down portals by us pressing up on them.

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The mobs run from left to right on top, and right to left on bottom. If they get to the end, we lose 1 life of our 20, and if all 20 are lost the mission ends. Round 1 is a bunch of mandrake enemies, including one boss.

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Round 2 is Bears. The strategy is the same in every round: Spam Celestial Roar on the bottom floor until the top floor enemies get too close, pop up, kill them, pop back down.

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Round 3 is Dragons, and there are two boss monsters this time.

Image Celestial Roar?

Celestial Roar.

Image Feel it in your heart!

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Total Kills: 15,498

Once done, we come back to this night sky and then we talk to Pollo to head back to wherever we were. We've gone from 79.4% to 80.7% from this portal alone... while these portals do fall off later in the game, they're fairly powerful for now.

Image Thanks for the good hunting! Byeee~

We head back to Trueffet Square to turn in the shards to Jean next, we've kept him waiting for long enough already.

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Image Did you gather all of the Memory Sliver items I need?

Image Sure did. Here ya go!

Image

The shards are infused into Jean in order to stabilize his memory.

Image Ah... that's definitely helping. If you find any more, I'd appreciate them. I wish I could explain this feeling to you... It's like that buzz you get from an energy drink, except on a galactic scale.

Image I'll just pretend I get that. But hey, if you're having trouble turning back into yourself, why not help the process along?

Image Help... myself along? I don't understand.

Image Yeah! I mean, you could at least LOOK like your old self, if you accessorize a little. What if we made you some new wings? Then you'd be able to fly again! :And maybe I could ride on your back...

Image You want me to fly you around again? Did you notice I'm not quite as big as I used to be?

Image Ha, I know, I know. I thought maybe your strength would still be the same as before.

Image
Image ...Let‘s change the subject. How do you think Tana moved on from here?

Image I think she used her control of Erda to push herself along. Maybe a path of Erda, or a tugboat of Erda, or something.

Image We should be able to follow her by following the trail of Erda, right? I'm not as powerful as she is, but I can control Erda now, and I should be able to track her that way.

Image *gasp* You're really getting it. Right, so, let's see if we can find the trail she left behind. The last time I remember seeing her was back at the Leaning Tower. Shall we get to it?


Image Naturally.

We agree, of course, and get instantly teleported over there.

Image
Image ...This silence is unsettling.

Image It's so bleak... I can feel chills going up my spine…

Image Don't say things like that.!

Image It feels like something is going to appear…

Image

Image Huh?

Image
Image Again, that's why I don't want you saying these things!


Image

The enemies start doing their attack animations. They aren't messing around.

Image We don't have time to waste… Let's cut through them quickly and head to the Leaning Tower!

Image
Image They are beings within memories but…


This is an exact duplicate of the first time we made this run to get to Arkarium, but without the third stage.

Image They do not exist fully in our world. Their souls are missing… They are Erdas, and... I don't want to become like them. Judging by the path, we'll be there soon.

Image This looks really dangerous.

Image
Image I see the Leaning Tower up ahead! Just a bit further!


I do not see any reason to dwell too much on it, given that.

Total Kills: 15,544

Image
Image The Leaning Tower... The traces of that day still remain…

Image
Image I can feel her power here... it's overwhelming. But that's it, just echoes of power.

Image And that means what, exactly?

Image I don't think this was the path she took. It's just a... haven for her displaced rage. I don't see any other clues. Let's return to Trueffet Square for now and come up with a new plan. The forces at work here are getting to be too much for me.


Image Ugh… I can't believe this was all for nothing.

Image It's okay. We're not out of ideas.

Image Huh? Whatcha' got?

Image It should be simple… If we just think about how Erdas work and how powerful she truly is, then…

Image Jean?

Image
Image Any path she would have taken will be marked with her aura…

Image ...Uh, Jean?

Image Those traces didn't completely disappear... Where are they?

Image Jean!

Image GAAH! What, what?

Image Don't just talk to yourself. Let's discuss this!

Image All right, all right. She's definitely left traces here. I just can't seem to pinpoint where.

Image So we need to pick up her trail to follow her, but now we need a clue to find the trail in the first place?

Image
Image Yep, we pretty much need a clue to the clue.


This will be basically the rest of today's post.

Image ...We're never leaving this place, are we?

Image Oh, hush. As long as we keep at it, we'll find some way to move forward. Have a little faith! I couldn't find any traces of her on that day in Trueffet. But she already left Morass. Let's check the Research Lab where they kept her. There could be a clue there. You go ahead, I'll catch up.


Image Okay… I'll get moving.

Image It's not like there's a lot of places around here, we've got to find it soon. Oh, but first…

Image

Image You want that ultimate power, right..?

Image Oh right. That gift that has the symbol that couldn't have existed until a little bit ago. Yeah, I want that!

We quickly grab and equip our level 5 Arcane Symbol for Morass, I forgot until just now that I could get it early. Then we bust out a couple of ASS coupons…

Image

There we go. That should do for the next while. :getin:

Image

Anyways, our goal is to head over to the Research Lab. We teleport in rather than walk through four extra maps.

Image
Image She was here the longest, so her memories of this place should be the clearest.

Image ...Or we could just pass through here.

Image No one... should be here.


Image

Image Who are you?

Image
Image No one is here anymore. No one ever comes here. And no one should be here…


The Researcher fades into view, and steps towards us.

Image How did you get here?

Image You look like one of the researchers that worked here.

Image Are you the only survivor? Did you see what happened that day?

Image ...I was just lucky. I‘ve been here ever since... Ever since that terrible, terrible day.

Image Alone?

Image I'm trying to atone for my sins. I take and look after the bodies of the others, so that they cannot be awakened by those... Those things…

Image That's…

Image Do you remember what you saw that day?

Image ...Faintly, yes.

Image Can you tell us about it?

Image Yes... If you help me. I cannot care for the others myself... Help me look after the bodies… Please... Make this place quiet again. Do this, and I'll tell you what you want to hear.


Image Sounds like it's hunting time, Angelic Buster.

Image Then leave it to me! I love hunting!!

Image Destroy 100 Red Shadow and Experiment Gone Wrong monsters. Then this place will be... quiet again.

Yet again, this is a repeat mission. We've beaten up both of these monster types before.

Image I'll stay here. Go on!

We head over to start with Red Shadows…

Image

Where we receive a reminder that it is still Rune Sunday.

Image

Five channel swaps later, I find an opportunity. This map has an Elite Boss on it, and it is considered ok by players of the game to show up and help murder it in the early stages of the game. This is because they tend to be very slow to take down for characters who are leveling, and the drops are instanced. This means those maps are kind of a free for all while the mob is there…

Image

Meaning that we can sneak in 100 kills and sneak out before anyone realizes we aren't helping.

Total Kills: 15,647

Image Wasn't that against common courtesy?

That only matters if you get caught! :buddy:

Image If I think of it as a guerilla live, then it's all fine. Got it!

Image

The Experiments Gone Wrong only take 3 channels to find an empty map, though, so that's neat.

Image

It doesn't take very long to knock them out, either. That Symbol set us back over the 1shot threshold.

Image They're just held together by Erda, you know. A simple push in the right spot and they fall apart now.

Image You've come a long way since that first concert. Why, my little Tear couldn't even sing the notes out loud back then… I'm… just so proud!

Image Pleeease don't bring that up, Eskalade. It's embarrassing! I can sing fine now.

Total Kills: 15,759

Image
Image Phew... I think this is enough.

Image I'll just do one more sweep of the area. Can't let my guard down now.


Image Wait, then why are you here?

Image Avoiding AFK mobs.

Image Right. Good luck.

Image
Image I certainly don't remember a door like that…

Image What is that door? There's light streaming through…


Image

A bunch of shadows show up around us, menacingly.

Image Aw, nuts! I need to get rid of them first!

Image
Image Why can it never be easy?

Image Because the Black Mage wants to win too?

Image I know… but sometimes I'd like an easy time, you know?!

Image And these things are a challenge for you?

Image Well…

Image

Image No, not really.

Total Kills: 15,787

With the path clear, we can peek at the door again.

Image Hm... How long has this door been here? And what is that light streaming through the crack? Well, I think I can figure this out. It's just a door.

Image
Image Doesn't look like it's been opened before. Should I open it?


Another of Angelic Buster's powers manifests, showing that she's aware of whether or not a door has ever been opened before.

Image I just looked at the dust. It's bad, I really don't think they cleaned down here.

Image

We try to open the door by smacking it a few times, but…

Image It won't budge. Then… Hiya!

Image

We then try opening the door by smacking it HARDER, complete with smashing noises.

Image *huff* *huff* Wow, I didn't even scratch it. I gotta be more careful... No sense bringing trouble down on my head. I tried pushing the door, pulling the door, breaking the door... Nothing worked. I couldn't even leave a mark on it. I should return to Research Lab and ask Researcher about Sealed Door.

Image
Image What took you so long?

Image I found something weird.

Image Everything in this place is weird.

Image No, I found a big door that I don't remember seeing before. Hey researcher guy, do you know what I'm talking about? Big door, impossible to open?

Image A... door?

Image Yeah, there's a door over there. No way to open it, though, so I came back.

Image I‘m not sure... I‘ve never heard of such a door. But… I remember... Pieces of the anti-magic stone that exploded... They were gathered and sealed somewhere nearby. If I had to guess... The stone is behind that door.

Image Anti... magic stone… (...I think I almost blew a bunch of stuff up. I won't mention trying to break down the door.)

Image Hm... so this door… She could have passed through that door on the way to her next destination.

Image No, I don't think so. It was covered in dust and cobwebs, as if it hadn't been opened in years.

Image ...You should stay away from the door. What lies beyond could be… Dangerous.

Image Great! Now that everything's settled, shall we get down to business? Why don't you tell us what you saw, now that we've done what you asked?

Image …It was... so terrible... I don't want to remember. I was lucky to survive... the others…

Image

Image Fine... I'll tell you what I saw. Are you ready?


We fade into a flashback in the halls of the research lab.

Image
Image Man, they're gonna get on my case for leaving the journal behind...

Image

Image Hm? Gee, the research lab sure is noisy right now.


Image

Suddenly, everything begins shaking before a fade to white.

Image
Image Ah... ugh…

The researcher gets knocked over by whatever happened offscreen…

Image Oh! That was Tana's explosion, right?!

Image Probably.

Image
Image That's…

It's Tana, walking ominously down the corridor! That's as much as the researcher saw before they lost consciousness.

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Image In the moments before I blacked out... I saw it. It was surrounded by a cold light... It passed as if nothing else in the world existed...

Image Did you see which way it went?

Image It went towards the Trueffet Outskirts, the very edges of them. I‘m sure... she wanted to be free of this place.

Image She might have met the Black Mage in Trueffet within the memory. He might have shown her the way.

Image The Black Mage…

Image Are you going to follow...?

Image Yeah, we have to track her down.

Image Then... could you give her a message... when you meet her?

Image Of course.

Image I apologize for everything... I did something unforgivable... something that should never have been done… I know none of us deserve her forgiveness. Just tell her that. I only hope she can be free of her pain... and be happy...

Image ...Now that we're set, shall we get going? Let's follow her to Trueffet Outskirts!


Once again, we agree to head off and get warped to the next part of the plot.

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Image Look over there!

Image

Image That's..?

Image More soldiers transformed by Tana's power guarding the path ahead. We need to break through and move on!

Image
Image I see no end to her power.


Did you like this map the first two times? I hope so! Do it again!

Image Where did she come from? How could anyone have that kind of power?

Image Beats me. We have no way of knowing how or why she showed up in Kritias.

Image More importantly, what does the Black Mage want with someone like her?

Image 'Something evil' is a pretty safe bet. So we need to stop him, and everyone who works for him. This way! Her trail picks up here!


Image

Image I just hope this is the last time we have to go down this street. It's like I'm stuck in some kind of…

Morass? :buddy:

Image No, a loop. Dummy.

Total Kills: 15,833

Image Now let's just get through here and..!

Image
Image Oh no... We've lost the trail again.

Image The traces may have disappeared, but the memory remains... So, let's have a look at that memory. We can reassemble the memory from the monsters in this place. Gather Memory Glass items. We can examine those to find out where she went.


Image Alright, but only because I still love hunting~

Image You can get Memory Glass items from the monsters in this place. I think 30 will be enough. Talk to me if you want to leave this place. I can bring you back here if you meet me at the Research Lab.

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We're set free to run rampant on the enemy and gather the glass… and I would like to say that this is the worst farming map in the entirety of the Arcane River.

Their spawn density is low, the higher platforms on either side are WAY too high to be able to efficiently handle multiple layers at once (we need our grappling hook just to get up there, for the most part), and it's just… really inconvenient.

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It's also entirely too big, having a minimap which scrolls…

I… Don't think that happens anywhere else in MapleStory? I didn't even realize until looking back at the video that it did that. I didn't even know MapleStory could do that!

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Anyways, we get the job done like we always do.

Image Because I'm Angelic Buster!

Image And I'm her hard-hitting, no-nonsense manager!

Total Kills: 15,927

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Image Did you gather all of the Memory Glass items?

Image Alright, let's get on with it! What does this memory hold, I wonder… … Great! I found out where she went! Let's go!

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Image The traces lead this way... Oh! Look at that, Magilia!


Image Where, I can't see?

Image There, offscreen diagonally!

We pan up…

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Image That's it.

Image Definitely it.

Image Absolutely it.

Image
Image That‘s a huge... dimensional gate?

Image The surrounding Erda is being pulled in. She opened that door! Let's get closer!

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Image Is it safe to pass through?

Image Uh… Only one way to find out!


Image

Image JEAN!!!

Jean shoves us into the portal, proving yet again that he is the best character in the Arcane River.

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We don't go in, though, landing and sliding past the portal.

Image
Image AHHHHHHHHHHHH... Ah?

Image

Image
Image Y-you just pushed me! You had no IDEA what was going to happen!

Image We're fine, aren't we? Not even a scratch. Besides, you ought to be used to falling by now.

Image … (Why, that no-good...)

Image But... why couldn't we pass through there?

Image I don't know. Let's try again! Ow… my nose…

Image I think something is blocking us… Well, at least we know she went this way. And that means she blocked the way so we couldn't follow.


Which is all well and good, but then the screen shakes.

Image Hm?

Image Wh-what? I just felt a shake…


Image
Image AHHHHHHHHHH!

Not pictured: the shaking the screen is doing right now, or the sound of things crumbling.

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Image No! I don't want to go back to the bubbles! I just want out of this stupid place so I can beat up the Black Maaaaage!!!

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Image Uh... What was that?

Image Jean, are you okay? Huh? Did he end up somewhere else? Jean! Where are you?

Image

Image
Image Flying Fish!

Image Flying Fish! Wake up! ...I think the shock was too much. Wait, Flying Fish definitely said…

Image My memories will be stable for a while if I absorb Memory Sliver items. They‘re known for gathering and clarifying scattered memories. ...It's like that buzz you get from an energy drink, except on a galactic scale.


This line shows up in a dimmed out flashback and is entirely in yellow.

Image Yeah, Memory Sliver might do the trick! I mean, it wouldn't hurt to try. I'll gather Memory Sliver items and give them to Jean! I can get Memory Sliver items from every monster in Morass. I should gather around 50.

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Two channel swaps later, we're back to grinding cats and I am nearing my breaking point. Since the natural endpoint of Morass where Arkarium died and we got the Arcane Symbol, we've gathered slivers, done an instanced fight we'd already done, killed 100 mobs on two different (and high traffic!) maps, done a different instanced fight, done the first instanced fight a third time, gathered glass on the Worst Map, and now we're back to slivers again.

And what have we learned? Nothing. Nothing at all. No part of this section of Morass has given us any new information about anything that happened. There's a door we can't open, there's a portal we can't pass through, we've learned nothing about any characters, but because MapleStory is a shitty game that hates you personally for playing it we are still stuck inside of the Morass alongside Magilia, trapped until the Powers That Be decide we're finally done rolling in muck.

This entire section could have been a memo.

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Total Kills: 16,139

Anyways, we do the work and go home.

Image There's no time to waste. I'm coming, Flying Fish!

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Image Flying Fish... wake up…

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We slam the shards into Jean, to wake him up.

Image Ugh…

Image Are you okay?

Image Sh.. ey?

Image *gasp*

Image ...l'm kidding. Ugh, my head. I must've taken a bigger shock than I thought.

Image (Can't believe he's joking at a time like this...)


Flying Fish is the best character in all of Arcane River. :colbert:

Image What was that just... Oh! Look over there, Magilia!

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Image Trueffet is... disappearing?


It is slightly smaller than before, a bit of the outskirts dissolving into the morass.

Image The moment she left this place, her influence began to fade. Everything's going to start changing back to the way it was.

Image But if it goes back to being the Coral Forest, we'll lose Tana's trail, won't we?

Image Exactly. So, let's book it back to Trueffet Outskirts!

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Image Trueffet is evaporating into Erda!

Image We have to do something! If this keeps up, all of Trueffet's going to disappear!


Oh! I recognize this map! We've done it three times before now! :shepface:

There is something new here, though, these enemies! These enemies are actually quite noteworthy in their own way.

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Called the Vanishing Erda, they have actually vanished from MapleStory itself, and are only found in this specific plot beat. Before daily quests were reorganized into the very simple "Kill X enemies local to this area" format that they are today, Morass's daily quests were a mess. Every day we'd get around five random quests to do like every other area, but rather than turn them in to a specific NPC we had to turn them all in to various NPCs spread out across two different maps.

Among those quests, there was one specifically associated with protecting the stability of Morass by finding a door where instability was happening. These doors were spread out along the three maps which held the Experiments Gone Wrong, each map having 1-2 doors that could be having problems. You had to try to enter all of them until you found the right one, which brought you to a special map full of these things. At that point, the job became killing every one of them to stop them from eating away at Trueffet.

When the dailies changed, these enemies became degraded content outside of the very end of the Morass questline, making this a very rare instance of actually fighting something that's not implemented in v251.

This has been another instance of—

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—Because I needed SOMETHING to do while Angelic Buster and Jean cleared them out. They're no stronger than any other mob we run into around here. :v:

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Image I was busy for 27 seconds, I don't think that was necessary.

No part of this is necessary. We're all here because it's interesting.

Image I'm here to help people.

Image …Yeah, good work.

Total Kills: 16,163

Thankfully, there isn't a second map this time.

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Image I never thought it would all come apart so quickly…

Image It's because she left this place. Her power really was the only thing holding it together. If she's not here to keep it up, it all goes back to its natural state.

Image What about following her trail, though?

Image That's why we have to hold this place together ourselves until we find it. And Magilia, I‘ll be depending on you for that. But there is some good news in this mess.

Image There's... huh?

Image I can turn back into the Flying Fish, so long as I'm free of her influence. However…

Image You have to stay here until we pick up the trail, right?

Image And I'm not sure how long the transfonnation's going to last. In any case, we have to maintain our presence here until we turn up a clue.

Image I will.

Image And you might want to help the Erdas in Trueffet as you look for clues. They might know something useful, just like the person in the Research Lab did.

Image Helping... it's what I do best!

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Image I'll get the requests from the Erdas. That way you don't have to run around finding out what they all want!

Image Oh, thank you. Every little bit helps.

Image All right, let's get to work!


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At last, at last, we are done with Morass… but I'm not quite done with accounting.

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Having done dailies on my main before now, I've got another 1000 EXP coupons sitting around waiting for me to claim them… which I do on Magilia.

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This brings her to level 239, and I also go ahead and boost my Vanishing Journey Arcane Symbol up to level 9 just to have a little extra AF for the next area.

Image Next area? We're taking the day off now, aren't we?

Nah. We're one Arcane Symbol away from the full set, so it's high time we get to work on Esfera.

Image But I wanted a break… Come on, there's at least time for a concert right?

Image There's always time for a concert. Let's make with the music.

…Alright, fine. One concert.

Image

Image Let's get started!

Next time, we finally leave the Morass.

User avatar
Okay, now that the concert's over it's time to continue on into—

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Image Hmmm…

Image Something up, Tear?

Image I was just thinking. My gear is kind of… underwhelming. I could go for an upgrade or two.

We're actually still using just the things I've picked up along the way to now, which means we're missing a lot of accessory slots (because those come mostly from bosses). With enemies getting better at surviving a hit against us, I think for a moment or six about upgrading gear…

ImageImage

So I swap out for a new set of level 140 shoes and cape. The cape was actually a particularly boneheaded move, because I had to put money into making it better than what I was wearing—this ate a good chunk of my on-hand meso.

Image Yeah, but I match now. Let's go accessorize!

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It's time to do some bosses. :getin:

I start off with Zakum again.

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Total Kills: 16,164

This time, Zakum's given us something interesting.

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The Condensed Power Crystal is the first item we've seen drop from something called the Boss Accessory set—the Dominator Pendant we got for free forever ago counts as this set as well. I mentioned before that Zakum drops both an Eye and Face accessory, both of them are members of this set.

Anyways it goes on.

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Next, a new boss: Horntail. This was the second major boss ever released in MapleStory.

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Horntail was a dragon who was in a war against another dragon named Nine Spirit to control dragonkind. Horntail killed Nine Spirit and stole their egg, and the Leafre questline wants us to beat Horntail, take the egg back, and help it hatch so that the dragons of Leafre will be free from the corruption of Horntail.

We will not be doing any of that, because we're fighting Chaos Horntail, which is a Horntail powered up by the Black Mage to do even MORE destruction.

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Horntail is a 3 stage fight. The first two phases are against the two giant heads of Horntail, which use a variety of attacks that we are too powerful to have to actually deal with. Beat it up, it retreats, we jump through the portal it was blocking behind its head.

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Then we do it again. These aren't kills, they're just retreating.

Image Dragons are way bigger in Maple World, it seems like.

Image Ehh, I was about this grand back in the day. Novas just shrank down over time, and grew thumbs.

Image Why, though?

Image Iunno. To sew pretty outfits for idols to wear? If I had thumbs, that's what I'd do.

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Image Horntail won't come out…

Image Oh. I recognize this system. That crystal is kind of like a waypoint. If it's activated, it brings the thing attuned with it back here… Hey, Magilia. Give the crystal a couple of whacks for me, would you?

Our job here is to stand next to this crystal and use a regular attack on it four times.

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This triggers a seal and lightning effect to summon the boss…

Image Here they come!

Image Give it your all, Angelic Buster! For Leafre!

Image Whatever that is!

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Horntail is here! It has one healthbar, but this is a lie. There are six unique parts of Horntail—the three heads, both arms, and the tail. When we've done enough damage to each one of them they turn to stone and are taken out of the fight. The enemy has a wide variety of attacks which can take control away from us or render them temporarily immune to physical or magical attacks, as well as the ability to summon smaller dragons to attack us—

Image —And the fight ends in four seconds?

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And the fight ends in four seconds.

Total Kills: 16,165

We get a couple of useful drops here, as well.

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We also see these two guys.

Image Descendant of the hero? What are you talking about..?

:v: Don't worry about it… Adversary.

Image Should I know that term?

:v: …Have you not been to Esfera yet? You were level 239 so I just assumed—

Image Oh, no, no, this is before that.

:v: Please pretend I didn't say anything byeeeeeee~

These two do not have any point other than to vaguely go "OOOO~ the black mage is BIG and BAD and will KICK YOUR BUTT." Let's look at loot instead.

ImageImage

We get the Chaos Horntail pendant and the Dea Sidius earrings from this fight—Horntail can also drop a boss accessory ring, but we don't need it at all since we have four Event Rings that are much more powerful. This brings us to our fourth boss accessory set item, and as a set we will be getting additional powers at item numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9.

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Next, Pink Bean. Pink Bean is a mascot character for MapleStory, and everyone loves it. Except me, I am the biggest Pink Bean hater on earth.

Image Aww, but it's so cute?

Yeah, and its entire boss fight is about spamming annoying status effects. Also, it stole Angelic Buster's spotlight skill in the most recent event where we could temporarily play as it (which happens now and then), and plays a song which is also not by Angelic Buster.

So it's literally just Spotlight. :v:

Image Will we be hearing it today?

Nope, this fight predates that. Moving on.

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We have to talk to Kirston there to get things rolling. He's here to free the Black Mage using the Mirror of the Goddess, but unfortunately for him mortals can't use it right. This means he's connected to a different Transcendent…

That's Pink Bean. The Transcendent of Bean World.*

*actual transcendence may vary

Anyways, once he activates the mirror, he vanishes and launches us into phase 1 of the fight.

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This is against the five statues in the background. They all have special abilities, and the birds can both use Damage Reflection to get a cheap death if we don't pay attention!

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We crush them instantly because Normal difficulty has no HP. This brings Pink Bean out to play personally, starting phase 2. It has a number of attacks that can reverse our directional buttons, seal our skills, blind us, and also has Damage Reflection.

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Of course, normal mode = instantly dead, though rather than dying Pink Bean cries for a while and jumps back into its own world. Pink Bean can drop a Belt and Pocket equipment, but I got neither of them here. On Chaos mode it can also drop a stronger Eye accessory, but Chaos mode has a lot more HP and three healthbars so I don't feel like doing it right now. :v:

Next up, it's time to settle an old score.

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Image Wait a second… this hallway. It's… Magnus?!

Image Oh man… we're finally facing him down. Head in the game, Angelic Buster!

Image Right! There's no way he'd die in two punches.

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Normal Magnus takes around 15 seconds, and nothing happens. This fight is more interesting on Hard mode… maybe someday.

Image Blasted idol… When did you get so strong?

Image I'm powered by the honor and glory of the Nova! This is the end for you!

Image Nah… I'm out. Bye.

Image Hey, get back here!!

Magnus can drop a Badge and a Shoulder for the boss set, and also has a couple other interesting possibilities.

ImageImage

We get the shoulder and an interesting pair of shoes. The Nova Altair Boots have naturally high stats, and are one of a class of items known as Superior Gear. These ones have lower Starforce chances, but get more stats from each star.

There is absolutely no reason to ever star them anymore, but they can make excellent starter gear—we slap these on, of course.

Image Okay then! What's next?~

I was thinking we'd get to the plot proper, now that the equipment screen's much more full. See?

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Image Oh… Yeah, okay! I'm in, let's do it! It can't be worse than being stuck in the morass… Wait, don't—!

MORASS!!!!!

Image …ugh. Let's go, Eskalade.

The quest we need is for Level 235, [Esfera] The Strangers

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Image Hey!

Image Huh?

Image It's me. It's Jean. I need your help.

Image Oh, hey Jean! Did something happen?

Image Yeah, and it could be big. I'll fill you in when you get here. Can you meet me in Trueffet Square? Like, now?


Image I am literally three feet away from you. What's up?

Image I've heard some suspicious folks arrived in Morass the other day. Sounds like they've been looking for something.

Image Suspicious folks? Suspicious how?

Image You'll know what I mean when you see 'em. Last anyone saw, they were headed for the dungeon. Might wanna look for 'em there. I'll see if I can find out what else they've been up to.


Image Alright. I'll go check it out.

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Image Yeah... It's not budging.

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Image Should we just blow it up? I've got a bunch of explosives!

Image What? No way! Those weren't the orders! Our priority is to make contact first.

Image (Make contact? Wait a minute... that‘s a Cygnus Knight uniform!)


Cygnus Knights, as a reminder, are the followers of Empress Cygnus, the de-facto leader of the Maple Alliance. That means they're on our side.

Image Maybe they already went through this door.

Image Yeah... maybe.

Image Well, we've got no other choice if we want to meet up with Magilia and finish the mission. I'm blowing it up… In three, two…

Image Ahh! Wait! Stop! Melange, stop him!

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Image Zzz…


Image I should… go say hi before they blow the door up and kill us all, huh.

Image Seems like a smart move.

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Image Hey there! Cygnus Knights, right? Whatcha up to?

Image Oh! It's you! Nice to meet you! I‘m Ollie! I'm a Thunder Breaker from the Cygnus Knights, assigned to the Arcane River to protect and provide guidance!


Thunder Breakers are the Cygnus Knight pirate branch. They're basically Angelic Busters who punch their enemies in the face with sharks made of lightning instead of dragons made of love and justice.

They're pretty ok, I guess.

Image I'm her partner, Shubert, and I've been tasked to keep the lines open to HQ and keep all our gear running. And blow things up that need blowin' up. And this is…

Image Zzz…

Image Hey, Melange?

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Image Hahhh... Oh, are we on? Right. I'm Melange. That's... (yawn) ...That's short for Melangioruiana. I'd stick with the short version. Makes me tired just saying it.

Image Melange is a magician from Pantheon. He can create a dimensional gate that leads back to HQ. Y‘know, just in case.

Image From Pantheon? (That's news to me. I've never seen his people or anyone like him in Grandis.) (Did they find more allies to resist Darmoor?)

Image I wasn't expecting to see Alliance folks here at the Arcane River. And especially from Pantheon... I know how bad the situation is over there right now.

Image Hey, the Empress didn't pull the Alliance together for nothing! We're not just gonna sit around and hand out quests!


*This is still like, 95% of what the Alliance does.

Image Back in Maple World, the Alliance is gearing up for a full-scale operation against the Black Mage. It's been years in the making!

Image Everyone‘s been working so hard…

Image Of course! Our world's at stake!

Image So... were you here looking for this door?

Image Well, we were looking for you. But Melange examined it earlier and told us a transcendent force is sealed somewhere behind it.

Image (Huh. Maybe that's why it wouldn't open before...) I wonder if the Flying Fish knows-

Image
Image Ahh... It's opening…

Image Huh?

Image Wait, the door‘s opening by itself?


Image

The door trembles and shakes, light glowing brighter behind it before the screen goes to black and the sound of a door opening plays.

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Image Ahhh! It's sucking us in!

Image I'll call the patrol ship! Hang on!

Image Zzz zzz…

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Image HOW ARE YOU STILL ASLEEP?!

User avatar
Previously, on Angelic Melody Pichi Pichi Buster:

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And now, this.

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A cutscene introduces us to the next area. Or, it's supposed to. It didn't load. Once I skip it we hear a KABOOOM and a splash.

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Image Are you okay?

Image Ooh... Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I'm alive. That's what counts, right? Gee, I thought being a good swimmer would be helpful here. Doesn't seem like we're dealing with normal waters, though.

Image I don't see the ship, Or Shubert. Or Melange. I wonder why we're the only ones that ended up here.


Image Wait… hold on. Ship? We got pulled through a door, when did we get a ship?

Image You know how it is. Sometimes ship just happens.

Image …Oookay. But you watch your mouth, young lady.

Image I wonder what happened. Were we attacked? And if so, who was it?

Image I don't know, but I've got a feeling someone sinister‘s behind this. And if they're linked to that black orb in the sky in any way, I know who it is.

Image
Image The Black Mage.


Dramatic music begins playing now.

Image The Black Mage?! Do you really think he's here? Wow... If that's the case, maybe the final reckoning really is coming.

Image Yeah… If we hadn't been dumped here… If we had kept on towards the black orb.... Maybe we would be facing him right now. (The Black Mage... It feels like this long struggle is finally coming to an end.)


Please note that the Black Mage fight is at 255. We are currently at the 235 area.

This long struggle is nowhere near coming to an end, is what I am getting at.

Image (And it's one step closer to bringing down Gerand Darmoor. Then Grandis can finally know peace once more.)

And THIS still is not implemented in v251, or indeed to this day. With the number of Apostles Darmoor still has, conservative estimates would put him as a level 350 boss right now.

We cannot go above level 300.

There are only like ten level 300 characters max across every server.

We will all be dead before Darmoor is ever fought.

Image Can you please stop crushing my dreams?

Fine, fine, go on.

Image
Image Anyway... where are we?

Image Actually, I've got a letter from Neinhart for you. It might answer a few questions you were about to ask.


Neinhart! We've never spoken to him, but we HAVE seen him once.
Update 10 wrote: Image
Right here. He's the tactician and advisor of Empress Cygnus, serving as an important official in the Cygnus Knights and a frequent dispenser of quests before we hit level 200.

His name is also actually spelled 'Neinheart.' Good job, MapleStory. :golfclap:

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To Magilia

It's been a long time, Magilia.

This letter was meant to be opened once you reached this new region of the Arcane River, Esfera.

Image Esfera?

I'm sure you have many questions, but in the interests of security I will explain to you directly the next time we speak.

If all goes as planned, there should be at least one Alliance scout with you at the moment.

Have them connect to our communications network so that I may reach you.

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Image Okay, well, I guess that letter didn't really answer much. But man, look at this place! The Origin Sea has a pretty appropriate name, huh?

Image How in the world did Neinheart know what kind of place we'd end up in?

Image After the World Tree incident, he's been pretty obsessive about knowing what our enemies are up to all the time. I'm as surprised as you that he knew about a place like this! But I'm sure he'll explain everything when you talk to him. Hopefully. Our communication uplink is on the ship. Was on the ship. I hope it still exists. And Shubert and Melange too.

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Image Well, let's make sure everyone is still alive. l'll fire off a flare to let them know where we are, and they'll hopefully fire one in response.

Image ...Or I would, if I hadn't dropped the flare when we fell. Aw, geez… where did it end up?


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It is then that we notice something just offscreen. A turtle!

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It turns and runs away.

Image You know what? I bet you anything that sketchy turtle-thing just wandered off with it. You saw that look it gave us. Could you hunt the Ahtuins and bring back the flare? I'll keep an eye out for a flare from the ship.

Image Alright. Leave the hunting to me.

Image Neinheart mentioned that you love it. All right, I'm counting on you. Let's hope that flare's to the right!

Image

And so we get right to work on murdering our way through the first of the mobs of this area. As usual, by the time we're done we'll have murdered a handful of each of them.

Image Spoilers much?

Image Speaking of… that Neinheart guy. How do you think he knows so much about us?

Image I'm not sure. You think we're still streaming somewhere?

Image Come to think of it, this is the Arcane River, so—

Image Don't. Please.

Image You could say we're streaming all the time now!

Image …ugh.

Image Made ya smile.

Image That was still terrible. Do you even have a license to make dad jokes?

Image Of course I do! All you Novas are my babies!

Image

Image Oh… I think I found it! Let's get back to Ollie.

Total Kills: 16,328

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Image Did you get it? Great! I'll just... ooh. We can't use this, it's all wet. And it smells... ugh!

Image Yeah, they might have, ah, drooled on it a bit.

Image That's so gross! Man... Well, I don‘t think it's soaked all the way through. We should be able to use it once it dries out. If only we had something to burn… Magilia, do you see that over there? I don't think these coral trees burn but I see a... Tree-like object moving around.

Image I don't see anything over there. You must have real good eyes, Ollie.

Image Hey, they made me a scout for a reason. Whatever it is, I bet we could burn it to dry the flare out. Let's get going.


Our next goal is the now classic "Move to the right two screens," so we do that.

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Image It's a turtle... with trees sprouting on its back.

Total Kills: 16,329. There was an AFK mob.

Image Be careful. The Erda that forms this ocean is the purest form we've ever seen in the Arcane River. These creatures were born directly from this pure Erda, so they might be quite different from creatures you‘ve faced before. Please gather dry white firewood from Atus. I think we'll need around 100 pieces.

Image To dry… a flare. Okay, I guess.

Image Thanks. I know it's a lot, but I'm not so good at starting fires. Shubert's the resident pyro.

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We get right to work. Despite talking up the mobs around here, they're still just basic enemies. They take 2 hits each, the same as the ones at the end of Morass.

Image A hundred wood is a lot of wood, though. Is Ollie really that bad at setting fires?

Image Ehh, I imagine part of it is trying to set a fire on a liquid surface?

It would have been nice if the Cygnus Knights had sent a Blaze Wizard, but honestly Ollie's class will never come up in the story otherwise so I don't think it would have helped here either.

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Anyways, it takes us a couple minutes to get all the wood we need.

Total Kills: 16,548

Image I hope this is… hm. Hey, Eskalade.

Image Yeah?

Image Do you think an open flame near something designed to explode could backfire?

Image Oh. Now that you mention it… Well… I'm… I-I'm sure it'll definitely be fine! Probably. Most likely.

Image We hope.

Image
Image I've got the firewood.

Image I hope this is enough! I figure the bigger the fire, the faster the flare will dry.


Image

Image

Somehow, it does not explode.

Image Oh thank goodness.

Image Here we go! One nice, toasty flare. It even browned around the edges! Okay, let's go ahead and launch this thing. I want to find Shubert and Melange before things get any weirder than they already are. I found a good turtle-free spot for us, so are you ready to roll?

Image Let's do this.

Image
Image Shubert and Melange have to respond... They have to see the flare…

Image

We launch the flare skyward…

Image They're out there… They'll see it…

We hear a boom, but do not see the flare.

Image
Image Ahh! There! Do you see? We've got a response. To the right.

Image l‘ll lead the way.


Image

And just like that, we're transported to the main hub of Esfera. While Ollie is quite dramatic about it being to our right…

Image

Here is a map of Esfera. The G is where we were just at, and we entered from the side with the pointy red and white person icon. The red arrow in the middle is where we are now.

It had to be to the right, because we literally did not have anywhere else for it to be placed. The joy of 2D gaming.

Image Who's that guy in the top right?

Don't worry about him, he sucks.

Image

Anyways, the others are over here next to the remains of the ship we Definitely Had The Whole Time. :ssh:

Image
Image Shubert! I'm so happy to see you safe and sound.

Image What did you expect? I'm not punching out in a place like this.

Image How's Melange?

Image Zzz…

Image The usual. He was tucked in the ship the whole time, sleeping like a baby.

Image Man, I wish I could sleep like that… Okay, on to business! Can we get a connection to HQ out here?

Image That's a tall order right now. Our uplink was damaged in the fall.

Image Zzz... Zzz... Hmm?! Something‘s wrong.

Image Yes, we fell. Good of you to notice!

Image No, I mean the sky.

Image The sky?

Image Didn't you notice? There's no sun.

Image There's... huh?

Image Why no sun? I don't like that.

Image I mean... What does this mean?

Image Umm... Good question. I don‘t know, but this might help you figure it out. Here, it's a staff that plays back memories.

Image A staff that... How does that even work?

Image Glad you asked. Here are the instructions.

Image Let's see, step 1... Follow the direction the staff points to an area of strong memories. lt's pointing to the right. I think that means we should head for Living Spring 5. l'll scout ahead and make sure we're not getting ourselves into trouble! Er, more trouble.

Image Go on, kid. I'll get our comms back up and running. And let me know if anything needs blowing up!


Image Will do! Let's move, Ollie!

Image

Naturally, this is to the right. We head over to meet up with our Thunder Buddy.

Image
Image I guess this is the place? Did you see anything... memory-ish?

Total Kills: 16,549 (AFK Mob)

Image I've been to some weird places, but this one is taking the weird cookie… Anyway, can we use the staff?

Image Yup. The instructions say it's voice-activated, so you just yell and point it at an empty space. Hyaa! Waaah!

(Wooshing noises)

Image Um... It's not working.

Image

Image Lemme just check the instructions again... Maybe the pages stuck together… Oh, here we go! It says the staff is rechargeable. So…

Image What kind of magic staff is rechargeable? Does it run on batteries?

Image According to this, the staff needs to be charged when its light grows weak. Defeating living things near it allows the staff to absorb magic from them. Okay, so, our staff is powered by violence. I think we can work with that! Why don't you hunt some Bellalions? Maybe 200, just to be safe? Remember, it's for a good cause!


Image Did… did that wizard guy give us a stick that runs on souls?

Image It's fine. He's definitely on our side!

Image Hmmmm…

Image We can think about this later. It's hunting time.

Image I LOVE HUNTING!!! :swoon:

Image

The Bellalions are more-or-less the same as any other enemy right now, a solid 2-shot. The map is spread out, but on the upside there's a lot of these guys to beat up and the map is not frequently used. This doesn't take us very long to handle.

Image
Image I think this thing's ready to go. Let's take it somewhere a little more secure, so nothing can interrupt us.

See?

Total Kills: 16,756

Image
Image Here, let me do this…

Image The truth is... my childhood dream was to be a magical girl.


I'm sorry, Flying Fish. We have a new best character in the Arcane River.

Image What?

Image
Image In the name of love and justice!

Image
Image Hee-YAHH!

Image
Image No... This is…

Image
Image I see your memories are finally returning. A shame that they come too late.


Oh. Hi, Will.

Will is incredibly important in the Zero storyline, being the guy who orchestrated sealing Zero inside of a mirror world in order to keep them from becoming a threat…

But really his smug face just makes me want to give him a swirly or shove him in a locker every time I see him so I can't properly be coherent about what makes him a villain. Just know that he thinks the end of the world is awesome, actually, and this is why he's helping the Black Mage.

Image
Image That's...?

Image That's Commander Will. No one in the Alliance knows much about him. He's never been seen in Maple World, after all. The only records we have were found in a very special library. That means we don't have any intel on what he's been doing... or what he's capable of. If he's making moves now, that must mean he's got something important cooking.

Image Now, Tana... The time has come. Become the sun of a new world! What..!


Image

Will is interrupted by a laser from the sky.

Image

He dodges out of the way, of course, so we still have to worry about him… but this does get in the way of whatever he was doing with Tana.

Image Hah, a disturbance… Oh my. That'll be hard to bounce back from.

Image
Image I've lost the sun. Obviously, this wasn't part of the plan.

Image
Image Lost the... sun?

Image
Image Someone interrupted him! The ritual failed... and it looks like Tana was sent to the bottom of the sea.

Image The sun that Melange was talking about was Tana. But... why? What are they trying to accomplish here?

Image It's not polite to eavesdrop, you know.


Image

Image Oh, come on! You weren't even offscreen!

Image I was until I teleported.

Image That's not how teleportation works!

Image Oh? Can you teleport?

Image Well… no, but—

Image Then how about you leave thinking about how it works to me, hmm? Now then… Right. Killing you.

Image Get back, Magilia!

Image

Ollie blocks the shot Will fired at us.

Image Ollie?

Image Hmm…?

Image
Image C-Commander Will! You g-get back, or... I'll stop you myself!


Yeah… I'm sorry Flying Fish. Ollie wins. :allears: I'm even willing to ignore that Thunder Breakers don't use swords, Ollie can have a sword as a treat.

Image Relax, child. I just wanted to say hello to my friend here.

Image If you have something to say, say it.

Image I'm reminded of the words that inspired me. The ultimate light can only be found in ultimate darkness.

Image 'Ultimate darkness'?

Image When you understand the truth in my words, then you may face me. I'll be waiting. I do always enjoy the anticipation, but honestly this time feels... special.


Image

Image 'Kay byeee.

Image Wait! Rgh, I hate it when they do that. For once, I'D like to get the last word before they vanish.

Image
Image Anyway! Ultimate darkness... Ollie, any ideas?

Image Ollie?

Image (No way... Magilia has been facing bad guys like that this whole time...? )

Image
Image I didn't expect the child to get involved. Oh dear, I suppose my plan has been foiled.

Image It won't change anything, though. Hmm... This brings back some rather unpleasant memories for me.

User avatar
Now that Will is done having his plan ruined by a mysterious someone, let's get back to making sure Ollie wasn't horribly mangled by that blast from before.

Image
Image Are you okay, Ollie? You're hurt…

Image I-it's nothing. I‘ll get Shubert to look at it back at camp. N-no worries.

Image Okay, but…

Image That's that, but what does ultimate light and ultimate darkness mean?

Image Yeah... Will's trying to tell us something. Commanders don‘t lust speak nonsense.

Image Oh, Shubert is calling.

Image What's happening, gang? Everything okay out there?

Image Actually... (You fill him in on everything that's happened.)

Image First the ship gets attacked, and then a commander shows up. I sure do miss missions where I just blow stuff up.

Image I'm sure we'll be fine. None of them are a match for Magilia, after all!

Image Th-that's…

Image Hah! I had a feeling we were in good hands.

Image So, should I come back and contact HQ?

Image Not possible right now, I'm afraid. I've got the transmitter working for short-range communication but the long-range array won't run without lubricant. I‘ve patched it as best I can but the servos are dried out. It squealed loud enough to wake Melange when I tried align it with HQ. He's still mad about that.

Image I'm pretty sure we could use Animal Fat as lubricant, yeah? But first we'd better get moving, since our enemies know where we are now. We'll head out to Living Spring 7.


Time for the standard "Move two maps to the right, continue the quest" part of the quest.

Image
Image I think we're clear here. Except for the hordes of monsters, of course.

Total Kills: 16,762. Some monsters got in the way of the AFK mob.

Image No sign of Will. We should be smug-free while we work. I think we can gather animal fat from those guys. Hunt Bellalis and gather 100 bottles of their Animal Fat if you can.

Image

It's time to go to work. The animal fat is green stuff in bottles that drops from the enemies when they're beaten up.

Image If they need the lubricant that much, couldn't they just use the ship's fuel instead? It's not like we'll need it as much now that the ship's crashed, a LITTLE would be okay.

Image Oh, no, bad idea Angelic Buster. REALLY bad idea.

Image Why's that? Oil is oil is oil, isn't it?

Image You'll make refinery workers cry if you think like that! Fuel oil is made for combustion, it tends to be really thin and not good at all for actually keeping things running. The most likely result would be a spark making the entire thing go up in smoke.

Image Oh, that's not good…

Image Darn tootin' it's not. Now lubricant oil, that stuff is noticeably thicker, and they carefully distil away… MOST of the explosiveness. I still wouldn't set it on fire, but it's really hard to actually make combust under most circumstances. They're completely different stuff, you know?

Image So it's like how Kaiser is an explosive workhorse who keeps Pantheon moving forward in the darkest of times… and I'm there behind the scenes, doing the hard work that keeps things going smoothly!

Image I'd say you're not exactly "behind the scenes," miss Idol Superstar, but yeah. Good way to put it.

Image Thanks! I really learned something today.

Image

Total Kills: 16,987

We take a couple of minutes, but like the wood before it 100 fat isn't too hard to grab.

Image
Image Whoof, what a smell! This better be enough. Let's return to camp.

Image
Image Well, it's going to smell like an unwashed deep fryer but the uplink works again.

We don't have to travel ourselves, it happens in a quick blackscreen.

Image I love transitions. They're so convenient.

Image Whew, now I can report to HQ. While holding my nose. I'm going to sound ridiculous.

Image Don't expect too much. The uplink was smashed pretty good and now it's held together with animal bits. We're going to be one notch above potato quality here.

Image HQ, HQ, do you copy? This is Ollie, over.

Image
Image Bzzzzzt... Bzzzt... Can... hear... but... commu…

Image It's Neinheart. Wow... Hearing Neinheart's voice all the way out here feels weird.

Image I told you it would sound weird, buddy. Po-ta-to.

Image Report... status...?

Image I've joined Magilia and we've entered Esfera. And... um…

Image Tell him about the sky.

Image HQ, there's only a single black moon in the sky. I repeat, the sun did not rise. And Tana has sunk into the Origin Sea.

Image Block... the sun... Tana... pro…

Image HQ? HQ? Hey, Neinheart! Ahh, no good. He's gone.

Image What did he say at the end?

Image Hm, if I had to guess… Protect Tana and stop the ritual. I'm ready. Let's go.

Image Will you be okay? Will doesn't sound like the kinda guy to let you run around willy-nilly.

Image ...Don't think I didn't catch that, Shubert. Ollie, what about your injury?

Image
Image I'll be fine. It's patched up.

Image Shubert, keep an eye on the ship for us. Will we be able to reach you while we're out?

Image Shouldn't be a problem. Short-range comms are working fine and animal fat-free. Be sure to keep me in the loop, especially if things get sticky.

Image Gross. Once Tana is secured, l'll contact you immediately. And if things go... wrong... make sure Magilia gets clear.

Image But…

Image Magilia, you're the one that'll fight the Black Mage someday.

Image

Image No worries, I know my job. You two get going before you make this any more awkward.

Image Okay. Let's get going.


Another screenwipe!

Image Whee!!

Image
Image What happened? Everything looks different all of a sudden.

We wind up at the entrance to a new part of Esfera.

Image I'm starting to hate this place. Okay, that's a lie, I already hated this place.

Image
Image Tana's touched the power of the mirror. lt's flowing out through the ocean.

Image Melange? How long have you been here?

Image What does that even mean? The power of the mirror... comes from Tana?

Image Creating a sun through the power of the Mirror World makes it hard to break from the outside. But the spider's ritual was interrupted, so that power is flowing out with the Erda.

Image Um... I'm still not sure what you're…

Image I don't even get how Morass works half the time, so this Mirror World stuff just fries my brain.


MORASSSSS!!!

Image
Image I'll head back. You guys finish up.

Image Melange, um, I don't suppose you want to help...?

Image If you're worried about the spider, don't. He's threatened by Tana's Mirror World.

Image What do you mean, threatened?

Image As long as Tana holds on, the spider can't access the power of the mirror himself. The two powers oppose each other.

Image Sounds like radio interference! Y‘know, when two signals broadcast on the same wavelength... Also, hi! I'm listening in on everything you do. Kinda boring back at camp, y'know.

Image Great, Shubert, thanks for the support.

Image Without the power of the mirror he's weaker... but only so much. Don't underestimate him.

Image
Image Aaaand she's gone. Honestly, I think I might be more confused now.


Wait, 'she?' Hold on, I guess I have to go back and change the pronouns I put down. My b.
Update 46 wrote: Image Melange is a magician from Pantheon. He can create a dimensional gate that leads back to HQ. Y‘know, just in case.
—Upon further review it appears MapleStory is not consistent about what pronoun Melange gets.

…You know what? That's fine. I can work with that.

Image

Melange, nonbinary icon and Lover of Naps.

Image Weaker without the mirror… Ahh, it stings!

Image Ollie?

Image I-it's nothing. Hah... I'll get going. There's a ball of spiders there on the right. I bet they‘re a present from Will. It'd be a good idea to get a handle on them now, before they really start multiplying. Go to the Mirror-touched Sea 2 and hunt 200 Aranya.


Image

Our goal is this map, on the lower branch of this split.

Content warning: Spiders.

Counter content warning: Spiders drawn by the maplestory artists.

Image

Seriously, look at these things.

Image

GAZE UPON IT. Where do I begin? Instead of having ~eight eyes, these things have either three eyes, or two eyes and an orb to make the silliest looking uOu face of all time. They do not have mandibles, just a little elongated pointy m at the very bottom of the head to act as a mouth. The shape is entirely wrong, with them being 90% abdomen—most spiders have an abdomen that is roughly the same size as their cephalothorax (the fusion of the head and thorax of most other forms of insects)

Oh, and there are only six legs.

Image So… Will doesn't know what spiders look like?

Or he is an incredibly bad artist.

—anyways, this map is another popular one for grinding and it is still Rune Sunday. Time to go hunting for a free one!

Image

Three channel changes later, we find an empty map and go to work.

It's only 200 mobs, and like most high-traffic maps this one is both very small and very packed with enemies to turn into sparkly pixie dust.

Image

It doesn't take very long to knock the request out, as a result.

Total Kills: 17,191

Image That's two hundred… but there's no end to these things.

Image Let's check on Ollie.

Image
Image I'm done hunting. Er, what are you staring at?

Image Not staring, listening. You hear that? Sounds like a... fight.

Image A fight?

Image I think we should get in there and check it out. It's in Mirror-touched Sea 4. We should hurry to the right. I don't want to miss the action!


Image

We head down to the end of this particular branch, and as a side note in the time I spent doing that cutscene meant that someone else popped onto our map and started killing things.

Popular maps in MapleStory, yo.

Image

This map is even more popular than the last one, but that doesn't matter to the cutscene. It just saved me having to kill an AFK mob.

Image There's a fight going on. Ready to take a look?

Image Let's go.

Image

The Will Spiders (Purple version) are squaring up against a different group of enemies.

Image

The new guys are trying to blast the spiders…

Image

But the spiders counter with webs fired from their... mouths…

Their mouths!

Will "The Spider" Billiam does not know how the fuck spiders work.

Image

Regardless, this manages to destroy a pair of the new guys, forcing them to retreat.

Image
Image Aww, that was the end. I think those pointy things were Tana's creations… Wonder why they pulled back like that?

Image Tana‘s creations? So, does that mean this grave below us is a fragment of the Mirror World too?


Image Grave? I didn't see a—

Image

Image Just offscreen… I should have guessed.

Image Wait, maybe we should use the staff here. Since the place was created by Tana…

Image Hey, good idea! We might be able to turn up a memory related to her.

Image We need to charge the staff first, right?

Image Yup. I think 200 Araneas will do the trick. And please be careful. Those spiders might be poisonous, and... I've had enough of dealing with poison.


The spiders are not poisonous.

Image Oh, thank goodness.

Anyways, time to start changing channels! Thank you, random Mapler, for keeping me safe while I'm busy in cutscene land. :tipshat:

Five swaps later…

Image

We find ourselves in a very interesting situation. You see, the both Magilia and a second mapler appear to have shown up in the middle of the spawn location.

Neither of us is in the middle of killing enemies, who have fully spawned in already. I stand for a second, but they don't move.

This map is open.

Image

I jump to start my rotation. They start their own actions.

We have both realized the map was open at the same time.

Image What does that mean?

That means… map war.

Image Map… war?

Map war. :getin:

Image

While there is a very specific and generally agreed-upon way to deal with map rights in MapleStory, the guidelines of polite and civilized MMO players break down in situations like these. I refer to such situations as map wars.

The rules of a map war are very simple: We both run around killing whatever mobs we can until one of us gets mad, defames the other, and changes channel.

Oh right, fame is a thing. You can raise or lower a player's fame once a day, and can only change any specific character once a month. This is generally done to either say you think someone is cool, to say that you think they're being a dick, or a secret third thing.

So round and round we go, with me being able to 2shot and them being able to properly clear mobs.

Image

This winds up being fine, because if I deal damage to an enemy and they kill it it'll still count for my tally. Still, this is a war and I should probably make at least a vague attempt to win it, so it's time to escalate by—

Image
Image wait were you already here and it just didn't load right?

Magilia what are you doing.

Image Being polite! There's no point going to war over a misunderstanding.

We get a 'yep,' so Magilia, being the goody two-shoes that she is, apologizes for the issue and we go back to channel surfing. Playing in an MMO involves not being a dick needlessly, after all, so it's important to sometimes question the assumptions you've made.

Even if map wars are really fun…

Image

Two more channel swaps later, we find a properly free map and get right to work. There is no one else here this time, so I don't get my map war. :(

Image I think less wars are a good thing, actually.

Eh… maybe.

Image

Anyways, we finish up quickly.

Total Kills: 17,392

Image
Image Turns out those spiders weren't poisonous, so, y'know, all clear.

Image That's a relief. The staff's all charged up, too. Should we use the staff now?

Image
Through the power of light, you will come into existence.

Through the power of darkness, you will come into existence.

Follow only the voice.

Image
Image What in the world does that mean?

Image Not sure…

Image (It's Tana. The person next to her... looks the same? Twins? )

Image What a strange place. Full of strange people, too.

Image You're right. Urgh, I'm hungry.

Image
Image As prophesied. Two names. Two reserved.

Image
Image Two reserved. Two names.

Image Which will it be? Which will be chosen?

Image Huh? Wait. I hear something.

Image Hmm?

Image It's a beautiful voice... but cold.

Image The one that hears the voice... It has been decided.

Image Yes.

Image The one that will be passed over is Tana.

Image The one that will be chosen is…

Image
Aeona.

Image The Transcendent of Light?!


(Believe me when I say that this reveal would be remarkably dramatic if we hadn't spent our first 200 levels in the hat dimension. :ssh: )

Image I figured you would know who that is. The Transcendent of Light of Grandis, Aeona…

Image We searched and searched but couldn't find even a hint of her in Grandis. But there were rumors she faced Gerand Darmoor herself. To think that Aeona had such a past...

Image
Image What we just saw was the Temple of Light.

Image Sometimes I can't believe I've seen Transcendents with my very own eyes... And they both looked like pretty normal girls, yeah? Was the one on the right Tana?

Image Yeah. Man, every one of these memories just raises more questions. So Tana has power over Erda itself... Is that the power of the Transcendent of Light? Wait. Now that I think about it... What power does the Transcendent of Light actually have?

Image Hm, good point. I don't think they can make light or anything…

Image 'Light' and 'darkness' are metaphors.

Image
Image BwaaAAAHHH!!


Interrupting Executor draws near, hopefully with a decent explanation.

Image
Image Y-you're the…

Meanwhile, the other party who hopped into the map while I'm training has just asked me if I'm there.

You cannot type while in a cutscene.

I cannot tell them I am about to leave this map.

MapleStory has some… design issues sometimes with interpersonal stuff like this.

Image I am the Executor. l have no other name. I have no other form.

Image Really? Then how do you... Actually, never mind. If light and darkness are metaphors here, then what can the Transcendent of Light really do?

Image Follow me. See for yourself. Come to Mirror-touched Sea 5.

Image He disappeared. It might be a trap... But if it's not, we might finally start getting some answers from this place. I think we should head to Mirror-touched Sea 5.


Oh thank god the cutscene is over.

Image

I quickly let the other player know the map is all theirs, and ollie out to Mirror-touched Sea 5.

Image

It's right over here, the other fork of the branch that took us here to spidertown.

Image
Image I guess this is the place? Did you see anything... memory-ish?

Total Kills: 17,395. There was another AFK mob.

Image I can tell the mirror's power is getting stronger as we move on. We must be getting closer to where Tana ended up!

Image
Image Is that a bookshelf?

Image Your staff. Use it on the bookshelf.

Image It's not really that easy, y'know. We need to charge it up, and that means defeating monsters, so…

Image Then defeat 200 Keepers of Light.

Image Uh, aren't they on your side?

Image I follow only the voice.


Image

It's time to go to work once more. We're back into maps that don't get used that often, so this proves to be very simple.

Image

Simple.

Total Kills: 17,598

Image
Image That wasn't pleasant, but the staff is charged now.

Image Are you ready to use it?

Image
There are many theories regarding the power of the Transcendent of Light.

But there is one certainty, that the power is rooted in the opposing forces of light and darkness.

The awakened Transcendent can command only one of the two powers.

If we were to speculate on reasons, I would say...

Image
Image The reason is…


Interruption in 3… 2… 1…

Image

Every time. :eng99: The book disintegrates in Tana's hands.

Image

The reason it disintegrated is Aeona.

Image Ah! To cause destruction!

Image Cause... destruction?

Image The power of darkness. It is the destruction of existence.

Image I'm tired of these Executors. They put you on a pedestal calling you a Transcendent, but they just use you.

Image I haven't seen everything yet. The part at the end…

Image You want to know why you only get one of the two powers? That's simple. It's so we never have to suffer through another boring book like this!

Image Hmph.

Image Must be nice, not being chosen. You're not stuck with some useless power, worked until you drop... You can just be yourself.

Image Huh...?

Image I'd better get going. You enjoy my share, too.

Image
Image

Image That isn't why the powers of light and darkness are divided.


Image

Speaking of divided… A ball of light forms between Tana's hands.

Image
Image It‘s because the power is given to the two chosen.

Image Is that the power of light?

Image Indeed. The power of light. The power of creation.

Image
Image The Transcendent of Light has the power of creation and destruction…

Image Ahhh... I think I'm starting to get it.

Image Hm?

Image I'm starting to get what Commander Will said. The ultimate light can be found in the ultimate darkness. If you think about it, creation and destruction exist in a cycle. If the goal is the ultimate light... If light is creation and darkness is destruction...

Image …Oh!

Image Destruction is not the purpose. If my guess is right, the Black Mage is…

Image
Image ...going to create a new world.


Image Dun dun duuuuuun!

User avatar
Image
Image My purpose here has been served. Mirror-touched Sea 7. That is where you will find her.

Image Wait, before you go... Why are you helping us?

Image It is her will. The spider is the enemy. The enemy of an enemy is a friend. Go now. To the right.


Image

As is tradition, our new target is two maps down from where we're at. As is tradition, we warp there.

Image
Image Here.

The AFK mob is not here when I load in, which is a break from tradition. I'll take it.

Image
Image You cannot pass. You must defeat the keepers and weaken the forces of Mirror World.

Oh COME ON. :bang:

We're officially on a timer, unless we want to be a ghost coming out of this cutscene.

Image I hope it's short, then…

Image 200 Keepers of Darkness. End them.

Image Got it. Time to get hun—

Image Won't Commander Will be able to use his power if Tana's power is weakened?

Image Do not concern yourself. The Keepers are a portion of that power. The Executors possess the substance.


Image

We make it out with around half of our health remaining. Time to get to work.

Image

Image Actually, I'm going to go through this portal? That cool?

Oh, sure, we should see more of these things.

Image

The order of the day today is a multi-round mobbing set where we have to beat up various monsters. Pollo theoretically helps us out here, but he doesn't do meaningful damage. The enemies also can theoretically beat up Pollo (who has a healthbar over his head), but they also don't do meaningful damage.

This is basically all about beating enemies up. Stage 1 is Boars.

Image

Stage 2 is Monkeys.

Image

Stage 3 is Dragons.

Image

Stage 4 is Birds, which as we all know are stronger than dragons.

Image Now that's definitely not true.

The only bird-winged humanoid in the game has at least 21 levels on you, it's absolutely true. :colbert:

Image We'll see about that.

Image

And finally Stage 5 is Shadows, monsters that act as Gerard Darmoor's footsoldiers in other stories—primarily Ark, but I think they show up for Kaiser as well. We conveniently missed them in the AB intro story by playing with magic rocks.

Image

Altogether it's a total of 105 kills for a total of ~2% of our EXP yet again.

Image

Total Kills: 17,904

It's ultimately just a distraction, though. Back to chasing Mr. "Doesn't Know Shit About Spiders" Georg.

Image
Image The barrier has been released.

Image To the right.

Image I think we should follow his lead. To the right!


Image How shocking… To the right!

And so we go. To the right!

The moment we go through the portal, the next cutscene begins.

Image
Image Protect her.

Image The spider is the enemy.

Image Yeah, down here. Shubert, can you hear me?

Image Loud and clear, Ollie. I'll get the gear to you no problem. All we need is a pulley but someone has to go down there and get Tana.

Image We will stop the spider. But we have no power in the ocean.

Image I'll…

Image Have you used this equipment before?

Image Ah, no.

Image Then I should go. You work the pulley.


Image Um… okay!

Image Magilia, don't you worry about a thing. Ollie's a sharp lady, she knows what she's doing. You'll hear what's going on through our comms, so just pull her up if she gets in trouble.

Image
Image Do you see anything yet?

It wasn't really very clear here, but we had Shubert send over a crane so that we could have Ollie go diving for Tana's body. This also means that the surface of Esfera is simultaneously solid enough to hold an entire crane on it, but also permeable enough that someone can go diving in it.

Image Wait… yeah, how does any of this even work?

Image Iunno… Erda? It can form spotlights in midair and turn me into a marketable mascot character for a few seconds, why not make water go weird?

Image Yeah! I see a whole lot of nothing!

Image Magilia, go slow.


Image

Winching the crane is a QTE, by which I mean "We mash right on the directional keys a bunch until the chain starts going down and the wheel starts spinning."

Image A little more... a little more… I don't think it's as deep as we thought. I'm almost there. Oh, I found it!

Image Wait, something's coming!

Image I... I can't see what it is.

Image
Image ...Okay, ignore it for now! Just lower me! I'm almost there!

Image Got it!

Image Crank her up, Magilia! Go, go, go!


There is a second QTE here, it is exactly the same as the last one, but comes punctuated by a THUNK.

Image Ollie?!

Image Argh! It hurts!

Image Pull! Now!

Image It's too fast! Whatever it is... It's coming at me again!


Image

This time, the QTE has us mashing left.

Image Pull! Pull!

Image

We finish dragging Ollie back to the surface, and Tana's come with her. Our CygKnight buddy is looking kind of beat up, though…

Image
Image Ollie! Ollie!

Image *cough* *cough* I'm fine, I-- *cough* I just... swallowed some water.

Image Oh, phew... It's good to hear your voice, kid. Magilia, get her patched up and get back here. Shubert out.

Image I swallowed a lot of Life Essence... Think it'll make my skin nicer?

Image This is no time for jokes!

Image Fine, you spoilsport. Let's get Tana transferred out of here, and then…

Image Hey, your bandage came off! The water must have loosened it…


Image

Turns out Ollie has been hiding an ominous purple mark from us.

Image Wait... That mark!

Image
Image The spider is the enemy…


Thaaat's not good. It's a Will mark, so now Ollie smells like failure and makes the Executors angry.

Image Get back, Magilia!

Image Ollie! Argh! The Executors are attacking. I've got to save Ollie!


Darn right you do! To action!! :black101:

Image
Image Ugh…

This is another of the standard MapleStory instanced maps. All we have to do is clear out the Executors.

Image Shubert! Ollie's in trouble! How much longer on the transfer?

Image What? It's gonna be a few more minutes. Can you guys hang on?


Image
Image Argh... Looks like there‘s no choice. Something must be done.

Our goal is 30 of the Executors.

Image

We get the job done. :colbert:

Total Kills: 17,934

Image
Image We barely... finished it... Phew…

Image Hang in there, Ollie. I'll get you back to camp, safe and sound…

Image Oh dear. This doesn't look good at all.


Image
Image She's a spirited one, isn't she? So much pain, but she's still lucid.

Image Will! Stop hiding offscreen!

Image I wasn't hiding offscreen… you just let your guard down.

Image Mrrr..! Will!

Image
Image You look quite exhausted already.

Image Shubert... *cough* Transfer Tana... Argh! Run, Magilia…

Image No! Shubert, transfer Ollie. I'll take care of Tana.

Image Y-you can't! My mission was... to protect you…

Image What?!

Image Cough... Don't... fight…

Image Shubert! Now!


Image

Ollie is warped out of harm's way, leaving us alone with Will and Tana (crystal ver).

Image You fool. If only you had listened to your spirited friend.

Image

Will uses a single attack, the screen fades to black…

Image
Image Argh! Your power... I thought you couldn't…

And we've once again been owned in a cutscene. :eng99:

Image
Image Ha ha ha! Do you understand anything that's happening?

No.

Image Nope.

Image Not a thing.

Image You defeated the Executors and weakened Tana's power.

Image That's why you didn't fight me earlier! Argh…

Image That's got to sting, yes? You've put the whole world at risk for the sake of that girl. Oh, that poor girl. I suppose she was just a pawn to sacrifice in your place.

Image What?

Image
Image You, the great Adversary, are the only one who can face him. The obvious choice is to sacrifice others to save yourself if necessary.


There's that word. "Adversary." Remember it, it'll basically become the name the game uses to avoid having to call us 'xXxHyper_Sin_SixTNeinxXx' in serious cutscenes and allow the VAs to call us something.

Image Couldn't they just… call me Angelic Buster..?

Yeah, but there's over fifty classes so just calling all of you "Adversary" is easier.

Image I guess… that makes… sense…

Image No... You can't…

Image Now, I believe the time has come to reveal yourself.


Image

We pan to the right, where someone is lying in wait.

Image
Image What a pity. You thought I would use the power of Mirror World if I fought with the Adversary…

Image But there's no need for me to do that.

Image

Image I have no intention of fighting with you.

Image
Image Now, it's time for you to choose. Will you save the Adversary, or stop the ritual?

Image You're free to do as you like, of course. Just keep this in mind…

Image
Image You don't have time to hesitate.

Image
Image …!

Image I can't... breathe… …


We hear a splashing noise.

Image

Looks like they made their choice. Which is good, because if we died here this game would be over already. But also this means the game isn't over yet… so this might not be a good thing after all. Jury's still out, I guess.

Image *cough* *cough* You... You attacked Will and stopped the ritual. But why? Why did you save me?

Image

Image
Image To destroy him... I need to create an Adversary.

Image Him... You mean the Black Mage?


Image My job is done here.

Image But you didn't do anything.

Image Exactly.

Image

Another of the mystery person's portals appears high in the sky…

Image

…And Magilia falls out of it, alone.

Image
Image Agh... watch where you teleport me…

Image Magilia! What happened?

Image I don't know. Someone transferred me here. Obviously not you… Why'd they... Ah! I remember, the white sun...

Image You couldn't stop the spider in the end. I warned you.

Image What about Ollie...?

Image She's resting in the ship. Stable for now... but that poison is spreading.


:ohdear:

Image Poison?

Image It's not your run-of-the-mill poison. It's enchanted. The only one who can cure it is the one who created it.

Image No…

Image Will is inside that sun. Unfortunately, there‘s only one way in.


Image
Image It's a trap, obviously. But it's the only way.

This mirror just kind of… appeared when Melange mentioned a way in.

Image He's daring me to follow him.

Image Hang on, hang on! I'm getting something from HQ…

Image Magilia, Bzzzt... trap... Don't... in…

Image Ollie's been poisoned. Will is the only one with the antidote.

Image If you act hastily... Support will be there soon... Bzzt... Make sure to… standby… Your survival... priority…

Image
Image Oh, that poor girl. I suppose she was just a pawn to sacrifice in your place.

Image


Image
Image Neinheart... Are you the one that commanded Ollie to protect me?

Image

Image I'm going in. Don't try to stop me.

Image There's... a way. But... promise me this one thing… Choose... Bzzzzzzt... Don't hesitate…

Image I've lost the signal. What did he say?

Image
Image He said not to hesitate when the time comes to make a choice.

Image Alright, Neinheart. I promise you, I won't fail twice.

Image
Image Time to see where this leads.


Time to run into a trap to save the day. :dance:

Image
Image Melange?

Inside we see someone we weren't expecting, though they're mostly hidden behind my pets right now.

Image I can help you from here.

Image What is this place? I thought everything would be white because... y'know, sun.

Image This is the temple where Tana once lived. It's now the manifestation of Mirror World.

Image What happens now? What was this sun created for?


That sun showed up when we got teleported back to the base camp by the masked stranger, and is front and center in the screenshot. I didn't mention it because… :effort:

Image That's what we need to figure out now. We need to examine the memories formed in this space.

Image But we need to hurry! If we don't, Ollie will…

Image If you rush, you‘ll only get yourself into worse trouble. Isn't that what just happened?

Image

Image Let's go. It's just ahead.


Image

Image For the record: He only won because he got lucky.

Image Sure.

Image I'm going to shove his head through a wall next time.

Image Sure.

Image
Image Executors. One told us they lost their names and their forms…

Image They were one of the smaller races of Grandis that vanished long ago. They wanted to find the domain of the gods. People mocked them for it.

Image (This is all new to me... And I don't think anyone has seen these things before...) (So how does Melange know all of that?)

Image Looks like they succeeded.

Image But the Executors here aren't real. These are formed from Mirror World. Hunt them, and recharge the staff. Light Executor x200 will be enough. Be careful. We're nothing more than intruders to them.


It's time to get to work on that. But before I do anything else…

Image

Rune of Giants time. I mentioned waaay back during Vanishing Journey that these things aren't good for farming, and while this is usually true it's not always true. If we can't oneshot the enemies on the map we're on, the Giant Potion will give us enough damage to instantly kill whatever's around us for as long as we're bigified.

Image

Add in the three layers of platforms on this map and the high density of spawns, and we're free to go full Godzilla until the potion runs out in, oh, about 41 seconds from now.

Image

We're only able to handle ~120 or so mobs in that timeframe, though, so the rest goes back to Celestial Roar. We're still in a very comfortable 2shot range, so that's fine.

Image

We trigger another Banquet explosion along the way, but we get there.

Total Kills: 18,139

Image I'll use the staff.

Image
Image Aeona! Get out here! Right now!

Image
Image Halt. You may not pass.

Image I won't repeat myself. Shall I remove you?

Image That's enough, Tana.

Image
Image Everyone get back. There's no need to humor this child's whining.

Image Whining?! You destroy seven races and call this whining?!

Image l have a job to do, Tana. And I did it.


Image

Tana is not happy with this answer.

Image You are completely out of your mind, Aeona.

Image So now what? Are you going to fight me? You've never beaten me, with or without your powers.

Image You are not worthy of that power.


Image

Tana summons up her power, and everything cuts to black.

Image Looks like this is where the memory ends.

Image So clearly they weren't getting along. I'm curious about the seven races she said were destroyed... Were there more races in the past that we never knew about?

Image You may be aware of this, but the Transcendents of Grandis were actively involved in their world, unlike the ones of Maple World. Aeona, in particular, left no traces of her actions. So there could have been even more races, before she wiped them out. Her history is a blank slate. However... There was something strange in what she said.

Image What was it?

Image
Image When she said she had a job to do. It sounded like she did it all against her will.

Image Hm?

Image Now, follow me. We need to get to Radiant Temple 4. It's to the right.


Image So you're not going to explain what you meant by—

Image Nope. Rightward.

Image

Our next goal is right here, the final map before—

Image Heeeey, that's Will on the map, isn't it?

I told you to forget about that guy, Magilia. He sucks.

Image …I think I might agree.

Image
Image Good, you're here. l was starting to nod off.

Total Kills: 18,142. You already know why. :colbert:

Image Hm... Do you feel that? The moon is getting closer.

Image Are you serious? Is... is that a thing that can happen?


Image

…Sometimes? Usually a giant shows up to help fix things, though.

Image Eh... Let's have a look at the next memory first. You need to hunt Dark Executor x200.

This is the final enemy type we have to deal with in this area, so one last time say it loud and proud..!

Image

Image I!

Image

Image LOVE!!

Image

Image Hunting!!!

Total Kills: 18,343.

Alright, let's check out this final memory.

Image I'll use the staff.

Image
Image In the end, my sister... with my own hands…

Image How did it come to this? Where did it all go wrong?

Image
Image This power is... flowing into me.

Image Dark Executor. You were wrong.

Image Indeed. My declaration was wrong.

Image Dark is Tana. Light is Aeona.

Image Light is Aeona. Dark is Tana.

Image Hail Aeona, Transcendent of Light.

Image Hail Aeona, Transcendent of Light.

Image
Image I am... Aeona?

Image Wait, wait, wait. Tana was Aeona, the Transcendent of Light?!

Image I hear the voice… This is... You were right. I can't free myself from this.

Image Can't free herself? From what?

Image I feel them... the chains that bind me. They will never be broken. But…

Image
Image ...It won't go the way they expect.

Image I will live as myself. Even if I lose all that I have.

Image I will live as myself…

Image So Tana was Aeona in the end. Now it all makes sense. Let's talk while we move.


Image

We're taken to the final room, in front of an ominous mirror.

Image (This place... I saw it in Tana's memory.)

Image I think I finally know all that I need to.

Image Great, then maybe you can start clearing all of this up! What did that memory mean? What was the voice that Tana, or Aeona, tried to free herself from?

Image I can't be certain of that. What I know for sure is that Tana is the true Transcendent of Light.

Image
Image And that means that the Black Moon and the White Sun will fuse.

Image Fuse?!

Image When that happens, the power of the Transcendents from the two worlds will become one. I'd say fighting against that great a force would be hopeless.

Image …It won't happen if we can stop the ritual. And that means I have to defeat Will.

Image Will is inside the mirror. Heh, a Mirror World within a Mirror World… I can‘t do much else for you. I can't fight in his Mirror World.

Image Looks like this is it. I'm going in.

Image You'll still be able to hear my voice, so I'll advise you as much as I can from here.

Image (Let's head inside the mirror, where Will is.)


In Summary: The Transcendent of Light's power is usually spoken of in terms of Light and Darkness, but in actuality their abilities govern over Creation and Destruction respectively. The Black Mage, Maple World's Transcendent of Light (this comes up more in storylines that we skipped due to the hat dimension), holds the power of Destruction, and he's represented in the sky over the Esfera by the Black Moon. Aeona, who is actually Tana, coincidentally holds the power over Creation as Grandis's Transcendent of Light. She has been added into the ritual as a White Sun, which is going to crash into the Black Moon and fuse the powers of the Transcendent of Light together to give one entity the full ability to both destroy and create at will.

That entity being the Black Mage, who wants to end the world. This would be incredibly bad, so we really need to stop this ritual (which we were already doing to save Ollie, but like, we have more incentive now).

Image

All this is to say: We are absolutely about to hand this man the greatest asskicking he has ever known.

User avatar
Image
Image Will!

Image Ha ha ha... You actually followed me all the way here. You are a piece of work. I should probably tell you... There's only one way to stop the ritual at this point. The one who forms the white sun, Tana, has to die.

Image (This was what Neinheart was talking about!)

Image Ha ha ha! So what's it going to be, hero? Which path will you choose? Either you kill a poor girl to save the world, or challenge a being greater than the Transcendents to undo his grand plan. Actually, none of that matters if you can't even beat me first.

Image … (I've already made one mistake. I've put my allies and the whole world in danger.) (It won't happen again. I can't let it!)

Image Then I'll defeat you... And then, Tana…

Image
Image Ah ha ha ha!

Image The true soul of a person shows in the hard choices they make. What you decide when the chips are down and time has run out... That is who you truly are! We shall see who you truly are. If you can defeat me, that is.

Image You cannot escape your fate!


Image Alright, it's time to fight y-!

Story mode? All that smug and you want to do story mode?

Image It's the mode the mirror gave me!

Well yeah, but with the power of ~movie magic~ we can do something a little more interesting than that.

Image

We can fight Will on Easy instead.

Image Easy? Why Easy?

Because this way he only has 17 trillion HP or so, instead of the ~27 trillion of Normal difficulty.

Image But Lucid had only 24 trillion, we can do—

No.

Image Why?

Because I like Lucid's fight. Will is an asshole.

Image Okay… Power from the future time?

Yep. And there's one more important thing I do before we get started as well:

Image

I call out this Familiar.

Image Familiar..?

Certain monsters that we defeat drop cards that let us summon them to stick around our side and give us additional stats or effects. These are called Familiars, and this one is a surprise tool to help us later. Now it's time to kick his butt.

Image Right. Let's go, Eskalade!

Image Woah, Magilia… It seems like you're way more powerful all of a sudden. It's because Ollie's in danger, right?

Image Uh… right! Because a true Battleground Idol fights for her friends!

Image

Unlike Lucid, Will's boss cutin doesn't do much. He just stands there as his book slowly flips pages on its own.

Image

And just like that, the battle is joined. We're able to see several things right off. First of all the boss's lifebar looks weird, we'll come back to that. Second, the eyeballs. They fire two sets of five bullets in the same pair of patterns in the same order. Thirdly, I start lining up my burst—our own attacks will be much harder to see in this fight, because I turned my attack transparency all the way up to the maximum just for this fight. I want to be able to see exactly what Will's doing in order to respond to his attacks.

Image

Literally four seconds later, we're able to see another handful of attacks. The purple orbs are sensor bombs. When we get close to them, they'll stop moving and explode a half second or so later. It's possible to get out of their way, but we have to be moving when we touch them. Will is also reared back, this means he himself will be attacking as well. Lastly, there's those things up at the top of the screen, the red portals. Once formed, they show some sparkles in a column over the battlefield…

Image

BAM. Black columns of wispy doom from above. Will has also launched his attack, and that particular pose is the one we wanted to dodge most. That's because that's Will's "push" attack, the only one of his three personal attacks that is really a problem.

This attack, like it says, pushes us back when it hits. Worse, it also inflicts a status effect.

Image

There's now a little skull over our head. This is because we've been Confused!

Confusion reverses our controls temporarily, and also ensures that we must hold the down arrow key if we want to jump. It's annoying, but if we're facing in the direction we want to move we can still use our Pink Pummel's drill to force ourselves forward regardless.

Image

Lastly, there's this animation. In phase 1, whenever Will adjusts his glasses we want to be behind him immediately.

Image

This is because he summons an eye tornado that will fly the entire length of the screen, dealing us (70% / 90% / 90%) damage, depending on difficulty. This is the attack that will most often kill us in this phase, as nothing else deals more than 20% damage per hit.

We're at full health so I just ignore this one, but in general we want to dodge it.

Image Okay, so that's a lot about what Will does, but how am I actually supposed to BEAT this guy?!

Image You're not.

Image It's easy enough. You have to attack Will simultaneously in 2 separate dimensions. If you collect the moonlight and use it, you can shift to the other side.

Image The WHAT now?

On to the next new mechanic: Moonlight!

Image

Up there in the top left, we have a new gauge. This gauge is our moonlight meter. It goes up over time naturally, but the exploding purple orbs and black columns will stop it from regenerating for a moment and the eye bullets will actually drain a little of it. The moonlight meter's use varies from phase to phase, but in all three phases it's important to try and keep it full-ish.

Image

In this phase, it's how we actually deplete his healthbar.

Image Yeah, I was wondering why that wasn't going down.

Image Like I said, he's in two dimensions at once. This main dimension, and a mirror dimension that he sources power from. You should be able to switch between them if you have enough power.

Image Okay, but how do I do that!

Oh, you hit the NPC/Interact key. That's how you do all of the various Things in boss fights, it's like our all-purpose Do Thing Button.

Image Neat.

Image

When we push the button we swap out which side we're on. The background is purple now, and the lifebars near the top have also changed: purple is a solid color, while the blue is now a gray. Attacking Will now will drain this healthbar instead of the blue one. That light around us is invincibility, when we swap places via Moonlight we're invincible for 3 seconds so we can't die to a random eye tornado already in progress.

Image But neither of those is his actual health!

Just hold on, Magilia. This fight is super annoying to solo.

Image BRINGING FRIENDS WAS AN OPTION?!

Image

Anyways, we get to work whittling this HP bar down as well. Will uses his last notable attack here, a teleport. It does nothing but remove him from the field for ~3 seconds, during which time we cannot attack him. He will then appear on top of where we were when the teleport started. We're just idling away now waiting for 28:50 on the main timer.

Image What happens at 28:50?

~Mechanics~

Image
Image Will is trying to unlock his power. Find your way to safety.

At 28:50, and every two minutes after that (26:50, 24:50, etc), Will uses a full screen attack on one of the two sides. To avoid it, we have to not be on that screen—we can tell which one is safe because the safe side will have this eye in the background. This means our job is pretty simple: when we see the popup announcing Will's doing his thing, we look at the center of our room. Eye? Safe, do nothing. No eye? Hit moonlight and swap rooms.

Image That's not threatening at all…

Image Only because that bastard is yapping…

Back in the day, Melange wouldn't chime in when it was mechanics time, so you either kept an eye on the timer or just died. Thankfully, this is not implemented in v251.

This isn't all, though. We have a few moments to wait before the attack has resolved…

Image

And then Will balances his healthbar.

Image He what? Oh—hey! It went down!

After each power unleash, Will's HP of his lower half heals up to his current HP of his higher half, and this becomes his new remaining HP. We have to damage both sides evenly in order to progress. This is our primary issue with clearing Normal or above by ourselves, the healing means his HP is effectively much higher than it shows. I might be able to do it, but it'd be very close.

Image

Anyways, we have 2 minutes to burn through his health bar. I start off with a half burst against purple Will, then whittle him down with normal Trinities.

Image
Image The Pupil of Chaos seeks a target. You might be moved.

Image What's that even mean?!

I mentioned that we're invincible when we swap areas by Moonlight. That was because of this. Periodically, Will will just swap some people around randomly. We are the only one here, so we're guaranteed to get swapped from blue to purple.

Image

This works out fine for us, since we've gotten purple down right next to the first HP gate.

Image HP has gates now? Can I have one?

Image Only gate your HP has is the pearly one when you run out, I'm afraid.

Image Shucks. How do we get past HIS, then?

Mechanics. We'll get to it, Will's fight is very much a test of if you know how Will's fight works. Just punch him with dragons.

Image Gladly. This is for Ollie!!

Image

We give blue Will our full Burst, and knock him down to the HP gate as well.

Image He's unlocking his power, again. Look out.

Image Hey, this is too early! We have another like, 44 seconds!

Will's HP gates are directly related to his full screen attack, so before today we had to wait for the next one in order to have a chance to break it. Instead, we can now get a full screen attack immediately upon hitting his gate. This does speed up the fight, but the next 2 minute timer always comes based on when the test last finished—this means our next attack is desynced.

Anyways, no eye, swap sides.

Image

After dodging the instant kill, we're then shoved back into a room (randomly purple or blue) with a new thing in the middle. It's time for a test.

Image Ah, jeez… I hate tests.

Image Attack the Pupil to redirect the moonlight. Use this to create the moonlight barrier.

Image What does that even mean?!

Image That thingy in the center looks like an eye. Hit it and see what happens.

We actually don't have to. Having Spotlight active means that it'll hit the thing on its own. This is both a good AND a bad thing.

Image

Image Ah man, it's meteors! This is Magnus all over again!

Image You beat up that Magnus in two punches, didn't you?!

Image Still!

Image Go for the shining ones.

When the thing in the center is hit, it makes meteors rain down over our heads. We need to dodge the black ones (which deal 75% HP damage on hit) and grab one of the shining orbs as it falls. Depending on luck, this can take a few hits. Because we're solo they all appear on our side, but there are technically still two worlds in this phase—if we were in a party hitting ours would make it rain on their side and vice-versa.

Long ago, to solo this boss we had to set up some kind of summon to attack the thing on this side and then warp over ourselves to catch what we tossed down. Thankfully, this is not implemented in v251.

On top of the immediate tests I mentioned before… Will is much less annoying than before.

Image This is still remarkably annoying!!

Well, yeah. He sucks.

Image

We grab one of the lights and stand inside the shield that is now in the center of the screen. We do have to move a little to avoid the black meteors, but that's not too hard. Now all that's left to do is wait.

Image

Will does his full screen attack (complete with the first actual spider we've seen in all Esfera) and breaks both screens at once. All players outside the moonlight shield are immediately killed, and here's the kicker: if anyone died at any point from "unleashing his power" to now, he does not ungate his HP and instead recovers some back.

Image But it's just me… and I survived. So now what?!

Image

The screen cracks…

Image

Explodes, denoting the attack is over… ~27:06 is the time to keep in mind here

Image

Image You're… a little more skilled than I thought.

Image You made a big mistake. You tried to kill my friend.

And Will is stuck for 10 seconds in a mechanical bind state. We can use this to immediately pour damage on going into his next phase, but our burst isn't up yet so I have to just use basic Trinity.

This concludes everything there is to know about part 1 Will. We now have to do this two more times.

Image

The overall strategy here is pretty simple. Moonlight generation varies based on our difficulty level, but even on Hard our moonlight generates quickly enough that we should always be able to swap if we want to. That means we can functionally ignore the balls, bullets, and even the columns, since they won't be able to deal us enough damage to kill us off before our 10 second potion cooldown lets us heal again. The important thing here is staying just behind Will. Staying behind him ensures he can't hit us with his slaps or his eye tornado, and staying around the middle of the screen ensures that he can't teleport to one side and fling a tornado at us that spans the entire map.

There aren't any mishaps in this phase to talk about. Will is literally a knowledge check, he's impossible if you can't do his tests and kind of free otherwise.

Image

Our burst comes back up, and we drop it on blue Will's head to drain his HP. We're in a rush, though. The timer's at 25:16…

Image

And we blitz Will down as of 25:01. This is actually strange, because 2 minutes from the last attack ending would mean he'd do his healing trick at ~25:06. This means that either the timer starts after his first stun is completed, or that our bind delayed it by 10 seconds… or both.

The documentation on this boss is not complete enough to know the exact specifics. What matters is that we don't have to dodge more than one screen break attempt this segment.

Image

No eye, we swap to blue…

Image

Hit the eye, grab a yellow, sit in the shield…

Image

Earth shattering kaboom…

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Image Ghh…

Bind phase. Magilia, I want that twink benothinged.

Image Can do! …What's a twink?

Image Uh… d-don't you worry about that, Angelic Buster.

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The test took long enough that our 60 second halfburst is just coming back up by the time it's over. This lets us take a massive chunk out of blue Will's HP right from the start…

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Image Tornado for tornado! You can't touch me!

Image I didn't plan for that.

And outside of this moment, where we get cornered by an eye tornado and I opt to use Soul Resonance to keep from having to swap twice, nothing interesting happens from here to the end of the phase.

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Eye on our side, we don't swap.

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Grab the glowy meteor, sit in the shield.

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Screen break, and that's phase 1.

Image But he's still got health left!

Yeah, that doesn't matter.

Image Wha?

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Image I can see… this will take a little more… effort.

Image It's over, Will!

Image No… it's not.

Image Will is serious now. Perhaps his true intentions will be reflected within the mirror.

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Image My world… my rules.

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The second phase starts off with me going right into a burst rotation, but before I can bind him Will slaps down a spiderweb barrier. This barrier is only visible on the lower half of the screen on both sides of it, but if we touch it we die. Period. That's -1 life unless we're invincible at the time.

It doesn't move, but Will still has his push attack to shove us into the thing so we need to be careful.

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Image Beware of his true form reflected in the mirror. Use collected moonlight to break the curse keeping you from healing.

While Magilia's beating the snot out of Will for the next ten or so seconds, let's cover the overarching mechanics in phase 2 real quick. First and foremost: the screen ends halfway down, and we can see a reflection of both ourselves and Will down there. Some attacks, like the eyeballs and half of the columns, will hit in the top world. Some attacks, like the webs and those spider legs (which are also the exact same as the columns up top) come from the bottom. Our mirror self and our normal self can both take hits, which will deal us damage.

This is a problem, because we do have our healing turned off. Will's second phase shuts off every normal form of healing, including skills that heal us. There's only one exception to this:

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Familiars. Familiars are not coded into KMS, as they are exclusive to servers outside of the main one. Because of this, there are some oversights in phases that turn off healing. HP Familiars like our Red Shadow can heal us for 5% HP every 10 seconds. This gives us some additional staying power, though it's still not ideal. For emergency healing, we can pop our Moonlight to break the curse and heal for around 10 seconds. It's enough to heal exactly twice if we use the first one right after activating the moonlight.

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Will still has his attacks as well, with the lower Will miming the upper Will with every movement.

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He can also dive into the mirror and have his mirror self dash—we can jump over this, but it thankfully doesn't push us around at all.

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He can also summon one of his stupid six-legged spiders to crawl across the screen. We can jump over this one as well, and were we not invincible I would do so since it deals 20% HP damage.

Image I love idol privilege sometimes.

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All of Will's personal attacks in this phase can be upjumped, which makes it easy to time a dodge. We also have one final advantage because we're playing solo: we can kind of ignore one of the mechanics he'll try and use against us in this phase.

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Sometimes, Will winds up to make one of his attacks, but his lower self doesn't move.

That means he's using a feint, and the actual hurtbox is going to be behind Will.

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Like so.

Image My plan failed again… How did you get out of the way?

Image I was the only person to swing at. You were suspicious from the start.

While this can throw off parties of players who aren't paying close attention, in a solo fight like this we're always holding aggro so he will only ever strike in our direction. It's just a neat parlor trick here.

Anyways, we continue punching him until we hit the first HP gate at the 50% mark.

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Image The Mirror of Lies reverses attacks. When the crack appears, face the attack.

It's test time. This is the single greatest hurdle to clearing Will, if you can do the phase 2 test you can clear this boss for sure—in a party, at least. The test starts by clearing off everything on the screen.

This wasn't always the case, it was possible before for the side webs to stick around going into the test, cutting off the corner of the screen completely.

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The test is remarkably simple. We have to deal with five sets of attacks (later reduced to three), each attack having three groups of legs raining down from above and below. In this phase it's most important to keep an eye on the floor. If the floor is normal, we hide in this corner. The legs have a handful of patterns they can fall in, and none of them ever hit the extreme left of the screen.

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This changes when the floor is cracked.

Image Uhh… sparkles right over me, about to get hit??

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Image …Oh! I'm fine?

When the floor's cracked, we get damaged if we don't get hit by the legs. This is the hardest part, as we have to move to where the legs are going to land very quickly. After a while you just kind of get a feel for the patterns, but until then Will phase 2 will be a massive pain. Messing up deals 90% HP damage, and like in phase 1 everyone needs to survive to clear the gate. If anyone dies, the test continues until it's done and then Will recovers some HP.

Image I see… so that's how it works!

Image Once again, you're navigating past my schemes… You think you have a chance of winning like this?

Image Of course! I'm going to stop you and save Ollie for sure!

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Surviving his test gives Will another 10 second stun and unblocks his HP. I want to be a little careful in this phase, since I really want to have my Burst up going into phase 3.

Image Wait, there's a phase 3?!

Image Surely you didn't think I'd let things end here, did you..?

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My burst winds up bringing him relatively low, and his test is ~30s to a minute, so eyeballing it we should be fine to bump him over the finish line here. We just have to be careful and remember to keep healing. Moonlight in this phase is pretty generous unless we're making zero effort to dodge anything.

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Test time again. It's still easy. This is really the worst part about Will—more than any other MapleStory boss, Will does not respect your time. The fastest you can clear him (assuming a near-instant 0-test of every section) is still over five minutes, and his tests are both mind numbingly easy and also hideously punishing if you just try and autopilot them…

He's really annoying, basically, and this is somehow worse than the actual badly designed bosses that came before him.

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And now he's stuck in his stun again. Unlike phase 1, here we do have to punch down the rest of his HP to end the phase. We could pause here if we needed our burst to finish coming off of cooldown, but we're ready for phase 3 so let's just punch him in the face.

Image Couldn't agree more.

Image That... is… IT.

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Image Will has lost his composure. The path to the heart of Mirror World is laid bare.

Image Congratulations, Adversary. I've decided to crush you.

Image You can't crush me! An idol's spirit is boundless!

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For phase 3, Will loses his glasses. This is how you can tell he's trying, but also it means it is now alright to punch him in the face.

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The moment we enter, Will opens with one of his most dangerous attacks. He transforms into a giant spider (becoming invincible for the duration), and because his eyes are orange, two legs are raised, and he's a little bit low I already know the secret to survival:

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I stand still and prep burst. If we move too far once the attack starts, we will die.

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While we're binding and chopping through his health, let's cover the important bits of this phase.

Spider legs are still coming down from overhead, but there's safe spots in various places throughout the room now where they'll never land. One of them is roughly where the yellow mark on the screen is, which is where we'll want to hang out most of the time. That spot also dodges the vast majority of the eye bullets (which also still exist!) as a bonus. The purple bombs are also still around, those I usually just kind of ignore… but we do want to keep our Moonlight up in this phase. That's because of the webs.

On the outside of the screen, webs have filled in. As long as we are under one of the webs we take constant damage and are inflicted with Skill Lock, preventing us from using any of our abilities. Over time, the webs will grow in and close off parts of the screen, preventing us from using them. This functionally puts the fight on a timer. Our moonlight is used to extend this timer a little bit and keep us in the fight.

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Once he's unbound, Will immediately goes for his other Giant Spider attack. White eyes, one leg raised, and he's raised his body up high. I immediately pop my sparkle burst iframe, but in most circumstances we want to be ready to flash jump or dash instead.

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That's because this attack spawns the leg right on top of where you are. Both this leg and the other giant spider leg attack deal 70%/90%/100% HP based on difficulty, but even if it won't kill us on easy mode I still don't wanna lose most of my health at once.

Will himself will also use normal attacks in this phase, transforming into a spider to smack us. There's only one of these normal attacks that we need to worry about…

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And that is this one. Note the reared back stance and the crossed over legs.

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This is his Push attack, and it is the thing that will actually kill you in this phase. Like in every other phase it shoves us backwards and reverses our controls. Unlike every other phase, it shoves us into the ring of webs on the outside of the map, turning off our skills and damaging us further. Worse for us, this boss's attack cooldowns are spaced out such that he usually uses this attack shortly before using his white Giant Spider attack, meaning we're going to have to dodge a thing appearing instantly on our location while skill locked and with backwards controls.

This is possible, but I've never done it. Much like phase 1 of Lucid, sometimes Will will just kill you. Unlike phase 1 of Lucid, that's only if this attack hits you.

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Will's final attack is this green orb, which chooses a random person in the party to surround in a gunky green poison aura.

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While we're surrounded by the poison aura, we deal damage to any other players who are near us. We must attack the boss while poisoned, as failing to do so for seven seconds will instantly kill us. If we die while poisoned, the poison goes to another party member and our gravestone also emits a poisoning aura that will damage other members for a short while. In exchange for this, we gain a 30% Final Damage bonus.

Without party members, this translates to: "A 30% Final Damage bonus, but we have to keep hitting the boss or we die." That's just a buff.

Image Hah! Looks like your plans have gone awry, Will!

Image You cannot even begin to comprehend the barest fathom of my true plans!

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While dodging one of the single spike leg attacks, I wind up on the top platform with a mostly-full Moonlight gauge and decide to use it. Activating Moonlight in this phase surrounds us with a golden aura that will make us temporarily immune to the effects of the encroaching spider webs.

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It also burns away the first two webs we touch, giving us more time before the webs cover the entire screen and leave us with nowhere to go.

This gives us a very basic pattern to deal with: Punch Will. Avoid the big attacks, continue punching Will. Whenever Moonlight gets full enough, pop it and burn two webs before returning to punching Will.

This sounds very simple! The problem is in the execution.

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So we punch.

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And we avoid the big spike attack.

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And we burn away webs.

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And we dash back in onto the push attack which shoves us into the webs with reversed controls.

So we pray for No Big Spike.

Image Oof..!

Image It's fine, you've still got plenty of lives left.

Image That doesn't mean I have to like getting hit!

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We get out of that situation before he does his next big spike, so it's fine. Still, the main problem with Will is the time limit meaning you take risks, which gets you hit, which gets you dead. Patience is often important in Maple bossing.

I am very bad at patience, and it gets me killed frequently. :v:

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By the time we're below 60% health, we're already getting a big web on the left hand side. This means that side is running out of room, as it doesn't spawn until near the end of the webbing pattern since webs can only spawn next to other webs. My moonlight is a bit high for this phase as well, we really want to be keeping it as low as possible from constant use. We're still making decent time, though—we shouldn't be in any danger of getting webbed out of the fight.

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Unfortunately, while trying to clear webs I stop looking at Will. This lets him shove us into the webs again.

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That leaves us in this position: Skill Locked with the Big Spike coming down.

Our only hope here is to walk to the right at full tilt and jump at the perfect time, which will let us just barely dodge the spike.

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I still cannot execute this jump. :eng99:

Image That was a cheap shot!

Image It was a surgical strike to your weakness. You should've expected that if you were so intent on angering me.

Image Oh, that is IT. Eskalade, we're kicking this twink's butt!

Image Great attitude, but… seriously, please stop calling him that.

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Our next Burst rotation is lucky enough to happen during a poison aura, so we're able to cut his remaining HP nearly in half all at once. Around two or three more minutes of focused damage should let us finish him off…

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…Which is good, because I mistime another big spike and lose a second life. The basic strategy in Will is to conserve all your lives through the easier parts 1 and 2 in order to spend them here to get more damage in part 3, but usually you want to save them in this part as well until you get to the very end.

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I then make another stupid mistake around a minute later and focus on clearing webs during the poison aura phase, because I had forgotten about the "must attack" rule.

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Which is another death. :negative:

Image This is starting to get really annoying…

Image It's alright, Tear. We're good to go.

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The second I revive, it's time to fire off another burst rotation. No poison, but it's still a lot of damage.

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Image You are… strong. Truly strong. I admit it, I may have underestimated you, Adversary.

Image That's because I'm the Battleground Idol, Angelic Buster! And remember it!

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Image Because there's no way in heck I'd lose to someone who doesn't know how many legs a spider has!

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Upon defeating Easy Will, a couple of achievements pop up for us—you get achievements for beating a boss for the first time, and I've never bothered with this difficulty level before just now.

Will himself crackles with power a little longer…

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Which then explodes.

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Before he collapses, kneeling on the ground.

Image Ghhh…

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Image And there goes that power… Man, I can't wait 'til I actually have it.

Image It's still your power either way. You always have had it. Just have to learn how to USE it.

With the fight over, we're finally free to do something about the ritual. But does Angelic Buster really have it in her to save Tana? And what's with that strange red nodestone?

Image Oh nuts, this sounds just like a cliffhanger.

That's because it is.


Video: vs Will

User avatar
Minor thread update: I'm going on vacation for the next week, so don't expect any chunky updates from me.

That's all. Have a good one!

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Okay, let's hang this cliff. We start off by talking to the ominous red nodestone with the quest marker, because that's where progression is. This gives us a copy of the red nodestone that we'll check on later and tells us to talk to Will.

We'll cover the red nodestone in a couple moments. For now: WILL. :black101:

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Image Heh... Well, you got me. Against all odds, you beat me.

Image As a reward, I've cured your spirited little friend. I suppose there's only one thing left to do, then. It's time to get rid of Tana.

Image (I saved Ollie, but the whole world is doomed if I don't stop the ritual!)


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Angelic Buster contemplates the morality and ethics of murder.

Image ...Ahhgh!

Image (She's in pain. Is she dreaming?)

Image Help me…

Image … (Tana... You paid for your rebellion against fate with a lifetime of pain.) (The only way I can end this... is to end you...) (I... I can't put the world at risk by hesitating. This is for everyone!)

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Image I'm sorry, Tana.

Image Help me… …Jean.

Image … No... It doesn't have to be like this. You're wrong, Will.

Image l'm... I'm sorry, what did you just say? Do you know what this means? Do you understand what you‘ve done?

Image Yes. The Black Mage will have the power of the Transcendents from two worlds.

Image Even knowing that…

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Image This won't go the way you expect. I CAN save EVERYONE!

Image Ha... Ha ha ha ha! Really, now... I admire your conviction.


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Tana vanishes, and everything starts shaking.

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Image And yet, the merging began once the Black Moon drew close. The ritual cannot be stopped. And you won‘t live long enough to regret your decision anyway.

And it turns out Will was lying! Murdering Tana no longer mattered.

Image This has been fun, Magilia. I'd say let's do it again sometime... But your story ends here. I can't let you leave this place, you see. You're too dangerous to let loose. And since this is my realm now... I make the rules.

Image You…!

Image It's been a pleasure. I mean that. And I'll remember what you said.


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Will runs away…

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And we're surrounded by spiders.

Image Ugh…

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Image There's no end to these spiders!

Image Is there really no way out of here?!


This scene takes place over sounds of spider-related violence, of the same spiders which we can defeat an infinite number of by just hopping around in circles and spamming one attack.

Image They keep coming! There's... too many… Argh!

We hear another round of attacks and a Thud. We got cutscene'd.

Image My vision... fading…

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Magilia……

Wake up…

Wake up…

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Image Wake up, Magilia!


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Image Ollie? How did...?

Image Oh, Magilia! I knew that Will was no match for you! But I also knew he would never admit defeat. Soooo...

Image What?

Image As soon as things got weird, I called in a transfer for myself to check on you. And here you are, safe and sound! Ish.

Image But still... You didn't have to save me…


Please remember that Magilia is literally the Adversary, the one and only person who can theoretically stop the Black Mage according to destiny or something. Also based on a storyline we skipped over due to being in a Hat, the last Seal Stone of Maple World was used to revive us and merged with us or something as a result, and nobody else has that. We're also the only person who can use Arcane Force to actually damage these enemies without losing most of our attack to their defenses (which makes Ollie even MORE badass now that I think about it, she's fighting them off without AF), and given that Lucid and Will have both had AF requirements it's a sure bet that the Black Mage has them.

All of this is to say: Yes, Magilia. They did have to save you. You functionally ARE the plan.

Image This is not a good plan!

Image It's a GREAT plan, if it keeps my homegirl alive!

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Image I do, actually. The mission that the Empress gave me was to protect you. And that's what I did!

Image The Empress? It wasn't Neinheart?

Image I'll tell you exactly what the Empress said.

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Image ...is exceptionally strong, but tries to shoulder the burdens of the whole world. They don't have to save everyone themselves, but they keep trying, no matter what.


Image We have met like… once.

Image She must be a people person, then, 'cuz she's totally got you pegged.

Image We need this person, Ollie. When the time comes, be their strength.

Image Me? But I'm so weak... I'm not even close…

Image None of us are, compared to Magilia. They've accomplished things we can only dream of. But we are stronger together. Even the weakest among us have parts to play. Do you understand now, Ollie?

Image Yes... Yes, I think I do. The whole reason the Knights and the Alliance exist is...

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Image To protect each other, and make us stronger than we are on our own!


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Right on cue, something starts breaking into the mirror world.

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Image The space... broke?

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Image Let us be rid of these disgusting bugs first.


Neinheart out of nowhere with the save!

Image Neinheart?! I... I'm sorry, I--

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Image Please, there's no need to apologize. I know what happened, I know what choice you made, and I know what that means for the world.


Behind Neinheart are a pair of Cygnus's Knight Commanders, everyone's here cleaning out the infinite spiders now.

Image Everyone!

Image Shubert got his communication device fixed up, and Melange opened a gate for us. And Ollie, you went above and beyond to buy us time.

Image Will is…

Image The spider has fled deeper into Mirror World.

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Image But he left us a little goodie, too.

Image We should leave while we can. There's no telling what will happen here when the Black Moon fuses.

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Image Here in the deepest recesses of Mirror World... That tiny magician can't follow me here.

Image Ahh, I would have loved to present the Adversary to his majesty but... Such is life. Instead, I can look forward to the time of creation. A perfect world is coming... One free of shackles or unchecked powers… Oh, to see it with my own eyes!

Image Hm?


There is a whooshing sound here.

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Image H-how did you get here?!

Image You can't escape.

Image Ah... Hmm. Apparently, I have no choice. Let's settle this.


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We cut away from the two's fight in order to show off the end of the ritual and the beginning of the middle of the end of the Black Mage storyline.

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Image Magilia, that was quite a sigh.

Image I couldn't stop it, Neinheart. I let the ritual happen. This is my fault.

Image You made a choice, and I respect it. More importantly, we now know the Black Mage's true plan. That's a big win for us.

Image Yeah…

Image Steel yourself for what's coming, Magilia. The final act has begun.


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So ends Esfera, and with it Will's part in everything. Let's talk about this smug guy for a moment, shall we?

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From an early age, Will had always been a gigantic nerd, preferring to stay inside all day and theorize about why the Transcendent of Time, Rhinne, had disappeared. He came to the very reasonable conclusion that she had seen the future and realized she couldn't defeat the Black Mage, and thus did something to try and strike back against him. That something was creating a vessel to contain the full power of the Transcendent of Time.

His research continued as he learned about the Interdimensional Portal. Remember that from waaay back at the start of Magilia's story? Turns out it's a side effect of a Transcendent using the stolen power of another Transcendent, in this case the Black Mage stealing the power of Rhinne and using her abilities to do Time Crimes. Will determined that the portal was a symptom of an upcoming collapse as Maple World and Grandis rammed into each other, and that if nothing was done both worlds would be destroyed.

He decided that this was not the Black Mage's actual plan, because there would be WAY easier ways to make it happen, and kept digging until he figured out that what the Black Mage wanted was to create a world without the Overseers.

What are the Overseers, you ask? They're that voice Tana heard that requested all that genocide. They're basically a force that rules over the Transcendents and makes them do things to keep the world in their version of 'balance,' and the Black Mage wants them to stop doing that—so his plan is to destroy the entire world just to get rid of them.

Will thought this was awesome, actually, and joined up with the Black Mage officially right after he got unsealed. He is the only surviving member of the Black Mage's commander crew to still be completely alive and loyal to the big boss to this day.

Lastly, there is one more vitally important thing that must be said about Will: he got his spider-like powers from the Black Mage, and is known as the King of Spiders because of them…

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…which is remarkably ironic because he seems to be scared of the real thing.

Now, I know what you're thinking: What does all of this have to do with magical girls? Well you see, he was involved in keeping a pair of twins eternally separated inside of the original mirror world so that the two of them couldn't gain the Transcendent of Time's power.

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Zero was supposed to be a vessel for Rhinne's power over time, but the Black Mage and Will split them into two people, known as Alpha and Beta. Beta was encased in ice and kept in a temple that was off-limits inside of Will's original mirror world, while Alpha was set to work as a guard of that temple.

They wound up meeting and combining into one person who transforms back and forth as they fight (and even tag in to fight together from time to time) while also having the ability to freeze time.

Zero: Confirmed Magical Girl. :colbert:

Anyways, Will has shown up again as of the current event going on right now in GMS, wherein he is continuing to be an insufferable know-it-all who still seems to be learning everything about everything, but he's lost his glasses and is in a cloak now so nobody recognizes him.

All this is to say, this man needs to be shoved into a locker yesterday.

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Anyways, we pick up our Hyper Burning reward for the area, our lovely level 5 Esfera symbol to give us a jumpstart on Arcane Force for the area.

Image I've stopped questioning why I get this cool free stuff, honestly. I'm just going to enjoy the ride!

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We also open the ominous red nodestone that Will left behind.

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This gives us True Arachnid Reflection, the spider ability we used back in Lucid. This ability has an initial explosion of damage, then sets up an eye that rains legs down upon the enemy at set intervals. It's pretty useful, and one of only two boss skills in the game that the 5th job gets. Outside of this freebie the only way to get more is to do Hard Will, but it's not a major source of damage so it's not a massive priority to level it up before the rest of our stuff.

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I go ahead and pop the 30 of them I was keeping in storage, though—just because it's not a priority doesn't mean I won't level it when I have the chance. :v:

After this, I finally use the rest of my ASS coupons now that we have all six of our Arcane Symbols to level them all up as evenly as possible.

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After all of this we're finally into our dailies mode. First up is Monster Park seven times for a bunch of EXP. Because it's a Sunday, we actually get more EXP than normal. We start here at 22.7% of the way to our next level.

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We end at 93.0% of the way once we're done.

Total Kills: 19,610

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Zakum falls next, I still need some of its gear.

Total Kills: 19,611

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Nailed it. The Aquatic Letter Eye Accessory is our basic Boss Set Eye Accessory, and will be filling one of our equipment slots from here forward.

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Then comes Magnus, because I want the Badge he drops.

Total Kills: 19,612

I do not get the Badge he drops. :rolldice:

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Pink Bean is next, I want both the belt and pocket slot it can give me.

Total Kills: 19,613

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I do get the belt I wanted, the Golden Clover Belt, which is the seventh item in our Boss Set gear. I do not get the pocket slot item.

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This nearly fills up our equipment, making our damage numbers bigger when we punch things in the face.

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After that it's time to do the usual dailies for our Arcane Symbols. Due to our progress we need 200 kills in every area except for Morass and Esfera, which need 400 and 600 respectively.

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Altogether it takes around 15 minutes of time to do all of the murdering on our checklist.

Total Kills: 21,413

We also break 20k kills by a comfortable margin, and finish the 1000 kills for our Angelic Buster compact event.

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This gives us a pair of special decorative rings: The Angelic Buster Label/Chat rings.

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This is us before equipping them…

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And this is us after. The rings alter the label around our name, as well as the text bubble we speak with. They're very cute and I am never removing them, ever.

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After this I turn in the daily quests and we hit another level up to 242. This gets us past 240 and unlocks the next area.

Image …Can we have a break, first?

Yes. Absolutely. With my level and progression goals met for the day, there's only one thing left to do:

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Ponder this orb that we can suddenly summon.

Image You know, Eskalade… I always thought wizards pondered orbs.

Image There's a lot of wiggle room on that. Traditionally, wizards could be male or female. You could be a wizard.

Image But I can't use magic.

Image You couldn't use magic. Nowadays you're an old pro at it!

Image That's true. I am a Magical Girl… and within the orb I ponder, I shall see my greatest desire!

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Image To be clear: That should not have worked.

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New day, new dailies. We've got 1800 enemies to kill.

Image We've got work to do! That means it's time for a montage, right?

Image Actually… I think you're ready, Angelic Buster.

Image Ready? Ready for what?

Image There…. MAY be one final power I never told you about.

Image For serious?! This is like the third final power you've had up your sleeve!

Image Don't be ridiculous! I don't wear a shirt, I'm a dragon.

Image Eskalaaade…

Image Right, right, power. Go ahead and try yelling out "Angelic Buster, Scene Change."

Image Okay. Uh… Angelic Buster, Scene Change!!

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Total Kills: 23,213

Image Woah, woah, woooah! Why are we here?! Why am I fighting Magnus?!

Image You did a screenwipe. That moved things forward past the boring grindy parts, up until the next interesting thing. There's all sorts of rules and circumstances so you can't just skip everything… but it'll be a handy trick, right?

Image Yeah, this will save lots of time!

Anyways, we still need Magnus to drop that badge.

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Total Kills: 23,214

He still stubbornly refuses.

Image What the heck, Magnus?!

Image Get… bent… you stupid… idol…

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We do get a slight upgrade in the form of a special cape… this will be replaced soon enough, but it'll do for now.

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Total Kills: 23,215

Pink Bean also gets a beating, and I once again fail to get anything I want.

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And that's… it.

Image That's it? Isn't that really fast?!

Playing MapleStory in this way, going in and handling dailies before logging out for the day, is called dailystory by the community. It doesn't give a lot of anything, but it is kind of fast—this entire day took less than 20 minutes to get through. The exact definition of what "dailystory" means varies from person to person, some people do additional content and still count it as dailies. I usually throw a 30 minute XP coupon on at the start of the process and call it a day when that finishes…

The point is, dailystory is done to avoid the grind.

Image The grind again… is it supposed to sound so threatening?

Yes. But enough about that, we're done for today.

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Image —Wait! You can't just end things that fast! There's got to be more to do! Like… that new area!

Two days in one update, then?

Image Yeah! I've been wanting to get to facing down the Black Mage.

Oh. Yeah, I wouldn't hold my breath on that. The level 240 area is another side branch like Reverse City was.

Image …Aw.

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Day 7 starts with spending the points from my most recent level up. We're still pretty weak overall, which is the biggest problem of any kind of Hyper Burn. The most frequent outcome for a new player taking this speed-level to 260 is becoming level 260 with absolutely no gear and no idea what to do next. Later Hyper Burning events came with something called Item Burning, giving us special bonus items that will let us get into some of the necessary bosses to properly gear up quickly—but this is, of course, not implemented in v251. We have to do things the hard way.

With that out of the way, it's time to knock out Sellas.

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Like I mentioned earlier, Sellas is on a sidebranch and is a distraction on the way to Tenebris and the final three areas. We're skipping it, and I'll put the summary below.

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Sellas is technically part of Esfera, it's just Beneath The Water.

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It also deals with Shubert's ancient trauma, he used to do ship things before his friends all died and there was no one left to ship him with.

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Shubert thought it might be ok to ship with Magilia and Ollie, but a whale had a problem with this and ate Ollie rather than let her be part of a ship.

As whales often do.

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However, it turns out the whale was actually a few thousand jellyfish in a trenchcoat. This means that it is ok to blow them up, because they aren't putting hundreds of thousands of dollars into the game.

Unfortunately, we had to blow up our ship to do so.

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The ship sank to the bottom of the sea, but we got to ride the jellyfish back to the surface, placating them as they got to feel like they were actually part of the story for a minute.

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Our ship is sunk, but we got the necklace we were looking for at least. Mission success!

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Congratulations. The prize is 20 ASS coupons and a diving helmet that gives no stats but takes your hat slot.

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We also pick up our level 240 bonuses, a pair of EXP Nodestones and 50 normal ones, alongside 100 more ASS coupons. Nothing particularly special here, this just lets us keep our Arcane Force up a little bit and levels our 5th job skills as well.

The two EXP nodestones are nice in particular.

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Erda Nova is currently sitting at level 23, with a cooldown time of 128. This is a little bit suboptimal, as our regular cooldowns are 120 seconds. Erda Nova loses 4 seconds of cooldown time every time it's leveled up.

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Two EXP nodes bring it up by two levels, putting it at exactly 120 seconds. We can now immobilize bosses at the start of every burst rotation without delay. It's time to immediately abuse this.

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Pierre and the three bosses below him (Von Bon, Crimson Queen, and the snake asshole) are known collectively as the Root Abyss bosses, since that's the area they come from. The temporary Root Abyss gear we've been using all this time comes from them on their hardest difficulty, so we want to get our hands on a set before the freebies vanish. Unfortunately, that difficulty is timegated.

In order to unlock Chaos Root Abyss, we must first beat each of the Root Abyss bosses five times. Normal mode is another one-tap joke of a fight, so just know that this is an arbitrary timegate. Nowadays we can just go right into Chaos Root Abyss if we want to, but… You know.

That's not implemented in v251.

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Anyways, they're literally no threat to any character that's hit 5th job, let alone one that's in their 240s with semi-decent starter gear like Magilia.

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I won't be mentioning the next four times we do this. Just assume it's happening in the background as days go by.

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It takes under a minute per boss, even including the single wave of enemies we have to fight to go into the actual boss map.

There are 13 mobs before going in on each fight. Plus one boss, that's 14/run.

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Total Kills: 23,271

Enough about them, let's move on.

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Total Kills: 23,272

Magnus continues to refuse to drop his badge for us. :rolldice:

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Next is Chaos Zakum. CZak is a weekly version of the regular Zakum with a couple of extra mechanics that don't really matter because this is MapleStory and you have to be trying really hard to find a satisfying early game bossing experience.

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Total Kills: 23,273

Weekly boss crystals are worth a lot more mesos than the daily ones, so we ideally do as many weeklies as possible when selling them off. There are people with accounts full of "boss mules," characters who exist solely to fight strong weekly bosses, sell the crystals for mesos, and then dump it all into storage to power their main.

I am not one of them, because I play this game as a joke. I have several characters who could be boss mules instead, and I just don't care enough to play any of them. :effort:

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While I'm at it, I also go after Cygnus.

Image Wait, the Empress?! I thought she was on our side!

This one is from Lucid's dream world where the entire Maple Alliance (except Neinheart for some reason) turned evil and took over Maple World. She's evil, it's ok to punch her.

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She has a really cool sprite, but she's roughly around cZak's level and we have a lot of particle effects.

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So many particle effects.

Image This feels a little like bullying her.

Image I think the real Cygnus would want us to beat this one up, if she were here.

Image Yeah… you're probably right.

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Total Kills: 23,274

In addition to her meso crystal, Cygnus drops shards that can be used to craft gear that hasn't been relevant in a decade, and recipes for various items including some shields that are best in slot for a handful of classes that aren't Angelic Buster. It is all useless to us, and we will pick it up anyways.

Image Remember: hoarding is a serious problem and if you're worried about that kind of tendency it's ok to seek professional help!

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I sell the handfull of crystals I've got to more than double my cash on hand, then get down to business.

Image Dailies?

Nah. We're doing Hard Magnus.

Image Lemme guess, bind and burst and he dies in fifteen seconds?

…yeah. :eng99:

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Image Why… do you keep… disrespecting me..?

Image Because you're a HUGE FANNY!

It's not completely free. Even bound, Magnus's meteors do rain from above—the purple and blue ones are instakills at this difficulty during this patch (they eventually turned down the blues to 75% HP), so we have to avoid them while murdering this man.

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Total Kills: 23,275

Defeating Peak Magnus is very important to our early-game gearing as he drops a few important items. Magnus Coins used to be one of them—long ago we could use them to save up for some really cool boots, but those are no longer important because we can get better boots faster through other bosses nowadays.

Image I can't believe he gave us so much trouble… he's kind of a weakling, huh?

Image That's just a testament to how far you've come.

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The big get here is the Tyrant Altair Cloak, which is a cape that we'll be sticking with until we start getting our level 160 set gear some time from now. He also has the ability to drop the shoulder and the badge like Normal Magnus…

But we already have a shoulder and the badge continues to elude me. :shepface:

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Next is Hilla, a new boss for us! She was a shamaness who took advantage of her power to use her peoples for eternal youth, and now she works for the Black Mage because reasons. We'll be seeing her again later, but for right now we're fighting her original self.

There are two waves of normal enemies before we reach her, each one having ~15 targets we have to down before we can continue.

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Anyways our hideous number of pixel effects protect us from seeing the absolutely horrendous beatdown Magilia gives her, and we get our shiny prizes in seconds.

Image She said my act was chintzy! I don't even know what that word means!!

Image You did the right thing. I'm sure she couldn't feel anything underneath all that eyeshadow anyways. Also, she was evil.

Total Kills: 23,306

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Our goal from this boss is the Stone of Eternal Life, our first pocket slot item. The cup I've been trying to get Pink Bean to drop is better than this item in almost every way, but the drop rate for the stone is better and it's much better than nothing.

Hilla is also an important boss for free to play characters that aren't being carried by events because of another guaranteed drop she has.

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That drop is the Blackheart pet box. This box gives either Blackheart or its decorative earrings, with each being a 50% chance of appearing. Blackheart itself can't run to pick things up on its own (only following behind our movements blindly), and doesn't have any of the autoskill or autopotion abilities of our current pets—but it is free and always available to make picking things up slightly less horrible.

MapleStory could always just implement auto-loot, of course, but they will never do this because the solutions they sell to players for the problem they created are far too lucrative to ever pass up.

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Next is Chaos Pink Bean—like the normal thing, but harder and with better drop rates!

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This time, the statues we beat actually crumble and fall apart rather than return to their dormant state, which means we are successfully killing them this time. Also, the birds have Attack Reflection on them. Hooray. :shepicide:

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Chaos Pink Bean has three healthbars this time, and can summon little beanlettes that can be immune to either physical or magic damage (but really aren't worth anything). It can also use an attack that skill locks us for quite a long time. If I were smart I would set All-cure potions to remove status effects, since they're regularly dropped by the large enemies that spawn from time to time…

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But I am not smart, so I eat the skill lock attack head on, which also drops my MP to 1 as a side bonus.

Pink Bean is right below Will and one unseen boss in terms of 'annoying boss design,' and it's only easier because it came from the times before bosses had HP.

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It's more annoying than hard, but we do take down Pink Bean and get the pocket item I was after.

Total Kills: 23,328

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Thanks for your hard work, Stone of Eternal Life. You have already been rendered obsolete by a Pink Holy Cup.

With a successful round of bossing under our belt, I decide to set my eyes on the next major tier of bosses. They're going to be actual fights, but I'm familiar with fighting them as an Angelic Buster, so I figure I should be ok to fight them at a lower than usual power level.

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Next time we'll start that process by fighting Lotus, who does not know what pants are. I know that some of you who are newer to the game have probably seen this guy, and maybe even faced him in Modern Day Maplestory since he's a milestone boss in most new character events that are released nowadays.

I need to tell you new guys something important:

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The current Lotus was not implemented in v251. Next time we descend into purestrain Old Maple Boss Design, and all the bullshit that comes with it.

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So… Lotus. The power source at the heart of the Black Heaven warship-

Image Which is crashed now.

-the puppet of Doctor Gellimer-

Image Who Kaiser told me is extremely dead now.

-and the next boss on our to do list.

Image Who has already been beaten up.

Yeah, but like, we fight him again and again every week for swag. They're afterimages or something.

Image Is that what they are? I always thought it was a bard talking big and getting some things wrong for a better story.

Image Shh! Do you want to get us sued by Squeenix?!

Image They're not Disney, we'll be fine.

Image Better safe than sorry, I say.

Let's just get this show on the road.

The following is considered depreciated content, and is not useful for fighting Lotus in the current day.

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Phase 1: Lotus in a tank of goop.

Image Wait, how is this a problem?

Oh the tank isn't a problem at all.

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The problem is the instant kill rotating laser beams that will spin around slowly in a constant circle, and the dropping debris that stuns us and deals 10-50% of our health depending on size.

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There's also these four guys who spawn in regularly from their four hatches like this is an NES Megaman game. They each try and get to us and explode, inflicting a unique status effect. They only have 1 billion HP, so they melt incredibly fast from any attack and we can mostly ignore them.

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Because we don't have a move to simply teleport through the instant kill rotating lasers, our plan is to slowly get pushed up here by the electricity, using our grappling hook to climb up without losing too much DPS time. There's a portal up here, and we want to wait for the right moment to use it (while also avoiding any of the spawning debris from above that will stun us, of course).

Once the laser gets too close we just hit up on the portal….

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And it teleports us over here, giving us more time to rotate around while punching Lotus. The lasers can also swap direction, and if they do there's a similar portal on the bridge above us. This phase shouldn't kill us, if we play well.

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Any time we die we hear Gellimer laughing maniacally at our pain.

Anyways, time to lock in.

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Outside of swapping direction, the laser in the middle can also speed up and cut into how much time we can spend punching while we move. Ultimately, though, this is just stalling for time.

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Stalling for time, and for me to make a mistake.

Image Could you stop that laughing?!

Okay, locking in for real this time.

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On defeat, we blow up the machine that Lotus is stored in and set him free.

Image So the fight's over?

No, because he's mind controlled. We have to punch him now.

Image Aww, beans.

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Phase 2 still has raining stun debris, and also starts us off with Lotus's ultimate attack. Platforms rain from the roof. Getting hit by one destroys the platform and deals 50% HP (and a stun, of course), but that's not the problem.

See, we want to get on those platforms right now, as indicated by the warning message.

That warning message didn't used to exist. I have lost lives in this boss to "the single platform that spawned did so behind a giant screenblocking piece of debris and I didn't know the pattern was coming."

This fight used to be worse.

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Anyways, a couple of seconds later we see some electricity poles pop up on either end of the screen and launch an instant death current across the ground for a few seconds. We have to either be standing on a platform or hovering in midair (via Blink or Soul Resonance) to avoid getting killed here by a 100% HP attack. There's also a new debris: Big robots (50% HP damage, stun). We want to avoid those, too.

Oh, but don't think you're safe on a platform.

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Lotus has a push (20% HP), which shoves us backwards and stuns us for a short duration.

You know. Over the instant death electricity.

If Lotus is near you, you generally want to be hovering in midair instead of trusting a platform for this bit, except sometimes a bunch of debris spawns over you and rains down to kill you instantly because Blink can't move out of the way fast enough. So instead you have to watch Lotus for a push and upjump that, but again, debris spawns in and you're too close to take evasive action. Sometimes you get bonked by something only to get pushed into more things, chainstunning you to death.

Welcome, ladies gents and others, to the Lotus Bullshit Casino.

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We get lucky here, by the time our iframes are over from taking the hit of the stun the electricity has just ended. I upjump anyways because I am mashing upjump like a madman.

Image Floor is lava, FLOOR IS LAVA!

Image Lava deals like ten damage every few seconds, this is WAY worse than lava!

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Lotus also has canons that do no damage and fling us upward (into debris, which stuns us, and lets us get bonked by push into more debris), as well as an orb that he summons which bounces diagonally around the arena. As it bounces it gets bigger, 20% HP. We can usually ignore this because it doesn't chainstun us into oblivion.

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The only other thing worth mentioning is this platform right here. It is my best friend and whenever I see it I want on it. This is because we cannot be pushed off this platform, as its end is right up against the wall of the arena. This means we only need to worry about the push chainstunning us into multiple debris into dying, and we don't have any debris overhead right now.

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Anyways, all that's left to do is to burst down Lotus until he's defeated.

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Miraculously (by which I mean "because the floor lightning only does 70% HP damage/second on normal difficulty"), we manage to get through p2 without losing any more lives to ridiculous bullshit.

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Image You got him! Good job, Magilia!

Image Phew…

Anyways, time to move on to phase 3.

Image WHAT?!

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Lotus loses control of everything, and the arena gets a little bit exploded.

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Phase 3 has all of the same attacks as Phase 2, with a couple of extra little addons.

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The first is another debris update. Lotus is now dropping massive vehicles on us. These are called Demolishers, they deal 100% damage, and he can drop multiple at once (as seen here).

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The second is Lotus's very own iframe attack. He flies into the background and blats us with a bunch of energy beams. There's a small purple mark on the floor that tells us where the attack will land, and we want to avoid it, without walking under any of the debris (which can stun us, which can open up more debris bonking or just another energy blast killing us).

Things like this are why people play with attack opacity all the way down—I literally cannot see anything directly under me so I have to play things by ear.

100% HP damage, of course. :shepicide:

There's also a red orb, which is the blue orb but red. Same damage and everything.

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He also has this shiny new blue attack. It pulls us in and does no damage outside of just pulling us in.

It will slap us facefirst into a Demolisher, so I usually just drill my way into a corner when it comes out. Unless there's debris in the corner, in which case I just have to go closer to Lotus, unless there's debris there too, in which case I'm kind of tapping the whole time and—

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—right. One last attack. This one is a little green area that lasts for a while that Lotus sets up. If you step in it, you're slowed and you can't jump for a little while. It exists, and if we get hit by it during an electric floor pattern we won't be able to hop to safety.

We can just walk under a platform and grappling hook, though, so it's seriously just not a big deal.

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A few moments later, we're stuck in this position. Dashing left will get us bonked. We'd have to turn around to go right, wasting frames and probably resulting in either bonking the current hitbox or going under the demolisher if we go too far.

The old Lotus boss fight is everything wrong with old MapleStory boss design. There's debris upon debris upon debris, almost every attack has the capacity to instantly kill you, and there are so many of them coming out constantly all of the time that you will inevitably get yourself cornered into a no-win situation like this one.

I have an entire death montage from my time learning this fight in which I am murdered in a million ways to things that I couldn't possibly have planned for because I was busy trying to get out of the way of other shit that was also going to kill me.

That's why I call it the Lotus Bullshit Casino: you have to react to everything as it comes, with no discernable pattern and sometimes it just lines up to kill you.

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That's what iframes are for. We just ignore all of that, and demand a better pattern.

Oh, and don't think that binding Lotus makes damage free, either. Debris still comes down, and because platforms drop the same way we can also be thrown into another electric floor pattern even if the boss is bound. Just be careful! (*This boss no longer exists)

Oh! And there's another thing I'd like to bring up.

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So here's this situation. We have a single platform, and the boss alongside three bits of about-to-be-dropping debris are between us and it—and even if they weren't going over there would be remarkably dangerous.

This is because the delay between this message popping up and the electric floor starting is random.

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So I wait a couple of seconds after it disappears (by this point cutting it close as it could literally start any time!), then jump up into the air and hover there.

Four seconds later I am still hovering there. Blink has a maximum float time of five seconds.

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So for trying to anticipate when it comes out, I get the wombo combo of a stun and the lightning. If this wasn't normal Lotus, I would be instantly dead once again.

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Instead, I fall down and take 70% damage. My auto-potion on my pet immediately heals me back to full and I have to immediately upjump to avoid the push that Lotus is doing rightnow.

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This conks us into some debris, and I'm stunned but importantly not dead.

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Total Kills: 23,329

So anyways, that's basically Lotus. A reaction-focused boss with no sense of fair play and attacks designed to instant kill you or 0-death you with chainstuns that remove all ability to do anything about it.

The only boss that was so remarkably trash that Nexon remastered it completely and changed basically all the mechanics.

Good riddance. This man gave me bossing-related trauma.

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After defeating Lotus, we're left with the reward chamber. To get it we have to break that thingy in the center, which means we have all the time we need to swap into drop gear or activate drop buffs.

Image "Thingy?"

Thingy is a highly technical term.

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Outside of the usual crystal and cubes and whatnot, we get these two cores. They're important for something that I don't feel like talking about yet, but it involves gearing up and getting more power.

Image So a surprise tool that can help us later?

Image Okay that was Disney. Enough already!

Setting that aside, with Lotus done, we're finished with one half of a boss duo that are roughly at parity with each other—so much so that they are both linked to the same general systems and are clearable at about the same time.

This duo is called Lomien. We've done the Lo.

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Next time, we handle da mien.

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Damien. The man who created the Root Abyss bosses to hold the Transcendent of Life there and make her recover. The man who then kidnapped her from Ereve with relative ease. The man who once beat the everloving shit out of Arkarium, his ally, for being kind of a douche. The man who wields a sword made of the tormented souls of thousands of his own people, and was driven to madness by it.

We're going to beat him up now, because his fight is way less absurd than Lotus.

—oh, but don't get me wrong: there's still a lot of instant kills and other various Old MapleStory Boss Design treats, it's just that Damien is a boss who has 'A ton of HP' as his main point of difficulty, and the instakills and other attacks are all clearly telegraphed and easy to dodge.

He's basically the Limbo of the early game, is what I'm saying.

Anyways, we're going to beat him up on Normal and we're not going to lose a single life because Damien is super baby easy once you're used to him.

Image …uh… hooray?

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Unlike Lotus, Damien has a cutscene on entry. It's the Maple classic; he sits there for a few seconds…

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And then opens his eye and glows ominously at us, while his sword also opens its eye and glows ominously at us.

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At the start of the fight I begin my Burst rotation and hit Finale Ribbon, which is actually a DPS loss now so I need to fix my muscle memory. Damien, meanwhile, immediately raises into the air and starts to rain fireballs in a fan pattern. They are instant death on touch, but can be avoided by just not standing beneath him in a cone. The most problematic part of this attack is that it buys space and makes it hard to hit him.

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We wait for it to end, then bind him and go in with all we have.

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Then, we have to move. That symbol appearing on top of us means that Damien's evil sword is locked on and is about to fly at us. It can do this up to four times depending on the angle of the impact, but with it up in the top right like that it's only going to fly at us once. The sword itself is not an issue, dealing negligible damage when it touches us. The problem is what comes after.

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The sword embeds itself in the ground for a while, periodically exploding. The explosions are instant death, but there's a long enough pause that we can move over it in between them so it's not likely to ever kill us.

Image Uh… what's all that about a brand?

Don't worry about it; it's related to a mechanic that has literally never killed me.

Image But it… could kill me.

Yes! But it won't. :ocelot:

Anyways, in phase 1 Damien has a number of attacks to worry about…

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A midair that will bonk us, inflicting 1 brand and Not Killing Us so it won't ever be an issue.

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A bunch of ominous dark clouds that are instant death if we stay on them when their attack goes off. They're clearly telegraphed and come out all at once with several open spots available, and in the worst case scenario we can upjump and hover with Blink… so this should never kill us.

He then goes back up to do another fireball set, so I have the bright idea to cleanse brands.

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These shrines appear randomly inside the fight for several seconds before disappearing again. Holding down NPC on one of them long enough will cleanse all of those brand stacks above our head (the 1/7). If we ever get all the way to 7 and then take another brand, we die instantly and another tiny sword spawns that works exactly like the big one.

The shrines spawn quickly enough that it should never be an issue, but if we take damage from anything while cleansing our progress resets. This means that a time like now, where the sword is spiked and Damien is doing something slow, is perfect for cleansing.

I'm good enough at it that we will never be in danger of dying to this mechanic, so all we have to worry about is Damien's mountain of HP.

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While upjumping to get another couple hits in, Damien also uses his Blue Orb attack. It makes blue orbs in sequence, each of which fires off a few seconds after their creation.

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The claws they fire down will force us to do a short button-pressing minigame if they hit us. Should we fail, we are stunned.

I do not know how long we are stunned for. I know it is a really long time, and I have never survived it because there are so many instant kills running around. Just don't get hit. If you do get hit? Don't mess up your dance moves. If you mess up your dance moves?

Then you shouldn't be an idol. Perish.

Image That's a little… harsh.

Eh, we get ten lives.

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His last attack in this phase is a sparkly cloud, which telegraphs his intention to dash through the whole area with a claw attack. It does knockback and inflicts a brand.

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The only other thing of note about this attack is that it's got a hitbox that lasts way, way too long. If you try to dodge it by upjumping, you'll avoid the entire attack visually, land on a hurtbox, and get launched halfway across the screen by literally nothing.

It's actually hilarious, please never fix this Nexon. Thank you. :allears:

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Anyways, we just kind of beat on Damien and cleanse regularly until he gets down to 30% of his HP, which is when Damien enters his second phase.

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In which he powers up to go Super Sai… er… Demon.

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Damien takes hold of his sword, and… well… The fight gets easier now.

None of his mechanics are hard to deal with and in phase 2 the sword is in his hand and not flying around anymore. Damien wins by running you out of time, not by being particularly effectual.

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He does get wings made of pure darkness, though, so like… He has style?

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To start with, Damien's phase 2 theme goes incredibly and completely unreasonably hard. I have caught myself headbanging in this boss during downtime before, it's really good.

As for the boss himself, he can teleport around. Whenever he does, it'll either be on top of one of the members of the fight, or to his default position on the left side of the screen. This is because he cannot move himself, but his attacks will continuously move him throughout the screen. He also deals touch damage so like, don't stand on him.

More importantly we can see his giant ball. This thing is the most annoying part of the fight, as it will lock on to anyone who stands inside of it (or just us, because solo). It flies slowly in our direction, and as long as we're inside it we take a small amount of chip damage, and our healing and damage output are both massively cut. This can functionally ruin an entire Burst rotation. Future updates make these balls vanish while Damien is bound, but this is not implemented in v251 so we're doing things the hard way.

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The first attack Damien actually uses is one where he pretends he is a cool anime protagonist. Damien dashes forwards, and slashes appear in midair behind him in a semi-random pattern. The slashes will soon explode, instantly killing anyone standing in them. The hitbox is very strict for this attack, so as long as we don't move right now we're absolutely fine.

Image Move right now, we're absolutely fine. Got it.

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…I'm good at this game, I swear. :eng99:

Image Without dying, huh?

It's fine, Damien gives us ten lives to play with which is honestly probably too many. There's a special mission that requires us to beat this boss with only 5 lives and that's also remarkably easy.

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As we respawn Damien uses another technique, spinning around in a circle to hurl fireballs at two levels. It's possible to jump over the lower one with a single midair dash jump, but going too high will make us bonk into the higher ones. They don't spawn on top of Damien and he has no additional hitbox besides his touch damage, so this is actually a pretty good chance to DPS him if we're close to the boss.

I usually just let it pass, though.

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He has a midair fireball attack here, as well. The fireballs are still a oneshot, and are more densely packed than before. However, binding him will still drag him out of this attack.

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The blue claw orbs still spawn in this phase, and alongside them we see Damien's second orb. He'll summon up to three of them, and as his HP gets low they will even get larger. A common strategy in multiplayer runs of Damien is to have one person touch all of the orbs and drag them over to the right corner, opposite the boss's reset point.

I don't get to do that so I just have to kind of dash around them as best I can.

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Damien's other main attack in this phase is a quick dash forward. It doesn't deal enough damage to kill us, but it does knock us around and will inflict one Brand.

Image Getting a little high, here…

Yeah, don't worry about it. Cleansing in phase 2 is really easy.

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All we have to do is duck and cleanse. The dash can't hit us while ducking, his three-slash-special will almost always fail to land one on top of us (and if it would we can just readjust while holding the cleanse key), and if he spins around and fireballs…

…Well he doesn't do that often. The point is, cleansing is basically free.

Anyways, after doing this I sit in the right hand corner of the map and accidentally press Blink.

Blink, when pressed on the ground, randomly teleports us to another location on the ground somewhere on the screen.

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I am, unfortunately, still TQ. :rolldice:

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He also still has a diagonal dash, dealing a brand and some damage. Altogether, the lack of a second thing swooshing around and launching instakill zones makes him much easier to deal with. He's just slow because of his stupid balls and the attacks that take him up and out of our range like his fireballs. There's just one last attack we have to be aware of.

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Using the powers of darkness, Damien tries to summon the power of the Dark World Tree to instantly crush us. To escape, we need to do two things. The first is to mash the left and right buttons to get out of the stun that he's placed on us.

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We then have to run over and bonk him. This knocks him out of the attack, and protects us from damage.

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The screen still whites out as it approaches its end, but since we've knocked him over we're completely safe. Otherwise, this is when we'd eat our insteadeath.

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That's really it for Damien. The rest is just whittling through the rest of his HP by blowing him up with hearts and sparkles.

Image And LOVE and JUSTICE!!

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Upon defeat, Damien falls to the ground and dies.

He is dead, same as Lotus. I'm sure this will never be important.

Image So I just… killed a man?

Image No, that's a demon. Little different, and given that he was trying to destroy the world? Probably for the best.

Image …I dunno. It doesn't exactly feel good to kill people.

Total Kills: 23,330

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The loot box for this fight is Damien's sword, stuck in the ground. We have to shatter it to get our stuff.

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The circled thing is our important get from Damien. We'll want seven of these total, while we need six of Lotus's for everything we want from him.

Image Altogether a heck of a run, huh? That wasn't so bad…

With bossing done, it's back to doing all the other stuff that we need to do in Maple between story. Next time, we're going to finish out day 7 as we speed through our day-by-day operations until we hit level 245.

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First and foremost, a new week means a new trio of Dreamcatchers to run. This is the event that gives us exactly 1000 normal and 5 big enemies to defeat, in exchange for a decent chunk of EXP.

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We've hit the point where the enemies aren't an easy oneshot anymore, but that's fine since they're still not a threat. It just takes a little longer. We're in a bit of a calm time now, waiting to hit 245 so the plot can kick in again. This level-gated story is one of Maple's biggest problems; there is simply nowhere near enough content to get us from point a to point b.

After their update to 1-200, the story quests will get you straight to 200, but after that (and Vanishing Journey) it's just a dripfeed of new content once every five levels. This sounds fine, except it's ridiculously slow as the game goes on.

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Total Kills: 24,335

As a point of explanation, let's talk about my main for a moment while Magilia here is busy doing her thing. She hit 285 on September 11th 2024, the 69th AB on the entire Kronos server to do so.

I know, I know, my life is a shitpost, that's not the point.

By then, I had spent over a year since I saw the last section of Story in Maple (Arteria, the level 280 area, was implemented in July 2023 alongside Carcion for 285 just a little after).

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Total Kills: 24,535

Now Arteria, which I managed to do on release, was absolutely nuts storywise. Darmoor's troops invaded Ereve, directly attacking Maple World. They kidnapped Cygnus, and drained her of her Transcendent Power (that she has, this is a known thing even now). We give her dragon one last high five, it gives us its own godpowers into a magic rock we got two areas ago, and I'm pretty sure it dies for the uh. Third time? It keeps dying but not really, Shinsoo has more lives than most cats, I swear.

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Total Kills: 24,735

The entire plot ends with one of the coolest moments in the entirety of Maple, with the Resistance leader commanding an artillery salvo fire on the ship she is standing in, we get Cygnus back but she's stuck in a coma, and Darmoor's squad feels like a legitimate threat for once.

None of this comes up at all in the story of 285's area, Carcion.

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Total Kills: 24,935

We are instead exploring a minor bit, where it came up in Arteria that we can gain godpower for our new shiny rock by either making friends with or beating up gods. So we're off to Carcion to go do that, because Darmoor is also there. Pretty simple setup for a bit of a breather chapter.

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Total Kills: 25,135

We wound up spending our time making friends with the locals and mediating a war between them that was caused by Darmoor's general Limbo so that he could steal the goddess's power.

He manages to steal it, we beat him up before he can run away with it, and we manage to give the power back to the goddess and we're friends now so our shiny magic rock (Grandis plot ver) powers up. Altogether, it's a perfectly fine breather chapter with no important plot movements forward aside like, maybe one line from Neinheart implying we may become the new leader of the Maple Alliance.

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Total Kills: 25,535

Being filler, that's fine. Breather arcs are an important part of any writing endeavor, so I'm not going to be upset about that.

However,

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Total Kills: 26,135

At present day, December 14th 2025, Lithza is currently level 288. I hit that level on November 14th, 2025, taking a total of one year two months and 3 days to gain those levels. I do not grind in this game, most of the time I'll do dailies and quit or else do dailies and finish my 30m coupon and then quit—this is a perfectly reasonable amount of Maple to play, but has a side effect of casuals calling you a sweatlord and sweatlords calling you a casual.

Being in that sweet spot is hilarious and I love it. It's like a rorschach test of gamer style, whatever you see is what you aren't. :allears:

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The most recent event in MapleStory is actually remarkably generous for EXP, and by stacking everything it's giving together I've hit a point where I'm gaining ~1.1%/day spread out over the course of the entire week by doing that. I'm currently at ~31% EXP.

This means that I can expect to hit level 290 and unlock the next portion of the plot in approximately 165 days if the EXP pattern holds steady. This would be another 5 months and 2 weeks, putting me at late May/early June of 2026.

Three years for ten levels… and I can tell you right now, I already know Cygnus is going to still be in her coma after the next area's plot is done. She's an afterthought stuck in a three-year nap, and while Carcion was utterly benign I just don't think you should be having breather stories if you're only giving average players one new plot to chew on every year and a half.

To be fair, the 290 area was only released in February 2025 so I'm only a year and a quarter behind where Nexon expected its extreme endgame types to be at, but like…

Maybe I should just call it Maple. The Story ain't anywhere near me right now. :v:

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Oh, new content! Each of the six main areas has a weekly activity that can be done up to 3 times a week to get more Arcane Symbols. We can skip two of these runs and still get rewards for everything but the last two, so I'm finally getting around to doing these.

This one is Vanishing Journey's activity, called Erda Spectrum. There's two parts. Part 1 has us killing a bunch of enemies to charge Erda. When we're ready, we then activate the thing in the middle.

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Total Kills: 26,209

Hitting it at this point will spawn red, blue, and purple balls while our accumulated Erda counts down as a timer for the entire phase. We need to punt the red and blue balls towards their respective sides (as each end now has a column of light on it), with purples being a wildcard that can go to either end.

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Red/Blues are worth 1 point, Purples are worth 2, you need 10 to get to the next stage, and every now and then the floor glows red and then explodes to destroy all the Erda balls sitting on it. It's super easy.

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Phase 2 has Armas crawling towards another pair of the machines in the middle, while Arma Jrs sit around to be farmed for more Erda. Holding down the interact key now fires lasers from the center, which are used to push the Armas back. When we push them all the way back they're destroyed, and we need to defeat five of them.

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It's completely trivial, and our rewards are some EXP and 15 Arcane Symbols for Vanishing Journey.

This is later buffed to 40 per run, but this is not implemented in v251 so the rewards are kind of eh at only 45 total symbols per week.

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Next up we're doing Hungry Muto, the Chu Chu Island bonus weekly.

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Muto is fighting with Gulla in the background, and as he does his energy gauge will slowly drain. To fill it up and win, we have to make specific dishes for him. These recipes appear in the top center, and we run around to get the ingredients. There are three platforms to the right, three to the left, and two above us which all have a specific kind of enemy, with a wandering boss enemy providing the Slurpy Fruits.

Bring back each ingredient's number required one at a time, do it ahead of the Bonus line to get even more energy gain, and clear everything before 10 minutes is up.

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It takes us about 2 minutes and 19 seconds.

Total Kills: 26,292

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Next up is Lachlein's Midnight Chaser, run by the same giant blue bunny who's been giving us lots of EXP. Our job is to find him in a game of hide-and-seek.

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There are nine areas in a box, our job is to run around to each of them to find the one that has the special item indicated in the box at the top of the screen. Once there, we kill all the mobs in that room and hit interact on the item to get the next one appear. Repeat nine times total, the items never repeat.

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Total Kills: 26,489

It's relatively trivial, though how long it takes is based mostly on the pattern we get.

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Next is Spirit Savior, the Arcane weekly and the one most people like the least of all of them. This is because it is kind of high octane bullshit.

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Our job is to punch brambles holding the spirits then hit interact on them to add them to a line behind us. Once we free one, a Toxic Spirit (the big purple guy) appears and starts chasing us. It gets bigger and faster every one we get out, to a maximum of five. We have to use the lilypad trampolines to strategically maneuver around the map to grab as many spirits as we think we can safely hold…

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And then return them to a pit at the center to bank the saves. We get 100 points per Spirit for each Spirit with us, so this means each save is worth 100, 400, 900, 1600, or 2500 points depending on how many we've got.

Our goal is to get to 10k points within 10 minutes, and most newbies to this game will flail around and get frustrated until they understand how to move through the map to properly juke the Toxic Spirit.

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I am not new at this, so it gets knocked out in a couple minutes. Honestly, this is still better than the old version of Spirit Savior where you had an HP bar that blue wisps or the Toxic Spirit could also drain out of you on top of the time limit being ~3 minutes instead of 10.

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Next is Ranheim Defense, where we do our best to prevent Hekaton from reviving by shooting him with lasers to protect an obelisk that is preventing his resurrection.

Please note that this is all make-believe but we're helping the pretend people think they're doing something so it's probably good.

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We hop around, kill enemies to build light energy, and use interact on these crystals to blast enemy golems with lasers. Do that nine times, and the boss spawns!

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The boss is Hekaton's spirit form, and he takes three lasers to beat.

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Total Kills: 26,916

We do it twice.

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That leaves Esfera Guardian, the Esfera weekly content.

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It's a multistep process. Step 1 is killing monsters to fill the blue bar at the bottom.

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Once done, we sit down in this turret and prepare to blast 10 dimensional gates. We can fire a shot that is affected by gravity for 1 segment of energy, or a straight-as-an-arrow shot for 3, and can hold 10 energy at a time.



This doesn't matter because there are only two possible patterns and the community has made tools to tell us exactly how to fire (at full power) in order to hit all ten with the basic 1cost shot.

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There is more to this minigame if we take more than three minutes, but there's no reason that should ever happen since we basically just have to follow a cheat sheet.

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Total Kills: 27,408

We do it three times.

Image And that's it for weeklies… I can finally relax.

Hahaaaa… no. No, there's more. We're trying to get to AbsoLab gear.

Image What does that mean?

It means we have another pair of weeklies.

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Haven Weeklies, so called because we get them from a town named Haven, were in v251 a set of four random missions, followed by a fifth random mission after we turn the others in. They involve hunting monsters all over the wreckage of Black Heaven, and doing all sorts of odds and ends.

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The most interesting of them was facing the Modded Deliveroids, which were giant monsters that each held five smaller monsters inside. Nested enemies like this haven't been seen since Vanishing Journey, but for a while Nexon liked sprinkling them into things.

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Total Kills: 29,387

We handle the work, which takes us about 15 minutes due to abysmal spawn rates and mixed-mob maps when quests only care about one. Doing this grants us 20 Grade A Energy Cores (+1 that came from a lucky mob drop; this will functionally never matter), an increase from the 10 of earlier patches. We can trade 20 A cores plus 1 S core from Lotus for an AbsoLab coin, which we can trade in for AbsoLab gear.

The AbsoLab set is level 160 equipment, and is considered the starting point for upgrading our shoulder, boots, glove, cape, and weapon after we've got a decent foundation. Armors cost 2 coins each, and the weapon costs 5—because the AbsoLab coins can buy the boots, glove, and cape we'll be wanting a total of 6 of these. They cannot buy the shoulder, and because there's only five total items we'll need there's no point in saving up 5 more of these things for a new weapon.

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That's because we also get weeklies at the Dark World Tree, which give us points towards a second coin that we can only meaningfully spend on the shoulder and weapon—so we want 7 total of these.

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The weeklies are much more simple, if only because the enemies are mostly stratified according to their various types and the spawn rates feel much better. Theres also no surprise extra quests at the end for our reward, what we see is all we'll deal with.

There's a concrete difference visible in the time spent: 15 minutes for Haven versus about 4 for DWT.

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Total Kills: 29,962

Like with Haven, we get 20 Faint Stigma Stones for our weeklies here. This 20 combines with 1 Twisted stone from Damien to give us a Stigma coin.

All of this adds together to mean that we need a total of two weeks' worth weeklies to get anything with our coins, at minimum.

Image So we'll just wait one extra week, then?

Image Not necessary.

Image Wha..?

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Image Hey there, Magilia. You've been working hard, huh?

Image What the-?!

Image Don't look at me, I haven't been told anything about this!

Image Then… are you… me? From like, the future, or something?

Image I could tell you, but first we'd have to talk about parallel universes.

Image Nevermind, I understand completely.

Image Well… I don't. A half an a press doesn't explain any of this stuff.

Image The entire legion is rooting for your success, so I've left you a present in the common storage. Use it well.

Image Oh, are you who left me all those nodestone thingys? Thanks!

Image No need. A magical girl exists to help everyone, you know? Even herself from an alternate world line.

Image I see…

Image Well, I should be going. I'm technically breaking ToS by just being here.

Image Breaking the—?! T-Tear, Tears, one of you kids, get out of here before you get us banned!

Image Goodbye! See you again, maybe!!

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While one character can only get one AbsoLab and Stigma coin per week due to weekly limits, this only applies if one character is all you have. Mules and alternate characters capable of doing the weeklies can speed up the progress immensely, and since we have 2 of each big object from Lotus and Damien, 20 of each will let us get 2 total coins of each type.

That means it's AbsoLab time. :getin:

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AbsoLab gear is a major jump in power, able to beat our current shoulder without any potential on it. It also makes us 100 points more charming for putting it on the first time, because it is remarkably stylish.

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The other piece I grab is the gloves. Whenever going into a new armor set that allows us to pick gloves, the gloves are the first piece we want to select. This is because they give us more Attack Power as we add stars to them than any other gear slot (weapon aside), and because they are the only equipment slot able to roll Critical Damage increases on their potential, which stack multiplicatively with everything else.

Speaking of potential, the next thing I do is a lot of that.

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There are a total of six items (the pink belt and down) that I used Epic Potential scrolls I'd had sitting around on, and my goal is to use cubes to get them to some basic good potentials. The super good one I mentioned for gloves is only available at Legendary, so we're skipping that today.

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There's a kind of cube that can only roll Epic or below items which drops remarkably often and has no expiration timer. Because of this, rerolling Epic potentials can be done for basically forever—the 4991 rolls pictured here do not encompass my full stock.

My goal is simple: I want to hit 6% or higher DEX from each of these items, just to have the potentials fluffing my overall power a bit. This is remarkably cheap to acquire, as 6% is either a single main line hit, or a 3% allstat line and a +3% secondary line, as seen here.

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It takes us ~34 or so cubes to succeed in this endeavor. Of note, AbsoLab gear also gets bigger potentials—instead of +6%, level 160+ gear gets +7% potential lines. This is the maximum potential line value, so 160+ gear is always a priority when available.

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Next I do Chaos Papalatus, a boss who doesn't drop an incredibly powerful eye accessory.

It's on the loot table, sure, but it doesn't ever drop it.

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It doesn't drop it this week, as well. :v:

Total Kills: 29,963

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I then fight Actual Historical Figure Akechi Mitsuhide, a boss fight that is also not particularly interesting as we nuke it with burst, wait 2 minutes, and nuke the second phase with burst. There is only one noteworthy thing about it.

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Today I water the grass with your blood!

Image Woah… I'm gonna keep that line.

Image Please don't. It's not very… idol-y.

This line goes remarkably hard, and was removed from the game sometime after v251. It is no longer in current-day MapleStory.

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Money is the only worthwhile thing he drops, and while he can drop currency that gives us a special set of armor it's worse than the AbsoLab gear we're already going for.

Total Kills: 29,964

And that finally brings us all… here.

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Image Where… is this?

This is the entrance to Gollux, and a monument to my own hubris. Remember how I said Lotus was the worst of old Maple boss design?

Image Yeah…?

I lied. There's another strong contender. :tipshat:

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Gollux is a unique boss that came from a non-KMS server, meaning there's a lot of unique things with how it works. High on that list is a total limit on how many times we can fight him every day: We get one key every day to use to face Gollux.

There is no practice mode for this boss, so this one shot is all we're getting.

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The fight starts with getting knocked clear to the ground, where we have to climb up Gollux to get to the actual boss. Along the way, we have the option of destroying his abdomen and both his arms to make him easier to face when we reach his head.

Breaking any of them decreases the reward we get, so we won't be doing that at all. Facing him at full power is dubbed "Hellux" and Hellux runs are just something that you have to learn to get used to.

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Anyways, we land down here at his feet and it's our job to climb back up to the head with any number of routes. We could climb right up his legs to get to him, but this is a trap because it takes us through the abdomen.

Entering there forces a fight with it; this lowers our rewards down to Hardlux levels and decreased loot cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

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Image Sneak sneak~!

Instead we use this portal over on the right.

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Each area past the first has a number of monsters we have to defeat to move on. Gollux's fist or stalactites can rain down on from above to instantly stun us, but we aren't in any danger. This is just wasting our time.

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Total Kills: 29,973

We take the one portal in this area to move onward.

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Total Kills: 29,982

On the next screen we're able to enter through the arm, so we do that. :v:

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Total Kills: 29,991

Next, we wind up in the arm itself. The top portal leads to the relevant shoulder, so we want to make sure to go in the lower-left portal instead.

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This brings us into the heart. There are five portals out of the heart, and we only want to use the one directly in the center.

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The second I enter, I start up the ol' Burst Rotation to do some chunky damage to the boss.

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Unfortunately for me, he pulls up a hand. This attack comes out remarkably fast, with a startup time measured in frames, the points of his eyes flashing purple for a split second just before the hand comes up. At this point, the hand is already positioned and I'm stuck in the endlag of Overdrive. Even if I spam flash jump to get out of the way, we're dead to the huge hurtbox.

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So that's one death. Gollux's attacks come out fast and furious, and we do not get the time necessary to set up our burst rotation in this fight unless we get a little lucky because they're all either Instant Kills or Basically Instant Kills.

Our burst is already up though, so respawning will give us some time to beat the snot out of him!

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The downside of beating the snot out of him with skill transparency set to off is that I can't see his eyes flashing here, which is the only tell for his next attack.

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It's a one-two punch of pure pain! Gollux inhales (not pictured), which deals us a little damage but forces us to walk towards him for a few seconds. If we touch his jaw, we instantly die and Gollux heals for 10% of his HP.

So that's two deaths and we've been here for like, fifteen seconds.

It's fine. Just lock in.

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Here's a better look at that inhalation attack. The basic idea when fighting Gollux is to stand behind his head, swapping sides any time that Gollux does. Whenever his eyes flash in any way he's about to attack, and staying mobile is incredibly important to winning this fight.

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His last attack is this toxic breath, which deals us 50% HP damage and stuns us.

This means he can get a free inhale/hand on us, killing us instantly.

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I cannot overstate how important it is to always be behind him every time he turns around, either. In this instance, he turned and immediately flashed, and I jumped right when the flash started.

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His inhale came out so fast that I got hit anyways. Thankfully, the hand killed me before the jaw could so he doesn't heal off of this…

…I hesitate to call it a "mistake," there wasn't a lot I could have done here!

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Anyways, Magilia's 60s miniburst comes up now and I immediately launch it while actually managing to get some competent dodges around hands and avoiding his breath.

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This breaks his jaw to let us get out of phase 1. Platforms now appear at Gollux's eye level and our new job is to punch him in the eyes. This is complicated by a burst of energy he'll periodically do to damage us, and a special bomb that will reverse our controls then instantly kill us 10 seconds later.

Thankfully, there's a safeish spot.

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The far end of each platform is outside of the range of Gollux's booms and bombs, so the only thing we have to look out for is his hand.

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Unfortunately, it's not that simple. There are little potato looking things that continually spawn on the left and right side of the screen, pushing towards the center. Every time one gets there, it pops and we gain 1 stack of this ominous looking effect. At 5, we instantly die.

So I have to come down here and set something up to kill them off while I'm also up there punching Hellux in the face, and the center of the map's first floor is not a safe spot.

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A hand spawns where I was at while drilling, and I decided as it was spawning to turn around. Unfortunately, the endlag of Magilia's drill means we're yet again already dead.

One life and a dream, but if we can survive and get through this healthbar then we win: part 3 is an easy damage check and is basically free.

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Anyways, Burst is back up so it's time to finish this, and something truly incredible happens.

At this moment, I have used Sparkle Burst and the heart is over my head to show I can go into a 10 second iframe whenever I want to with the push of a button.

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Hand comes up. I start mashing the button at this moment.

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The attack hits.

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Two frames later, the iframe pops while I am already dead.

This iframe does not have startup time. It can be activated in the middle of a Trinity, or any other attack that I have. You definitely cannot activate it while you are dead.

MapleStory is a shitty game that hates you, personally, for playing it. Today, it hates me by saying I don't get to use my iframe because ping.

This move isn't supposed to be ping reliant, but Gollux is a gigantic black box of questionable code and bullshit deaths.

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So that's Gollux, a pile of instant kill attacks just fast enough that you can only dodge them if you started moving before they actually come out working alongside a small lives limit and questionable programming decisions in order to ensure that you will die if you cannot power through the entire fight in a couple minutes max.

The only reason I beat this guy before I did Lotus is because Lotus has way more HP so you spend longer at the casino. They both are equally matched in terms of YASD moments.

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We wind up back in the entrance hallway, and since we've used our one key for the day we don't get to go again.

Image Ahh, man… I was so close, too!

Oh. We will be back. Many, many, entirely too damn many times.

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But for now, it's back to Esfera to sit on our ass and lick our wounds. Tomorrow is another day.

Image Yeah, one where we'd better be punching his stupid giant face off!!

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Day 8 starts off by picking up the daily prize from our compact event: it's an Effect! Effects do nothing but they give us a neat little decorative thing that hovers around our character.

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I also grab ten Extreme Growth Potions from our new BFF Lucid. These will give us the amount of EXP required to go from 199>200 every time we chug it, which isn't a lot but we're close and I'm trying to get to level 245 to move the plot on already.

Image Yeah… we were supposed to be doing that two updates ago, weren't we?

Yeah, well, as soon as we drink these…

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…Ah. We can't until we're level 260 because we're a Burning character. This is a thing that was the case with all potions and is now still the case with some of them. This one, specifically, it turns out.

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Image At least the bubble effect works.

The Pop Bubble effect will create a heart bubble, then a star bubble in that order, with them popping before the other appears. We will never be taking it off.

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Next up we beat up 1005 enemies to breach 90% of the way to 245.

Total Kills: 30,996

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We then level up while doing turnins from our dailies… Which we are skipping past.

Total Kills: 32,796

Image I've gotten pretty efficient at clearing chaff, huh…

Image It's to be expected. There's a lot of chaff in the world.

Image Does this mean I can manage crowd control for my own concert?

Image …We'll circle back to that, Tear.

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Hitting level 245 gives us some Experience Nodestones to power up our 5thjob skills, some cubes for our gear, and 100 more ASS coupons. We yoink it all, of course, and I do a little bit of accounting to make sure I've spent all my relevant points. But that's not why we're here.

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[Moonbridge] Destiny Awaits awaits. Let's get rolling. :getin:

We can skip this like every other story area we've cleared on another character, but we're not going to do that because it's time for the Black Mage arc to begin winding its way to a close.

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Magilia…..

Magilia..... You seek to protect this world from the darkness.


The light in the background pulses slowly, but it remains relatively small.

You've come to the end of a treacherous river, hero…

Image I liked the part with the candy wolves…

Image They were apples, Tear.

Image Apples are nature's candy!

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And now the black sun rises.

The only force that can counter evil is the hope of heroes… You are needed, more than ever before. Magilia... Please stoke the flames of hope. May the light shine over this world forevermore…


The light fades to black, and we fade back into…

Esfera, the Origin Sea

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Image The next mission is... Oh, Monster Mop-Up! This is to get us ready for our triumphant return to Maple World.

Image C'mon, Magilia! Let's clear the area around the base camp.


Us, on skyboats with Ollie. Skyboats with automatic rowers.

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Neinheart Von Rubistein, the Alliance's tactician, knew the time had come and ordered a quick return to the main force. In preparation for the battle against the Black Mage, the Alliance members and Guardians of Time working in Esfera started wrapping up their assignments in the area, one by one.

Image Hold on… Von Rubistein?

It's a perfectly normal name.

Image It's just… fancier than I expected.

Image Eh, rich people are fancy. In a couple years, you'll be Magilia Von Wealthybritches!

Image Please no.

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Image Oh, we've got a message. Must be Shubert and Melange.

Image Hey, Ollie! We've completed the Guardians' deal. Looks like the next one on the list is... Monster Mop-Up?

Image Yep, that's it. Tell you what, we'll take care of the inner areas so you can concentrate on the outskirts.

Image W-what? That's where the big ones hunt! And that Neinheart fellow said I couldn't bring my high explosives… I suppose the rest of the Cygnus Knights are staying just as busy. Right, Ollie?

Image It's not my place to complain. We all have a role in this war.

Image Ha, said like a proper cadet. When are you gonna live a little?

Image Maybe when we save the world. How are you doing with the transmitter signal? Is it stable yet?

Image Oh, right... Let me get back to that… Fine, it's fine! I'll have this bucket of bolts sending out Top 40 hits in no time.

Image Zzz… Zzz…

Image Are you sure about that? The signal sounds terrible, even from here.

Image Zzz.. Ooh, sweet stuff…

Image That's just Melange…being Melange. Wake up, you little blueberry! Hop to it!

Image I love blueberries... Thanks…

Image Ha ha, hoo boy… Magilia and I are wrapping up anyway. We'll see you two back at base camp soon.

Image Ugh... fine.

Image Yawn... See you soon.


Image
Image Looks like everyone's winding down their current assignments. Might be time for our next move.

Image Conditions around the black sun look... not good. I mean, I wouldn't want to be this close to a normal sun, either. Hard to believe the Black Mage is somewhere in there. Oh well, we can worry about self-immolating in darkness later. Let's find Neinheart before he decides we need extra assignments.


Image

We come in for a landing, meeting up with the others.

Image
Image Welcome back. Ah, Ollie... and Magilia.

Image Huh? Where are the Guardians of Time? Were we... too late?

Image Terrible jest aside, they left once the signal stabilized. I appreciate your efforts in clearing out our surroundings. Our forces have moved on to the Outpost. I remained to meet you and guide you there.

Image The Outpost?

Image Yes, I suspected you‘d need an explanation, Magilia. Much has transpired while you were in the Arcane River… Our time is short, though, so I will bring you up to speed along the way. Shubert, kindly teleport us to the Ereve Sky Ferry first.

Image Sure! Um... Let me just... The signals starting to break up again.

Image As long as you can get us to our destination, I don't think it‘s a concern.

Image Right, right, I just... need to do a few calculations. Wouldn't want your monocle to end up on the wrong side of your face, right?

Image ...As you say. Let's be on our way.


Image
Maple World, Ereve Entrance

We've got mysterious chains in the sky now, and the camera pans down… and shakes with a thud.

Image
Image 'Deflnitely got it', hmm?

Image I suppose we ARE in the VICINITY of Ereve… Yes, the Sky Ferry is only a short walk from here.

Image Fine with me. I'm not up for any more teleporting after that.

Image Aside from that, are we all in one piece, so to speak?

Image
Image Wait... Why is it just the two of us?

Image It would seem Shubert's calculations subtracted himself, Ollie, and Melange. Ah well. They're resourceful persons, so I'm sure they'll find us soon.

Image ...ls something wrong, Magilia?

Image Is this really... Ereve?

Image I suppose this is quite unexpected for you, Magilia. Not long after you departed for the Arcane River, these immense chains appeared. They're pulling all of Maple World towards the Arcane River. And what's more...

Image Wait, did you hear that? That roar... Oh, no! Monsters!

Image So, they've made it as far as Ereve…


Image

Monsters come raining in from above.

Image
Image And now they're blocking our way. The nerve of these creatures... I suppose we'll need to remove them.

Image
Image This will not be easy.


Image

Neinheart takes out one of the enemies by smacking it with a book.

Image Whew…

Image !

Image You didn't think I'd just give up, did you? I'll explain once we're free of this rabble.


We fade to black, and fade back in elsewhere.

Image
Image This pervasive darkness is certainly not helping matters.

Image
Image Who's there?!


We run into a trio of Cygnus Knights. These are a nonhuman race called the Piyo, which we so far have never been able to select or play as.

Maple really doesn't like letting people play anything but a standard humanoid with extra bits on the model on occasion, really. It's a sprite thing, since it keeps the lootbox fashions easier to create.

Image
Image Oh, it's just you, Neinheart. And you're with Magilia. Sorry I almost jabbed you there. Patrolling has me on edge.

Image Completely understandable, and thank you for remaining vigilant. I suppose this means the disaster has reached Ereve.

Image
Image I don't know about that, but I know we need all the help we can get. Monsters are mounting bigger and bigger attacks, and these chains…

Image I've never seen anything like it, sir. Honestly, I don‘t think anyplace is safe anymore.

Image The situation is more dire than I feared... Well, then.

Image Neinheart... If Magilia is back in Maple World... That means it's time, right? Is the Alliance going to start the final push against the Black Mage?

Image Hey, let's move it along, peoplel We've all got work to do!

Image Sorry! Sorry. I didn't mean to keep you. I'll get back to my patrol.

Image Just a moment. Have you seen Ollie, one of our scouts? Or a large, burly fellow from the Resistance?

Image Nope, haven't seen anyone like that.

Image Me neither.

Image Well, if you do see them, please let them know we'll be waiting at the Outpost.

Image Understood. Good luck.

Image Good luck to you, as well.

Image
Image They're gone. We should also be on our way.


Neinheart and Magilia walk through the forest here, talking as they go.

Image What is all this?

Image I'm sure you know the Arcane River was created from the collision of multiple worlds. It draws all of us ever closer.

Image This disaster is a whole new level of serious, isn't it? The chains, the monsters…

Image Indeed. The Alliance has done what it can, but we've never faced anything of this magnitude. If we fail to stop the Black Mage here, it's surely the end. That's why we've mobilized to such a degree. The time to defeat the Black Mage is now. Before a new destiny is written...

Image Sometimes it sounds like you can predict the future.

Image Well… Please, follow me. It'll be easier for you to understand if you see it for yourself.


Image Um… okay?

Image
Image This all goes back to when we found the Scroll of Prophecy.

We're walking up to the pagoda where the Maple Alliance was formed when we were level 70 and still doing Hat Things.

Image Did I get that ability for joining it, by the way?

Nope, still bugged.

Image Beans.

They do fix it in a month or so, at least.

Image
Image After the Black Heaven incident, the Alliance started investigating the Black Mage's history more carefully.

Image After you left for the Arcane River, this was found beneath Magatia.

Image
Image It tells of an incident that has yet to happen. All the signs foreshadow it. True to the name, it's a prophecy.

Image The Black Mage can somehow predict these events before they become reality. The creation of the Adversary, the Arcane River... even the fusion with Tana's white sun.

Image

Image I hope you're not still blaming yourself for what happened in Esfera. It was all unavoidable. I knew what lengths you would go to to save a life, and I respect that. And as long as we hold ourselves to such lofty goals, a reckoning with the Black Mage is inevitable. It's as simple as that. We can't dwell on the past anymore. What's important now are the strange sentences at the bottom of the scroll.

Image
They who cross the breath of twilight and turn towards the sun...
...on broken wings will be crushed and undone by despair.
A light whose brilliant glory is lost...
will face the soul of the world whilst steeped in mire and rot…
A crimson tear will spawn a giant that swallows hearts,
and when determination is swallowed by the deepest dark,

Image
Image This is like a song... or an old poem, yeah?

Image The form is poetry, but it's clearly prophecy. We've been able to interpret the early parts, based on what we know of the Black Mage and his actions, but the rest is still unclear. It's the new destiny that concerns me the most. If the Black Mage is able to write a new destiny for this world, it can only end in disaster. That's something we can't simply wait for. Hence the great deal of preparations we've made. Once we found this scroll, we sent letters to summon the leaders of the Alliance. They were understandably shaken at first, but that uncertainty was soon replaced by a commitment to protect the world. All that remained was the Empress's decision, but... she was reluctant. I'll tell you the rest as we move along.


Image
Image Since finding the scroll, the Empress has been plagued by nightmares. She dreams of the Alliance's destruction.

Image I beat up Lucid. That should help.

Image It's not her this time.

Image We don't know if it's simply stress, or if it is indeed her ability to see the future… But those nightmares have been hindering her decision-making. And she could not avoid the decision for long.

We go into a flashback now.

Image
Image Was it the same dream again?

Image … Every night... I see our heroes broken and beaten. They fight with all their hearts, but to no avail. The thought of condemning anyone to that fate terrifies me. I don't even have the power to protect them if the worst happens… Neinheart, I'm so weak... Do I really deserve the faith they've placed in me? If this terrible prophecy really does come true, that means… We all will...

Image Empress…

Image
Image It was shocking to see the Empress collapse like that. I knew her true strength, no matter how delicate she appears.

Image I didn't get any sleep that night. Anxiety gripped my mind. When the sun rose, the Empress looked more exhausted than ever. She said she needed to meet with Shinsoo before commencing her duties. The Cygnus Knights and I prepared to leave immediately. We searched Leafre for Shinsoo, her last known location. We needed some sort of answer, a way forward...

Image
Image Shinsoo…

Image
Image A dark shadow has appeared, blotting out the light…

Image Empress, was it the nightmares again?

Image The Empress told Shinsoo about the Black Mage's prophecy and her Nightmares. And she spoke of the fear, deep inside her heart, that she could not share with her people...

Image Tell me, who rules this world?

Image … We do. We, who inhabit this world.

Image And how would you respond to someone threatening your world?

Image We would fight. But Shinsoo…

Image
Image Has the Black Mage's prophecy truly decided our fate?

Image Is everything you've done, your struggles and triumphs, is it all meaningless?


It is not a spoiler to say that it isn't. We already know this LP ends after we beat up the Black Mage.

More amusingly, we've actually already ruined the prophecy. Please bear in mind from here forward that everything we are about to go through is basically exactly as the prophecy kind of states, except it won't matter in the end because the prophecy already broke.

Image

Image

Cygnus thinks over the major events that led us to today. The five (six really, but that's a long story) Heroes sealing the Black Mage…

Image

Black Heaven exploding (we were on it at the time (we were actually in a hat))...

Image

…This could be a couple of things, Cygnus spends a lot of time hesitating and looking worried. As she should, given the hero of the Alliance is some weird dragon magical girl who showed up out of nowhere one day.

Image

And this was like ten minutes ago in the Mirror World.

Image
Image ...No, our efforts were not in vain.

Image Do not be afraid, Empress.


Image

A beam of light pierces the darkness.

Image

And Cygnus joins the Magic Thing On Her Wrist club.

Image
Image Though I have the power to protect the weak, I no longer have the strength to use it.

Image That is why I've given you my power. Use it to protect the heroes. You're the only one who can.

Image Shinsoo…

Image Humans are delicate beings. They have moments of weakness, when fear can grip their hearts…

Image
Image But Empress, do not forget... You are the light of hope, the one who can pull others from the depths of despair.


Image Hold on a minute… so Cygnus was given the power of a dragon so that she could help us in the fight ahead? Do you know what this means?!

Image I think I know!

Image Shinsoo isn't exactly a dragon, so—

Image Second magical girl!!

Image I'll shop around for costumes! We're going to need a new song, too… Let me get a writer I know on the horn.

Image Oh man, it's going to be so much easier not to have to fight everything alone with Eskalade anymore.

Image Not to mention the merchandising power a second magical girl gives us… 'Futari wa Buster,' I can see it now.

Image Neinheart, don't you worry, I'll definitely make sure that we both win on the battlefield!

Image what



Hold on, I have to explain to Magilia that we are absolutely, at no point, ever getting help in any meaningful way. This could take a few.

User avatar
Image

Image You look down. Is something the matter?

Image No… My dreams of a second magical girl…

Image I'm just as crushed as you are… Think of the merch sales..!

Image …I'll continue, then.

Image
Image The determination of our heroes will mold the divine light. It's the only way to prevent disaster…

Image So Shinsoo told us, before she returned to her slumber. I‘ll tell you more about Holy Light and Determination once we arrive at the base. The moment she returned to Ereve, the Empress sent letters to the heroes of every region, announcing the great expedition to the Arcane River.

Image
Image We've reached the Sky Ferry…


Image

It won't be that easy though, as monsters show up right on cue.

Image Ah. More unwanted guests. I'll continue with the story once they're dealt with.

Image

We're stuck here until we've defeated 30 of these things. It doesn't take us long, though they're juuust barely a 2-shot for us.

Total Kills: 32,826

Image
Image Finally... We appear to be clear. Time to board the ships.

Image
Image Get on, quickly. I have no intention of being here when those beasts return.


We hop in, of course.

Image
Image Let's get going.

Image
Image After the Empress's letters were sent, heroes from all comers of the world began to gather.

Image Everyone with the determination to battle the Black Mage formed a great fleet. His prophecies have not been averted... We may not be able to change fate… But we decide whether to submit or resist. That is our choice. The heroes have gathered to protect what they hold dear. They are determined to forge their own destiny.

Image We're approaching the harbor. You may want to hold on.


We fade out, and…

Image
Image Welcome to the Maple Alliance Outpost, staging area for our mission to defeat the Black Mage.

Image The heroes of Maple World have rejected the chains of prophecy and are prepared to fight to the end. We require a leader who can foster and support that determination.


Image I'm ready to—

Image That is why Empress Cygnus will be leading the expedition.

Image …Oh.

Image
Image The large vessel there is the Alliance flagship, the White Spear.

Image
Image The spearhead design symbolizes the will to carve out our own destiny.

Image It's equipped to defend the fleet, shielding other vessels with its reinforced hull if necessary. As such, the ship reflects the will of the Empress. We're almost at the Outpost.


Image

We get a sweeping look over the place. It's small, but functional.

Image It's not only heroes of Maple World, either. The Novas and the Guardians of Time have joined us as well.

Image
Image Welcome, Neinheart and Magilia. It's good to see you safe and sound.

Image It was no trouble, really. Please inform the Empress of our arrival.

Image Of course.


Image

We walk our way through the outpost towards it center.

Image
Image According to Shinsoo, once the divine light transforms, we will be ready to face the Black Mage.

As we go, we pass by these three statues. From left to right, they're the Goddesses of Grandis, Maple World, and Tynerum respectively.

Image Um… the Grandis Goddess is a dragon, though?

They did their best. Most people don't meet goddesses.

Image Magilia!

Image
Image Heeey, you made it! Guess, ah, you took the scenic route! Ha, ha ha…

Image
Image I'm glad you're safe, considering…

Image Yes, the... 'scenic route' was a bit trying, but we are unharmed. I see you are doing well.

Image Yep, no trouble at all! Ah... sorry, sir.

Image Zzz... Zzz… Exploding egg…

Image What's all this now? Enough with the eggs!

Image You would do well to prepare for the coming war… I suggest you all meet with your delegations. Shubert, Melange, you will find the Resistance and Nova camps there. Ollie, I trust you can find your Cygnus Knight captain.

Image Yes, sir. Ah, I guess we'll meet back up later then!

Image Sure thing. Good luck, Magilia.

Image Yawn... See you soon.


The three of them fade out as they go about their business.

Image
Image Magilia, please wait here. There's someone you should meet.

Image Come with me when you're ready.


Image Uhh… okay, now's fine.

Image

We walk our way past a number of Cygnus soldiers…

Image

…and right into an establishing shot. The Alliance is pretty big, all told.

Image Empress, we've returned from our investigation in Esfera.

Image Your Highness.


Image
Image Welcome, Neinheart... and Magilia.

Image Time out!! Are you SURE sure she's not a magical girl?!

I am very sure, yes.

Image I know a transformation when I see one! That is MAGIC ARMOR.

Just an empress, not a magical girl.

Image Rrrgh… But she looks so cooool!

Image

She does. The game knows this and lingers on this shot for several seconds.

Image

It then remembers that this is a sprite-based MMO and returns to an in-engine cutscene. Cygnus walks towards us and we get another new quest marker.

Image
Image It's a relief to see you again, Magilia. I was... worried.

Image Are you well? I've been following your progress in the Arcane River… You have my sincerest thanks for paving our way there. The Guardians of Time were able to learn much from the Arcane River because of you. Your work is the foundation for everything we've done to prepare for the prophecy. The White Spear is part of that, too.

Image
Image But more than anything, Magilia... your presence is a source of immense hope for the Alliance.

Image Our final battle against the Black Mage will begin very soon. The Alliance needs your help once again. We know... the odds are stacked against us. You will be putting yourself in great danger. If that is a bridge too far for you, I understand. So I ask you, here and now, will you lend us your strength and courage in our struggle against fate?


Image Totally!

Image Magilia... I won't forget this. The Alliance needs a hero to inspire them. I hope that can be you. That's all for now. Neinheart, fill Magilia in on the rest of the details.

Image Yes, Your Highness. Magilia, please follow me.

Image
Moments Later, White Spear Port Bow

Image You can get the details once we meet with Athena Pierce. While we're waiting… I'd like to go over the incidents in Arcane River. What do you say?


Image I'd say this sounds like a recap episode.

Please remember, when this content first came out people would be grinding for years to hit 245. It would be normal to forget the earlier content.

Image True… In that case: Sure.

Image I've pieced the story together based on your explorer diary and Ollie's report.


Image I kept a diary?

Image Well, more accurately… I kept it. And embellished it. And sold it! You know, for the fans.

Image It's all truly... incredible.

Image
Image From the Vanishing Journey to Esfera, you've battled three commanders and traveled a total of six areas.


Image Are we not counting Reverse City, Yum Yum Island, or Sellas, then?

Image No. We are not.

Image Okay. Just making sure.

Image I'm sure it was tough. You did very well. But I need to go over it thoroughly with you from the beginning.

Image
Image As I understand it, you began with the Vanishing Journey.

Image The dying village was full of residents experiencing heavy memory loss.

Image
Image Your journey forced you to make an unfortunate sacrifice, but you fought admirably.

Image
Image Next was Chu Chu Island.

Image You encountered such strange and fantastic creatures there!

Image
Image And you saved the village by making a giant sandwich.

Image What a delightful adventure!

Image
Image The endless festival in Lachelein the City of Dreams must have been so terrifying for you.


Image At first, but the party it's having now is pretty nice.

Image The… what? No, nevermind. Commander Lucid's evil seemed to have corrupted every corner of that city.

Image
Image I can only imagine how difficult that battle was for you.

Image Lucid was strong, but I had a lot of help.
Most of which turned out to also be Lucid? Dreams are weird.

Image I see. That's good to hear.

Image
Image Your subsequent arrival in the Mysterious Forest of Arcana seems to have been an entirely different experience.

Image In her report, Ollie described a number of adorable spirits there.

Image
Image Now, this Tana is of great interest to me.

Image Her presence was a massive influence on the forest and caused some very strange events to occur.

Image That's right.

Image And you chased after her.

Image
Image Your first encounter with her was in Morass, the Swamp of Memory.

Image Thanks to her power, an echo of Kritias' past was made real. The tragedy of Kritias had been forever locked in the past.

Image
Image So Commander Arkarium met his end when he tried to absorb Tana's power.

Image It's an end truly befitting that villain.


Image For real. He was a meanie butt almost as big as his forehead!

Image
Image After that, you finally reached Esfera, the Origin Sea.

Image Commander Will used Tana as a sacrifice in his ritual. But he was interrupted by an unidentified fighter.


Image Who needs to learn how to teleport people, by the way.

Image A brand of training needed for several of our apparent allies, it seems.

Image I wonder who it was…

Image We'll have to investigate further.

Image
Image Tana's identity came to light soon after that. The report was surprising, to say the least.

Image
Image To think, Tana‘s true identity was Aeona, the Transcendent of Light.

Image l'm relieved that you managed to defeat Commander Will. Unfortunately, refusing to kill Tana meant Will could complete the ritual.

Image
Image Now the white sun and black moon have fused together and completed Tenebris.


Image Ten ebris?! Oh no..! What's an 'ebris?'

Image Not ten ebris, Tenebris. One word.

Image As a result, the Black Mage possesses both light and darkness, the powers of creation and destruction. He now has the ability to obliterate the current world and create a new one in its place.

Image

Image
Image And that's everything we know of the Arcane River so far… Oh, yes. There's one more thing.

Image Did Commander Will refer to you as the Adversary?

Image Yes.

Image Well, I obtained several documents from the Black Mage's laboratory. Including this: 'Only the Adversary can counter immortality‘s fate with the strength of a Seal Stone.‘

Image What?!

Image Considering the source, we shouldn't immediately trust it, especially as we've found nothing else to support it. But we're about to wage war against a god. We need something to
believe in.

Image


Athena Pierce, the Explorer Bowman instructor, appears once again and walks over to us here.

Image
Image Athena Pierce arrived just in time to help with the disasters affecting different regions of Maple World.

Image I'm sure you've seen it, but Maple World, and other realms, are suffering from the dimensional collapse.

Image Even if we defeat the Black Mage, if our world is destroyed in this cataclysm… it'll be all for nothing.

Image That's why Athena Pierce is staying here with others from her area, to protect our home.


Image Explorers are powerful, but we aren't the most organized lot. We'll be at our best working as a defense net where we can react as necessary.

Image And Kaiser?

Image Head of an Explorer, that one. He'll be watching over Maple World as well.

Image That's Ky-aiser for you…

Image
Image All right, that's enough explaining for now. Let me get to the point.

Image I need to tell you about the Goddess Statues at the Outpost. They came from a burst of light. We believe that light, in turn, came from our heroes' collective determination - which is still at work, activating the gems in the Goddess's hands. What that means, we have yet to determine, but we believe it's a sign in our favor. For now, we're keeping an eye on those statues, and hoping. Athena, the time for war is upon us. But before we leave, we must consider our remaining work.

Image (As Neinheart and Athena Pierce discuss the war preparations, Neinheart asks her for a favor.)

Image l have other tasks to attend to. Athena Pierce, l entrust Maple World to you.

Image I pray your plan succeeds, Neinheart.

Image
Image Magilia, I plan to distribute Emblems of the Alliance to each ship before we depart. They should help boost morale.

Image In that spirit, I was hoping you would take responsibility for one of them. Will you accept?


Image Will…

Image ..?

Image Oh! Um… Yes. Yes I shall.

Image I‘ve given you an Emblem of the Alliance as well. Give my regards to Kyrin on the Nautilus.

This is a unique medal. It's entirely cosmetic; the stats are bad.

Image Oh, and if you would... Please make sure this gets to Kyrin. Once you complete your task, return to the White Spear right away. Cygnus will give her orders once all ship are ready. We'll all be doing our part in this final battle. Magilia, I'm counting on you to take care of the expedition. The community representatives and I will stay here and hold down the fort. Our support and determination go with you. I hope the next time we meet, there'll be peace in the world once again.

It's time to go off and coordinate with Kyrin. Kyrin is the Pirate Explorer job trainer, and she's going on this trip with the Alliance to fight god because she has her own boat and we need as much help as we can get.

Image A very compelling reason.

Image To the boat!!

Image
Image It's been a while, Magilia! You're looking like a right captain yourself now.

Image (Kyrin proudly accepts the Emblem of the Alliance from you and pins it in place.) Aye, it's been a long journey to this point for all of us. But now we get to take the fight to the big, robed lubber in the sky! (Kyrin lapses into silence and slowly begins inspecting the Nautilus.)

Image Athena Pierce asked me to give this to you.

Image
To Kyrin
Kyrin, you must go to the Arcane River soon.
The Black Mage's history is long.
Even the elves consider it so.
But the end is finally upon us.
It will be a grueling battle.
But I have faith in you, Kyrin.

No matter what may happen,
I hope you'll remember this.
You, me, and everyone else in Maple World...
We're all in this fight together.

Sincerely, Athena Pierce

Image
Image (Kyrin's grip tightens on the Emblem of the Alliance, and her expression shifts to a steely determination.)

Image The waters beyond the Arcane River are harsh and unpredictable. This will be the most difficult voyage in the history of the Nautilus. But no matter how rough the waves, I will guide the Alliance safely through it. Magilia, you'll be right there on the deck with us, right? The Alliance needs rascals like you. Thanks for everything, mate. We're all in this together now, fighting for the same goal.


Meanwhile, elsewhere…

Image
Image Edea, it's time for battle.

Image
Image So, the time has come.


This is Edea, the Supreme Commander and Chief Strategist of the Nova army. Yes, we are a Nova. Yes, this is our first time meeting her. She would have been a major factor in the Pantheon storyline where we beat up Magnus, but we disappeared into the hat dimension instead.

Image Here, take this emblem. Thank you for bravely serving in this expedition.

Image I should be the one thanking you. The Maple Alliance played a major part in retaking Heliseum. The Nova will cherish this emblem. We are immensely grateful to you for helping to protect the world.

Image It means so much to have a great Nova magician on our side.

Image Athena, as you know, the Black Mage's influence extends beyond the Arcane River and into our world.

Image The more time passes, the stronger it gets.

Image That's right. We've been working with Grendel the Really Old and the Maple World sages to develop a plan of action, but I'm still worried. Especially since our enemies are formed from the Black Mage himself. That being said... Athena, I need you here leading the soldiers.

Image I'll do my best. Good luck.

Image Good luck to you as well.


Meanwhile meanwhile, elsewhere elsewhere…

Image
Image It's time for battle, isn't it, Neinheart?

This is Claudine, the leader of the Resistance, and the Resistance Thief job instructor.

The Resistance have no thief class. This is because she is incredibly busy keeping things running.

This is the best joke in all of MapleStory.

Image
Image Yes. Here. An Emblem of the Alliance. May it bring you courage.

Image Once again, we fight in the name of the Alliance. As long as the Black Mage exists, Edelstein can never be truly free. We've had our differences, but now we're all in this together. When we face hardship, this Emblem of the Alliance will give us strength. It's a symbol of our hard-earned trust.

Image Thank you, Claudine.

Image
Image I must say, I've never been on an expedition to a sun before. Rather exciting, isn't it, Belle?

Image
Image Brighton, we're not going on a picnic! Be serious.

Image Ha. lf I were serious, I'd be shaking in my boots right now. But who needs that, hmm?


These three are Belle, Brighton, and Checky. They're the Resistance Archer, Mage, and Pirate job instructers, respectively. Yes, Checky is wearing a bear suit. No, they will never take it off.

Image
Image I see you two haven't changed. You're fighting like an old married couple.

Image What?! How dare you?

Image Neinheart?

Image
Image Calm down, everyone.

Image l was only joking.

Image Too late! You already made me mad!

Image Hahaha!

Image I think it's time I get back to the White Spear. Brighton, Belle, Checky... everyone in the Resistance, thank you.

Image Good luck.

Image Thanks.

Image We'll show them what the Resistance is really made of.

Image Let's DO this!


Later, aboard the White Spear…

Image
Image The Emblem of the Alliance represents our mutual trust and the courage to stand against evil.

Image
Image As the head of the Alliance, it is my duty to nurture that trust and courage. And I am determined to do just that.

Image
Image Empress, the Alliance ships are ready and waiting for the White Spear to give the signal.

Image
Image Attention! All Alliance ships, this is the White Spear. It is time to depart for the Black Mage‘s location.

Image Together, we have overcome countless obstacles, and that will never be forgotten. Now, we must make one last stand. The future is what we make of it. We must protect our precious world at all costs.


Image

That one isn't a link. The video it links to, apparently titled "Tenebris War," has not been backed up independently in any form or fashion and is missing from MapleStory's own YouTube channel. As near as I am able to tell, it is either privated or has outright been removed for reasons associated with Update 4 of this Let's Play. I do not have access to it.

All we are missing is Athena Pierce looking hopefully up at all the ships as Cygnus unsheathes her sword and goes "White Spear, go thataway" or something, before all the ships fly off into the great unknown to fight the Black Mage.

As penance, I will be forcing myself to hit level 290 in MapleStory before the next update.

I just hit 289 on December 29th (current date 1/13/26), so how long could it possibly take? :pseudo:

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Okay, grinding's done.

Image Wow… level 290. I wonder what level I am at this point?

…Anyways, we were talking about Moonbridge.

Image Oh, right. We've got more important things to deal with, huh.

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Image If I'm reading this right... we're passing over what was the Esfera base camp now. Everything has vanished without a trace.

Image But… my dailies!!

Image Paradoxically, you'll still be able to do those as if nothing's changed.

Image Oh. Okay, phew.

Image We'll be leaving the Esfera Skyline soon. Moonbridge lies before us. The Alliance gave that name to the path from Esfera to the black sun.

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Image Moonbridge…

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Image Things are starting to pick up. Kyrin, how much farther to our destination?

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Image White Spear, this is the Nautilus. We've encountered heavy fog.

Image

Image
Image The breath of twilight... from the prophecy…

Image There are enemies emerging from the fog. This won't be easy.

Image I sense a powerful soul in the fog ahead. We should wait and prepare ourselves.

Image We should hold here and observe the enemy before engaging.

Image Yes, Empress. We'll investigate.

Image
Image Unknown enemies are emerging from the fog. If we learn more about them, we'll learn more about the fog.

Image Magilia, will you head onto the deck and investigate?


Image Finally. I was getting itchy without being able to hunt.

Image That… might be a problem.

Image Nah, I love hunting!

Image
Image Great. Then please bring me Wicked Soul Remnants x10 from Soot Beast and Soot Talon on the Last Horizon ship deck.

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This is remarkably simple, of course—so much so that we're done within a minute.

Total Kills: 32,875

Image I'm back!!

Image
Image Edea, can you analyze this?

Image Yes. The enemies are emerging from some kind of dark entity within the fog. It's crafting them from pure Erda.

Image
Image There's something in there, and as long as it is, it'll keep producing these things.

Image Is the black sun causing this?

Image It's hard to say for sure. We have to go in and see for ourselves. But the fog is surrounded by a powerful barrier. It's like the entity has formed a shell around itself.

Image What if we focused our firepower on one point?

Image We'd have to clear enemies from between us and the barrier first, or it won't be strong enough. That's assuming everything goes exactly as planned. We need to wipe these enemies out quickly. We have very little manpower to spare, and the enemy has begun to flank us.

Image
Image So the Resistance has to launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp… our specialty.

Image Good. Then the Nautilus will spearhead the attack!

Image The Nova camp will defend the rear.

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Image You know what to do now. Our main forces will hold the line, and the Resistance airship will secure the line of fire.


I went ahead and changed Magilia's medal to the Emblem of the Alliance. The stats are the same, but it's more fitting here than Superstar.

Image If the plan succeeds, we'll breach the fog. But we don't know what will be waiting for us on the other side. I believe the Resistance could use your help during this operation. You have a talent for these sorts of things. The Resistance Flagship is docked near the White Spear. Use the small airship on the right to get to it.

Image

This is the small airship in question. We have to doubleclick on it to make it go to a new area, in this case the Resistance Flagship.

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Image Welcome to the party, Magilia. Hope you're ready.

Image All right, let's begin.

Image We're ready.


Image What's the plan?

Image
Image We're planning to draw the enemy's attention to one spot by setting off massive explosions.

Image Since we won't have time to go after each one individually.


Image Explosions DO make things easier!

Image Brighton will focus his attack on the left side by setting off explosions near the target area.

Image Right.

Image Belle, you head to the right side of the target area. Once you hear Brighton's explosions, detonate yours.

Image So we're in charge of distracting them.

Image Yes, you are. Explosions on both sides should leave them nice and confused. Checky, Magilia, once that's underway, you'll use the distraction to get behind enemy lines. And when you hear the second round of explosions...

Image That's when I set off the BIG ONE, right?

Image Correct.


Image Hold on… we're setting explosions off while we're standing right nearby?

Image Oh… this is your first time working with the Resistance, isn't it? Yes. Yes we are.

Image I finally get to try out my brand new weapon.

Image Doing all of that will effectively herd the enemy where we want them, so we can hit them all at once. But that won't be the last of it. We need to get the stragglers too. After that, we‘ll be able to secure the line of fire. And that's the plan.

Image
Image Ahh, my heart's pounding. And I don't know if it's the enemies or the explosives.

Image Let's get to it.

Image Watch my back, would you?

Image Magilia, let's go.


We fade to black, as the plan is put into action.

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Image Maybe you should take a step back while I set these up. I mean, it wouldn't actually help you, if they go off. I just like the space.

Image Hey, where'd that one part go?! Oh, here it is. Why isn't this working?! Grr! The light's not coming on! WHY CAN'T THIS JUST WORK?! RAWR!!


We hear an explosion.

Two explosions.

Three explosions.

Image
Image Phew! I finally managed to shake them off my tail. That was close.

Image We've done our job. Time to meet up with the main force.

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Image Empress. The Resistance airship has moved a safe distance away. We're ready to fire.

Image All right, I'll give the order. White Spear, take aim.


Image

The White Spear preps its main weapon…

Image Fire!!

Image

It is, of course, a laser.

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Image The wall is coming down!

Image Attention! All Alliance ships, this is the White Spear. It is time to depart for the Black Mage's location. The fog barrier has fallen! Charge!

Later, Foggy Barrier Skyline

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Image This is the Nautilus! We've reached the fog, but we're being overrun by enemies!

Image Alliance! Concentrate your efforts on defending the deck until we're through the barrier!

Image (Enemies are coming out in droves again. We need to do whatever it takes to defend the deck.)

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Image At this rate, we'll be completely overtaken before we reach the fog.

Image Magilia, defend the ship deck!!


Image On it!!

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The enemies are more of the same that we fought before. There are some soldiers in the background acting like they're fighting, but they don't do anything to our targets—they're just here.

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Total Kills: 32,905

It says Stage 1 at the start, but there is no Stage 2. We're back into the cutscene dimension.

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Image We're finally breaking through the barrier! We're one step closer to the black sun!

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Image Whoa... Magilia, you're amazing! You completely wiped out the enemy!


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Everyone cheers. The soldiers here are even pumping their arms while they make that big doofy smile, it's kinda' great. :allears:

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Image Well done, Magilia. It's thanks to you that we made it through the barrier.

Image But we're still headed into more fog, and there's no way to tell what we're up against. We shouldn't celebrate just yet. I still need your help in the coming battle.

Later, On Deck

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Image We've reached the barrier. W... wait... What is that?!

Image Aughl There's a giant chain flying straight at us! Ah!


Image

Suddenly, purple happens!

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Image What was that?! All those terrible eyes…

Image Was it an illusion? And... was that chain an illusion too?!


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The one thing that isn't an illusion is the malevolently glowing purple thing, hiding just offscreen. In their defense, the fog has to make visibility terrible right now… but come on. It's glowing.

Anyways, scene change back to the Resistance ship.

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Image We're completely within the fog now. The atmosphere in here gives me the creeps…

Image The fog's so thick, I can't see past my nose. It‘s so... unsettling.

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Image C-Claudine... Something about the enemies in the fog here is... wrong.


Image Woah… Butt chin…

Image Focus, Tear! You can't be swayed by a peachy jaw!

Image What do you mean?

Image They appear out of nowhere, attack, then vanish just as quickly. They're like ghosts.

Image I see. Belle, Brighton, Cheeky? Head up to the deck to fight and see what you can learn about this. Come back the moment you have something.

Image Yes, sir!

Image (A look of determination crosses Claudine's face when she learns the White Spear has ordered reinforcements to defend the Nautilus.) Yes, l'll pass the message on. Magilia, the White Spear has requested your aid with the Nautilus. it's a smart decision. The Nautilus needs extra patrols if it's going to make it through this fog. Magilia, please head to the Nautilus right away.


Image Roger that! Good luck, you guys.

Image
Image Magilia, it's good to have you back on the Nautilus.

Image Clearly our foes are stronger than ever before.


Image By about five levels, max. I got this.

Image I hear Edea is trying to learn more about our enemies. We can pick up the pace now that you‘re here. Nautilus, increase speed bearing northwest.

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Image Yes, captain!

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Image Kyrin, the fog has grown thicker. It won't be long before we lose all visibility.

Image Understood. I recommend we change formation to minimize weak points in our defense. (Cygnus listens to Kyrin‘s advice about formations and comes to a decision.)

Image I agree. Let's shift to a more defensive pattern.

Image From here on out, the Nautilus will focus on signaling the other ships. We don't know what to expect, so we need you to board the escort ship and stand guard.


Image Guard duty. Got it.

Image
Image Most ships have successfully changed formation. All we have to do now is survive the trip through this fog.

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Image Oh!! It's you, Magilia! You startled me! I thought you were an enemy!

Image Why does the fog seem to be getting thicker? Magilia, I'm worried we won't make it through this.


The screen rumbles here.

Image Sounds like one of our ships was hit! I can't make out what happened! Q-Quickly! Contact the other ships! There's been a massive collision! We need the damaged ships to contact us!

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Image Kssshhk... giant chain... kssshhk…

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Image ...completely tangled... kssshhk... no escape…

Image (There's a huge chain entangling the ship! They're in danger! We've got to save them!)

Image I can't hear you! What's wrong?!

Image Kssshhk... We're in danger…

Image It's the Nova ship. Something must have happened to them on the way in!

Image (You need to take the small airship to where the ship disappeared.)


Time to go to work.

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Image Ugh, ugh…

Image Augh... Please, save us... I don't know what happened. I blacked out the moment the chain hit us. The ship has been completely ensnared, and we took too many casualties fighting back.

Image (I need to find the chains around the ship and break them.)


Image

We're interrupted by the purple orbs showing up for a moment again.

Image What the..? They look like Soul Seekers, but less cute.

Image I think they might be… eyes?

Image Ugh... Th-thousands of eyes... and the chains... They're alive!

Image
Image (There‘s a weak spot in the chain. It's my only chance...)


We get to mash spacebar for a couple seconds, and…

Image
Image (You hit the chain with everything you've got until there's nothing left but dust and debris. But the soldiers said there were thousands of chains… and eyes...)

While we've destroyed one, this might be a little beyond what we can handle.

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Meanwhile, White Spear

Image Empress, I have word of the captured ship. It's broken free and gotten safely away.

Image That's a relief.

Image There's more. We've confirmed that if we maintain this heading, we'll reach the end of the fog. We just need to strengthen and hold our defenses long enough to make it.

Image Agreed. Hold the forward defense line.

Hours Later, Moonbridge Skyline

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Image The black sun just above the clouds is so ominous.

Image That's where we'll find the Black Mage.

Image
Image The chain attacks seem to have subsided for now. We have positive reports from the other airships.

Image Understood. Keep a close eye on the status of the fleet.

Image Yes, Empress!

Image Kyrin says the ship can fly higher and breach the clouds. I'm worried about the storm up ahead. I can't guarantee we'll make it through. But we don't have any other options. We'll just have to stay calm and keep pushing onward.

Meanwhile, Nautilus Convoy

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Image We're nearly clear of the fog now, and the enemy is attacking less often.

Image Looks like other ships are doing okay as well… Magilia, I think you can return to the Nautilus now.

Image Kyrin, head into the clouds and set our heading for the black sun.

Image Aye aye! The Nautilus is always on course.

Image Thank you. When the Nautilus sends the signal, the White Spear will follow.

Image Understood. Stick to our tail, and we'll all be fine.

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Image Welcome back, Magilia! Thanks to you, that nasty fog business is just about behind us.


Image …yeah, honestly it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be?

Image The fleet needs to climb to reach the black sun. Once we enter, the Nautilus's job is done. Magilia, you can return to the White Spear now.

Image Roger that. It's been fun, Kyrie.

Image
Image At this rate, we should arrive in about an hour.

Image

Image Empress…?


Image

Thunder rumbles as the sky flashes white.

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Image ...on broken wings will be crushed and undone by despair…

Image You're still thinking about the Black Mage's prophecy?

Image Do you really think we've defied fate? If we haven't, then...


Reminder: The prophecy is already broken.

Anyways, Magilia walks back in.

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Image You‘re back.

Image We're all very grateful to you for helping us through crisis after crisis.

Image We'll arrive soon. Don't let your guard down. We don't know what‘s waiting for us.

Image Everyone, to your positions!


Image

Thunder ominously rumbles again.

Image Something's wrong. The wind has shifted…

Thunder again. The camera zooms in dramatically.

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And then the ship starts shaking. Magilia and Neinheart are dropped immediately; Cygnus only takes a knee. The ship lurches, and it starts to rain on us.

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Image There's something up ahead! Cut the engines! Now!

Image Alert the fleet.

Image Roger that.

Image Neinheart, have the White Spear take point. We must provide cover for the fleet.

Image Yes, Empress!


We lurch in the other direction…

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Image Our flanks are under attack! It's the chains again!

Image I sense a great evil just beyond the fog! What is this terrible energy...?


Image Yeah boss, that's the BLACK MAGE.

Image No, this is something else..!

Image Wh-what's that? Look over there!

Image

In the distance a stone eyeball with a rave party in the middle sucks in light. This is… probably bad.

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Image Giant laser?

Image Giant laser.

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Since the previous failure to get a video, maple lore discord user snowdrift was able to source the video from last time, albeit in the original Korean. They also provided me with additional ideas for how to search for videos in the future. I attempted to use this and search Orange Mushroom's blog (a repository of maplestory updates from KMS) for this video, and immediately failed.

. . . I'm not leveling anyone else up to 290 for this. We carry on. :colbert:

Anyways the gigantic eyeball thing fires an equally gigantic laser, which gets blocked by a glowy shield from the White Spear.

Image
Image We haven't escaped the prophecy's fate just yet.

Image

We rejoin the scene in the middle of a storm.

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Only after the beast had laid waste to the fleet...
...did it close its eye and retreat into the fog.

Most of the fleet was destroyed and swept into the void.
Only the White Spear and a few other ships survived.

Even the bravest warriors may quail...
...when confronted with such horrors.

The heroes' courage quickly faltered...
...only to be replaced by fear.

In the midst of this tragedy…
Cygnus, Commander of the Alliance, had to make a decision.

...no matter how painful it would be.

It wouldn't be long before that huge eye reopened.

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Image Only the ships near the White Spear survived. Of hundreds, a few remain.


The Guardians of Time are doing healing magic on the injured soldiers.

Image What happened to the ships that were swept back into the fog? We've lost contact with them.

Image Well, maybe they're hiding? It IS offscreen. And in the fog.

Image Yeah… Gotta' stay optimistic.

Image And what was that huge monster tangled up in chains? Was it even alive? I sensed such darkness in it. It felt as though it didn't want us to reach the black sun.

Image
Image An... Angelic Buster…


It's here at last..! The game actually has some story branches that are dependent upon our class, and this is our first since the Arcane River started. :dance:

It's also over. This line is it. :geno:

Image Augh... I just want to go home... Where am I?

Image Most of them have lost the will to fight. Even magic can't cure that kind of damage.

Image
Image It'll be a while before they regain consciousness. Please watch over them until they do.

Image Will they wake up soon? Sniff... This is all my fault…

Image
Image I'm glad you're here, Angelic Buster. I just finished relaying Edea's message to Neinheart.

Image Edea said that huge monster is the cause of the fog flooding the area. We might be able to save our people if we defeat that monster and clear the fog. Assuming we actually can defeat it... I'm scared. Facing that monster again means...

Image
Image I'm so scared. I've never been so close to dying in battle.

Image Angelic Buster, can we win this war? Will my people make it back safely?

Image We can do it, as long as we stay strong. You just have to keep trying. (There's a sliver of a chance you can save your people from the void, but you still need to reach the black sun...) (Most of the soldiers have lost their will to fight. It's up to Cygnus now.)

Image
Image Prepare yourself. We're going to move out.


She says this immediately when we approach her. There is no preamble. The Empress is out for blood. :black101:

Image We'll defeat that creature and clear the fog.

Image So, you've decided to save the missing ships.

Image Yes. We must do whatever we can to defend our allies.

Image Empress Cygnus. I trust you. I'll always follow you.


Image We have known her for like, a week. Tops.

Image She has a remarkably trustworthy face, Eskalade.

Image

Image It is literally thundering when you say that, Magilia.

Image We're in a storm, of course it's thundering.

Image Honoring the trust of my people weighs heavy on my heart.

Image (The pressure of command is taking a toll on Cygnus. She's in desperate need of encouragement.)


We're actually given a choice here between "You're not alone" and "This is indeed a great burden." Except Magilia is a magical girl so there is no actual choice between the two.

>You're not alone.

Image There are countless heroes here to support you, Empress. We're in this together. No matter what happens, we will always rise to the challenge. We each have our roles to play. Empress, you have the power to do what no one else can. You're the only one who can bring us all together.

Image What no one else can do…

Image
Image Empress, l have Edea's report here.

Image The next attack should begin in approximately twelve hours. That gives us some time to prepare. Additionally, the enemy attacks have halted for the moment. If we want to get through, now is our best chance. That's where we stand. How would you like to proceed?


Image

We get a memory montage. The Black Mage being sealed by the five heroes in the past.

Image

I… think this is us getting blown up in the sky in Black Heaven? We never did this, though. Hat dimension.

Image

This could be Black Heaven or the Heroes of Maple epic, and really could show up at most points in either one. Prior to armor digivolving into Alliance Empress Cygnus, she spent a lot of time being concerned about things.

Image

And this was like twenty minutes a—waaaaait a second.

You've run this exact montage before, Maple!! :argh:

Image Well… Cygnus wasn't there for it, so now she's having the epiphany instead of us?

That's not better!

Image
Image (No matter how rough the storm, I won‘t allow our determination to falter.)

Image If we were to push on to the Black Mage right now, we'd be ill-prepared for whatever threats await us. We've survived the giant's attack, and we have the chance to regroup. With our allies by our side, we'll overcome this crisis. We won't charge ahead recklessly. And no one will be left behind. Our wings will not be broken! White Spear, prepare to advance. We'll face the Black Mage after we recover our missing allies.

Image Yes, Empress. l was hoping you'd say that.

Image (Cygnus confirms the plan with Neinheart to make the White Spear the centerpiece of an important mission.) (If you search the area around the White Spear, you may find heroes who can contribute to the battle.)

Image Thank you, Neinheart.

Image We'll mobilize our forces immediately. Magilia, the Alliance plans to perform repairs and heal the injured. But we don't have the power we need to face that monster again. I need you to search the nearby wreckage for survivors and help as many heroes as you can. Thank you for your help. Edea from the Nova team will join your rescue efforts. Edea is investigating what remains of the chain, but she'll be done soon. Please go to that location.


Image So I've worked with the Resistance, and then Kyrin, and now the Nova… Eskalade?

Image Huh?

Image I'm willing to bet we're a couple of monsters away from punching a giant eyeball with a dragon. That works, right?

Image Don't see why it wouldn't. Let's get to work.

Image Right!

Image

We get to work, and come in on Edea using magic to deal with the new monsters.

Image Will they ever stop? This is so annoying. Oh! Angelic Buster... Please wait one moment. I need to take care of a few things.

Image

Edea chants a spell, and the screen goes white.

Image Hiyaaaaa!!

Image
Image Angelic Buster, I received word from Neinheart. You'll be helping me with the shipwreck rescue.

She blew up everything in the area in one shot. Edea's the Nova's commander for a reason. She also recognizes us, though the changes are still mostly cosmetic.

Image It's reassuring to have you here with us. But there's something we have to do before the rescue. I need to investigate what's remaining on deck, but I can't focus because of the enemies. Angelic Buster, can you protect me?

Image Of course.

Image Great, I'll be able to focus on the investigation thanks to you. I'm going to get ready. Talk to me again later.

Image …It's later.

Image And I'm ready. Good.

Image
Image I'll analyze the soul in the fragment we got from the enemies.

Image (Edea imbued the fragment with magic and triggered an unusual reaction.)

Image
Image I knew it! There's something unusual about these chain remnants.

Image There's something I haven't tried yet. Let me see...


Image

Edea does a magical something to the goop on the deck.

Image

It explodes into purple and glowier purple, removing the problem.

Image
Image These chain remnants drew the enemy straight toward us.They've been pursuing our fleet this whole time.

Image (So the chain remnants functioned as a beacon for the enemy. That's why it felt like you were being watched.)
…When they focused on them that one time, that meant they WERE important. I should have known.

Image We have to figure this out before we can attack the monster again. I need your help clearing the last of these chain remnants from our deck.

Image Sounds like hunting. I'm in!

Image Follow me, Magilia. I'll take you to the remnants.

Image
Image I‘ve gathered some of the remnants. Please dispose of them.

This is done with a mash spacebar QTE, of course.

Image

We successfully press a button like ten times and make the thing explode. :toot:

Image We've finally cleared the deck of all the chain remnants. I think we can return to the White Spear now.

Image Let's get back and get the war back on the rails, then.

Void Current, White Spear

Image
Image We also destroyed the chain remnants, so we shouldn't have to worry about drawing any more enemies.

Image So our fleet can focus on fighting the giant monster and the enemies ahead. Good.

Image Conditions could change as we get closer to the monster. We'll have to conserve power.

Image I agree. Instruct the fleet to use minimal power for the time being.

Image
Image I think we've done all we can for now.

Image Empress, your orders?

Image White Spear, advance on the monster.


A screenwipe, then…

Image
Image Magilia, we're nearly there now.

Image There are hordes of enemies rushing toward us out of the fog. The giant's eye will soon open.


The glowing purple thing in the background is the eye, our ultimate goal.

Image We have to destroy the core before that happens.

Image The core at the center is shielded. I can sense a powerfully dark soul. We can't destroy the barrier completely, but we can weaken it for a moment. If we improve the White Spear‘s cannons with my magic, we can weaken the barrier. Destroy the Core when the barrier is weakened, and the fog will lift. But… The Core won't be easy to destroy. It'll take all we have just to break through to it.

Image Leave it to me. I'll reach the core.

Image Thank you, Magilia. Push past our enemies and signal the White Spear. When you do, we'll open fire on the core. Get inside the moment the barrier weakens.

Image Understood.

Image Good luck. Edea, see to the cannon. We're counting on you. Everyone, to your positions.

Image Yes, Empress.

Image Yes, Empress!

Image
Image Stay the course until the fog clears.

Image
A Little Later, Detachment Airship

Image We're approaching the monster. We've also received reports of several enemies ahead. We need to defend the airship against enemies during our approach. If you're ready, head onto the deck.


Image Of course. Leave it to me.

Image

The entire Alliance is struggling against the enemies coming from the thing in the sky.

Image

For some reason, this includes Magilia even though we can twoshot these things at most with any of our attacking options.

Image It's more dramatic this way!

Image But I thought you loved hunting.

Image I do. But this is… you know. Fish in a barrel. They're all coming to me.

Image
Image We're being swarmed! They're pouring out of the fog!

Image There's no end to them!

Image Augh!

Image We can't give up now!

Image Keep pushing forward!

Image The White Spear is in danger!

Image (You can‘t get inside until they fire the cannon. Maybe you should leave this to the soldiers and get back to the White Spear?)

Meanwhile, White Spear

Image
Image We've got to stop them!


Image Excuse me! EXCUSE ME!!

What is it now?

Image She is BEATING UP ENEMIES with a SWORD and I'm PRETTY sure she used her magic familiar's powers to make a SHIELD to stop the HUGE EYE THING in that cutscene nobody saw and all of those are, I'm ABSOLUTELY SURE, definitely magical girl things! We should be holding hands, talking in unison, posing together and firing off a gigantic multicolored screw attack into the eyeball! This should be done hours ago!

And yet, nothing like that will happen. Blame Nexon, not me.

Image ...Eskalade. Prepare a strongly worded letter.

Image Already on it! "To whom it may concern, I regrettably must inform you that action must be taken unless you concede to the following demands… One: Fix… my got dang… music…"

Image They just keep coming!

Image Our defense line around the cannon is giving way!

Image They've completely cut us off!

Image There are too many of them!

Image
Image No... We can't lose. What will happen to our comrades?

Image What about our detachment? Where are they?!

Image Empress, if we don't stop them, they could bring down the cannon. We need support.

Image No. We cannot retreat.

Image
Image Everyone, behind the shield! Now!

Image We're pushing forward to the cannon!

Image Yes, Empress!

Image You've done so much. Now it's my turn to protect you. Keep pushing onward! I'll defend you... at any cost.


Image

Our full art for this section. Reasonable internet men got mad at this one, too.

Image Onward!

Image
Image (A brilliant light floods the White Spear‘s deck, and you sense determination radiating from Cygnus like a beacon of hope.)

Image
Image The monster's eye is opening…


Image

Looks like it's time for another rave party laser of death…

Image Is this the end?

Image

Cygnus raises her shield against the giant eyeball laser…

Image

But per magical girl barrier rules, it begins to crack under the strain of being held up too long.

Image
Image The shield is breaking! Everyone, take cov-...

Image

Thaaaaat's not good. :ohdear:

Image
Image (The eye of the giant monster is still ablaze. There's no time to lose. I must defend...)

Image

Image
Image Wha?!

Image (S-Shinsoo's shield... it's gone? The explosion must have...)

Image Augh…

Image
'Please... grant me the strength to protect everyone... one last time…'

But nothing was granted to the hands of the poor Empress.

The shield had lost its light, and could not answer even the most desperate heart.

The armor that had once gleamed with the light of hope now hung heavy, like iron shackles.

Even the soldiers had lost their will to fight.

'...Could this truly be the end?'

The moment she thought of the word 'end', the giant monster reared into view.

Fear gripped her heart, threatening to pull her into the abyss of despair.

And she remembered her vision of watching the Alliance fall.

But above it all, she heard the words that had saved her before.

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:lobcorp:

'We each have our roles to play. Empress, you have the power to do what no one else can.'

'You're the only one who can bring us all together.'

'Do what no one else can...'

The members of the Alliance have fought hard for what they believe in.

We're here now because of that struggle, after overcoming everything the Black Mage has set against us.

We have but one noble purpose, fueled by our desire to preserve this world for our loved ones.

'We worked hard to come this far. I can't give up now.‘

The Empress recalled the many sacrifices that brought them to this point.

...And inscribed each of them upon her heart.

The burden of those sacrifices rested, as one, upon her shoulders.

With her resolve renewed, she would be the commander her soldiers would follow to the very end.


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Cygnus is resolved.

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It is time for the Maple special.

Image I will not yield. Protecting our hope… This moment…

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Image This is my purpose!


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Having undergone the requisite magical girl self-doubt and newfound determination, and the Maple required "open eyes dramatically," Cygnus's magic works again. Her orb glows brighter and brighter 'til the whole screen is white.

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A Little Later, Detachment Airship

Image But that monster just attacked us! What's going on? It's a... a miracle!

Image (The entire fleet was suddenly engulfed in a bright light. What was that?)

Image Magilia, the Empress shielded us from the monsters attack. This is your chance to reach the core. The light should guide any lost ships. Hold on just a little longer.

Image Got it! (You've finally got a chance! But the monster's eye hasn't shut yet.) This isn't over. We have to push onward before the next attack. Keep going!

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Image We're making progress, but slowly. There's still too many of them.

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Image I can't hold on any longer…

Image W-What's that sound?! I just heard some kind of shot!

Image I heard it too, but... Could it be? No…

Image The enemy numbers are dwindling! What's going on?

Image Look over there!

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Image Who but the Resistance could outmaneuver our enemies?!

Image We can't let the Nautilus get caught in the current! I'll destroy them all!

Image Let's DO this!

Image The wings of the Alliance have returned. Now, the true battle begins.


Ladies and gentlemen…

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We've made it to the core.

Image …Did I really only beat up 50 enemies or so this entire time?

Something like that. Moonbridge is more about making everyone else look as cool as possible, particularly Cygnus, than murdering our way through a handful of each enemy type as we approach the end of the area.

Image Right. I guess let's beat up this monster, then.

Image Oh, can you hold on? I'm nearly done with this letter, and you're going to want my full support for this one.

Image Mmm… Okay. We'll get to it right after you're done.

Image "The essence stones… of fifteen of those boba tea guys… from the Kerning Tower… will be delivered monthly… to a specific P.O. Box… without fail. Fifty two… all rights… regarding merchandising… and sales of… acrylic standees… or other such items…"

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Image (The Alliance forces got you close enough to charge at the monster.)

Image Are you all done, Eskalade?

Image Done, signed, and sent. Let's get back to it.

Image (Defeating Gloom is the only way to clear the fog and open a path to the Black Sun.)

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The game wants us to face off against Story Gloom here, but that's kind of a boring fight.

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It's based on the old version of the Gloom fight, which was changed back in 2020. A full version of the old fight is here on YouTube, it's a lot of screenwide attacks and some massive hits that require us to hide inside of a Cygnus-made barrier.

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Also, rock tendril slams. Anyways, because it's Story Mode we melt through it like dragonfire through cheese.

There is a more modern Gloom, but it's kind of a snoozer of a fight too. I would have to be insane to subject you to the entire ebb and flow of such a battle.

Image So we're showing them?

We're absolutely showing them.

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We'll be doing the fight on Normal today, but the only important difference is one of HP. There's just one small problem: Magilia does not have the stats to do this fight. Even now, she'd wind up timing out and it'd be kind of a colossal mess.

Image WHAAAAT?!

Well, this is the problem with Hyper Burning in its current state, you get a character right to 260 and they don't have any of the power or gear necessary to do much of anything past early game. Thankfully, we do still have options. Probably. Kind of.

Image I am VERY open to options right now!!

Right, right… Uhh, hold on, let me…

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Good enough.

Okay, so. Magical Girls are generally associated with transforming into a specific combat outfit in order to beat up the bad guys and save the day, and this is normal, but it is also not their limit. Many magical girls can actually change their form in order to better handle an opponent. A classical example of this is actually one of the firstmagical girl anime: The Secret of Akko-chan, a story of an elementary school girl given a magic mirror that lets her transform into whatever she wants. We see this occasionally in other magical girl stories after that point, the most well-known one being the disguise pen in the early seasons of the Sailor Moon anime allowing Serena to suddenly look like whatever job was necessary.

More relevant to our current situation, however, is Precure. Magical Girl form changes have been a thing ever since the original Black and White turned super saiyan in the first movie, and the second series Splash Star was noteworthy for having the girls change their Precure names entirely to power up (From Bloom to Bright and Egret to Windy), letting them swap between forms as they liked to face their enemies. This has come back a few other times since then, most importantly to our purposes it came up again in Happiness Charge Precure, the 11th series.



In Happiness Charge, the transformation device was a little dress up doll that clothes were slotted into that caused their magical girl transformation sequence. This led to both the Akko-chan and Sailor Moon style changes into job-based outfits to fill time during the main plot, but also allowed them to change into specific hyper modes to perform attacks after they'd transformed into their Precure forms. These transformations were always named <food> <dance type>, but this is unrelated to our current predicament unless our opponent challenges us to DDR.

The important takeaway here is that transformation into different forms, even forms with different names, is completely normal within the zeitgeist of Magical Girls, and thus we can borrow not only from Magilia's own future to fight enemies, but against an enemy of appropriate power we can even transform into a wholly different Angelic Buster.

All we need is a sufficiently powerful alternate AB and we're good to go.

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Luckily, my Legion is ~27% Angelic Buster by volume so this isn't an issue. :getin:

Image Oh, oh, can I be Lithza? She seems really strong.

One of the other unspoken rules of Magical Girl Form Powerups is they can only be as strong as needed to deal with the boss we're looking at. Lithza no-diffs Chaos Gloom in under a minute, so she's off limits.

Image Beans! In that case, I'll take whoever you've got. Let's get this started! Angelic Buster Magilia Mode Modification, Geeeet HYPE!!

Image Hey, wait, what are those magic words supposed to be?!

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Image Okay!, let's get down to business!!

The Angelic Buster form taking the stage today is Angelic Buster CasinoMaid. She was created because I had an extra Hyper Burn six months ago, when the devs also gave everyone access to free bunnygirl outfits for their 20th anniversary.

The name is self-explanatory, and I will not be taking questions. :colbert:

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Anyways, eleven seconds into the fight we get to see all of Gloom's attacks in this phase. Because we can't damage it yet thanks to the giant rock X shielding it from damage, let's talk about what threats we have to deal with instead.

Right now, Gloom has three main attacks. The first, tornados, give us an indicator on the ground before popping up a few seconds later. They deal high damage, but not enough to kill us so we can mostly ignore them; they cannot spawn on the left side of the screen so we're currently standing in a safe spot.

The second attack is the tentacle. It has a glowing red indicator that shows where it'll strike before it does, and if we're hit we lose most of our healthbar. Most deaths in Gloom come from being careless and getting bonked by a tentacle.

Lastly there are the balls, are a threat that will rain down on us from above like with Lotus. They come in three different colors: red, purple, and blue. Red and purple inflict a decreased healing debuff and a curse debuff that makes our attacks miss; they aren't very dangerous. The blue ball, however, stuns us. This can be very bad, since it allows Gloom to bonk us with a tentacle if we're bonked inside the threat area. Getting hit by any of the three also increases the Terror gauge, a central mechanic of this fight.

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The Terror gauge, located in the top-center of the screen, fills up over time and when we're hit. Once full, the fight changes somewhat until it's emptied again. For now we can just ignore it.

Image So how do we beat up this thing?!

Well, for the first minute or so we don't. Like I said, there's a big X-shaped guard over its face that blocks 90% of all damage it would take. We've got to wait for that to come down.

Image And we can't rip it off ourselves?

Not really, no. Our only job for now is avoiding attacks until we see a prompt, the first one coming at 29:05 on the timer.

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Once Cygnus warns us Gloom's going to be attacking with its tentacles, the cover comes off of its eye. Now we can damage it, but also we have to dodge its two tentacles, each of which hits for 115% or 300% health (depending on difficulty).

Image Both of those are pretty 'instantly dead' to me.

Yes, but one kills you through 50% damage cut. Anyways just upjump and it's fine.

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Once both tentacles are down, the boss loses its ability to perform tentacle or tornado attacks and we can hop up on them to smack the boss in the face. Up here, we can see the balls spawn before they drop down—Gloom has had a couple of nerfs which have turned it from an occasional RNG hellscape into a very safe fight, and this is one of them. Before the change, the balls would just rain down on our head with no warning, making dodging fast ones while trying to DPS nearly impossible.

Anyways, we lead off with an Origin Burst—a very special Burst rotation that centers around a once-every-6-minute skill called an Origin skill.

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They're big. They're colorful. They hit a bajillion times.

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They even freeze any enemy in the game in their tracks for 10 seconds, even ones immune to normal binds—and you can normal bind after it's over for another 10 seconds of free punching.

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Angelic Buster's lasts for ~7.3 of those 10 seconds, putting it on the longer end of Origin skills. It is also a little bit weaker than average because it gives a buff that turns our Soul Seekers into more powerful Cheer Balloons for around 40 seconds.

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Image What about the song? Is there a song? Does it work? I HAVE TO KNOW!!

That would be telling, and I'm not doing that until Magilia unlocks hers at 260.

Image …Everyone is going to just watch the video to find out, you know.

Oh, I took care of that. No worries. :buddy:

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The initial wave of attacks chops off roughly 14% of Gloom's entire HP bar, and we continue our burst from there. It doesn't have any real offenses when in this mode, so we're free to pile on. This is very much a "my turn, your turn" kind of boss fight, and to take further advantage of that CasinoMaid is using a Ring of Restraint.

The Ring of Restraint, or RoR, is a special ability ring that creates a zone around us when it's first used for 15 seconds. As long as we remain in that zone, our damage skyrockets. This is slotted in right before activating our Origin, to ensure we squeeze as much damage as possible out of it.

However, our turn does eventually end.

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The tentacles eventually draw back and the game gives us a warning about energy gathering in Gloom's core. When it does, a glow begins to build in the center of its eye and our character is pulled towards the center of the screen. The Giant Cutscene Laser is coming soon, and as it's an instant-kill attack we want to be out of the way.

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Image It's my time now!!

—But we have a 10 second iframe as part of our Burst window, so instead I pop it here to squeeze out more damage during its vulnerable period. Gloom's hitbox is so massive we can actually hit it with Trinity from anywhere except the extreme right and left of the screen, including standing on the ground beneath it. Because its vulnerability period lasts until the end of this attack, this all means CasinoMaid can pile on the damage.

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Even through the blast itself. :hellyeah:

Image Now that's what I call idol privilege!

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Aaand barring a couple of twists that's basically Gloom. Once the laser is done firing its shield goes back up and we return to the first phase. It is the generally-agreed upon consensus of the MapleStory community that it is "boring as hell" as a result of this heavy emphasis on phases. Recent changes have made this less problematic, but… not implemented in v251.

Image I thought this video was taken a couple days ago, though..?

It's not implemented on CasinoMaid, either.

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When the giant laser is firing and we aren't invincible, there are two main ways to deal with it. The first is to jump all the way to the left, turn around, and punch the enemy til the suction brings us too close, jump-dash back to the corner again, and continue forever. This lets us get a bit more damage on the boss, but we could be killed if our timing is bad or we run into a bad blue ball and its stun.

The other way is to go to the far side of the map, upjump, and hover in midair with Blink. This is perfectly safe (even stuns will not break your hover), but it is very slightly slower so I usually do the first one.

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What else is there to say about Gloom… Oh, when it hits specific HP thresholds, it'll instantly open! Once it goes below 70% and 40% HP (and 15% as well on Chaos mode), Gloom will instantly do its tentacle>laser pattern. If it's currently in the middle of one, it'll finish that one and then do another instantly.

This is nice because it lets us get additional damage on it, but odds are our burst was just used to push it into a second open so it's really not that big of a deal. Good to be aware of, though!

It's during this extra open phase that our gauge finally fills up and we can talk about the final thing Gloom can do:

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It's called Terror mode. When the gauge is filled an effect fills the screen with black. This also clears out all of the balls dropping from the top of the screen. None will fall during Gloom's darkness pattern, which is really good! Old Gloom had them spawn like normal, which made them impossible to dodge if you were unlucky.

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The balls are the only thing we don't have to worry about in Terror mode, and with our decreased sight range we can accidentally ram facefirst into an attack we couldn't see; it's best not to move around too much during this phase. However, Terror mode comes with an extra couple of problems to deal with.

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All three of them are right here on screen, so let's cover each one.

The seahorse thing is a basic punchable mob. Beating it up will lower our gauge and make Terror mode end sooner; if it gets a chance to hit us it will reverse our controls, but they're fragile enough that they die remarkably fast.

Then there's the claws on the floor. When we get close to them they'll spike up and inflict us with petrify: this requires us to mash the left and right arrow keys until we get free, and because it stuns us it can kill us if we aren't quick enough. Breaking this petrify will also lower Terror gauge, so it's a bit of a risk/reward? On normal they can be killed via punching, on while in chaos mode they're invincible.

Lastly there's the diamonds; periodically one will appear on top of where we are and we have a second or so to get away from it before an attack follows it up. This attack inflicts skill seal, which stops us from doing anything and leaves us vulnerable to the spikes, panic, and further diamonds. Don't get bonked by the diamond.

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Terror mode is also the one time I will use Blink hover to avoid the death laser. It puts us too high to be hit by petrify, and the diamond skill seal also won't stop us from floating in midair.

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Once we've drained the gauge by spending time in Terror mode and beating up mobs, we break out of it and return to the fight as normal.

There are no more surprises. If you can navigate Terror mode and normal mode, you can beat Gloom.

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The fight isn't completely free, though. I make a couple of mistakes, the first one being here when I get smacked by a blue ball. CasinoMaid has a lower status ailment resistance than I'm used to, so this stuns her long enough to drag her right into the laser and we die instantly.

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And then I overcommit to punching on the next laser phase; that flash means it is about to fire and we are absolutely dead.

Image Why do you keep doing that?! Be more careful with my lives!!

Lives are a resource, if you end a fight with more than 1 you've technically wasted them.

Image Then waste them! Dying hurts!!

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Anyways, the rest of the fight is simple. Over the course of ten minutes we have a total of two Terror modes and finish the battle just after the last one clears. The nerfs to Gloom that kept him from doing unfair things like speed dropping blue balls on your head during DPS phase or just beaning you in Terror when you can't see anything sort of proved that Gloom needed to be unfair in order to be difficult. He's absolutely the easiest of the Tenebris bosses and it isn't even remotely close.

Image So then, the other ones should be harder than this guy?

Much.

Image Finish it, Angelic Buster!

Image We'll do it together! Now, Eskalade!!

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Mighty Mascot sends ends the fight, and when defeated Gloom's tentacles recede.

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It then explodes into sparkly clouds, because Gloom is literally just a Monster of the Week from your average magical girl or masked ranger-type show.

This is normally where I'd put the additional lore, but… there is none. Gloom just kind of shows up, is threatening, gets beaten up, and explodes.

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Once we've beaten him for the Story, we're thrown unceremoniously back outside of the fight with our quest completed.

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Image We'll fire the cannon soon. The moment we do, get to the core.

Image But I already-

Image You broke the first line of defense. Now we'll break the second through the fifteenth. Get ready!

Image Oh, uh—right!

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Image Fire!!

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The White Spear fires on Gloom, weakening its barrier.

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Image (l have to enter the heart of Gloom to break the core, now that the barrier has weakened.)

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Image So this is the core…

Image Let's bust it up, Angelic Buster!

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It doesn't have any defensive abilities and we're still effectively in a shiny cutscene. The explosion is pretty, though.

Total Kills: 32,906

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End of the world... Beginning of the world…

You've finally arrived at the source of truth.

The ground beneath your feet is just an illusion.

Defy your perceptions and accept the truth.


The screen fades to white here…

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Image (It's hard to concentrate with all these malevolent thoughts emanating from that soul...)

The screen shakes a couple times, because we blew up the core at the center of Gloom, and we're still inside of it.

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Image (Oh no, the space is collapsing! I need to get out of here quick...!)

Instead we fade to black, before…

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Image Th-The fog is lifting!

Meanwhile, White Spear

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Image Magilia destroyed the core. But why have they not returned?

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Image Empress?!

Image I will go to Magilia.

Image Empress, that's…

Image I'm the only one who can withstand the darkness of that soul.

Image … I understand. We'll wait for you near the Core.

Later, in the Heart of the Monster

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Image Magilia!!

Image Magilia!!

Image (Someone's calling me. Did they come here to find me?)

Image Magilia, we need to get out of here. Take my hand. Now!

Image (You stare on in fascination as Cygnus creates a shield against the dark soul and reaches her hand out to you.)


Image My magical girl team up… it's real..!

Image What was that?

Image Nothing, ma'am.

Image (The light shining from up ahead reveals an airship in the distance.)

A Few Hours Later, White Spear


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Image We'll have you healed up in a moment, Angelic Buster. That was pure, concentrated darkness you were exposed to.

Image But I'm supposed to be… sparkles and light…

Image Shut off the light for but a moment, and darkness rushes to fill the void. Next time, you'll just have to shine brighter.

Image …Bleh.

Image There we go.

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Image Are you okay, Magilia?

Image The giant monster has fallen, and what's left of it sinks beneath the waves. The path to the black sun is clear. And we have you to thank, Magilia. Now that you're healed, it's time to visit Cygnus.

Image Thank you, Edea. And you, Guardians of Time.

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Image I knew you could do it.

Image You see this? It‘s a fragment from the Core you destroyed. I've been ordered to transport it to the Outpost. Since it's formed from the Black Mage's soul, we might learn something from it. Need anything from the Outpost? I can pick you up a sandwich or something on the way back.

Image Thanks, Ollie, but I'm all set.

Image Then I'm off. Good luck to you!

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Image I thought I was a goner when that great big peeper lit up... but then I saw a ray of light.

Image I knew it was a sign that there was still hope. You've fought well, Magilia! Your determination has saved us all.

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Image Magilia, you're a true Alliance hero. We couldn't have done it without you.

Image I'm impressed, Magilia! You had the guts to run right into the heart of that evil monster!

Image Magilia, you're amazing!

Image That fog is finally dissipating. We can save the other ships now. I believe there's someone waiting for you. Why don't you go see her?

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Image Hello, Magilia. I'm so glad to see you're okay.

Image Thank you for all your hard work. Your efforts have saved the Alliance from oblivion. When Shinsoo‘s shield broke, I felt like I had lost everything. But then I remembered your encouragement and guidance. Without that, I might not have found the strength to believe in myself. I would still be doubting my power to inspire others and give them hope in times of great despair. I know we've only just finished this battle, but we must make ready to advance right away. I‘m sure the difficulties that lie ahead will push us to our limits. But I will fulfill my duty as commander and Empress. I will stand strong, and defend my people no matter what befalls us. Our determination is the most powerful weapon we have against the darkness. Just as it always has been.


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The camera looks off at the sky, where Gloom no longer exists.

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The fog clears… and the black sun awaits us.

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And that's Moonbridge! It's the opening of the end of MapleStory's plot, and because of that it's a chunky story about everyone in the Maple Alliance coming together to bring the hurt to the Black Mage, and also Magilia is there and beats up one thing.

Image Alright! Let's go beat up the Black Mage!

Image Unfortunately, we're still a fair distance from the black sun itself. Even flying full tilt, it'll take time to get there.

Image Alright. How long?

Image About five levels' worth of time.

We're now stuck in grind mode until we hit 250 and can finally unlock the Labyrinth of Suffering.

Image Labyrinth of Suffering… that's a little intimidating, but I'm sure we'll be able to deal with it!

Image That's the spirit! Angelic Buster, let's hunt until our hands fall off!

Image I don't like carpal tunnel… But I love hunting!! Move out!


Video: vs Gloom

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With Moonbridge over and done we're now able to perform yet another new daily, the first of three Tenebris dailies we can perform. Getting this far does lower Morass down to only 200 kills from now on, and also knocks Esfera down to 400.

Image Which means we're facing down 600 of these, right?

Not exactly. Tenebris is special, with missions only requiring 200 kills to complete. This is because they don't really give us anything of value.

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I stick around a little long, but the job gets done regardless.

Total Kills: 33,272

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Turning in the quest gives us 3.2% of the way to our next level, alongside a Spark of Determination. The Spark is theoretically used to challenge the Black Mage, but since you need 50 of them to create a single key to the fight and by the time you can even hold a candle to him you're able to beat a couple of bosses that drop 20+ of them every week, these aren't worth anything to us. The reason to do Tenebris dailies is for the absolute gobs of XP.

With that done, it's time to get on to some other forms of accounting. New week means new weekly bosses!

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Because we've done all of these before, I'll only cover particularly noteworthy drops.

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Total Kills: 33,274

First and foremost, Magnus finally drops that stupid badge I've been after for all this time.

Image Does… that mean you'll stop beating the hell out of me?

Image Don't be silly! I will never stop. Not until you are every bit as broken as you once made my home.

Image …meep.

Image Magilia… idol flair!

Image Oh right! I forgot for a second. Teehee~!

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That was the only drop of note on all the weekly bosses through normal Lotus; a boss I took care of for the last two cores I needed for my Absolab set.

Total Kills: 33,283

Sadly, Scrapyard dailies do not reset until Sunday and it is only Wednesday. Eventually all quest/boss resets were put into the same day, but this is another of the things that is not implemented in v251.

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After that I go ahead and head into the event map, to spend currency on some things to help us along. Most of this goes towards inventory slot upgrades and trait potions to increase our Insight so that Magilia will get 5% extra damage, but we also upgrade our Hidden Ability right to Legendary.

HA's are another casino unrelated to gear where we want specific rolls to maximize our stats. For Angelic Busters the main one is +1 Attack Speed; but it's kind of tangential otherwise until we start really needing to minmax our damage output.

Using them, we've successfully burned through 33 minutes of this day in a mere 550 words. Not bad! There's still a few things on the docket though, we don't get another bit of story until we hit 245 and that means two levels under Burning.

First and foremost, it's time for a proper runback.

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Total Kills: 33,307

Gollux needs to get his face pushed in, and we're going to do exactly that. :getin:

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Step 1: Wait for the hand to show up and dodge it. This gives us downtime before the next attack.

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Step 2: Burst him in the face.

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This two-step plan gets us out of the first phase with all our lives intact, inside of a minute.

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We then get our controls reversed by p2 and immediately get bonked by a hand and die horribly. As is expected, but thankfully our two-step plan has a secret.

It is a three-step plan.

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Step 3: When we die, just kind of hang out for the full timer. Full timer is 35 seconds, so the two deaths we ate take up a total of 70 seconds between them. After our burst is over (as it lasts 30 seconds), there are only 90 seconds until the next burst.

Lives are a resource, burning them lets us burst again. This leads us to the fourth step.

Image Of the three-step plan.

Plans evolve to meet the enemy!

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Step 4: Repeat from Step 2.

We're able to take advantage of our post-death invincibility and the 10 second invincibility from Sparkle Burst to have 20 free seconds of high damage output; easily enough to rip this stupid tree to shreds.

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That leads us to Phase 3, where we have to destroy Gollux's core. The core can only use a weak attack that can't do much damage to us, so there's nothing that's a threat anymore. This is just a damage race to defeat the core before the timer at the top drains entirely.

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With how much tougher the first two phases are, it's really just a formality for us.

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This means we've successfully reduced Gollux to a husk… for the moment. It'll come back. Always does.

Image It's a victory, and that's all that matters.

Total Kills: 33,308

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That just means we have to break the treasure box in Gollux's core to get our sweet sweet loot. What we really want to see here are Superior Gollux Belts/Earrings, as these are the most useful drops we can get from beating up Gollux.

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We don't get any of the good stuff, but we do get Gollux Coins. Every run gives somewhere between 25-30 Gollux Coins, and the Superior Gollux Ring and Pendant—the remaining two items in the Superior Gollux set—can only be bought for 700 coins each.

With an average of 27 coins/day, that means we can afford one of them every 26 days that we murder Gollux on its hardest difficulty. We will be back here a lot because the Superior Gollux gear is incredibly powerful, so much that it's used until the very end of endgame.

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After that, it's time to embrace the fate of all Maplers.

Image That sounds… ominous. Should that sound ominous?

It should. It's time for the Grind.

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At this level, the best spot to farm is Void Current 3, a Moonbridge map containing a pair of high level enemies.

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From here, we simply pop a 2x experience coupon, make sure dice is set to 6 for bonus exp, and get to work.

The work? Hunting.

Image I love hunting!

The time? A solid half-hour, the most common length of any kind of coupon. More in-depth bouts of the Grind will use additional bonuses to drop and meso rates, as well as additional items for even higher EXP. I do not have those on Magilia so I do not bother with them.

2x is enough.

2x is so very not enough that the event standard coupon is now 3x exp, and 4x is also frequently seen as well, but that's all not implemented in v251.

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We'll be hitting runes, and killing mobs, and that's it. That's the Grind.

…And that's all it is.

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We also use Spotlight every 2 minutes, getting anything that falls to the ground, making sure to try and avoid letting any loot disappear. We want the fruits of our labor, after all.

But that's not what the Grind is about. Ultimately, it's a remarkably easy thing to do. Because of that, the mind tends to wander…

—.

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You know, I've never been comfortable with boredom. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be doing something. Just watching something passively never really did it for me, either; I want to be doing things. Gaming is a big one, but so is writing things like this. Reading is fine, too, for some reason it's just listening or watching things that's enough to make me want to stack another thing on top of it.

Part of that is because when I'm bored, the brain does what it wants. Oftentimes when my brain does what it wants, it contemplates what it is to not be. The cloying, endless void of nothingness that awaits everyone at the end of everything; that unknowable door that can't be opened without passing through.

I don't fear a lot of stuff, but endings terrify me, the idea that there won't be any more, that the possibility itself of more has come to an end.

This is a problem, because my wife loves those videos that talk about what will happen in a billion years when the universe runs out of energy and everything starts to implode. :shepface:

Anyways, the point is I don't like it when my brain is left free to wander. I like to chew on things, refine them, add on to them, I generally want to be doing something.

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That's something useful that MapleStory does for me: it is a something to be done. Fundamentally incompletable, I can refine both my character and my comedy bit infinitely until the game shuts down or I'm banned for an Angelic Buster-related crime spree.

It's completely unengaging so my mind still wanders, but instead of drifting to stuff that winds up icky it's more a matter of getting hit by a daydream. Frequently while I'm doing these rote and pointless rotations I'll nod off a little, wind up dreaming about something, and then seconds later I'm there with no real recollection of what the hell I've just thought of, just the vague idea that I've hallucinated something that didn't actually happen.

I'd say it was worrying but daydreaming and nodding off a little when doing something mind-numbing is apparently perfectly normal? So I don't worry about it, and hey: sometimes I come up with interesting bits I can use for other projects I'm working on. :shrug:

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I'm fairly sure that this isn't quite how MapleStory wants to be engaged with, however. They don't want you nodding off, they want you simply playing the game as intended. As time has gone on, Nexon has made it easier and easier to offload the cognitive load of playing it to the point where it's possible to make Maple into something of a fidget spinner.

Nowadays, the idealized Maple grind is as simple as setting up three orbs that last for 2 minutes and kill everything in the area, and sometimes a fourth orb that also does that but lasts for 1 minute. Then you just sit there mashing a button for two minutes on top of the 1 minute orb, replace it at 1 minute, and at 2 minutes you walk around and reset the main 3 orbs while a vacuum pet (available in the cash shop for $99 down for the first 3 months, then another $15/month after that!) automatically sucks in all of the drops that are around you in a radius without having to worry about pathing over it.

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It's completely brainless, and I think that's the point. I compared it to a fidget spinner before, and I think that's actually Nexon's ideal: they would like MapleStory to become a game you play to be doing something while your attention is elsewhere. I see it all the time, people talking about how they dual monitor and just watch something while their hands do grinding for them for hours upon hours upon hours a day. They want to make it a game which is able to be played any time you aren't actively doing something else, to make it so etched into your muscle motions that not playing it becomes a strange feeling.

Doing that ensures a long-term playerbase, and that ensures at least a couple of them will become whales. Like with Ahab, finding the whales is the only thing that matters in the end. Honestly, I can't say I'm a fan.

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I prefer playing the game that I'm playing. Maple is already kind of on the border between what is and isn't actually engaging, so if it got any more mind-numbingly easy it'd actually fail entirely to fulfill its purpose as a game (which is, as a reminder, to keep my mind from wandering too far unsupervised).

My rotations are a little bit worse than standard as a result, just to keep me moving a little more than most people. This has the added bonus of me never buying a vac pet, because I'm hopping around more I can afford to pick up my own stuff instead of paying Nexon to solve a problem they created.

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All of this is to say, I don't think I am engaging with this game in the same manner that Nexon wants me to. I can never forget that I am ultimately playing MapleStory: a shitty game that hates you, personally, for playing it.

Also, this screenshot reminds me that sometimes the game just stops showing your attack animations entirely. I don't know what causes it and it seems to come up randomly if you've been to a lot of places so it's probably a memory leak or something. :lobcorp:

There's really not a lot else to be said about the Grind right now, aside that I use a controller to make it easier on my hands. Some of the people who have gone full-automation use foot pedals; honestly at that point they could be playing two games at once for as much attention as Maple is taking up.

At that point it feels less like playing a game and more like fulfilling an obligation.

But that's Maple for some people. An obligation.

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And so thirty minutes of my life have vanished never, to return. And what did we get in return?

Image Experience points and phat loot?

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Roughly 11% of a level. If we were to do that another seven times, we should hit 248 and be halfway done with getting to 250.

Total Kills: 37,286

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Image So that's… three and a half hours of hunting? Sounds like a dream!

It's hardly that. Spending four hours on mind-numbing gameplay just to get an incremental boost forward in what is considered the very early game of MapleStory is almost definitely too much time and effort to be worth it.

Image But if we do things because we love them, it's not mind-numbing at all. There's a joy in the hunt. A thrill in raking in sweet mesos that I know I'll be able to get gains with later. It's all just so exciting, you know?

…Keep telling yourself that and I might just let you starforce some gear next time.

Image Ooh boy, I hear that's where the REAL power is. I can't wait!!

I'm sure you can't… Next time let's fast forward over the next two days and get to the real action on day 11 then.

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Day 9 begins with murdering Gollux again.

Total Kills: 37,287

We get no drops of any import.

We then do dailies.

Total Kills: 38,887

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We gain around 12% and get no drops of any import.

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I then remember to go kill the 1005 enemies in the dream bunny event map for even more experience points.

Total Kills: 39,892

This is worth another 7%, and we proceed to grab a couple more event rewards.

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The first is this chair, which is perfect in every way. The second is a cosmetic item.

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They're these little wing things that go on our hair, and they're remarkably cute so we will never be taking them off.

Image Accessorizing is an important part of the idol business, I suppose…

Image More importantly, we can sell copies of anything you wear as a new item for the fans. Be sure to change up your look lots!

And that's day 9.

Image What, already?!

I did promise we'd fast forward to star forcing, didn't I?

Image …Oh, I didn't realize that meant we'd be rushing through space and time quite this quickly…

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Not everything is complicated. In fact, most of Maple is these perfectly skippable moments.

Image The grind, right?

Yeup. I'd make a video of what 30 minutes of it actually feels like but nobody would watch it.

Image …Maybe you should do it anyways? People watched that six hour video of me talking about the entire history of the Flora-Nova conflict.

Pretty sure they were just using that to sleep. Anyways, day 10.

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We start with Gollux, uh… again, but this time the run isn't going so well. We're down to 3 lives left with the entire phase 2 lifebar to go through before we can be ready to clear.

It's time for a super-secret technique I learned from the Jojo family.

Image I'm ready!

Well I ain't! RUN AWAAAAY!

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As long as we don't have a debuff from those little guys hitting the center of the arena, we can leave the main Gollux arena through the portal on the left to wind up back in this safe room. There's nothing here to threaten us and we can wait in absolute safety for our Burst cooldown to clear.

Image Isn't this kind of cheesing it?

Not at all. This is definitely, 100%, a specialized tactic created for magical girls.

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The second Burst does what the first couldn't, and we're through the fight easily. Nothing worthwhile drops.

Total Kills: 39,893

Dailies are next.

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Total Kills: 41,493

They're likewise uneventful, and we take out all four Root Abyss bosses as well (I forgot yesterday).

Total Kills: 41,497

This ends our day, and with it we're 53% of the way to our next level.

Image The fulfilling feeling of a simple life with simple chores!

Says the… magical girl idol.

Image Magical girl idol who loves hunting, thankyew.

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Right, well… It's day 11, and that means it's another Sunny Sunday.

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This particular one is also the single most important thing in the entirety of MapleStory's progression system.

It is Shining Star Force Time! That means this is THE day to do all Star Forcing, because it decreases base costs by 30% and also automatically succeeds on 5, 10, and 15.

Image Woooah! …What's that mean?

We'll get to it.

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First off, it's time to bring up our equipment enhancement window. This has been changed to include all the various ways that an item can be powered up recently, but since that's not implemented in v251 the only thing it's good for here is Star Force.

The new version also shows us our meso on hand, but that's not implemented here either. Anyways, to get started we just have to slide something into the spot.

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We'll be starting with the AbsoLab Shoulder we picked up earlier. The 30% off shows on bottom, letting us be able to tap (the term for rolling to increase Star Force) for only ~100k mesos. We can also see that going from 0 to 1 star will grant us a number of stats, and we have a 95% chance of succeeding alongside a 5% chance of failure (keep)—this means that on a fail the stars stay where they are, and this is how it works for the first 15 stars or so.

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Because I am in a hurry and do not wish to play a minigame to give myself a 5% (multiplicative) bonus, I check to disable star catching. Star catching is much better after the above-mentioned overhaul as well, and there are ways to actually make it automatically be on—but again, not implemented in v251.

I also move the window to this specific spot on screen, because MapleStory is a shitty game that wants to give you an RMI for playing it, and I'm trying to minimize that.

Then, we click.

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This screen then pops up. It must be clicked, so we click again. Its position is always the same, so if we hadn't moved the initial window we would have had to move our cursor to click on it every single time we wanted to tap it.

Nowadays the entire system is done by mashing the spacebar, which is much more convenient but still… not implemented in v251. We do this the archaic way!

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We succeed on our 95% chance, and the game tries to provide us with fanfare. The OK button is already under the spot that my mouse is lined up so I just keep spamming clicks to go right through it.

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We hit our first fail at 9>10, and instead of going to 10, we're instead stuck at 9. Success chances for the first 10 stars start at 95 and go down by 5 each level, so statistically speaking we're actually a bit ahead of the curve right now.

This is the part of Star Forcing where it doesn't matter at all, though, so it's not worth caring about.

I also finally remember to pull up our meso total—1.7 billion seems like a lot, right?

It isn't. It isn't even close.

1.7 billion mesos is nothing. :unsmigghh:

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After four total failures, we finally hit 10 stars, which… oh. Hold on, this is a between frame where the game hasn't updated the correct information yet.

I didn't know the SF system even had those, but it makes sense I guess.

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There we go. Once we hit 10 stars, we get a cool banner on the top left of the item's window, and the cost to level up quadruples. Because of 5/10/15, however, we cannot miss this roll (normally a 50% chance).

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We then proceed to one-tap (and please pay attention to these prices) past 11…

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And 12…

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And even 13. It's a good run of successes, even down here at 35% odds.

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So here we are at 14, and going up to 15. We fail this tap, but this isn't the important part.

Image WHAT ARE THOSE PRICES?!

Bullshit, is what they are. It's time for yet another round of…

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Let's talk for a moment about old Star Forcing. Back in the day, the (Keep) on failure only applied on 1-10, and every multiple of 5 beyond that (so 15 and 20). On all other numbers, we had to deal with Failure (Drop) and on 12>13 and beyond,Failure (Destroyed). Drop means that the item loses a star. As for destroyed?

Kaboom.

The item becomes a trace, which we can use on another copy of the same item to start over again from 12*—and remember, 12 could still fail and fall back down to 11, and then 10. This was remarkably tedious, as with the Safeguard system (we'll get to that soon) it was trivial for any player to make their way from 10 back to 15, so the tapping just wasted an incredible amount of time in iishanten hell while waiting for the numbers to line up. The meso numbers progressed upwards at a much, much slower rate… but you'd be tapping for about six or seven times as long.

This was streamlined so that 10-15 could no longer blow up our item or cause us to lose stars, but in order to simulate all of those extra taps the cost of each tap was increased dramatically based on where it fell in the 10-15 run. Because of this, tapping from 14 to 15 is actually about double the cost of tapping from 15 to 16, before any other factors are included.

It is remarkably silly.

All of this is to say, our good luck so far doesn't matter. We are stuck praying for a 1-in-3 chance to hit, and if it fails enough it will get very expensive, very fast—one miss here is worth two at 13>14.

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Unfortunately, this tap failed—as I already said.

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And then the next one failed.

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And the third time sends us right on ahead, meaning we spent a total of ~240m to get from 0-15. This is actually pretty good for us, overall! There's a calculator made by a community member which calculates about how much money we'll need to get to specific star amounts. Average for 0-15 on AbsoLab gear during this event is roughly 350m mesos. We're doing great!

Even better, 15 to 16 is a freebie so we can just knock that out now.

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This brings us to the final stop of my goal for the AbsoLab set items, 16>17. Any numbers beyond 15 normally have Fail (Keep or Drop, depending on number) and then some chance of (Destroy), currently at 2.1%.

If you've ever played X-COM, you know how a 2.1% chance of an explosion goes. Thankfully, Safeguarding still works until 17*.

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By checking the Safeguard cost, the original price doubles—this additional 43m mesos is unaffected by the 30% off—but the item can no longer be destroyed on a fail.

It still drops, of course, so this means every single tap spent at 17* technically costs ~98 million mesos. This is an absolute bargain, because otherwise we'd be playing with 30% odds to go from 15 to 16 at all with a cost of ~50m per roll. 5/10/15 was an incredibly powerful modifier back when it existed, and because of that a large amount of the game's starforcing can only be done on a handful of days out of the year… all of which are a Sunny Sunday.

This has not changed, and if anything has only become more of a problem as the system was updated, but that is beyond the scope of this Let's Play. Let's tap!

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Fail! Back to 15, and we fork over another 100m to try again.

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Fail! That'll be another 100 million, please~

Image Come on… come on..! LET'S GO GAMBLING!!

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Image I can't stop winning!!

We manage to hit our goal of 17* gear, which gives it a chunky amount of bonus stats. Getting gear to 17 is considered one of the first progression steps towards being able to do bosses from normal Lucid onwards. This is the stopping point because from 18 onwards Safeguarding stops.

You will always be playing with fire. Your stuff will explode. Plan accordingly.

Image Seventeen is good, thanks. I like seventeen. Good number.

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The orange numbers at the end of each category show how much is coming from our SF, of particular note being the +21 attack and 66 dexterity we gained. The exact gains depend on the level of the equipment being SF'd, with higher level gear having larger bonuses… and also costing significantly more.

As for how we did, we went from ~1.7b mesos down to ~1.15b mesos, a total cost of roughly 550 million to go from 1-17. This puts us slightly below the median cost of 615m mesos and well below the average of 700m mesos, an overall good showing for us.

Image Hooray! I don't know what you were so worried about, this is great~!

It seems like it, but you really really need to pay attention when the average is that much larger than the median.

Image Huhwha?

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Don't worry about it. We've got 1.15b mesos left, let's star this glove.

Image Sounds good. It's the only other thing we really need to star right now, right?

More or less—everything else is either a filler item or a pre-starred bonus item for burning characters.

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Anyways, we had a bit of trouble going 13>14 and 14>15, so we wind up here at 15 with 780m left, a net cost of 335m. Yet again, we're squeaking by juuust under the estimate!

Image Because magical girls are blessed, you know? Now… LET'S GO GAMBLING!!

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image Aw, dangit.

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Image …hey! Why can't I keep spinning?!

Image Oh… uh… we're broke.

Image Broke? Like regular broke or like Magnus's face broke?

Image Magnus's face broke. We can't afford another tap.

Image But… but we had nearly 800 million mesos!!

And we failed nearly eight times. That's starforcing! We're now at our full 1.7b mesos spent, and have hit one 17* and one 16* piece of AbsoLab gear—in an instant, this puts us significantly behind the averages. Looking at this item alone, we're actually in the bottom 15% for amount spent on average in our handy little tracker.

And this is part of why Star Force sucks so much as a system: in order to progress, we have to walk into a casino with no way of knowing how much money we'll need to spend in order to get our gear to go. We could hit the average, we could even come out ahead! But at some point, we are going to lose—which means paying more than double the usual rate for some decent gear. And this is all without going into the part of SF that can start blowing our stuff up.

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So we GOTTA go more in depth about this stupid fucking system, because it is central to any form of progression and—also—completely fucking dogshit.

Image UM..? :stonk:

You should probably take five, I'll be a minute.

Image O… kay! Be right back, everyone! :shepface:

So, one of the big things in this game is getting to having endgame gear. This means starforcing that gear, with the two main tiers of power being 17* and 22*—seventeen is the limit of safety, and twenty-two is the limit of sanity, as at the time 22>23 had a 3% pass rate and dropped you back to 21 on fail if it didn't blow up your item (at over 20% odds to kaboom).

This has changed, but we won't deal with that right now, 23+ is still only considered worth it if you have more money and spares than anyone with good sense would.

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Of course I have four. It's funnier that way.

Anyways.

The community as a whole, if you listen to the well-respected community Thing-Knowers who talk about progressing your character, all agree that the way to proceed is to get all of your basic gear to 17, and then to send it to 22 one item at a time until they all get there. This theoretically lets you get all of your stuff from "kinda okay" straight to "basically finished" all at once, and means you'll be all ready to go right from the midgame straight into lategame and get you all ready to kill those tough Grandis bosses.

It is also, very un-theoretically, a great way to wind up despising MapleStory with every fiber of your being.

For this I can only salute the celebrated Thing-Knowers for doing the very important community service of trying to make the game as unpalatable as possible for as wide a userbase as possible, so that we have fewer people overall playing Maple—a clear and common good for all humanity.

Unfortunately I'm a pedantic minmaxer, so let's rip this theory right the hell apart!

Within the Reboot server there are two main blocks to progressing Star Force: our mesos and our spares. Spares don't matter until we start going beyond 17 (or 18 today, as the Safeguard area has been increased by 1), so they didn't come up today—but they become remarkably important depending upon the item type. Mesos become less of a problem as the game goes on (though they are always a problem—a single tap from 19>20 on level 250 Eternal gear costs a billion mesos), but spares…

Let's talk about Arcanes, one of the most easily acquirable types of endgame gear. In order to buy them naturally, we require a bunch of coins, made with a combination of 1 drop from Lucid or Will (on hard they'll drop 3/clear), alongside a huge number of droplets that randomly drop from arcane river enemies (or that we can purchase for 48m each)—need 9 per coin, you need 12 coins to buy an item, 24 for a weapon.

Nobody actually does this unless they're desperate, of course, they instead wait for chests to drop from any boss from hard Lucid through the Black Mage. Nexon absolutely refuses to provide any actual drop table data (which has led to a number of other problems when they fuck with the drop rates and don't tell anyone, but that's another story) but based on the numbers available the odds of a box drop from bosses Not Named Black Mage range between 6-15%, numbers which drop rate does not affect. Of these, roughly a third of the time the box that drops will be the Arcane weapon box, which is useless to us because there is no reason to ever push a weapon past 17 (or 18 nowadays).

Of the remaining two-thirds that are useful boxes, we have to split them among four slots: Cape, Glove, Shoes, and Shoulder. Let's say we want to follow conventional advice and take them right to 22. We'll use the events like we're supposed to, do the star catch minigame to maximize our chances, for the sake of the argument we will do everything right. With the handy SF calculator we get the following data point for one piece of Arcane gear going from 17 to 22:



We're looking at an average cost of ~21b mesos to do this, with a median of only 15.5b. Remember what I said about being careful when the average significantly differs from the median?

The actual range in the 1000 trials making up this sampler range from 1.2 billion to 143 billion mesos. The law of averages is sensitive to extremes.

Very sensitive.

There's also the matter of booms. On average, we're looking at 2.19 booms per item to 22, median result of 1, and breakpoints of 3/5/7 at the 75/85/95th percentile—since we're working with four items, the odds are remarkably good at least one of them will fall into the 3+ booms range just for Arcanes. This means that overall, to get your Arcanes from 17* all the way up to 22*, you will need a rough estimate of around 80 billion mesos (on reboot my weekly income is somewhere around 15b or so, for reference), alongside an average of 12 total armors (1+2 booms each) to get everything to 22. With useful boxes having an overall drop rate of roughly ~10% if I'm being generous, times the five bosses we can do maximum to get them to drop—there are people who will cut in here to say that, because boxes are tradable, you could do more than this per week. Those people already have two or more characters able to solo all of ctenebris, which means they don't fucking matter to this conversation because I'm talking to people working on their first right now—we can expect to get an armor box every other week or so, meaning we have enough armor boxes in abooout six months.

If you manage to get everything to 22 within this time frame at these costs, you are remarkably lucky. Generally speaking, when dealing with a statistical average you're only going to hit that average or better around 60% of the time and you've just done it four times in a row. Maple seems to like you, go do it with the other thirteen items you have left to star.

More likely, you will be hit by bad luck somewhere and wind up throwing countless spares and mesos into a pit that refuses to ever properly go because variance is a bitch and a quirk in how statistics work means that after you blow up your first three Arcane shoes, you still have an average of 2.19 more booms to go before you finally hit that 22.

Straight 17>22* is a strategy that is only meta-dominant because of survivorship bias. Most people who go this route will get frustrated at dropping over 100 billion mesos into a pit only to wind up with dust in their mouth and quite possibly negative progress. The ones who do not are suddenly launched right into the lauded annals of Lategame Mapler, where their advice suddenly carries weight and people will listen to them no matter how completely ass-backwards their advice actually is for anyone who isn't blessed by the fucking Shroom Gods.

These same players will say "this is normal, you're supposed to build up your Legion with a bunch of other boss mules in the meanwhile to rotate between 13-14 characters while you're waiting for your main to finally go and then you can start playing the endgame for real." This sounds good (if you're a crazy person), but I have two issues with it:

One: At that point, maplestory isn't a game you're playing, it's a fucking job? I don't like any of these bosses enough to do them ten or more times in a week.

Two: I do not give a single malignant fuck about any of these other classes outside of Angelic Buster and one other class which is also a dragon-powered magical girl we'll get to her later I swear. Why would I spend time building up and playing something I do not enjoy just to fit a path of growth that has a 40% chance to fail me in a huge way on every single piece of gear I roll? I haven't even gotten into the hell that is Pitched Boss items, which are remarkably rare and still boom at the same rates as Arcanes!

So, what do you do to succeed?

Ideally, you play any-fucking-thing else. But if you insist on being a complete moron? There are… options.

First of all, let me tell you my brilliant plan after having looked at the entire system and deciding it was stupid. In hindsight I wouldn't call it optimal either, but it worked well enough for me… Mostly.



These numbers are for going to 21 instead of 22. As you can see, everything is cut almost cleanly in half, meaning for half the overall time investment it's possible to shoot from 17>21 and be ready to go for most of the later-game bosses, at the very least anything until the level 280 area. This plan worked really well overall, and even when I did go way, way over my average numbers I was still ultimately able to get everything to full 21 and complete Liberation (a notable endgame quest involving soloing a number of particularly powerful bosses—it's been trivialized since I did it but at the time it was a Big Deal) as well as doing every one of the bosses that was released at the time.

I found that you really honestly didn't need 22 at the time, and since the advent of 6thjob and the power spike it's given to everyone this has become even more true until you get into later Grandis bossing.

This did have a couple of major problems, of course: the first was that spares could still be an issue. I blew up 21 level 140 rings among the three types there are trying to get any of them to go, with the 22nd finally making it… only for me to discover it did not matter, because it couldn't beat the 17* Pitched Boss ring I was already wearing. :negative:

The second was that… you know… I broadcasted that I was going full 21 very openly in my guild discords at the time. I don't recommend doing that unless you really really enjoy pissing off a very specific kind of MapleStory endgame player, because it got me a dedicated hater.



Seriously, actual dedicated hater who'd stalk my comments and post shit like this then delete it—according to the mods he did this to a lot of people to make himself feel good about getting lucky after grinding long enough to hit 290+. I treated him with the full respect he deserved, which is to say I made it into a bit.



Meanwhile, because he was kind enough to make very clear that he'd gotten his information from one of the guild alliances I hung out in uh… well I spent about six months lying about my progression to everyone in every discord to see which version of events the guy would go with. The last I heard from him, I responded to a rude message with "[Alliance name] deserves better than you," and nobody has seen him since. Guy just vanished into the night.

…That's a little off track, though, the original question was "what's the best way to grow a main" and the answer, really, is probably laddering.

Laddering is the act of getting everything (except the weapon, which only needs 18* at most) to 17, then to 18, then to 19, then to 21 (because going from 19>21 is roughly the same variance as 19>20 so you may as well), and then 22. This is done according to what spares you happen to have available, and the idea is that while you don't gain as much as rocketing towards the endgame, you do get significantly more consistent gains over time. That's why, if you're looking for a purely main-focused manner of progression that may allow you to have a chance at doing later-game content in as short a time as possible, laddering is the way to go.

Not that anyone should ever do this, because MapleStory is a shitty game that hates you, personally, for playing it.

So nobody should ever be playing it.

Because it has shit like this, nestled juuuust after you've gotten comfortable enough with doing dailies to possibly keep you addicted even after you deal with the absolute codswallop of this horseshit. There is no reason to ever engage with this system, because there is no reason to get this far in Maple, unless you are playing the game as a joke.

Which I am doing.

I am playing this game as a joke.

I am playing this game as a joke.

I must be.

Why else would I be watching all my shit boom pointlessly time and time again? It's because it's funny.

One item exploding every 3.7b mesos spent is hilarious, actually—that's so cheap compared to most players still playing this fungal infection in the 290s that it's practically a bargain! That's a fucking riot! And all for what, the ability to press a button and play a magical girl theme that doesn't even work?!

Total Songs: 0.23 of 5

We are snakes, entwined, biting and crushing each other in a dance without end. All for some nebulous bit that I can't fully explain anymore.

…could I ever explain it in the first place?




—.





We do dailies. Nothing useful drops. We're at 79%. I use the money to tap the glove one more time. It fails, and I have to scrimp together funds to get back to 16.

We're so broke I can't even pay the 2 million mesos to change from bossing to mobbing preset, a feature that should be free before the change was left not implemented in v251.

Total Kills: 43,202

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Image Soooo… It got quiet. Can I come out now?

Image Um… hello?





Image …Where'd you go?

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Uuugh… Right. This shit. I was doing this shit.

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Image Oh. You're back!

…And you're level 251. That's not where we were.

Image Well… you were kind of… missing? So I just sort of kept the ball rolling. Hunting, and all that. Mostly dailies.

How many dailies?

Image Five days worth? Plus some of those clown guys.

Uh-huh. Did you keep the kill counter?

Image More or less.

Total Kills: 60,409

Seventeen thousand bloody… five days? You said five?

Image Yeah. With a couple of extras.

Image

Image First off, Gollux dropped the good earrings.

So just the belt to go and then we're farming coins forever. Nice, nice. What else?

Image Oh, Chaos Root Abyss opened up. So I beat them up, too!

Image

Image They were all basically one-bursts. Nothing really worth talking about.

Still, it's important we did it. And you got all four?

Image

Image

Image

Image All four. Part of the tally. I don't get why they were such a big deal, they were really easy.

Image

It's for the fragments. The fragments of the three non-Vel bosses are very important, as they give us our 150 gear set. Given the pants you're wearing will disappear in a couple months, we need to make new ones—with each piece of armor costing 5 of the fragments to create. Each kill drops between 7 and 12 fragments, so just one is enough to get a replacement set to start working on for everything but the weapon…

Image Which we don't need, 'cuz I already have that AbsoLab Soul Shooter, right?

Exactly. Which is great, because the weapon requires 15 fragments instead of 5. Two-week minimum.

Image

Image I also got some new shoes, which rule for the record.

No cape?

Image Waiting on someone else to deliver more materials for that one. I can't do everything myself.

Right, right.

Image

Image Aaaaand then I hit 251. It was pretty uneventful, overall.

Well, congratulations.

Image I'm just doing what I can as an idol.

Image

Image Now, let's get this underway! The Labyrinth of Suffering… it sounds intimidating, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

Did you just say… Labryinth of Suffering?

Image I did.



I'm going back on hiatus.

Image Hey! Get back here and do your thing!

Image
Image Magilia, we've finished preparations for the expedition to the Black Sun. The Empress and Neinheart wish to meet with you to discuss the plan. Are you ready to jump to the White Spear where they are?

Image Yes!

Fine, let's get this over with… :negative:

Moonbridge, somewhere far away.

Image
Image Ugh…

Image What happened? Well, there was an explosion... So I probably got launched somewhere. Somewhere... fishy. What IS that smell...?


Image

We start on a high point, as the two best characters in Arcane River hang out.

Image Fish... Fish… Flying Fish?!

Image Sploosh…

Image
Image ...And that's what happened.

Image So the Flying Fish helped you!

Image It... It said, 'I'll be back when it's time'. Then it was gone.

Image It talked? The Flying Fish?

Image Ha, you sound surprised…

Image I'm glad you're okay, Ollie.

Image Ollie... ARE you okay? I heard you were exposed to the souls pouring out of that fragment.

Image Our examinations have found no lingering effects. However, Ollie did tell us that she saw something important while exposed.

Image Important? What is it?

Image The Black Mage's past.

Image Ollie, can you tell us what you saw?

Image Yes, of course. I saw everything. I mean, it was... back when the Black Mage was still human, so... not really everything… l think l saw the moment he stepped into the... divine realm, beyond the horizon of awareness.

Image
Image The White Mage…


We're supposed to have heard by now that the Black Mage was once the White Mage and then he became a transcendent and went evil and tried to destroy everything. I do not remember where. Just know that this is the same guy that we're fighting right now.

All this to say, I'm not changing his icon. :colbert:

Image I can see it… I have arrived… At last, we can move forward… To a world free of evil… To the Divine City!

Image His heart was full of joy... There are no words to describe it. He could see his goal, finally within reach. But his joy was brief. He realized something was holding him back.

Image
Image What is this....? You!

Image What was it? What was holding him?

Image It was… It was the world itself… No…

Image What do you mean?

Image I think it was the force of order. The essence of balance… it's hard to describe. It appeared like a fog, formless and twisting… But I knew it was real. I could feel it.

Image Hmm…

Image Keep going, Ollie.

Image lt wrapped around the Black Mage. It felt like a solid chain. Colder and heavier than any metal I know.

Image A chain…

Image He began shouting.

Image You... Why do you fear change? Why do you allow such stagnation? Do you want the world to remain incomplete? Why… Why? WHY? I... don't accept this... This… I reject you!

Image That's what he said. Word for word.

Image Go on, bind me. You can't stop me. I will forge my own path. I will break free from these chains… Chains that keep the world anchored to darkness. If I must suffer for my cause, so be it. If I must destroy the world to change it, so be it. I… I will…

Image
Image ...Become the darkness.

Image So, then… This means he's not just some lunatic out to destroy the world?

Image What in the world…

Image … Please, I must ask you to focus. We fight to ensure the survival of our worlds. We cannot be distracted.

Image The Empress is right. Whatever his ideals may be, his means are still ruinous.

Image Yes, this is true.

Image
Image That was all I saw. As the images faded, one single thought stuck with me…

Image 'I will build the Path to Genesis.'

Image The Path to Genesis...?

Image Empress! The fleet is approaching the black sun.

Image We will continue this another time.

Image All captains, maintain course and be on alert. Ollie, you should rest.

Image Yes, Empress.


Image

With the first cutscene over, we're left to talk to Neinheart to get the ball rolling on the rest of the plot.

Image He's… a secret good guy… My mind is SO blown right now.

Image A secret good guy who wants to kill everyone.

Image To be fair… Florida.

Image Okay, yeah.

Image
Image All we can do now is keep moving through the black sun.

Image And there…

Image We'll find the Black Mage.

Image He'll be ready for us.

Image We don't know what will happen on our way there. There's no telling what dangers we‘ll face, so we need all-purpose plans. Magilia, you'll be at the center of those plans.

Image Hmm…

Image We must pass through the barrier of darkness and reach the inner workings. It is unquestionably dangerous. However… Magilia, you are truly the ace of the Alliance. You are the only one that we can entrust with this essential task. Serve as the vanguard of the Alliance and forge our path through the darkness... all the way to the heart of the black sun.

Image No, Neinheart. The White Spear will be the vanguard. Magilia, I want you to provide cover from the rear until the entire Alliance fleet reaches the black sun.

Image Your Highness, it's too dangerous for you to be part of the vanguard. We cannot put you or the White Spear at risk. The Alliance would collapse without its leader. As supreme commander, your responsibility is to direct our forces and oversee the high-level strategy, not lead the charge. You are the heart of the Alliance, Empress. We cannot expose our heart to such danger.

Image If it's so dangerous, why were you so ready to hand this task to Magilia?


Image

Image In fairness, I'm like… two, three, a million times stronger than you guys?

Image I'm not scolding you, Neinheart. We both know that Magilia would do a fine job leading our forces into battle. But… Neinheart... We're all here because of me. I have to lead this fleet. If I used my command to keep myself safe, I would rightfully lose the trust of the Alliance.

Image Empress…

Image Trust me, Neinheart. I'm not letting everyone else do the work anymore.

Image (The Empress is more resolved than ever.) (War…) (If we don't win this war, Grandis won't be safe either.) (We need to defend Maple World... and Grandis.)

Image I see. In that case, Magilia, please take up position near the rear of the fleet and watch our flanks as we approach the black sun.

Image No problem. I'll keep you covered. All right, I'm going to take up my position.

Image We'll be counting on you.


Image

We out.

Image

Image ...Empress?

Image I feel uneasy... There's a darkness hanging over Magilia.


…Rude. If the world doesn't want me to be darkness maybe it should make SF better. :colbert:

Image That's the true reason I wanted them to stay back and provide support. I just…

Image If there's anyone we can rely on, it's Magilia. Have no fear, Empress.

Image A light whose brilliant glory is lost will face the soul of the world whilst steeped in mire and rot… (Could this all be part of the Black Mage's prophecy? l have this awful fear that we'll never see Magilia again...)


I am hereby announcing that I am ending the LP right here because it would be really funny.

Image No! That's banned! We're seeing this through to the end!

Fiiine. :mad:

Image
Image Hey! Melange!

Image There you are, Magilia. We got our orders to mobilize. Looks like we'll be on the same battleship.

Image Sounds good! We're gonna be shipmates!

Image Is that so?

Image Seriously though, I don't think I could have taken down Will without your help. You're a handy friend to have!

Image I don't know about this time though.

Image What?

Image At least in Mirror World, you had reflections…

Image (I really have no idea he's saying, let alone what he's thinking.)

Image No. All will be revealed in time. I shouldn't have said anything. Yeah, yeah... I'm just fighting for a world where I can finally nap all day. Let‘s board the ship so we can get on with this.

Image This is for everyone and everything we hold dear... Let's go.

Image
Image

Image
Image All points, onward to battle! To the black sun!

Image
Image Hm...? That's...

Image Magilia, Neinheart is trying to reach you.

Image KSHHHH... enemy movements... KSHHHH... not detect... KSHHHH…

Image I'm seeing the same... I think. No movement, just darkness. Everyone, alert us if you see something.

Image Problem... KSHHHH... communica... KSHHHH... inane rambling… KSHHHH…

Image Neinheart! Come in, Neinheart! … Lost the signal… Getting the communications network back up and running is our first priority! And please, everyone, keep your eyes peeled.

Image
Image Something's off... The only thing causing trouble for us is the darkness.

Image There's no way they‘d let us in this easily…

Image I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this. Maybe it's naptime on the black sun, and nobody's awake to be evil yet. Or...

Image
Image (Is it me, or... Is the darkness getting darker?)

Image The Black Mage is really into this whole darkness thing. Must be important.

Image Important... I wonder… Regardless, I can't see past my nose now… Everyone, turn up the lights in herel Extra bright, so we all can see!

Image The light itself is being devoured!

Image I'll give it a try! (It's true. The light is vanishing into the dark. l'm helpless...) (What happened?) Whew… (If this continues, it won't end well.) (There's no way to know how the Alliance is doing, since they're spread out through this darkness.) Everyone, to your stations! We need to be ready for anything! Are you detecting any movement?

Image Not that I can see!

Image How‘s communication with the rest of the fleet?

Image All communications are down. Without clear lines of vision, there's no way to signal the rest of the fleet!

Image We're losing altitude! It's like we're being pulled down by something!

Image We're already in her clutches.

Image 'Her?' No way...

Image
Image Her sword is trapped in the haze of the black sun…

Image Until the lying hand that blinds the eyes vanishes… And the red thread that binds is cut… We have no choice but to dance with her.

Image That place...?

Image

Image Melange?

Image Remember.

Image Remember? Remember what?

Image
Image Agh... My vision!

Image Melange!

Image
Image All roads exist inside your mind…

Image Roads? Can you maybe just explain…

Image
Image The ship!!

Image We're falling!


There is a completely pointless QTE here where we mash left or right as the ship pitches to and fro.

Image Controls aren't responding!

Image Everyone, brace yourselves!


The screen fades to black and we hear a crash.

Image
Meanwhile, at Black Sun Overlook

Image


Image

Our masked buddy flies off for the Black Sun as well.

Image
Labyrinth of Suffering, Crash Site

As we have entered (more or less) the Labyrinth of Suffering proper.

User avatar
Previously, on Angelic Buster is a Hero…

Image
Labyrinth of Suffering, Crash Site

Everyone crashed out because we're in the Labyrinth of Suffering. And now: More suffering.

Image Ugh…

Image
Image Is everyone okay?

Image We're alive, so it could be worse!


Mood.

Image Where in the world are we? Look at these twisted paths... It's like an enormous maze.

Image We're not all accounted for! Several of the crew are missing, along with Melange! And our communications are still down!

Image The sky is so dark... I can't see a thing. What should we do?

Image First thing's first, I'm going to climb this wall and try to figure out where we are.

Image Will you be okay?

Image I mean, it looks like a normal wall. Could be a shape-shifter or a man-eating wall though, so be sure to cover me.

Image I've got your back! No wall‘s gonna get past me!

Image That's was a joke. It's a wall. I'm just gonna climb it.


Image
Image Be careful. That wall looks quite high.

Image

Pressing up against the wall lets us climb up it like a ladder, and we need to climb up to the top..

Image Whoa, this is…

Image
Image It's a giant labyrinth?

Image I could see more if I climb higher… Uh... Wha-!


The screen shakes.

Image
Image Be careful!

And now we have a bigger wall, Angelic Buster falling back down to the ground level.

Image
Image The wall... It's growing…

Image Are you okay?

Image Yeah, but this is going to complicate things. We're going to have a terrible time staying together. All we can do is wander around, look for other Alliance members, and try not to bite it… First, let's do a head count and see who's missing.

Image
Image ...thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. We're missing five, including Melange.

Image Next, let's recover any supplies we can from the ship. Once we're in better shape, we can start searching for the others. There's no telling what's waiting for us here, so I‘ll set some barrier stones just in case.

Image Yes! Here are the banter stones. You'll want to place them at natural choke points, like that gate over there.

Image Got it, I'll place them around the lights.


Image Barrier stones?

Image

Image They keep monsters away. All I need to do is put them near these lights…

Image These were definitely not here two seconds ago.

Image Yeah, 'cuz I didn't need to look for them. Let's just put the stones down…

Image
Image Okay, I really hope that'll help us get our bearings.

Image Thanks, Magilia. That should keep us safer here in... camp? It's like a camp if you squint...

Image It's campy enough for me. How did the salvaging go?

Image Pretty good, actually! The crash wasn't as bad as we thought, so most of the supplies were undamaged. We lost a few of our more delicate tools, but the food survived. And right now, that's kinda all I care about...

Image What about the ship itself? Can we get it airborne again?

Image Not a chance. The bridge and engine room took the brunt of the damage. It's strange… The abuse the ship took is very much focused on the most critical parts. I'll try to fix it, but I can't make any promises. Even if I do, there‘s no guarantee it'll run smoothly.

Image Well, if you can't get it running I would settle for some toast.

Image Magilia... What do we do now?

Image Hah... Give me a minute to think. I know this is serious…

Image
Image Do we have any flares? We can try signaling our position to the fleet.

Image Hang on, I'm sure I saw a few here somewhere… ...somewhere… ...Yes! Here they are!

Image I'lI light it up then.

Image Ah! Wait!

Image What is it?

Image Well... A bit of the flare's gunpowder fell out when we crashed earlier. If we try to light it, this whole place might go up.

Image I should should track down some flint and tree branches to kindle a small fire. It's too dangerous to just storm in there. How much rope do we have right now?

Image Rope? Er, just a moment!

Image
Image I suppose this'll work…


That is a lot of rope in the background.

Image Whenever we enter the labyrinth, we need to tie one end to the ship and hold the other. That'll keep us from getting lost. We should move in groups. You three, head that way. You two, come with me. Everyone else, get to work on repairs.

Image Understood!

Image Don't wander too far, even if you have a rope. If you get too far from the ship, there's no telling what could happen. Return to the ship at the first sign of danger. We're not taking any chances in a place this weird. Likewise, if something happens here at the ship, follow this rope to me. Don't go off on your own. All right. This place is weird and scary, but we've got a plan to beat it. Good luck!

Image Good luck to you too, Magilia.

Image Let's get going. And mind the rope.

Image Yes!

Image
Moments Later, at the Crash Site…

Image
Image Looks like the others aren't back yet.

Image No, but it hasn't been that long. I don't want to worry yet.

Image I want to get them back before we start worrying, personally. Let's send up a flare to call them back. Flare away!


Image

Magilia launches the flare, but it disappears in the darkness above her.

Image What the…?

Image Huh?!

Image The flare... disappeared?

Image W-we should fire another one!


It also disappears. Almost like we're in a spooky haunted labyrinth of… something. I can't quite think of the word.

Image
Image I don't think flares are gonna work here. I'll go find them myself.

Fade to black.

Image
Image H-help me!

And then we're back to the crash site.

Image
Image What's going on? Where are the others?

Image The... the wall... the labyrinth wall!

Image The wall?

Image
Image The wall... it ate them! They were eaten alive!

Image
Image I... I had to run!

Image Eaten... by the wall? Guys, seriously, I was kidding about the wall earlier…


You know what, Maple… you get one point for saving me from having to write this joke myself.

After the fiasco a couple updates ago… That brings you to -300 or so points. :colbert:

Image You three, come tend to these wounds. Anyone who isn't helping with the ship, come with me!

Image
Image The rope leads over here…

Image Look!

Image
Image What the...?

Image It's... it's their clothes! And weapons!

Image How did that happen...? Are there any other clues around here?

Image No. Nothing!

Image Magilia! The clothes!


Image

They mysteriously fade out.

Image Are you kidding me…

Image

Image Let's get back to the ship for now. This is too much.

Image
Image Oh! You're back. Ah...?

Image I couldn't find the two missing people. Tell me everything‘s okay here.

Image

Image Oh, no... What is it now?

Image Weren't there... six of you?

Image Huh? Yeah, everyone came back... together…

Image !!!

Image They were just here a minute ago!


I can't notice any fewer people on the screen, but more people are vanishing I guess.

Image M-maybe they fell behind?

Image ...So nobody knows when they disappeared. Say, where are the people who were repairing the ship?

Image What? Oh, they... They went to grab some tools right before you got back. I clearly remember… Oh…

Image The labyrinth... lt's eating us.

Image Let‘s not jump to-

Image There's no way... out of this place… Soon... they will come...

Image There has to be a way out... Wait, who's coming?


Something starts beeping, indicating an attack.

Image Aw, nuts... Everyone get ready, it's an ambush! Cover the wounded!

Image Understood!

Image The battle's come to us!


Image
Image Monsters, incoming! Hold them back!

We're in another short "kill stuff" section.

Image They just keep swarming toward us!

Image

Total Kills: 60,429

Very short.

Image Hah... Is this how it ends? Is everyone okay?

Image Ugh…

Image We lost two soldiers. They were chasing after the stragglers, and then…

Image Oh, no... Well, who's left?

Image ..!

Image
Image Where is everyone?

Image We had people watching the flanks... where are they? Answer me! What happened to them? We need to search the area as soon as possible. I can't believe this. We're losing people faster than we can find them...

Image Understood!

Image All right, three of you come with me, and one of you keep an eye on him.

Image Yes... Wait, d-did you mean me?

Image Thank you.

Image B-but... I'll be by myself…

Image I know. I understand. But this is an emergency. Here, take this and use it the moment something happens. Trust me, I know how you feel, but we need your help.


Image I'm tying him up, he's being weird.

Image That's fine. I'll be back soon. Please... hang in there. Let's make this quick.

Image

We go deeper into the Labyrinth, finding a sickly green area…

Image
Image Welp, I've already lost everyone that was with me.

And then back to blue, but alone.

Image Am I cursed? Nah, probably just this horrible labyrinth. Hang on... when did that appear?

Image
Image All right, now we've got a door. Definitely didn't see this before.

Image Not much point in a door unless you open it! Here I go…

Image
Image Wait, wait... How can that hall... connect to the crash site?

Image Wait! There's someone on the ship…

Image
Image No…

Image
Image Ha ha…

Image
Image But there was no signal, no contact, nothing.

Image Does that mean he didn't even get the chance to use it?


Image
Image 'Please... wait.'

Image Yes?

Image Powerless... Capable of nothing... A... pathetic bug that flounders forever…

Image What are you talking about? What happened to everyone?!

Image Have you done... anything right yet? What was the... point of all your fussing? To have... people vanish into thin air? Everyone trusted you... followed you all this way. How will you save the world... when you can't even save your friends?

Image You... You can't be serious! I could still find…

Image What about... the people who trusted you? Followed you? What about the people you... abandoned to their fear?

Image ...It was you. Everyone who's gone missing here, that was your doing!

Image No... It was you.

Image What..?

Image You brought them here. You split them up. You put them in danger. Did you start believing that you were special, just because others said so? You couldn't even protect the people right next to you!

Image S-Shut up!

Image No matter how hard you struggle, you won't escape. You're already trapped in the swamp…


Image No… No… We're out of Morass! We're never going back to Morass!

Image Outside of our daily hunts for symbols, right?

Image Oh, yeah, obviously. I love hunting!

Image The more you struggle, the deeper you'll sink. Even if you do nothing, it will get worse.

Image Enough! I…

Image There's no hope for a pathetic fool like you here!

Image STOP IT!!


Image

Magilia swings on the guy…

Image

Who puffs into ash and blows away.

Image *huff* *huff* Huh? I... Did I...? N-no…

Image Uh… Magilia? You good?

Image Wait, where did the soldier even go? Is any of this real? Or is this another illusion? We did beat up Lucid, right? I'm not asleep?

Image Yeah, she's still coma'd out.

Image Geez… What is... going on...? ...Am I all alone?

Image Never! You've still got me, you know? As long as I'm around, any plan revolving around isolating my girl, Angelic Buster Magilia, can't possibly work!

Image Thanks, Eskalade. You're pretty handy.

Image Ehhh, just doin' my part.

Image
Image Magilia... Save us…

Image What's… that sound..?

Image We're over here…
Image Who…

Image
Image Magilia... Where are you...

Image There are people here… They're lost in the labyrinth... l have to save them…

Image We're waiting for you... Magilia…

Image Everyone's... waiting for me...


We go running through the initial hub point during this scene, entering the door from before.

Image Come with us…

Image
Image I've never been here before... Has this always been here?

Image I could swear this way was blocked by a wall…

Image
Image Light's seeping through?

Image I'll have to remove these tree roots first.


Image

QTE!!

Image
Image Where...?

Image Can I get there this way? Is this the right path to take…?

Image That... That's someone screaming! I've got to hurry! I hope I'm too not late…


Magilia heads forth into the gaping purple maw of doom.

Image

It then promptly closes behind her, because this dungeon sucks.

Image
Labyrinth of Suffering Core

Image What is this place...?


The Labyrinth of Suffering Core. It just said.

Image Okay, yeah, but what is it?

Iunno. Important?

Image Ugh... The air is so heavy here. Oh, there's light coming from nearby… Is that a door? I'll check it out. Finally, something new!

Image

The door itself has our quest marker. Be sure not to enter it by accident.

…I don't think it matters, but it's still a timeloss.

Image That sound is getting louder. I gotta hurry! There might actually be someone else in here with me! I need to check that door there, the one with the light behind it!

Image
Image I think the sound was coming from here…


Image There! Just offscreen!

Image GASP!

Image

It is a person stuck in some roots instead of totally consumed within the walls.

Image I see no reason to question this!!

Image
Image They're trapped!

Image
Image Hey!

Image Wake up!

Image
Image

Image I'll have to remove these tree roots before I can get them down.


Image

QTE!!! We destroy the roots and our mystery buddy falls to the floor.

Image
Image I think the shock was too much. They're not waking up.

Image Guess I'll just have to wait for them to wake up, huh...? Still, at least… I don't have to be alone in this awful place anymore. I'm sure that means the others are safe, too… I just have to find them one by one... just like this… Sigh.

Image

Image Ugh... Did they follow me all the way here? I can't get a break! I have to protect them, no matter what!


We do not fight them, the screen fades to black and there's sounds of swords clinking.

Image
Image Ugh…

Image *huff* *huff* I can't handle this... I've got to get out of here!


Image

So we get the hell out.

Image
Image *huff* *huff*

Image Did I lose them?

Image Uh... ugh…

Image
Image Are you okay?

Image What is... Where am I?

Image We're in a labyrinth inside the black sun. Try not to think about it too hard. What do you remember?

Image N... Nothing. I just have a headache.

Image Have you seen any other Alliance members?

Image I'm not sure…

Image All right, sorry to bombard you with questions right away.

Image It's okay... Oh! It's you!

Image Call me Magilia. Nice to meet you.

Image Nice to finally meet you. I'm Azalin, a Night Walker of the Cygnus Knights.

Image
Image I've heard so much about you from the other knights, Magilia. It's an honor.

Image You've achieved so many things in your travels… So many things. l have to say, I was always surprised to hear you helped Maple World so much. Y‘know, since you're not from around here.

Image
Image How could you save Maple World when you couldn't even protect your own?

Image What did you just say...?

Image Nothing. I was just saying you seem a little distracted. Sorry, I was just thinking... This hasn't really gone according to plan, has it, Magilia?

Image Well... maybe, but…

Image To be honest, we were depending on you to lead us through this fight. But, well, look around, Magilia. I expected this, honestly. It's not like we're fighting the real problem here. When people come together, there will always be problems, right?

Image

Image Because everyone really just wants their own happiness. Fighting the Black Mage doesn't change that. Win or lose, we'll have to face that fact. But don't you worry. Even in the darkest times, people's wishes do come true.

Image Wishes?


Image

Image You know… wishes. Those things you inspire with those concerts of yours. Even if they're a little chintzy, they do the job…

Image …Can you hold on for like, two seconds? Please? I'll be right back.

Image Oh… Yeah, sure. I'll try not to disappear like everyone else.

Image

Image So that's Hilla, right?

Image What? Hilla?

Image She called my act chintzy, Eskalade. Plus there's what Melange said…

Image Her sword is trapped in the haze of the black sun… Until the lying hand that blinds the eyes vanishes… And the red thread that binds is cut… We have no choice but to dance with her.

Image "Her sword," That's mine. My sword. That is on fire. And the lying hand that blinds the eyes… So the hands are lying. And we're bound by a red thread until we cut it, and so we're dancing with her. The Black Mage only had two "her" commanders who could do crazy magic stuff, and we already beat the other one up! You just said she's still in a coma, even!

Image

Image So it's just Hilla. Who is back, after she ran away when I kicked her entire butt. Everything is lies, and the entire point of this is probably to bring me to despair or something, which is silly, because the Nova do not know despair!

Image Eh… I dunno…

Image Hold on, let me just…

Image

Image Oh my god they're the same person.

Image So yeah, let's just go back there and get this over with. We'll punch her with dragons and then we'll be on our way. In and out. Easy.

That's… kind of a major break from the story.

Image Well, the story doesn't make sense! Let's just skip it.

Well…

I mean, so here's the thing: Labyrinth of Suffering has been greatly cut down from 1.0. Originally, there were several sections where we had to go wandering in a 5x5 labyrinth to find the exit to continue onward to the next bit. These were entirely removed, so they took the labyrinth out of the labyrinth.

Image So we can skip it, right?

…What the hell, why not? Nexon doesn't care anymore, why should I?

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Image You were… taking a minute. Everything ok—

Image I know your secret, Hilla. You can stop now. No more illusions.

Image What? What are you talking about… Have you gone crazy from the pressure? That'd be a perfectly normal thing, given how poorly you've been doing lately, but I need you to keep it together a little longer—

Image Only one person has ever called my act chintzy. You can confess now, or I can take my free shot while you're untransformed.

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Image I'll give you to the count of a million. One… Two… FROM THREE TO A—

Image Drat it all!!

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Image I knew it. You really are something else.

Image That's what it is to be a Battleground Idol!

Image I've got to say. You've broken… most of my illusions. But I hope you don't think you're out of the woods yet. You're still my prey, little Adversary. Don't think you're getting away unscathed.

Image Right back at you, Hilla. Angelic Buster Magilia Mode Modification, Geeeet HYPE!!

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Image Tuesday Night Prog is brought to you tonight by our fine friends at Final Fantasy XIV. Have you heard of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV with an expanded free trial which you can play through the entirety of A Realm Reborn, and the award-winning Heavensward and Stormblood expansions up to level 70 for free with no restrictions on playtime?!

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Image And welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Tuesday Night Prog—hosted at the one and only Arcadion! I'm Metem, here for both the play-by-play and color commentary on tonight's big fight.

Image Now, our legal department has informed me that tonight's episode may contain spoilers for the recently-released Dawntrail series, chronicling the rise of the unenhanced upstart to the very pinnacle of the whole Arcadion! Viewer discretion is highly advised!

Image Without further ado, we've got a heck of a battle ready for you tonight, viewers! It's a much-wanted rematch of the cross-class bash that shook the Arcadion to its very foundation! Without further ado, our first fighter… She'll make your pulse race while freezing your blood! It's the voluptuous Vamp Fatale!

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Image Coming back from her hiatus after her Psychonekrosis recovery treatment, Vamp Fatale says she's got an entirely new form of fighting to show us! I for one am only too excited to see what the lovely—and lethal—fighter has in store for us today!

Image But it would B foolish to assume she'll just be walking all over her opponent, who's already become a legend in her own right! It's the starlet with a sting—the adorable, but deadly, sweet but poisonous Honey B. Lovely!

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Image As her fans well know by now, the unenhanced upstart-turned-champion's made more than a few appearances on the Queen Bee's stream of late! Between that, and her recent outing with Black Cat… could Honey B. be staking her claim as the true successor of Arcadion's Grand Champion?!

Image As the challenger this evening, she's even ceded the right to the arena to Vamp Fatale! Such a show of confidence from the Queen Bee! Let's go to the exact moment she did just that and all this was put into motion, last week on Arcadion Hour!
Arcadion Hour wrote: Image So Honey B., I hear you've recently been asking your fans who they most want to see you fight. Any truth to that?

Image Well, my obedient little bees did manage to propel me to the top of the most popular Arcadion fighter poll, and I thought it was only right to give a li'l something back after all that hard work.

Image Such a Lovely gesture! And who did they say they were interested in you fighting? The Tyrant? The Brrrrute Bomber? Perhaps even an art collaberation with Sugar Riot?

Image Oh no, my drones were very clear. They want to see me taking down Vamp Fatale one more time for the road.

Image Oh… oh my! It's a grudge match the fans have wanted to see again for ages, isn't it? But do you think Vamp Fatale will rise to the challenge?

Image Wait a moment, I'm told we're receiving a live video call!

Image Honey B. You've been getting quite ahead of yourself lately, haven't you? Challenging me, after what I did to you last time?

Image I recall getting the win when someone got herself disqualified.

Image Funny. I recall you on the floor, feral soul broken under my heel. But since you need a reminder, let's make it interesting.

Image It seems Vamp Fatale wants to raise the stakes! What could she be planning?!

Image It's simple: I've got a new line of cosmetics debuting next month, and I need a model. You like being on magazine covers so much, right? Well, I've got the perfect outfit for your next appearance. You'll look great in a collar.

Image Well bless your heart. Alright, I'm in. But when I win…

Image You won't.

Image When I win, we'll still debut those cosmetics… but you'll be getting a makeover live on This'll Sting! My drones will love seeing the complete transformation, step by step… you like pink, right?

Image ……Alright. You're on.

Image And there you have it, folks! The first ever Makeover Mayhem Match, set up right here on the Arcadion Hour!
Image Two women demanding absolute obedience, but tonight one will definitely be brought to heel! The very first ever Makeover Mayhem Match is about to begin! Vamp Fatale makes her entrance!

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Image Not a wave or even a wink to the crowd, and they're already going wild! Vamp Fatale is all business!

Image And where's that little B I need to swat?

Image Honey B… appears to be doing something just offstage!

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Image It's… It's an automated doping sequence! Hold on now, I'm being informed this isn't implemented in v251!

Image B is for Buffs! Our Grand Champion made sure to ready up before battle, so maybe Vamp Fatale there should have come prepared herself.

Image The referees don't have any rules against any of the enhancement materials she's used… The match will go on!

Image Hmph. It doesn't matter.

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Image You never should have challenged me, Honey. You're in my world now, and I'll see to it you're drained to a husk.

Image Vamp Fatale is unleashing her new arts! Hands, from above! And on top of that, she's summoned some kind of creatures!

Image They're my new pets… quiet, instead of the boring types that drone on and on.

Image The Arcadion management wishes to remind everyone that the Grand Champion has freed all souls, and any creatures seen here are not soul-based in nature!

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Image The hands are launching some sort of… red string! But Honey B. evades it perfectly!

Image Too bad that you've left a big hole in your attacks. I could stand here all day and be safe.

Image All that means is that you're standing right where I wanted you.

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Image She's disappeared! What's she doing?!

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Image She's teleported right on top of Honey B! She has nowhere left to run!

Image Who said anything about running?

Image Wait a moment… That music..! No way, it can't be!

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Image BY GOD, IT'S THE GRAND CHAMPION! WHAT'S SHE DOING HERE?!

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Image The crowd is eating it up! You can feel the electricity in the room!

Image Gaah!!

Image Wait… what happened in the ring?!

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Image I can't… see… but I think she's beating Vamp Fatale with the cheer balloons that fell to the ground!

Image Just giving you what you deserve for taking your eyes off of the Arcadion's once and future Queen, darling.

Image Vamp Fatale is helpless! She can't even defend herself!

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Image Her summoned help tried to get back up, but even they can't deny Honey B's charms! The second time they're down, they're gone! And Vamp Fatale is still bound!

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Image Vamp Fatale is attempting to get something started here… but now Honey B.'s just walking all over her!

Image How dare you ignore my attacks! You. Will. Kneel!

Image Sorry, Vamp. Idol privilege.

Image Honey B. is just pummeling away! It's like a swarm of stingers all over Vamp Fatale!

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Image Oh my! But Vamp Fatale has turned the tables! She seems practically untouched!

Image Can't… move..!

Image As stubborn as you are… I won't let you just sit in this corner forever.

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Image I'm calling all these hands just for you. The least you can do is get in the middle of them.

Image Honey B.'s been sent flying! How will she respond?

Image Isn't it obvious?

Image

Image The handshake event's not until tomorrow.

Image Honey B. bravely charges back into the fray… but she's taken quite the hit! And… this just in! It seems Vamp Fatale's arena has altered the aether to prevent any form of healing!

Image Learned that trick from a spider I stepped on earlier. Since spiders catch little bees, I couldn't help but borrow it.

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Image I've never met a spider that can catch the Queen Bee, Vamp.

Image What… healing, even within my barrier? Disobedient little… How insolent!

Image You have your "pets," and I have a couple good little drones working with me.

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Image Oh my… Honey B.'s brought backup dancers as well! And they're healing her at regular intervals!

Image In that case, I'll just pour on more damage than they can heal. Come back, my pets!

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Image I don't think so.

Image Vamp Fatale is trying to strike with everything she has… but Honey B.'s floating through the string of attacks like a butterfly! Will her sting be enough?!

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Image Enough, begone!

Image If you insist~

Image And Vamp Fatale blows her clear to the other side of the arena! Oh my, such power!

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Image Honey B. is weaving carefully around her opponent, striking from behind! An entire realm of death, and she's dancing inside it like she's on stage!

Image I hope everyone's having a lovely time of it~!

Image You can't run forever… You will feed me.

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Image Vamp Fatale's cornered Honey B. once again! Could she be about to unleash a powerful attack?!

Image You know Vamp, there's something I need to get off my chest. I made a tiny oopsie when I was hitting you earlier, so it probably felt like kitten paws instead of a proper sting.

Image You always were a soft-hearted queen at best. Performance anxiety? Even after all those drugs you took? Surely you could have slipped in a pill to handle that.

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Image I didn't want to have to see a doctor after kicking your can around the ring for four hours.

Image What's this?! A new—and sparkly—power up from the ever-luscious Honey B. Lovely?!

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Image Ah, I've just been informed that she purchased a special ring before the battle! It's called an 'Oz Ring,' and it comes with a wonderland of new effects! This one… appears to be based on the Ring of Restraint!

Image In exchange for staying within a small, sparkly stage, her attack power will temporarily dramatically increase! That sweet sting of hers may well punch through Vamp Fatale's armor like paper!

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Image That's it… It's too late to beg for mercy, Honey!

Image Oh my! She's raising her scythe with some kind of… ominous green aura! What could this mean?!

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Image It's a tremendous shockwave of bone and aether! But Honey B. has danced just out of reach!

Image Did you forget that bees can fly, darling?

Image

Image The only thing you've flown into is my clutches, little B.

Image Oh no! The strings have made contact with Honey B! What could this mean?!

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Image She's being drained..! Of her aether, of course! Oh, my!

Image Bondage? That's your big trick?

Image My strings will suck all that delicious aether out of you, until everything you have is all mine!

Image I wonder if that's all there is to it…

Image Has Honey B. noticed something? A loose knot in Vamp Fatale's carefully-crafted web, perhaps?

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Image Two touches, two candles… Well how about that?

Image Honey B. has just jumped into another set of strings on her own accord! What could she be thinking?!

Image It's normal enough. One taste of pain from me, and suddenly all they can think of is the high.

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Image A third session within the strings! But what's this? Something's appeared!

Image That's sure a nice altar, Vamp. Shame if something should happen to it.

Image …!

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Image Vamp Fatale is unleashing another shockwave, in a chic violet! But it's not able to travel far enough to strike Honey B!

Image One more… good… kick!

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Image She's broken the altar! The arena's malfunctioning! Someone, get on that!

Image So good to breathe easy again. Looks like I can heal, too.

Image You think you're clever…

Image

Image But just how many times can you be bound by my strings before your heart submits to the ultimate pleasure?

Image Vamp Fatale is going all out! What could this mean for our challenger?!

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Image She's tried to snuff out the candles! So that's her master plan… tie her opponent up and smother them to death! I can't say I'd be able to resist!

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Image I should really be asking you: Just how long will it be before you admit you're subbed to my channel? I know you watch.

Image Hah! As if I'd ever rot my eyes with that slop you call a livestream!

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Image Vamp Fatale's raising her scythe again… is this the purple shockwave we saw just before?!

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Image It is indeed! But Honey B. avoids it with aplomb! Vamp Fatale simply can't pin her down!

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Image Honey B. is making space… but Vamp is following with another of her violet strikes! Her invincibility options are all on cooldown! Is she doomed to take the hit?

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Image No! She slides right into a hole in the attack!

Image Striking me from behind? Is the B for backshots now?

Image We both know B is for beat you to a bloody pulp!

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Image Now sit there like an obedient little bee, okay~?

Image Here it is! Another devastating offensive from Honey B. Lovely! Vamp Fatale certainly can't take much more of this!

Image That's enough!

Image

Image I'll need a bigger pet to deal with you. Come on and push her around a bit!

Image What's this?! She's summoned the soul of a being from another dimension?! That's against the rules, isn't it?!

Image !!!!!

Image The referee is gesturing furiously at Vamp Fatale!

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Image Thankfully, it seems Honey B.'s banished it as quickly as it appeared! I hope this doesn't draw the wrath of our Grand Champion!

Image There's no end to your cheating, is there?

Image This is my show. As long as you scream in the end, there are no rules!

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Image Another threatening stance from Vamp Fatale… what attack will she show us this time?!

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Image It's a spectacle of slaughter, but it's no use! Honey B. is deftly fluttering out of reach!

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Image Even the skull following up passes underneath her before she lands with another vicious blow!

Image Getting tired yet? It's been six whole minutes, and I know you're not used to going for more than ten.

Image

Image Only because that's all the time it takes for my playthings to get tuckered out!

Image Oh dear. I can hold my obedient little bees' attention for hours, you know?

Image I'm sure they're talking about screentime, folks! B-b-but anyways, Vamp Fatale once again tries to snuff Honey B.'s candles, to no avail! She's dodging like she can see the attacks coming today!

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Image And here's another furious offensive from Honey B. Lovely! I don't see how much longer Vamp Fatale can keep up with this kind of beating! The bold, brilliant, and beautiful brutality on display here..!

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Image You just won't admit your defeat… Fine then. How about another cross-dimensional soul!

Image Vamp Fatale is doing it again! Has she no sympathy for the sanctity of the soul?!

Image It's just as strong as the other one. Was this really supposed to slow me down?

Image Honey B.'s taken it out of the picture already! I wonder what our Grand Champion thinks of this development!

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Image Goodness me! She's signing the camera! What is going on here?!

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Image And now she's throwing signed photos at the crowd! The referee is distracted!

Image Hey..! Hands off the Queen..!

Image You didn't really think a distraction tactic would work twice, did you? It's high time the 'queen' was taken down a peg or two.

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Image Sit over there and squirm beautifully for me. I want you to watch while I take everything you have.

Image You want everything I've got? Then no hard feelings if I kill you?

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Image You're the one getting the heel ground into them, Honey.

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Image Bless your heart… but this is the end for you. May wanna use that safeword now, darling.

Image Gah-!

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Image By god! It looks like Vamp Fatale's lost hold of her new power! Could this be the end?

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Image The referee is deliberating now..!

Image K.O.!

Image It's over! The match is decided!

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Image Victory goes to the darling of the Arcadion: Honey B. Lovely!

Image Ooh, what a delightful battle that was! Stay tuned for my special stream announcement date everyone, okay?

Image It's all over… until next time!












Image What the heck was that?

Winning. :colbert:

Image …………I think I'm tired of winning.


:siren: Video: Arcadion Verus M9S Solo

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Image I-impossible! How can this be?!

Image I… honestly have no idea. I didn't know I could do that…

Image This is what happens when you use powers you only barely comprehend.

Image Oh, wait… who are you?

That's Orchid, she's important in the Black Wing storyline, and she's Lotus's sister. She's also the mask-wearing lady.

Image And she just shows up all of a sudden?!

Image This is what happens when you skip most of the episode…

She didn't really do anything meaningful, Verus Hilla just shows her Lotus's soul dragged back from the dead and she gets really mad.

Image See how you'd feel if someone dragged the soul of your loved one back from nothing.

Honestly the surety about an existence after this remarkably fragile spaghetti-powered meatmech turns off would be pretty cool, I think?

Image Ooo…kay then. Well, that's kind of a solved problem for us, so it's bad.

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Anyways, Hilla's power starts escaping from her.

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Image My... my time... it's fading!

Image My youth... My power!

Image ...Hideous.

Image … ...Ha ha ha! Is this... me? ...Ha ha ha!

Image No! l... I was promised eternal life! How could it end like this...? This can't be! But how...? This wasn't how it was supposed to end.

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Image Don't... don't mock me… After all my work... Everything I've done… It can't end like this, in misery… … I can't... I can't go on like this…


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And then, Hilla exploded.

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Image Hilla…

Image Is this the reward for selfish desires? Oh... the labyrinth!

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Image What is that?

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Image Is this the true heart of the labyrinth?

Image Something's glowing… Now I can actually get out of here.

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Image Orchid, how did you get here, anyway?

Back at the Outpost

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Image White Spear to Outpost, come in Outpost. Do you read me?

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Image Neinheart, are you all right? It looks like the White Spear is still in combat…

Image The battle has been decided, we're just clearing out the stragglers. Once that's done we'll mobilize a search party. I need to confirm something with you presently. For once, I hope I'm wrong...

Image Go ahead.

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Image According to our research, three elements are needed for the Genesis Ritual.

Image First, the light controlled by the Transcendent of Light, Aeona. In other words, the power of creation. Second, the darkness of the Black Mage. The power of destruction. Finally, enough high-purity Erda to fill an ocean. The Arcane River. My concern relates to that, the Arcane River. The Arcane River is a flow of Erda generated by the convergence of our three worlds. In this case, the overwhelming excess was caused by the absence of transcendents.

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Image It's the result of sealing the Transcendent of Time, Rhinne, and the Black Mage.


To be clear: Rhinne is the Transcendent of Time. There are three transcendents and they only listed two of them so I just really wanted to get that out there to prevent confusion.

Image Which means that the Black Mage had to seal himself to achieve his goal.

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Image And that would mean that the battle hundreds of years ago was…

Image ...I think you've solved the puzzle. Considering his goal to create a whole new world, it's not actually necessary to destroy Maple World on its own. It would make more sense for the invasions to serve as an excuse to gather commanders and minions…

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Image And to draw out the hero who would ultimately seal him.

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Image Neinheart, my friend... you can't blame yourself. How were we to…

Image No, it's not that. My frustration is that we still lack key pieces to fill in the blanks of this theory.

Image What do you mean?

Image Now that his intentions are clear, I've begun to question all of the Black Mage's actions. For example... Consider the incident with the Demon and Arkarium just before the Black Mage was sealed.

Image You mean their feud? How Arkarium's jealousy led to the Demon's betrayal?

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Image Yes. Suppose Arkarium hadn't been jealous of the Demon? If he hadn't set Leafre ablaze…

Image If the Demon hadn't become enraged over his family... If he hadn't put out a call for heroes... And if the heroes hadn't trusted the Demon's word… The sealing would have failed.

Image Hmm…

Image Furthermore, Ollie said this series of incidents was set off by a trivial matter.

Image Is that so?

Image It was just after Rhinne was sealed…

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Image The Demon is worthy of my gift…

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Image How dare that fool steal my glory?

Image With only a few words, the Black Mage set Arkarium, the Demon, and the heroes on a path that would ensure his sealing.


Yes, the Black Mage did troll Arkarium into backstabbing the Demon so that the Demon would backstab the Black Mage so that he would be sealed so that all of this could happen.

The Demon is another pair of character classes (depending entirely on his mood at the start of the game) and is beyond the scope of this thread, I am only saying this because I find it remarkably funny.

Image Goodness…

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Image How many steps ahead of us is he...?

Image As it happens, we're in the final stages of translating the core fragment. That may reveal more of his secrets. For now, though, we should prepare for the worst.

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Image Why is Orchid just spacing out in front of the Source of Suffering…


Image Don't worry about it. Just get out of here.

Image Huh? Oh… sure. Am I going to see you again?

Image Obviously. Black Mage got my brother killed. He needs to die.

Image Wasn't that the weird sciency guy..?

Image He can die too. I've got a lot of revenge and only so many people to dole it out on.

Image Pretty sure he's already dead…

Image Oh yeah. It's pretty hard killing dead people, especially now that Hilla can't yank them out of the underworld anymore.

Image …Pity. Go on, I'll be here for a while.

Image About five levels long?

Image You've done this before.

And so, Labyrinth of Suffering is over… But we should talk about Hilla.

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So, Hilla. Hilla has the distinction of being the only boss with two entries on the boss page, regular and Verus flavored. She is a shamaness who lived in the ancient city of Azwan, and she destroyed the entire thing to prove her loyalty to the Black Mage in exchange for eternal life, eternal beauty, and incredible power. She became known as the Red Witch for it, and she used her new power to raise the entirety of Azwan as undead to give herself an army.

She's involved somewhat in the Cygnus plotline, pretending she's the true heir to Ereve to cause drama, but she doesn't really accomplish much on her own because Phantom (another hero class) shows up to reveal her game and thwart her plans. She also shows up late in the Magnus plotline to accuse him of betraying them.

He has, of course, betrayed them. He works for Darmoor, not the Black Mage. He is also apparently still alive.

Image What?! But we beat the snot out of him!

Not well enough, apparently.

Image I can fix that. Give me five minutes.

Our first boss fight against her is to free Azwan of her influence and undo her undead army. We fight her… and it turns out she wasn't even there! That's where we first learn she has illusion magic, as the other shamaness (not evil version) shows up to tell us what she did. She is either the most or second-most loyal of the Black Mage's minions, jockeying for position with Will for the #1 spot, and it isn't even close outside of the two of them.

Her entire plan in the Labyrinth of Suffering was to isolate the Adversary and drive them to despair by keeping them from having anyone to connect to or rely on as every choice they made resulted in the deaths of the faceless buddies they brought with them; this would let her become the only person they could rely as the treacherous Azalin… driving the Adversary further into despair so that their soul would be ripe and powerful for use in the war against the Alliance.

Except Angelic Buster has a magical dragon friend who nobody is aware of except for AB herself so this doesn't make sense, much the same as it doesn't make sense for a few other classes like Zero (who is literally two people).

It's also hilariously obvious that she's evil; she's good at illusions, not acting.

Now, all of this comes back to the original question of "but what does this have to do with magical girls?"

This is an easy one: she's the Red Witch.

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I don't think I need to explain it any further.

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Total Kills: 60,430

Image What's that about?

Oh, I forgot to count Verus Hilla.

Image That's… not what I meant.

I guess come to think of it I forgot to do the End of Day thing yesterday, too. That was the end of day 17. We're on day 18 now. I could probably draw one of those… Eh, forget it. The moment's passed.

Image Seriously, what's going on with…

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Anyways, there's no time to worry about that! Today Magilia's got eight days of grinding to go through where not a lot of interesting happens, and I need something interesting to talk about.

So…

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Who here has heard of Bao the Whale? She's a vtuber, who… exists? Apparently? I don't watch a lot of vtubers—I'm too busy being an internet cryptid, what do you want from me?

Anyways, our story starts with Bao the Whale, because Bao is known for doing both original songs and, importantly, covers of other people's songs as well. In June and July of 2024, this included the music of a certain pink-and-blue Battleground Idol.

In total, three songs were released:
Shining Heart, on June 30th.
Star Bubble, on July 7th.
And lastly, Fly Away on July 20th.

All three of these songs showcase the talents of the singer quite well, and it appears that she did her own localization of the lyrics as they are English but don't match the pre-existing localization of the already existing version. They are, altogether, pretty ok I guess. They don't hit me as hard as the other version, but that's probably just because I'm so used to the lyricism of the first version I heard (and also because "Finitura fettucia!" before popping off is just really fun to sing).

Now, anyone who has clicked those links may already know what I am about to say, but there's a specific part of these videos that caught my attention: a very clear canned ad read by Bao the Whale on behalf of MapleStory's American branch.
Bao the Whale wrote: Did we just get a MapleStory sponsorship?

MapleStory is back with its most exciting update of the year, GO WEST! Participate in Global MapleStory's own GO WEST! event with Maple Boys Inkwell and Dr. Lim and recieve exclusive rewards! Hyper Burning is back, where you can level up to 260. Get to level 200 in the blink of an eye by grinding on the new special map, Tera Blink! Angelic Buster is back with a new look, newly changed skills, and her first mini-album. Explore the nostalgia of MapleStory today by downloading…
Okay we can stop there. A new look, newly changed skills, and her first mini-album. Bao the Whale was paid to do a canned ad read to talk about the mini-album that was just released for Angelic Buster in the game MapleStory.

She expressly advertised the mini-album which was not implemented in v251 and—spoilers for present day—still doesn't exist even now.

We need to unpack precisely what this means.

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Nexon of America is located in California, which means their business is beholden to California State law in most matters. This is remarkably bad for them, because California State law is actually pretty clear on this kind of thing.
California BPC div7, p3, ch1, 17500-17509 wrote: It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or association, or any employee thereof with intent directly or indirectly to dispose of real or personal property or to perform services, professional or otherwise, or anything of any nature whatsoever or to induce the public to enter into any obligation relating thereto,

to make or disseminate or cause to be made or disseminated before the public in this state, or to make or disseminate or cause to be made or disseminated from this state before the public in any state, in any newspaper or other publication, or any advertising device, or by public outcry or proclamation, or in any other manner or means whatever, including over the Internet,

any statement, concerning that real or personal property or those services, professional or otherwise, or concerning any circumstance or matter of fact connected with the proposed performance or disposition thereof, which is untrue or misleading, and which is known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue or misleading,

or for any person, firm, or corporation to so make or disseminate or cause to be so made or disseminated any such statement as part of a plan or scheme with the intent not to sell that personal property or those services, professional or otherwise, so advertised at the price stated therein, or as so advertised.

Any violation of the provisions of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
Please note that by "pretty clear" I mean "for literally anything associated with a legal code." I'll try and make the problem more clear as we go.

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First and foremost, Nexon is selling its games as a service, thus they would be included within the first big set of items (not that this specifically matters, as 'anything of any nature' does also apply to them—but their terms and conditions define what they do as a service we are agreeing to play).

Because this is the case, they aren't allowed to give out information that is untrue or misleading about their product or service, so long as they either know or should reasonably know that it was untrue. It's not a particularly controversial statement to say that Nexon should really know what music they are putting in their game, so uh.

Well, that was pretty clearly illegal, wasn't it? They advertised a thing that wasn't implemented (and remains unimplemented) and there really aren't a lot of ways around that.

Assuming, as any reasonable person would, that they wouldn't break the law for no gain and no reason, I proceeded to pour through their ToS and code of conduct for anything that may be able to allow them to get away with some kind of weird move like this, and I noticed something that seemed… a little off?
Nexon CoC wrote: Using any hacks, cracks, bots, or third-party software that may modify, temporarily or permanently, the code or the user experience of the Services, whether locally on your device or on servers, or using any application, software or technology that is not expressly authorized by us that enables cheating, power-leveling, or accomplishing game tasks that cannot be accomplished without the use of such an application, software or technology.
Let me shorten this to the relevant pieces.

"Using any third-party software that may modify the user experience of the Services locally on your device."

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Image What the heck even IS this thing?!

Culvert boss, it's a guild thing. Just hit it for three minutes, you're fine, don't worry about it.

Total Kills: 63,437

Sorry about that, where was I? Right, the code of conduct.

So, how many of you who have ever played Maple decided to mute the music entirely and run a youtube video in the background to watch instead of just playing it? On the face of it, that is the very definition of using a third-party software (firefox or other) to modify the user experience of the Services (in that you now are listening to a different backing while playing).

This is obviously farcical, and with things like this being so remarkably common I found myself wondering if the sound itself is not considered part of the user experience. There's a thread of logic to it: this means that people can mute it and play videos or their own music without being in clear violation of the expressly written text of the Code of Conduct, and more importantly this would mean they hadn't broken the law at all.

Yes, they said something that wasn't rightly correct—but if the music is unrelated to the Services, then nothing they say about the music can be considered part of an advertisement for the Services. This clears up their oopsie.

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So in order to establish a paper trail on this exact question, I went ahead and asked the game GMs about it. I did also include a question about the community creating a solution to the ongoing issue with AB music as well, but the brunt of it was to find out what exactly was considered the 'services.'

To their credit, I did get an answer.

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It was… perhaps… not the most clarifying, but it was something!

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So this put me back at square one, where Nexon appeared to have broken the laws of its state by advertising a Service that was not there, as the GM's response heavily implied that they considered the music to be part of the Services on the player's end (and also that they could in fact ban you for watching YT with the game muted, if they wanted).

But that didn't mean I was out of ideas. I noticed something else in what was said.

"using any hacks, cracks or third-party software ... or using any application, software, or technology that is not expressly authorized by us"

That meant if, hypothetically, there was a non-hack, non-crack, non-third party thing that was expressly authorized by Nexon that would fix the issue with the music, we'd be good to go. But of course, such a thing certainly wouldn't exist, right?

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……So anyways, I downloaded MapleSEA.

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Total Kils: 65,439

MapleStory SEA, for SouthEast Asia, is a joint venture between Nexon and the distributor PlayPark. It is arguably an even worse server than GMS, but they also don't seem to care if you bot there so who can say if it's good or bad actually. Their servers have the full Angelic Buster music implemented properly, and in order to make them work all we'd have to do is download them, move them over to the relevant folder, and then boot. It should be fine!

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Dammit. :smith:

Okay, so there was clearly something wrong with the sound files and I had no real idea what it was. However, this still wasn't the end of things. See, Nexon's Code of Conduct is very clear:
CoC wrote: You will not use any robot, spider, site search/retrieval application or other manual or automatic device or process to retrieve, index, "data mine" or in any way reproduce or circumvent the navigational structure or presentation of the games or interactive services, as well as any content contained therein.

You will not download, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, modify, distribute or publicly display any of the content or information contained in our games or interactive services except as expressly authorized by the agreements between you and Nexon.
While I included the second one just to say that "Making a Let's Play of MapleStory is actually against the Maple Code of Conduct"—and it is—the first one is the important part here. I cannot retrieve, index, or data mine the information associated with the MapleStory Service or its content.

But I happen to have a set of data on my computer that is an exact duplicate of that data except for a few changes to make it inherently incompatible, and I'm willing to bet that this data is close enough to at least give me an idea of where the problem is and what exactly is going on. Trawling through it would void MapleSEA's terms and conditions, but I never agreed to those. I don't have any working relationship with PlayPark at all.

Time to go digging. I used Harepacker, which is a free github tool that can decompress and show the information inside of a .wz file, in order to actually get an idea as to what is going on inside of the MapleSEA client.

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Total Kills: 67,039

I actually learned a whole lot of useful information! I'll start at the end: The problem with the MapleSEA sound files was something remarkably simple and completely unsolvable.

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This is an excerpt from the MapleSEA news site right now, where their client is currently at v249. As you will note, they have still not implemented v251 in the present day—and that's the problem. Every single .wz file has a version number associated with it and the game was checking if these version numbers matched in order to determine if the game could be played or not. They didn't match, so it crashed on boot. That means MapleSEA will definitely not suffice in order to change the sound files over.

Buuut, I was already there so I dug around to gather as much information as I could about how SEA set up its files—I wanted to locate the exact spot the Angelic Buster songs were placed in the .wz so that I could pull information about them.

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I was able to locate them inside of Sound_004.wz, inside of the Bgm30.img subfolder using the program. Everything was there, and I was able to poke around and verify the songs in MapleSEA were the EN, lyrical releases—sure enough, it all worked. As I did this, I noticed something interesting.

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Shining Heart, a buff song that should last for 20 seconds, lasted for 21. I couldn't figure out why, since the song was supposed to fall off after 20… right? So I knew what I had to do next. I put all of this down, and went back to MapleStory Global.

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Total Kills: 70,457

What followed was me recording about 10 minutes of footage of Angelic Buster as I pushed her three (by then they'd uploaded a lyricless Shining Heart for our miniburst) music buttons—since On Stage never comes up in bossing and affects other players, I wasn't concerned with figuring out how it worked (and indeed, it is a whole other LEVEL of broken). This was followed by a whole lot of watching, listening, and even timing those ten minutes. I learned a lot of very interesting stuff about how the Angelic Buster music playing buttons work as a direct result of that.

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Total Kills: 79,408

Spotlight is the first, and because of that it has the most simplistic coding. The way it works is simple: When the button is pushed, AB does her animation to start the move. Once the Spotlight buff appears in the buff bar, over the next 8 frames the current BGM is faded out and the Spotlight BGM fades in. After that, the song plays. If the sound file hits its end, Spotlight's music loops. Once the buff fades, Spotlight fades out and the music fades back in over the course of another 8 frame window.

Grand Finale and Pretty Exaltation work differently. Both of them also change the song when the the buff appears in the buff bar, and both of them also fade out the music over 8 frames to start playing the BGM from the start. That is where the similarities end. Both GF and Pretty Exaltation will play the song that is assigned to them for the full duration of the song, and end exactly once. Once it is over, the music will go back to the boss BGM, fading back in over the next 8 frames as usual.

The songs have a priority list as well, Grand Finale will always have priority, then Spotlight, then Pretty Exaltation. If one of them is still ongoing when another one is playing, it'll 8 frame fade into the lower-tier song currently in progress. Lastly, when the music install ends the original BGM will begin playing at the point it would be at if it had never stopped playing—in effect, the music is still playing in the background and loops/continues as normal.

Using all of this information—and Slipyslidy's YT account which contains basically every BGM in every version of MapleStory in some form or fashion—I can mimic the effect in a video editing program by muting my BGM and capturing only the other SFX before adding the corrected music in post. That's actually what I've been doing this whole time for the videos you've seen thus far—it's close enough to the real version that it's indistinguishable unless you're a depraved psychopath who has spent entirely too long figuring out how AB music works.

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Total Kills: 82,415

So it's a win-win, right? I've got the ability to make the Content I should that has the AB music working as it should. Except… no. The Code of Conduct is a shitty document that hates you, personally, for playing MapleStory.
CoC wrote: You will not use any robot, spider, site search/retrieval application or other manual or automatic device or process to retrieve, index, "data mine" or in any way reproduce or circumvent the navigational structure or presentation of the games or interactive services, as well as any content contained therein.

You will not download, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, modify, distribute or publicly display any of the content or information contained in our games or interactive services except as expressly authorized by the agreements between you and Nexon.

You will not harvest or collect information about the games or interactive services, visitors to our websites, or users of our games or interactive services, without our express consent (which may be in the form of an API made available to you from time to time).
Assuming that the music is part of the gameplay experience, then in no particular order, I have already:
-Used a manual process to retrieve and index the presentation of the interactive services and their content.
-Modified, reproduced, and uploaded for public display a great deal of content contained in their interactive services (and no agreement says putting things on YouTube or SA/LPbeach is authorized).
-Harvested data to be used for the express purpose of retrieving and indexing their presentation, without Nexon's express consent.

All of that caused by me sitting there and figuring out how magical girl music go brrr. So technically, you can't even do that, can you? But surely Nexon doesn't take it that seriously, right?

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Total Kills: 85,418

June 20th, 2025. Nearly a year after Angelic Buster's remaster fell on its face. A compensation box has been recently given out due to issues in the community. Some people claimed you could infinitely duplicate items inside of the boxes, using poorly photoshopped images to back up this claim.



The Community Managers remind everyone that knowingly sharing and spreading false or manipulated content in such a way that it harms the community atmosphere is a ToS violation.

I've read the ToS, many times. It doesn't say a word about it having to harm the community atmosphere. They can ban you for manipulated content regardless of effects, it's just more likely they will if it's harming the atmosphere. But they are, nevertheless, remarkably serious about this kind of thing. By their logic, anything I'm doing here is immensely against CoC. Me relaying the information to you is against CoC. Every part of this from top to bottom? Bannable offense! Sorry, hope you like playing games that aren't the mushroom.

But that all stems, again, from the basic idea that the music is itself part of the gameplay experience in the Services.

I still hadn't gotten an actual answer, only an implied one. Further, I don't think the person in question was fully aware that saying "yes this is part of the services" would also be saying "yes we are breaking the law," so the answer they gave may have been incomplete.

So: I am continuing to operate under the assumption that Nexon would not break the law for no reason or gain. So I'm still operating under the idea that these aren't part of the gameplay experience.

But let's go ahead and play with the devil's advocate here: So what if they are?

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What does one do when there is a law which is meant to bind a class that has power, and a second group of rules held in place by the power-holding class that prevents those under their sway from claiming what should be theirs according to promises made under that law?

No seriously, I got a D- in Ethics, what the hell do you do? All I know is that I know nothing.

…Right. Socrates. Let's consider Socrates here. Socrates was the sort to hold directly to the laws of the society even if they resulted in his death… but here he would have to stare at two different sets of rules within microcosms of the larger society in order to determine which one he'd go with. Given he left behind no direct writings, he is useless to me here. Let's try… St. Augustine.

"An unjust law is no law at all."

Ok, but this is about Magical Girl Music and at best a slap on the wrist for a company Nexon's size vs an incredibly overbearing code of conduct that bars literally anything and everything that anyone could do. This literally doesn't matter in terms of the grander forms of justice, other than perhaps to consider that such a crushingly overbearing code invites a host of problems…

…You know, I don't think conventional philosophy is going to help me here. That means we need a different angle, and I've got just the thing: Shoujo manga. There is no such thing as a problem that cannot be solved by a shoujo manga.

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Doubt!! is a shoujo manga by Kaneyoshi Izumi. It's one of my wife's collection that they brought when we moved in together, and I've read through it. This manga, well, I honestly couldn't tell you what happened in it... But there's a phrase that has stuck with me after reading it, which is apparently a well-known Japanese idiom?

That phrase is 毒食わば皿まで, translated in the manga as "If you've already eaten the poison, you might as well lick the plate clean."

Yeah, this feels like the right ballpark.

So, let's step back and look at the situation: MapleStory, as a whole, either did-or-didn't do a false advertising when they paid Bao the Whale to advertise a feature that wasn't there back in June of 2024. In order to try and implement this, I proceeded to tear-ass all over the entirety of the Code of Conduct, as long as you specifically believe the sounds of the game to be part of the gameplay experience, a reading which also means muting the game and watching YT is a violation, as this is a third-party software altering the gameplay experience. As a result, I also may-or-may not be breaking CoC for these AB music crimes—all based upon the initial question of whether or not the sounds are part of the gameplay experience (and by extension, if Nexon did an illegal thing or not).

My own position is that they didn't break the law, and the entire thread of logic from there means that everything I've done is perfectly okay. However, there is an alternate and equally valid string of logic which says that the music is part of the gameplay experience, meaning that I've broken the Code of Conduct several times over and also that they definitely did a false advertising.

We are in a superposition right now, with two perfectly valid views of the world that cannot coexist—one of these two theories must be correct. This is a box that we don't know what's inside until we open it to gain additional information, with the two separate but possible states being "Sound is gameplay experience; Nexon did a false advertising" and "Sound is not gameplay experience; Nexon did nothing wrong." I have heard of a box much like this one before…

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And as luck would have it, my most recent Hyper Burn happens to be a cat. We need to collapse the superposition to determine what is or isn't true here, and I have the proper way to do it.

I've eaten the poison, by performing a remarkable amount of research on Angelic Buster's music effects in the game itself and by forcibly fixing the music in Vegas after the fact and uploading it as footage onto Youtube. Beyond all shadow of a doubt this does wind up breaking the CoC as it is written, if sound is considered a part of the gameplay experience.

So let's lick the plate.

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It is theoretically possible, using a .wz packing tool like the one I used to look at MapleSEA, to head back into the files of the actual, real life MapleStory client (not pictured here; you can tell because the Fly Away Full is there. I'm just reusing MapleSEA footage for this, I have not actually touched my MapleStory client directly).

From here, it is possible to select any of the files to verify them, as I mentioned earlier.

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Using the menu in the upper right after selecting it, however, it is also theoretically possible to change the sound to anything you happen to like. All of the various AB songs are available online and quite easy to download with a YouTube to MP3 converter. It's possible to just change them all out for the right thing and save a new Sound_004.wz, then move that over the file in the MapleStory directory.

Now, please bear in mind that I have not done it on GMS's client, so I can't say firsthand if it works…

But one of my acquaintances in the Angelic Buster community has been doing it for the past year, as part of our research into this issue. Based on their experimentation, I can provide the following information about this method:

-It works. Altering the .wz files in this manner will allow the game to start up, regardless of what the sound file actually is (or how large it is). The game does not seem to check beyond the file being there and the correct version.

-It is undetectable. As it is an entirely client-sided patch, Nexon can't sniff around about it even if they declare it against CoC.

-You probably shouldn't use On Stage with it. They didn't test this skill at all, but the odds are very high it would break something if the lengths of the songs are different between our system and other people's systems. They opted not to do something which could accidentally crash someone's game, even if the likelihood was low.

-Changing anything but the music will result in a breakage like the one I posted a little earlier—the sound files are the only things that can be safely changed, ensuring no gameplay advantages. (This is, in my opinion, another piece of information that implies the sounds aren't properly considered part of the gameplay experience.)

-You do have to redo this change any time the game client is updated, as this redownloads the original Sound_004.wz with the incorrect music.



I plan to continue using only Vegas for my gameplay showcases, because doing this over and over again every update is a lot of work and I'm most interested in ensuring my music is accurate when I'm showcasing my gameplay.

I am of the opinion that this doesn't even matter, though, because I believe that Nexon didn't do a false advertising—they instead simply don't believe that the sounds of the game qualify as a part of the game experience due to the overwhelming number of people who simply mute them entirely. This means they fall outside of the entire Code of Conduct, as well.

Now, I do acknowledge that Nexon may disagree. If they do, there's a firm possibility I eat a ban for sharing this information, something which is probably supposed to scare me out of talking about this kind of thing.

However, I play this game as a joke.

"Banned for Angelic Buster music crimes" is a pretty damn good punchline. :synthy:

So, in conclusion: I fixed your fucking music, Nexon. You're welcome. :colbert:

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Total Kills: 88,426

Next time, Limina.

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User avatar
Okay, so now that Angelic Buster music is fixed… in the future, it's time to go back to the past and finish the Maple Story. That means we're headed to Limina.

Image Limina… like a liminal space?

Hell, could be. On release you were there forever. But now… it's like, a one level side-trip thanks to burning.

Image Beating up the Black Mage… is a side trip.

You were fighting Darmoor anyways, so… yeah.

Image Mmm… Yeah, it just feels like it's been going on so long.

Image
Image You‘re still as weak as you ever were.

Image Strong enough to kick everyone around here's butt.

Image But too weak to follow the plot.

Image I thought defying destiny was good.

Image You still know nothing.

Image Orchid... You‘re still here? I thought you lost your power.

Image Ha! I've claimed the power that was meant to be mine.

The Forest of Spirits, Long Ago

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Image Wing Master Orchid... Or perhaps not. Why have you sought me out?

Image Is it my power you seek? Has your long battle not ended?

Image No, l have a new battle now. The Black Mage... he foresaw the future and has been manipulating all of us for hundreds of years. The betrayal of the commanders, the surprise attack by those so-called heroes, even being sealed away… All of these setbacks the Black Mage suffered... In truth, he planned them. Gelimer betrayed us, I lost my power, and Lotus... Lotus met his end. The Black Mage was behind all of it, using us for his own gain, and then letting us destroy each other. Lotus... is gone because of the Black Mage.

Image Is it revenge you seek?

Image I seek his destruction. And I need power to bring him to his end.

Image Very well... But you must lend this power to the Adversary in turn. In the final conflict, they will be the deciding force.

Image What are you talking about?

Image You will see. For now, take this and hide your face. As you seek your revenge, others will seek revenge on you.

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Image Spirit King Guwaru... It was you who helped Orchid.


Image Who?

Image Magnus stole his power and used it against us in our battle. We've never met him. Don't worry about it.

Image Ah, okay.

Image Adversary, the time has come. Only the Black Mage remains. How this battle ends is up to you.

Image Up to me? But... I don't even know how to use this power…

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Image The Labyrinth Core is shining. Is that because Hilla's been defeated?

Image It contains the power of the Transcendents. You have been chosen to end this. Use your power as the Adversary and destroy the Labyrinth Core.

Image


Image

QTE!

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Power gathers in Magilia…

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And then poofs away, uselessly.

Image The power... It's scattered.

Image I told you. I knew they wouldn't have it in them.

Image ...Hmm?


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Orchid just kind of absorbs the core instead, making it disappear.

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Image The core?

Image Orchid?

Image
Image I‘m tired of this Adversary nonsense.

Image What are you doing? You can't take your mask off!

Image
Image Where did Guwaru go?

Image I'm going to be the one to destroy the Black Mage. Me. Orchid. Not you. Not anyone else. You might as well head home, 'hero'.

Image Wait... Orchid!


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Orchid leaves, leaving us in an ominously rumbling room. Thankfully, it only fades away on us to reveal its true form.

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Image H-hey... Where did the labyrinth go?

Image This feeling… It's the Black Mage... He's up there. Incredible that he's been this close the whole time.

Image Magilia!

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Image Oh, thank goodness!

Image The labyrinth just up and vanished! That was you, wasn't it, Magilia? Our communications are back online thanks to you. A rescue team is on their way, so we're getting ready to move.

Image Everyone‘s okay? That means… Yeah... Just like Hilla to fool us about everything.

Image Let's get going! Sounds like we're gearing up for the final battle. We've got orders to return immediately.

Image … No, I've got to go after Orchid. The heart of the black sun is right up there. Listen, you've got to tell Neinheart what I'm about to tell you. The masked person in all of this was Orchid. And I can't let her do this alone.

Image What?

Image (Wait, I'd better take that mask with me.)


The mask is a quest trigger. This is the next quest now.

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Image All right, so... I guess this is goodbye.

Image W-wait! You can't seriously go alone… Oh!

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Image Battle formations, everyone!


With her leadership capabilities back to unimpugnable, Magilia immediately abandons her allies to their fate to run off after the objective.

That was last chapter, though, so none of this will come up. Five levels is like a million years in maple time.

Image Wait, does that mean Orchid was standing in that room for a million years?

Eh, something like that.

Image What is all this? What's happening?

Image Eyes forward! Incoming!


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Yep. A+ leadership right here. :shepface:

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Image Guwaru!

Image I don't think this is the kind of place where you need to do a cute dragon growl, Magilia.

Image No, I mean the spirit king!

Image Ah. Carry on.

Image This voice... the Adversary.

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Image I need to catch up to Orchid, but we're getting swarmed by monsters. What are they? Did the Black Mage send them?

Image Not exactly. They are creatures sprung from the raw, untamed powers of creation. They are hollow creatures, but they will attack you simply for encroaching on the source of their vitality. If you wish to catch her, you must hurry.

Image Okay. Right portal. Here we go.

Image
Image Be careful.

Image Hm?

Image There's going to be a surge of Erda. Best to take shelter under a sturdy rock if you don't wish to be swept away with the monsters.


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Every time we are about to see an Erda flood, Guwaru warns us. We have to stay under these obviously thicker platforms, or else we'll be inconvenienced by it.

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The flood comes in a rush, and as the initial animation clears we're given more instructions. Here, Guwaru wants to tell us to defeat the smaller enemies so they can't destroy the rock we're taking refuge under.

Image It's just raw Erda, how bad can it be?

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I don't bother reading anything, though, jumping out into the current because I haven't done this content in literal years.

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The result is an immediate fail, as we're washed out of the instance.

Image BLORGH!

Image

Image …Okay. Now I know not to do that next time.

Once more, with feeling.

Image Angelic Buster, take the stage!

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While waiting for the flood to start, Celstial Roar can't touch any of the enemies around us. Soul Seeker is ideal for this as it has a much larger lock-on radius. It takes a couple hits per kill, but that's still better than not doing anything.

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Total Kills: 88,484

Much better, actually, as it allows us to defeat the required 50 mobs without actually leaving safety; skipping the "my turn, your turn" part of things. Idol privilege, I guess! :shrug:

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Image What happened to Orchid? What power allowed Orchid to destroy the Labyrinth Core?

Image It wasn't destroyed. It was sent somewhere else.

Image Sent where?

Image The compression of space and time created a rift to the great void.


Image So she… threw it in a big hole?

Image I suppose it could be put like that.

Image How is that possible? Especially now that Orchid has lost Lotus‘s power?

Image It should be impossible. But a terrible price has been paid for it.

Image A price?

Image A life.

Image … ...Is it even possible for someone besides the Adversary to defeat the Black Mage? Orchid did manage to get rid of the Labyrinth Core.

Image It's not possible. She doesn't want to believe it… But she‘ll learn that when she actually faces him.

Image What happens now?

Image The Black Mage creates the Genesis Crux.

Image Genesis Crux?

Image The seed will grow, eventually blossoming into a new world of its own. And the creation of that world means the destruction of ours. Destroy the Genesis Crux. That is the only way to end the ritual.

Image Hm…

Image The mask's power is fading. Our time is short. Remember. As the Adversary, only you can stray from the path.

Image Stray from the path?
Oh, no worries! Apparently I've already done that. Twice, even!

Image What?

Image What?

Image

Image Oh, hi Orchid!

Image You..?!

Image
Image Let's do this together. Forget about that Adversary nonsense.

Image Yeah? Then let me ask you this… Who was it that got outmaneuvered by that jerk Will, even with his hands tied by the ritual? Who was it that blew their chance to take Aeona off the board and caused this whole mess in the first place?

Image That… That was…

Image You have everything to lose. That's why you're weak. I'm different. I've already lost Lotus… And he was all I had. So... yeah. This is your last warning. Leave.

Image Make me. I won't back down.

Image Yeah? Fine. Make it to the top, and I'll reconsider. Of course, it won't be easy.


Image Don't worry about that. I'm used to not-easy.

Image Yeah! My girl here's beaten way harder than a normal climb! And that's not even mentioning her—

Image Not yet, Eskalade.

Image Right. SECRET weapon. Gotcha.

Image
Image I tried to warn you.

Image


Image

Orchid unleashes her power.

Image

This summons a void beneath us, but thankfully…

Image Hup-CHA!

Image

This is the part of the plot where Angelic Buster gets to stop losing all the time.

Image I am still yet to take a loss when it's time to throw hands.

Gollux. :colbert:

Image Okay that wasn't fair and you know it. Let's avoid the black hole and follow Orchid.

There used to be a somewhat-annoying minigame here consisting of an uphill climb that took too long and required us to beat up enemies as we went.

It's not implemented in v251. Instead, we fade to black…

Image
Image ...

Image How did you get here so quickly?

Image Did you forget..? The most important part of any Battleground Idol's kit:
Update 5 wrote: Grappling Heart:
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Image GRAPPLING HOOK!!!

Image Tch…

Image Orchid? Why did she stop?

Image

Ahead of her, clouds of energy coalesce in five distinct colors.

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They turn into the five Elite Bosses we've been facing occasionally when killing thousands of mobs (last seen onscreen in the Hat Dimension). They're the Black Mage's enforcers, after all, we'd have to deal with them sometime.

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Image You didn't think you could just stroll right up there, did you?

Image
Image You fools! Eee hee hee hee!

Image
Image Target located. Eliminate.

Image
Image Two of you against five of us... Hardly a fair fight. I'll take you both myself!

Image
Image Ha, don't be like that. Let's share!

Image You babies should play with each other. The grown-ups have work to do.


Image

Orchid ollies out, leaving us to deal with the big bad bosses.

Image Scale of one to ten, how bad is this going to be?

Image Maybe… seven?

Two.

Image I like two. Let's go with two.

Image H-how dare you! You won't leave here alive!

Image

They all teleport out one by one, same as they came in.

Image Time to go to work. Let's follow 'em!

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Image It's going to be fun! Shall we REALLY get the party started this time?

Image You split up?

Image I'm plenty enough to deal with you, while the rest catch that other girl. Come on, let's not keep the fun waiting!

Image I'm sorry…

Image

Image I don't have time to deal with you right now.

Total Kills: 88,485

Six Trinities. Exactly enough to kill specifically this boss. He's functionally identical to the Elite Boss version, so there's nothing to really be seen here.

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Image You fool! Bow before my magnificent power. Ha ha ha ha!

Image This would be faster if you all came at me at once.

Image You aren't worthy of such a fate!

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Total Kills: 88,486

Six more Trinities later, we move on.

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Image Feel the power of my magnificence!

Image It won't win against LOVE and JUSTICE!

Image You have named your fists?

Image No. No I mean the… you know. Concepts.

Image Ah. Then you know nothing!

Image I know enough!

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Six Trinities later.

Total Kills: 88,487

Image Okay… let's catch up to Orchid now. She may need help.

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Image Stupid... I let my guard down…

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Orchid, it seems, did not need our help.

Image Mission failed.

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Image Whoof... Guess I missed all the fun up here.

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Image (They…)

Image (You already handled those three?)

Image Is that the Genesis Crux? lf I could destroy it…

Image Step aside. You're no help until you've awakened.

Image Ack!


The screen starts shaking.

Image Ah!

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The Genesis Crux takes to glowing red, which is never good.

Image It turned red?!

Yes, I just said that, please keep up.

Image It's absorbing the black sun?

Image …What?

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Image It went dark…

Image No... This is the moment Guwaru spoke of… ...l'm going in. You wait here. Think you can take care of yourself while I'm gone?

Image ...What? Orchid?!


She flies off, uh, again, leaving us alone with the big red glowing orb of doom.

Image l have to do something…

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Unfortunately, we're interrupted by another explosion of energy.

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Image ...Oh!

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Image Adversary! You have made it this far! Impressive.


This is Darknell. No, we haven't seen him before.

Image As long as I'm here, you won't lay a finger on my master.

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Yes, he can resurrect the guys we just killed.

Image I mean… that's good, I guess? They're not any stronger.

They deal %HP damage now.

Image What?! How!

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Because this is a surprise boss fight. Have fun!

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