Forest of Endings, Level 9
As we enter Level 9:
Woolby: Okay, this time we've got to be close.
Warning: As annoying as he can be, I miss Woolby now that he is not greeting me in the morning. Once you enter Level 9, you lose him. I expect it is temporary, but still...
It is the second morning and no 'Up and at 'em, Partner!'
*Quickest and most direct route to the Save Point is at the end of this post. It was a confusing level for me and if you are interested in my long adventure here, you can read that. Otherwise, go to the end heralded by the asterick* and read a detailed description of the quickest path to the Save Point
I returned this morning to the Endpoint for Level 8. I had not been gaining Large Wool even from my King Wooly whom I tamed on Glacial Island I believe. With the various Woolies I brought home from Level 8, I had over 60 Large Wool this morning! (A performance worthy of the Earth Dancer!)
At some point, I need to obtain Exquisite Fabric. I received only Mysterious Fabric and Mysterious Pauldrons from the Toads on Level 8.
Somehow I had missed the new Save point in the Boss Room for Level 8 where Ninetails lives. So I saved there this afternoon. I spend half of each day giving our gifts!
Met first by Snow Wolves, Oni Archers and Buffamoo, inter alia.
Second chamber has a Mushsprite, giant variety of Oni, more Onis, Evil Soldier and...
As I go up the ramp, chicken called Cassidoodle and Foreign Soldier.
There are three circular warp points but all are high on metal blicks. I see no way to teach them from here.
Go up a stairway where I meet an Evil Soldier ('The Enemy!' He cries. Why have none of his leaders told him that war has ended and he can come to Azuma now?)
Up stairways to meet Accused Eys, Lanterns, various Wisps. There is one mining rock.
Now a large chamber with a gaggle of Mushsprites, some golden chickens, some squirrels, spiders and hornets. A lot of monsters that cause status ailments. The icing on the cake is another huge hammer wielding Oni although the damage he causes is minimal. We all have reached Level 159.
Now, having swept all monsters from this room, a ring of fire activates when we go to the next stairway to leave. What appear now are a golden Dusk Tengu, a large Wolf called a Komainu, a Bear and one small Snow Wolf who looks as though he became lost from his pack. A chest contains Dark Boost Maga and Recovery Maga IV.
Once they are gone, a Gold Mustang and Ruinous Gold Oni appear.
I notice it is 7.30 so I warp home to enjoy dinner with Misha and Kai, then return.
In the last large chamber, there is a chest too high to reach. We climb the next flight of stairs to be met by a Foreign Soldier and Mechanical Mikoshi in a Ring of fire.
On the next landing a crate containing seeds and mining rock.
Up another stairway for a Ring of fire with Foreign Soldier and Snow Wolf, Thunder Beast and...
Now another large chamber with enemies consisting of Buffamoo and Mushsprites clustered near a circular warp point that actually is on the floor.*
When we first entered yesterday Woolby remarked that he felt we were close to the end now. And after all, he is a descendant of the great Mihoshi Habaki! He did not greet me this morning either...
Another group of monsters next to the wall close to this warp point. Mushsprites, spiders...
A chest here contains a yellow core, red core, green core , Blue Core.
The warp point takes you to the next large chamber next to this one.
You have a choice here after defeating the monsters to go up another stairway or use another warp circle.
(Now Ikaruga Game, taking the ramp. At the top a pot with mayonnaise. Now below me a large chamber with two warp circles.
One is on the floor and the other on top of a block.
I walk across the blocks and smash three crates to get to the warp circle.
I find myself in a huge chamber with a ramp to the left and a smaller chamber ahead with a lonely Buffamoo standing to the right of a warp circle rhat is in the centre of the room. There is another warp cuircle at the far right.
I hear a cry: 'The Enemy!' Where he came from, I do not know, but now he joins the Buffamoo. I smash two crates.
I take the warp circle closest to me in the centre of the room.
Now I find myaelf near the beginning in that second chamber where I could reach nothing. This time, I am on top of a row of crates with a jar at the end.
From here, directly in front of me, I can see a block with a warp circle.
I can float with the parasol to that block.
I take the warp and then find myself in a chamber with two warp circles, both on top of blocks. One is directly in front of me. I take it and Glory Be!!! I am deposited in front of the Save Point.)
The warp circle takes you to a row of those metal crates with a pot at the end containing olive oil. Now if take the stairs no enemies oppose you here until you reach the next large chamber but it is one where you were before and the stairs you climbed before. So now go up the wide ramp. Below and in front of you a circular warp. This is some sort of puzzle because I am making no progress. It is after 11 so going home.
The Map says I.9. for what that is worth.
It is 28 Summer now and I must solve this puzzle or life will not return to normal!!!
I made it to the new Save Point. I will write down the way I did it a little later. Essentially one needs to find oneself back at the first room on the higher block level with a choice of two warp circles. There will be a warp circle in front and one that requires you to glide to another set of blocks with a chest and then glide to a single block with a warp circle. I think both warp circles would take me to this ultimate Save Point but I played it safe and took the one that required no gymnastics.
I think the great mother of all battles lies ahead. I have not organised my inventory for days and because I used sacred treasures for most of my attacks in order to increase their power, I need more Peach Nectar at the very least and to move some dishes from my Storage to inventory. However, there is no Cooking Fire in sight, on site or anywhere on the Map. If I go home only to find I cannot come directly to this Save Point again, I will be very annoyed. I want to get this done but not without a few backup Restorative items.
I save in a differwnt file just in case it all goes badly and go forward imnediately to fight the ultimate Enemy. It is Kamurosaki. The only damage he does to me is constant infliction of Paralysis. I change my gear from the Lucky Loupe I was using to try to bring home rare items I needed to the Anti Paralysis Earring and defeat him using the Sacred Staff without further delay. It was a snap!
I continue then and walk upwards until I reach a heavenly constellation and an enormous tree in the shape of a dragon. I perform the Dance of Bonds and Mihoshi Habaki addresses me saying it wanted to talk to me. I have the oppirtunity to ask about three separate issues.
One is the true form of Mihoshi Habaki.
The second is whether another Celestial Collapse will occur.
The third is whether the shards were used.
Mihoshi Habaki declares me worthy to take up the guardianship of Azuma.
Now I see a new challenge. Four Trials.
A note about the warps:
It is easy to go ground and round in circles. What appears to be clear: when you reach the Enemy Soldier standing in front of a warp, that one is new. It should take you to a high long catwalk with a jar and a warp at the end. Take that to another catwalk and warp at the end. Take that and you will find the Save Point.
The quickest way to the Save Point:
1. 1st chamber has Ruffamoos, Onis, Archers and such.
2. Go through to the 2nd by going to the left. This has a Foreign Soldier, Mush, Onis, Oni Archers, and some Wolves as well as a Ruinous Gold Oni.
3. Go up the stairs, meeting another Foreign Soldier and Cassadoodle .
4. Next chamber at top of stairs has 4 Mushsprites, Bees, Earth Spiders, another Ruinous Gold Oni and a couple of Casadoodles.
5. Go up all the stairs to a large chamber with two Ruffamoos, some Mushsprites and Yaksha Spiders. There is a warp on the floor a little to the right in the centre of this large chamber. Take it. There are no other options.
6. When you land, you will see a Mikoshi in front of you, two Mushsprites and a Thunderbeast. Do not take the warp on the floor. Go up the ramp and do not jump down to another warp on the floor below. Stay on the higher level and go to the right to find a warp with three crates in front of that.
7. Take that warp. Run ahead straight to find a Ruffamoo and Enemy Soldier with a warp behind them and take that. You will find yourself up high on a narrow long platform with a jar and a warp point beyond that. Use the Parasol to float over the gap to get he other high platform with a warp. Take that warp to another high platform. Stay on that short high platform to the end where there is a warp. You will find yourself at the Save Point. Save your game.
Now when you go up the stairways, you will meet Mihoshi Habaki.
