While you’re still at Riovanes, you can do a bit

of equipment upgrading (stick with the Aegis Shields,

though; they’re good against magic). There’s also a

number of propositions you can take in the various

towns, but most of them aren’t worth the time they take

(and you sometimes LOSE money on them), so don’t bother.

Go up to the pbum near Lesalia. This is a

routine battle against some Nanten Knights. Whip

through here and continue on to Bervenia Free City.

Before you enter the town, equip the Maintenance ability

on everybody who was it, and give Arrow Guard to the

people who don’t. Also, I strongly recommend you have

a thief along. In Bervenia, you’ll encounter — and

fight — Izlude’s sister Meliadoul, accompanied by

some ninjas. Meliadoul will teleport away when you

defeat her.

Bervenia’s shops don’t have anything new, so

move on to the Finath River. After beating that, you

can finally get to Zeltennia Castle. Ramza will go

to the church, where he’ll meet Delita again. Delita

explains more of the church’s plan. Zalmo then

shows up, and it’s fight time (did you really think

you could go somewhere without one?). With Delita’s

help, it’s pathetically easy (I told you the game was

going to get easier, didn’t I?). After the battle,

you’ll meet with Balmafula, then Delita will leave

(bummer).

Strangely, the shops *still* don’t have anything

new. Restock your items (you’ll need lots of X-Potions),

then go to the Bed Desert, south of Bervenia. Here you’ll

encounter another Shrine Knight, Balk, in a tough battle.

This is one the last difficult encounters of the game,

as pretty soon you… well, you’ll see.

After beating Balk (it’ll probably take you a few

tries), go to the Bethla Garrison. You’ll have a choice

as to whether to go to the south or north wall. Each

is a different battle. I find that the south wall is

easier. Whichever way you go, you’ll end up at the

floodgate. Save your game in a different slot, then

continue. You have a really cool battle in which you

have to open the dam and flood the garrison. It’s good

for raising JP. After blowing up the dam, you, Olan,

and Balmafula will rescue Orlandu. ORLANDU THEN JOINS

YOU! YAHOO!! If you just heard a giant sucking sound,

it was all the challenge going down to Mexico (er, unless

you live in Mexico, then it all went to Zimbabwe).

Orlandu is ridiculously powerful, and once you have him,

nobody in the game has a chance against you. He has

all of Agrias’s, Gafgarion’s, and Meliadoul’s sword

techniques, plus a full set of Crystal equipment and

the Excalibur. He can also use every type of sword

(katana, knight sword, etc.) To put it simply, he is

hell on wheels.

Delita then offs Prince Goltana and frames Cid

(Orlandu). A cutscene pops up instructing you to go

to Limberry and rescue Alma. A handy new path opens

up between Bethla and Zirekile Falls.

Go back up to Bervenia, because — get this — the

stores actually have new equipment! It’s only a bit

of armor, but, hey, at least it’s something! Keep the

Golden Hairpin for your magic-users, though, as it

raises MP quite a bit. In addition, Zeltennia has

even more new equipment, and it’s a lot of good stuff!

Will the wonders never cease? Be sure to stop in

for an upgrade.

At your next stop, Zarghidas Trade City, you’ll

run into a familiar face… it’s Aerith! Buy a

flower from her, then head into town (yup, there’s

no fight). There’s a couple of propositions and yet

more new equipment, which leads me to wonder why the

first chunk of the chapter was completely dry. Square’s

equipment designer must have called in sick that day

or something. Before you leave, buy five Angel Rings

(if you already have some, just buy however many you

need to get five) or you will regret it.

Pop on down to Germinas Peak, where you’ll have a

run-in with some bandits. With Orlandu in your party,

this battle is a breeze. After the battle (before you

continue on), you may want to get into a random battle

at Germinas Peak with the Move-Find Item ability

equipped (make sure the character that has it has a

low Brave). Save first, though. Move to the very top of

the peak and you should find the Vanish Mantle, a mantle

that makes you invisible… you might get a Potion

instead, though, if you do, reset.