Freeze until the glow subsides and take only a few steps at a time. When you reach the core, the ominous voice will engage you in a conversation. Each time you respond, you'll be attacked by a Ruby Dragon. Defeat it and you'll advance to the next question. Respond correctly to the third question and you'll taken into the core to face Bahamut.
- [So you wish to challenge me...]: It's not our will to fight.
- [Begging me for mercy?]: Never
- [Damned imbeciles. Why do you wish to fight?]: It's our nature...
guardian force battle - Bahamut
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The Ruby Dragons are weak against Ice, Junction Blizzaga to Elem-Atk. Bahamut is vulnerable to Darkness. Junction Blind to ST-Def. Bahamut often uses physical attacks. Begin by afflicting Bahamut with Darkness to severely limit its ability to harm your party.
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It also uses an extremely powerful attack that targets your entire party called Mega Flare. Designate a medic and cast Triple on that character so you can restore your party in a single turn. Keep your HP at or near maximum while you stock up on magic and mug Bahamut.When you're ready to end the battle, attack with GFs or cast Meltdown and use physical attacks (cast Aura to use Limit Breaks).
When you leave and return to the Deep Sea Research Center, you'll find a new path leading to the gaping hole left by the destruction of the core. Climb down the debris and you'll see a terminal buried underneath the rubble on the left side of the room. Examine it to read the report about the Level Energy System that controls the six-level pillar structure leading to a ruin at the bottom of the ocean. Your task will be to use Reserve Steam Pressure to rotate the lower levels and gain access to the excavation site. You'll begin with 20 units of energy. 4 units will be spent opening the door to level 2, leaving you with 16 for the completion of your objective.
Go down the stairs to level 2. Each level from 3 to 5 has three sectors: a high-cost sector, a mid-cost sector and a low-cost sector. High-cost sectors (1, 4 and 7) require 4 units of energy to access. Mid-cost sectors (2, 5 and 8) require 2 units of energy and low-cost sectors (3, 6 and 9) require 1 unit of energy. When you access levels 3 and 4, your subsequent choices will be limited to sectors of equal or lesser cost. When you access level 5, your choice will be limited to the sector of the same cost. On level 6, you'll need 4 units of energy to access the next sector.
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At the bottom of the Deposit, you'll need 10 more units to activate the device. Check the levers on each level to select the amount of steam pressure to use. How you proceed depends on who's in your party.
Without Zell: On level 2, use 2 units to access sector 2 [14 RSP]. On level 3, use 4 units to access the Steam Room [10 RSP] and use the terminal to add 7 units to your supply [17 RSP]. Return to sector 2 and use 1 unit to access sector 6 [16 RSP]. On level 4, use 1 unit to access sector 9 [15 RSP]. On level 5, use 1 unit to access level 6 [14 RSP]. On level 6, use 4 units to access the Deep Sea Deposit [10 RSP].
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With Zell: On level 2, expend 1 unit to access sector 3 [15 RSP]. On level 3, expend 1 unit to access sector 6 [14 RSP]. On level 4, expend 1 unit to access sector 9 [13 RSP]. On level 5, expend 1 unit to access level 6 [12 RSP]. When you reach level 6, approach the levers and Zell will claim he can operate the machine. Let him take care of it and he'll be able to access the Deep Sea Deposit without expending any RSP [12 RSP].
In the Deep Sea Deposit, you'll face an extremely high and irreducible encounter rate. What's more, the monsters roaming the excavation site are very strong and only get stronger as you venture deeper. At the very top are Trifaces, which can be dealt with using normal attacks. For players who desire a more creative method, junction Zombie to Status Attack then cast Revive on the monster once it becomes an undead to kill it instantly.
