Chapter 12: Arban Alliance

Welcome to Chapter 12! This chapter sees the heroes returning to Arba, but not for a peaceful reunion. Prepare for a series of intense battles as you defend the city from a relentless monster assault. Strategic use of your monster medals and character abilities will be crucial for success.

The Arban Defense

Upon arriving in Arba, you'll immediately be thrust into a large-scale defense mission. Your primary objective is to protect the Central Ward and prevent monsters from overwhelming the city's defenses. The map will highlight key areas where monster portals will appear.

Initial Setup and Strategy

Party Composition: For this chapter, a balanced party is highly recommended. Include at least one strong melee attacker (like Luceus or Aurora), a powerful magic user (Jessica or Maya), and a character with good crowd control (Terry or Alena). Don't forget a healer like Kiryl or Isla.
Monster Medals: Before starting, ensure your monster medal slots are filled with useful summons. Golems are excellent for holding chokepoints, while Healslimes can provide emergency healing. She-Slimes are also great for their area-of-effect attacks.
Starting Position: Begin by placing your strongest defensive monster medals (e.g., Golems) near the main entrances to the Central Ward. Position your party members to cover these entrances and be ready to intercept incoming waves.

Wave Management

The monster assault will come in several waves from different directions. Pay close attention to the mini-map for incoming threats.

First Wave: Expect an initial push from the north and east. Focus on quickly eliminating the larger threats like Cyclops or Gigantes that can deal significant damage to your defenses. Utilize your Coup de Grâce abilities on these priority targets.
Mid-Game Reinforcements: As the battle progresses, portals will open in the west and south. You may need to split your party or quickly reposition to address these new threats. Consider using a character with high mobility, like Terry, to quickly clear these new spawns.
Elite Monsters: Periodically, elite monsters such as Dread Dragon or Atlas will appear. These require concentrated fire and careful dodging. Save your high-damage spells and Coup de Grâce for these formidable foes.

Item Acquisition and Exploration

While the primary focus is defense, there are opportunities to collect valuable items during the lulls between waves or by venturing slightly off the main defensive lines. Be cautious, as straying too far can leave your defenses vulnerable.

Chests:
- Central Plaza (North): Look for a chest near the fountain containing a Mini Medal.
- Western Alley: In a small alcove to the west of the main street, you can find a chest with Yggdrasil Leaf x1.
- Eastern Outskirts: A bit further east, past the initial monster spawn point, there's a hidden chest containing Orichalcum x1.
Breakable Objects: Smash barrels and pots throughout the city for small amounts of gold, Medicinal Herbs, or occasionally Strong Medicine.

Boss Encounter: The Blight Below

After successfully repelling the main monster invasion, a powerful boss will emerge to challenge you. This is a multi-phase fight that demands precise execution.

Boss Name: Guardian of the Blight

Phase 1: Ground Assault
- The Guardian will primarily use sweeping melee attacks and a ground pound that creates shockwaves.
- Strategy: Stay mobile and attack its legs. When it prepares its ground pound, dodge away from the impact zone. Characters with ranged attacks can safely chip away at its health.
- Weakness: The Guardian is susceptible to Lightning and Ice elemental attacks. Jessica's Crackle or Maya's Boom can be very effective.
Phase 2: Aerial Barrage
- Once its health is reduced to about 50%, the Guardian will take to the air, firing projectiles and summoning smaller minions.
- Strategy: Focus on dodging its projectiles. Use characters with strong aerial attacks or ranged abilities to bring it down. Terry's Falcon Slash or Aurora's Blizzard Blade can hit airborne targets. Clear the summoned minions quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.
Phase 3: Desperation Attack
- At critical health, the Guardian will unleash a powerful, area-of-effect attack that covers a large portion of the arena.
- Strategy: When you see it charging this attack, prioritize healing your party and getting as far away as possible. Activate any available Coup de Grâce or Tension bursts to finish it off quickly before it can unleash too many of these devastating attacks.

Defeating the Guardian of the Blight will conclude Chapter 12. Congratulations, heroes! Prepare for even greater challenges ahead.