Midoro Palace presents a step up in difficulty. The enemies are tougher, and the platforming requires more precision. You'll encounter more Daira, Myu, and possibly even some Red Iron Knuckles. The Red Iron Knuckles are particularly dangerous, with strong attacks and high defense. Use your Shield spell to mitigate damage. The palace's layout often involves multiple floors and hidden passages. Look for breakable walls to uncover secret rooms containing P-Bags or even a 1-Up doll. Your main objective is to find the crystal and defeat the boss. The Iron Knuckle boss is a heavily armored knight. He has a predictable attack pattern, but his shield makes him difficult to hit. You'll need to time your attacks carefully, often striking when he lowers his shield or after he attacks. The Downward Thrust and Upward Thrust techniques (learned later) would be ideal, but for now, precise horizontal strikes are key. Defeating him grants you the second crystal.
