Lunar Path and Crystal Palace
Land west of Crystal Palace and enter the cave to the north. There are two passages between the landing area and the palace. The first contains three treasures; the second is the connecting route, not another chest hunt.
Puddings are the reason not to have everybody blindly swing a weapon. Have Rydia use magic while the physical attackers focus the other enemies. Toad can make Puddings much easier to hit, but a failed cast doesn’t establish immunity. Nor does turning something into a frog guarantee it loses every special ability; Red Worm can still use Vampire.
On the exposed lunar surface you’ll also meet MoonCell, which is a better target for physical attacks than for repeated offensive spells. If a back attack leaves Rydia nearly dead, heal her instead of waiting for Pray to work.
Optional collection note: Grenades can drop the Bomb summon teaching item, which is different from an ordinary Bomb consumable. Alerts in both tested passages called two Red Worms, so don’t spend them expecting Grenades. Use ordinary encounters if you want to hunt the summon; the collection reference has the details. This can wait until after the story.
First Passage: Three Chests
Take the eastern branch to the guarded Au Apple chest. You’ll fight two Juclyotes and two Procyotes. Start healthy, focus physical attacks on one target at a time, and use party healing as needed. The apple permanently increases maximum HP; use it on a vulnerable party member or keep it for later, but don’t confuse it with an ordinary healing item.
Continue toward the northeast for ItemSingle-use battle item that casts Comet on all enemies. Consumed when used; distinct from the reusable Stardust rod. and MoonVeil, then take the northern exit. This ItemSingle-use battle item that casts Comet on all enemies. Consumed when used; distinct from the reusable Stardust rod. is the consumable, not to be confused with the similarly named rod which we’ll find much later.
Second Passage and the Palace
Outside, work east and south along the accessible terrain to the second cave. Follow its passage toward the southern exit. There are no treasures to search for here. Outside again, go west and north to Crystal Palace.
Inside the palace, visit the west recovery alcove for HP/status restoration and the east recovery alcove for MP, then approach the central figure. These restoration spots are part of the floor/alcove layout; don’t waste time looking for a pot shaped like the ones in Damcyan.
Finish the conversation and FuSoYa joins. Put him in the back row with Rosa and Rydia. He arrives with a remarkable spell list but only 190 MP, so having MagicTellah learns this after Cecil's summit trial. Its 99-MP cost exceeds his 90 maximum MP. available does not make casting it on every random encounter an economical plan. Keep his caster equipment; a stronger physical Attack number isn’t the main objective for him.
See FuSoYa’s abilities for the spell list and costs. For the next optional trip, the particularly important addition is a second Wall caster.
Before Returning to Earth
Return through the two passages to the ship and rest. Use the flight controls, not the interplanetary crystal, for the next trip. We’ll visit Cave Bahamut while FuSoYa is available. If you prefer to skip that optional summon, you can proceed to the Giant of Babil instead, but returning to Earth starts the next story sequence.