Once you step into Act 2 of Fantasian Neo Dimension, the vastness of the world becomes strikingly apparent. You can explore at your own pace, collectibles are scattered throughout, and you can reunite with your companions whenever you like.
In addition, some quests pop up unexpectedly and seem unrelated to the main storyline. One such quest is Echoes of the Sandsea, where you’ll need to navigate a time anomaly and face the remnants of what appears to be a long-lost deity.
How to Begin Echoes of the Sandsea
This quest isn’t formally introduced; you’ll need to discover it on your own. Fortunately, it’s hard to overlook. A large blue orb will manifest above the ravine in the Sandsea. Interacting with it initiates the Echoes of the Sandsea mission.
Zinikr is crucial to this quest, so ensure you’ve rescued him from the Frozen Tundra before attempting this mission. With that out of the way, step into the mysterious blue orb that is frozen in time.
Locating Every Voice Crystal
Upon entering this time anomaly, you’re tasked to explore Uzra for Voice Crystals left by Yim, the sister of Taros from a previous existence. You’ll need to find all of them; they’re not exceedingly well-hidden, although navigating Uzra’s size can be a little confusing.
Note that warping is disabled within the time anomaly, but you can head to the wheel of Uzra to exit if needed.
The first Voice Crystal is located right at the start in the Bridge. The next can be found immediately after leaving the Bridge, next to the stairs. You’ll also discover one in Cheryl’s room on the Uzra, and the last one is located in the final room of the Engine. It’s straightforward, and you’ll gain a wealth of lore along the way.
Later, a much larger Voice Crystal will appear in the main engine room. Here, you will confront Yim herself, or what remains of her spirit. This battle ranks among the more challenging ones, so make sure you’re well-prepared.
Fighting the Shadow of Yim
Party Setup
At the time of our fight against the Shadow of Yim, our entire party was rescued. However, the primary members we used for this battle were Leo, Zinikr, Tan, Ez, and Valrika. Cheryl was occasionally deployed to utilize the broad reach of Knight Impact, but this wasn’t essential.
Here are some skills that are helpful from the Growth Map before entering the battle:
- Leo – Fire Samidare +2
- Zinikr – Safe Taunt
- Ez – Quick All
- Tan – Desperation
Yim doesn’t rely on a specific element and lacks clear weaknesses. Therefore, using Rubies and Emeralds is a reliable strategy. At one point, she uses a move called Nihil Despair that casts Seal and Curse on the entire party. Having a Moss and Phantom Quartz on some characters, like Valrika or Kina, is highly beneficial for allowing them to continue casting spells and healing the group.
Tan will be your main source of damage during this battle, capable of inflicting substantial harm if built up properly. His Sleight of Hand passive skill increases his likelihood of buffing himself and attacking in the same turn.
How to Defeat the Shadow of Yim
Yim presents a unique challenge; she boasts the typical strength and HP of a regular boss but incorporates moves that add a puzzle-like aspect to the fight. Her methods can be quite unpredictable, making it vital to stay alert.
Initially, she will unleash elemental attacks. These can target a single party member or the entire group. The sequence is random, and she will switch elements frequently. While these attacks are powerful, they are manageable.
After some time, she will deploy a move called Nihil Summoning, summoning a swarm of Demi Sandphins that possess significantly more HP than your typical Sandphin. Their offensive power isn’t what you should be concerned about; rather, it’s Yim’s follow-up move, Nihil Calamity, that creates a void sucking in any remaining enemies and launching them back at you for massive damage.
Even if just one Sandphin is absorbed, this attack’s strength will be significantly ramped up, and the entire group could easily be wiped out. Even if you defeat all the Sandphins, Yim will still execute this attack, albeit weaker.
To survive this, consider using either Cheryl or Valrika to slow Yim, giving you a few extra turns, followed by Ez’s Quick All to boost the party’s speed. You need as many turns as possible. Adolfo Slash and Impact along with piercing moves will be highly effective here, with Arrow Rain being particularly useful. Make it your priority to eliminate the Sandphins before focusing on Yim.
Latter in the battle, Yim will use Nihil Despair, casting both Curse and Seal on everyone, making magic and buffs unusable. Having a character immune to these effects is crucial.
One of Yim’s scariest moves is Distortion of Reality. In this, she creates duplicates of herself and moves quickly to confuse you. If you attack the wrong one, it will explode, causing significant damage. She also uses a move called Reset, which removes any debuffs placed on her.
There’s one exception – Taunt. This will stay on Yim even after she uses Reset and duplicates herself, allowing you to target her easily. Maintain Taunt with Zinikr to help you avoid this tricky phase.
As her HP diminishes, she will activate Nihil Rampage, allowing her to perform two actions per turn, making it a tough situation, but she remains manageable as her patterns won’t change. Once you finally defeat her, Zinikr’s Divine Artefact will be upgraded, and you will have access to the mecha infestation located north of Vence.
