ITEMS TO GET: Wisdom Water, Speed Elixir, Healing Bloom (x2), Magic Leaf, Phoenix, Door of Light, Wind Book II

   Head to the northwest corner of the Octam Underground and talk to the guard (you'll probably want to save first). Since Hari has given you permission to pass, you can now enter the Fire Path. Sadly, it's inhabited by mostly the same enemies as the Shadow Gate dungeon, so there aren't any new Seru to catch.

   Head north and descend the stairs. Take a right in the next passage and continue through the long hall. Go south a couple screens, until you're presented with the choice of going right or left. Go right first and pick up the Wisdom Water, then go left and wind your way along the passage to the series of brown pillars. Hop east along them to the next rectangular platform. Remember this spot; we'll call it Point Larry for lack of a better name. Now head to the bottom side of that platform and you'll see more pillars. Hop south to the next rectangular platform, then from there, go right (ignore the pillars leading north; they're a dead end) until you reach a chest with a Speed Elixir.

   Make your way back to Point Larry and try to go east. Another earthquake will occur, and your characters will talk briefly. Continue east across the pillars, grabbing the chest along the way, and then go north. Head down the stairs and continue on to the next screen. Run all the way east, then exit south.

   Cross to the rectangular platform via the pillars. Enter the center pillar from the south side (yes, there's a door ther) and collect the Magic Leaf, then go back outside. Head west across the bridge to yet another rectangular platform. Enter the pillar from the west side to claim a Healing Bloom, then continue west some more (ignore the bridge leading south, nothing's down there). Take a north at the next rectangular platform, hop across the pillars, and save your game. Continue north and follow the long passage into the volcano proper.

   After the brief bit of dialogue, hop on the nearby platform and choose to ride on. You'll eventually stop at a cliff, climb up and collect the Phoenix. Also, try to catch a Gora Gora (for Vahn, at least); you won't be around here for very long, so this is the only chance you'll get. After opening the chest, return to your moving platform and choose to continue. At the next stop, take the north route to get a Door of Light from the chest, then go back and continue south. You'll see a minotaur (Xain) punching the pillar; keep trying to walk past him until he eventually recognizes and attacks you.

   Xain fights in much the same way as Zeto does; he uses Bull Charge to charge up, then hits you with Terio Punch. Like before, use Spirit on the turn after you see him Bull Charging, then use Orb to heal afterwards. Aside from Bull Charge/Terio Punch, his only other attacks are Bloody Horns and an unnamed combo, both of which only do 650-750 damage. Use your attack spells to lower his stats, then try out some Spirited combos on him. We used DUUUDDD with Vahn, LLRRLRU with Noa, and RLDDUU with Gala. Xain's actually one of the easier bosses in the game; he's got about 9500 HP (possibly 10,000; we may have miscounted), but you shouldn't have any trouble beating him.

   You'll receive the Wind Book II when you win, which will teach Noa the Vulture Blade Hyper Arts. Xain then sends you a guilt trip, and uses his last amount of power to freeze the volcano. What's he up to? You'll find out soon enough.