ITEMS TO GET: None

   The party returns to Nisan, where you learn that Shakhan's remaining forces are headed to the cave with the Gate. You can change your third character (Fei and Bart are stuck in the party) if you want by talking to that character. Since the next area has a tough Gear battle, it's actually a good idea to drop whomever you're using and put in Maria (since she has a really strong Gear). If you need Gear parts, drop by the item shop. Be sure not to change any of Andvari's parts, though; they're all better then the parts you can buy in the store. Also, equip some armor to protect against Seal attacks, and possibly some Fire Veil Armor as well.

   The fight itself is located in a cave southwest of Nisan. It can be kinda hard to find (well, it was for me ^_^; the best way to get there is to go southwest from Nisan to the patch of desert, then turn due west. You'll find the cave on the south side of a cluster of mountains. Inside, you'll battle two more Neo Etones. Take care of them, then proceed down the linear path to the room with the Gate (a rather short dungeon, no?), where you'll finally get a chance to fight Shakhan.

   Shakhan begins by latching onto the Gate and doing nothing. Have all your characters turn on Booster to raise their speed level, then start attacking. As always, use the DeathBlower1 attacks if you have it. After a while, Shakhan will cast Ignas Storm (about 2000 fire damage to each character), and then deattach himself. He's now active, and will attack you with Seal Punch and a regular attack that does about 600 damage. Keep on pummeling him and he'll eventually hook himself up to the Gate again and start healing himself. Don't attack him during this time or he'll just "counterattack" by healing himself. Just have all your characters Charge (or use Frame HPs if you need them). Eventually Shakhan will use Ignas Storm again and break free, allowing you to attack him. He has 24,000 HP (or thereabouts), so expect this battle to drag on fire a while.

   When you do defeat Shakhan, there will be a whole bunch of scenes, and the Yggdrasil will appear again.