Chapter 8 walkthrough: Beyond Hope (the Crystal Tower, Chaotic Darkness and the ending)

After the Chapter 7 card, the HUD still reads 'Chapter 7 - Reckoning', now with 'Go to the Crystal Tower'. CGInferno first takes the side quest 'A New Leaf' (Grandshelt, Mitra and the airship deck; see the Chapter 7 side quests). The header changes to 'Chapter 8 - Beyond Hope' about 20 minutes into the video, with the objective 'Go to the top of the tower'. No chapter title card or Recommended Level card appears.

Spoiler clip · Inside the Crystal Tower as Chapter 8 begins · reveal

Checked on screen · Oct 25, 2026

19:31–19:46 · 15 sInside the Crystal Tower as Chapter 8 begins

1. Go to the Crystal Tower.

Field enemies in the tower are Lv.50 (Specters, Titanosaurus, Jackalto). After a scene in which Lux names Behemoth, you fight Behemoth (Lv.52); CGInferno's win paid 150,000 EXP, 75,000 gil and 520 MRP (with a Stagger Finish Bonus).

Later Sol fights you directly (Lv.52, Humanoid, 210,000 HP on the Libra card). The card's traits include a special attack when a set number of characters are buffed, 'Summons a vision of the Lord of the Heavens when alone.', and a low-HP skill that makes Sol's allies act more often. The win paid 144,000 EXP (with a No Damage Bonus), 60,000 gil and 520 MRP.

Higher up, on crystal walkways above the clouds, CGInferno met a Metal Gigantuar (Lv.52, 14 HP, high evasion) worth 150,000 EXP. Just before the top there's a save crystal with a Moogle shop (weapons, armor and accessories). Its armor list: Diamond Chestplate, Stout Armor and Gaia Gear (45,000 gil each; Gaia Gear nullifies Earth damage), Minerva Bustier (50,000) and Crystal Armor (90,000).

Past the save point is a crystal platform with two chests. Examining the spot at its centre brings up a warning that there is no going back, then asks 'Do you still wish to proceed?' Everything after this is the final battles and the ending, so finish any shopping and side content first.

1. Climb the tower and beat Behemoth.
2. Beat Sol.
3. Save and shop at the save crystal before the top.
   Spoiler clip · The Moogle shop's armor list before the top of the tower · reveal

   Checked on screen · Oct 25, 2026

   kingy.wiki1:10:09–1:10:30 · 21 sThe Moogle shop's armor list before the top of the tower

   1:10:09–1:10:30Spoiler clip
4. When you're ready, examine the centre of the platform; there is no going back.

Kingy's preparation advice from the cited encounter record: save and finish shopping before examining the platform centre. Review the reserve party as well as the active four, because the recorded Last Resonance tutorial says the user withdraws and a reserve member takes their place.

The recording's party is Lv.78 at the save point; its clear does not establish a minimum level or a build for a party near the enemies' level. The fan-datamine weaknesses below have no stated game version. Check the available Libra information in your own battle before treating those values as confirmed for your build. A lower-level turn plan, reliable healing schedule and difficulty comparison still need gameplay testing.

Spoiler clip · The last platform's point-of-no-return warning · reveal

Checked on screen · Oct 25, 2026

0:00–0:12 · 12 sThe last platform's point-of-no-return warning

The first battle is against Chaotic Darkness (Lv.55, Demon, 180,000 HP) with a Left Hand and a Right Hand. The Left Hand's card (Lv.55, Demon, 60,000 HP) reads 'Resurrects when the Right Hand is defeated.', and Chaotic Darkness's own card reads 'Uses a special skill when both hands are present.' The fight ends in a cutscene, with no Battle Result screen.

The second battle opens with two tutorials. Last Resonance is a single big hit plus the equipped Vision's Resonance, after which that character withdraws and a reserve member takes their place; in this All-Out Battle you choose when to use them. With Chaotic Darkness's powers sealed, five named foes appear in turn: The Unsatiable Gluttony (Lv.54, 75,000 HP; swallows a target so it can't act), The Hollow Intimacy (Lv.55), The Stagnant Sloth (Lv.54, 70,000 HP, extremely high physical defense), The Patronizing Pride (Lv.52) and The Keen of Fury (Lv.53). Then Chaotic Darkness (Lv.55) returns for the last phase. This fight also ends without a Battle Result screen.

1. Beat Chaotic Darkness and its hands.
   Spoiler clip · Chaotic Darkness's Left Hand and its Libra card · reveal

   Checked on screen · Oct 25, 2026

   kingy.wiki1:14:38–1:14:45 · 7 sChaotic Darkness's Left Hand and its Libra card

   1:14:38–1:14:45Spoiler clip
2. Win the All-Out Battle, using Last Resonance.

After more story scenes, Rain fights Sol (Lv.55) alone above the clouds. CGInferno finished it with Rain's Limit Burst 'Crimson Onslaught'; again there's no Battle Result screen. Epilogue scenes follow, then the credits (about six and a half minutes), the SQUARE ENIX logo and 'Fin.'

A 'Chapter 8 Beyond Hope / COMPLETE' card appears between the beach scenes and the epilogue. No trophy or achievement pop-up showed in CGInferno's videos, and nothing follows 'Fin.' (no save prompt or post-credits scene). For what's left to do after the story, see Ultima Weapon, the Cave Masters and the achievement list.

1. Win the duel as Rain.
   Spoiler clip · Rain's solo duel above the clouds · reveal

   Checked on screen · Oct 25, 2026

   kingy.wiki1:55:46–1:56:07 · 21 sRain's solo duel above the clouds

   1:55:46–1:56:07Spoiler clip
2. Watch the ending and the credits.

From NiaMeowDB's datamine (Community-reported; built from the game's files, no version stated). Its Sol traits match the Libra card above.

Behemoth (Lv.52, 320,000 HP): weak to Wind and Light, takes half damage from Earth, has extremely high physical and magic defense, and has Double Action. Sol (Lv.52): weak to Dark.

First Chaotic Darkness battle: the body (180,000 HP) is weak to Light, uses a special skill while both hands are present, and counters when KO'd. The Left Hand is weak to Wind, the Right Hand to Earth, and the Left Hand resurrects when the Right Hand is defeated.

NiaMeowDB has two additional Chaotic Darkness entries (425 and 697, each 320,000 HP), weak to Light and immune to Dark. Their assignment to a particular phase has not been verified, so neither is presented as the second battle's confirmed HP. Entry 425 describes consuming The Keen of Fury at low HP, but that resemblance alone does not identify the phase. The Keen of Fury's entry lists an Earth weakness. The other named foes are absent from this datamine source; the inspected Libra cards establish Gluttony's swallow and Sloth's extremely high physical defense.