The world is shrouded in darkness. It seems that Chaos's shadows would engulf all. But light is not gone. The crystals, shining even in the depths of despair- it is said that hope can be restored in the ten surviving warriors can take hold of them. Now the journey begins for the Warrior of Light...
Introduction
Destiny Odyssey I, subtitled The Guiding Light, is a storyline in Dissidia Final Fantasy. Chronologically, it is the first storyline to begin, and the last storyline to end. The storyline is played using the Warrior of Light, and follows his quest for the Crystals as numerous Warriors of Chaos appear to combat him and attempt to shake his resolve. It has a difficulty rating of five stars, making it and Destiny Odyssey VI the hardest Destiny Odysseys to complete by the game's rating.
The Warrior departs on his quest to find the Crystals, and soon encounters his rival Garland, who he quickly defeats. Garland fades into darkness but warns the Warrior his hope is an illusion and the world will betray him. The Warrior continues on and meets Cecil and Tidus, injured by an assailant who attacked them and stole something from Firion. The Warrior follows Firion's pursuit of the assailant and finds him engaged with Sephiroth in the Planet's Core. Dismissing Firion to rejoin his friends, the Warrior battles Sephiroth. Though he is victorious, Sephiroth is not killed and shows the Warrior the rose he stole from Firion. Sephiroth questions the Warrior's reason for fighting: when he claims he fights to end the war, Sephiroth replies the Warrior takes pleasure in the fighting just as he does, and fades away to meet Cloud.
Continuing on, the Warrior meets Ultimecia, who tells him the Crystals are fabrications not worth fighting for. The Warrior refuses to listen and the two battle - the Warrior is again victorious. Ultimecia warns the Warrior his comrades are losing hope in their cause, and teleports away. Shortly after the Warrior finds Squall, who tells him Cosmos (actually Ultimecia in disguise) told him to fight for his Crystal alone. In Squall's story, Destiny Odyssey VIII, the two battle at this time, but in Destiny Odyssey I this fight is not shown. Squall defeats the Warrior, proving he is strong enough to continue alone, and the Warrior continues on his journey satisfied with Squall's resolve. Later, Cosmos appears to the Warrior and warns that evil forces are gathering ahead, but the Warrior is undeterred. He tells her that as long as they do not give up and hope onto their hope, they will eventually prevail, and it was Cosmos herself who taught him this. Cosmos chooses to believe in his words and allows him to keep going.
In Pandaemonium the Warrior finds The Emperor, who tells him he owes him since the Warrior's fighting caused a ruckus allowing Bartz to escape capture. Claiming that the Warrior's struggle is in vain, the Emperor gives him the chance to swear fealty to him, manifesting a Crystal for the Warrior if he accepts. The Warrior instead shatters the Crystal, aware it was an imitation, and the two do battle. The Warrior wins and the Emperor begins to fade, telling him his faith will waver when he learns the truth. Garland steps in and tells the Warrior he cannot die as long as the Warrior lives, and invites him to track him down if he wishes to learn the truth of the war.
At Old Chaos Shrine the Warrior meets Garland, who tells him the war of the gods shall continue for eternity, and thus they too are fated to fight in an endless cycle that has no end. Garland says the Warrior should abandon his hope and learn to take pleasure in combat as Garland has, but the Warrior replies Garland is pitiful for submitting to destiny, and now that he knows the truth of the war he will find a way to end the cycle of conflict. The two fight again and the Warrior defeats Garland, this time winning his Crystal. Garland fades, but laughs that when all ten Crystals are gathered the cycle can indeed be broken. Without the cycle to dictate events destiny's chains will be broken and even the gods cannot foresee what will happen - a world of true chaos will be born. The other Warriors of Cosmos arrive with their Crystals, and the group heads to meet Cosmos with all the Crystals in their grasp.
"Believing in an end, the warrior faces the darkness. This is where it all begins."
The stage is very straight-forward with no particularly strong enemies. The grouping of the enemies allows the player to fight several at once without spending excessive Destiny Points. Garland is faced at the end of the stage. The player begins the stage with three DP.
The most DP the player can end the stage with is three. By using one DP to move to D2 on the grid, the player can chain together the False Hero at D3 and the Imitation Liegeman at E2, then causing the Phantasmal Harlequin at D1 to appear. Provided the player fulfills the DP chance requirements for the Imitation Liegeman and Phantasmal Harlequin, they will win two DP for a total of four, then using one more DP to move to the Chaos Piece to end the stage.
"The firm convictions that lead one to battle... Can one warrior understand the reasons that burn within another's heart?"
The stage is has many locked areas, forcing the player to fight several enemies if they wish to acquire all the items on the stage. However, if the player focuses on reaching Sephiroth then they need not fight all the enemies present. Several variations of Battle Pieces appear here. The player begins with four DP.
To finish the stage with the most DP possible, the player must defeat the Phantasmal Harlequin at G5 then chain the Ephemeral Phantom at G1 with the Counterfeit Youth at E1, bypassing the Capricious Reaper at E5. This results in a total of five DP. The player must then defeat the Imitation Liegeman to earn another DP and open a path to the Chaos Piece, allowing the player to end the stage with four DP.
"In search of hope, the warrior ventures further into the darkness. What lies in wait for him is..."
The stage is divided into two areas by the Chaos Piece in the center. Defeating Ultimecia opens the right portion of the stage where the Stigma of Chaos lies. The player begins with five DP.
To achieve the most DP possible, the player must have attained a three-star completion of the storyline already in order to spawn the False Stalwart Ultimate Battle Piece at D1. The player must chain the False Stalwart and the Delusory Warlock at C2, then defeat the Capricious Reaper that appears at B1. This earns a total of four more DP, allowing a total of eight at the time, minus one DP to continue moving. If the player earns the DP bonuses when fighting Ultimecia and the Ephemeral Phantom at F5, they can end the stage with seven DP.
Force Begets Courage, Gravitorb, Ivory Choker, HP ≤ 40% x3, Near Death x3
Bravery Attacks
Jecht Rush, Jecht Stream, Jecht Block (midair)
HP Attacks
Triumphant Grasp
DP Chance
Get a Wall Rush within ten seconds for +1 DP
Notes
Defeat to unlock locked area at G3
G1
Treasure Chest
First Contents
In Midair
Subsequent Contents
N/A
Other Information
Appears when Imaginary Champion at F2 is defeated
G3
Locked Area
Unlock Condition(s)
Defeat Ephemeral Phantom at F5
G5
Ether
Other Information
None
Destiny Odyssey I-4[]
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
1
2
3
4
5
"Those whose hearts seek truth will never falter."
The stage has two new varieties of Battle Pieces, and several items to Attain. The player must open the Treasure Chest containing the Rosetta Stone to pass to the far right area before they can unlock the Locked Area. The Emperor is fought at the end of the stage. The player begins with five DP.
Finishing the stage with the most DP is simple. The player should move up to defeat the Transient Witch at A1, then move to E5 to chain the Ephemeral Phantom at D5 and the treasure chest at F5. The player can then move to G5 to chain the Capricious Reaper and Phantasmal Harlequin, and then approach the Chaos Piece to finish the stage with five DP. The Expert Battle Piece can be avoided.
"Hearts bound by a solemn oath... From the brilliance of his will, comes the crystal..."
The stage appears simple at first glance, but defeating the Battle Pieces causes more to appear on the board, and the Treasure Chests in the stage are placed in a way that forces the player to fight enemies if they wish to claim them. The player begins with four DP.
To finish the stage with the most DP the player must have already completed the stage with a three-star rating to make the False Hero Ultimate Battle Piece spawn at E4. The player should move to F4 and chain the False Hero with the Delusory Warlock at F3, then spawning the Counterfeit Youth at G4. The player should charge up their EX Gauge during the first two battles so they can meet the DP Chance requirement of hitting the Counterfeit Youth with an EX Burst, earning a total of four DP. The player must then move to either C3 or D4 and defeat the Imitation Despot at D3, causing the Transient Witch to spawn at C4 in a chain. Defeating her opens the locked area blocking the Chaos Piece, allowing the player to finish with a total of seven DP.