Cai Chapter 10: My 120-Turn Plan Before Theodora

Historical clarification (reported November 1): I did restart Chapter 10 during this run specifically to ensure I could recruit additional characters. This is a completed past restart, not a planned future replay or a change in my current save; I've since reached Chapter 12. Do not infer exactly which recruits were obtained during the restart without a separate report.

Historical guide — Chapter 10 is completed. My current save is now Cai Chapter 12, turn 1. Everything below describes earlier Chapter 10 attempts, strategies or screenshots; the dates and turn countdowns here are no longer live objectives. The October 29 main-eight roster is the last measured screenshot, not a claim that stats stayed unchanged through Chapter 11.

Pick up the controller here

The order matters more than the exact turn count. The next three paralogues have limited calendar windows. Once those are secured, there is plenty of room to think about classes, weapons and levels. My exact in-game day and hour have not yet been recorded, so this plan uses dates—not invented travel costs.

Jasmine's living character tracker now compares the abandoned frontline plan with the rear-guard strategy, includes conceptual battle layouts, recruitment and favorite gifts, ally buffs and exactly recorded statistics. Latest reported level 29; do not infer her next level from time spent training.

Current screenshot checkpoint — October 29

Fewer than about 20 turns remain. My complete screenshot-confirmed main eight, stats, abilities, backgrounds, and immediate equipment checklist now supersedes the earlier estimated roster.

Cai 41 · Alexandra 36 · Tialla 36 (Ovate) · Peter 32 · Guzran 32 · Noctula 31 (Pugilist) · Sofia 31 (Priest) · Jasmine 30 (Armored Knight). Do not infer any higher level. Tialla already knows Lend Strength+ and Lend Defense+; Sofia needs just 8 Priest mastery points. Repair Guzran's 10/20 Cleansing Blade+1 and Peter's 14/20 Tempest Bow+1. Jasmine's screenshot has Short Axe equipped and Iron Axe+1 owned; her previously reported Da Mina Axe+1 is not shown in the individual inventory.

Historical estimates and replay speculation are kept below for chronology, not because they are still the current save. No Chapter 10 restart has been reported.

Latest save — final ~30 turns (October 26 update)

This supersedes the old catch-up plan below. Earlier numbers are preserved as past reports, not current measurements; no imagined growth points or promotions are recorded. Cai's level is from needed fighting; optional kills were steered toward Alexandra. Noctula was only prioritized in the second half of this Free Time, so the replay plan corrects the early training allocation rather than Cai overleveling.

Before spending any more turns

1. Check Calendar and quest log. Bertrand and Talimun are complete, but I haven't explicitly reported Anna's final completion; do not mark it done by inference. Check outstanding spectator events, too.
2. Check the fort's loot. The Part I chest list reports an Advanced License, Onoa (Spear), and Elixir. Inventory confirms ownership, not the guide. Compare Onoa with Cai's and Alexandra's current spears before buying something new.
3. Repair and re-equip. Restore Guzran's Flyssa if Cullet is available; inspect Peter's refined Tempest Bow, Jasmine's defensive kit, healing spells, and battalions.
4. Use licenses only when worth it. Cai is strong and fast already; preserve his mobility. Alexandra should retain useful flight unless the chosen class/mount remains compatible.
5. Train Noctula selectively in short, completed battles if there's real time. Ultand can remain a reserve. Don't exhaust precious turns pushing Cai past level 40.
6. Return for the semifinal with travel and calendar margin, and use Foresight to check the final deployment limit, map and enemy equipment.

Draft preferred eight: Cai, Alexandra, Tialla, Guzran, Peter, Sofia, Jasmine and Noctula. This is a recommendation, not a confirmed final deployment. Jasmine guards the casters; Cai/Alexandra take the mobile offensive.

If I decide to replay Chapter 10 for Noctula

All three Cai Chapter 10 paralogues happen here, not in Chapter 9: Bertrand (September 17–25), Talimun (September 17–22 or October 1–10; complete by October 12), and Anna (September 24–October 5). Bertrand and Talimun are confirmed complete in this run; Anna's completion has not been explicitly confirmed. Orchel's Regret comes next chapter, with an October 18–20 acceptance window and October 21 deadline.

Why replay? I spent too many turns searching for garden vegetables and developing Ultand, whom I later decided not to make part of my primary roster. Cai's high level came from necessary battles, not deliberate EXP farming; whenever possible I directed kills to Alexandra. I also lacked an effective Sofia strategy early in the chapter. I shifted the preferred training slot to Noctula only around 60 turns remaining, eventually reaching reported level 27. On replay, I would train Noctula and use Sofia effectively from the opening, and try Giant's-Print Fort earlier when safe.

Efficient alternate sequence:

1. At Chapter 10's start, check whether Noctula is in the restored roster. She can be recruited as early as Cai's Chapter 3 with Support 1 and Renown 4; if available, deploy her in training battles immediately.
2. Certify Noctula as Pugilist early once Gauntlet C, Renown 4 and a Specialty License are available. It has a recommended level of 20 and rewards physical Strength/Speed growth; the game displays the actual certification chance. Don't state she has already passed this exam.
3. Identify one or two high-Support Link partners for Noctula. Pair-specific Support reduces the Link Point cost of compatible dungeon Links. Increase Support through joint combats and suitable meals; preserve the LP pool for useful Attack Links. Exact per-rank LP discounts not measured yet.
4. Establish Sofia as a healer/support contributor immediately, making safe healing actions part of the normal Clash or Match rotation rather than treating her as an afterthought.
5. Accept Bertrand and Talimun early; finish both with Noctula participating safely. Direct elective finishing blows to Alexandra and developing characters, not Cai, who will level naturally from mandatory combat.
6. Clear Giant's-Print Fort before long shopping/gathering trips—if the fort is available and enemy forecasts show it is safe.
7. Finish Anna's September 24–October 5 paralogue before the window closes, then use completed Clashes for Noctula, Sofia and other favored units. Avoid discretionary Ultand grinding.

Vegetables for the Arena Basement is a side quest with a reported November 27 deadline: deliver 30 total Cocominj / Oda Monja / Jin Ba Jiao. It is not a reason to spend the first part of Chapter 10 wandering for the exact plant. If doing it later, check the gathering spots and markets against the quest log before traveling.

Replay caution: the Obelisk/Chapter Replay restores the beginning-of-Chapter-10 state, not the character levels earned during the current Chapter 10. The precise replay EXP persistence behavior should be confirmed on the in-game replay summary before deciding. In any case, treat the restarted chapter as a new training schedule; do not assume that specific Noctula levels or the fort clear will remain done. Shared Support, temple Blessings and Karma/Boons are the reported exceptions. To bring the new build into Cai's Part II, complete the replayed Part I through its ending so later chapter bookmarks update. This is an alternate future plan, not a statement that I have restarted.

Chapter 10 follow-up: paralogues and the formation

Bertrand and Talimun: completed. Talimun's first battle attempt failed; I restarted and succeeded. Their standard rewards total 40,000G and 300 Renown. Anna's Golden Secret was an available Chapter 10 event; the latest screenshots do not establish whether its completion was recorded. Check the quest log before replaying or moving on.

Revised formation: Cai and Alexandra advance rapidly, while Jasmine holds the center/rear near Sofia, Tialla, Noctula and Peter to intercept flankers. This is a new plan to test, not yet a proven match result. Compare Jasmine's two layouts and the team-support matrix.

The route through Chapter 10

1. Before September 17 — get organized

1. Open Calendar, Quests and Foresight. Confirm today's in-game date and which events are available.
2. Check supplies, weapons and spell uses; repair only what is needed for the upcoming quests.
3. Stay close enough to Dagsion to reach the contacts below. Do not spend a large block of turns on Auto-Activities or remote dungeon grinding yet.

Before leaving town: check the current equipment. The named weapons below were already in my earlier tournament setup. This is a loadout to keep, not a shopping list. Character-specific flexibility and later upgrades are in the equipment section below.

Magic isn't a weapon purchase: these spell names describe learned actions; check each unit's actual spell list before entering a battle. A staff is an equippable support item, not a replacement for the spell.

2. September 17–22 — secure Bertrand and Talimun

Bertrand: Friendly Match with Brigid's King

Go to Gabriel at Arena Square, outside the Grand Arena in Dagsion. Accept between September 17 and 25, and aim to finish early rather than at the deadline.

• Battle: Race Peppe's party to four giants. The special bait item can help keep the competing team off a target.
• Reported reward: 20,000G, 150 Renown and an Extra Large Bullion.
• Why do it: It contributes to Notable Deeds and is linked to Peppe's later recruitment conditions.

Talimun: Secret of the Vanished Carriage

Speak to Talimun at Dagsion Port. The first acceptance window is September 17–22; if missed, there is a second October 1–10 window. The separate battle completion deadline is October 12.

• Battle: Intercept escaping thieves or birds carrying cargo. Bring someone mobile.
• Reported reward: 20,000G, 150 Renown and the Cleansing Blade.
• Why do it: It is associated with Ursula's later recruitment conditions.
• Loadout change on completion: Try the Cleansing Blade on Guzran against Underworld enemies, because its effect neutralizes their Underworld Boon. Keep Flyssa against armor; the Cleansing Blade is a specialist swap, not an automatic upgrade for all opponents.

Travel rule: Inspect the route and the quest's actual start and finish times before setting off. Neither paralogue is confirmed to be calendar-free. An accepted quest can still have a separate completion deadline.

3. September 24–October 5 — complete Anna's quest

Anna: Golden Secret

Find Anna at Dagsion Summit within the September 24–October 5 window.

• Battle: Fight a summoned giant and use the Orichalcum deposits.
• Reported reward: 20,000G, 150 Renown and Orichalcum.
• Afterward: Check the newly available nighttime secret shop. Anna is not herself a recruit.
• Equipment note: Orichalcum is a crafting resource, not a weapon to equip immediately. Check the actual forge costs and your existing weapons before spending it.

These three quests also count toward the Paralogues category of Notable Deeds, which can award Karma Shards. The rewards are worthwhile, but do not assume accepting or completing them costs zero turns. The in-game calendar and quest log take precedence over any written schedule.

4. Earlier training plan — superseded by the final 30-turn checkpoint

Historical plan before Noctula was developed: I initially expected to train Ultand. As of the October 26 checkpoint, Noctula is level 27 and is preferred; dedicated Ultand grinding is no longer a priority.

Use completed dungeon Clashes for character levels. Pick battles that can actually be finished, let the lower-level unit take safe actions and finishing blows, and avoid having Cai eliminate every enemy before anyone else acts.

My practical training order is:

1. Ultand: get her close to level 25 first; 30–35 is an optional stretch goal if fights are efficient.
2. Guzran, Sofia and Yang Jie: keep them competitive with the rest of the team rather than allowing a large gap.
3. Peter and the favorite four: continue normal development, but don't spend scarce training fights feeding Cai easy kills.

These are my preferred power targets, not story requirements. Complete worthwhile weekly activities, meals or mentoring when convenient; don't let a routine activity push you past a paralogue deadline.

Earlier nine-character training rotation (historical)

I am keeping nine real combatants, with four permanent favorites in any five-unit training party:

• Cai — powerful lead attacker.
• Jasmine — sturdy frontline defender.
• Alexandra — mobile spear attacker.
• Tialla — magic and healing.

Peter is my normal fifth because I enjoy using him. When only five slots are available, Peter is the first character I rotate out to train someone else—not a character I am permanently benching.

For a hard fight, I can change the lineup to suit the map. This is a training rule, not a restriction on who may fight.

Which upgrades are worth the gold?

Keep the proven gear until an upgrade clearly improves the combat forecast. I don't need nine expensive replacements just because Chapter 10 has time to grind.

The clearest exception to the “keep what works” rule is enemy-specific effectiveness. Flyssa targets armor; Cleansing Blade is for Underworld bonuses; Peter's bows are naturally excellent against flying enemies. For normal fights, compare actual Atk, Hit, Attack Speed and follow-up attacks instead of only Might.

Don't over-equip. Staffs, shields and other equipment can add weight and cost an extra attack. If a +3 Magic staff or shield changes a forecast from two attacks to one, leave it unequipped until its bonus actually matters.

Class priorities that support those weapons

Guzran: Stay Myrmidon, progressing along his sword-specialist route as certification permits. No Rogue/Hunter detour just for chest-opening or Search. Flyssa → situational Cleansing Blade is the important choice here.

Sofia (about level 25): Keep a dedicated Priest → Bishop healing role if she meets certification requirements. Use Heal/Physic if learned; the Healing Staff from Chapter 11 is the next concrete equipment goal.

Ultand (about level 18): Build levels with finished Clashes while using the offensive and healing spells she actually has. The current Diviner → Priest support option is reasonable if the class exam is available; Diviner → Shaman remains an offensive alternative. Don't claim she already knows Seraphim or buy a spear for a distant hypothetical class.

Peter: Stay on Bow and develop proficiency naturally. He's still a favorite; he simply rotates out first when I use a five-person training party.

Before the semifinal against Theodora

The reported deployment cap is eight. My current screenshot-confirmed preferred eight are Cai, Jasmine, Alexandra, Tialla, Peter, Guzran, Sofia and Noctula, subject to the battle's actual deployment screen. Ultand and Yang Jie are reserves, not units I need to grind merely for this fight.

Do this final check before advancing the main story:

1. Open Foresight. Check enemy types, deployment and victory conditions rather than guessing from the last battle.
2. Repair and resupply. Cai: Da Mina Spear +1. Alexandra: Da Mina Spear. Peter: Tempest Bow, with a Da Mina Bow only if acquired. Guzran: Flyssa, swapping to Cleansing Blade if Underworld enemies are present. Tialla/Sofia/Noctula: check actual known spells or weapons and equipment weight.
3. Balance the team. Protect the casters and archer; make sure both sides of a split formation have a way to recover HP.
4. On the map: the walkthrough reports a Hammer on the left and Levin Sword on the right. Collect them before ending the battle if accessible. They are battle pickups, not weapons to buy in advance. The Hammer is extremely heavy; the Levin Sword is a potential magic-damage tool for a Sword C wielder.
5. Against Theodora: try to lure her off her defensive bonus tiles before committing your strongest attack.

After the semifinal: gear for Chapters 11 and 12

Chapter 11 — Dagda's Cauldron

There is only a short Free Time, so equipment priorities come after accepting Orchel's Regret. The walkthrough gives its acceptance as October 18–20 and completion by October 21, with a Healing Staff reward. Don't waste the narrow window on a shopping detour.

• Sofia: Give her the rewarded Healing Staff for stronger heals, unless she already has one or Tialla needs it more. Combined with Sofia's healing specialty, this is a meaningful upgrade.
• Tialla: Keep her established offensive spell and healing role; use a Magic Staff if owned and its +3 Magic makes a difference. Check Physic availability for covering distant teammates.
• Cai / Alexandra: Keep their Da Mina Spears. Review the Star Spear, if present, and make the boss-fight choice using the combat forecast.
• Guzran: Keep Flyssa, carry Cleansing Blade where Underworld enemies matter, and test the Levin Sword if collected and he has Sword C. It deals magic damage from 1–2 range but weighs more and is less accurate than Flyssa.
• Peter: Keep Tempest Bow for accuracy and Avoid; choose Da Mina Bow when you need a harder hit. Do not replace Tempest by default.
• Ultand / Yang Jie: Use known magic and healing, not speculative late-class weapons. Strengthen the weaker caster through real battles.

Chapter 12 — Just One Wish

This is the last equipment and certification review before Cai's Part I finale. Nine units are the training goal, not nine mandatory copies of premium weapons.

1. Keep the specialist swaps: Flyssa for armor, Cleansing Blade for Underworld bonuses, Levin Sword for a suitable sword user's magical ranged attack, and Tempest Bow for Peter's dependable range and evasion.
2. Improve the main attackers only where forecasts improve: Cai/ Alexandra can continue with Da Mina Spears; Peter can alternate Tempest/Da Mina Bows. Silver-tier weapons only make sense where the necessary rank and actual shop/drop availability are confirmed.
3. Separate the healers for split deployment: equip Sofia's Healing Staff when appropriate and make sure Tialla has the spells she can actually cast, especially Physic if learned. Avoid piling so much weight onto either that they become easy to double.
4. Do one last forge/repair pass after the final quests, before the battle—not before every training encounter. Preserve resources for your four permanent favorites and their supporting five.

Bottom line: I am not shopping my way through all nine characters. I am repairing strong owned weapons, collecting timed rewards, and making a few deliberate anti-armor, anti-Underworld, ranged and healing improvements. I am not buying more axes.

The two mechanics I don't want to relearn

I tested pulling two enemy groups and retreating without seeing the character-level gains I expected. This matches published descriptions; I have not verified a new patch nerf. A reported proficiency-farming ceiling of roughly 15 combat rounds is a useful caution, not a promise that every dungeon awards the same EXP.

Great Escape and Tialla: Cai cannot play his own Great Escape paralogue on this route. It is relevant to recruiting Tialla on other protagonists' routes; my Tialla already joined automatically in Chapter 1. No need to hunt down Castor to recruit her here.

The fortune teller: I still cannot verify who the apparent betrayal prediction concerns. It is not a reason to bench a favorite character or state a story spoiler as fact. The unnamed green-haired armored recruit also remains unidentified.

What this sets up next

After Chapter 10, I will keep developing all nine through Cai's Chapters 11 and 12, using the equipment checkpoints above and the same Peter-first rotation when deployment is tighter. After Cai's Part I, I intend to play the other Flame Lords' Part I stories before moving deeper into the combined story. I don't need to build a thirteenth unit or a compulsory Rogue in this chapter.

For the fights I have already won, the Leda and Event Clash recap is archival. This page is the current play order.