Athena/Final World

Arcade Walkthrough

 * This stage is the host to the Final World. In here, you will be faced with a boss challenge, where you must visit all six worlds, and defeat all six bosses again before you are given the opportunity to take on the final boss, Dante.  Failure to defeat the six bosses will send you back to the start of the world.
 * To proceed through this stage, you will start off in a shorted version of each world, which will almost immediately lead to that world's boss. Defeat the boss, and proceed a little farther to find a pit in the floor.  Jump down the pit, and you will pass through a corridor that is inhabited with a particular kind of enemy.  At the end of the corridor is a ladder.  Climb up the ladder to reach the next world.  Note that at the top of every ladder, a flower can be found to the left, which will always contain a Crystal Heart.  Don't miss out on these.


 * Having the Fire Sword in this world is actually fairly convenient. It can destroy most bosses in a matter of a few swipes, and even though you lose health when you use it, the defeated bosses flood the screen with hearts so that you can recover what you lost.  The only thing you'll want to avoid is accidentally transforming into Ultimate Athena.  Unfortunately, as ultimate as she may be, Ultimate Athena can't climb ladders.  And if you can't do that, you'll have to use the sword to weaken yourself until you transform back, in which case, you'll likely be too weak to survive.
 * Everything that applied to defeating the previous bosses applies here as well. This means if you do not still have possession of Pandora's Box, you're going to need to collect it again in order to defeat Mado.  And what's worse, you don't automatically get it for beating the fifth boss.  You must instead find it hidden at the end of the shortened version of the World of Ice.  Of course, you can't find it if you don't have the Red Crystal Gem, which you can find hidden in a block at the very end of the World of Sky.


 * Once you defeat Mado for the second time, you will pass through one last corridor and climb up one last ladder. You will arrive in an area that looks similar to the World of Labyrinth.  Death Knights and Dark Knights roam the hallways.  Though it is difficult to plan, if you can achieve Ultimate Athena at this point, you would be wise to do so.  Use the Fire Sword to blast your way through the pillars at the end of the hallway and enter Dante't chamber.
 * The monstrosity that is Dante awaits you. He has several parts that must be attacked independently.  He starts off attacking you by swinging his sword arm into the air, and filling the room with a hail of energy.  Do your best to avoid getting hit and focus your attack on his shield.  When his shield is destroyed, you can then go for the arm.  Finally, when his arm is destroyed, his head will detach and float around the room.  This is your final target.  Destroy the head, and you will have defeated Dante.  As Ultimate Athena, the Fire Sword is so powerful, that it can destroy both the shield and the arm with one hit, and the head with a second.  If you don't have this, the Magic Tome is another good alternative, although it will take anywhere from four to five hits to defeat him.