This chapter starts in the Shinra Manor.
Shinra Manor[edit]
Basement Facility[edit]
After the custcene, interact with the scientist on the floor to obtain a Dresser Key. You'll also receive new missions. There is a note on the "bed", read it. Before leaving, go to the library, there is a chest containing 10,000 Gils. There is also on the desk Researcher's Diary 1. When you're about to leave, you'll receive a mail from the Reporter.
Underground Cave[edit]
You'll receive another mail. Then go towards the ladder. When you're about to leave you'll receive a mail from the Keepers of Honor.
Inside the Manor[edit]
You'll receive a mail from the Study Group. Then, as you progress, four other mails. When you're done, leave.
Nibelheim[edit]
Outskirts[edit]
On the way, you'll receive a mail from the Wonder Hunter (if you uncovered the first 6th mysteries of the Side Quest Seven Wonders Expert). That also makes him the last possible mail sender. It's also the one and only time you can uncover the seventh mystery. So check the Side Quest page if you want. Now would be a good time to keep a separate save. In any case, continue towards the village.
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Nibelheim[edit]
After a cutscene, you'll be attacked by Shinra troops, and they will try to capture Cloud! You need to finish each fight as fast as possible before the meter counter reaches 0. When you're finished, a cutscene will play.
Shinra Manor[edit]
More cutscenes.
Nibelheim[edit]
After a cutscene and a fight, you'll receive mails from Reporter and Kunsel. When you're about to leave the village, you'll receive another one from Luxiere.
Nibel Plains[edit]
You will have to defeat every machine here without any of them escaping, you can use the Sniper rifle (and even upgrade it). If you're strong enough, you can go back and forth along the road to defeat several machines in standard combat to rack up upgrade points. When you arrive at the intersection, take a right, there are 3 machines to defeat at the end. After the crossroad, the next group of machines to defeat is a tough one, there will be named BIGGS and WEDGE. At the next intersection, take a left first (pay attention, here the machine will see you and start firing, alerting the other 2). The next stack consists of 3 far ones (upgrade your scope). If you've managed to defeat them all without one escaping, you'll receive a Dragon Armlet, a Gravity materia, a Thundaga materia and a Dash materia. Save at the Save Point. Next there will be a cutscene.
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Highway[edit]
After a cutscene, you'll face another Genesis copy, and after the fight, there will be another cutscene.
Gongaga[edit]
Abandoned Mako Reactor[edit]
You start North-West, and North-East, there is a man near entrapped chests. Talk to the man, you'll then be able to destroy obstacles and retrieve the chests. Some are trapped with monsters though. When you're finished, continue south, you'll receive mails from Kunsel, Reporter, Keepers of Honor and Red Leather on the way.
Outskirts[edit]
Progress until you find a chest near a Save Point, after that, there will be a cutscene. Before going after the mysterious man, look to the west for a chest, there is another one in between two houses north-east of the previous chest. South of the map, and BEFORE going South-East to the end of the zone, there is an important chest containing the pass to Shop Research Dept. QMC+.
Hills[edit]
There will be a chest on your left after the stream. And another one on your right before the turn. Then, continue for a cutscene, followed by a fight and another cutscene. Then, backtrack to the Outskirts. When you approach the Waterfall there will be a minigame (if not, just go back and forth in the Hills and finish some random encounters). To win in this minigame, you'll need to retrieve the falling chests while avoiding monsters. If you fail, you can retry as much as you want. Just leave the zone, re-enter it, do some fights and try to leave again. (a tip: when you grab a chest, move back and avoid going between the monsters, just go left or right of the stream!). When you're finished, go back to the Outskirts.
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Outskirts[edit]
Go towards the Abandoned Mako Reactor.
Abandoned Mako Reactor[edit]
After the cutscene, a bossfight :
After the fight, there will be a cutscene and the chapter will end.
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