Chapter 5: The Citadel – Choral Ascent & High Halls Climax

Overview & Progression Goals

Zone Name: The Citadel (Choral Chambers & High Halls)
Objective: Infiltrate the lower gilded gates, establish the primary checkpoint at Citadel Spa, ride the Grand Bellway lift, and ascend through High Halls to reach the climax chamber.
Estimated Clear Time: 11 to 15 minutes.
Key Hazards: Choral elite sentries, vertical crushing gears, gold-plated projectile turrets, and high-altitude platforming hazards.

The Citadel Map Route Summary: Scale vertically along the exterior of the shaft and cross the stained glass to the upper corridors.

Citadel Entry: Step off the transport lift through the gilded archways of the western gates.
Citadel Spa Bench:
- Before heading into the central corridors, drop into the lower room marked Citadel Spa.
- Sit at the thermal spring bench to fully recover your masks and lock in your primary checkpoint.
- Crucial Tip: Do not skip this bench; failing the upper platforming shafts without this checkpoint forces a complete replay of the lower gates.

Main Corridor Transit:
- Move eastward through the primary grand hall of the Choral Chambers.
- Elite Choral Sentries: Guards with golden shields and long lances patrol the red carpets. Do not strike their shields head-on. Jump vertically over their charges and execute diagonal downward strikes (pogos) onto their backs.
Bypassing Optional Arenas:
- Ignore the northern doorway leading to The Forum and the lower corridors of The Cauldron. Both areas feature optional elite trials that consume time and silk without progressing the main path.
Grand Bellway Elevator Access:
- Continue right until you reach the towering vertical shaft of the Grand Bellway.
- Strike the counterweight pulley switch on the right wall to call down the central golden cage elevator.

Board the elevator and ride it upward into the upper tier of the fortress: High Halls.

Clockwork Hazard Ascent:
- Climb the vertical shafts above the elevator terminus.
- Timing Mechanical Plates: Golden spiked crushers slam horizontally across the shaft every 1.8 seconds. Wait for them to fully retract before jumping to the next wall-slide position.
Bell Pogo Chains:
- Cross the open chasms by executing diagonal pogos off dangling bronze decorative bells. Landing a downward strike resets Hornet’s jump, allowing you to cross wide voids without landing on the floor.

At the gates of the High Halls apex, the path seals for a final mandatory guardian fight.

Attack Name	Telegraph (Visual / Audio Cue)	Dodge Mechanic	Punish Window
Resonant Wave	Stabs lance into the floor; two golden sound waves ripple outward.	Jump straight up and hover momentarily using Hornet’s float.	Execute an aerial downward strike directly onto the boss’s head.
Gilded Thrust	Pulls weapon back, golden gleam flashes on the blade tip.	Step back or jump over the forward thrust trajectory.	Land a two-hit forward needle combo as the thrust misses.
Choral Barrage	Hovers in place and fires three homing sound needles.	Sprint diagonally beneath the boss to break the projectile tracking.	Throw equipped pins upward while moving under the boss.

Do not heal during the ground-phase lance thrusts due to high forward reach.
Safe Window: When the boss initiates the slow floating chant animation before the Resonant Wave, position yourself behind a pillar and cast Bind to restore 3 masks safely.

Unlocking the Gate: Defeating the Praetor shatters the upper golden barrier.
Final Apex Ascent:
- Scale the remaining staircase on the right.
- Pull the central chain lever to open the grand ornate doors at the peak of High Halls.
Walkthrough Climax:
- Step onto the exterior balcony sanctum overlooking all of Pharloom to trigger the main-story climax sequence, concluding the core progression guide.