Memoria ( Final Fantasy IX ) Memoria is the penultimate dungeon in " Final Fantasy IX " . Memoria was conjured from the planet ' s memories . Garland guides Zidane through it and will explain the memories the party walks through . Memoria eventually takes the party to the Crystal World . Glowing orbs allow the party to save , use a Tent , or switch party members . There is also a number of invisible save points . Memoria is a unique location as it allows Zidane to switch out of the party . Despite this Zidane will still lead the party in the field . A number of " phantoms " can be challenged to Tetra Master here who hold a number of rare cards between them . Story . Where Memoria comes from is unknown . It is unclear whether Kuja summoned it , or if it appears naturally after Terra ' s destruction , perhaps due to the enormous amounts of Mist that was expelled when the planet was destroyed . What is known , however , is that the Iifa Tree is holding Gaian souls in stasis and prevents them from returning to the crystal in the planet core . The souls , upon returning to the crystal , bring with them the memories of the life lived and thus allow the crystal to grow . Memoria , at first , appears to be made out of the party ' s memories , but the deeper within the party travels , the further back in time they go , and discover that Memoria is made out of the collective memories of the whole planet . The four guardians of Terra to Terra — Maliris , Tiamat , Kraken , and Lich — fight the party inside Memoria . Garland ' s voice , speaking only to Zidane , guides the party to their destination . After the Second Battle of the Iifa Tree and entering Memoria , the party departs the " Invincible " , but they may return to it and leave Memoria at any time . The first area is the Stairs of Time . After wading through several planes of recollections with Garland ' s guidance , Zidane and his party are attacked by Maliris . The heroes next venture into their own pasts , and witness Alexandria ' s annihilation . Zidane , Garnet , and Eiko are able to see it , but Quina cannot since s / he was the only member of the party not present in Alexandria for that event . After entering a Time Interval , they confront Tiamat , and continues on to several abandoned buildings and a waterfall , which brings them to an underwater memory of Gaia ' s earliest existence . Progressing further along the ocean floor brings the party face - to - face with Kraken , who is summarily defeated . Zidane ' s party witnesses a swirling sphere of fire surrounded by emptiness : Gaia ' s birth . They climb into space and defeat the last of the chaos guardians , Lich . A glowing green portal warps them into a maze of stars , and Garland sends Zidane his final words before parting , asking them to protect the crystal . The party wanders through a seemingly endless labyrinth of starry void before emerging in the Crystal World , the beginning of all time . Locations . Memoria is a linear dungeon . Each area has its own theme originating from the memories of the party and others . Many rooms have scenes , usually where Garland will explain circumstances to the party . Memoria is entered from a portal above the Iifa Tree that appears after the events of Terra . The first time Memoria is entered a scene plays out , and the party fights the Nova Dragon . Afterward the player will enter the Outside area . Shops . The Hades Synthesis Shop becomes available after the player defeats Hades . Quests . Hades . The secret boss , Hades , is fought in the underwater area ; the player can initiate a battle by searching the hidden area on the sidelines . Hades is the Master Synthesist referred to in one of Mogster ' s early lectures and can synth two Pumice Pieces to create the Pumice that can be used to summon the eidolon Ark . Card Phantoms . There are multiple Tetra Master locations in Memoria . In niches and corners , the action icon ( ! or ? ) will appear and one must use the button at such spot to talk to a phantom . They are advanced Tetra Master players who carry rare and strong cards , and they will also provide difficult card battles . Excalibur II . If the player reaches the room called Gate to Space , where the party fights Lich , with less than 12 hours of game time on the clock , they are able to receive Steiner ' s strongest weapon : the Excalibur II . A message is left near the sword for Gilgamesh , written by Enkido , which says : Lost family sidequest . During disc 4 , a sidequest becomes accessible where Zidane must repeatedly visit the Tantalus hideout in Lindblum ' s Theater District and talk to the various Nero family members . Starting with Benero and Zenero , a member of the Nero family will appear , saying the others are missing , then go and look for them . Each time Zidane returns to the hideout after a major event or battle in Memoria , a new member will be there , saying all the previous members are missing . This can be done repeatedly until Deathguise is defeated — the last major event that will trigger a new scene at the hideout . After the scene with Penera , the final Nero family member , Zidane will comment on the huge family , and a treasure chest will appear inside the hideout with a Protect Ring inside . Blu Mag . Quina can eat Ash or Veteran to learn Doom , Behemoth to learn Angel ' s Snack , Chimera to learn Frost , and Stilva to learn Auto - Life . Musical themes . The theme that plays in Memoria is called " Place of Memory " .