Rathalos in the Midgar Skies

Rathalos in the Midgar Skies was an event in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis. This event ran from May 30 to July 2, 2024, and was a collaboration with Capcom's Monster Hunter series of games.
==Story==
Occasionally, the lifestream gains the power to bridge the space between worlds, carrying the memories and inhabitants of those worlds that become linked by it. On one such day as this phenomenon occurs, Zack Fair finds a portal to an alternate reality in which the Shinra Combat Simulator has suddenly developed an anomaly while preparing a simulation. This forces SOLDIER Director Lazard Deusericus to ask Zack to track its source. When Zack enters the simudeck, he is met by strange talking cats who at first mistake him for their "partner" before they explain they were sucked into a "big swirly thing" before arriving. Lazard phones in for a status report when a never-before-seen dragon attacks the group. The cats call this being "Rathalos". As they prepare to take cover, Zack slays one of the beasts before the cats tell him he is not fully prepared to take any more on, should the dragons return. With a break in the action, the cats then explain how their new friend "Nyack" should prepare. Just as another Rathalos appears, Lazard again phones in. Zack makes his report and, though Lazard cannot fully grasp what is happening due to the lack of data on the creatures, he prepares a suit and a sword based on data provided by the cats. With the new gear, Zack is able to wipe out the glitches, allowing for another portal to open. The cat crew jumps in, believing that they may at last be headed home...
Instead, the portal leads the cats, who call themselves "Felynes", forward into Cloud Strife's time, where Dio is setting up the Battle Arena. As with SOLDIER earlier, Dio is also encountering issues with corrupted data. Cloud and co. offer to help troubleshoot. The Felynes appear before them and explain that they were only recently assisted by a man from the past. This time, the mewling munchkins have mistaken Cait Sith for a thief of their kind, leading to a dust-up that is soon settled. The Felynes quickly bond with Cait Sith. Yet again, the Rathalos attack, and the party scrambles into battle. Cloud dons his own new set of gear against the dragon menace. 
After the fall of the demon dragon, another portal appears and then swiftly closes moments later, The Felynes then remember their time with Zack and his theory that defeating all of the extant Rathalos was the key to opening the portals. After some discussion, the party theorizes that Shinra's earlier plan has failed, and that the creatures have yet another origin: a real Rathalos may have followed the Felynes into the simulator from before, and now the system has been replicating the creatures nonstop. To neutralize them, therefore, is to locate the master creature. The Felynes in turn prepare Tifa, Aerith, and Cait Sith for battle with the beasts.
Eventually reaching the source of the outbreak, Cloud knocks out the original Rathalos, born in the simulator from one Felyne's fears and negative thoughts as they crossed into the lifestream. His ticket home has at last opened As the Felyne prepares to jump in, his companions fade away, for they are products of the simulation also drawn from his own mind. The party exchanges their goodbyes as their new friend returns to his dimension.
With the Gold Saucer finally debugged, Cait Sith suggests that Dio build a simulation based on the party's recent adventures, of which Dio approves. The program is a smash hit, inspiring all who visit.
==Event rewards==
This event introduced several new and as-yet-exclusive methods for obtaining rewards of all types:
*Nine-panel bingo: Each of three (3) boards has nine (9) separate objectives for the player to complete. A complete blackout on each board will reward the Shinra Wyvern Blade for Sephiroth, 1,000 Blue Crystals, and a new event wallpaper.
*Limited chocobo grounds: Two temporary expedition areas were added for chocobos to traverse.
*Daily gifts at the Chocobo Farm: Speak with Palico the Felyne to get a random reward each day.
*One-time Crystal Lottery: Collect Rathalos Mantle tokens to receive Blue Crystal lottery boxes worth up to 1,000 apiece, or weapon enhancement crates.
A pre-launch countdown gift of up to 3,000 Blue Crystals was distributed over three days. A new 7-day Login Bonus was also added. New event missions awarded 200 Blue Crystals apiece.
All other missions awarded Proofs of Defeat and Rathalos Shards in the regular exchanges, where the featured items were Shinra Wyvern Blades and the Felyne Kamura Garb for Cait Sith. The Catsmegaphone was also obtainable in Part II and following missions. Volume 2 added the Silver Sol Buster axe for Glenn. 
Home Wallpaper Rathalos from FFVIIEC.png|Rathalos
Home Wallpaper Silver Rathalos from FFVIIEC.png|Silver Rathalos
==Stamp Card==
Two Stamp Card draws exclusive to the event were available. The first of these draws offered the Glavenus set for Cloud and the Zinogre set for Zack. Volume 2 added a draw for Tifa's Kirin ensemble and Aerith's Kamura combo. 
Glavenus Armor set from FFVIIEC.png|Glavenus Armor.
Zinogre Armor set from FFVIIEC.png|Zinogre Armor.
Kirin Suit set from FFVIIEC.png|Kirin Suit.
Kamura Dress set from FFVIIEC.png|Kamura Dress.
==External links==
*Official notice (Japanese)
*Official notice (English)
Category:Events in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis
Category:Crossovers