What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Vyrerus]

I thought it was pretty convenient that after we get back from Elpis, our biggest obstacle is merely convincing The Forum / prepping the Aetherburner. I realize it was necessary, but that second dip in Labyrinthos drags even harder than the Hummingways (though funnily enough they become involved in it, too).

Nothing within that point of the story is related to Final Days or Blasphemy phenomena, other than, "Oh hey, we know the root cause, so now we gotta rig up this spaceship!" Idk, it just felt like there was very little tension.

Aitiascope was interesting, by the Hydaelyn trial and associated cutscenes were pretty ehhh... and almost invoked another plot hole ( She fights us exclusively with aether, there's no mention of us using Dynamis against her, so it's kind of a head scratcher as to why her test really mattered much at all, other than killing her to get her out of the way and throw down her run away plan).

[Cach]

Nothing within that point of the story is related to Final Days or Blasphemy phenomena, other than, "Oh hey, we know the root cause, so now we gotta rig up this spaceship!" Idk, it just felt like there was very little tension.

Before the spaceship takes off, they do the "everyone gets together" thing, but they previously did that before the Garlemald expedition.
"Oh we doing this again, uh" the scene didn't work for me that second time.

[ReynTime]

Before the spaceship takes off, they do the "everyone gets together" thing, but they previously did that before the Garlemald expedition.
"Oh we doing this again, uh" the scene didn't work for me that second time.

And despite there being no way to know when you'd return from the end of the freaking universe people from all over are gathered and ready to receive you back for the precise day you do.

[Striker44]

Aitiascope was interesting, by the Hydaelyn trial and associated cutscenes were pretty ehhh... and almost invoked another plot hole ( She fights us exclusively with aether, there's no mention of us using Dynamis against her, so it's kind of a head scratcher as to why her test really mattered much at all, other than killing her to get her out of the way and throw down her run away plan).

For this part, I always felt Hydaelyn's "test" was just to see if we were strong enough to stand a chance against Meteion, not necessarily anything specific to dynamis. More along the lies of "if we're going with your plan, then we're sacrificing my plan to flee on the Moon, so let's make sure it's actually worth trying...because if you're simply not strong enough, then everyone on Etheriys is now doomed."

[Tama-Kanzashi]

For this part, I always felt Hydaelyn's "test" was just to see if we were strong enough to stand a chance against Meteion, not necessarily anything specific to dynamis. More along the lies of "if we're going with your plan, then we're sacrificing my plan to flee on the Moon, so let's make sure it's actually worth trying...because if you're simply not strong enough, then everyone on Etheriys is now doomed."

Yeah, cool plan, flee with the moonship which not only lacks Zodiark's shield but also is also not even close to the aetheric density of even the sundered world. Everyone will instantly turn into Blasphemies and it will be the World's End Dancehall up there.
Cool plan mommy. Man you are so smart, you even fooled Striker44.

[Vyrerus]

For this part, I always felt Hydaelyn's "test" was just to see if we were strong enough to stand a chance against Meteion, not necessarily anything specific to dynamis. More along the lies of "if we're going with your plan, then we're sacrificing my plan to flee on the Moon, so let's make sure it's actually worth trying...because if you're simply not strong enough, then everyone on Etheriys is now doomed."

Thing is, ya know, why would it matter if we weren't strong enough to beat her in an aether contest? Meteion couldn't beat her or any other ancient in an aether invoking contest (Meteion couldn't even beat Sundered Zodiark in that regard). Hydaelyn says to us something along the lines of, "I saved just enough power at all times so we could have a true deathmatch whenever the destined day came. So it was a true test of your abilities!"

Like sure, it was a test of our abilities, but since there's no mention of it being our Dynamis abilities, then it's ultimately a fight for fight's sake(brought to you by Kratocrat Barbie!). To wit, pointless. The only thing productive from it is it changing Hydaelyn's Will. Which is necessary for the story, but if you know, it feels very contrived.

And that's further highlighted by Meteion almost instantly killing us all, because she's a practitioner of an art we aren't versed in, Dynamis. It then becomes pure chance that Thancred's will actually contests Meteion, and disrupted her nest enough to create Ultima Thule.