The final part of ARR story doesn't make enough sense.

[Viridiana]

Lol, if I recall correctly, when we fought Ifrit we only had one of the crystals. So other than the Echo, maybe we didn't rely as much on Hydaelyn, as you believe.

At the risk of turning it into a story versus gameplay conversation, though, at the time he was summoned with less crystals than he would later be, and we ourselves weren't at the height our powers would eventually reach.