As of me typing this, I believe what I saw was Garland or whatever his name is inside the skeyeball, perhaps operating it, and defying Kuja's request to destroy the city. If I recall correctly.

So I boarded the Blue Narciss and said "smurf you guys I'm not going to the Black Mage Forest". Instead, I went to the west and landed the first beach I came across. What first two creatures do I encounter upon entering into battle? A Gigan Octopus and a Zombie Whale! A+++ favorite enemies ever. So pleased. Especially since they gave me an assload of XP and especially since I can take out a Zombie Whale with Life easy like Sunday morning.

And then I got my ass annihilated by a Grand Dragon. I died atleast four more times by those smurfing dragons before I managed to kill one in a pure stroke of luck in critical health with one single party member left (this has happened many more times since - 35k XP, woo!). Those smurfers are hard!

PS, I've abandoned the card game. If there's no in-game reward, I don't care to continue playing it. Not worth it.

Time to max out everyone's levels!