seabassdebeste finishes ffviii: ultima weapon edition (spoilers)

Board 8

what a grind to get to the bottom of the deep sea laboratory. the first time i went with high values on all the locks and got into no fights - but then, i got to the bottom and was told i needed at least ten remaining pressure

the second time i didn't understand the atmosphere gauge so i just put minimum numbers each time. monsters everywhere - none a threat to my existence, but behemoths and iron giants and behemoths were the most tedious. it took maybe an hour's grind to get to the bottom, quickened by some use of card

and then i reach the bottom, and what a sense of dread as we're warned all must evacuate... ultima weapon looks incredibly badass

it also immediately hits zell for 9999, and i can't keep rinoa's head above water, either. like against the dragon, i'm almost immediately down to squall only. he holds his own - recover is so good - but there's nothing i can do about pillar of light, which puts an end to things after five minutes or so of dueling

anyone have any tips about optimal number of pressure to set so i have fewer fights? i'm totally down for fighting ultimaweapon again and have some ideas, but i don't want to grind as hard this time to reach it
yet all azuarc of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable - they live in the varying outer weather, and they inhale its fickleness