Zakusu Shrine (Proving Grounds: Ascension)

How to find it

The shrine does not exist until you pass through a course of light rings. Nazbi, standing by a fire at the Spring of Wisdom near the summit of Mount Lanayru, gives you the quest The High Spring and the Light Rings with a riddle about the rings, but speaking to him is optional. Launch from Mount Lanayru Skyview Tower and glide to the sky island with the Zonai terminal; guides describe it as a light-bulb or horseshoe-pool shaped island to the south east. Grab the Sled Shield beside the terminal before you activate it, then shield-surf down the mountain through the series of green rings, following the green beam from ring to ring. The rings are timed and missing one means starting over. Open your paraglider before reaching the ground to avoid fall damage, and bring cold protection for the snow. Passing the last ring makes the shrine rise out of the snow.

Solution

Fight with the gear the shrine gives you

Your own weapons, shield, bow and armor are taken away on entry. Take the starting gear from the rack on the left (a Wooden Stick (or Sturdy Wooden Stick or Gnarled Wooden Stick, depending on your progress), Old Wooden Shield, Old Wooden Bow and a few arrows) and the extra weapons at the end of the hall. Approaching any Construct shows the group health bar. Fuse materials found in the shrine (Flame Emitters, Rockets, spiked weapons) onto your weapons; a Flame Emitter fused to a club or shield burns Constructs down quickly.

Climb the maze walkways

Go right and use Recall on one of the hook platforms sliding down, then ride it to the upper level. Pick Fire Fruit from the small tree and shoot the Spiked Iron Ball Hammer Construct in the eye with a fire arrow to make it drop its weapon, then finish it in melee. Climb the ramps and defeat the Constructs there. At the top of the ramps, connect the spikes on the slab and use them as a shield, attacking when they point away from you. Constructs can also be knocked off the ledges, and a patrolling Construct on a lower ramp can be shot in the eye with arrows.

Clear the top and open the chest

Defeat all six Constructs, including the last on the lowest level and a sniping Soldier Construct that fires shock arrows. When the last is down the top gate opens; use the Hot Air Balloon near the lowest level, or Recall the starting platform, to reach it. The chest holds a Soldier’s Spear (Soldier III to Soldier IV, depending on your progress). Touch the terminal beyond for the Light of Blessing, and your own gear is returned.

The Lightroot below

Directly under this shrine, in the Depths, is the Usukaz Lightroot. Light it from below to reveal that part of the Depths map.