The Dark Inside is a main scenario 
Trial in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, added in patch 6.0. It is a battle against the Ascian god Zodiark.
Story[]
Normal[]
Zodiark's shackles have finally been broken, bringing His millennia-long imprisonment to an end. This premature awakening is the work of Fandaniel, who has cast aside his duty as an Ascian to turn the god of Darkness against the very star He was created to protect. With Zodiark's unfathomable power at his disposal, Fandaniel has selected his first victim—the Warrior of Light, who has ever been a thorn in the Ascian's side.
In-game description
The Minstrel's Ballad: Zodiark's Fall[]
The account of your triumph over the god of Darkness has prompted the wandering minstrel to once again perform the impossible, by taking an already senses-shattering encounter and exaggerating it to ludicrous extremes. His mellifluous musings transport your mind to that fateful moment, where your terrifying foe awaits, His unfathomable strength surpassing even your wildest imagination...
In-game description
Progression[]
Normal[]
This battle is fought in a square arena where players can fall off. Zodiark is confined to one side of the arena, and due to his massive size he is omnidirectional.
Phase 1: Zodiark, Partial Control[]
- Kokytos: Casts at the start of the fight, reduces everyone's HP to one.
- Exoterikos: Two types of shapes may appear: Triangle or Square
- Triangle: Wide conal AOE that reaches the other side of the arena in the direction it is facing.
- Square: Encompasses half of the arena where the spell is placed.
- Ania: Tankbuster
- Paradeigma: Summons either a behemoth or snake
- Behemoth: Leaves a circular AOE that covers a quadrant of the arena. Always spawns in pairs.
- Snake: Spawns two line AOEs in the direction it is facing.
- Adikia: Zodiark smashes his left and right fists on the arena, causing two, massive circular AOEs.
- Phlegeton: Spawns three waves of AOEs underneath players, must keep moving to avoid.
- Complete Control: Fandaniel assumes complete control of Zodiark, this marks the end of Phase 1.
Phase 2: Zodiark, Complete Control[]
As Fandaniel assumed complete control of Zodiark, the mask that covers his face breaks and his black wings lift him up into the air and floats down gently to continue his battle against the Warrior of Light and his companions. Zodiark will utilize spells/attacks from his previous phase, but he sprinkles in new mechanics and spells in phase 2.
- Astral Flow: Sometimes used in conjunction with Paradeigma, Zodiark rotates the arena 90 degrees in the direction the arrows outside of the arena are pointing. Shifting the positions of the players on the arena whilst rendering them incapable to move or use movement skills for a few seconds.
- Triple Esoterick Ray: Fires three lasers across the arena based on order of appearance.
- Algedon: Zodiark shifts his position to strike a corner of the arena. Leaves a massive AOE in its wake and may push players out of the arena if they do not move out of his line of sight.
- Astral Eclipse: Zodiark flies out of the arena, making him untargetable for a few seconds. He will move in a counterclockwise direction, summoning falling meteors of different patterns in three sides of the arena.
- Trimorphos Exoterikos: Places 3 Exoterikos in sequence in 3 sides of the arena. They will cast an AOE based on order of appearance.
The Minstrel's Ballad: Zodiark's Fall[]
Like normal mode, this battle is fought on a square arena where players can fall off. However, unlike normal mode, Fandaniel has already assumed complete control of Zodiark at the beginning of the fight.
Musical themes[]
The name of Zodiark's battle theme is "Endcaller".
