16 — Low Tide Beach

Generally considered the hardest sub-chapter yet. H. Nah debuts with guaranteed knockback on every hit; Beached Mammals stacks Bore, J.K Bun Bun and Bun Bun Black.

The beach theme is a lie — this is the saga's first sustained difficulty wall. The two flagged stages: Beached Mammals runs Bore, J.K Bun Bun, and Bun Bun Black in one fight, and Star Ocean pairs the new H. Nah with Doge Darks that spawn continuously and grow stronger as the stage drags on — a soft timer on a stage that resists being rushed.

H. Nah is the debut: fair health, decent damage, five knockbacks, and a guaranteed knockback on every hit he lands. Cats with less range than him get juggled indefinitely, which quietly deletes half of a typical mid-game lineup. Out-range him or accept the juggling.