Stuck at 94.33% before the final boss fight [solved]

[Sojiro]

After getting the option to dip out before fighting the final boss, I decided to go finish everythng that was left. I got most of it, however there are places I can't seem to clean out.

I'm missing the 2nd of the 8 fairies (sorry, I meant "spirits"). I have 4 ancient tablets. I have all the items except the one on the bottom right (in the corner, next to the Restoration Enhancer). I'm also missing the heart-shaped key.

As for the map everything is marked as complete except:
1. 4 entrances to the cave where I got the golden key ; I assume that's because they are in the same map where you deliver ancient tablets and I'm missing one.
2. The spirit tower, since I only have 7/8 I can't get there.
3. a small cave South-West of the village, just West of the secret pond which is halfway between the village and the spirits tower. There were 3 pots to smash and there's tons of crystal on the other side of a wall that can only be destroyed with the supershort from that side. I think I can see a finish line for a spirit race.
4. A cracked tower North of the first dungeon. There's 3 symbols on the ground in front of the tower but I have no idea what they mean.

I've wasted a lot of time trying to get anywhere with those. Before I keep digging, I want to make sure I'm not wasting my time.

So, first, I am assuming that there's no point in exploring the inside of the cave where i got the golden key. Next, the cave with the spirit race finish line just barely in sight is clearly an exit and there's no point doing anything in there.
Are both of those assumptions correct, or should I go back there again?

Among the things I'm missing, which ones can't be obtained without beating the final boss?

Can anyone give me a hint about where to look for the 2nd spirit race?

Can I get a clue about how to open the crack tower to the North?

[XBX]

Iirc it's all about the cracked tower. There are 3 circles of grass around the tower, one of which is hidden under a stone and you need to find a hidden switch around. If you stay inside each circle, an enemy will spawn. Inside the tower you will find the last ancient tablet and the last spirit race.

[Sojiro]

Right. I managed to make a slime appear at the right circle and the top circle (the one you need to push a hidden button to reveal) but nothing happened with the left circle. I went back to check and now a slime spawns.

I guess I never stood inside this circle for long enough.

EDIT: yup, you were right. It was all about that tower. Now at 100%. Getting that left slime to spawn was obnoxious. I went into that circle so many times I lost count, when trying to touch all of them in all possible orders.

Thanks.

[Shavoc]

Originally posted by XBX:

Iirc it's all about the cracked tower. There are 3 circles of grass around the tower, one of which is hidden under a stone and you need to find a hidden switch around. If you stay inside each circle, an enemy will spawn. Inside the tower you will find the last ancient tablet and the last spirit race.

Originally posted by Sojiro:

Right. I managed to make a slime appear at the right circle and the top circle (the one you need to push a hidden button to reveal) but nothing happened with the left circle. I went back to check and now a slime spawns.

I guess I never stood inside this circle for long enough.

EDIT: yup, you were right. It was all about that tower. Now at 100%. Getting that left slime to spawn was obnoxious. I went into that circle so many times I lost count, when trying to touch all of them in all possible orders.

Thanks.

It was one of the three grass-circles in front of that tower the issue for me too. Thank you both. 👍