Defense

In the first room, use Koops's Power Shell to defeat Dull Bones in one hit. Then, focus on using Power Jumps or Smashes to defeat the Red Bones. Power Bounce is not recommended here.

After defeating the Red Bones, proceed through the door.

In the next room, battle the Dull Bones and head right. Hit the translucent yellow block to reveal a Shine Sprite. You need three to level up partners, but you don't have enough yet.

On the right side of this room, the door is locked. Near the bottom of the screen are blocks. Hit the purple block first to make a purple block descend. Climb the stairs, stand on the purple block, and jump over the yellow block. Break the yellow block.

Return to the purple switch. Face away from it, HOLD X, and go back up the stairs onto the purple block. Release X to make the block rise. Enter the room to find a Star Piece on a ledge.

Go back to the block-switch room. Make the purple block descend by hitting the purple switch. Face away from the yellow switch, hold X, and go back up the stairs onto the purple block. Jump across the gray blocks and land on the yellow block. Release X to rise. You can now see a ledge. Jump across to get another Star Piece.

Leave the block and return to its original position. Face left and press X to hit the ! block. The staircase will flip around. Go up the steps onto the ledge and get a Castle Key. Hit the ! block again to flip the staircase back. Go up the steps, examine the locked door, and use the Castle Key to proceed.

In the next room, use the Save Block and exit to the right.

In this room, you'll encounter a Paragoomba and Dull Bones. On the right side is another ! block. Hitting it raises one of the grates in the back, but not for long enough to pass. Stand next to the ! block, face left, hold X, walk over the far right grate, release X, go through the grate, and then through the hole.

In this room is a black chest. Opening it will curse you. Enter the door on the right.

This room is a maze with holes in the ground. It's advisable to navigate to the chest without crossing the holes. Open the chest in the center to get a Black Key. Spikes will then rise from the holes and the roof. You have about 90 seconds to return to the door. If you stick to the far end of the room (farthest from the camera), the path will be revealed.

After escaping the maze, open the black chest with the Black Key. A demon will appear and curse you.