in a sad turn of events, i got softlocked. the game got to the part where the hero is beaten (i dont even have to attack!) and comes back saying "oof", and your only choices are "i have fight still left in me" and "what happened?", and either choice brings me to the fight, which the hero cannot win. a fitting but sad end, the hero can't win after all... i know this is most likely a bug, but this was a lovely end.