Can Strata be beaten?

[Chaos Perfected]

I just started the Way 5 and i'm plunging Strata. For some reason all the ways i've downloaded after two have started me off with different stats and such, and is saved in a different place then I did. In this case it made me worse then I was. >>; But, Strata's beaten me a few times and it doesn't end the game after he does, so I was wondering if it was one of those plot battles you have to lose.

[Non-Sequitur]

This is a plunge that you can't win. Just try to last at least six passes to get a reward.

[Chaos Perfected]

Oh, so I was right? You can't win it? Drat. I wanted to wipe that smug look off Strata's face.

Oh, any one know about my stats changing with every new way I download?

[Strife543]

I attempted to test this very thing.
I messed around with the varibles and set his hp to 5, (just so i get the joy of finally beating him) And leveled his Health to zero, but nothing happened o.o I'm not sure if something is supposed to happen, but on my game the battle kept going till I fell.

[DSOK]

Weird things can happen if you take Strata's hit points down too low. I actually should have beaten him fair and square (by some amazing luck), but instead all I got was a debug message.

[Sage Of The Wise]

Oh, so I was right? You can't win it? Drat. I wanted to wipe that smug look off Strata's face.

Oh, any one know about my stats changing with every new way I download?

Are you using the save that comes with the game, or are you loding your own save files into the game?

[A Wanderer]

What about the second time you plunge Strata, the battle where you can decide to skip the plunge and run after Gaius?

[Non-Sequitur]

He can be beaten in the second plunge.