Time Start.

The flames flicker wildly. The soft light casting from the torches shifts rhythmically across the cobblestone dungeon walls. They do little to illuminate the damp corridor. A rat scutters away in fear at the sound of combat. 

Sparks scatter. The screech of metal against stone. Something stirs deep in the darkness. 

The creaking of bones and muscle shifting against the weight of plate armor reveals that I am not alone. It is only for a moment but I can see the rotten flesh sway in the shadows. 

“That’s it!”

I dodge ducking down effortlessly sliding past the limbering zombie archer faster than the monster can react. My timing was perfect. The lifeless being tracks my movement down the hall with its non-existent eyes.

“Just a little...now!”

As if it was on cue the crossbow line snaps forward and an arrow flies free. I can hear the unsteady shot wobble through the stale air. The recoil of the shot causes the zombie to stagger backwards, losing all balance and toppling over.

“Almost—”

I roll forward. The arrow soars past me and finds its unassuming target. Protruding from the tarnished chestpiece of a skeleton knight. It stands there motionless with its blade held high the glow of green in its hollow skull. Then suddenly it crumbles to pieces before me. The heavy blade now free from the skeleton’s grasp tumbles to the floor.

“Made it and not a moment left to spare.”

I can feel it deep within my chest. The adrenaline is pumping fueling my every movement. My senses heighten with each heartbeat. The pounding vibrates through my very core. 

This is what I live for.

Rounding the corridor I see the massive doors adorned with the bones of the fallen who came before. The craftsmanship is impressive even if it's a morbid display. The dull lightning barely does it any justice but it's clear to see that this is the boss room doors. 

It does little to deter me.

Rushing in head first, I blast through at breakneck speed. This is the fastest I've been able to move this time around. 

“One—”

My first steps inside ignite a trap. A blast of fire cascades from the right side of the room. The flames blast out of a gargoyle statue, its eyes set aflame. I only have mere seconds to react. 

It's a good thing I already knew this trap was coming. I jump forward evading the flames.

“Two—”

Something moves so fast I can barely glimpse it. I don't need to see it to react. I can listen to the clanking of metal threaded chains. 

A dark hulking mass in the center of the room spins. For a moment I can perceive a tiny glint of metal in the darkness. 

The parry window is so tiny. My timing here has to be absolutely perfect. One mistake here and it's all over. I raise both of my metal buckler shields to bare at just the precise moment. 

CRASH!

The impact of the spiked ball sends me flying backwards. After the attack the chains go loose to the floor. This is the opening I need. 

I am hurdling towards the wall directly behind me. I curl up in a ball and begin to spin. The world around me is a blur. My momentum increases. 

“THREE!”

At the  moment of impact I convert the entire force of the blow using my Counter skill and redirect the energy directly into the wall. The stone begins to shatter under the pressure. The force of the impact shakes the room. Sounds of metal and stone ring out in the boss chamber.

It's all over in an instant. 

Everything is a complete blur. Holding up my two metal shields I crash into the boss at incomprehensible speed. The cracking of bone and the sounds of blood fill my ears and then it's over.

It takes me a moment  to collect myself. There is very little that remains of the boss. Just a giant pool of blood and other bits I'm unwilling to discern.

“I did it…”

I can feel it in my chest. My heart is racing.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“Guys! Did you see that? I actually did it chat! This has to be a new record!”

I rip of the VR headset and place my two controllers down. Wiping the sweat off of my brow with my shirt sleeve. 

Looking over to my second monitor I can see the chat going wild.

QShoe: Did this guy really just beat the “Darkest Soul IV” in under one hour?

DungeonBro2: The game has barely been out! How did he do it?

PolyMurr: That’s why they call him the best!

WOWWilly: GG

Goggles4Win: I bet I could do it faster than this guy.

SwordsmanX7: Yeah sure you could.

The chat moves so fast. I'm unable to keep up with it. I kick back in my chair taking in the moment. I'm not only the first player to solo the final boss, but I now have the world record for fastest time.

I can't believe it. I really did it!

My heart pounds.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“Another deathless speedrun down everybody. I hope you all had as much fun as I did! It's getting late and I'm getting a little hungry. Must be all the energy drinks! Well guys, tune in tomorrow for another game and another deathless speedrun!”

I reach over and turn off the stream. Shutting down my computer I watch as the light fades from the screen I'm left sitting there reflecting.

Things haven't been going great recently but this really helped to energize me. I reach for a can of my favorite energy drink. I shake it. Empty. 

"I guess I'll need to buy more..."

I can feel it in my body. This has been the most exciting speedrun of my career. I have beaten so many games over my time streaming. You would think I would be getting tired of it. 

There was a period of time I thought I was getting tired of speedrunning. I started to think about whether it was all pointless. Was the title of fastest really that special? Was I even playing video games the right way anymore?

Once I started speedrunning these fantasy games with dungeons and monsters everything just clicked. Then I started trying to complete these deathless runs. Resetting over and over again to get the perfect RNG for the best possible run. It breathed new life into me. The rush I feel now is unlike anything before.

My heart continues to pound.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

It's pounding harder and harder.

“Man this is really starting to hurt.”

Is it too much excitement? Is it the long hours I put into this new game release? I try to stand.

Thump.

Thump.

...

My vision blurs. I struggle to steady myself. I reach out to grab my desk for support. I faintly hear the sound of glass shattering. I look down to see the remains of all the energy drinks that had been fueling my late night release day marathon.

“When was the last time I slept…”

Why do I feel like I am falling?

I do not hit the ground. There is no floor beneath me anymore.

I do not feel anything.

I do not see anything.

But why do I hear something?

It's faint but I can hear it. I cannot make out but it is clearly a voice. What is the voice saying? It is a gentle feminine voice almost motherly. The voice instantly puts my hazy mind at ease. It's all that is tethering me to this moment currently. It is holding my entire consciousness together. I don't think there is much left of me.

“...my plea”

What was that? Can I really hear without ears? It would be more accurate to say that I feel the voice. I can feel the words ripple through me, my very soul. It's unnerving.

“—Reach out”

Reach out? Reach out with what? I have no arms. No physical body.

“—Trust me.”

Oh sure I'm just going to start trusting some random voice that reverberates through what is left of me. Not really in a position to argue with them though.

“—Run. Reset. Renew.”

Run? Run with what these legs that–

Legs. I have legs. Wait! What are these hands doing here? A body. I have a body!

“This is insane...” A shaky voice escapes from my lips. My voice. In shock I raise my head.

I freeze. I am not alone.

There floating before me clad in robes of silver light. A figure with flowing golden hair and piercing eyes white as fresh snow. Her features are gentle and a serene expression rests on her face. There is not a single blemish to her pale skin. She is beautiful. Probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She looks as if she is a painting come to life. This really must be the end if an angel is here to greet me.

Fear wells up within me. It's all over. I must have speedran my life into an early grave. My focus is starting to fade. I feel as though something is clawing at my consciousness from the furthest reaches of my mind.

I'm struggling to maintain focus on the being in front of me. The words barely escape my lips.

“Who are you?”

I notice a smile form across her face. It seems gentle and kind. The fear I had escapes me.

I blink.

All I did was blink once.

In that moment everything changed.

As far as I can see there are trees. Fresh lush green trees stretching high in all directions. I can feel my brain struggling to process everything. The subtle heat from the sun’s rays gracing my skin. The overwhelming scent of fresh grass causes my nose to itch. I spin around trying desperately to get my bearings.

“Where am I? What just happened?"

The serene sounds of the creatures in the forest is an overwhelming symphony of life. Whether it's the sound of birds chirping or of the bugs buzzing by my ear. This is so much to take in.

A gentle gust of wind cools my skin and breaks through the sounds of nature rustling the leaves as it passes by.

I am alive.

I begin to stretch my legs and arms. I feel rigid but nothing feels particularly wrong. I rest the palm of my right hand over my heart. I can feel my heart’s rhythm.

“Perfectly normal.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“I AM ALIVE!”

I scream as I jump, releasing the tension building up within me.

Judging by the dampness of the grass it must be the early hours of the day. A thought crosses my mind. Everything I know about survival games tells me I need to leave this forest before night falls and find a path to civilization.

With renewed life I take my first steps in a direction that my gut says is the best to travel.

I feel excitement bubble up from my core.

My pace begins to quicken.

“I am alive.” I whisper once again to myself, reassuring all my feelings.

Feeling the dirt beneath my feet shift with each stride. Faster. I am running. Tears well up in my eyes. It's clearly my allergies acting up.

I never ran so fast before in my entire life. At least my first life.