Chapter 32:

The Crystals

I used to speedrun video games in my previous life. So, of course I am gonna speedrun my adventures in this fantasy world.

Again I taste blood in my mouth. My ribs are broken. I can feel it with each labored breath. I screwed up. I’m sorry everyone. I don’t know…

My vision starts to blur.

I can’t feel my left arm again. Too many mistakes. I would reset my run here if I could. I slam my right hand into the stone and struggle to lift myself off the floor. A warm liquid rolls down the top of my left arm, as it drips down. Eventually at a point I stop feeling it.

I look to my side. Yeah my arm is completely crushed, my shield being the only thing holding it together. I can feel the adrenaline pumping. Even if I can’t feel the pain I know it is bad.

My whole body wants to run.

“BLURRPP! BWARBWARBWARBWARBWAR! ”

Could you just shut up you stupid fish…

I can hear a rush of bubbles begin to form in the room. I haven’t been able to fully raise my head yet. I am trying but my body is not cooperating. There is a clank of metal followed by the rattling of metal and stone.

Still looking down, I realize the remains of my crumpled left shield is rebounding off the stone on the damp dungeon floor. The leather straps must have given up. That’s not good for the bleeding.

With all the strength I have I raise my eyes to meet the Sea King floating above the crystal in the center of the room. At this distance all I can make out is the hue of the monster’s now glowing eyes. The fish is still expressionless.

It is waiting. Is it toying with me now? I cough up some blood. Most of my body is screaming out to me in agony to give up.

The boss is acting completely differently. All I see is its dead eyes casting a reddish glow and puffs of steam exiting where its gills should be.

“BWARBWARBWARBWARBWAR! ”

The monster's muffled cries drown out my labored breaths. They are getting more shallow as time passes. Still we both stand here waiting for each other to make a move.

With what little strength I have in my right arm I slowly reach into the pouch on my back. I can feel it. In the palm of my hand is the teleportation crystal. All I need to do is squeeze with all my might.

My grip strength is failing me but it does not take much force to crack these crystals. It's more that I have to squeeze it with intent. I begin to squeeze.

I can feel it in my chest. I continue to squeeze.

My heart pounds.

Thump…

“People from all walks of life flock here to this special town. We listen to each other and try to work together despite our numerous differences. Folks around here are some of the nicest you will ever meet but don’t think that makes us pushovers. We have some truly capable individuals among us."

I think I’m starting to hear things. I must have lost a lot of blood…

Thump…

“How are you hanging in there Goggles?”

Brutus?

Thump…

“Thank you. For saving me, Tai.”

Silence?

Thump…

“This is my favorite part of Freehearken. When the light hits the surface just right you’ll be in for a real treat. It’s beautiful isn't it?”

I see her smile. Momo is out there risking everything…they all are, and here I am about to crack this stupid crystal.

Yes. It's the easiest answer.

I can just walk away. I get to live.

I’m no hero. I'm just a speedrunner playing adventurer.

I can feel my heart beat reverberate across my body.

Thump…

–“Running? I believe you are up for that task.”

What did she see in me that I don't?

The Sea King moves. Looks like it doesn’t want to wait on me any longer.

It is moving itself away from the crystal. I need to focus.

I am certainly about to die.

Again…

I don’t want to die again.

I squeeze the crystal a little harder.

My heart continues pounding.

Thump…

I don’t know if it is the influx of adrenaline but I am no longer thinking clearly.

All I feel is pain except in my left arm. Every movement I make hurts. I am keenly aware of the pain as I further tighten my grip on the crystal.

I feel the sting crawl up my finger muscles up to the wounds on my right arm.

Each breath I take is a struggle with sharp jolts in my ribs.

My headache is splintering. My ears are still ringing. I have yet to recover from the blow I took colliding with the dungeon wall.

My body is shaking with adrenaline, blood loss, and fear.

The dungeon is colder than usual.

My heart…

Thump…

“KEEP GOING SPEED DEMON!””

I think of all the friends I have met. I think of Death Clap. The adventurers at the Guild. I think about the promise I made to Gracie and the other orphans.

My heart hurts.

I relax my grip. At this moment all of my senses are heightened. In one motion I pull my right arm from the bag leaving the crystal behind.and my only escape. Then through great pain I rip off my helmet casting it aside.

I need to be able to see as much as possible. Every movement the stupid fish makes no matter how small can be the difference between life and death.

The Sea King summons a giant water spear from the bubbles and charges towards me.

This is what I live for.

This is what I will die for.

Completing a run…

I have one shot. The window to pull this off is so small.

If I fail here then it is not just me who will die here. Freehearken will fall. I won’t lose my home. I won’t lose any of them. I can see them now.

Goddess I hope you really are watching over me…

I raise my only good arm. I use the straps and the shield to jam my broken left arm in between. The tension begins to well up within my calves. I charge the Sea King with all the strength I have left.

I brace with all I have left.

The monster is within striking distance. It picks up speed and launches its attack.

It's all in slow motion.

Almost there.

It feels like an eternity. I can see the weapon inching ever closer. Just before impact.

I roll.

I can feel the rush of air blast out from the missed attack.

The timing was perfect. I roll directly beneath the Sea King as it swims by missing me.

I can hear the crash of the metal shield on the stone floor. I can feel it buckling to my weight. I skim across the floor, the large crystal stops me in my tracks.

Using my momentum I slide my right foot behind myself, stabilizing and centering myself.

I am directly between the boss and the crystal.

The Sea King is fast and is already back within striking distance with its spear. Using both of its hands it retracts the spear then plunges it directly at me in one motion.

This is it.

I prepare myself.

Not blinking.

I can’t miss a moment.

I take in every little movement.

As calm as I can be I watch for the moment of initial impact.

I brace. The spear is almost in range.

I stay motionless.

My body slams into the crystal. The giant formation shudders. Blood spews from the large gaping wound in my left shoulder. I can’t really feel the pain at this point. The Sea King floats motionless, expressionless.

The large crystal cracks. I can feel it through my back. It begins to crumple. It sounds like shards of glass cascading onto the stone floor. Crystal shards now litter the room.

The water spear begins to dissipate with blood flowing out in its place and the boss stares at me. It lets out a muffled screech.

“BWARBWAR…Blurrp…blurrp.”

I could barely make out its howl as the destruction of the crystal deafened all other noises in the room. I watch the glowing eyes of the boss fade.

All the sounds of destruction begin to cease. The crystal’s liquid center morphs into a fine dust.

I watch intently not missing a single moment. The Sea King stands motionless. Something isn’t right. Once the core disintegrated the boss stopped moving completely.

Wait, is it gasping for air? Well water? The Sea Kings gills are no longer moving. Slowly the boss collapses.

I think it is dying. Did the crystal mess with the environment down here after it was destroyed?

I’m feeling light headed. I can feel the blood leaking down my chest.

It is over.

I collapse to my knees.

Tears welling up in my eyes.

“Did you see that guys…” My voice trails off. I must be losing my mind. It's not like anyone is actually watching me. Through the tears and the pain I try my best to announce to a nonexistent audience. “I did it though. I am the first person to speed run this dungeon. Let's check the time and...”

I struggle to reach into my pocket to check my stopwatch.

Oh it looks like it finally ran out of battery. Bummer I would have liked to know how fast I cleared that.

Somehow I'm still standing, the weight of all this comes crashing down on me.

I fall backward on the damp dungeon floor.

Crack.

Something in my pouch shattered.

A warm embrace of energy wraps around me.