Page 89 of Level Up
I am, however, less at ease about talking with Damien in front of thousands of our closest internet strangers now. Like they are somehow going to be able to tell that games aren’t the only things we talk about anymore.
“I’m just about ready on my end,” Damien says. “How about you, Oddly? Ready?”
I can already feel my face heating up when I think about the last time he asked me if I wasready, and I hope no one notices. “I’m good,” I say, giving an awkward thumbs up to the camera.
I wait for his signal to start my LiveSplit timer and unpause my game. We’re picking up where we left off at the last speedrun—I haven’t touched this save since then. But I have an idea for my strategy that means backtracking a little. If I fast-travel to one of the earlier areas and pick up Helena, who I didn’t bother with last time, then I can use her healing magic to help me take more damage so I don’t have to spend as much time killing things, I can just run past them all. I’m hoping it’s a risk that will pay off.
Less than five minutes in, Damien has already died once and reloaded back to the very start of this run, so I didn’t even lose any time compared to him.
NeverSayCheetos:Give me a fucking chance bro
NeverSayCheetos:I have to work retail tomorrow and I can’t be hungover
I’m trying not to let myself get distracted by the chat, but it does feel more relaxed, like a regular stream, if I read some of the comments as they come in. HadTrash93 even gives me agood tip about a special item that I’d forgotten, though Damien insists that’s cheating. And then uses the same tip when he gets to that point.
We’re neck and neck through most of the later quests and reach the final boss around the same time. This is where I know I’m going to get screwed—I’m not that great at boss fights at the best of times, but when I’m under pressure and using a character who has been running away from fights instead of gaining XP from combat, I can tell it will be an uphill battle. I only just reached Level 12 after the last quest, and the final battle with Nurendoth is recommended for Level 25 or higher.
But we’re both playing on Story mode for this—as most people do forSOAspeedruns—and I’ve been hoarding every spell scroll and tablet that I’ve found along the way, not to mention that I took a bit of extra time to gather more Stones than strictly necessary, so it gives my character enough of a boost. With Helena’s healing powers and Cartwright’s (ever trouserless) melee skills, I manage to defeat Nurendoth and only died once.
Which is more than I can say for Damien.
SpacePudding:Dude, she pwned you
ToastOnBeans:Pwned? Are you 75 years old?
SpacePudding:No, I time-traveled here from 2006
HadTrash93:Me too, Pudding
HadTrash93:Though I took the long way, actually living through the past two decades
HadTrash93:3/10 would not recommend
LinkFarts:wow you guys are old
SpacePudding:You’re only 12 years old Link, you wouldn’t understand
LinkFarts:fuck you
“Aww, is Link getting cranky again?” I say, pouting at my second monitor. “I think it’s past his bedtime.”
LinkFarts:fuck all y’all
SconesIsRad:Don’t make me use my Dad voice and kick you out of here again
LinkFarts:chill dude we’re just joking around
HadTrash93:I say we vote Link off the island
ToastOnBeans:Seriously how old are you??
HadTrash93:Dammit, if only I’d put my year of birth in my username like an absolute tool. Oh well, guess you’ll never know.
NeverSayCheetos:Guys Scones is still going and I’m afraid I’m about to get alcohol poisoning
NeverSayCheetos:If I die please avenge me, Oddly
“Don’t worry, Cheetos, I’ve got you covered,” I say to the chat with a nod, between glances at Damien’s game. “Wow, you diedagain?”
