Begin your New Game. In choosing your character, the gender has very minimal impact, outside of some very minor dialog during the course of the game. As both play identical, choose whichever gender you prefer. For the purpose of this guide, I'll by playing as the female character.

Next you need to choose your weapon. The best choice is the 2H Sword, which will lay out the damage.

In the next screen, you'll enter in your character's name. While longer names will take longer to print out on screen, the impact is extremely minimal. For the course of this guide, I'll be naming my character "Imu" and will refer to her with that name.

Lastly, we need to choose our starting location. For the Dragon Storyline, we choose the default map location. Upon confirming this location, start your timer (start on the 4th button "X" button press on this screen).

We've now begun our speedrun. First, the game asks us where we wish to put the AF Mailbox. Place it at the starting location. After the game fades, press Start or X to skip the opening cutscene.

We'll face some dialogue, which you can continue through, like all dialogue, by pressing X. Expect to do this a lot during the run.

After waking out of bed, we need to set up our abilities and techniques. You simply need to set "Lunge" on your Triangle button, and "Rising Crush" on your R1 button. Lunge is used to learn the technique "Lunging Arc" later in the run and Rising Crush is used for the first boss.

Head downstairs and out the door. Talk to the sproutling, tell him "Yes" and receive your 2nd AF, AF Colorblocks. Exit to the world map.

After arriving at the world map, you'll need to place AF Colorblocks 1 space left of home. After placing it, move and enter Domina.

Head into town and encounter Duelle and Elazul having a discussion. After it completes, follow Elazul into the bar (after dealing with the fat rabbit, Niccolo.

You'll encounter Elazul trying to find Pearl. For all 3 dialogue choices, make sure to choose the 2nd choice. This will allow Elazul to join your party and receive the AF Jade Egg. After the jingle, leave the bar and then Domina.

You'll now be returned to the world map. As the screen fades in, press down and right, as the cursor can move before you the screen fully fades in. Now place the AF Jade Egg (you'll be 1 space south of home). This creates Mekiv Caverns. Move and enter.

After the event title drop and Elazul's short speech, head to the exit to the southeast of your location.

On the next screen, you'll head down the ramp south of you, then to the ramp to the east and down that to the next screen.

On the 3rd screen, you'll face your first encounter, with a Bloodsucker and two Mushbooms. Defeat them, watching for Mushboom's spin attack, which can cause stun. Move to the east and encounter 2 Bloodsuckers and a Poto. Defeat them and exit the screen to the right.

On the 4th screen, head to the intersection, then exit the screen to the southwest exit.

On the 5th screen, head west and battle your 3rd counter with 2 Mushbooms and a Pincher Crab. Defeat them and exit to the southwest.

On the 6th screen, move to the west, making sure to not run into Sandra, who is randomly walking through the room.

In the final room, you'll face your first boss, Du'Inke. He hosts a few attacks, including kicks and axe chops. Your primary goal for the start is to use heavy attacks to push him to the left wall of the room, in an attempt to prevent Elazul from pushing Du'Inke around at will.

Du'Inke has 3 techniques of varying lengths. One involves a heavy slam of his axe, the 2nd involves him taking a deep breath and then exhaling freezing cold air, and last is throwing his axe to the roof and dropping down a large pile of rocks. Each technique can be avoided by proper timing of your Rising Crush, as it makes you invinvible. If you can identify which attack he's doing, the timing is easy.

Axe Slam: As he's starting to bring his arm down.

Freezing Breath: About the time he stops inhaling.

Roof Collapse: About the time the first rock hits.

If your battle goes well, you should be able to defeat him before he can use 2 techniques. Upon doing so and collecting the treasure, move yourself to the left side of the screen. You'll learn the technique "Lunging Arc" after this battle.

You'll encounter some dialogue where Elazul scolds Pearl for wandering off. After she apologizes, make sure to choose the 2nd dialogue choice, "Side with Elazul", as this is slightly faster.

Continue mashing X until the scenario ends. You'll receive the AFs Stone Eye and Firefly Lamp.

To earn this powerful weapon, we need to re-enter Mekiv Caverns.

In the first screen, talk to the southern boink. This will warp us to a room deeper in Mekiv Caverns.

In the room we arrive at, head straight north into the door behind us.

Head to the left and fight two Goblins. Defeat them and hope the luck is in your favor. They each have a 1/8 chance of dropping the 2H Axe Earthsplitter. You will also learn the ability Counterattack after this battle.

If you fail to earn it, you can either try again by leaving and re-entering the room, however each failure costs about 30 seconds. An ideal run should get this on the first try.

However, upon your success, we need to equip our new weapon and change our abilities. Go into Equip and choose Auto-Select. This picks the strongest weapon for you. If there are any techniques that aren't compatable (in our case, Rising Crush), it will automatically remove them.

After equipping the weapon, go to your skills, and equip Counterattack on both slots (press 1 once to get to it, as it's at the bottom of your list). You have no techniques to use now, so simply return to the game. Exit the area to the east.

Returning back to where we warped to, we now need to work on exiting Mekiv Caverns. Start by going to the southwest.

We're now at the intersection room we were at during The Lost Princess. This time, we're going to the northwest exit.

In the next room, you'll first have to fight the 2 Bloodsuckers and the Poto. They'll fall very quickly to your new weapon (2 standard hits for the Poto, 1 for the Bloodsuckers). Defeat them and continue to the west. Defeat the Bloodsucker and the 2 Mushbooms there (Mushbooms will fall quickly using either 2 heavy attacks or a standard/heavy/standard combination). Exit to the west.

Follow the low path west and go up the ramp. Now take the exit to the northwest.

You're now back at the entrance. Go around the boinks and exit to the world map on the west side of the room.

After arriving at the world map, you'll need to place AF Firefly Lamp 1 space left of Mekiv Caverns. After placing it, move and enter Lumina.

Upon entering the town, first head to the dot straight north of your starting position.

Head past the Dudbear and take the exit to the east of the door in the back of the area.

Head down the path, up the stairs, and into the door in the back of the area to head to the quest.

Talk to Monique in the back of the room to officially start the quest. After the title card, exit back out the door you entered.

After exiting, talk to Gilbert. He'll ask you to help sell 3 lamps. Even though he says you can buy them for 1000 Lucre each, even if we had the money, we can't. No shortcut here, folks. After agreeing to sell the lamps, exit out the southwest exit.

Follow the zigzag pattern back to the entrance. After crossing the bridge, you can head straight down to hit the exit faster. After you exit back to the entrance, work your way to the western dot, being careful to not hit the southern dot to trigger the exit to world map message.

Upon entering the next area, head up the stairs then to the west. Talk to the man with the puzzle face. He'll teach you how to speak the Dudbear language. Agree to learn (first option). He'll spit out a bunch of text. After he asks if you understand, say "Dub!" (the first option).

Now we need to talk to the 3 Dudbears. First let's talk to the first one, which is right next to us. All Dudbears will ask a question and you have to choose a response (Dub, Dud, or Dada Dadda). Choosing the wrong response will make things go slow in trying to continue, so make sure to pick the correct response.

For the first Dudbear, the correct responses are Dud, Dub, Dub, and Dada Dadda.

Next, talk to the second, who is wandering on the area below us. The correct responses are Dud, Dud, Dud, and Dada Dadda. After talking with him, exit out the east exit to return to the starting area.

Carefully circle back around back to the northeastern dot, being careful to avoid the southern dot again.

In the next area, talk to the Dudbear that's wandering around. The proper responses for him are Dud, Dud, Dub, Dada Dadda. After selling your 3rd and final lamp, exit out the northeastern exit, back towards Monique's shop.

Head to the northeast, up the stairs, and talk to Gilbert. You'll give him the 3000 lucre you earned and he'll happily head into Monique's shop. Follow him.

A small scene will play. Keep mashing through the dialogue until Gilbert and Monique leave the shop. Follow them back out.

After exiting, run to the west and hit the button to talk to Gilbert and Monique. There's a small pause before you can visually see the scene take place, so make sure you keep pressing left while tapping the button to make sure you get the scene to trigger. Once you see the screen move, you know you're safe. Keep jamming the button while the long scene plays out. After Gilbert and Monique go their separate ways, return back to Monique's shop.

After you enter the shop, run up and talk to Monique. She'll talk for a bit to the Dudbears, then give you the AF Trembling Spoon and AF Sand Rose before the event ends.

Upon returning to the world map, head north 1 space and enter Domina.

After your arrival, head to the northeast.

In the central area, go to the west, past the sproutling, and out the western most exit.

You'll have a short overmap jaunt to the west to the next point. When you arrive, you'll start southwest and quickly turn northwest to exit the area.

Once you return to the overmap, head northwest to the next point. After arriving at the western part of town, follow the winding path and exit the area between the two houses.

Upon entering the area, Duelle will automatically talk to you. He'll tell you you should catch the monster egg. Say "I'll try to catch it!" (3rd option, press up once to get to it). After a word of warning, he'll say you need to catch it off-guard. Say "I can do it" (3rd option, press up once to get to it). He'll give you the basic controls (triangle for opening the food menu, x to place/pickup the food and to attempt to catch the monster egg). The event's title card now appears and the event begins.

The way the egg moves is a bit random. The best is to place a couple of items, one near the center and one farther down. You want to try to stay out of his line of sight (indicated by the arrows popping out of him). Once he gets excited and dashes towards the food, get ready. As soon as he starts eating, run behind him and jam the x button to catch him. Once you see the message that he's yours, Pelican will come in and swoop it away. After he leaves, talk to Duelle.

At this point, you'll get a bunch of dialogue, telling you about raising pets. Just keep jamming the button until the event ends.

After clearing the prior mission, you'll be at home. Place the AF Trembling Spoon 1 space to the east. Move to and enter The Underworld.

At the start, a flame will move to the tombstone. Keep holding left until you can move, then press X on the tombstone. This will trigger a mysterious message and the title card will appear. You'll be warped to the next section.

In the next area you'll meet Larc. He'll introduce himself. At the option, either choice will work, but simply choose the first option "Dra...what?" whcih is slightly faster. He'll say that you should go down with him. This time, choose the 2nd option "Alright". Larc will then join you. Exit the area to the northwest.

You'll move to a circular stairs. Follow them around to the next area

In the next area, you'll continue down the stairs, but it'll lead into a hall. Exit to the east.

In the next area, you'll see a door shortly after you enter the area. Enter this door.

You'll enter a small room. Head northwest through the room and out the next door.

The next area is a circular stairs, so follow them around.

In the next room, you'll start at the top. Ignore the eastern exit and head to the southwestern exit.

After arriving in the next area, Larc will make a comment that you need to see Olbohn. After he finishes speaking, head to the east to the end of the hall.

Upon entering the next area, Larc will make some more comments. After he finishes talking, enter the first door that you'll see to the east.

Upon entering the room, head to the northeast and talk to Olbohn. The southern side of him is slightly closer. After talking with him, a Shadole will appear. Talk to him and choose the 2nd option, "The Baptismal Chamber" to be warped to the next area you need to go to.

Once you arrive at the Baptismal Chamber, circle around the room counterclockwise and talk to the far Shadole. He'll "baptise" you in flames. After it's done, circle back to where you came and exit the room near where you started.

Open exiting the Baptismal Chamber, go through the room to the southwest.

Upon entering the hallway, go to the east and take the 2nd door you see.

You'll now be on the 3rd level, containing another circular staircase. Handle this like the others.

In the next room, head to the east and engage in battle with the Succubus and 2 Cursed Dolls. After beating them, continue to the east to the end of the hallway.

After entering the next area, head to the east and engage in battle with the Dark Stalker and 2 Shadow Zeros. You should learn Counterstrike after this fight.

Upon defeating them, enter the door behind them. Larc will confirm if you're ready. Say "I am ready" (2nd choice) to enter the room and begin the boss fight.

Head to the east to trigger the fight. You'll face the boss Hitodama. This boss is one of the biggest trolls you'll face in this run. He has no direct attacks. He will teleport away after a bit, triggering the statues around the room to do an attack. He'll then reappear (not necessarily in the same place!) and hang around for a while. Occassionally he'll use evade to dodge your attacks. After 3 teleports, around the time he'll use the 4th, he'll use a technique that hits hard in the middle of the room. After this, the cycle repeats

You want to try to keep hitting him in rhythm to keep him from teleporting, which is very difficult to do. More likely you'll just want to do heav attack cancels to do as much damage as possible before he vanishes. Keep hitting him as much as possible to defeat him quickly. Upon his defeat, grab the crystals and Larc will speak a few words. You'll be warped to the next area.

Upon entering, a cutscene will play and you'll meet Drakonis. He'll say he summoned you for a reason. "Ask why" (1st choice). He'll spew out some text before he and Larc will say you have no choice to accept your fate. You have no choice but to "Accept" his offer (2nd choice). After which, he'll teleport you and Larc back to the entrance of The Underworld.

Larc will give you gifts from Drakonis for accepting the contract. You'll receive the AF Skull Lantern and AF Broken Doll. After some more dialogue, the mission will end.

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