The Unseen Hidden Stage

Year 2025,

TAC!!

TAC!!

TAC!!

In a dimly lit room, the sound of clattering echoed repeatedly. The noise was created by quickly hitting multiple keys on a keyboard concurrently.

The room was extremely messy, with clothes thrown carelessly across the floor. A piece of boxer shorts was loosely hanging from a wall-mounted TV, which was turned off. Yet, amidst this disorder, one impressive sight stood out: a towering pyramid made of thirty cans of cheap beer, meticulously crafted to show off its height. Topping this precarious tower was a solitary bottle of whiskey, exuding an air of triumph and dominance over the empty cans below.

A makeshift flag made by gluing a small portion of the stick to the edge of a white piece of paper was inserted inside the bottle in such a manner that only the paper protruded out. Boldly displayed on the white paper flag, the phrase "I'M COSTLY LOSERS" was written in an artistic style.

This eye-catching exhibit demonstrates how the owner's ingenuity is directed toward pointless hobbies, betraying a desire for pointless clutter rather than a dedication to maintaining an organized and healthy residence.

"The Second Phase ENDSSSSS now!"

TAC!!!!

The man's powerful voice resonated, harmonizing with the crisp sound created by the intense force of his fingers pressing a single key.

The man looked around 35 to 40 years old, though his true age was only 28. He had long, unruly black hair that fell in disheveled strands around his face, adding to his rough appearance. His mustache and beard were unshaven, giving him a scruffy look that suggested he hadn't groomed himself in quite some time. His skin, which was light brown, was marred by a layer of grime that had accumulated due to a lack of proper hygiene, resulting in a slightly darker complexion. Despite his disheveled exterior, he was a virgin bachelor, hinting at a life that had been solitary and perhaps lacking in romantic relationships. The contrast between his youthful age and elderly appearance created a striking impression.

It was easy to determine that the man was Asian in origin based on the color of his complexion, hair, and black-focused eyes. He looked way too old from his current age because of his lack of exercise and excessive consumption of drinks which led to the current state of his body. It can be simply guessed that the man was a shut-in NEET who preferred present enjoyment over a long future life. The man was currently enjoying himself by playing a game while sitting on his gaming chair, the only piece of cloth on his body was a pair of boxers.

"I WILL SEE MAKE SURE TO SEE IT THIS TIME"

"FOR SURE"

The man's eyes glowed a striking blood red, a stark contrast to the deep, shadowy circles that surrounded them, evidence of countless sleepless nights and prolonged hours spent in front of a glowing screen.

Even those weary eyes, however, did not blink once, demonstrating his intense concentration on the game he is playing right now.

The man confidently murmured "FOR SURE," using the phrase as his mantra for self-motivation. His intense gaze fixed on the screen, where the vibrant graphics displayed his meticulously crafted character, poised for battle. As the sharp sound of combat echoed in the room, he felt the weight of anticipation building for the tenth time.

HIDDEN FINAL BOSS

A stage not known to anyone among the millions of players that played this game in the world. Even though he worked as an online streamer, he did not consider revealing the stage to the other players. The game was a Single–Player Open World Story type RPG game.

The current character that he was playing was the main protagonist of the game, Hero of Light, and the only one among all the playable characters who had the power to resist the HIDDEN FINAL BOSS who was a GODDESS.

"I will add you to my collection, my beautiful!" the man declared, his voice a mix of excitement and obsession. His eyes, wild and shimmering with an unsettling madness, fixed intently on the formidable figure before him. She was the main antagonist—a goddess who threatened to destroy the world any second now.

His sleek 24-inch OLED monitor, boasting an impressive 360 Hz refresh rate together with his high-tech processor and graphic card—investments he made after nearly depleting his savings, was helping him a lot so that he does not make even a single mistake that could lead him to start all over again.

The reason he had to start all over again was the creator of the game was a twisted pervert who enjoyed the suffering of others. He ensured that the expansive open-world game—teeming with intricate main quests, engaging side quests, and cinematic cutscenes—lacked even a single save point. Each moment spent exploring this vast virtual landscape was fraught with tension, knowing that any misstep could lead to failure. You cannot even shut down your computer as doing so is equal to quitting the game which means an instantaneous loss of the entire progress.

Though the entire gaming community complained and persistently requested the creator to add at least one save point somewhere around half point of the main story, there was not a single response from him regarding those appeals. He had only left a single message when he released the game: "Whoever completes a speedrun of this game within 12 hours will receive a Special Privilege." That bastard didn't even mention what was the special privilege.

The meaning was straightforward "If you want the 'Special Privilege,' then either play the game or find something else to enjoy. After all, no one is forcing you to play."

Nobody could complete even half of the main story by the time the game's First Anniversary arrived, let alone manage a speedrun. Initially, many estimated that it was impossible to finish the game in three years.

However, for truly hardcore gamers, the allure of difficult challenges only fuels their determination. These devoted players are driven by their passion for gaming and a strong desire to conquer what others deem impossible. By the end of the 3rd year, the first speed run came out with a timeframe of 24 Hours.

As time passed, the gamers managed to reduce the time to 13 hours by the end of the 5th Anniversary. Now, there was a man who was on a hidden stage that nobody had ever seen.