Before we begin...

For starters,

This just serves as a theoretical fastest route through the game. Nobody has done a full run of this category yet (including myself) so a lot of this route (mostly the grinding) hasn't been tested or timed.

Batteries

There will be bold numbers next to each song section that display the batteries the player should have at that point of the run. The max amount of batteries you can get in a song is 139 when you play said song on ULTIMATE decrypt (x6) and get an AAC on it (aka 1010000 or a VS grade). If it's a story unlock event with a challenge gauge (x2), it will always be 46 batteries instead. Every song play in this run assumes the highest possible battery score (that's like 40 AACs in a row!)

L+CTRL is cool

Keep in mind that, while you can L+CTRL to fast forward stories, you can also use it to skip intro MVs to boss songs (has to be hit while the cutscene's activate, though). Going into Betweenspace when you exit from an L+CTRL'd story will make you go super fast, which will be important later.

Why we do everything on OP difficulty

Boring I know, but note that story boss songs require less songs cleared to access them. For example, PYROMANIA (OP) has a lock that requires 3 Ch. 1 songs, while FN and EN require 5. This of course means playing on OP will overall require less batteries and songs to be played. Every time I mention playing a song, it's always on OP unless stated otherwise. Also note that battery gain is not affected by difficulty.

We even play Soundscan! (and I briefly talk about points)

Keep in mind that the highest amount of batteries you can get in one play is 139. Some Soundscan maps make it so that you can obtain big battery rewards in a single play. The highest amount of play EP you can get is 246 with an AAC, since Play EP doesn't take difficulty into consideration.

Apart from the 1200P used for 3 tickets, points can be used for rerolls, and are calculated based on chart constant. I didn't put the bold number display of exactly the amount of points you should have at any given time, but just know that you'll basically always have what you need when the time comes.

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time for fastest saturday:

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PROLOGUE

• Answer the questions in this order: LLLLLLRL. These answers will give you The 89's Momentum, Options, Crosshatch, FULi AUTO SHOOTER, FULi AUTO BUSTER, and There as your starting songs. We pick these songs because all of them are short and have a good chance of showing up in Soundscan.
• When the screen turns black, Alt+F4 to exit the game, then reopen it. This skips the tutorial.

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CHAPTER 1

It costs 691 batteries to buy all episodes in Chapter 1.

PYROMANIA (OP) requires 3 Chapter 1 songs, which will be grode, Macropolis, and Signals Afar. An additional 120 is spent on unlocking the latter two.

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Before doing anything, go down to Settings and set your FPS cap to 240 (press up twice to get there fast). This makes load times so much faster and is essential for the run. Exit settings.

Spam TAB in the main menu to go to BOUNDARY SHATTER.

• AAC grode (DJ HOE SCARER REMIX) once, but not before setting your decrypt mode to ULTIMATE. (139). Exit afterwards.

Note: You are able to edit your Scroll Speed and Note Sounds in the song confirm menu if you want.

Note 2: grode (DJ HOESCARER REMIX) will be abbreviated to HOESCARER (Every time it says to play HOESCARER it also means to access BOUNDARY SHATTER as well) (Oh, and we play it because it's the shortest song in the game and the quickest way to farm batteries)

Exit Boundary Shatter. Go to Rhythm Play and AAC the following songs from Ch 1 to Ch 4:

• AAC grode (+ 139 = 278)
• AAC Cosmogyral (+ 139 = 417)
• AAC Ione (+ 139 = 556)
• AAC Shattered Sky After Rain (+ 139 = 695).

Exit once done, then go to Node Flowchart.

• Buy your way to and AAC Macropolis, located to the left of Episode 2 next to septima, the one that requires one less node. AAC it (-110 spent + 139 = 724)

• Afterwards, buy your way and AAC Signals Afar, the song that's followed by another and located near Episode 3 (-210 spent + 139 = 653) Note: septima costs less (-30) but takes longer to beat.

• Buy your way to Episode 6 and L+CTRL through the whole episode (-520 spent = 133)

• AAC PYROMANIA (the codes are UNIFORM011 and RECRUDESCENT) (+46 = 179) Exit out of the story once finished.

• Buy and L+CTRL through Episode 7.2 to finish Chapter 1. (-11 spent = 168)

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CHAPTER 2

It costs 835 batteries to buy all episodes in Chapter 2.

valor/starcross requires 3 Chapter 2 songs, which will be Cosmogyral, Courage, and APO11O. An additional 120 is spent on unlocking the latter two. Unravelling Stasis requires 4 Chapter 2 songs, but clearing valor already completes that.

Note: This is around the time where we are going to play Soundscan, and that Points are important. You should have around 2000 points at this point of the run, but we won't use all of it.

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When you start Chapter 2 from the Chapter 1 endscreen, L+CTRL and wait for the intro MV to end, then exit the story afterwards.

Once you exit, go to Soundscan. Go to the bottom (just press up) and buy 3 Boost tickets for 1200P.

In Global Taiko Showdown:

• Obtain 1500 EP for 250 batteries. Use a boost ticket. (+ 250 = 418)
• Minimum (w/ 1.50x): 418% * AAC/246 (1542) // 449% * AC/231 (1556) // 481% * FC/216 (1558)

Note: The MD section of Soundscan seems to use 10s and 10+s for its challenge, which most of the Prologue songs we've selected seem to cater towards. The FN section also has a chance to go low and select Crosshatch (FN), but this is rare.

In SKY HOUR WORKS:

• Obtain 1250 EP for 2 Boost Tickets and 365 batteries. (+ 365 = 783)
• Minimum: 568% * AC/231 (1312) // 599% * FC/216 (1294)

Note: 568%, 599%, and 631% are all modifiers that belong to Tier 6 challenges, which are ULTIMATE-XX and invisible notes. If you get invisible notes, it's recommended to have a video of the chart on a second monitor or device, but you might need to get lucky with the start timing.

Exit Soundscan and go to Node Flowchart.

• Buy your way and AAC Courage, located to the left of Episode 9 (the shorter path of the two songs). (-140 spent + 139 = 782)

• Afterwards, buy your way and AAC APO11O, right next to Episode 11. (-180 spent + 139 = 741)

• Buy your way to Episode 13 and L+CTRL through it. (-635 spent = 106)

• AAC valor/starcross (you should have the requirements, the codes are STARCROSSER and TOTHESTART). Exit the episode once you're finished (+ 46 = 152)

• Buy your way to Episode 14 and L+CTRL through it (costs nothing).

• AAC Unravelling Stasis (the codes are ERRORDETECTION and ERRORPROTECTION). Exit the episode once finished (+ 46 = 198)

• Buy and read Episode 15 to finish Chapter 2 and start Chapter 3.

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CHAPTER 3/0

It costs 1283 batteries to buy all episodes in Chapter 3.

CLAUDIA -libertia- (which is in Chapter 4) requires 3 Chapter 3 songs, which will be Ione, Octava, and Last Wish. An additional 100 is spent on unlocking Octava.

Note: "Experiencing" SUPERNOVA does not count as clearing it, so it won't contribute to the libertia unlock. While it doesn't cost batteries to simply go to Rhythm Play and clear it there for a clear, it takes longer, and the extra batteries in that stage of the game aren't needed.

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No Miracle Ending

L+CTRL through the story and exit episode once you watch Chapter 3's intro MV. Go back to Soundscan.

In YIIK I.V:

• Obtain 6000 EP for 2 Boost Tickets and 440 Batteries. This requires two plays. Use two boost tickets for each play. (+ 440 = 638)
• Minimum (for both plays each, and using 2.10x): 599% * AAC/246 (3094) // 631% * AC/231 (3061)

Note: :vs_fsat_horror:

In Sunrise Showdown:

• Obtain 2500 EP for 240 batteries (+ 250 = 888). Use 2 Boost tickets.
• Minimum (w/ 2.10x): 568% * FC/216 (2576)

Exit Soundscan to go to Node Flowchart.

• Buy your way to and AAC Octava, located right at the start of Ch. 3 (-125 spent + 139 = 902).
• Afterwards, buy all nodes up until Episode 21 (which costs 530) (-580 spent = 322). You'll also want to read Episode 19 to unlock Betweenspace.

Exit Node Flowchart to go to BOUNDARY SHATTER.

• AAC HOESCARER three times (139 x 2 = + 417 = 739)

Exit Boundary Shatter to go to Node Flowchart

• Buy Episode 21 and L+CTRL through it. Then buy Episode 22 and L+CTRL through that. Once the fake credits start scrolling, Alt+F4 out of the game. (-678 spent = 61)
• Once the game has been re-opened, go to Node Flowchart and L+CTRL through Episode 20 to activate fast-forward mode.

Exit and go to Betweenspace.

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Betweenspace

By entering Betweenspace while in fast-forward mode, you go extremely fast.

This makes clearing songs for +30 gems COMPLETELY obsolete. Exiting a song also resets fast-forward mode, so you'll have to enable it again by reading another episode, which is never worth it even for the short tracks.

Note: Bolded numbers represent current total Betweenspace gems until we play the songs at Final Landing.

Sewers

• Collect the +2 gem in the Hub (2) before going to the Sewers (you can move during the fade in cutscene)
• Collect the +2 gem that's on the path to the Town area. Skip the other one in the room (4).
• Collect the +3 and +6 gems in the main path, then the +4 on top, then the +4 near the fast travel (21).
• Go inside and unlock the fast travel for the area, then go back to the Sewers via the Town entrance.
• Collect the +3 gem in the 2nd room, the +8 gem in the 3rd room, the +5 gem in the TV room to the left, and the +7 gem in the colored bridges room (by exiting and re-entering from final room). The gem to the left of the final room is the only one you don't get. (44)
• Activate the fast travel gate then go back to final room. Afterwards, go to the save point at the top to Save, then go down to the cave area (which should be opened up).
• Afterwards, complete the invisible maze. (64)

Note: Big spike, I know, but the +20 is worth it since you can complete the maze in around 20 seconds. You'll need to practice lightly tapping the arrow keys so that you only move one grid space while in fast-forward mode. For directions where you need to hold, you only need to do so for around a quarter of a second. Follow these inputs:

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• Go downright from the ladder, then upright once you've hit a wall.
• Right, Up, Down, Left, Down, press Up twice, Right, press Down twice, Right, Down, Right, Down. If you can see a bit of one of the cave rooms while you do this, you're on the right track. You're at the bottom of the maze now.
• Right, press Left twice, press Up four times, Right, Down, Right, Up, Right, press Down twice, Right, Down, Right. You should be at the room.

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I suggest following the map made by Hazel in the Hajimeli discord if you're stuck (#vs-story-spoilers-and-speculation)

• Quit Betweenspace and enter it again. Go back to the cave area and then go to the Moonlight area afterwards. In there, collect every gem except the one to the left. This includes the +5 on the main path, the +7 obtained by walking behind a cliff, the +5 near the grave, and the +10 at the Marenol area. Once finished, quit and re-enter Betweenspace (91).

Temple

• Use the save point to go back to the Hub immediately and go to the Temple (70 gem door)
• Start by going to the left of the 2nd room to collect the +3 gem near the entrance to the maze room, and the +8 gem in said entrance room. (102)
• Go to the maze room and Save. Complete the maze room by collecting both gems, but saving the one leading to the Fish area for last (127)

Note: Here is the route for the teleporter maze:

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• Left-most pad (1st room)
• Down-most pad
• Itself
• Itself (after collecting the +10 gem)
• Up-most pad
• Itself
• Right-most pad
• Waterfall

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• Make your way to the Fish area. Collect all 3 +4 gems in there (139)
• Quit and re-enter Betweenspace afterwards. Get out of the maze room and backtrack to get to the Mountain area (the footsteps)
• Save when you get to the Mountain. Collect the +4 to the right, then go to the room above the Savepoint. Collect the +2, +3, and +4 gems in there before taking the exit that leads to a +7 (159)
• Quit and re-enter Betweenspace. Take the main path to the bridge. Before going in the room at the bottom, collect the +5 at the edge of the map then backtrack to the room. Collect the +3 at the end before exiting. (167)
• Take the 2nd bridge and go all the way to the left for the next room. Collect the +5 to the right of the room before exiting to the left (172)
• Now that you're at the top, rush to the left to Save. First go to the room near the hole to collect the +4 and open the Fast travel gate. Exit the room to go down the long ladder which leads to the +11 (187)
• Quit and re-enter Betweenspace. Rush to the right to go to the top room, and collect the +10 in there. (197)

Library

• Quit and re-enter Betweenspace. Use the Savepoint to go back to the Hub. Rush to the library and collect the +3 gem at the beginning before going through the hallways. (200)
• Collect the +5 behind the bookshelf on the main path. Skip the gem in the jump-pad maze. (205)
• Rush to the top path of the junction room (the one that contains the Cloud area) and collect the two +5 gems in the Savepoint room. You'll also want to Save here. (215)
• Afterwards, backtrack to the previous room and take the right path (the one containing Seraphiel). Unlock the Melody room by pressing enter on the bookshelf containing the out of place tile, as well as the +10 gem. (225)
• Backtrack to the previous room and collect the +3 gem at the bottom before entering the Melody room containing a +12 gem. Take the Savepoint to the right of the room back to the Hub. (240)

Final Landing

• First, go to the Execution room (140 door) and collect the 1st half of TVO. Use the savepoint to go back to the Hub afterwards.
• Unlock the Final Landing door and enter it. You must read the Final Landing log in order to spawn the keys.
• Once you do, quit Betweenspace and re-enter (you'll be at the top of the library if you haven't saved anywhere else). Make your way to the Cloud area and walk all the way to the top for the Landing key.
• Quit and re-enter again. Take the Savepoint back to the Hub and walk to the Fast travel area and save there. Go to the Sewers (left-most in the middle section) and trigger the trashcan to move by going to the place where it goes out of view. Go to the right of the cave to find the Landing key.
• Quit and re-enter again. Fast travel to the Town area (right-most of the right area) and collect the key to the right.
• Quit and re-enter again. Take the fast travel to the Mountain area (left-most of the right area) and collect the key near the savepoint outside. Use the savepoint to go back to the Hub and enter Final Landing to start playing the songs.

Note: Even though the songs take you out of fast-forward mode, it's not worth reading another episode to enable it again.

Note 2: Final Landing is the only part of this run where you can choose any difficulty you want.

• Run to and AAC The Last Page (at least on MD or higher for ASTELLION's gem requirement) (+ 139 = 200)

• Walk to and AAC Candy@-Cracker (+ 139 = 339)

• Walk to and AAC 3.IV.C1 (+ 139 = 478)

• Walk to and AAC Orphen (+ 139 = 617)

• Walk to the gate and wait for the cutscene. As soon as the options appear, press left and say yes. Then AAC ASTELLION. (+ 46= 663)

• As soon as the disc cutscene ends, exit Betweenspace and re-enter. Use the savepoint to go back to the hub and open the TVO door to start.

• During the Storyteller cutscene, spam enter. When the episode actually starts, hold L+CTRL.

• Once you make it to the Betweenspace puzzle room, rush to the final door (the code is THEBOUNDSHAVEGONE, you can skip the other puzzles)

• Experience SUPERNOVA (you don't get batteries for experiences). Once finished, exit out of the episode.

CHAPTER 4

It takes 650 batteries to buy every episode in Chapter 4.

CLAUDIA -libertia- requires 1 Chapter 4 song, which will be Shattered Siy After Rain, which we already did. You don't need any other songs from this chapter.

• Go down the chart and play Last Wish (vivid/stasis ver.) (+ 46 = 709)

Note: This song uses Basic decrypt instead of Challenge decrypt, so you still get the same amount of batteries.

• Spam enter in the Disc cutscene, then use L+CTRL once the episode starts (you can't exit it).
• Go down the main path in the Node Flowchart and unlock the Final Episode and read it (-650 spent = 59 this is the last time we spend batteries).
• Experience CLAUDIA -libertia- (The code is FATEINVERSION)
• L+CTRL through the episode that comes after (but prepare for the quicktime event)
• Once you're sent back to Betweenspace, immediately go down to talk to Storyteller. L+CTRL through the episode that comes after.

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Layer 2

• Save right when you get to Layer 2. Then go down to the pool area.
• Start by pressing the 1st button to the right, then take the winding path down and to the left where you can find the words search puzzle (HYPERMANIA).
• Go down the path after solving it for the 2nd button, then go up and to the right to find the dice puzzle (SHIKITASO). Go above that area to obtain the 3rd button.
• Quit and re-enter Betweenspace. Go back to the pool area and take the bottom path for the 4th button and the Gate Control at the end (1/3)
• Once you're back, go to the computer area to the right.
• Complete the XOR puzzle in the first room (01001001) and get 1st button next to it. Then get the 2nd button at the top of the room before going up.
• Navigate through the entire outside section before getting to the lock puzzle (ULTIMATION), then backtrack for the 3rd button.
• Quit and re-enter Betweenspace and go to the same area. This time go down.
• Press the 4th button inside the wall (4 grid spaces down the downwards hallway), then go back up the room to press the Gate Control button (2/3)
• Once you're back, go to the road area to the left.
• Press the 1st freebie button, and solve the puzzle next to it (AMBIDEX) to collect the 2nd button in the blood lake room.
• Go down to the next room and collect the 3rd button (freebie) before solving the puzzle next to it (NOCTURNE) and collecting the 4th button in the room with the crash event. Backtrack to press the last Gate Control button. (3/3)
• Go through the rooms and then talk to Storyteller to L+CTRL the episode that comes after.
• Experience _, and L+CTRL through the episode that comes after.
• Press enter immediately when the merging screen pops up to experience stop-motion. There's a cutscene midway through the song that requires spamming enter. L+CTRL through the episode that comes after the song.
• L+CTRL through the episode that comes after, then you're done!

Good luck to whoever wants to do this.