IDBIRR Chapter 14: Coming into Terms of Understanding, a Prelude to the Beginning.

Dead Men Tell No Tales.

They say that the truth can never be told if a person who holds the truth dies. It's phrase can be used for those who never recover from an Amnesia.

If your past dies, your truth will never be told. As the phrase goes, dead men tell no tales.

If you were in that person's shoes. It can either be quite dissapointing--- or---- truly terrifying.

There are two most likely personalities that would cope with that dilemma; the first one; the one who accepts their new self and new persona, they can be subjected to fact that "that is just how life goes" as long as they can still live a new happy life with the past tied beside them. Happy new memories can still be made, as long as the past doesn't i̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶ bother you, and that is what we call the act of accepting a fate F̶a̶c̶a̶d̶e̶ bound to you by your tragedy. The second; are the ones who are burdened to long for Answers P̶o̶w̶e̶r̶; the ones who are afraid of losing their past N̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶r̶u̶t̶h̶; the ones who are desperate to escape a life that may or may not be the reality they had/n't hoped for R̶e̶a̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶a̶l̶s̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶t̶e̶n̶s̶e̶.

If you were in either of their shoes, it will certainly be a dilemma and a bothersome predicament at that.

But sometimes, in the vast majority of varieties there are---

Big Boss: "Monsters who live deep inside ourselves."

I arrived to a scene where I couldn't possibly had been much more thankful to decide and go back on the tracks I've left before.

Just above his house, Tood Raid stood still, a giant crystal in his hand that I had never seen before.

He looked down at me with such clear and gentle eyes as I stood before his house, gazing up on his magnific frame.

Big Boss: "Those monsters, when lost and confused--- all fall under the same question..."

He carefully sat on his roof while showing me the crystal he held in his hand.

Big Boss: "Would they choose violence?"

Big Boss grins goofily, whilst having a weak reaction to my arrival. He was certainly--- not at all interested anymore.

Big Boss: "You see, I view that--- Violence is never an answer...but a path we ask ourselves to choose."

In his hand, he fiddles and plays with the crystal he's been holding on to ever since I came back.

What...is that crystal? Whatever it was...it felt so ominous and dangerous that I could feel an imaginary physical chill run throughout my entire body.

Big Boss: "Do you know what it would feel like to suddenly wake up from an unfamiliar view?"

He stops fiddling with the crystal and easily breaks it in his hand. Big Boss chuckles at the sight of seeing the crystal crumble down from his palm and it's pieces fall off as dust in the air, never to be seen again.

I've really got a bad feeling from this---

Big Boss: "It was maddening."

He leapt off from his house's roof and stood before me on the same lowly ground I stood on. His once proud figure, hover before me with a now sickening atmosphere that overshadowed the feeling of proud and was instead replaced with dread.

Yet I stood before him, knowing fully what was about to transpire.

Big Boss crouched down and pointed a finger at my forehead.

Big Boss: "Use your head---"

His touch on my forehead lowered to my chest.

Big Boss: "And understand what goes through your chest---"

Then he focused his eyes on mine.

Big Boss: "Maybe you're not able to...but I can see the fear in your eyes."

His figure was too overwhelming, maybe if he even move his hand by a little bit, I could probably die.

Big Boss: "But...it seems you have chosen the path of Violence, and let's say...the question at fault--- was, "Should I go back?"."

He was spot on. There was no denying it. If I stood before him once more, there was no denying the path I've chosen to answer a question of violence. Standing before him only meant that I have come back to respond to his call.

But to my surprise, Instead of smiting me down in my spot, he smiled.

Big Boss: "I'm---...I'm sorry. I can't bring myself to harm you anymore. What happened before...it just reminded me of the little girl in my memories...you remind me of that girl."

I looked at myself from hands to bottom. Which part of me???

I stared at him with a weirded out expression.

He realizes what I looked like based on observing my eye movement and immediately pinches the bridge of his nuzzle while putting his palm in between us.

Big Boss: "N-No, it's not like that okay? And I'm sure you can look into other people's status for some reason, judging from my observation with you. But I assure you, when I tried to look into who I was, those titles were already there!"

Uhh-huhhh...

Big Boss: "I have no idea why I got those titles, but I assure you, I have no interests in children!"

That's what they all say...

He groans in frustration and ponders even more, probably questioning his past conscience on how it led to the way it was right now. I pat his hand and shrugged it off as a joke from me.

Big Boss' suddenly jerks and remembers something.

Big Boss: "Ah, I almost forgot, we only have like five more hours to live."

---Say what now?

He points at his palm, the one he used to crush the crystal from earlier.

Big Boss: "Earlier, I destroyed the Labyrinth's Crystal...and uhh...this place is gonna go, like kaBOOM! Kasplrghsbsjsnsbshhsvsffjonfbejs!!!"

He expresses the explosion with an exaggerated silly motion with his hands. Then stuck his tongue out like he was cartoonishly dead.

HE DID WHAT NOW?!!?!??!

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I cling to his chest and shook him for more details about our current situation.

You're telling me...If I hadn't come back for you, you would've committed suicide?!?!?!?!

Big Boss: "Woah Woah Woah! Lad, calm down!"

Hey! I'm chronologically older than you! Uhh...probably? Wait how old is he any- wait, that's not the point right now!

Big Boss laughs.

Big Boss: "Grahahahahaha!!! I could tell what you're thinkin' right now lad! You're like an open book! Grahahahahahaha!!!"

God dangit this crazy old coot deadbeat dad wolf!

Didn't you say you wanted to see if your family were still alive!? What did you say about living our lives without regrets?!

Big Boss: "Hmm....based on your expression...you might be thinkin' about from somethin' I said from earlier. It could be either from my advices to you, or about my past?"

No...goddamit Raid...! It's not just about what happened earlier...It's even before that!

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~Three weeks ago~

This was the week where I first ran inside Big Boss's lair. I didn't knew at the time that it was his domain in the first place.

I underestimated the Dark Armored Knight and received a near-fatal wound. It's blade almost reached my core and I would've died if it did. Since my mouth can only open when I'm eating minerals, drinking potions were obviously not my get-go method for a sustainable survivability.

To heal myself, I must avoid combat in a safe retirement where I can relax without the worries of any surprise attacks. The next thing I have to do, was to rest above surface, not inside walls or underground, since all of my active and passive skills will be deactivated during the course of recovery. Lastly, the Administrator will remove my consciousness and start healing my body. Once all of the procedures are done, the Administrator will return my consciousness and I would be fully healed. If you ask me, then yes, losing my consciousness has the same feeling of experiencing death.

Anyways, I was injured, feeling any pain from my wounds was nigh impossible with a body with no nerves or pain receptors, but the effects of struggling to keep myself together bore in result. I walk sluggishly and could barely use my abilities properly. If I were to phase through walls, I would surely die if I were to merge with the walls.

I walked in the open field, not knowing where to go. My tabs weren't showing, but the Administrator reassured me that there were no hostile creatures living inside the Room.

So I breathed out in relief inside my head, staring above the beautiful open view of the ceiling. Stars twinkling and smiling upon my survival.

It was right there...on that beautiful night sky, did I look up above to see his overwhelming figure above his own house. His magnificent aura, under the beautiful moonlit night, a spotlight was lit above him.

Big Boss--- Tood Raid, looked down upon me.

Big Boss: "Hey mate...yer lookin' quite banged up! I like your spirit of perserverence!"

He jumped down from his roof and stood in front of me.

Big Boss: "Ya remind me of a weak little snot nosed brat!"

The moment he showed up with that kind of attitude. I became more relieved, entering the domain of the most harmless guy I knew inside the Labyrinth.

Big Boss: "Hey! What ya lookin' happy for?! I'm gonna kill ya you know?!"

I collapsed in front of him without any worries at all. Asking my Administrator to heal me.

Maybe that was the start of it all. Perhaps it was a prelude to the beginning. The start of a friendship I didn't knew was possible.

Big Boss: "H-Hey lad! You dead?! Hey la-------"

I could only hear muffled noises as my consciousness grew weaker, until all of my senses became empty.

But despite such a lonely recovery, I could hear the genuine worry in this goofy wolf's voice.

Who would've known...I would be attached to my enemy. Tood Raid...no, Big Boss, the guy who declared to slaughter me for fun.

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~Present Day~

Big Boss: "Lad, I'll give ya a chance since I've grown to become fond of you. This--- The collapse of this Labyrinth is enough to kill me, I know of what it's capable of doing. If you stay here, you'll die alongside a deadbeat good for nothin' like me."

This...This guy!

I can't believe he'll resort to this kind of craziness just to end his life!

Is your life really that meaningless to you??

Big Boss: "There's no point to you putting yourself in danger like this. The only exit a spoiled little lad like you would find in this place is the entrance of the Labyrinth. Go on now, shoo~ little creature, shoo~"

I look at him in disbelief. Just a few days ago, he was so giddy to challenge me. But now he's acting all suicidal and pretty chill about it too!

Grrr...if that's how it is then...!

Big Boss: "Hm? Hmm?!?"

I summoned a pillar behind me to knock his head out of it and make him unconscious. But he only defended himself by raising his palm and got pushed back, still on his feet.

He stares at his palm, shaking in numbness, realizing I was dead serious about knocking him out.

Big Boss: "..."

I ready for another attack, there's no way in hell I'll let him die a lonely burden that he only chooses to carry by himself.

I don't...want him to end up like me...a man who met the same fate as he will be facing right now.

He clenches his numb palm and faced me with a serious tone in his voice.

Big Boss: "You...don't want this fight, Mate."

He takes a step forward, inclining his first and last warning.

I took my own step forward as well.

Big Boss: "I already chose to end my miserable life for once, Lad, don't make me do any more mistakes from now on....I'm begging you."

You liar...

You liar.....

You goddamned stinkin' liar.....!

You said you wanted to see your past for yourself...You told me we would fight to the death! You only said you would stay here! You threathened to kill me with a warning by taking a step forward!!!

So why won't you take another step forward?!

What's keeping you from choosing to free yourself from your burden?!

Big Boss: "You...your eyes..."

Yes dagnabbit! I won't let you make another fool of yourself!

Big Boss: "Why...do you look so determined? What's making you move to such lengths just to proceed forward??"

My gaze was very determined. I fiery orb, a hellfire ready to burn the whole world if I needed to.

Big Boss's heart started to beat fast. For the second time in his second life because of amnesia, he felt goosebumps run through his entire body. A feeling he only felt when he first met with the Dark Armored Knight at his former weakest.

For the first time in a long while, he truly met another challenge. He met his one and only equal.

His equal was way weaker than him, frailer than him, much more silly than him. But only Tood Raid could understand at that moment, how this tiny fellow in whom he considered an equal, was way bigger than him than he could have possibly ever imagined.

For the first time in a while, Tood Raid took his combat stance. He felt fear for his life once more!

Big Boss: "You! Lad! Give me your name!"

Oh shit, he's finally taking me seriously!

Although...how can I give him my name?

Hmm....he's waiting for a reply.....

reply....

Ah.

Suddenly, from the deepest parts of my century filled memory, I caught a glimpse of me using a small whiteboard to state my answer in a math pop quiz when I was a kid.

[[Auto Translation is available for use.]]

Thanks Administrator...

I created a floating metallic panel, and in that panel were inscribed words that formed my name.

|| Angus, my name is Angus Becker. ||

Big Boss grins after reading the panel.

Big Boss: "Angus...a fitting name for the one I most fit to call my very own Rival!"

Rival?!

Big Boss: "Stand PROUD Mate!!!"

*Roar*!!!

I flinch in my position from his loud roar that echoed throughout the entirety of this dome.

Big Boss: "You....You stubborn rockheaded fool!!! You dare to defy my goodwill and choose to risk your life...and for what? For a measly villain like me?!"

I stand silent, my only choice of action was to stare at him with confidence. Confidence to brave myself to face him.

I created a new panel and told him the words of reason for my recklessness to come back.

|| I just...didn't want to see a friend I truly admire, to make fool out of himself by choosing the wrong choices in his life any further. ||

*Step*

I took my final step forward.

It was time for us to settle his selfish wish. A declaration I was forced to accept. He needs to take responsibility and finish what he started.

|| Big Boss, earlier, you asked about what question of violence I chose to walk forward. But now let me ask yours. ||

If I could turn back time or atleast change the past, I wish we could have met under nice and different circumstances. To meet you with a much better environment.

|| What question did you ask yourself back then? When you first saw me at my former weakest? ||

Big Boss: "..."

He readies his claws.

|| Did...Did it go along the lines of..."I want to talk with somebody?"? ||

Big Boss: "..."

|| Or was it..."Maybe I can see eye to eye with this little fellow."? ||

Big Boss smiles, a heartwarming sincerity that's visible to see from his expression.

Big Boss: "Lonely dunderheads like us really do read each other like open books..."

The Labyrinth started to shake with small tremors. The collapse of a Mystical Structure, by the hands of two moronic idiots who were indecisive about their given problems.

Big Boss: "Let me remind you once again lad, turn your tail and escape this place. My survival will never benefit you in any and what form whatsoever. Would you still choose to stay and save my stubborn and hardheaded self, even at the cost of your life!?"

I stood my ground, never faltering against his challenge.

Never again. Never will I choose to run away again...

|| I will never--- leave you behind. You're my rival aren't you? How can I proceed if my other half chooses to be left behind? ||

I'm determined to strive ahead...for a better future!

As I look at what's in front of me, I also looked past beyond that. Behind him, was my weak and lonely old self...someone who chose to run away.

It looked directly at me. Looking down on me. Belittling me. Egging me to come back right by it's side.

Never Again.

Big Boss clicks his tongue and chuckles and then raises his fist.

Big Boss: "Finally...a worthy opponent...!"

We both get ready to engage and brace ourselves for the deadliest fight in history.

Big Boss: "OUR BATTLE WILL BE LEGENDARY!!!"

We took our first step forward, together, for an unforgettable future that will be passed down towards future generations.