Some time earlier, on the plain field at the Final Floor's center.
'I remembered something rather unpleasant. About my past. It was... Well... I doubt it would interest-'
"Do tell." A being made of Flames interrupted.
'It's complicated. A bundle of hazy memories I can barely put together.'
"Then put them together."
The white-scaled Monster by its side thought for a bit.
'I remember being stuck in a room. A room filled with machinery...'
The Fire Spirit remained silent, and listened with great interest.
'White walls, white sheets. As if I was... Stuck on a bed?'
"You mean you were a prisoner of sorts?"
'No... No. It wasn't anything like that. But it did feel like a prison. Well, not like a prison per se...'
"What then?"
'Like a birdcage.'
The Fire Spirit wanted to explode with laughter but controlled himself. Getting his witty sneering out was too important for laughter to get in the way.
"Oh... Excuse me. Who would have thought that our fearsome and sadistic Monster was, once, a poor and defenseless little bird. A bird that was eager to fly and flap its wings, but couldn't."
The Spirit's words rang true. More than he could imagine. More than even Mark could at the present moment.
The Monster chuckled.
'Something like that.'
And the Spirit's interest grew.
He hadn't expected Mark to react this way.
"You've really mellowed out."
'Have I?'
"It's infuriating."
Chuckle-
A pleasant breeze passed over the plain, and the two remained silent for a bit.
"So we're back to prisoner. Mm. Might explain why you want to wreck havok so much. Or why you enjoy moving around freely."
Mark listened to the Fire Spirit's words intently.
'I wasn't a prisoner. It was more like... A hospital. I think?'
"A hospi... What? What's that?"
'A place where doctors do their best to...' Mark turned his gaze towards the Fire Spirit. 'Wait, how do you not know-'
The Spirit raised his eyebrows.
Mark shook his head.
It was a dumb question to ask. Even Mark thought so.
'A place where... Sick and injured people are healed. Or at least where doctors attempt to heal them, I guess. Something like that.'
"Huh..."
'Yeah. I have no idea why out of everything I could remember, it was such a place. I'm not sure, but it feels like I was stuck there for a long time.'
"And that's what you just remembered?"
'No. I remembered this a while ago. Just... It hadn't...'
"Clicked?"
'Yeah.'
"Huh. So what's new? What did you just remember now?"
'It wasn't now. It was while-'
"Doesn't matter. What's new? Tell me."
Mark stayed silent for a moment.
A moment judged internally by the Fire Spirit as too long and convenient.
'What's this sudden interest coming from? If I didn't know you, I would think it's turning into an obsession-'
"You're not getting out of this. You got my interest piqued. Only right that you quench it now."
'I mean... Yeah, but-'
"Tell me. I want to know."
'Why-'
"Doesn't matter."
'Of course it does, I mean-'
"Stop diverting. It might help piece things together. Telling me might. Plus, I can probably help."
'Probably?'
"Yeah. I can help shine a new light on it. And don't you dare forget, cause it seems you are forgetting, how lucky you are that I am willing to do so."
'Sure but-'
"Alright. Get this. As a Spirit, I absolutely must know. "
The white-scaled Monster uncharacteristically bit down on its lower lip.
Its slight fidgeting wasn't something the Fire Spirit could miss. He stared
The right words, the right words.
They weren't easy to find.
'It's like...'
And they were even more difficult to say out loud.
'Mm...'
The Fire Spirit did not rush him.
'It's like I needed help. A lot of help. Constantly. For even the smallest things.'
"How so?"
'I'm not sure. But I was... It's like I couldn't do anything by myself. I always needed others to do things for me. I always needed their help and... '
"You hated that?"
'I hated that.'
The two remained silent for a while.
"Did these 'Doctors' heal you or whatever in the end?"
Chuckles escaped the white-scaled Monster's mouth.
'Who knows.'
The Spirit suddenly noticed something.
"When was this?"
'What do you mean?'
"Was this after you entered this Dungeon? Or before that? It can't be before since you've said many times that you don't know what the outside World looks like. It can't be after because... Machinery? There is none here. Or is there? You haven't gone to the lowest Floors ever since... Huh...?"
Mark couldn't help but laugh out loud.
'That's a question for another day.'
The Spirit clicked his tongue.
'Trapped and in need of constant help...' He wondered silently.
"Huh."
'What?' Mark asked.
"It's interesting. Explains some things. Makes others unclear."
'Enlighten me.'
...
A mighty roar resonated throughout the Boss Room and beyond.
[Your Skill "Berserker[#]" is activating!]
The Aura around Mark changed.
It oozed out of his body and danced around it.
"When I wasn't prepared to kill... My Titles did it for me... When I wasn't prepared to devour... They did it for me... And now... More recently... When I couldn't fight..."
"You're gravely mistaken if you think this is a viable solution..." Zephyr tightened the grip around his spear. "And you will regret it."
In front of each Party, different words appeared.
[The Title "Monster Hunter" aches for the Hunt's beginning!]
[The Title "Monster Hunter" can't wait to track, chase, and slay the Monster!]
[The Title "Monster Hunter" is eagerly staring at you!]
In front of Mark, the Hunter's Prey, the preceding words floated.
In front of Zephyr, the Devourer's Target, the following words floated.
[The Title "Devourer" is barring its fangs at you!]
[The Title "Evolving Monster" longs for your flesh!]
Shivers ruled over Mark's body.
Disgust filled Zephyr's.
"Whatever you benefit from these premature Titles..."
One was seen as Prey to be hunted and exterminated.
The other, as a coveted Meal. A luxurious and energizing Meal.
"Make sure it remains your own."
The two stepped forward. And each left long root-like rifts on the ground behind.
Thirty-five seconds later, Elisa's voice, carried by her Wind, reached Mark.
