Let the roast begin!

So many people will get mad at me for this but it is an important part of the story so start your rants ladies and gentleman! XD

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Chapter 31: Truths and Lies

Looking at her long golden hair flutter around her, picked up and played with by a sudden gust of wind, Makoto could feel a certain dread of things to come.

He had no desire to fight her.

Even if it was only a game, he did not want to see her bleeding on the ground or crippled.

The grip around his sword was feeble, barely holding on and the look in Veronica's eyes was as hard as steel.

"Why didn't you tell me Makoto?"

She asked, her eyes still unyielding but her overall expression showed emotional pain.

"Did you not want to be with me ingame? Was I just annoying to you in College?"

Her eyes looked at him accusingly and he tried his best not to shiver, women were scary creatures for sure.

"No you are misunderstanding this by a lot, I didn't say anything because I was still weak, I wanted to be strong..."

He knew the excuse was weak and would fall apart quite easily but honestly speaking, even Makoto himself had no idea why he tried to hide his ingame character from Veronica.

It was just a gut feeling that had guided him back then, and now he paid the price for it.

"Why would you want to look strong in front of me?"

She asked, an eyebrow raised and he had to swallow hard to be able to force out his next words.

"Because every man wants to look strong in front of the woman he loves."

There.

He finally said it.

Might have not been the smoothest or best moment for it but he said it without even blushing.

She didn't seem surprised about his words and Makoto couldn't blame her because let's be real here, even a blind man could have seen that from the way he acted around her.

Even though she was not surprised she seemed impressed that he actually said it and a small smile appeared on her face.

"Not the wisest thing to say before we have to kill each other."

Grinning and giving her a nod, he could only agree.

Looking deep into her eyes he put both hands on his sword.

"To a good fight."

Not breaking eye contact, she also readied herself.

"To a good fight."

A few moments later, the referee shouted as loud as he could.

"Begin!"

Still unsure if what he was doing was the right thing, Makoto charged at her as she did the same.

With a loud bang, both swords connected and sparks flew all around them.

He had to be careful not to let his sword fly loose with this tough exchange.

A reflection of light was all the warning he got before her blade shot forward, aimed for his head.

Ducking low and slashing against her abdomen, Makoto was able to leave a shallow cut on her body before another attack from her made him jump back and out of reach.

Even inflicting pain on the one he loved and seeing her bleed brought him a disturbing mix of excitement, guilt and desire to cut her more.

Disgusted by his own feelings he stopped for a moment, distracted.

That was enough time for Veronica to make a move.

Critical hit!

You have received 576 Damage!

Her sword had cleaved into his side and with a wet sound she removed the metal from the wound.

Grunting in pain, Makoto could feel how his compassion towards her quickly disappeared as anger took its place instead.

Roaring deeply he jumped forward and smacked her blade out of the way while plunging headfirst towards her.

His blade was able to nick her arm for a good bit of Damage, satisfied with repaying the debt he dodged another strike from her while pure killing intent started to rise inside of him.

Wielding his blade with both hands, Makoto screamed out his anger while hitting her sword which she used to block the attack.

He had put so much force behind the blow that Veronica lost contact with the ground for a good bit as she flew backwards and he jumped after her.

Not expecting the move, he ran himself into her outstretched blade after finally reaching her and dipped below half health where his regeneration really started to kick in.

Grasping her sword with his free hand he started hacking against her but she dodged every wild sweep and pain shot through his palm as she fiercely pulled her own blade back.

"You fight like a crazed dog."

Veronica stated, her eyes followed his every move.

"And you like a trained martial artist, predictable."

Bearing a wide grin he licked over his bleeding palm before it healed shut again.

The taste of his own blood sufficed in further heightening his excitement and desire for battle as his eyes glowed in a crimson light.

Letting out yet another roar he charged forward, losing himself in an inner struggle of madness and unwillingness to really hurt her.

Multiple times his own sword was about to pierce a vital area of Veronica's body and he hesitated, unable to fully go through with the movement.

This tiny bit of resistance inside of him that prevented him from going full throttle, it weakened his attacks and took away a lot of the killing intent.

He might have a beast inside of him but he was not a monster, how could he really hurt the one he loved even inside a game?

The desire to win and to have a good fight were battling his love for Veronica and in the end, he was just not focused enough, too slow to react, held up by all of these concerns and inner conflicts.

Makoto was about to chop against Veronica's neck, probably taking her head off her shoulders when he looked into her eyes.

Deep emerald green stared back at him and at that exact moment he stopped, unable to follow through, unable to watch her die in front of him.

The pain followed quickly.

While he had hesitated, Veronica did not.

Her sword was rammed into his chest until it was stopped by the handle.

It was a clean and perfect hit that ripped his heart out of his body, skewing it on the blade that exited his back.

Lethal Hit!

You have been killed!

"Winner, Ceil!"

That was the last thing he heard before his knees gave out beneath him and darkness as well as a system message followed.

Do you wish to revive?

Selecting 'Yes', Makoto appeared outside the ring.

Veronica was smiling at him while wiping his blood from her blade.

"That was a good fight and I was lucky to get a hit like that on you, otherwise it probably would have turned out bad for me with that strange regeneration of yours."

Straining his facial muscles quite a bit, Makoto nodded and smiled back.

He was currently emotionally torn.

Well aware that if he said that he had been holding back during all of the fight she would think that he was being a sore loser.

There was also this personal frustration that he held back in the first place.

Even if it was unintentional he had spoiled this entire fight, not even giving her the chance to see what he was really capable of and letting her win was surely not something she wished for either.

At the same time, he wanted to hang on to that little bit of humanity left inside of him, that tiny bit that had not been eaten away by the beast.

It both frustrated and made him happy that he had held back, so with many mixed emotions, he left the Colosseum.

One thing he did swear to himself just because he felt that it was a pity and unfair to the crowd and himself was that he would return in one month, to once again fight for the chance to win the Tournament.

In a way, he had been a fool to throw away this chance he had gotten...

Makoto had no desire to watch the rest of the fights so he decided that it was time to log out and get some sleep, tomorrow he had all the time in the world to hear how it all ended from Veronica herself.

…..

It was during College again that it happened.

Sharing his table with Veronica like always, they had a surprisingly good time.

Forgotten was the fight between them, dismissed their previous behavior.

Both exchanged stories from ingame, shared a few details and laughed about the other's awkward situations.

Makoto and this blond beauty were sharing a good moment together while her hand found its way to his crotch beneath the table.

It both excited and confused him why her hand was pressing against that certain area or why she was being so aggressive, he was not even sure he liked it really but he let it pass and decided to enjoy the moment.

What confused him was how she practically ripped her hand away from that area so suddenly and when he looked at her he noticed that she was looking at something to the right.

Following her gaze, he was able to see a tall and good looking young man approach their table.

He had a good build and was looking at Veronica with a big smile on his face.

Completely stunned he watched the man stop before her, lean closer and kiss her right in front of him.

She also seemed to be equally surprised in seeing him but responded by kissing him back and putting a hand behind his back to make sure they stayed like that for a good bit.

Makoto could feel how his heart tightened to a point where it started to hurt, something he had never before felt in his entire life.

"Hey babe, I decided to visit you after work and pick you up for our one week anniversary, hope you don't mind me stealing you away even though you still have your course but I thought you could skip it for today and we go to that pizzeria you wanted to go to before?"

Still dazed about the whole situation, Veronica slowly nodded before responding.

"Sure enough, could you wait outside until I am finished with lunch? Me and my friend were still talking too so give me 5 minutes ok?"

"Alright, I will meet you outside then, don't leave me waiting too long with your...friend."

The look that was shot Makoto's way from him was both surprised and confused, maybe he was wondering how someone like him could be a friend to her.

After making sure her boyfriend was outside the Cafeteria, Veronica turned towards Makoto and she visibly flinched after seeing his face.

"Let me explain first before you ask anything plea-"

Makoto interrupted her with a completely flat voice, his heart started to hurt more and more.

"Tell me why.

Why did you always hint at so many things and never told me you had a boyfriend?"

Many people around them stopped talking and watched the scene unfold.

He could see her being visibly uncomfortable beneath his gaze.

"Well, alright first of all I'm sorry.

I just thought your reactions where really cute, I am used to guys hitting on me all the time but you where the first one with such... pure intentions and feelings and I just felt like flirting with you a bit.

I wanted you as a friend really but after seeing how you looked at me I just couldn't... I was unable to just break your heart like that..."

"Trust me, it is a lot more cruel finding out like this after hinting at so much all this time. You should have never done that to begin with."

Makoto replied, his voice slightly trembled but he could not care less.

This was the first time he probably saw her, really actually saw Veronica for who she was.

There was this empty and dark void where his heart had been and he could see the same scene play over and over again inside his head, how she was kissing this complete stranger he had known nothing about.

"Listen, I am sorry, I know it was wrong teasing you both like that bu-"

Veronica's eyes grew wide after realizing what she had said and she put a hand before her mouth but it was already too late, he had heard her.

Right away a new question appeared in his mind, who was this other person, but he didn't have to think for long.

Makoto remembered something he had nearly forgotten, something he had wanted to bury deep inside of him but with that one event, everything fell into place.

"I would keep my hands off her if you know what's good for you, just saying."

"Remember my words."

Those were the words Matt had said to him some time ago.

He had thought that they had been meant to scare him but in reality, they were meant to warn him, warn him about her.

It was Matt she had been flirting with, that explained his obsession with her at the beginning.

He probably realized what kind of game she was playing after seeing her sit next to Makoto and tried to warn him in his own way.

Anger and disgust both started to bloom from this void inside of him, taking deep roots and finally showed themselves on his face.

His anger continued to increase to a point where he could feel his hands shaking beneath the table, clenched tightly into fists.

"Was it Matt?"

He said in a voice a lot calmer than he really felt while staring at Veronica.

At this point there was complete silence inside the Cafeteria as everyone watched this incredibly dramatic scene with the most beautiful girl and quietest guy play out.

She only silently nodded and with the screeching of his chair he stood up.

Not only had he been played with and made a fool, he was not even the only one she did that to.

His voice had an underlying deep tone to it and was quite calm while thundering anger blossomed from the void inside of him, endlessly spilling forth like water from a dam that had broken free.

"You shouldn't keep your boyfriend waiting.

If you'll excuse me, I think I will take my leave now too before the desire to slap you gets any stronger.

Wouldn't want to get bitch on my hand now would I?"

Leaving a shocked Veronica and crowd behind, Makoto left College and returned home.

At this point his rage had risen to an unimaginable point where his entire body was uncontrollably shaking and not only had his eyes taken on a crimson red color but even a visible glow was emanating from them.

With a shattered heart and unable to control his raging emotions, his gaze soon enough found the capsule that lead to another world.

A world where he could truly let himself go on a rampage...

Without taking a second to think about it and noticing a single tear run down his cheek at the corner of his awareness, Makoto stepped into the machine, bringing the wrath of a heartbroken madman inside Azalon...

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Alrighty!

Hope you all enjoyed and if you have any questions (or rants which I higly expect hahaha) leave them below in the comment section.

See you all tomorrow! :D