Chapter 25: Pride

Warning Tags: Intense situation and mentions of blood

Within the depths of the forest, everyone is already a mile away from where they had to leave to get to the outskirts of the forest where it would be safe. However, it resulted in a TC member getting into contact with the Taint and another member staying behind for the sake of their soon-to-be-evil best friend. Within the area where the torture chamber was, Mitch is slumped over his best friend's form as tears endlessly stream from his only good eye, the other half of his face is wrapped in bandages and soaked thoroughly with blood. However, Mitch could care less about his beaten and shredded appearance, all that he could worry about was his best friend. The one who he rescued as a cub, the one who stayed with him and fought with him in so many Hunger Games, he lost count, and the one who he could even consider a brother than a friend.

The heartbroken PvP warrior takes a few shaky breaths as he glances at Jerome's face, still seeing his eyes shut and showing almost no signs of life, the only sign is Jerome's rising and falling of his chest, which was beginning to slow down. Mitch sighs as he rests his head against the Bacca's chest as he whimpers to him "Oh, Jerome...you shouldn't have to become a monster...why didn't Nero did me when he had the chance? He took my brother...and now, he's taken you! Notch, if I hadn't brought up that stupid idea of kicking Seto off of Team Crafted, none of this wouldn't have happened. Connor would still be alive, you would be here with me, Ashley wouldn't have been captured, and Seto wouldn't be corrupted. Now we're in this situation because of me...it's all my fault!"

Mitch lets out a few harsh sobs before he is able to regain some control of his crying. He knew too well that he and the others were in this situation because of his actions and that whatever bad happens to him, he truly deserves it. But nothing can compare for what will be happening within the next minutes that pass by.

Unknown to Mitch, Jerome is in a state of complete unconsciousness as a result of the large intake of Taint he was forced to swallow and nothing can awaken him. But deep inside of his mind...he was about to experience a true nightmare.

[...]

Within the deep confines of Jerome's subconscious, a small blue vision of Jerome's conscience lays unconscious in a darkness. After a few grueling moments, the small version of the Bacca begins to wince a bit before he slowly begins to open up his eyes, squinting them a bit from a dull pain in his head. But as soon as he sees his surroundings, his eyes quickly snap open in alarm. The PvP warrior lifts himself off of the invisible floor and stumbles around for a bit before getting his balance in order.

"What is this place? Where am I?", Jerome questioned, glancing at every direction to figure out where he was and how he get there.

"A warrior should never let their guard down, you know", a voice echoes in the darkness. Jerome becomes alarmed and looks everywhere, standing in a defensive stance as he is prepared for whatever comes out and tries to attack him. Jerome glances everywhere, but all that he could see was the emptiness that made up where he is. "Who's there? You better show yourself or else!", Jerome warned the would-be threat, baring his fangs in defense.

"Or else what, Jerome? Do you honestly think that you scare me with your skills of a PvP warrior?", the voice questioned with a rude tone. Jerome growls in his mouth before exclaiming back to the voice "I know I do. Those who have challenged me have backed down immediately because of my high skills".

"Impressive...if only none of what you said was a lie", the voice responded back. Jerome is starting to get annoyed by the voice taunting him and looks behind himself, but instantly turns completely around and jumps backwards when he sees Enderlox flying right above him, staring down at him with a blank expression as his wings lazily flap one second and his tail swings aimlessly in the air. Jerome glares at the dragon hybrid in front of him as he gets ready for what Enderlox has planned for him. However, after a brief stare-down, Jerome slowly begins to notice that the hybrid has little interest in a confrontation with him and rather stays in place as he looks down at the Bacca.

"What do you want, Enderlox?", Jerome asked him, determined to find out what the hybrid wants with him and perhaps get the answers of how to get out of this place from him.

"Jerome...I know what you're thinking...and honestly, I'm unfazed by your threats to use your "Power Moves" to possibly defeat me. Yet, you've meet with the inevitable fate of getting infected with the Taint. What kind of warrior can't fight against that?", Enderlox implied at him, slowly beginning to flap his wings faster and starts encircling the Bacca, Jerome just growls as he turns his head and keeps his sight locked on the hybrid in case he tried to do something. Jerome answers back to him "I refuse to answer that".

"Oh, and why not? 'Cause you're weak?", Enderlox questioned, ceasing off his encircling of the Minecrafters and stares deep into his eyes, his own filled with a murderous gaze. Jerome growls at him "I...am not...weak".

Enderlox replies "You're only saying that because you don't want anyone to know how you truly function when it comes to the Hunger Games. Ever since the beginning, you've always relied on Mitchell to get you through the challenges when it comes to facing other competitors. Why not once and a while, it could be just you in the winner circle? Either that or you lose at the moment the horns sound off?"

"I've played in the Hunger Games tournaments with or without Mitch and in the end, everything turns out fine. I don't care either I win or lose, it's just having fun and not being a sore loser about it", exclaimed Jerome.

Enderlox chuckles to himself for a few moments before pointing out "Still though, have you ever fantasied about being at the very top of the chain of warriors, above those who are deemed weak and frail by the public while those at top...get all of the fame and respect from their high skills, determination, and pride they express when dealing with fighters in the fighting ring?" Jerome looks away as he takes no part in agreeing with what the hybrid is suggesting to him. Nothing that came out of his mouth would change his mind and corrupt him. Not that easily.

He looks back at the hybrid and states to him "Not one day passed where I even thought that I was better than anyone else. We all have flaws, but that's just how life made us".

"However, if life was filled with Taint, none of us would have flaws", Enderlox insisted. "And if you agree with me, you'll let me take control of you and make you into a much better person and maybe...even take the title for the ultimate PvP warrior in existence. So...what do you say? Are you in or out?", Enderlox questioned with an evil grin. Jerome just gives the hybrid a halfhearted look before replying to him "...Not even in your dreams".

The dragon hybrid quickly loses his grin and growls menacingly, getting impatient with the Bacca's stubbornness to come to a decision that he felt was satisfying enough for him. At that moment, he knew that it was time to show Jerome the past he once had and the future that is in store for him. He quickly calms his nerves and replies to the PvP warrior "Alright, then. I see that you stand by your decision, Jerome. However, before I leave, I would like to take you to see the visions of your past and future".

"Do I have to? I already know what my future is going to be like, and I know too well about my past that it's not worth talking about", Jerome said bluntly.

"Yes you do!", Enderlox barked at him. Then, he lifts one of his hands and snaps his fingers. Jerome has little time to react as he and the hybrid are engulfed in a wave of blinding light that ate up the darkness.

Moments later, Jerome groans as he begins to blink his eyes open. When his vision refocuses, he finds himself resting upon a stump. The Bacca lifts himself into a sitting position and gets off of the stump, looking around at his surroundings and wondering where he was. He is in a small clearing in a extremely dense forest, so dense that even taking a few steps into the choke of leaves, trees, brushes would make a person confused and make them wonder which way they came from. When he glances over his shoulder, he gasps when he sees Enderlox resting upon a nearby thick branch attached to a Redwood tree.

"Enderlox? Where are we?", Jerome questioned, walking up until he is standing at the very base of the tree. Enderlox states to him "Why, we are in the past! Way before you even knew what a human was. From my high intelligence, you were born in a tribe of your kind own as the Bacca Aceti Clan. Your father was the leader of this group of Baccas. Hadn't not the events that took place years later happened, you were going to be next in line to be the next leader of this clan. And if you don't believe me, take a look past these trees behind me".

Not knowing what the hybrid could have in store for him, Jerome carefully makes his way around the large tree the dragon hybrid is on and starts walking in the south direction. He pushes aside a few branches and leaves, creating a small path behind him. After a short trek through the woods, Jerome finds himself emerging out of the heavy brush and into another clearing, only that this one is inhabited.

Jerome watches in amazement as he quickly sees what appears to be a very small village in the center of the clearing. Several trees grow around the ends of the village, Baccas climb up or down to gather up apples to eat or saplings to grow more. House built out of wood or stone stand, Bacca come out or go in the houses. Some greet each other while walking while others go about their normal jobs, some of them are gatherers, miners, or smelters. Several Bacca cubs play along with each other, tumbling around in the grass and tossing around a ball made entirely out of compressed leaves, tied down with ropes to keep it in its round shape.

Jerome sees the cubs having fun and playing carefree, able to tell each of them apart by a piece of colored cloth wrapped around their necks, some are one color while others are striped colored. The PvP warrior continues to look on at the scene, unaware of the hybrid approaching him from behind. He flinches when he sees Enderlox come into view, but the hybrid floats besides him and looks at the vision in front of him. "As you can see, Jerome", Enderlox started. "You didn't have a much of a bad life as those that I have observed with Deadlox and Seto. You were spared a terrible life and you were raised here".

Jerome looks back at the village and slowly starts making his way towards it, Enderlox follows close behind him. When the Bacca enters the village, he is slightly stunned to see that none of the Baccas seem to take notice of him, or even seem to be aware of his presence. "Huh...why does it seem that none of the Baccas notice me?", Jerome questioned. Enderlox hears his statement and answers to him "This is a vision, Jerome. None of the creatures here can see nor hear you".

As the two hybrids reach the edge of the village, Jerome glances up and sees a cobblestone house, larger than any of the other houses in the settlement. When the wooden door opens up, the same Bacca that Jerome had made before comes into view. But since he was in the past, he could barely recognize his father, only knowing because of the dull-gold streaks of colored fur on him. The Bacca Leader emerges out of the house along with a female Bacca, cradling in the female's arms is a small, newborn Bacca. Around the newborn Bacca is a red tie, instead of a cloth.

When the other Baccas see their leader emerge from his home, they immediately stop what they are doing and bow down in respect. The Bacca Leader glances at his mate and nods at her, the female gently hands over their youngster to him. The lead Bacca steps forward with his son, catching the attention of the others as they slowly pick their heads up while still remaining in their bowing position. The Leader Bacca starts to say "Fellows Baccas, it is with a great honor that I announce that my mate has given us a child, one who will grow up and learn our way of life and one who will eventually take my place when my reign as a leader comes to its conclusion. I give you..."

The Bacca Leader gently readjusts his child and brings him up, revealing him to all of the clam members. "...Jerome!"

The other Baccas begin to cheer for the new arrival and future leader. Jerome slowly opens up his eyes for the first time, revealing them to be a deep dark color. He looks around in curiosity as the other Baccas continue to show their praise.

A few feet away from them, the older version of Jerome stares in shock as Enderlox states to him "As you can see, you were next in line to become the next Bacca Leader. However, all of that happiness and love you shared with your parents and other kin ended instantly when the Viles came and took all of it away. Many Baccas were killed, majority of them were cubs. Only you and a handful of your kind were the only ones left in the entire world. You know what took place that night, several hours after you were born?"

"Yeah...I was left behind and the Viles chased down my entire family. And at one point of my life, I thought that I was the only Bacca alive...up until my friends and I found an entire group and saved them from the Viles. I was close to reuniting with my father and family, but...I just couldn't bear being away from my human and hybrid friends".

"So...you just chose friendship over family?", Enderlox questioned in curiosity.

"You don't understand. My friends are like family, and so are my father and my kind", Jerome argued back, turning to the hybrid.

"Families don't last forever. Families are like a book; they have a beginning, go through the middle, and it all ends when the parents get a divorce or everyone eventually dies", Enderlox pointed out. "Friends and friendship, however, can end in just a blink of an eye. And honestly, do you want that type of relation with the friends you have, or do you want to have it for years with your real family?"

Jerome opens up his mouth to protest back to the hybird's statement, but he quickly finds himself unable to respond to his exclamation. Jerome is an expert at arguments, but he couldn't believe that he was losing this one without almost nothing he has to back up his theories. Before he could give an eventual reply, he hears Enderlox let out an amused chuckle before saying "That's what I thought".

Enderlox snaps his fingers again, making the vision Jerome once saw disappear into nothingness and bring them back into the black void they are standing in. Enderlox states "Now, we're heading into your future. However, there will be a few exceptions when we get there. This will be a different future, in which the Taint never happened and life was still normal for you and your friends".

"Yeah, sure...I'm pretty positive everything is still going to be the same", Jerome mumbled out, crossing his arms over his chest. Enderlox scoffs before he snaps his fingers again and both he and Jerome are surrounded by light and brought into a vision into Jerome's future.

When Jerome opens his eyes, he quickly finds himself in a new area. A large celebration is underway at a nearby stadium where the Hunger Games took place. He watches as numerous Minecrafters approach the front of the stadium where an warrior suited in diamond armor is about to give an announcement. Jerome watches from a nearby hill, Enderlox floats over to him and lays against a log. "Seems that a celebration is happening. Let's see what's going on, shall we?", he questioned, twirling around his tail in amusement.

After a large crowd had gathered near the stage, the warrior taps a microphone, attached to a stand a few times before giving the announcement. "Ladies and gentleman...on this day...an ultimate warrior was born. One who has went through more than a hundred Hunger games and came out each time victorious. One who knows to never give up when all is lost. And one who has all of the skills and charisma. We would like to award him the title of the Ultimate PvP Warrior. That man is...Mitch Hughes!"

Jerome stares in shock as Mitch appears on the stage and makes his way to the center. A couple of other warriors also join the stage and hand Mitch a golden, jewel-stubbed crown, a diamond sword, and a ribbon that says "Ultimate PvP Warrior". The people in the crowd begin to cheer Mitch's name, Mitch smiles as he waves his hand towards the audience.

"So Mitch got the title of Ultimate PvP Warrior? So what? I'm happy for him", Jerome stated out, looking over to Enderlox.

"Keep watching", Enderlox only replied. Jerome sighs as he turns his sight back to the stage.

The lead warrior adjusts the microphone in front of Mitch and backs away as the ultimate warrior begins to give his speech. He begins by saying "Wow, guys! I-I have no idea what to say other than thank you so much for this. It is truly my privilege to be the Ultimate PvP Warrior and share my happiness with each and every one of you. However, before I accept the honor, I'd like to thank three very special people in my life who have made it possible for me to get this far. The first person, who has been on my side since the beginning and has always supported me the whole way..."

Jerome smiles as he gets ready to hear his name. But seconds later, Mitch calls out "Ashely!"

The Bacca is blasted with a look of shock, seeing Ashely get onto the stage and walk up to Mitch, planting a kiss on his cheek afterward. She stands beside him as he continues with "The second person, this person has been in my life since the moment I met him. I couldn't ask for a better person than this guy...and he's none other than..."

"Okay, it's gotta be me this time", Jerome thought to himself anxiously.

"Connor!", Mitch cried out. Several people in the crowd applaud and cheer as a older version of Connor gets onto the stage and stands to the opposite side of his brother, while the other side is occupied by Ashely. Mitch smiles at both his girlfriend and his young brother before looking back to the crowd. "And finally...the last person I'd like to give my appreciation to".

"Okay, it's gotta be me! For sure!", Jerome said to himself, Enderlox just sits across the log with a bored expression.

Mitch exclaims proudly "There's no one who is more important to me than this particular person. This person has been through good times and bad times with me. We've braved through the challenges we faced together and in the end, we come out like champions. So, without further ado, this person in my life...is Via!"

Jerome's jaw drops instantly upon hearing Via's name being called. None of the other names were him, and the very last name wasn't even him. He watches as Via flies onto the stage and joins her brother, bringing him into a hug. Connor joins them as well, even Ashely. After a few moments, they eventually break the hug and the audience in front of the stage begin to swarm the newly crowned warrior with questions about what he will do next. Mitch holds up his hands and states "People, please! One question at a time!"

A male Minecrafter step forward and asks the warrior "Mitch, is there any other person out there you want to mention?"

"Nope! No one of importance, that is! And even if I did have one more person to mention, they wouldn't mean anything to me if they didn't provide some type of help in my life", Mitch said back nonchalantly.

Jerome felt his heart break upon hearing these words from his best friend. He couldn't believe it. It was just a vision, right? It wouldn't happen in the future. His best friend wouldn't forget about him and brag all about him being the Ultimate PvP Warrior. The Bacca collapses to his knees, unable to take the news and wonder if this was the future he was meant to have.

"Have you seen enough?", Jerome heard Enderlox say behind him. The Bacca hangs his head down before whimpering out "...Yes".

Enderlox smirks as he snaps his fingers again. The whole vision of Jerome's future dissipates into a million pieces, fading away afterwards. Jerome remains on his hands and knees as he tries to comprehend what he had just witnessed. The ceremony, the title of Ultimate PvP Warrior, the people called out...and none of it ever showed him in the vision. Jerome covers his eyes as he tries to prevent oncoming sobs from escaping from him. Enderlox approaches to his side and kneels down, gently putting his hand on the creature's shoulder. The Bacca glances up at the hybrid and questions to him "It...It isn't true, right? It...it can't be true! Tell me it isn't true!"

Enderlox shakes his head slightly before sighing out "I wish I could say it isn't...but the vision that you saw doesn't lie. Everything that you saw in your future...is absolutely and undeniable true". Jerome hangs his head again, dragging his hand across the ground in fury and sadness. Enderlox pats the Bacca's shoulder a few times as his other free hand sticks up and forms a bottle of Taint into his palm.

He states to the heartbroken warrior "Jerome...I have pity for you, though I normally don't express it to my victims. But the way I see it...you have two options. Either I can free you out of here and let your being rejoin the conscious world...or...you can drink this", Enderlox brings out the bottle and shows it to Jerome. "...and change the course of your future towards something even better".

Jerome stares at the bottle in front of him. The swirling purple liquid behind the glass almost looks hypnotizing, trancing the person looking directly at it to consume it and feel the power that comes with it. The Bacca is unsure about Enderlox's deal with him. If he didn't drink it, he would awaken and feel the painful effect of the Taint, which would eventually kill him if it decided that he isn't worthy of becoming the Tainted and he would eventually see the future he just saw unfold in front of him if by a miracle, he survived. But if he did drink it, he would be transformed into a powerful beast and not have to face the dark vision he saw. However, it would also mean that he would never see his friends again nor his family. Though at this point in time, Jerome isn't so sure if he can believe himself.

"What do I get from this if I do drink it, besides becoming more powerful?", Jerome questioned in suspicion.

Enderlox replies to him "You can be reunited with your family again. Though it will cost your friendships, do you want to live in fear, knowing that your family could be, at this very moment, getting tortured or killed by anyone else?" Jerome looks away for a moment, then utters out "N-N...N-No..."

"Your kind has been pushed around a lot in the past, Jerome. However, if you drink this, you can find your family again and possibly convince them to make you their leader. You'll lead them through the hardships that will come in the world, and never again if you been heartbroken by the ones who you consider friends and instead, live in luxury and peace with your own family and brethren", Enderlox added in.

Having a few doubts about his decision, Jerome is finally convinced that his future was at stake and that the only way out for him is this decision. The Bacca shakes his head, pulling himself out of thoughts. He glares at the bottle and slowly, he lifts up his head and grasps the neck of the bottle. Enderlox moves his palm away and gets to his feet, watching Jerome hoists himself off of the floor-less ground and stare at the bottle for a few moments. Jerome glances over at the dragon hybrid, who nods to reassure the Bacca that he will be doing the right thing by doing this.

Jerome looks back the bottle and proceeds to grab the cork and pulls it off, wincing a bit as the fumes of the Taint enter his nostrils and give off a foul and gruesome smell. But pushing off the smell, Jerome brings the tip to his mouth and starts chugging down the Taint. Enderlox grins as the amount of the Taint in the bottle begins to lower and lower. Once the liquid Taint is all gone, Jerome drops the bottle as he grasps his head when he feels a wave of tortuous pain pound against his head.

The warrior stumbles around for a bit, Enderlox carefully sneaks in front of the Bacca and waits for him to gain some control of his balance. When Jerome manages to balance himself and open his eyes, he sees Enderlox standing right in front of him. The hybrid grins evilly as his eyes begin to glow a hypnotic pattern. Jerome slowly lets his hands slip from his head as he falls into a trance from Enderlox's hypnosis. His eyes roll to the back of his head as the same pattern begins to flash and pulse in his pupil-less eyeballs.

A few seconds later, Jerome's body suddenly jerks up and streaks of light holding Jerome's memories begin to fly out and disappear. Enderlox breaks his hypnotic pattern and watches the streaks glide out and fade away. The hybrid slowly backs away and enters the darkness as the subconscious image of Jerome turns purple and collapses to the floor, breaking away into particles seconds later and disappearing altogether.

Outside of the mind of Jerome, the Bacca remains stiff and looking lifeless as Mitch is still bent over his body, shedding tears for his friend. Just when Mitch is about to speak out his mourns, he hears Jerome let out a weak groan. Mitch blinks his remaining eye from its tears and looks down at his friend, hoping that the Bacca don't be corrupted when he wakes up. "Jerome? You...Did you fight the Taint? Are you okay?", Mitch questioned desperately, seeing a bit of hope shining through. However, it ended in an instant.

Jerome snaps his head up and faces the Canadian, revealing his eyes to be blood-shot and glowing a green color. Mitch gasps in shock, his hope immediately coming to a crashing halt. His best friend was corrupted. Jerome lets out a fearsome growl as he pushes Mitch off of him, scrambles on all fours, and starts running away into the forest. "Jerome, wait!", Mitch cried out, following the Bacca into the forest. Jerome glances over his shoulder and sees the human running after him, then looks up and leaps upward.

Mitch looks in astonishment as the Bacca starts leaping from branch to branch, getting further and further away from him. But Mitch doesn't stop running, he only increase his speed and continues to run in the direction where Jerome was going. For what seemed like hours, Mitch quickly finds himself into another clearing, a rocky cliff made up the north side of the clearing, the Blood Moon gleaming over the pointy edge of the cliff. Then, a figure appears on the edge and glares down at Mitch, the red light emitting from the moon revealing the figure to be Jerome.

Mitch gulps as he nervously makes his way over to the cliff and towards his corrupted friend. When he is a good distance away, Mitch stops and asks anxiously "H-Hey buddy...you...you..uh..you feeling any better now?"

Jerome doesn't respond. His unchanging glare at him lets Mitch know that the Bacca is in no mood or action to talk. After a moment of staring, Jerome begins to smirk evilly, revealing his sharp fangs.

"Do you honestly think that I was just gonna lay around like a slob while I watched you take all of my happiness and determination away from me?!", Jerome exclaimed angrily. Mitch backs up slightly as he is confused by Jerome's exclamation. "But...But Jerome, I-"

"Don't bother", Jerome interrupted, raising his hand to silence the Canadian. He lowers his hand before stating to him "I have now realized who I was meant to be. I don't deserve to be pushed around by anyone else, not even you. I'm much more powerful, skilled, and intelligent than you'll ever be, human. That title of Ultimate PvP Warrior will be mine...AND YOU'LL NOT GET IN THE WAY OF THAT BECAUSE I DON'T NEED YOU IN MY LIFE ANYMORE!" Jerome screams these last words into the air, his words echo throughout the night. The Blood Moon behind him begins to glow even brighter, forcing Mitch to look away from the sight.

Suddenly, the Blood Moon begins to shift its position, slightly moving upward until it is right above the Bacca. Jerome glances upward and gapes slightly when a large red beam appears from the Blood Moon and zooms right for him. Upon making contact with the beam, Jerome howls in pain as he is lifted into the air, the corruption state is about to begin on him. Mitch can only stand back and watch in fear and dismay as his long-time best friend is taken up several feet away from the ground by the beam.

Jerome struggles in mid-air, then lets out another scream as streaks of red engulf him into its grasp. They twirl around and constrict around the pulsing being, causing the cocoon-like object to change into a darker shade of red. After a minute passing, the cocoon suddenly implodes and a dark figure falls out of it, plummeting down to the earth, but lands safety a couple of feet away from Mitch. Bajan stands in silence, waiting for whatever is to come next. The figure is in a cowering position, its head hanging over as its arms are extended and legs are kneeling close to the ground. After a couple of seconds pass, Mitch decides to take a risk and approach the figure. But when he takes a step, the figure brings itself from the ground as a bright red light erupts from them.

Mitch is forced to look away for a moment. When the light dims down and he is able to look again, shock and distraught is brought upon him instantly.

Standing in the center of the clearing is Jerome, but he is no longer himself. Jerome is now sporting a red suit with a light gray shirt underneath, a dark-red tie, dark pants, black chains around his ankles and wrists, and slightly unkempt fur. Jerome opens up his eyes again, revealing them to be a bright neon-green color, surrounded by red cracks and slightly red corneas. The Bacca grins evilly, his fangs grow even longer as the rest of his teeth also become sharper. He lets out a menacing growl before bringing his hand up.

Mitch looks up and sees an object falling from the Blood Moon. It plummets closer and closer to the Bacca before he grabs it by the handle and wields it out in front of him. It's his diamond axe, only larger with a much sharper head than before. Jerome looks at the weapon and gently traces a finger across its blade before turning his eyesight on the human in front of him, no longer recognizing him as his best friend as all of his memories of his past and future had been erased and replaced with only what his destiny is and what sin he now represents.

"Je-Jerome!", Mitch exclaimed, taking a step back.

"Do not call me that anymore, human!", Jerome growled at him, his voice having a much deeper tone as the Bacca glares at him, his neon-green eyes glow brightly. "I represent the Sin Pride. I show no mercy. I show no pity. And I don't need anyone or anything stopping me from becoming the Ultimate PvP Warrior...not even you, human! From this moment forward, I will be the Ultimate PvP Warrior and beat down my enemies like the scum that they are. And one last thing...don't call me Jerome. Call me...Jagrome".

Mitch gapes as he is unable to respond back to the Bacca. Jagrome swings his axe around with precise and perfectly coordinated handwork before planting the blade into the ground and lets out a loud roar to assert his presence.

Ultimate PvP Warrior - Jagrome

"Now...if you intended on stopping me...be my guest. Or better yet...be my first victim", Jagrome hissed, holding the axe in a attack position. Mitch couldn't believe what he was seeing right in front of him. His once best friend is transformed into a fearsome beast with a thirst for victory, and wanting a brawl with him that could possibly end his life.