Chapter 6: Back story
[Hello everyone, you may notice that my chapter style changes a bit over the next few chapters and that is because people have been reviewing this story and giving me helpful tips to improve and so to them I say Thank you. Now without any further wait. Link Start!]
It was Monday afternoon. Eric and Kirito walked out of school. "Hey Eric, look over there." Kirito said as he pointed to a person on the sidewalk. The person was staring Eric dead in the eyes.
"I don't like their eyes." Eric said as he stopped walking. "I can see blood lust, laughing coffin is my guess." Eric said as he started running at the person. AS Eric got closer he could tell that it was a man. Eric threw a sharp right hook. The man caught it with ease.
"Your eye is duller then it used to be." The man said as Eric jumped back and Kirito stood beside Eric. "Your eyes used to reflect blood lust as well." The man said. "That was back in SAO." The man said.
"Yeah, I ain't really proud of what I did, but I most likely saved lots of people." Eric said remembering Sinon's words.
"Did you save enough to make up for 2549 deaths?" The man asked.
'Eric killed that many people?' Kirito asked himself as he looked at Eric. Kirito could see the rage boiling inside him now.
"No… And I didn't save enough to make up for 2550 deaths." Eric said as he stepped towards the man. The man backed up and took out a knife. Eric smirked. "Oh goodie, I love a knife to hand fight." Eric said as he kicked the man in the chest and sent him crashing into the sidewalk.
"Eric…" Kirito said. Eric shot him the evilest stare Kirito had ever saw. "Don't kill him, please." Kirito said. Eric ignored him and went back to fighting the man. Eric dodged all his attacks with ease and countered with all he had. Kirito texted the group chat.
"Get up!" Eric yelled as the man was clutching his ribcage while rocking back and forth on the ground. Eric picked up his knife. "It's a real shame." Eric said while looking the knife over. "A blade should have a little blood on it." Eric said as he grinned. 'Stop!' Eric thought to himself. Eric froze in his spot. 'I can't let it control me no more… I'm not in SAO.' Eric thought as he dropped the knife and backed up.
"Eric..." Kirito said as he put his hand on Eric's shoulder.
"I-I lost it." Eric said.
"It's ok, the man shouldn't have started it." Kirito said. Eric stepped forward knocking Kirito's hand off his shoulder.
"No! all he did was look at me, I threw the first punch." Eric said with his anger returning. 'why am I returning to being a monster now?!' Eric thought. Eric started walking towards the man as he got up. 'Why won't my feet stop moving? Stop dang it!' Eric yelled at himself. Suddenly Eric felt arms wrap around his chest.
"Stop… please stop." Sinon said as she hugged him tightly. Eric stopped walking.
'Asada…' Eric thought as a tear came to his eye. Eric looked at the guy and he ran off.
"Thank you for letting him go." Sinon said. Eric tried to turn around and face her but she still hadn't let go of him yet.
"I should be thanking you." Eric said. "If you hadn't of stopped me then I might, no I would have done something I would regret." Eric said. Kirito walked in front of him.
"I think you owe all of us your backstory." Kirito said. "So let's all head over to my house and you can tell us, ok?" Kirito asked. Eric nodded. "See you there soon." Kirito said as he ran off to his bike and left. Sinon let go of Eric.
"Can I ride with you?" Sinon asked.
"Of course you can." Eric said with a smile.
"Thanks." Sinon said. Sinon and Eric walked to Eric's Firebird. Eric got in the driver's seat while Sinon got the front passenger seat. After a few minutes of driving Eric's firebird pulled into Kirito's drive way. Eric and Sinon went inside. Everyone was already there. Sinon went and sat next to Asuna while Eric sat on the couch.
"Whenever you're ready." Kirito said.
"At first all I did in SAO was dungeon raiding, but laughing coffin kept coming after me time and time again." Eric started. "And I got so sick of just fending them off, I wanted to send a message. So I attacked a group of them while they were player hunting." Eric continued. "I killed all 20 within half an hour. And I loved the feel of their pain and the sound of their screams before they died." Eric said as his body started shaking. "I-I couldn't help myself after that. I did keep some respect, I only killed other killers." Eric explained. "I became what they were, I was what I killed. I was a high-level killer." Eric said as he stood up. "Laughing coffin was my main target, I heard about a raid that contained other strong players who was going to attack them, the raid that had you with them Kirito." Eric said as he pointed to Kirito. "How many did you kill?" Eric asked.
"2." Kirito answered.
"You killed out of defense, I know that much. But I killed because I had blood lust. 12 died that night because of my blade." Eric said. "And I never broke away from what I told myself at day one, never kill an innocent person. I always stuck to the killers." Eric said. "And ever since I got out of SAO I sometimes have these thoughts like, What if I belong in laughing coffin or am I a real murder for killing them when I knew what I was doing?" Eric asked started to shake really bad. "I Murdered 2549 people! Yes they were murders but still! I only ridded the game of 2548 killers because I replaced one of them as a killer!" Eric yelled. Everyone was quiet. Eric clenched his fists. "That's all, I need to go blow off some steam, see ya'll later or something." Eric said as he started walking off. Eric got to the front door before he realized Sinon was following him.
"I'm coming with you." Sinon said.
"Fine." Eric said as him and Sinon got in his firebird and took off down town. They pulled up in front of an old looking gym. Eric got out and walked inside, Sinon waited then followed him in.
"Eric!" A buff man wearing a tank top and shorts said as he walked up to Eric.
"What's up Mac?" Eric asked as they high fived each other.
"Nothing much, need some steam beat out of Ya?" Mac asked with a chuckle.
"Even though I've only came here a few times you should know I get my steam out by beating these guys." Eric said with a grin.
"Well we got some new tough guys here, oh and who's this pretty lady?" Mac asked.
"This is Asada." Eric said.
"Hi." Sinon said.
"well howdy." Mac said.
"Got my gear?" Eric asked.
"It's in your locker." Mac said.
"Thanks Mac." Eric said as he walked into the changing room.
"So how many times has Eric came here?" Sinon asked.
"Well he started coming every now and again 2 weeks ago. He's a mighty tough guy." Mac said.
"Dang right." Eric said from behind Mac. Eric was now wearing a black tank top and orange shorts.
"Shouldn't you be wearing a helmet and padding?" Sinon asked.
"Well in my gym we give them a choice, fight with gear or without." Mac said.
"And I choose to fight without gear, I like the feeling of my opponents face against my bare fist." Eric said with a dead face.
"Well I worry about you getting hurt." Sinon said.
"I don't mind the pain, back in SAO I let my enemies knock me to red to give them a chance so I'm used to pain." Eric said. Eric walked off before Sinon could say anything else.
"I worry about that kid sometimes." Mac said.
"What do you mean?" Sinon asked.
"Well I've seen him fight a good many battles now and he doesn't seem to really care about his own body. He fights head on without worrying about death, yes that's why he is so strong and people fear him. But it also means he doesn't know how to stop." Mac said. Sinon just watched as Eric stepped into a ring. A man with an 8-pack climbed into the ring.
"Shirtless 8, want a rematch?" Eric asked.
"Yeah and stop calling me that. My name is Jack." Jack said. Eric just smiled and got into a fighting stance. "Still using that weird stance huh? Well begin!" Jack yelled as he ran at Eric. Eric shifted all his weight to his side and did a lighting quick dodge and spun around and kicked Jack in the back sending him to the ground.
"Get up!" Eric yelled. Already most of the gym was watching the fight. Jack got up and wiped some blood that started dripping from his lips. Eric charged and jumped. Eric did a mid-air spin kick to Jack's face. Jack was sent flying into the floor. Time Eric landed he ran over and pulled Jack to his feet and started pounding on his chest. Eric did a sharp left upper cut and Jack went into the air before landing on the ground, out cold. "That was not enough! Who else wants a piece of pain?" Eric asked. Most people who was watching the fight backed away. "Tch! Weaklings! Is there no one here man enough to challenge me!?" Eric yelled out. A new person climbed into the ring.
"You talk big, but can you back it up?" A man asked. Eric spun around to face the man.
"Yeah, what's your name punk?" Eric asked.
"Kcuhc Sirron." Kcuhc said.
"Let's go, there is no count down in real fights." Eric said. Kcuhc walked at Eric. Eric ran at him. "Die you cocky Bast-" Eric was cut off by Kcuhc kicking Eric in the side. 'I didn't even see his leg moving!' Eric thought as he steadied himself and charged again. This time when Kcuhc kicked Eric caught his leg. Eric pulled Kcuhc off balance and let go of his leg. Eric used his left leg to swipe out the leg Kcuhc was using to balance. Kcuhc fell to the floor. Eric jumped on top of him and started pounding on his face. Eric drew back his fist. Eric went to go punch him but Kcuhc was able to move and knock Eric off and he kicked Eric away and they both got up and ran at each other. Kcuhc moved his left leg back a little. 'He is going for a kick again.' Eric thought. Indeed Kcuhc used his left leg to kick at Eric, But Eric threw up his arms and blocked it, but it had so much power behind it, it left Eric frozen for a second. Kcuhc quickly planted his left leg on the ground and swiftly moved his right leg and kicked Eric in his back where he was exposed. Eric screamed as he fell to the ground. Eric did a roll to get away and he hopped up. "You got some power, I'll give you that." Eric said.
"So do you, but you fight with your rage, that's why you will lose against me." Kcuhc said. Eric snapped.
'WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?!' Eric yelled in his mind. Eric ran full force at Kcuhc. "Die!" Eric yelled as he punched with such speed no one could block. Eric's fist connected with Kcuhc's face. Kcuhc went flying back onto the ground. Eric clenched his fist. 'What's that guys face made of? Metal?' Eric thought as his fist felt immense pain. Kcuhc got up and wiped some blood off his face.
"Eric!" Sinon yelled. Eric looked at her. "It's getting late and you are my ride, can you take me home, please?" Sinon asked. Eric groaned.
"I surrender." Eric said as he looked down. Kcuhc walked over and put his hand on Eric's shoulder.
"You're doing the right thing, we tied. But next time I will win." Kcuhc said.
"Tch… I will fight you again." Eric said as he climbed out the ring. Eric and Sinon walked back to the firebird in silence. Eric was driving Sinon home when she noticed blood starting to trickle down from Eric's lip.
"Your hurt." Sinon said.
"I guess, my body is full of the rush so I won't feel my pain until tomorrow." Eric said.
"You should let me tend to your injuries." Sinon said.
"It's fine." Eric said.
"No!" Sinon yelled. Eric was shocked. "You will let me tend to you." Sinon said.
"Y-Yes." Eric said.
"Sorry I snapped." Sinon said.
"It's ok, I shouldn't have let my rage take over in my fight." Eric said.
"Yeah you shouldn't have." Sinon said. After they got to Sinon's apartment they went inside. They went in front of the mirror. Eric's lip was busted, and some minor wounds. Sinon used a wet rag to wipe Eric's lip. "Just take it easy and you should be fine." Sinon said. Eric sighed.
"Right, goodnight." Eric said as he went to the door.
"You aren't the only one who as hurt people." Sinon said. Eric turned and looked at her. Sinon told Eric the story about her shooting the man who tried to rob the postal office. "So yeah, that's why I played GGO, to get stronger." Sinon said.
"Well I think you did the right thing." Eric said.
"Yeah but my hands still have blood on them because of that." Sinon said starting to feel down. Eric walked in front of her and held out his hand.
"Your hands may have one persons blood on them, but could you hold my hand if you knew it had the blood of so many people on it? You killed for defense while I did because I wanted to. So could you?" Eric asked. Sinon just looked at him. Eric went to go talk when Sinon grabbed his hand.
"Yes, I can. Because you still saved people, and deep down we both know you did it to save people as well." Sinon said as she gripped his hand tightly. Eric just stood there.
"I'm glad one of us can say that." Eric said. "It's late I should get home, we got school tomorrow." Eric said.
"Yeah." Sinon said. Sinon let go of Eric's hand.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Eric said. "Goodnight." Eric said as he left. Eric walked to his firebird. Eric looked at his hand. 'I can still feel the warmth of her hand.' Eric thought. Eric's face turned red slightly. 'Whoa! Where did that thought come from?!' Eric asked himself as he drove home. Eric plopped onto his bed. "I wonder if the others understand what I did… or fear it." Eric asked himself out loud as he started to pass out. In the morning Eric heard his phone start ringing. Eric woke up and answered it. "huh? Hello?" Eric asked groggily.
"Eric, school starts soon and you're not here." Kirito said over the phone. Eric jumped out of bed.
"I'll be there soon!" Eric yelled as he hung up. Eric quickly changed his clothes and started driving to school. "Dang it Kirito, I still have 15 minutes." Eric said as he was still driving. Eric stopped at a donut shop and got a donut before heading to school. "Now I need to hurry!" Eric yelled as he drove to school. "And today… Ragnarök begins in ALO." Eric said as he arrived at school. "After school, the fight starts." Eric said as he went inside.