From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 231: He Played Like a God, Lost Like a Man

Chapter 231: He Played Like a God, Lost Like a Man

After the final match ended, the crowd erupted like a volcano. Cheers, whistles, and chants boomed through the arena so loudly that the walls seemed to vibrate.

The SilverBlade Legion members leapt from their seats, fists raised in the air. Their voices mixed in laughter, disbelief, and overwhelming joy.

"We did it!" Lulu squealed, grabbing Zian’s arm and shaking it like a rag doll. "Oh my god, we actually won!"

Zian wrapped his hands around Lulu and spun her into the air. "Hell yeah! We crushed them!"

Elijah clapped Archie on the shoulder with a grin so wide it nearly split his face. "Man! I can’t believe it! I have never seen you play like that."

Archie stood still under Elijah’s hand, offering a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. His shoulders remained tight, his chest barely moved with each breath. The rest of the team buzzed around him like excited bees, yet he remained rooted, barely blinking. The shadows under his green eyes were dark, heavy.

He had played with single-minded ferocity, like he was possessed. Every kill, every dodge, every perfectly timed ultimate had come from the same place: rage. He hadn’t played to win. He had played to vent. To destroy. To forget.

And yet he couldn’t. Micah kept crawling into his head. Not the Micah beside him, sarcastic and disdainful, but the one with that soft smile, shining eyes looking at someone else. At Darcy. Not him.

He clenched his fists. He couldn’t take it anymore.

Micah had left. During the most important match. The final. So he just wanted to finish the game and be alone, before he completely lost his mind and snapped.

The worst part was that he couldn’t even confront Micah. Deep down, he knew Micah would take Darcy’s side.

No, he couldn’t deal with this problem straightforwardly. Micah was biased toward that dark-haired boy. He needed a plan.

Archie stood up abruptly. "I need to go somewhere," he said flatly, brushing Elijah’s hand off his shoulder.

Elijah blinked. "Uh, what?"

"It’s up to you how we celebrate." Archie’s voice was already fading as he turned on his heel, walking away with long, fast strides.

Elijah stood there, baffled, watching his captain disappear toward the back door of the venue. He did not seem happy at all.

Elijah glanced at Russell questioningly.

Russell pursed his lips and shook his head.

"Was it Frosty’s absence that messed him so bad?" Lulu murmured, had already stopped bouncing, and was frowning.

"Man, I was really surprised when Captain said they had to leave," Zian said, wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeves. "I seriously thought we were screwed for a second there."

"What could have happened to them?" Elly asked, walking to them.

"Probably a family emergency or something. I mean, why else would someone drop the final round like that? After going through all the trouble in the knockout? It makes no sense otherwise," Flinn said.

"But, I have to hand it to Captain. He managed the team really well." Elijah said, forcing a smile.

"Of course. Who do you think Archie is?" Zian laughed. "We had nothing when we first went for Esports tournaments. No sponsors. No coach."

Flinn turned to Russell, who stood quietly on the side. "Hey, why are you looking so bummed out? This is your first win, isn’t it?"

Russell nodded. "Yeah, it is. I’m just... worried about my brother."

"Hmm? Why?" Zian asked, puzzled.

The others paused, sensing something deeper. Russell didn’t answer. They exchanged looks and sighed. No one pressed him. But most of them had a guess.

Elijah glanced toward the exit where fans had gathered beyond the venue gates, their signs and glowsticks flashing. He clapped his hands together. "Come on. Our fans are waiting outside. Let’s go thank them properly."

Lulu, Elly, and the others followed, turning toward the exit.

Meanwhile, Archie walked alone toward the back of the campus. Friday afternoon was quiet. Most students had gone home or were out having fun. The dorm building loomed in silence.

Archie found a bench by the lake, shaded by a large maple tree. He sat down heavily, elbows on his knees, hands gripping his hair. His fingers dug into his scalp as he leaned forward, staring at the water as if it held all the answers he couldn’t find.

There was this deep frustration inside him. He took a deep breath and fished out his phone. His fingers trembled slightly. The lock screen lit up.

He hovered over Micah’s chat, thumb twitching. He wanted to text him. Tell him they had won. Maybe ask where the hell he had gone. Ask why he hasn’t told him anything.

But before he could type, his eyes landed on a WeChat moment. His whole body electrified. He was stuck motionless.

He read the caption again and again. He stared at the picture, the phone trembling in his grip. His throat felt tight and dry as if he swallowed sand.

He knew it.

His gut feeling told him it was Darcy. He was the one who made the cake.

A bitter laugh burst out of his mouth, ugly and sharp. His eyes turned red. It was Micah’s birthday today. But no one knew. At least no one who was not Darcy.

That damn snake! That quiet, manipulative, dark-haired snake.

Archie slammed his palm down on the bench, the sound cracking through the air. "Fuck," he yelled, his voice shaking with rage.

That bastard didn’t tell anyone. Hadn’t given anyone else the chance to celebrate Micah’s birthday.

He wanted to be the only one. Wanted to take all the glory to himself. Maybe that was what this was all about. Not just the cake. Not just Micah’s birthday. But control.

Archie felt he became angrier and angrier with every passing second.

It was all so obvious.

It was funny that he didn’t even need to think hard to be able to guess who might have baked that cake.

Haha...

He was so sure that it seemed ridiculous.

He could picture that bastard made the cake, sat across from Micah, watching him smile, watching him eat, so proud of his own little secret celebration. Acting all innocent. As if he hadn’t shoved the rest of the world out of Micah’s life.

No. He needed to erase that guy’s influence on Micah. If before he had considered a soft approach to deal with Darcy, now he was sure he should crush him fullheartedly.

He was more dangerous than he had thought.

Yes. Destroying a nobody like Darcy, a nameless guy with no family backing, no status, or money, would be easy.

Archie’s expression hardened. His eyes darkened, stripped of warmth. What replaced it was resolve: sharp, ruthless, and final.