The Powerholders

Chapter 5:

Malcum and Claudia follow the teacher down the hallways and around the school. As they pass classes children are continuing with their simple school life. The damage to the buildings is non-existent. None seem the wiser as to what had occurred.

Now this is interesting. Since when did we hide hostile power uses inside school ground? And how did they keep it from the students?

Boy, you should not underestimate people and their unique powers.

Malcum suddenly turns but the hall behind them is empty. And no one is speaking to him physically.

Who the hell was that? Telepathy? I don't think I'll win in a battle if mind right now.

So, you're already sizing me up huh? Amusing! Truly amusing!

Well, I guess I'll meet this person soon.

Upon entering the principal's office, a wave of energy floods over them. Malcum, having seen this before, knows this feeling all too well, the principal's Domain of Oppression. He himself is a retired S-Class. But even when he was an active S-Class the SS-Class Powerholders still didn't dare to mess with him. His Domain can suppress even the most powerful human and monster alike. But the price was that he becomes immobile. Not that that is a problem when he wants you to come to him like now.

Through the thickness of the domain a ginormous, fat man with a bald head is seated in a black suit behind his large, polished oakwood desk. His face looks like the face of an end boss in a game Malcum played regularly. It looked like the face the Deranged Berserker made in the raid events. The room is covered in the domain, limiting vision to merely the two guest chairs and the chairman's desk. He gestures for them to sit.

Malcum and Claudia take a seat just as the teacher makes herself scarce and vanishes.

"So, which one of you would like to explain what happened?"

The principal was obviously enraged, but his voice remained emotionless and almost had an elemental effect in it. As if it came out of a glacier's cave in the North Pole. Malcum was somewhat impressed by this.

"Mister Principal, she came here this morning and misunderstood me, which led to a disastrous battle. My apologies for the inconvenience."

Claudia looks at Malcum with a raised eyebrow. Malcum had no intention of explaining everything again. This was a far easier solution.

The principle gave him a good look before releasing his domain.

"Malcum, cut the crap. I don't really care, since I know how difficult it is to... contain you here. I remember our agreement, but you can't go around smashing the buildings or harming students please."

Claudia's eyes open wide in surprise.

Why is he just letting him off?

"Mister Principal, I agreed with the terms, so then why am I involved with the tournament this time? That was not in the deal we made. Besides if someone is going to pick a fight with me, I won't stand there like some i***t. You know that isn't how I work."

"Yeah, yeah I know."

The principal’s face starts to slowly reveal a smile.

"But you should also know that it is about time you showed everyone your real power. So, stop giving me trouble over it. You want to fight, don't you?"

At that moment Claudia realised something: They were talking as if they knew each other for years, but how? He also knows about his real power. Does that mean that they have fought before? What a fight that must have been.

As these thoughts filter through her mind, she didn't see how Malcum and the Principal were smiling at each other.

This was the start of an event that changed the power balance of the world.

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Afterwards they were excused from the office. Claudia said she would come see him again after sorting out her living arrangements and then properly apologize. Malcum simply returned to class. They had missed a good portion of the day. It was already last period. Mathematics.

Although I don't hate math, I'm not really in the mood right now. That fight said a lot about me in terms of strength. I need to practice a bit. And now some telepath is after me too. As well as her boss. So, I should start moving out now. Strike while the iron's hot. But first, maths.

Malcum enters the class and sits in his usual position at the window. His friend leans over to him.

"Dude, where were you? I hadn't seen you all morning!"

He was so close to Malcum that Malcum could tell what he ate for lunch. Which made Malcum think of the food he had packed, but never ate.

"Principal's office. Got in trouble for grades again."

"Nonsense, you are in our top 14 man! An elite! How would you be scolded for bad grades?"

Although Malcum knew this excuse was stupid, he just hoped that his friend was not as awake as he thought he was.

"Ok. It was a bad mistake in an English writing exam. I made a spelling error that made an inappropriate word."

"Ah, yeah that makes sense. Which word though?"

Let it go, please man.

"I misspelled my fluke. My 'f' and 'l' merged, and my 'e' was too small to r******w focus on class."

Mathematics class went by fast, and the bell rang. The class students started making their ways home. Malcum sat there for a moment deep in thought.

"What's wrong? You're not going all philosophical on me, are you?"

"No. I was just thinking how it would feel holding the world in my hands for a change. Being a Powerholder. And becoming the most powerful one ever to exist. How must that feel?"

Although Ben has known Malcum for a long time. He still didn't know much about him. But one thing was almost instinctual for him to know about Malcum. That was that Malcum was not as weak as he seemed and that he was ambitious beyond common understanding. So, when Malcum got like this, it usually meant that he was going to make a move and was forming a plan of execution. Sox he always answered him seriously.

"Although it would feel good, it would probably also be intoxicating. I mean, being on top, changes people."

"I know bud. But this is a small town filled with narrow minded people. Who knows what would happen if a stir occurred? Might be fun."

"I don't think you really understand the size and power of this town and this world, Malcum."

"Really? It's a pretty big world to explore and people might be strong, I agree."

"Yeah."

"But I'm definitely going to discover it all and try to reach the top!"