Malik hesitated as the Overseer's voice cut through the noise of the crowd.
"Next fighter," she called, her tone sharp and unyielding. Her cold eyes swept across the barracks, landing on Malik. She raised a hand, pointing directly at him. "Malik."
The crowd quieted slightly, turning to see who she had chosen.
Malik froze, his heart hammering in his chest. He glanced at Benson, who leaned lazily against the wall, offering no encouragement. If anything, Benson looked mildly in his own world, as if in deep thought.
"Isn't that the A class?"
"The freak monster?"
"He doesn't really look like he can do much?"
"I wonder what his ability will look like,"
"Move," the Overseer said, her voice much softer.
Benson's eyes narrowed. The bias was far too clear.
The Overseer's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she raised her hand. "Begin."
Malik stood in the middle of the arena, his fists clenched at his sides. His opponent was a bulky man with arms like tree trunks. The crowd cheered loudly, some shouting insults, others laughing at Malik's small frame compared to the giant before him.
Benson leaned against the wall in the crowd, watching with mild interest. He wasn't worried about Malik. He wasn't his friend, after all. But curiosity tugged at him. Malik was new to this world, and something about him felt… strange.
The Overseer raised her hand. "Begin."
The giant man wasted no time. He charged at Malik like a bull, his heavy boots thudding against the ground. Malik barely managed to step aside, his movements clumsy and rushed.
"Fight back, kid!" someone shouted from the stands.
Malik didn't answer. His opponent swung a massive fist at him, and Malik ducked just in time. The punch whistled past his ear, and the wind from it made him stumble.
Benson raised an eyebrow. "He's going to get crushed."
But then Malik raised his hand. The air around him shimmered faintly, like heat rising from the ground. The crowd noticed it too, their jeers quieting as they leaned closer.
The giant lunged again, swinging both fists down toward Malik. But before they could connect, the shimmer in the air thickened, and the man froze mid-attack. His fists hovered inches from Malik's head, shaking as if they were stuck in place.
"What the hell?" the man growled, his muscles straining.
Malik's hand twitched, and the shimmer grew stronger. Time itself seemed to bend around him. The giant man's movements slowed, his gritted teeth stretching into a sluggish grimace.
The crowd erupted into shouts and gasps.
"Is that…?" someone muttered.
"Time manipulation?" another whispered.
Malik's face was tense, sweat dripping down his temple. He didn't look confident—he looked scared. His fingers moved awkwardly, as if he wasn't sure what he was doing.
The giant man roared and broke free, his body snapping back into motion. He swung at Malik again, and this time, Malik wasn't quick enough. The punch caught him in the ribs, sending him sprawling across the dirt.
The crowd cheered loudly, the tension breaking for a moment. Malik coughed, clutching his side as he got to his knees.
"Is that all you've got?" the giant taunted, laughing.
Malik didn't answer. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes narrowing. He raised his hand again, and the air shimmered once more.
This time, it wasn't just around him.
The shimmer spread outward, wrapping around the giant man like an invisible net. His movements slowed again, but this time, his entire body seemed to flicker. He shifted between fast and slow, his steps uneven, like he was caught in some kind of glitch.
"What the—" the man tried to say, but his words came out in stretched, distorted syllables.
Malik staggered to his feet, his hand trembling as he kept it raised. His other hand clutched his side, but he pushed through the pain. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Malik made a pulling motion, and the giant man was yanked backward, his feet dragging across the dirt.
The man tried to fight it, roaring as his muscles bulged, but the more he struggled, the slower he became. Malik clenched his fist, and the shimmer around the man thickened, freezing him completely.
The crowd erupted into chaos, some cheering wildly, others shouting in disbelief.
"He's controlling time!" someone screamed.
Malik's face twisted in concentration. He took a shaky step forward, his hand still trembling. The giant man hung in the air, his body bent at an unnatural angle.
Benson frowned, his curiosity growing. Malik didn't look like someone in control of their power. He looked like he was barely holding on.
Malik opened his hand, and the shimmer exploded outward. The giant man was flung across the arena, crashing into the wall with a loud thud. Dust and debris flew everywhere, and the crowd gasped as the man slumped to the ground, unmoving.
The arena was silent for a moment.
Then, someone started clapping. Slowly, others joined in, and soon the crowd was roaring with approval. Malik stood in the middle of it all, his chest heaving, his face pale.
The Overseer stepped forward, raising her hand. "The winner is Malik."
The crowd erupted again, their cheers echoing through the arena. Malik staggered toward the edge of the ring, his steps uneven.
Benson crossed his arms, watching as Malik collapsed onto a bench, breathing heavily. For a moment, he thought about going over, but he shook his head. Malik wasn't his responsibility.
Still, Benson couldn't help but feel a strange mix of admiration and unease. Malik's power was incredible, but it was raw and unstable. If he learned to control it…
Benson smirked to himself. "Jesus Christ."
Malik sat there, his hands shaking as he stared at the ground. He looked more tired than victorious. Benson didn't say a word as he walked past, leaving Malik to his thoughts.
The fight was over, but the memory of Malik's power lingered in the air, heavy and undeniable.
His ability wasn't anything like that.
Consume.
Greed's voice resounded. Benson blinked, then can I do that?
Much more.