Samuel had finally snapped.
Six Prefects—six—had been effortlessly defeated by Marius Cloud.
How was he supposed to win now?
What was even the point of this fight?
All six of them had been reduced to clowns in a one-sided performance.
This was no duel—it was a public execution.
With a roar of frustration, humiliation, and fear, Samuel poured everything he had left into his wand, unleashing a chaotic storm of spells at Marius.
Marius let out a soft sigh and shook his head.
Each and every attack was deflected with casual, almost lazy flicks of his wand.
And while Samuel screamed and hurled curses, Marius simply walked toward him, slowly… step by step… as if taking a post-meal stroll.
-----
"DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!"
Samuel's face was twisted in rage. He was burning through his magical reserves, his voice cracking, his breath heaving—
—but Marius remained untouched.
Dancing through the barrage like a ghost, drawing ever closer.
Step by step, Samuel began to retreat.
One step. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven… eight…
And then—thunk.
His back hit solid stone.
The castle wall.
He'd reached the edge. There was nowhere left to run.
-----
Marius now stood just inches away.
The final spell Samuel had cast was swatted aside like a fly, exploding harmlessly above his head.
The blast rained small bits of stone down over him, making him flinch like a terrified rabbit.
Though Marius was clearly shorter, at that moment—he seemed to tower over Samuel.
All color drained from Samuel's lips.
And at last… he understood.
Magic was meaningless.
He couldn't even scratch this monster.
-----
"AAAAAAHHHHH YOU BASTARD!!!"
Losing it completely, Samuel threw his wand aside and lunged with his fists—he'd given up on logic.
He wanted to rely on his physical strength as an older student.
Maybe… just maybe… if he could land a punch—
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Was this really happening?
The Fifth-Year Prefect had broken mentally and was now trying to beat up a First-Year boy with his bare hands?
He was taller. He was stronger.
Could it really end like this?
Some students couldn't even bear to look—
Was the strongest prodigy in Hogwarts going to be taken down by… brute force?
-----
"STOP RIGHT THERE!!"
Barry and the others were practically screaming, watching in fury.
Then came a sharp, crisp crack.
Everyone opened their eyes, confused.
That didn't sound like a punch landing.
They looked again—
Marius had caught Samuel's fist with one hand.
Effortlessly.
Samuel's entire arm was locked in place like it'd been clamped in iron.
He tugged and strained, but couldn't move.
Then Marius frowned.
He reached out with his other hand—grabbed Samuel by the collar—
—and lifted him.
Like a kitten.
The strength that surged from Marius' eleven-year-old body was so shocking, the crowd felt like they were watching an adult hoist up a child.
Samuel's legs dangled off the ground. He flailed uselessly.
"W-What are you doing!?"
Even Dumbledore's expression changed.
He'd been lulled by Marius not using magic. Now he realized things might have gone too far.
But it was already too late.
Marius clenched his other fist—
—and drove it into Samuel's nose.
CRACK!
-----
"GUHAAAH!"
Blood exploded from Samuel's face as he flew backwards, crashed into the wall, bounced off it like a ragdoll, and collapsed face-down in the dirt.
The entire courtyard fell dead silent.
And then—shock.
Sheer, utter, dumbstruck shock.
-----
"Oh… my… god…"
"Wait, didn't he already beat a Seventh-Year Prefect with just his fists?!"
"Right!! That's how he took down Caesar!"
People had forgotten—because Marius was just a First-Year, his small frame lulled them into underestimating him.
But that was Marius Cloud.
The boy who didn't like someone?
He'd just punch them into the ground.
And Samuel?
He was just a coward who'd run out of options and tried to win through brute force.
Too bad for him—
Marius Cloud was stronger in every possible way.
-----
And now…
It was over.
All six Prefects lay unconscious.
Only Marius remained standing—completely unscathed.
There was no question.
Victory belonged to Marius Cloud.
Marius flexed his fingers, shaking off the blood as he turned back to face the crowd.
From the students came no more laughter.
No more mockery.
Only admiration.
Awe.
And an almost sacred silence.
Everyone stared at him, waiting for him to say something.
But Marius said nothing.
He simply turned to the morning sun—
—and raised his fist into the air.
The sunlight bathed him in golden brilliance.
Behind him—
The six fallen Prefects.
Before him—
The future.
"THE KING OF SLYTHERIN!!!"
Someone shouted it first.
Then others followed. Louder. Louder still.
Until the very walls of Hogwarts echoed with it.
"THE KING OF SLYTHERIN!"
"THE KING OF SLYTHERIN!"
"THE KING OF SLYTHERIN!"
Some were swept up in the moment.
Others truly believed it.
A few just couldn't help themselves from cheering.
It didn't matter.
The name had already spread.
And Marius Cloud…
The King of Slytherin…
stood alone beneath the sky, with a world of magic laid out before him.
--------------
T/N:
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