Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 5: Fire and Ice, Part 3

Announcer 1: "Hold onto your seats, folks! The fire's burning brighter than ever, and this showdown is about to reach a whole new level of intensity! Who will stand victorious, and who will fall? You won't want to miss this!"

Announcer 2: "Johnny's rage is driving him forward, but in battles like these, emotions can be a double-edged sword. And with Laurel in the mix, this fight could take an unexpected turn at any moment."

The clearing was a battlefield of scorched earth and shattered ice. The air shimmered with heat, the oppressive warmth from Johnny's flames making it hard to breathe. William stood his ground, his shield of metal barely holding up against the onslaught, sweat pouring down his face. Angelo was on the sidelines, nursing his burned leg, his eyes flicking between William and Johnny, desperate for a way to help.

Johnny advanced, flames swirling around him like a living storm, his eyes locked onto William with murderous intent. "You took my sister from me!" he roared, his voice cracking with grief and fury. "Now I'm going to burn you alive!"

With a furious shout, Johnny unleashed another massive wave of fire. William braced himself, metal twisting and contorting as he reinforced his shield, but the force of the flames was too much. The heat seared his skin, and his knees buckled as he struggled to stay upright.

Laurel watched from behind a fallen tree, his heart pounding in his chest. His laser vision had taken out weaker opponents before, but Johnny's fire seemed unstoppable. And yet, as he watched William struggling, the anger inside him grew. His mind flashed back to his father—another man who wielded power like a weapon, who took from him everything he had loved. The injustice of it all, the pain of loss, it fueled the fire in his heart.

He couldn't stand by any longer.

With a deep breath, Laurel emerged from the shadows. He had one shot, and he had to make it count. His eyes glowed with a fierce red light as he focused on Johnny, who was too consumed by rage to notice the young boy creeping up behind him.

William grunted as Johnny's flames finally broke through his shield, burning the edge of his coat. He stumbled back, feeling the searing heat close in, when suddenly, the flames flickered and faltered. Johnny had paused, confusion flickering across his face as he realized something was wrong.

And then, in a flash of crimson light, Laurel's laser vision struck. The beam of pure energy cut through the air with deadly precision, hitting Johnny square in the back of his head.

Johnny's eyes widened in shock, his flames sputtering out as he staggered forward. He reached up, touching the charred wound at the back of his skull, his fingers trembling. The fire that had raged within him flickered one last time, then extinguished. With a final, choking gasp, Johnny collapsed to the ground, his lifeless body falling beside his sister's.

Silence fell over the clearing, the heat dissipating as quickly as it had come. Laurel stood still, his breathing heavy, his eyes fixed on Johnny's motionless form. He had done it. He had killed someone.

Announcer 1: "Whoa! Did you see that, folks? Laurel, the kid with laser vision, just took down Johnny Pognin in one incredible strike! The firestorm has been extinguished, but at what cost?"

Announcer 2: "A strategic move by Laurel, exploiting Johnny's blind spot. It's a reminder that in this game, no one—no matter how powerful—is invincible. But now, the psychological impact of that kill might weigh heavily on such a young competitor."

William stumbled to his feet, wincing from the burns but still very much alive. He looked over at Laurel, who stood frozen in place, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes still glowing faintly.

"Laurel..." William called out, his voice softer now. He could see the turmoil in the boy's eyes. "You did what you had to do."

Laurel didn't respond at first. He just stared at Johnny's body, his mind racing. The thrill of victory was there, but so was the weight of the kill. He had wanted revenge, but now that it was done, all he felt was emptiness.

Angelo limped over, placing a hand on Laurel's shoulder. "You saved us, kid," he said quietly. "Don't forget that."

Laurel finally looked up, his gaze meeting Angelo's. He nodded, though the haunted look in his eyes remained. "I had to," he whispered. "He would have killed us all."

William glanced at Johnny's body, then back at Laurel. "Yeah. And now we keep moving. This fight isn't over yet."

Laurel nodded again, though his expression remained distant. He turned away from the bodies, trying to push down the emotions swirling inside him. They had won the battle, but the war was far from over.

As the three of them began to move out of the clearing, leaving the destruction behind, the tension in the air remained thick. They were survivors—for now—but Power Royale had a way of breaking even the strongest.

To be continued...