Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 8: Haunted Mansion, Part 3

Announcer 1: "Ohhh boy! Ninety contenders left, and our trio is about to face off against the puppet master of this creepy mansion! This is going to be intense!"

Announcer 2: "Indeed, the stakes are getting higher. With only ninety participants left, every decision matters. Finding the controller of this mansion will be key to their survival—and maybe even their victory."

The air in the mansion was thick with tension. Every creak of wood, every shudder of the walls felt like a taunt from their hidden enemy. William, Angelo, and Laurel moved with purpose, but their nerves were on edge, knowing that the mansion's very structure was working against them.

"We're close," William muttered, scanning the room with narrowed eyes. "I can feel it."

Angelo had already shifted into his wolf form, his keen senses searching for any trace of their target. His nose twitched as he picked up a faint, earthy scent. He growled softly, signaling to the others that he had found something.

Laurel nodded, his eyes glowing faintly as he prepared to blast through any obstacles. "Lead the way, Angelo," he said, his voice tense but determined.

The wolf padded silently through the twisting corridors of the mansion, his nose guiding them closer to their quarry. The mansion seemed to resist their progress, with walls shifting and floors buckling beneath them, but Angelo's instincts were sharp, and he navigated the treacherous path with ease.

Finally, they came to a halt in front of a seemingly ordinary wall. Angelo let out a low growl, his eyes fixed on the wooden planks in front of him. William and Laurel exchanged a glance, both knowing that their enemy was just on the other side.

"Here?" William asked, keeping his voice low.

Angelo shifted back into his human form, nodding. "He's in there. I can smell him."

Laurel's eyes began to glow brighter, the energy building within him as he prepared to unleash his laser vision. "Stand back," he warned, and the others took a step back, giving him space.

With a blinding flash of red light, Laurel unleashed a powerful blast of energy, cutting through the wooden wall like it was paper. The wall crumbled under the assault, revealing a hidden room beyond—and standing in the center of that room was a figure covered in dark, gnarled wood, his eyes glowing with malice.

Woody Darkmud smirked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "So, you finally found me. Impressive, but it won't save you."

The wooden walls around him began to ripple and shift, as if alive, and massive tendrils of wood shot out from the floor and ceiling, aiming to trap the trio. William reacted quickly, raising his hand and manipulating the small metal objects he carried to form a protective barrier around them.

"Nice trick, but you're not the only one with powers," William shot back, his voice full of confidence.

Woody's smirk faded slightly, but he remained unfazed. He directed the wooden tendrils to attack with more force, slamming them against William's barrier. The wood splintered against the metal, but it didn't stop Woody from pushing forward.

"Angelo, now!" William shouted, knowing they couldn't hold out forever.

Angelo wasted no time. His form shimmered as he transformed into a massive bear, his muscles rippling with power. With a roar, he charged at Woody, swatting away the wooden tendrils that tried to stop him.

Woody's eyes widened as Angelo closed the distance between them. He tried to summon more wooden defenses, but it was too late. Angelo's massive paw slammed into Woody's chest, sending him crashing into the wall behind him.

But Woody wasn't finished yet. He groaned in pain but quickly recovered, merging with the wood around him to heal his injuries. The wooden floor beneath them began to twist and rise, forming jagged spikes that shot up towards Angelo.

William saw the danger and knew he had to act fast. His mind raced, searching for anything he could use to turn the tide. Then he remembered—the golden tooth hidden in his pocket, a small yet significant piece of metal that could make all the difference.

With a flick of his wrist, William sent the golden tooth flying through the air, aiming it directly at Woody's heart. The tooth pierced through Woody's wooden armor, embedding itself deep in his chest.

Woody screamed, his control over the mansion faltering as the golden tooth disrupted his powers. The wooden tendrils fell limp, and the walls stopped shifting as Woody struggled to maintain his grip on the mansion.

Angelo seized the opportunity. With a final, powerful roar, he lunged at Woody, his jaws closing around the man's neck. The struggle was brief, but brutal. Woody's screams echoed through the mansion as Angelo's bear form tore into him, ripping through wood and flesh alike.

The mansion seemed to groan in pain as Woody's life was drained away, his body collapsing into a heap of broken wood and blood. The wooden walls and floors stopped moving, the eerie presence that had filled the mansion dissipating as Woody took his final breath.

Announcer 1: "And there we have it, folks! Woody Darkmud has been taken down by none other than our beastly Angelo! Talk about a grisly end—literally!"

Announcer 2: "A smart play by William using his metal manipulation to deliver the decisive blow, followed by Angelo's ferocious attack. They've eliminated another threat, but the battle is far from over. Ninety participants remain, and the competition will only get fiercer from here."

As the mansion fell silent, the trio stood over Woody's remains, catching their breath. The fight had been brutal, but they had survived—at least for now.

William glanced at Angelo, who had returned to his human form, covered in blood but unscathed. "Nice work," he said with a nod of approval.

Angelo wiped his mouth, his expression grim. "We need to keep moving. This place... it's not safe anymore."

Laurel, still shaken by the intensity of the battle, nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

With Woody Darkmud defeated, the trio left the haunted mansion behind, their minds already focused on the challenges that lay ahead. The Power Royale was far from over, and they knew that the worst was yet to come.

To be continued...