---
The woods were eerily silent as the trio moved cautiously through the dense undergrowth. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig putting their nerves on edge. William led the way, his eyes scanning the ground for any signs of movement, while Angelo kept his senses sharp, ready to shift into any animal that might give them an edge in this hostile environment. Laurel trailed behind, his mind consumed by thoughts of his father.
They had been walking for hours, the adrenaline from their encounter with Monkey Man still lingering in their veins. Laurel had barely spoken since they set off, his usually sharp tongue dulled by the weight of his memories. But now, something had caught his eye—small, irregular shapes scattered across the forest floor, half-buried in the dirt.
"Wait," Laurel said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. He crouched down, brushing aside the leaves and debris to reveal a series of tracks. They weren't animal tracks, but something else entirely—small, jagged indentations that almost looked like tiny rocks.
"Those are...weird," Angelo muttered, kneeling beside him. "What do you think they are?"
Laurel's eyes narrowed as he studied the tracks. His heart skipped a beat as a memory flashed before his eyes—a memory he had tried to forget.
---
**Flashback - One Month Earlier**
Danny Benigine sat in a sterile room, his hands shaking as he watched the syringe filled with a swirling, metallic liquid. The man in the white lab coat smiled, but it was a cold, clinical smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Don't worry, Mr. Benigine," the man said in a monotone voice. "This will make you stronger. It's what you need to win. It's what you need to save your family."
Danny barely heard him. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—of his gambling debts, of the threats made against his wife and son, of the voices in his head that screamed at him day and night. He needed this power. He needed it more than anything.
The needle pierced his skin, and the liquid burned as it coursed through his veins. He gritted his teeth, feeling his muscles tense and his skin harden. And then, as the pain subsided, he felt something new—something strong, unbreakable. He looked down at his hands and watched in awe as small rocks began to form on his skin, like armor growing from within.
"Rock manipulation," the man in the lab coat said, his voice filled with a twisted sense of pride. "You'll be unstoppable."
---
Laurel's breath hitched as the memory faded. He stood up abruptly, his hands clenched into fists. "It's him," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of fear and determination. "It's my father. He's close."
William and Angelo exchanged glances, the tension between them thickening. "Are you sure?" William asked, his tone skeptical but cautious.
"Yeah," Laurel said, his eyes hardening. "I know those tracks. I've seen them before. He's leaving them behind without even realizing it."
William nodded, his mind already working on a plan. "Alright, then we follow the tracks. But we stay sharp. If he's anything like you, he won't go down easily."
They moved forward with renewed purpose, the tracks leading them deeper into the forest. The further they went, the more frequent the tracks became, as if Danny was losing control of his power, leaving a trail of small rocks in his wake.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached a clearing. And there, at the center of it all, stood Danny Benigine.
He was a hulking figure, his skin covered in jagged rocks that gleamed in the dappled sunlight. His eyes were wild, darting around as if he were searching for something—or someone. He didn't notice them at first, too consumed by whatever thoughts were racing through his mind.
But Laurel noticed him. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at the man who had destroyed his life—the man he had vowed to kill.
"Dad," Laurel whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his pounding heart.
Danny's head snapped up, his gaze locking onto Laurel's. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, the tension so thick it was suffocating.
And then, just as quickly, the moment was over. Danny's eyes narrowed, his hands balling into fists as the rocks on his skin began to shift and grow.
The battle was about to begin.
---
**To be continued...**
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Lr stories part 1: Power royale
Action*Power Royale* is a high-stakes battle royale set in a sprawling, shrinking arena the size of Rhode Island. Contestants, each endowed with a unique superpower, fight for a $1 billion prize. As the arena contracts, the pressure mounts. The story foll...
