The forest was eerily quiet as William and Angelo trudged forward, still reeling from the loss of their powers. Their minds raced with uncertainty and frustration, but they knew they had to find the source of this new threat. The thick canopy overhead blocked most of the sunlight, casting deep shadows across their path. Every snap of a twig made them jump, knowing that without their powers, they were just as vulnerable as any ordinary person.
"What do you think caused this?" Angelo whispered, scanning the trees around them.
"Only one way to find out," William replied, his voice tense.
They pressed on until they heard faint muttering ahead. Crouching low, they crept closer until they spotted a man sitting against a tree, rocking back and forth. His thin frame and disheveled appearance gave him the look of someone who didn't belong in a deathmatch like this. It was Kindliker Kluckson.
"Is that... him?" Angelo asked, eyeing the pathetic figure with disbelief.
"Has to be," William muttered. "Let's make this quick."
Without hesitation, they rushed him. Kindliker barely had time to react before William grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the tree.
"You're the reason we're powerless," William growled. "Turn it off, now!"
Kindliker's eyes widened with fear, and he stammered incoherently. Angelo moved closer, his expression cold and determined.
"We're not messing around," Angelo warned. "You turn it off, or we make sure you regret ever stepping foot in this arena."
"I-I can't!" Kindliker cried, trembling under their grip. "I can only turn it on and off! I can't control it beyond that!"
William snarled, shoving him harder against the tree. "Then turn it off!"
Desperation flickered in Kindliker's eyes, and he nodded quickly. With a shaky hand, he reached for the small device strapped to his wrist, and within moments, William and Angelo felt the familiar surge of their powers returning.
William released him, and Kindliker slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. "Please, don't kill me," he pleaded, looking up at them with a pitiful expression. "I just wanted to make my mom proud. I didn't know what else to do."
Angelo exchanged a glance with William, who sighed and rolled his eyes. "You're lucky we need all the help we can get," William said. "But you screw up, and you're done. Got it?"
Kindliker nodded frantically. "I swear, I can help! I've got one Hail Mary in me if things go bad. Just... please don't leave me behind."
Angelo extended a hand to help Kindliker up. "You're with us for now. But stay close, and don't do anything stupid."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the weight of their recent losses hung over them. The stakes were higher than ever, and with Kindliker in tow, they knew the battle ahead was only going to get more dangerous.
The announcers' voices boomed over the landscape, barely audible through the dense forest.
Announcer 1: "Whoa! Looks like our heroes have found an unexpected ally! But can this pitiful contestant really help them survive?"
Announcer 2: "Only time will tell, but in this game, trust can be a double-edged sword."
The tension was palpable as they prepared for whatever was next, knowing that every step could be their last.
YOU ARE READING
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...
