Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 18: Chase

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**Announcer 1:** "Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up! We've got ourselves a chase like no other! Our contestants are about to face a whole new level of mind-bending madness!"

**Announcer 2:** "And it looks like this opponent might be one of the most elusive yet. Can they figure out his ability in time?"

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The forest was dense, a maze of twisted trees and thick undergrowth. William Dangerfield led the way, his eyes sharp as he scanned the terrain ahead. Angelo Vasquez followed closely behind, his face set in determination. Kindliker Kluckson trailed at the back, struggling to keep up, his presence more of a nuisance than a help.

The weight of Laurel's death still lingered, but there was no time for grief. They had to keep moving. The arena was shrinking, and every second counted.

Suddenly, they spotted him—a figure moving effortlessly through the trees. Benito Garcia. His presence was unsettling, his movements fluid and deliberate. He didn't acknowledge them, didn't even seem to notice their approach.

William called out, "Hey, you! Stop right there!"

But Benito didn't respond. He just kept walking, his pace unhurried, as if he knew something they didn't.

William clenched his fists, his frustration growing. "What the hell is his deal?" he muttered. He took a step forward, ready to charge, but something strange happened. The distance between them and Benito seemed to stretch, as if the ground itself was expanding.

"What the...?" Angelo frowned, stepping forward as well, only to find that Benito was somehow even farther away. "This doesn't make any sense."

William growled in frustration. "He's toying with us! We can't let him get away!"

They pushed forward, but no matter how fast they ran, Benito always seemed just out of reach. The more they tried to close the distance, the farther away he became. It was as if the world was bending around him, warping reality to keep him safe.

Kindliker, panting heavily, finally caught up. "What's going on? Why can't we catch him?"

William glared at him. "Your guess is as good as mine, Kluckson. He's got some kind of trick up his sleeve."

Angelo shook his head, his frustration evident. "We're wasting our time. We need to figure out what his power is before we can get anywhere near him."

They continued their futile pursuit for what felt like an eternity, but Benito never faltered. He moved with a calm confidence, never looking back, never acknowledging their presence. It was maddening.

Finally, exhausted and out of options, they stopped. Benito disappeared into the distance, his figure fading into the thick forest.

William punched a nearby tree in frustration. "Damn it! We had him right there!"

Angelo placed a hand on William's shoulder. "We'll get another chance. We just need to be smarter next time."

Kindliker, still catching his breath, nodded weakly. "Yeah... next time."

As they stood there, defeated, the realization set in—they were dealing with someone far more dangerous than they had anticipated. And this was only the beginning.

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**Announcer 1:** "What a chase! Benito Garcia proving to be as slippery as they come!"

**Announcer 2:** "It's clear that the contestants are going to need more than just brute strength to take him down. But will they figure it out before it's too late?"

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*To be continued...*