Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 26: Lovely Voice, Part 3

Announcer 1: "It's about to go down! William's squaring up against Shokaria, and I've got chills just thinking about what's gonna happen! Will Angelo be freed from her deadly tune, or is Shokaria too much for our heroes to handle?"

Announcer 2: "Shokaria's voice is powerful, but William's determination could be the key. This battle isn't just about power—it's about who wants it more."

Shokaria's song echoed through the clearing, each note meticulously crafted to tighten her grip on Angelo's mind. She watched with a confident smirk as William and Kindliker approached, their expressions a mix of anger and resolve. But deep down, she knew they didn't stand a chance—not against her voice.

William didn't waste time. He thrust his hands forward, and the ground beneath Shokaria's feet began to rumble. Metal shards hidden in the earth trembled, rising up like a nest of vipers ready to strike. Shokaria barely flinched, her voice weaving an impenetrable barrier of sound that deflected the metal with ease.

"Nice try," she taunted, her melody never breaking. "But I think it's time you join your friend here."

Her voice shifted, the tempo increasing, and William felt a pressure build in his skull, the sound trying to worm its way into his mind. But he grit his teeth, focusing on the metal around him. With a forceful sweep of his hand, he sent a wave of steel flying towards Shokaria.

Shokaria reacted instantly, the song's tempo changing again, redirecting the attack. The metal spun away from her, slicing through the trees instead. But in that brief moment of distraction, William caught a glimpse of Angelo's face—his friend's eyes, normally full of life, were dull and vacant.

William's heart tightened. He couldn't lose Angelo—not like this. He glanced at Kindliker, who was edging closer to the battle, his usually goofy demeanor replaced by a rare look of seriousness. William knew what he had to do.

"Kindliker!" William shouted over the din of Shokaria's song. "Get closer! I need you to shut her down!"

Kindliker nodded, sprinting towards them. Shokaria noticed his approach and her eyes narrowed. She intensified her song, the notes turning sharper, more aggressive. Angelo suddenly moved, stepping in front of her, his hands morphing into deadly claws as he blocked Kindliker's path.

William cursed under his breath. Shokaria had turned Angelo into a weapon against them. He had to end this now.

With a roar, William pulled every ounce of metal from the surrounding area, shaping it into a massive spear. He hurled it towards Shokaria with all his might. This time, Shokaria's song wasn't fast enough. The spear broke through her defenses, slicing through the air and embedding itself in the ground at her feet.

The force of the impact sent Shokaria stumbling back, her song faltering. Angelo's movements slowed, his claws retracting as the spell over him weakened.

"No!" Shokaria screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. She tried to regain control, but it was too late. William surged forward, metal swirling around him like a storm. He focused on Shokaria, intent on finishing this.

But before he could strike, Kindliker reached Angelo, his presence immediately nullifying the last remnants of Shokaria's control. Angelo blinked, his eyes clearing as if waking from a nightmare.

"William...?" Angelo's voice was shaky, confused. "What... what happened?"

"She had you," William said, his voice laced with relief. "But we've got you back."

Shokaria stumbled to her feet, her confidence shattered. She looked at William, then at Angelo, and finally at Kindliker. For the first time, fear flickered in her eyes. She was outnumbered and outmatched.

With a growl, she turned on her heel and bolted into the forest, her retreat marked by the fading echoes of her broken song.

"We're not done, you bastards!" she yelled over her shoulder. "I'll make you all pay for this!"

But as she raced through the trees, something stopped her in her tracks. A hand—cold, firm—gripped her shoulder, forcing her to a halt. Shokaria's heart leaped into her throat as she spun around to face her new assailant.

It was Benito Garcia.

He stood there, calm, composed, his eyes studying her with a detached interest. Shokaria recognized him instantly—the man whose presence in the Power Royale had been a mystery, whose motives were as unclear as his abilities.

"Running isn't going to save you," Benito said, his voice low and almost kind. "You see, Shokaria, speed is irrelevant when you control the distance between objects. No matter how fast you are..."

Before she could react, before her brain could even register the danger, Shokaria's body split in two with a sickening crack. One half of her fell to the right, the other to the left, her final scream cut short by the sheer impossibility of what had just happened.

Benito watched her lifeless body collapse, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He hadn't even needed to finish his sentence.

Announcer 1: "No way! Shokaria just got split in two! Did you see that, folks? Benito didn't even break a sweat!"

Announcer 2: "And just like that, Shokaria's song is silenced forever. Benito Garcia has shown why he's the true terror of this game. Infinite speed? Or something far worse? Either way, the competition just got a lot more dangerous."

To be continued...