Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 32: Bug Trap Part 1

The winds of the Ice Age had finally begun to calm, leaving behind a frozen wasteland dotted with bodies, both living and dead. The white expanses stretched out as far as the eye could see, punctuated by clusters of trees, their branches heavy with frost, and the occasional shattered remnants of past battles. The cold still lingered in the air, but the real danger had shifted beneath the surface—unseen and deadly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're down to 25!" Announcer 1's voice crackled through the arena, brimming with excitement. "The Ice Age may be over, but the action is just heating up! Who's ready for the next phase?"

Announcer 2, ever the strategist, followed up. "The field is narrowing, and the remaining competitors are moving into the next deadly stage of the Power Royale. With 25 fighters still standing, the stakes are higher than ever. And with each step, they edge closer to the ultimate prize."

William Dangerfield moved cautiously through the trees, Angelo Vasquez and Kindliker Kluckson at his side. Their breath formed clouds in the crisp air as they trekked through the snow-covered landscape. The ground beneath their feet crunched with each step, but the silence that surrounded them was deafening. They knew the arena had more in store for them—something lurking just beyond their senses.

"Man, I'm still freezing my balls off," Kindliker grumbled, shivering. "Couldn't we have gotten a jackpot that, I dunno, warmed us up or something? This sucks."

"Quit whining," William snapped, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "We need to stay sharp. The Ice Age was bad, but whatever's next could be worse."

Angelo, in his human form for now, nodded in agreement. "I don't like this silence. It's too...calm. Something's coming, I can feel it."

They continued their slow march through the forest, their boots sinking slightly into the snow. William's thoughts were racing, still haunted by Tommy Tomorrow's dying words. What had he meant about Benito? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside. He had to focus on the present—on surviving the next challenge.

As they walked, William suddenly felt something odd underfoot. The ground felt...sticky. He stopped, looking down to see a strange, glistening substance clinging to his boot.

"What the hell is this?" William muttered, kneeling to examine it closer. It wasn't snow, and it wasn't ice. It was a thin, almost transparent web, barely visible against the white of the snow.

Angelo crouched down beside him, his eyes narrowing. "That's not natural. It's like spider silk."

Kindliker stepped back, visibly uneasy. "Spider silk? Man, I hate spiders. What are we dealing with here?"

William carefully pulled his foot free from the web, his mind racing. "This isn't just any spider silk. This is a trap. Someone's been here, setting this up."

Angelo's expression darkened. "Delton Finches. It has to be him. The guy with the web powers."

William stood up, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees more carefully now. "And if it's his web, that means he knows exactly where we are."

"Great," Kindliker muttered, looking around nervously. "Just great. So what do we do? Wait for him to come and pick us off?"

"No," William said firmly. "We follow it. If we can find where it leads, we might be able to take Delton out before he takes us out."

Angelo nodded. "It's risky, but it's better than waiting for him to ambush us. Let's move."

The three of them began to follow the web, careful not to touch it directly. The strands led deeper into the forest, winding through the trees like a sinister thread pulling them toward an unknown fate. The further they went, the more webbing they encountered—thicker strands, more complex patterns, all leading them deeper into Delton's trap.

Announcer 1's voice rang out again, excitement building. "Oh, what's this? Our heroes are on the move! But where are they headed? And will they survive the spider's web?"

Announcer 2 chimed in, his tone more serious. "They're venturing into dangerous territory. Delton Finches is a master of his environment, and he's set up a lethal trap for anyone who dares to enter. The question is, will William, Angelo, and Kindliker be able to outsmart him, or will they become his next victims?"

As they ventured further, the forest began to change. The trees were covered in more of Delton's webbing, some of it so thick it looked like sheets of ice. The air grew colder, and a sense of dread settled over the trio.

Then, they saw it.

In a clearing ahead, nestled between the trees, was a massive spider web. It stretched between the trunks, thick and glistening, with large, bulbous shapes hanging from it. As they got closer, they realized with horror what those shapes were—people. Bodies, wrapped tightly in silk cocoons, suspended in the web like grotesque ornaments.

William felt his stomach churn at the sight. These weren't just competitors—they were victims. And now, they were next.

"Holy...crap," Kindliker whispered, his voice trembling. "We...we can't go in there. That's suicide."

Angelo's eyes narrowed as he studied the web. "We have to. If we don't stop Delton here, he'll keep picking us off one by one. We need to end this, now."

William nodded, though his gut told him this was a bad idea. But they had no choice. It was either face Delton now or risk being hunted down later. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, leading the way into the clearing, toward the center of the deadly web.

Unbeknownst to them, hidden in the shadows, Delton watched their every move, a cold smile playing on his lips. His fingers twitched, feeling the vibrations in the web as they approached. He could feel their fear, their hesitation. And he knew he had them right where he wanted them.

This was his domain. And they had just walked into his trap.

To be continued...