Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 45: Money Run, Part 1

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the battlefield. The once-vast area had shrunk to a fraction of its original size, forcing the remaining contenders into close quarters. The tension was electric—every footstep, every rustle of leaves could mean the difference between life and death.

Announcer 1: "Ladies and gentlemen, we're down to the final fifteen! The stakes are higher than ever, and for each elimination, there's a sweet 10-million-dollar bonus on the line! Who's ready to cash in?"

Announcer 2: "This is where strategy meets brutality. With only a handful of competitors left, it's not just about survival—it's about profit. The question is, who will make the first move?"

William Dangerfield, Angelo Vasquez, and Kindliker Kluckson moved cautiously through the dense forest. William led the group, his senses sharp and his metal manipulation ready to strike. Angelo, who had just shifted back to his human form after scouting the area as a hawk, was tense, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of movement. Kindliker trailed slightly behind, his usual nervous energy radiating off him in waves.

"Keep your heads on a swivel," William muttered, gripping a metal shard he'd pulled from a fallen piece of debris. "We know Macchiato's out there somewhere."

Angelo nodded. "If we can take him down, that bonus could be a game-changer. But we need to be smart about this."

Kindliker, who had been quiet for most of their trek, suddenly piped up. "Yeah, yeah, I know. We just gotta—"

A sudden whizzing sound cut through the air. Kindliker froze, eyes wide in horror as an acorn-sized object shot out from the trees, embedding itself in the ground next to him. For a brief second, nothing happened. Then, the acorn exploded with a deafening blast, sending dirt and shrapnel flying in every direction.

Announcer 1: "Whoa! What a shot! Johnny Macchiato just sent Kindliker Kluckson flying! That's one less player to worry about!"

Announcer 2: "Macchiato's kinetic energy manipulation is nothing to scoff at. Precision and power in one deadly package."

The smoke cleared, revealing a gruesome sight. Kindliker's body was in pieces, his remains scattered across the forest floor. Blood stained the trees, the finality of his death sinking in.

William stared at the carnage, his hands trembling with a mix of rage and shock. "That son of a—" He didn't finish the sentence. His heart pounded in his chest, and his vision narrowed to a red haze.

"William, we need to move!" Angelo shouted, his voice laced with urgency. But William wasn't listening.

Johnny Macchiato stepped out from behind a tree, a cocky grin on his face. "Well, well, looks like I just made myself a cool 10 million," he sneered, tossing another acorn in the air and catching it with ease.

Without a word, William's eyes locked onto Macchiato, and the metal shard in his hand elongated into a vicious blade. He charged forward with a speed that caught Macchiato off guard, the metal blade slicing through the air.

Macchiato reacted quickly, throwing the acorn at William. But William was faster. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of metal shards toward Macchiato, the sharp pieces embedding themselves in Macchiato's legs, forcing him to his knees. The acorn exploded harmlessly behind William as he closed the distance.

"No more tricks," William growled, his voice low and dangerous. He raised the metal blade high, the sharp edge gleaming in the fading light.

"Wait—" Macchiato started to plead, but William didn't give him a chance to finish. He brought the blade down with all his strength, the metal slicing clean through Macchiato's neck. Blood sprayed across the ground as Macchiato's head rolled to the side, his body collapsing in a lifeless heap.

Announcer 1: "And that's the end of Johnny Macchiato, folks! William Dangerfield just secured himself 10 million dollars, and boy, did he do it in style!"

Announcer 2: "Brutal, efficient, and without hesitation. William is clearly here to win, no matter the cost."

William stood over Macchiato's body, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins, but the realization of what he'd just done was starting to sink in. He wiped the blood from his face, his expression hardening.

"Let's move," he said to Angelo, his voice cold. "We're not done yet."

As they turned to leave the scene, the camera zoomed in on William's face, capturing the steely determination in his eyes. The hunt was far from over, and with the promise of more money on the line, the worst was yet to come.

To be continued...