Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 52: Final Hunt Part 5

The air was thick with tension as Benito and William faced each other, the remnants of their battlefield strewn with debris and the echoes of past battles. The world around them seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for the inevitable clash that would decide everything.

Benito was the first to speak, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "You know, William, I've been thinking," he began, his tone cold and analytical. "We've all tried to justify our actions in this arena. Some of us fight for family, others for some misguided ideal, and a few, like yourself, are in it purely for selfish reasons. But at the end of the day, we're all the same. We're trading lives for money. There's no righteousness in that. No matter how noble the cause, we're all complicit in the same bloodshed."

William's eyes narrowed, the metal encasing his body shifting subtly as he tightened his grip on his power. "You're wrong," he replied, his voice steady. "We're not the same. Some of us might be in it for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't mean we're all monsters like you. I didn't come here to kill for money—I came here to survive, to make something of myself. But you... you're just playing with people's lives like they're nothing."

Benito chuckled, shaking his head slowly. "Survival, wealth, revenge—it's all the same when it comes down to it. We're all just trying to win, no matter the cost. The only difference is that I don't pretend to be something I'm not."

Without warning, Benito's hand shot out, the space between them collapsing as he closed the distance in an instant. William barely had time to react as Benito's fist connected with his armored chest, sending a shockwave through the metal. The impact reverberated through William's body, but the metal absorbed most of the force, protecting him from serious harm.

"You think your metal can protect you from me?" Benito sneered, pulling back for another strike. "I can manipulate the very atoms that make up your precious armor. You're only delaying the inevitable."

William staggered but quickly regained his footing. "You're underestimating me, Benito," he shot back. "My control over metal is stronger than your control over atoms. As long as I'm covered in this armor, your tricks won't work on me."

The two men circled each other, their powers crackling in the air like static electricity. Benito's eyes narrowed as he calculated his next move, while William braced himself, knowing that this fight was far from over.

Suddenly, Benito lunged forward, the space around him warping and twisting as he attempted to slip past William's defenses. But William was ready. He brought his hands together, and the metal surrounding his body responded instantly, forming a massive barrier that blocked Benito's path. The two forces collided with a deafening crash, sending sparks flying in all directions.

Benito gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting as he realized that William's control over his power had indeed grown stronger. No matter how much he tried to manipulate the atoms in the metal, William's will was overpowering his own, keeping the metal intact and impenetrable.

"Looks like we're at a stalemate," William said, his voice strained as he maintained the barrier. "But I'm not giving up. Not now, not ever."

Benito's eyes flashed with anger. "You think you can beat me? I've never lost, William. And I'm not about to start now."

The two men clashed again and again, their powers colliding with earth-shattering force. Each blow was met with an equal and opposite reaction, neither one able to gain the upper hand. The battlefield around them began to crumble under the strain of their conflict, the ground cracking and splitting as their powers pushed it to its limits.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is unbelievable!" Announcer 1's voice rang out, filled with excitement. "William and Benito are going head-to-head in one of the most intense battles we've ever seen! Who will come out on top?"

Announcer 2's tone was more measured, though no less intense. "This fight is a true test of skill and willpower. William's jackpot has given him the boost he needed to match Benito's power, but how long can he keep it up? This could go either way."

William could feel his energy waning, but he refused to back down. He pushed harder, forcing the metal to respond to his every command, shaping it into weapons and shields as he fought to keep Benito at bay. But Benito was relentless, his attacks becoming more and more vicious as he tried to break through William's defenses.

"Give it up, William!" Benito snarled, his voice filled with fury. "You can't win!"

William's response was a roar of defiance as he summoned every ounce of strength he had left. The metal around him surged, forming a massive spear that he hurled at Benito with all his might. Benito barely had time to react as the spear pierced the space between them, narrowly missing his head as he twisted out of the way.

The spear embedded itself in the ground behind Benito, the force of the throw sending shockwaves through the earth. Benito stared at the weapon, his expression a mix of shock and rage. He turned back to William, who was already preparing for the next attack.

To be continued.