by logan repp, art by angel acosta

* *Announcer 1:** "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and everyone in between! Welcome to the most anticipated, most electrifying, and most deadly event of the century-POWER ROYALE! We've got powers, we've got players, and we've got a billion-dollar prize that'll make your eyes pop out of your head!"

* *Announcer 2:** "Indeed. But it's not just about the money, folks. It's about strategy, survival, and skill. Each of our contestants will wake up in a different part of this vast battleground, the size of Rhode Island, but trust me, it won't stay this big for long. As the area shrinks, so will their chances of survival. The only question is—who has what it takes to win?" 

William Dangerfield awoke with a start, his body aching from lying on the cold, hard ground. He quickly took in his surroundings-a dense forest, with towering trees that blocked out much of the sunlight. His head spun as he tried to remember how he'd gotten here, but all he could recall was signing up for this insane competition. Then, nothing.

But none of that mattered now. What did matter was the billion dollars waiting at the end of this bloodbath.

He stretched his limbs, shaking off the grogginess, and noticed something odd. A small metallic glint caught his eye— a few feet away, a jagged piece of metal jutted out of the ground.

On instinct, William reached out, and to his shock, the metal responded, lifting off the ground and hovering in the air before him.

"Well, well, looks like I hit the jackpot," William muttered to himself, a smirk forming on his lips. Metal manipulation. The possibilities were endless. He could already see himself lounging on a beach in Hawaii, sipping cocktails without 

a care in the world.

But first, he had to survive.

Angelo Vasquez woke up in a different part of the map, surrounded by rolling hills and sparse trees. The warm sun beat down on his back, but he hardly noticed. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what his power was. He had no memory of being told what it would be, just that it was random, like everyone else's.

His heart pounded as he glanced around, half-expecting someone to jump out and attack him.

Then, without warning, his body began to shift and change, his skin rippling as fur sprouted along his arms, his bones realigning with a sickening crack. Within moments, he was no longer standing on two legs, but four— he had transformed into a sleek, powerful jaguar.

"Holy-" he thought, his feline senses flooding his mind with new information-the scent of prey, the rustling of leaves, the distant sound of 

water. He shifted back to human form, breathing heavily, his mind racing with the implications. This power could be his ticket to winning the money and saving his family's bakery.

But for now, he had to focus on surviving.

As William wandered through the forest, testing his powers by bending and shaping any metal he could find, he heard a rustle in the bushes.

He quickly molded a nearby metal shard into a makeshift weapon, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," he called out, his voice dripping with mockery.

From the bushes emerged a massive grizzly bear, its eyes locked on William with deadly intent. But as the bear charged, it began to shift and morph, shrinking in size until it was no longer a bear but a young man, barely out of his teens. 

"Whoa there, metalhead," Angelo said, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not looking for a fight."

William relaxed his stance slightly, but kept his weapon raised. "Could've fooled me with that entrance."

"Look, I know how this works," Angelo continued, his voice calm and steady. "We're all out for the money, but there's no reason we can't team up. At least for now."

William considered this for a moment. He didn't trust anyone in this game, but having someone to watch his back-especially someone who could turn into a bear-didn't seem like a bad idea.

"Alright, kid," William said, lowering his weapon but not completely letting his guard down. "We'll stick together. But the second you turn on me, I'll turn you into a metal pincushion."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Angelo grinned. "Deal. Let's survive first, then 

we'll see who comes out on top."

The unlikely pair set off together, each wary of the other but knowing that in a game like this, alliances could mean the difference between life and death.

* *Announcer 1:** "Well, well, well! It looks like we've got our first alliance, folks! Will it last? Or will one of them betray the other before the end?"

* *Announcer 2: ** "It's a smart move, especially in the early stages. But as the map shrinks, and the stakes get higher, we'll see just how far their partnership will go."

As the sun began to set over the battleground, the two contestants walked side by side, each lost in their own thoughts. The game had only just begun, but the clock was ticking, and the world around them was about to get a whole lot smaller.

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**Announcer 1:** "Oh ho ho! Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our first major update!

The first blood has been drawn, and we're down to 99 players! That's right, one unfortunate soul has been sent packing, and the real game has just begun!"

**Announcer 2:** "Indeed. First blood is often a pivotal moment in any competition. It not only marks the beginning of eliminations but also sets the tone for the remaining players. Will they become more cautious or more aggressive?

Only time will tell."

William and Angelo trudged through the forest, their senses on high alert. Every crack of a twig, 

every rustle of leaves, set their nerves on edge.

The announcement of the first death had come over the speakers just minutes ago, sending a chill down both their spines. The stakes were real now.

"I wonder who it was," Angelo muttered, his eyes scanning the treeline. He had shifted into a hawk earlier to get a better view of the area, but even from the sky, the forest was dense, and he hadn't seen any signs of other players.

"Does it matter?" William replied, his tone dismissive. "All that matters is that it wasn't us.

Let's keep it that way."

Angelo shot him a look. "You know, you could try caring a little more about the people in this game."

William snorted. "Why? Most of them would stab us in the back the first chance they got.

This isn't some friendly competition-it's kill or be killed."

Angelo sighed but didn't argue. He knew 

William was right, even if he hated to admit it.

The Power Royale wasn't a place for morals, but Angelo couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be a better way to survive this nightmare than becoming just another killer.

As they continued their trek, they heard the faint sound of crying. Both men stopped, exchanging a wary glance. Slowly, they moved toward the source of the noise, their bodies tense, ready for anything.

In a small clearing, they found him—a kid, no more than 14 years old, sitting on the ground with his knees pulled to his chest. His eyes were red from crying, and as William and Angelo stepped into view, he flinched, ready to unleash a deadly blast from his eyes.

"Easy there, kid," William said, holding up his hands. "We're not here to hurt you."

The boy-Laurel-looked at them with a mixture of fear and suspicion. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice shaky but laced with a hint of anger. 

"I'm Angelo, and this is William. We're just trying to survive, same as you."

Laurel's eyes narrowed. "Why should I trust you?"

William rolled his eyes. "You probably shouldn't. But we re stronger together than we are alone. You've got a pretty powerful ability there-I'd say you'd be a valuable ally."

Laurel hesitated, his gaze flicking between the two older boys. "I don't care about the money," he muttered. "I just want to find my dad and make him pay for what he did."

Angelo knelt down, his expression softening.

"We can help you, Laurel. But you've got to stick with us, okay? We'll watch each other's backs."

Laurel wiped his eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding. "Okay. But if you try anything, I'll_"

"Yeah, yeah, lasers from your eyes, we get it," William interrupted, a hint of amusement in his 

voice. "Let's just keep moving. We're sitting ducks out here."

The trio set off together, a tenuous alliance formed out of necessity. As they moved deeper into the forest, the tension in the air was palpable. They knew they weren't alone in this deadly game, and with every step, the danger grew.

--

*Announcer 1:** "Would you look at that, folks! Our first trio has been formed! William, Angelo, and Laurel -an unlikely team, but one that might just shake things up!" *Announcer 2:** "They're making a smart play. In the early stages, alliances can provide protection and increase your chances of survival. But as the map shrinks and the competition heats up, we'll see how long that alliance lasts." 

As night fell, the trio found a small cave to take shelter in. Angelo, ever the optimist, had shifted into a wolf earlier to scout the area, ensuring they wouldn't be ambushed while they slept.

William leaned against the cave wall, staring at the fire they had built. "So, kid," he said, his voice breaking the silence. "What's your story?

Why are you really here?"

Laurel hesitated, then looked up, his expression hardening. "My dad killed my mom. He thought I didn't know, but I saw it happen. No one believed me. So, when I heard about this competition, I figured if I won, I'd have the power to make him pay."

Angelo's heart ached for the kid, but he knew better than to show pity. "That's a heavy reason to be here, Laurel. But you've got us now. We'll help you."

William didn't say anything, but he gave a slight nod. Maybe he was a greedy loser, but even he had to admit-the kid deserved a chance at

revenge. 

The fire crackled in the silence as they settled in for the night, their minds heavy with thoughts of the battles yet to come. In the darkness, the whispers of the forest surrounded them, reminding them that this was only the beginning.

And as the night wore on, one thing became clear: in the Power Royale, alliances were fragile, and trust was a luxury they couldn't afford.