**Announcer 1:** "Alright, folks! Get ready for another twist in the Power Royale! Just when you thought things couldn't get crazier, we're introducing a new rule that's going to shake the battlefield to its core!"

  **Announcer 2:** "Indeed. The stakes have just been raised. When a contestant receives a donation of 10 million dollars, they get a jackpot that boosts their power significantly. This could change everything."

  ---

  The night was calm, save for the crackling of the campfire that flickered in the middle of the dark clearing. William, Angelo, and Kindliker sat around the flames, each lost in their thoughts after the brutal day they had endured. The air was thick with tension, the scent of charred wood mixing with the metallic tang of blood that still lingered in William's nostrils.

  Angelo poked at the fire with a stick, his face illuminated by the orange glow. He was quiet, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by something more somber. Kindliker sat with his knees to his chest, glancing nervously between his two companions, his usual blabbering silenced by the events of the day.

  William leaned back against a tree, his arms crossed, eyes scanning the surroundings. He was tired but restless. Bordy's words still echoed in his mind—"You can never truly kill a patriot." The former senator had been delusional, but there was something unsettling about his conviction.

  The silence was broken by the familiar booming voice of the **Announcer 1**, his energy palpable even through the distant loudspeakers scattered across the landscape.

  **Announcer 1:** "Attention, Power Royale contestants! We've got some exciting news for you! As of now, any player who receives a donation of 10 million dollars will unlock a jackpot power boost! That's right, folks! The audience can now directly influence the game by making their favorite fighter even more powerful!"

  **Announcer 2:** "This could drastically shift the balance of power. Contestants, take note—your fate might just rest in the hands of the audience."

  The announcement reverberated through the darkened forest, hanging in the air like a storm cloud ready to break. William raised an eyebrow, his mind racing with the possibilities. He could feel the anticipation building within him—this was a game-changer.

  "10 million dollars, huh?" William said, breaking the silence as he leaned forward, the firelight casting sharp shadows on his face. "Looks like we're about to see some serious power plays."

  Angelo frowned, his eyes still focused on the flames. "That kind of money... it means the richest contestants, or the ones with the most popular appeal, will become even stronger. This isn't about skill anymore—it's a popularity contest."

  Kindliker looked up, his eyes wide with fear. "But what if someone like Benito gets it? That guy's already dangerous... imagine him with more power!"

  William smirked, though there was little humor in it. "That's the game, Kindliker. Adapt or die. If someone gets that boost, we'll have to deal with it. Simple as that."

  Angelo shifted uncomfortably, his thoughts turning to his family's bakery back home. He had entered Power Royale for a noble cause, but this new rule made everything feel even more unpredictable. He had done the right thing, stayed true to his morals, but he wondered how long he could keep it up in a game that seemed more rigged with each passing day.

  The fire crackled louder, a spark shooting into the night sky, as if the universe itself was responding to the tension that hung between them.

  "Do you think any of us will get it?" Kindliker asked, his voice small and trembling.

  William glanced at him, then at Angelo, before shrugging. "Who knows? Maybe. But don't count on it. We need to focus on what we can control."

  "Yeah," Angelo added, his voice steadying. "We're still in this, and as long as we're alive, we've got a shot."

  Kindliker nodded slowly, though he didn't look convinced. He had always been the underdog in this competition, and the idea of some players getting an instant advantage only made him feel more hopeless.

  Suddenly, the crackling of the fire was interrupted by the distant sound of cheering—an echo from somewhere far off in the night. It was faint but unmistakable. Someone, somewhere, was celebrating.

  William stood up, his senses on high alert. "Sounds like someone just hit the jackpot."

  Angelo quickly followed suit, his animal instincts kicking in. "We need to be ready. Whoever it is, they're going to be more dangerous than before."

  Kindliker scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. "But what do we do? We don't even know where they are!"

  William's eyes narrowed as he looked out into the darkness. "We stick together, keep moving, and don't let our guard down. No one is invincible—not even with a power boost."

  The three of them exchanged determined glances, the firelight casting their shadows long and fierce against the trees. The night was no longer calm—it was filled with the promise of chaos, as the battlefield shifted once again.

  As they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, William couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This was what he lived for—the unpredictability, the thrill of the fight. He wasn't here to make friends or do the right thing. He was here to win. And with this new rule, the game had just gotten a lot more interesting.

  ---

  **Announcer 1:** "Oh, baby! Did you hear that? The sound of power shifting hands! Who will be the first to unlock the jackpot? Stay tuned, because things are about to get wild!"

  **Announcer 2:** "Indeed. The Power Royale has always been a test of strength, strategy, and survival. But now, it's also a test of who can capture the audience's favor. Let's see who rises to the challenge—and who falls."

  **Announcer 1:** "Ladies and gentlemen, the tension in Power Royale is reaching new heights! Forty-five contestants are still in the game, and the stakes are higher than ever. You know what that means—fewer deaths, more strategy, and a whole lot more surprises!"

  **Announcer 2:** "Precisely. When the numbers dwindle, the players tend to become more cautious, more calculated. Every move is measured, every encounter potentially deadly."

  ---

  The trio moved silently through the darkened forest, the moon casting long shadows over the dense underbrush. William led the way, his senses on high alert, every crackle of a twig or rustle of leaves setting his nerves on edge. Behind him, Angelo moved with the grace of a panther, his animal instincts keen, while Kindliker stumbled along, his clumsiness nearly giving them away more than once.

  "Keep it together, Kindliker," William hissed, glancing back over his shoulder.

  Kindliker muttered an apology, wiping sweat from his brow. He had been on edge since the announcement of the jackpot rule, knowing full well that any advantage could mean life or death in this game. But it wasn't just the new rule that had him rattled—there was something in the air tonight, a sense of impending danger that he couldn't shake.

  Angelo, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least we're still in this. Could be worse, right? We could be dealing with that crazy senator again."

  William smirked, his thoughts briefly drifting back to Bordy's last words. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't mind if we ran into another idiot who thinks they can take us on. I could use a warm-up."

  Before Angelo could respond, a faint melody drifted through the trees, barely audible at first but growing louder with each passing second. It was hauntingly beautiful, the kind of voice that demanded attention, that made you want to stop whatever you were doing and listen.

  William froze, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. "You hear that?"

  Angelo nodded, his muscles tensing. "Yeah, I do. That's not good, is it?"

  Kindliker's face went pale. "Shokaria," he whispered, his voice trembling. "It has to be her."

  William cursed under his breath. He had heard of Shokaria—everyone had. The former pop star who could control minds with her voice. She was dangerous, not just because of her power but because of how easily she could turn allies against each other.

  "Stay close," William ordered, his voice low. "And whatever you do, don't listen to the song."

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  But it was too late. The melody grew louder, wrapping around them like a siren's call, and William felt a strange compulsion to follow it, to let it guide him deeper into the forest. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but the song was relentless, pushing its way into his mind, its lyrics seductive and powerful.

  "I—I can't stop it," Angelo muttered, his voice strained. He fell to his knees, clutching his head as if trying to block out the sound.

  William gritted his teeth, his hands balling into fists as he fought against the pull of the song. He could feel the metal in the ground beneath him, the cold steel of his weapons, but it was all slipping away, replaced by the overwhelming need to obey Shokaria's voice.

  "Angelo, fight it!" William shouted, desperation creeping into his tone. "You have to—"

  Before he could finish, Angelo's eyes snapped open, but they were different now, glazed over, unfocused. He stood slowly, his movements stiff and robotic, as if he were a puppet on strings. Without a word, he turned and began walking toward the source of the music, disappearing into the shadows.

  "Angelo!" William called after him, but there was no response. He cursed again, turning to Kindliker, who was trembling in fear. "Stay here! Don't move!"

  Kindliker nodded, too terrified to do anything else. William took off after Angelo, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't lose another teammate, not like this. Not to Shokaria.

  As he ran, the melody grew louder, the words clearer. They were simple, repetitive, commanding Angelo to follow, to leave everything behind and come to her. William pushed through the trees, his mind racing. How could he stop her? He had no power over sound, no way to block out the music. And Angelo was already under her spell.

  He burst into a small clearing, and there she was—Shokaria, standing in the center of the space, her long, dark hair flowing around her like a veil. Her lips moved as she sang, her eyes locked onto Angelo, who was slowly making his way toward her.

  William skidded to a halt, his mind scrambling for a plan. He could feel the metal in the earth, the steel in his weapons, but nothing he could think of would stop her before she took complete control of Angelo.

  Shokaria's eyes flicked to William, a smile playing on her lips as she saw the desperation in his face. She held up a hand, and Angelo froze in place, still under her spell.

  "You're outmatched, William," she said softly, her voice still carrying the melody. "You can't stop me."

  William's jaw clenched. "You're not taking him."

  Shokaria tilted her head, her smile widening. "I already have."

  With that, she sang a final, commanding note, and Angelo turned to face William, his eyes empty, devoid of any recognition.

  "No!" William shouted, but before he could react, Shokaria took a step back, her song shifting to a different tune—one that commanded Angelo to follow her.

  Without hesitation, Angelo moved toward her, his body under her complete control. Shokaria gave William one last, triumphant look before she disappeared into the shadows, Angelo right behind her.

  William stood there, breathing heavily, his mind racing. He had lost him. Angelo was gone, taken by Shokaria, and there was nothing he could do.

  But this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

  ---

  **Announcer 1:** "Oh, baby! Did you see that? Shokaria just played a perfect tune, snatching Angelo right out from under William's nose! This is why she's one of the most dangerous players in Power Royale!"

  **Announcer 2:** "Indeed. Shokaria's ability to control others through her voice is a powerful weapon. William's going to have to think fast if he wants to get Angelo back. The question is—how far is he willing to go?"

  Announcer 1: "Hold on to your seats, folks! We're diving straight back into the action, and it's about to get real intense! Our boy Angelo is under Shokaria's spell, and she's got some plans for him!"

  Announcer 2: "Indeed. Shokaria's voice isn't just a weapon; it's a story. Let's see what secrets she unveils as she wraps Angelo further into her web."

  The moonlight barely filtered through the thick canopy of trees, casting eerie shadows over the secluded clearing where Shokaria had taken Angelo. She sat cross-legged on a smooth, moss-covered rock, her eyes half-closed, lips moving in a slow, rhythmic pattern as she hummed softly. Angelo stood before her, his eyes glazed over, his body stiff like a puppet on strings. The haunting melody of her song held him captive, his will stripped away by the seductive power of her voice.

  Shokaria opened her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips as she saw the blank expression on Angelo's face. She shifted her tone, letting the melody flow into words, each note carrying a story, her story.

  "I was born in a small town," she sang, her voice smooth and mesmerizing, drawing Angelo further into her narrative. "No one knew my name, no one cared, but I had a dream, a dream to escape the chains that bound me."

  The words painted vivid images in Angelo's mind, scenes of a young girl, Shokaria, struggling to make ends meet, her voice her only hope in a world that seemed determined to silence her.

  "I sang in the streets," she continued, her tone growing more intense, more passionate. "Every day, every night, until my voice was raw, until the world had no choice but to listen. And they did. Oh, how they listened."

  In Angelo's mind, he could see her rising to fame, her voice lifting her out of poverty and into the spotlight. But with that fame came the darker side of the world—the greed, the jealousy, the endless demands for more, more, more. Shokaria's voice trembled with emotion as she sang of her downfall, how the very gift that had saved her had also destroyed her, leading to a life of excess, of emptiness, until there was nothing left but a hollow shell.

  "But I found a way back," Shokaria's voice shifted, her tone now filled with a steely resolve. "I found Power Royale, and in it, I saw a chance for redemption, a chance to reclaim what I lost, to be more than just a voice."

  Her eyes bore into Angelo's, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something behind his glazed stare—a recognition of her pain, her desperation. But it was fleeting, and soon, the spell she had woven around him tightened once more.

  "Now, Angelo," she purred, her voice softening into a gentle lullaby, "you will help me finish what I started. Together, we'll take this game, we'll win, and I'll be unstoppable."

  Angelo nodded mechanically, the last remnants of his free will buried deep beneath the layers of Shokaria's song. She smiled, satisfied with her work, and leaned back, humming softly as she planned her next move.

  But Shokaria's moment of calm was short-lived. A rustling sound in the underbrush caught her attention, and her eyes snapped open, alert. She rose to her feet, her senses on high alert, as the sound grew closer.

  From the shadows, William and Kindliker emerged, their faces set with determination. William's hands clenched at his sides, the metal in the earth responding to his anger, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

  Kindliker, despite his usual bumbling nature, had a grim look on his face. He knew this wasn't a game anymore; it was survival.

  Shokaria's eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of them. She could feel the power radiating from William, the raw potential he held in his grasp. But it was Kindliker who gave her pause—she had heard of his ability, knew that he could render her power useless if he got too close.

  "William," Shokaria called out, her voice still laced with that enchanting melody, though now it carried an edge of danger. "You've come to reclaim your friend? I'm afraid he's mine now."

  William took a step forward, his jaw set. "Let him go, Shokaria. This doesn't have to end badly."

  "Oh, but it will," she replied with a sly smile, her tone almost playful. "Unless you're willing to let me walk away with him. You can't win this, William. Not without sacrificing more than you're prepared to lose."

  Kindliker, trying to sound braver than he felt, added, "Yeah, and besides, you don't want to mess with me! I've got, uh, some tricks up my sleeve too!"

  Shokaria chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Do you, now? I suppose we'll see about that."

  The tension in the air was palpable, the clearing charged with the potential for violence. Shokaria's voice softened, a final, lingering note drifting through the air, as if daring them to make the first move.

  William's eyes flicked to Angelo, still standing motionless beside Shokaria, and he felt a surge of determination. He wasn't about to let her win, not without a fight.

  But before any of them could act, the sound of distant footsteps echoed through the trees, and all three of them froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise. More players? Reinforcements? Whatever it was, it wasn't good.

  Shokaria's smile faltered, her confidence wavering as the situation became more unpredictable. She glanced at Angelo, then back at William, calculating her next move.

  William tightened his grip on the metal in his surroundings, ready to strike.

  But the chapter would end here, with the outcome still uncertain, the players frozen in a tense standoff, the promise of violence hanging in the air.

  Announcer 1: "Whoa! What a showdown we've got brewing here, folks! Shokaria's backed into a corner, and it looks like William's ready to throw down! But what's up with those footsteps? Is someone else about to crash the party?"

  Announcer 2: "It's anyone's game now. With so many unknowns, the next chapter could be the most explosive yet. Stay tuned—this fight is far from over!"

  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...