**Announcer 1:** "Ladies and gentlemen, after that explosive encounter, our contestants are in for a different kind of thrill. What could be scarier than fire and ice? How about a haunted mansion?!"

  **Announcer 2:** "A wise choice to rest and recover, but in Power Royale, nothing is as it seems. This mansion could be a trap waiting to spring, and they might not be the only ones there. Stay vigilant, viewers."

  ---

  The trio trudged through the forest, their exhaustion palpable in every step. The adrenaline from the fight had long worn off, leaving behind the bitter taste of survival. William glanced at Angelo, who was still limping from his burn, and then at Laurel, who walked silently beside them, lost in his own thoughts.

  "Hey, look," Angelo said, breaking the silence. Up ahead, nestled among the thick trees, was an old wooden mansion. It loomed over them like a dark sentinel, its towering structure casting long shadows across the forest floor. The place seemed ancient, with ivy crawling up its walls and the wood weathered by time.

  William raised an eyebrow. "A mansion? Out here? That's either really good luck... or really bad."

  Laurel nodded, his voice quiet. "We need to rest. It might be our only option."

  The three of them approached the mansion cautiously. The front door creaked as William pushed it open, revealing a large foyer filled with old wooden furniture and dusty chandeliers. Everything was wooden—the floors, the walls, the ceiling, even the banisters on the grand staircase.

  Angelo let out a relieved sigh as they stepped inside. "It's quiet. Too quiet... but I'll take it." He hobbled over to a worn-out couch and collapsed onto it, wincing as he stretched out his injured leg. "We can at least rest here for a bit."

  William inspected the room, his eyes narrowing at the dark corners. "I don't like it. It's too perfect, too... inviting." His hand hovered over the metal pieces he had scavenged earlier, ready to defend them if needed.

  Laurel stood by the staircase, his gaze drifting over the room. Despite its worn appearance, the mansion felt eerily well-kept. No broken windows, no collapsed ceilings. And the furniture, though dusty, seemed almost... placed, as if someone had been here recently. His skin prickled with unease.

  Suddenly, a loud creak echoed through the room. Angelo yelped in surprise as the couch beneath him shifted, causing him to tumble onto the floor. He groaned in pain, clutching his side.

  "What the hell?" Angelo muttered, looking up at the couch. "That thing moved by itself!"

  William was already on high alert, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of movement. "We're not alone here," he said in a low voice. "Stay sharp."

  As if on cue, the floorboards beneath them groaned, and the chandelier overhead swayed ominously. Laurel took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to get out, but the door behind them suddenly slammed shut with a deafening bang.

  The air grew thick with tension as the room seemed to come alive around them. Shadows danced along the walls, and the wooden floor began to shift, twisting and warping beneath their feet.

  Angelo gasped as the staircase he was standing next to abruptly retracted, leaving him stumbling. He caught himself just in time but couldn't shake the feeling that the mansion was trying to play with them.

  "Someone's controlling this place!" Laurel shouted, his eyes darting around the room. "They're messing with us!"

  William cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on a piece of metal he had bent into a makeshift weapon. "We need to find them, and fast."

  But before they could make a move, the mansion shifted again. The walls seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting, as if the building itself was alive. A cold wind whipped through the room, sending shivers down their spines.

  And then, in a chilling whisper that seemed to come from everywhere at once, they heard it: **"You shouldn't have come here."**

  The words echoed through the room, sending a wave of dread through the trio. Laurel's eyes narrowed, and Angelo clenched his fists, ready to fight. But William knew they were at a disadvantage. Whoever was controlling the mansion had the upper hand.

  **Announcer 1:** "Whoa, folks! Things are getting spooky! Is this a haunted mansion or just another twisted trick? Either way, our contestants are in for one hell of a ride!"

  **Announcer 2:** "This is a calculated move by whoever is manipulating the mansion. They've turned the environment into a weapon. The question is, will our trio be able to outsmart them before it's too late?"

  The three stood back-to-back, their breaths shallow, as they tried to anticipate the next move. The mansion creaked and groaned around them, each noise making their hearts race faster. They could feel it—the presence of someone watching, waiting, pulling the strings.

  The floor beneath Angelo's feet suddenly dropped away, and he fell with a cry of surprise, landing hard on a wooden step that hadn't been there moments before. He groaned in pain, but before he could get up, the step shifted again, trying to trap him.

  "Laurel! William!" he called out, panic lacing his voice. "It's got me!"

  William lunged forward, grabbing Angelo's arm and pulling him free just as the step closed with a snap. They both stumbled back, hearts pounding, as the mansion seemed to grow darker, the shadows pressing in closer.

  "This place is alive," Laurel whispered, his voice barely audible over the creaking wood. "We need to get out of here. Now."

  But the mansion wasn't going to let them go that easily. The walls began to close in, the space around them shrinking as the floor buckled and twisted. They were trapped, and the unseen enemy was tightening its grip.

  With nowhere left to run, the trio huddled together, bracing for whatever came next. And as the mansion continued to shift and change around them, one thing became clear: this was only the beginning.

  **Announcer 1:** "Hold onto your seats, folks! Our brave trio is trapped in the sinister mansion, and things are heating up—wait, no, they're chilling down—wait, no, they're just plain creepy!"

  **Announcer 2:** "A constant assault from an unseen enemy. The strategy here is to break their resolve, but the key lies in finding the source. William seems to be on the right track."

  ---

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  The mansion groaned as if in response to their thoughts, the walls warping and twisting in a constant, unsettling rhythm. Every time they tried to move, something would block their path—a piece of furniture sliding into place, a wall suddenly extending, or the floor buckling beneath their feet.

  "Dammit!" William cursed as a wooden cabinet slammed in front of him, cutting off his escape route. "This guy's toying with us like we're rats in a maze!"

  Angelo was panting, his animal instincts overwhelmed by the shifting, unnatural environment. "I don't know how much more of this I can take," he admitted, his voice laced with fear. "It's like the house is alive, and it's messing with our heads."

  Laurel's eyes darted around the room, his fingers twitching as he considered blasting the place apart with his laser vision. But he hesitated—there was something off about the way the mansion moved, something too precise, too controlled. "It's not just the house," he muttered. "Someone's doing this."

  The trio tried to regroup, but the house gave them no reprieve. A chair shot across the room, narrowly missing Angelo's head, while the floorboards groaned and shifted beneath Laurel, making him stumble. William slammed his fists against a nearby wall in frustration, but the wood only creaked mockingly in response.

  "Come out and fight us!" William shouted, his voice echoing through the empty halls. "Or are you too much of a coward to face us head-on?"

  But the mansion responded with silence, save for the faint creaking of wood and the occasional shifting of furniture. It was clear whoever was behind this didn't intend to reveal themselves just yet.

  The relentless assault continued, with the walls closing in on them whenever they tried to find a way out. The air grew colder, more oppressive, as if the mansion itself was feeding on their fear. William's frustration boiled over, but then something clicked in his mind—something that cut through the chaos.

  He stopped in his tracks, holding up a hand to signal the others to do the same. Angelo and Laurel, though wary, followed his lead, their breaths shallow as they waited for William to speak.

  "This isn't random," William said slowly, his mind racing. "Think about it. Every move this guy makes, it's calculated. The mansion reacts exactly when we're vulnerable, but never when we're prepared. If he had full control of the place, he'd have already crushed us."

  Laurel's eyes narrowed as he considered William's words. "So what are you saying? He's close by?"

  William nodded, his expression serious. "He has to be. If he had a wider range, he would've hit us harder and faster. But this? This is precision. He's controlling the mansion, but he needs to be near it to do so."

  Angelo frowned, his fear momentarily giving way to curiosity. "So, if we find him, we can stop this?"

  "Exactly," William confirmed, a spark of determination in his eyes. "He's using the mansion as a shield, keeping us off balance so we don't have time to think. But if we can find where he's hiding, we can take him out and end this madness."

  **Announcer 1:** "Now that's what I'm talking about! William's got a plan, folks, and it's about time! Can our heroes turn the tide and find the mastermind behind this haunted house of horrors?"

  **Announcer 2:** "This is where strategy comes into play. William's deduction is solid, but executing the plan will be a different story. The mansion still holds the advantage—at least for now."

  The mansion groaned again, as if sensing that the trio had caught on. The shifting and warping became more frantic, as though trying to throw them off the trail. But William was resolute, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of where their unseen enemy might be hiding.

  "We need to move fast," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Stay close, and don't let this place mess with your head. Whoever's controlling this mansion is somewhere nearby, and we're going to find them."

  Laurel and Angelo nodded, their fear replaced with a steely determination. Together, the three of them pressed forward, navigating the treacherous landscape of the haunted mansion with renewed purpose.

  But even as they moved, the mansion seemed to fight back harder than ever. The walls groaned and shifted, doors slammed shut before they could reach them, and the floor continued to buckle and twist beneath their feet. It was as if the mansion itself was trying to protect its master, desperate to keep its secret hidden.

  As they ventured deeper into the heart of the mansion, the air grew colder, the shadows longer. They could feel the presence of their enemy lurking just out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But William kept them focused, his mind racing with possibilities as he tried to piece together the puzzle.

  And then, just as they reached the top of a grand staircase, William paused, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. Something felt off—different. The air was heavier here, the atmosphere more oppressive.

  "He's close," William muttered, more to himself than to the others. "I can feel it."

  But before they could act, the mansion shifted again, the walls closing in around them with terrifying speed. They were running out of time, and their enemy was growing more desperate by the second.

  Announcer 1: "Ohhh boy! Ninety contenders left, and our trio is about to face off against the puppet master of this creepy mansion! This is going to be intense!"

  Announcer 2: "Indeed, the stakes are getting higher. With only ninety participants left, every decision matters. Finding the controller of this mansion will be key to their survival—and maybe even their victory."

  The air in the mansion was thick with tension. Every creak of wood, every shudder of the walls felt like a taunt from their hidden enemy. William, Angelo, and Laurel moved with purpose, but their nerves were on edge, knowing that the mansion's very structure was working against them.

  "We're close," William muttered, scanning the room with narrowed eyes. "I can feel it."

  Angelo had already shifted into his wolf form, his keen senses searching for any trace of their target. His nose twitched as he picked up a faint, earthy scent. He growled softly, signaling to the others that he had found something.

  Laurel nodded, his eyes glowing faintly as he prepared to blast through any obstacles. "Lead the way, Angelo," he said, his voice tense but determined.

  The wolf padded silently through the twisting corridors of the mansion, his nose guiding them closer to their quarry. The mansion seemed to resist their progress, with walls shifting and floors buckling beneath them, but Angelo's instincts were sharp, and he navigated the treacherous path with ease.

  Finally, they came to a halt in front of a seemingly ordinary wall. Angelo let out a low growl, his eyes fixed on the wooden planks in front of him. William and Laurel exchanged a glance, both knowing that their enemy was just on the other side.

  "Here?" William asked, keeping his voice low.

  Angelo shifted back into his human form, nodding. "He's in there. I can smell him."

  Laurel's eyes began to glow brighter, the energy building within him as he prepared to unleash his laser vision. "Stand back," he warned, and the others took a step back, giving him space.

  With a blinding flash of red light, Laurel unleashed a powerful blast of energy, cutting through the wooden wall like it was paper. The wall crumbled under the assault, revealing a hidden room beyond—and standing in the center of that room was a figure covered in dark, gnarled wood, his eyes glowing with malice.

  Woody Darkmud smirked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "So, you finally found me. Impressive, but it won't save you."

  The wooden walls around him began to ripple and shift, as if alive, and massive tendrils of wood shot out from the floor and ceiling, aiming to trap the trio. William reacted quickly, raising his hand and manipulating the small metal objects he carried to form a protective barrier around them.

  "Nice trick, but you're not the only one with powers," William shot back, his voice full of confidence.

  Woody's smirk faded slightly, but he remained unfazed. He directed the wooden tendrils to attack with more force, slamming them against William's barrier. The wood splintered against the metal, but it didn't stop Woody from pushing forward.

  "Angelo, now!" William shouted, knowing they couldn't hold out forever.

  Angelo wasted no time. His form shimmered as he transformed into a massive bear, his muscles rippling with power. With a roar, he charged at Woody, swatting away the wooden tendrils that tried to stop him.

  Woody's eyes widened as Angelo closed the distance between them. He tried to summon more wooden defenses, but it was too late. Angelo's massive paw slammed into Woody's chest, sending him crashing into the wall behind him.

  But Woody wasn't finished yet. He groaned in pain but quickly recovered, merging with the wood around him to heal his injuries. The wooden floor beneath them began to twist and rise, forming jagged spikes that shot up towards Angelo.

  William saw the danger and knew he had to act fast. His mind raced, searching for anything he could use to turn the tide. Then he remembered—the golden tooth hidden in his pocket, a small yet significant piece of metal that could make all the difference.

  With a flick of his wrist, William sent the golden tooth flying through the air, aiming it directly at Woody's heart. The tooth pierced through Woody's wooden armor, embedding itself deep in his chest.

  Woody screamed, his control over the mansion faltering as the golden tooth disrupted his powers. The wooden tendrils fell limp, and the walls stopped shifting as Woody struggled to maintain his grip on the mansion.

  Angelo seized the opportunity. With a final, powerful roar, he lunged at Woody, his jaws closing around the man's neck. The struggle was brief, but brutal. Woody's screams echoed through the mansion as Angelo's bear form tore into him, ripping through wood and flesh alike.

  The mansion seemed to groan in pain as Woody's life was drained away, his body collapsing into a heap of broken wood and blood. The wooden walls and floors stopped moving, the eerie presence that had filled the mansion dissipating as Woody took his final breath.

  Announcer 1: "And there we have it, folks! Woody Darkmud has been taken down by none other than our beastly Angelo! Talk about a grisly end—literally!"

  Announcer 2: "A smart play by William using his metal manipulation to deliver the decisive blow, followed by Angelo's ferocious attack. They've eliminated another threat, but the battle is far from over. Ninety participants remain, and the competition will only get fiercer from here."

  As the mansion fell silent, the trio stood over Woody's remains, catching their breath. The fight had been brutal, but they had survived—at least for now.

  William glanced at Angelo, who had returned to his human form, covered in blood but unscathed. "Nice work," he said with a nod of approval.

  Angelo wiped his mouth, his expression grim. "We need to keep moving. This place... it's not safe anymore."

  Laurel, still shaken by the intensity of the battle, nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

  With Woody Darkmud defeated, the trio left the haunted mansion behind, their minds already focused on the challenges that lay ahead. The Power Royale was far from over, and they knew that the worst was yet to come.

  To be continued...