The arena was now a desolate wasteland. The trees, rivers, and sprawling landscapes that once populated the battlefield had shrunk into a tight circle of treacherous terrain. Only three contenders remained, and the tension was thicker than ever. The stakes were higher, and the final hunt had begun.

  Announcer 1's voice crackled with excitement over the loudspeakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are down to the final three! This is what you've been waiting for! William Dangerfield, Angelo Vasquez, and Benito Garcia—one of these combatants will walk away with a billion dollars!"

  "That's right," Announcer 2 added, his tone serious and analytical. "These three have survived the carnage and chaos of the Power Royale, and now it all comes down to this. But with Benito Garcia's ability to manipulate distances, finding him could prove to be the ultimate challenge for our duo."

  William Dangerfield and Angelo Vasquez stood side by side at the edge of a rocky cliff, scanning the barren landscape below. William's metal armor glinted in the dim light, while Angelo, in his human form, leaned forward with an intense look in his eyes. Both were tense, ready for whatever might come next.

  "This guy's good at hiding," William muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's like he's everywhere and nowhere at the same time."

  "Benito's ability makes him unpredictable," Angelo replied, his voice calm but focused. "We need to think like him—figure out where he might be, what his next move is."

  The shrinking arena buzzed with energy, forcing the two men to stay on the move. They knew Benito was out there, somewhere in the vast emptiness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

  Angelo transformed into an eagle, soaring high above to get a better view of the surrounding area. William watched him disappear into the sky, knowing that Angelo's ability to shift into different animals gave them a slight edge in this deadly game.

  Announcer 1 chimed in with his signature enthusiasm, "And there goes Angelo, using his animal forms to scout the terrain! Will he spot Benito from up there? Or is Benito one step ahead?"

  From the sky, Angelo's sharp eyes scanned the ground below. Every boulder, every shadow was a potential hiding spot for Benito. But as he circled, there was nothing—no sign of movement, no indication that their target was anywhere nearby.

  Down below, William adjusted the metal plates of his armor, his mind racing. "This isn't working. We need to draw him out."

  Angelo swooped back down, shifting back into human form as he landed. "Nothing. It's like he's vanished."

  William clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "He's waiting for us to make a mistake, to let our guard down. We have to be smarter. We need a plan."

  Angelo nodded, his expression thoughtful. "What if we use his own tactics against him? Force him to come to us?"

  William's eyes lit up with understanding. "A trap."

  The two quickly discussed their plan, each detail carefully considered. William would create a decoy—a metal construct that would draw Benito's attention, while Angelo used his animal forms to silently track him down. It was a risky move, but with time running out, they had little choice.

  Announcer 2 weighed in as they set their plan into motion. "A bold strategy by William and Angelo. But will it be enough to outsmart Benito? Or will he see through their ruse and turn the tables?"

  William manipulated the metal from his armor, shaping it into a rough likeness of himself. The decoy stood tall, its metallic form gleaming in the fading light. With a final adjustment, William sent it lumbering forward, making sure it was visible from a distance.

  Angelo, meanwhile, transformed into a panther, slipping into the shadows as he stalked silently around the perimeter, ready to strike at the first sign of Benito.

  Minutes passed like hours as they waited, every sound, every shift in the wind making their hearts race. The tension was unbearable, but neither man faltered.

  Finally, movement—just a flicker at the edge of their vision, but it was enough. William held his breath as the figure emerged from the shadows, creeping toward the decoy. Benito, cautious and calculating, had taken the bait.

  "Here we go!" Announcer 1 shouted, his voice almost breathless with excitement. "The trap is set, and Benito is moving in! Will our duo pull it off, or is Benito about to turn this around?"

  Angelo, hidden in the darkness, watched Benito close in on the decoy. His muscles tensed, ready to pounce, while William remained perfectly still, waiting for the right moment.

  But just as Benito was within striking distance of the decoy, he hesitated. His eyes narrowed, his instincts telling him something was off.

  "He's figured it out," Announcer 2 said, a note of admiration in his voice. "Benito Garcia isn't going down that easily."

  In an instant, Benito shifted the distance between himself and the decoy, leaping backward out of range before the metal construct could react.

  Angelo sprang from the shadows, but Benito was already moving, altering the space around him to put more distance between them.

  "Damn it!" William cursed, watching as Benito slipped through their grasp. "He's playing us!"

  Angelo growled in frustration, shifting back to human form. "He's too fast. We need to rethink this."

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  Announcer 1 summed up the situation with a mix of excitement and dread. "The final hunt has begun, but it looks like Benito Garcia is still one step ahead! This showdown is far from over, folks!"

  As the arena continued to shrink, the tension between the remaining contenders grew even more intense. William and Angelo knew that they were running out of time—and options. But Benito wasn't invincible. He had to make a mistake eventually.

  The tension in the arena was almost palpable, the air thick with the anticipation of what was to come. The final hunt was no longer just a game; it was a desperate struggle for survival. With Benito Garcia still lurking somewhere in the shrinking battlefield, William Dangerfield and Angelo Vasquez knew they had to be ready for anything.

  Announcer 1's voice boomed across the arena, brimming with energy, "Ladies and gentlemen, our contenders are still on the move! William and Angelo are determined, but Benito Garcia is playing a deadly game of cat and mouse!"

  Announcer 2 added, his tone more somber, "This is where strategy and instinct will decide everything. Benito's ability to manipulate distance is unlike anything we've seen in the Power Royale. The odds are stacked against our duo, but they've proven resilient so far."

  The rocky terrain had grown even more treacherous as the arena continued to shrink. William and Angelo moved cautiously, their eyes scanning every shadow, every crevice, knowing Benito could strike from any direction.

  "This place is a death trap," William muttered, his eyes narrowing as he adjusted the metal plates around his body, ready to react at a moment's notice.

  Angelo, his usually calm demeanor now tinged with anxiety, nodded. "We need to keep moving, keep him guessing. We can't let him control the fight."

  But even as they tried to stay one step ahead, the reality of their situation was grim. Benito was not only dangerous but also relentless, and they were quickly running out of options.

  Suddenly, without warning, a sharp crack echoed through the air. Benito had struck, altering the distance between him and his prey in the blink of an eye. Before either William or Angelo could react, Benito was upon them, his presence a blur of deadly intent.

  Angelo barely had time to shift into a tiger, his powerful feline body ready to counterattack, but it wasn't enough. Benito's hand shot out, his ability warping the space between them, and with a sickening crunch, he tore into Angelo's flesh.

  Announcer 1 gasped, his voice tinged with shock and excitement. "Oh my god, Benito Garcia just ripped Angelo's arm off! This is brutal!"

  Announcer 2 interjected, his voice grave, "This could be the end for Angelo. His ability to shift into animals might not be enough to save him now. Benito has the upper hand!"

  Angelo roared in pain, blood pouring from the gaping wound where his arm had been moments before. Instinctively, he shifted back into human form, clutching the stump where his arm once was. The agony was overwhelming, but he forced himself to stay on his feet.

  William reacted quickly, metal tendrils shooting out from his body to form a protective barrier between them and Benito. "We need to get out of here, now!" he yelled, grabbing Angelo by the shoulder.

  But Benito wasn't finished. He moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance between them in an instant. William gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy on reinforcing the metal shield, but he knew it wouldn't hold for long.

  "Run!" William shouted, pushing Angelo forward. "We can't take him on like this!"

  Angelo, his vision blurred with pain and blood loss, didn't argue. With the last of his strength, he began to run, William following close behind. The rocky terrain made every step treacherous, but they had no choice. Benito was right on their heels, and they needed to put as much distance between them as possible.

  Announcer 1 couldn't contain his excitement, "This is it, folks! The final showdown is coming to a head! William and Angelo are on the run, but can they escape Benito's relentless pursuit?"

  Announcer 2 was more measured, though no less intense. "It's not looking good for our duo. Benito has shown that he's willing to do whatever it takes to win. William and Angelo are in serious trouble."

  As they fled, William glanced over his shoulder, his mind racing. They needed a plan, something that would buy them time, but the pain and desperation in Angelo's eyes told him that they were out of options. The final hunt had become a race for survival, and it was a race they were rapidly losing.

  "Hang in there," William muttered, more to himself than to Angelo. "We'll find a way out of this."

  But even as the words left his mouth, he knew how hollow they sounded. Benito was closing in, and the arena was shrinking faster than they could run. The end was near, and it was only a matter of time before Benito made his final move.

  With one last glance at Angelo, who was struggling to keep up, William pushed himself harder. They couldn't stop, not now. Not when the stakes were this high.

  But deep down, both men knew the truth. They were running out of time.

  The battlefield had shrunk to the size of a small town, every inch of it soaked with blood and desperation. William Dangerfield and Angelo Vasquez could barely catch their breath, the weight of their survival pressing down on them. They had run far, but not far enough.

  The sky above them crackled with energy, a reminder that time was running out. The grand finale was upon them. The announcers' voices echoed through the battlefield, a grim reminder of the spectacle they were part of.

  "Ladies and gentlemen!" Announcer 1's voice boomed, full of manic glee. "This is it! The final moments! Will William and Angelo survive the wrath of Benito Garcia, or will this be the end of their journey?"

  Announcer 2 chimed in, more somber. "This is no ordinary fight, folks. Benito Garcia's power allows him to bend space itself. The closer you get, the smaller your world becomes—literally. And now, with Angelo already injured, this might be the most challenging battle our heroes have ever faced."

  Angelo stumbled, clutching his shoulder where his arm had once been. Blood dripped steadily from the stump, his face pale but determined. "We have to keep moving," he panted. "We can't let him catch up."

  William nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He was trying to think of a strategy, anything that could give them a fighting chance against Benito. But nothing came to him. The reality was, Benito was stronger, faster, and deadlier than either of them had ever imagined.

  They ducked into an abandoned warehouse, the last refuge they could find. The walls were lined with rusting machinery, remnants of a time when this place was alive with industry. Now, it was a tomb, and they were the prey.

  "William," Angelo said, his voice shaking. "If I don't make it—"

  "Don't," William snapped. "We're getting out of this, both of us. I'm not letting you die here."

  Before Angelo could respond, the air in the warehouse seemed to ripple. A distortion, like heat waves on a summer day, but more sinister. Benito was close.

  "Showtime," Benito's voice echoed through the air, dripping with malice. The sound sent a shiver down their spines.

  Then, without warning, Benito was in front of them. His movements were so fast that it was as if he'd materialized out of thin air. His eyes locked onto Angelo, and a wicked grin spread across his face.

  "Poor Angelo," Benito said, his voice mocking. "You should have stayed down."

  William tried to summon his power, to form a shield of metal between them, but Benito was too quick. In the blink of an eye, he was behind Angelo, one hand clamped around his neck, the other holding his severed arm like a trophy.

  "Let him go!" William shouted, desperation seeping into his voice.

  But Benito ignored him. He was focused entirely on Angelo now, his grip tightening around the young man's throat.

  "Do you know what happens at the quantum level, Angelo?" Benito whispered, his tone almost academic. "At the beginning of the universe, during the Big Bang, everything was so close together, so condensed. Particles, atoms, all crammed into a tiny, singular point. And then—BOOM! It all exploded outward, creating everything you see today. But what if I could reverse that? What if I could bring everything back to that singular point?"

  Angelo gasped for air, his vision blurring. William lunged forward, but before he could get close, Benito's power surged. Space around Angelo warped, crushing down on him, and with a sickening crack, Benito began to rip him apart.

  Angelo's scream tore through the warehouse as Benito wrenched off his remaining limbs with a brutal efficiency. Blood splattered across the floor, the sound of flesh tearing and bones snapping filling the air. Benito's face remained impassive, his eyes focused and cold.

  William was frozen in horror, unable to look away as Benito finished his gruesome task. He split Angelo's head in two with a swift, effortless motion, the halves falling to the floor with a wet thud.

  The announcers' voices cut through the aftermath, one excited, the other somber.

  "Angelo Vasquez is down, folks!" Announcer 1 exclaimed, almost giddy with excitement. "What a display of power from Benito Garcia! This man is unstoppable!"

  Announcer 2's voice was softer, a touch of regret in his tone. "And now, only two remain. William Dangerfield and Benito Garcia. The final confrontation is upon us."

  Benito turned to William, wiping Angelo's blood from his hands. "Your turn, William," he said, his voice dripping with dark promise.

  William's heart pounded in his chest as he faced Benito. He knew this was it—the final battle, the moment of truth. But as he stared into the eyes of the man who had just torn his friend apart, all he could feel was a cold, creeping fear.

  To be continued.