Chapitre 141: Chapter 140: Fire and Steel
The roar of engines and the clanking of tank treads shattered the tense quiet of the slums. The city's military had arrived in full force, their armored vehicles cutting through the narrow streets like predators stalking prey. Helicopters buzzed overhead, their rotors whipping the air into a frenzy. The people of the slums, huddled behind hastily built barricades, watched with wide eyes as the behemoths of war closed in on their home.
From his position atop a crumbling building, Cole could see everything. His heart pounded in his chest, but his expression remained stone cold. The city had brought the full weight of its might to crush the slums once and for all. But Cole and his crew had prepared for this. They knew the terrain, knew the alleyways, and knew how to turn the maze of the slums into their greatest advantage.
Lina crouched beside him, her rifle slung over her shoulder, her eyes narrowed as she scanned the advancing forces. "They're coming in hot," she said, her voice barely audible over the distant rumble of tanks. "This won't be easy."
"Was never supposed to be easy," Cole muttered, his gaze fixed on the approaching convoy. "But we're ready."
Ty's voice crackled through the radio, his usual cocky tone replaced by a grim seriousness. "I've got explosives set up all along their entry routes. Just say the word, and we'll light 'em up."
"Wait for my signal," Cole replied, his jaw clenched. "We want them deep in before we strike. They think they can roll over us, so let's make them feel comfortable first."
From across the slums, Cole could see the resistance fighters in position, hidden in alleyways, on rooftops, and behind debris. They were outnumbered and outgunned, but they had something the city's forces didn't—desperation. These people had nothing left to lose, and that made them dangerous.
As the first of the city's tanks rumbled into the slums, Cole raised his hand, signaling for his crew to hold. The soldiers accompanying the vehicles moved cautiously, their rifles raised as they scanned the empty streets. The air was thick with tension, every second stretching into an eternity.
Lina's finger hovered over the trigger of her rifle, her sharp eyes locked onto a group of soldiers moving toward one of the barricades. "They're in position," she whispered.
Cole took a deep breath, his hand still raised. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was the turning point. The city thought it could crush the slums with brute force, but Cole was about to show them that their power was fragile. The people had risen up, and they weren't going to be silenced.
"Now," Cole said, his voice cold and commanding.
The explosion tore through the air like thunder. Ty's charges detonated in rapid succession, sending plumes of fire and debris into the sky. The lead tank was lifted off the ground, its massive bulk crashing down in a twisted heap of metal and flames. The soldiers nearest to the explosion were thrown to the ground, some scrambling for cover while others lay motionless.
"Go!" Cole shouted into his radio.
All across the slums, the resistance fighters sprang into action. Gunfire erupted from the rooftops, cutting down the soldiers caught in the open. Molotov cocktails sailed through the air, smashing into the side of a second tank and igniting it in a ball of fire. The slums, once a quiet and forgotten corner of the city, had become a battlefield.
Lina fired her rifle, taking out two soldiers who were attempting to flank one of the barricades. "They're disoriented, but they'll regroup soon," she warned, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
"Keep hitting them," Cole replied, his voice filled with determination. "We need to keep them off balance."
Ty's voice came through the radio again, breathless but excited. "That was beautiful, man! We got 'em good!"
"Stay focused," Cole said, scanning the battlefield. "We've only slowed them down."
---
Down in the streets, Zack led a group of fighters in a daring assault on a squad of soldiers taking cover behind a destroyed vehicle. They moved quickly, their makeshift weapons striking with precision. Zack ducked behind cover, returning fire with a scavenged rifle, his eyes sharp and focused.
"Keep pushing!" Zack shouted to his group. "We've got the advantage!"
But even as the resistance fighters pressed their attack, the city's forces began to recover. More soldiers poured into the slums, their armored vehicles pushing through the debris. The sound of helicopters overhead grew louder, and Cole knew it wouldn't be long before the full weight of the city's military was brought to bear.
"We're getting pushed back!" Maria's voice came over the radio, panic creeping into her tone. She had taken a sniper position on a distant rooftop, but now enemy soldiers were closing in on her.
"Hold your position!" Cole ordered. "We can't let them break through!"
Lina fired another shot, taking down an officer who had been rallying his troops. "We can't keep this up forever," she said between shots. "They've got more resources than we do."
Cole gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He had known this would be a tough fight, but the city's response was even more overwhelming than he had anticipated. Still, he couldn't let doubt creep in. The people of the slums were counting on him, and he wasn't about to let them down.
"Ty, we need more explosives on the eastern side," Cole said into his radio. "If they break through there, we're finished."
"On it!" Ty replied, already moving to plant more charges.
As the battle raged on, Cole could see the toll it was taking on his fighters. They were brave, but they were also tired. Every victory came with losses, and every step forward seemed to come at the cost of another life. The city's forces were relentless, and the weight of their assault was beginning to show.
But Cole wasn't ready to give up. He had fought too hard, sacrificed too much to let the city crush them now.
---
Hours later, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the slums in a deep orange glow. The fighting had slowed, but the tension remained thick in the air. The city's forces had been pushed back, but they weren't defeated. Cole knew they would regroup and come back stronger.
He stood on the rooftop, surveying the battlefield below. The slums were a mess of rubble, fire, and blood. The people had fought valiantly, but they couldn't hold out forever. They needed something more—something that would turn the tide in their favor.
Lina approached him, her expression grim but determined. "We did what we could," she said, her voice quiet.
Cole nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant city skyline. "It's not enough," he muttered. "They're going to keep coming."
"Then we keep fighting," Lina replied, her eyes fierce. "We've already proven we can stand up to them."
Cole turned to face her, his jaw tight. "I don't know how long we can keep this up."
Lina stepped closer, her voice firm. "We've got something they don't, Cole. We've got the people. They're not just fighting for survival—they're fighting for their future. And as long as they've got that, we've got a chance."
Cole looked into her eyes, seeing the fire that burned within her. She was right. The people of the slums weren't just fighting for themselves—they were fighting for something bigger, something that couldn't be crushed by tanks and soldiers.
"We're not giving up," Cole said, his voice filled with resolve. "No matter what."
Lina nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Good. Because this isn't over."
As the night fell over the slums, the resistance fighters prepared for the next round. The city's forces would come again, but this time, they would be ready. They had already shown the city that they wouldn't be silenced, and now it was time to show them that they wouldn't be defeated.
Cole stood on the rooftop, his heart pounding as he watched the city's skyline glow in the distance. The battle for the slums had only just begun.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone