Chapitre 108: Chapter 108: Shadows of Power
The morning after Maria's warning, the safe house felt heavier. The air was thick with tension, each member of the crew absorbed in their thoughts as they prepared for what lay ahead. The threat of Victor Larkin loomed large in all their minds. He was no ordinary leader of the underground; he was a tactician, a man who didn't just want to control the slums—he wanted to reshape them into his own twisted vision of power.
Cole sat at the old wooden table in the center of the room, a map of the city spread before him. His fingers traced the streets and districts they had come to know so well, each mark on the map representing a past victory against the underground. But now, with Larkin stepping into the void left by Danton, it felt like they were fighting a different war.
Ty, Zack, and Lina sat around the table with him, each one deep in thought. They had been through hell together, but this felt different. More dangerous. More personal.
"We've hit them before," Ty said, breaking the silence. "But this... this is going to be a whole different game. Larkin isn't like Danton. He's not going to make the same mistakes."
Zack leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. "Yeah, but we're not the same crew we were when we took down Danton, either. We've learned. We've grown stronger."
Lina, ever the strategist, studied the map with her sharp eyes. "Larkin's smart, but he's not invincible. We need to figure out where his weaknesses are—where we can hit him hardest."
Cole remained quiet, his mind racing as he considered their options. Larkin wasn't just a thug with a crew; he was a man with resources, connections, and a vision for the city that was as twisted as it was dangerous. If they didn't stop him, the city would fall under his control, and the slums would be nothing more than his personal kingdom of fear and violence.
"We need information," Cole said finally, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "Larkin's network is too deep for us to just attack blindly. We need to know where his power lies, who his allies are, and what his plans are."
Lina nodded in agreement. "We'll have to dig deeper than we ever have before. His people are going to be watching every move we make."
Ty frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're talking about going straight into the lion's den, Cole. We've been laying low since we took out Danton, but Larkin's going to come after us hard. We're the only real threat to him now."
"Exactly," Cole replied, his eyes narrowing. "And that's why we need to strike first."
Zack raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "What are you thinking?"
Cole's gaze hardened as he looked at each of them. "We need to take the fight to him. Larkin's not going to sit back and wait for us to come knocking. He's already planning his next move. We have to find out what it is and stop him before he can carry it out."
Lina folded her arms, considering his words. "We have some contacts in the underground. People who might be willing to give us information—if they think we can protect them from Larkin's retaliation."
Zack let out a low chuckle. "Bribery and betrayal. Just like old times."
Ty shook his head, his expression serious. "This isn't going to be easy. Larkin's got fear on his side. People will be too scared to talk unless they know for sure we can take him down."
Cole smirked, a cold fire igniting in his eyes. "Then we'll have to make them believe it. We'll take out his key players, one by one, and show the city that Larkin isn't untouchable."
---
Later that night, Cole found himself standing on the rooftop of the safe house, the cool night air cutting through the lingering heat of the day. He had spent countless nights up here, staring out at the sprawling city below, his thoughts drifting between the past and the future. Tonight was no different, but the weight of what was coming felt heavier than ever before.
The city was a patchwork of lights and shadows, the flickering glow of streetlamps and neon signs casting eerie shapes across the streets. In the distance, the towering skyscrapers of the wealthier districts loomed over the slums, a constant reminder of the divide between those who had everything and those who had nothing.
It was a divide that Larkin sought to exploit.
Cole clenched his fists, the familiar anger bubbling beneath the surface. He had grown up in these streets, fought for every scrap of food, every breath of freedom. He had seen firsthand the cruelty of men like Larkin, men who thrived on the suffering of others. And now, as Larkin rose to power, Cole knew he had to stop him before it was too late.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Lina approaching, her silhouette framed by the dim light of the rooftop's lone streetlamp.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked, her voice soft but knowing.
Cole shook his head, his gaze returning to the city. "Too much to think about."
Lina stood beside him, her eyes following his gaze. "Larkin's going to be different from Danton. He's got bigger plans, more ambition."
"I know," Cole replied, his voice low. "That's what makes him so dangerous."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of the coming fight pressing down on them both. But then Lina spoke again, her voice steady and calm.
"You've changed, Cole."
He glanced at her, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
She met his gaze, her eyes searching his. "When we first started this, you were all about survival. Taking out anyone who got in your way. But now... it feels like you're fighting for something bigger."
Cole was quiet for a moment, considering her words. He hadn't realized it at first, but she was right. Somewhere along the way, his fight had become more than just about survival. It had become about the people—about protecting those who couldn't protect themselves, about giving the slums a future that wasn't ruled by fear and violence.
"I guess I am," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "Larkin's not just a threat to us. He's a threat to the city. If we don't stop him, everything we've fought for will be for nothing."
Lina nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That's what makes you different from him. You're not fighting for power. You're fighting for the people."
Cole chuckled, though it was laced with bitterness. "Let's just hope it's enough."
"It will be," she said firmly, her gaze unwavering. "Because you're not doing this alone. We're with you, every step of the way."
Cole felt a warmth spread through him at her words, a reminder that, no matter how dark things got, he wasn't alone. He had his crew—Ty, Zack, Lina—and together, they had taken on the worst the underground had to offer. They had survived, and they had fought back.
And now, as the final battle loomed on the horizon, Cole knew that they would face it together.
---
The next day, Cole and his crew put their plan into motion. They reached out to their contacts in the underground, offering protection and a way out in exchange for information. Slowly but surely, the pieces began to fall into place.
It didn't take long for them to uncover Larkin's plans.
He was consolidating his power, pulling together the remaining factions of the underground and preparing to strike at the heart of the city. But it wasn't just about control—it was about domination. Larkin wasn't interested in running the underground. He wanted to own the city itself, to bend it to his will.
The crew gathered in the safe house, pouring over the intel they had gathered. Ty and Zack sat on one side of the table, studying maps and reports, while Lina stood beside Cole, her eyes sharp as she considered their options.
"We need to hit him before he makes his move," Cole said, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "Once Larkin takes control of the underground, he'll be unstoppable."
"Agreed," Ty muttered, his brow furrowed as he traced the path of Larkin's forces on the map. "But he's got men all over the city. We can't be everywhere at once."
Lina crossed her arms, her gaze thoughtful. "We don't need to be. We just need to take out the key players—the ones holding everything together. If we can cripple his leadership, the rest will fall apart."
Zack grinned, his usual smirk returning. "I like the sound of that. Cut off the head, and the body dies."
Cole nodded, his mind already formulating a plan. "We'll target his lieutenants first. They're spread thin, which means we can hit them one by one before they have a chance to regroup."
Ty looked up from the map, his eyes meeting Cole's. "And what about Larkin? He's not just going to sit back and watch while we dismantle his empire."
Cole's gaze hardened, a cold fire burning in his chest. "When the time comes, I'll take care of Larkin."
There was a heavy silence in the room, but no one questioned Cole's resolve. They had seen him take down Danton, and they knew he wouldn't stop until Larkin was brought down as well.
---
The first strike came two nights later.
Under the cover of darkness, Cole and his crew moved through the city like shadows, hitting Larkin's key lieutenants with precision and speed. Each strike was quick and deadly, leaving no time for retaliation. By the time Larkin's forces realized what was happening, half of his leadership was gone.
The slums were buzzing with rumors. Word spread quickly of the attacks, of how Cole and his crew were dismantling the underground from the inside. People began to whisper that maybe, just maybe, Larkin wasn't as invincible as he seemed.
But even as they celebrated their small victories, Cole knew the real battle was yet to come.
Larkin wasn't going to let them tear down his empire without a fight.
And when he came for them, it would be a fight to the death.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone