Chapitre 130: Chapter 129: The Tipping Point
The city was on edge, and everyone knew it. From the sleek high-rises to the crumbling streets of the slums, it felt like the entire place was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Cole and his crew had become the center of attention, the rebellion in the slums a symbol of something far bigger than they had ever imagined. The public was divided, the media split between calling them revolutionaries or terrorists, and the city's elite had started to tighten their grip in response.
Cole stood at the edge of a rooftop, his long coat fluttering in the evening breeze as he looked out over the sprawling city. From this vantage point, he could see the divide—the glittering skyline of the wealthy districts, full of life and luxury, and the shadowed corners of the slums, where people fought for every scrap of dignity they could find.
The weight of it all pressed down on him, but there was no turning back now. The city would never be the same again.
"You alright?" Lina's voice broke through his thoughts as she stepped up beside him. She had a quiet strength about her, one that Cole had come to rely on.
"Yeah," Cole said, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "Just thinking about what comes next."
Lina leaned on the railing, her eyes scanning the streets below. "It's not going to be pretty. The city's getting desperate, and desperate people do stupid things."
Cole nodded. He could feel it in the air—the tension, the pressure. Something was about to break. The city couldn't afford to let the rebellion grow any bigger, and Cole knew they'd try to stamp it out before it spiraled out of control.
"We've pushed them too far," Cole said, his voice low. "They're going to come for us with everything they've got."
"And we'll be ready," Lina replied, her tone firm.
Cole glanced at her, his eyes searching her face. She was calm, but he could see the fire behind her words. She believed in what they were doing. She believed in him. And that gave him the strength to keep moving forward.
"They're calling us terrorists," Cole said after a moment, his voice carrying a bitter edge. "On the news, in the papers. People in the rich districts think we're just trying to tear the city apart."
Lina's lips pressed into a thin line. "That's because they don't know what it's like to live in the slums. They don't see what we see. But there are others who do. People are rising up, Cole. You've given them something to believe in."
Cole shook his head, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I never wanted to be a leader."
"Doesn't matter," Lina said, her voice steady. "You are."
For a moment, they stood in silence, watching as the city's lights flickered on one by one. Below, the streets buzzed with life. The slums were awake, alive with the movement Cole had helped ignite. People were tired of being pushed down, and now they were fighting back.
"We should get back to the others," Cole said finally, pulling away from the edge of the roof. "There's a lot to plan."
Lina nodded, and together they made their way down from the rooftop and into the heart of the slums.
---
Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was tense. Ty, Zack, Maria, and the rest of the crew were gathered around the large table in the center of the room, maps and blueprints spread out before them. The latest reports from their informants in the city were grim—more patrols, more crackdowns, and the looming threat of a full-scale assault on the slums.
"We're running out of time," Zack said, his voice tight as he looked over the map. "They've got armored convoys moving toward us from the north, and there's word that they're calling in backup from the military."
"Backup?" Ty asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean they're bringing in the real heat?"
Maria nodded. "Yeah, and if that happens, we're not just dealing with the city's forces anymore. We're talking about serious firepower."
The room fell silent. The stakes had just been raised. The city was willing to go to any lengths to crush the rebellion, and now they were bringing in outside help to do it.
"We need to be smart about this," Cole said, stepping up to the table. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of determination in his eyes. "We can't fight them head-on, not with what they're bringing."
Zack crossed his arms, his expression hard. "So what's the plan? We can't just sit here and wait for them to come in and wipe us out."
"We're not sitting," Cole replied. "We're going to hit them where they least expect it."
Ty raised an eyebrow. "You've got something in mind?"
Cole nodded, his fingers tracing the map of the city. "The northern sector. It's where most of their supply lines are coming from. They're moving weapons and troops through there, and if we can disrupt that, we can buy ourselves some time."
Maria frowned. "That's risky. They'll have it locked down tight."
"We don't need to take it," Cole said, shaking his head. "We just need to slow them down. Cause enough chaos to force them to divert their resources."
Zack leaned over the map, his eyes narrowing. "You're thinking sabotage?"
"Exactly," Cole replied. "We go in, hit their supply lines, take out as much as we can, and get out before they even know what hit them."
Lina, who had been standing quietly by Cole's side, spoke up. "And while they're dealing with that, we reinforce the slums. We need to make sure we have enough food, water, and weapons to hold out if they manage to get through."
Ty nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It's not a bad plan. But we're going to need everyone on board for this."
Cole looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each member of the crew. They were all tired, worn down by the constant fighting, but there was something else there too—determination. They weren't giving up. Not now.
"We're in this together," Cole said, his voice steady. "No one's backing down. We've come too far."
The crew murmured their agreement, and Cole could feel the weight of their trust. They were looking to him for leadership, for answers, and even though he hadn't asked for it, he knew he had to give them hope.
"We move out at dawn," Cole said. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
---
As the crew dispersed, Cole lingered in the room, staring down at the map. The weight of everything pressed down on him, but he wouldn't let it break him. There was too much at stake.
"You did good today," Lina said, stepping up beside him.
Cole glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'm just trying to keep us alive."
Lina gave him a soft, knowing look. "You're doing more than that. You're giving people something to fight for."
Cole's smile faded, his eyes darkening. "I just hope it's enough."
Lina didn't say anything, but her presence was comforting. She was always there, steady and unshakable, and that was something Cole had come to rely on more than he cared to admit.
"You're not alone in this," Lina said quietly. "We're all in it together. No matter what happens."
Cole nodded, his chest tightening at the thought. "Thanks."
As the night wore on, the slums remained eerily quiet, the tension thick in the air. Tomorrow would bring another battle, another test of their resolve. But for now, in the quiet moments before the storm, Cole allowed himself a rare moment of peace.
Because he knew that once the fighting started again, there would be no turning back.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone