Chapitre 132: Chapter 131: A War at the Doorstep
The slums were alive with a frantic energy as Cole and Lina raced back toward their base. The message from Ty hung heavy in the air. The military. The city had escalated things faster than anyone had anticipated, and now, the stakes were higher than ever.
Cole's mind raced as they darted through the narrow alleyways. He could hear the distant sound of engines roaring, the unmistakable rumble of military vehicles approaching. It felt like a storm was about to crash down on them, and they were the only ones standing in its path.
"They're really doing it," Lina muttered, her breath coming in sharp bursts as they sprinted.
Cole didn't respond right away, his jaw clenched as his thoughts turned to the people in the slums. They had prepared for a fight, but this? A full-scale assault by the military wasn't something they could have planned for.
When they finally reached the safe house, the tension was palpable. Ty, Zack, and Maria were already gathered inside, their faces etched with grim determination. Outside, the streets were packed with people—men, women, and even children—each one preparing in their own way for what was coming.
"They're on their way," Ty said as soon as Cole entered the room, his voice low but urgent. "We've got scouts posted on the rooftops. Armored vehicles, soldiers… it's the real deal."
Cole nodded, his mind still racing. He moved to the table in the center of the room, where a map of the slums was spread out. He quickly scanned it, his eyes narrowing as he formulated a plan.
"How long do we have?" Cole asked, looking up at Ty.
"Not long," Ty replied. "Maybe an hour, if we're lucky."
Zack slammed his fist on the table, frustration and anger flashing in his eyes. "An hour? Are you serious? We can't take on the military, Cole! We've got guns, sure, but nothing like what they're bringing."
"We don't have a choice," Maria said quietly, her eyes focused on the map. "If we don't stand our ground, they'll roll through the slums and crush everything we've built."
Zack paced, running his hands through his hair. "Standing our ground is one thing, but against tanks? They'll level us, man."
Cole's voice cut through the tension. "We're not fighting them head-on. We're going to make them fight on our terms."
Zack stopped pacing, his eyes locking onto Cole. "What are you thinking?"
Cole pointed to the map, his finger tracing a line through the slums. "We know this place better than they do. Every alley, every rooftop. We use the terrain to our advantage. We set traps, we hit and run, and we keep them off balance."
Ty nodded, his face grim. "Makes sense. But we're going to need everyone to be ready. This isn't like the city's regular forces. These guys are trained for war."
"We don't need to beat them," Cole said, his voice steady. "We just need to make it so costly that they have no choice but to back off."
Maria leaned over the map, her eyes scanning the various routes through the slums. "We can funnel them into certain areas. If we block off the main roads, they'll have to come through the alleys, and that's where we can hit them hardest."
"Exactly," Cole agreed. "We use explosives, hit-and-run tactics. We don't give them a chance to pin us down."
Lina, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. "What about the people? Not everyone's a fighter. If they start shelling the slums…"
Cole's heart tightened at the thought. The people of the slums had been behind the resistance from the beginning, but this wasn't just a street fight anymore. This was war.
"We'll need to move the non-combatants to the tunnels," Cole said. "It's not perfect, but it'll be safer than above ground. We'll set up safe zones and make sure they're stocked with food and supplies."
Ty nodded. "I'll get some of the crew to start moving them now. We've got a few routes that'll take them deep enough that they should be safe."
Cole met Ty's gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. There was no guarantee that anyone would be safe, but they had to try.
"Alright," Cole said, his voice firm. "Let's get to work. We don't have much time."
---
The next hour was a blur of activity. Cole's crew moved quickly, organizing the people of the slums and setting up defenses. The streets were filled with the sound of hammering as barricades were reinforced, and every able-bodied person was handed a weapon or assigned a task.
Maria and her team worked to block off the main roads leading into the slums, creating choke points where the military would have no choice but to funnel their forces. Ty led a group through the tunnels, moving the elderly, the sick, and the children to safety. Zack and Lina coordinated the fighters, making sure they were in position for the coming battle.
Cole moved among them, giving orders, offering encouragement, and keeping an eye on the horizon. Every minute that passed brought the military closer, and the tension in the air grew thicker with each passing second.
"This is it," Cole muttered to himself as he stood atop one of the barricades, looking out over the slums. "This is what we've been fighting for."
He could feel the weight of everything pressing down on him—the people depending on him, the crew looking to him for leadership, the slums themselves, a place he had grown up in and fought for. But despite the pressure, Cole felt a strange sense of calm settle over him.
They had prepared for this. They had done everything they could. Now, all that was left was to fight.
---
The distant rumble of engines grew louder.
Cole's heart pounded in his chest as he climbed down from the barricade and made his way to the front line. The fighters were already in position, their weapons ready, their eyes locked on the approaching threat.
Lina stood beside him, her expression as calm and focused as ever. "Here they come."
Cole nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He could see the first of the military vehicles now—armored trucks and tanks rolling through the streets like an unstoppable force. Behind them, rows of soldiers marched in perfect formation, their rifles gleaming in the early morning light.
"They're not messing around," Zack muttered, his voice tight with tension. "We've got maybe ten minutes before they hit the first barricade."
Cole clenched his fists, his mind racing. "Hold your positions. We hit them hard and fast. Don't give them a chance to regroup."
The seconds ticked by like hours as the military drew closer. The sound of their engines filled the air, a low, ominous rumble that made the ground beneath Cole's feet tremble.
"Get ready," Cole said, his voice steady.
The first armored truck reached the barricade.
"Now!" Cole shouted.
The explosion was deafening. Ty's team had rigged the barricade with explosives, and as soon as the truck hit it, the entire structure went up in flames. The truck was thrown into the air, crashing down with a sickening crunch as the soldiers behind it scattered.
"Move!" Cole barked, leading the charge.
The fighters surged forward, weapons raised, firing at the disoriented soldiers. The streets erupted into chaos as gunfire echoed through the slums. Cole ducked behind a stack of crates, his heart pounding in his chest as bullets whizzed past his head.
"Keep them pinned!" Zack shouted from behind a nearby building, his rifle spitting fire.
Cole popped up from cover, firing a burst of shots at the advancing soldiers. The military's formation was tight, but the narrow streets of the slums made it difficult for them to maneuver. The barricades and debris slowed their progress, forcing them into choke points where the resistance fighters could pick them off.
But for every soldier they took down, more poured in. The military's sheer numbers were overwhelming, and Cole could see that they were starting to gain ground.
"Fall back!" Cole shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "Regroup at the next barricade!"
The fighters pulled back, retreating down the narrow alleyways as the military advanced. Cole's heart raced as he ducked into one of the side streets, Lina close behind him.
"They're pushing hard," Lina said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Cole nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "We just need to hold them off long enough for the people to get to safety."
Lina glanced at him, her eyes sharp. "And after that?"
Cole's jaw tightened. "We'll figure it out."
---
The battle raged on for hours, the streets of the slums turning into a war zone. The military pushed forward relentlessly, but the resistance fighters fought back with everything they had. Explosions rocked the city as the resistance's traps and explosives tore through the advancing forces, but it wasn't enough to stop them completely.
By midday, the slums were burning.
Cole stood on the roof of a building, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looked out over the chaos below. The streets were littered with debris, and the smoke from the fires cast a dark haze over the slums.
"We're holding them," Ty said as he joined Cole on the roof, his face streaked with dirt and sweat. "But barely."
Cole nodded, his mind racing. They had inflicted heavy losses on the military, but it was only a matter of time before they broke through.
"We can't hold them forever," Cole said quietly. "We need to make a decision."
Ty looked at him, his expression grim. "What are you thinking?"
Cole stared out at the burning slums, his heart heavy. "We fight. To the end."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone