Chapitre 140: Chapter 139: Now what?
The slums were a mixture of exhaustion and triumph as Cole and his crew returned from their raid on the city. Word of their success had already spread like wildfire through the narrow, rubble-strewn streets. People emerged from the shadows, some with hesitant smiles, others with glimmers of hope in their eyes. For the first time in a long while, the slums had struck a blow that had shaken the city to its core.
But as much as the victory was celebrated, there was no mistaking the quiet tension that lingered in the air. Everyone knew the city wouldn't let this attack go unanswered. The slums had stirred a beast, and its retaliation would be swift and brutal.
Cole stood in front of what was left of the safe house, the makeshift headquarters that had become the heart of the resistance. His clothes were stained with dirt and sweat, his muscles sore from the night's battles, but he couldn't rest. His mind was still racing with thoughts of what came next.
Lina walked up beside him, her face smudged with grime but her expression as fierce as ever. "You did it," she said quietly, her eyes scanning the crowds of people gathering around the safe house. "We did it."
Cole nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yeah, but this is only round one."
Ty joined them, his usual smirk in place despite the exhaustion that weighed down his features. "You're too much of a pessimist, Cole. We just took out their power, supply depot, and communications tower. That's not just a victory—that's a knockout punch."
"Maybe," Cole muttered, "but the city won't stay down for long."
"Let them come," Zack said as he approached, his voice rough from fatigue. "We're ready for them."
Cole glanced at his crew—his family. They had been through so much together, fought so many battles side by side, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The city's forces would regroup, and when they did, they would come back with everything they had.
"We need to prepare," Cole said, his voice firm. "The city's going to hit back, and we need to be ready."
Lina folded her arms, her gaze steady. "What's the plan?"
Cole took a deep breath, his mind racing. "We fortify the slums. We make it impossible for them to take us by surprise again. And we rally the people. This isn't just about us anymore—this is about everyone who's been beaten down by the system."
Ty grinned. "A revolution, then?"
Cole met his gaze, his eyes hard. "A revolution."
---
Over the next few days, the slums buzzed with activity as the resistance prepared for the inevitable retaliation. People worked day and night, setting up barricades, reinforcing buildings, and gathering whatever weapons and supplies they could find. The slums, once a symbol of poverty and oppression, were transforming into a fortress, a battleground where the people were ready to stand their ground.
Cole moved through the streets, checking on the preparations, offering words of encouragement to the people who had joined the cause. For many of them, this was the first time they had felt a sense of control over their own lives, the first time they had dared to fight back against the forces that had kept them down for so long.
But even as the preparations continued, Cole couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him. He knew the city wouldn't let this stand. The people in power—the elites who controlled the Crucible and the city's military forces—would see the slums as a threat that needed to be eliminated. And they wouldn't hesitate to use everything at their disposal to crush the resistance.
That thought weighed heavily on him as he returned to the safe house one evening, his body aching from the day's work. Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Ty, Zack, Lina, and Maria were gathered around the table, deep in discussion.
"We've got reports from our scouts," Zack said as Cole entered. "The city's forces are regrouping. They've pulled back to their military bases and are mobilizing for a full-scale assault."
Cole's eyes narrowed. "How long do we have?"
"Not long," Maria replied, her voice steady. "They're moving fast. A day, maybe two, before they hit us again."
Ty leaned back in his chair, his grin fading. "So, what's the play?"
Cole stared at the map spread out on the table, his mind racing. The slums had become a fortress, but they were still outmatched in terms of firepower and resources. They couldn't hope to hold off the city's military forces forever. But they didn't need to. They just needed to survive long enough to make the city reconsider its approach.
"We make them bleed," Cole said, his voice cold and determined. "We use every trick we've got. We hit them hard, force them to spread their forces thin. And we make sure the world sees what they're doing. If the city tries to turn this into a massacre, we make sure everyone knows it."
Zack frowned. "You think public opinion's going to stop them?"
Cole met his gaze. "If enough people see what's happening, they'll have no choice. The city's elites care about one thing—control. They can't afford to lose that. If the people see them for what they are, it'll shake the whole system."
Lina nodded. "It's risky. But it might be our best shot."
Maria, ever the sniper, chimed in. "We'll need to keep our eyes open. The moment they move in, we need to be ready to strike."
Ty's grin returned. "Sounds like a party. I'll bring the explosives."
Cole allowed himself a small, grim smile. "Then let's get to work."
---
The next morning, Cole woke before dawn, the faint light of the rising sun casting long shadows over the slums. The air was thick with tension, the calm before the storm. He stood outside the safe house, watching as the people of the slums continued their preparations. Despite the fear that hung in the air, there was a sense of determination, a shared understanding that this was their fight.
As he watched, Lina approached, her expression serious but calm. She stopped beside him, folding her arms as she gazed out at the slums.
"You've done something here, Cole," she said quietly. "Something I don't think even you expected."
Cole glanced at her, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
"You've given them hope," Lina replied, her voice soft. "These people… they've lived their whole lives under the city's thumb, always surviving, never fighting back. But now? They're fighting. They believe in something bigger than themselves."
Cole didn't respond immediately. He had never seen himself as a leader, never imagined that he would be the one to rally an entire district of people to rise up against the city. But here they were, standing on the brink of revolution, and somehow, they were all looking to him for guidance.
"It's not about me," Cole said finally, his voice low. "It's about them. About all of us. We've been fighting for scraps our whole lives, and now we've got a chance to take something back."
Lina nodded, her eyes glinting with quiet resolve. "Then let's make sure we don't waste it."
---
By midday, the slums were on high alert. Scouts had reported movement from the city's military forces—tanks, soldiers, and heavily armored vehicles were moving toward the outskirts of the slums. The assault was coming, and it was coming fast.
Cole gathered his crew at the safe house, their faces grim but focused.
"This is it," he said, his voice firm. "The city's coming for us. They're bringing everything they've got. But we're not going to let them crush us. We hit them from all sides, we use every resource we have, and we make them pay for every inch they take."
Zack nodded, his jaw clenched. "We're ready."
Ty grinned, his usual humor masking the seriousness of the situation. "Let's blow some stuff up."
Lina stepped forward, her expression fierce. "We fight for each other. For the people. No matter what happens."
Cole's eyes swept over his crew—his family. They had fought through so much together, and now they were standing on the edge of something bigger than any of them had imagined.
"This is our home," Cole said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. "We fight for it. We fight for everyone who can't. And we don't stop until the city knows we're not going to be broken."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in.
And then, the distant sound of engines roared through the air.
The battle for the slums had begun.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone