Chapitre 144: Chapter 143: The Cost of Defiance
As the night deepened, the slums were left in an uneasy quiet. The fires from the day's battle still smoldered in pockets around the district, their dull glow casting eerie shadows on the cracked streets and crumbling buildings. Cole stood near a makeshift barricade, his eyes scanning the horizon. The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder, smoke, and something else—a tension that refused to lift.
Lina sat beside him on an overturned barrel, resting her head against the wall of a shattered building. Her breath came in slow, controlled intervals as she tried to calm her nerves. "How many did we lose today?" she asked, her voice low, almost hesitant.
Cole didn't answer right away. He wasn't ready to face that number, to say it aloud. Instead, he took a deep breath and let the silence stretch out between them. The day had been brutal—more so than any of them had anticipated. The city had sent everything it had, and while the resistance had held the line, the cost had been staggering.
Finally, he spoke. "Too many."
Lina nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. She understood. They both did. Each life lost wasn't just another body—it was a name, a face, a story. People who had once shared laughter and hope were now gone, leaving behind only the gaping hole of their absence.
Ty walked up, his usually boisterous energy dimmed by the weight of the day's events. He dragged a crate behind him, setting it down heavily before collapsing onto it. "We've got enough supplies for maybe a week, but that's if we're careful. Ammunition's running low. Same with food and water."
Cole's eyes darkened. They couldn't keep going like this. The city's military might was endless, and each time they pushed the slums further into desperation. The people were tough, but there was only so much they could endure. Eventually, the breaking point would come.
"We need to find a way to resupply," Zack said as he joined the group, his face bruised and grim. "If we don't, we'll be dead before they even launch the next attack."
Maria approached quietly, her sniper rifle slung over her shoulder. She sat down next to Cole, her eyes scanning the horizon as she always did, ever vigilant. "We could try raiding their supply depots again, but they'll be expecting that. They've doubled security after what we pulled last time."
Cole clenched his fists, his mind racing. There had to be a way. They couldn't afford to lose momentum now. Not after everything they had fought for.
Lina's voice broke the silence. "We're not alone, you know. There are others out there—other districts, other groups who are tired of the city's oppression. We need allies. If we can unite with them, we might stand a chance."
Ty looked skeptical. "And how are we supposed to convince them? Most of them are too scared to rise up, and those who aren't… Well, they're busy looking out for themselves."
"They'll come around when they see what we've done," Zack said. "They just need to know it's possible to fight back."
Cole's gaze hardened. "Then we show them."
---
The following days were spent in preparation. Despite the exhaustion, the people of the slums continued to work tirelessly. Barricades were rebuilt, makeshift weapons were forged, and scouts were sent out to gather information on the city's next move. It wasn't much, but it was all they had.
Cole's plan to gather allies from the surrounding districts was met with mixed reactions. Some were eager to join the fight, inspired by the resistance's defiance. Others were hesitant, unwilling to risk everything in a war they weren't sure they could win. But slowly, word began to spread. The spark that had ignited in the slums was catching fire in other corners of the city.
As the days passed, more people arrived—fighters, medics, and ordinary citizens who had grown tired of living in fear. They came from all walks of life, each with their own story of suffering under the city's rule. And as their numbers grew, so did their resolve.
One evening, as the sun began to set, Cole stood at the edge of a makeshift camp. The people who had come to join the fight gathered around, their faces a mixture of hope and determination. Cole had never been one for speeches, but he knew they needed to hear something—some reminder of why they were doing this.
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "We've all lived our lives under the boot of the city's elite," he began, his voice steady. "We've watched as they've taken everything from us—our homes, our freedom, our dignity. But that ends here. Today, we fight back. Not just for ourselves, but for everyone who's been beaten down by this corrupt system. This isn't just our battle anymore. It's theirs too."
The crowd murmured in agreement, their eyes locked on Cole as he spoke.
"We've proven we can stand up to them," Cole continued, his voice rising. "We've shown them that we won't be silenced. And now, we're going to take that fight to every corner of this city. We're going to show them that the people won't be controlled anymore."
Lina stepped up beside him, her presence steady and calm. "This is about more than just survival. It's about building something better. Something where people like us don't have to live in fear. Where we can live with dignity. That's why we're fighting."
There was a brief pause as the weight of her words sank in. The crowd was silent, but Cole could feel the shift in their energy. The fear was still there, but it was mingled with something else now—hope.
"They'll come for us again," Cole said, his voice quiet but fierce. "And when they do, we'll be ready. Because this isn't just a battle. It's a war. And we're not backing down."
---
The next day, the resistance made its move. Scouts had reported a small convoy of supply trucks heading toward one of the city's military outposts on the outskirts of the slums. It was a perfect target—vulnerable, lightly guarded, and filled with the resources they desperately needed.
Cole led the attack, his crew moving swiftly through the shadows as they approached the convoy. The trucks were parked in a small clearing, the drivers unaware of the ambush that was about to unfold.
"Wait for my signal," Cole whispered into his radio as they crouched behind a cluster of debris.
The moments stretched on, the tension thick in the air. Finally, when the guards were distracted, Cole gave the order.
"Go."
In an instant, the resistance fighters swarmed the convoy, taking out the guards with swift, precise strikes. The drivers barely had time to react before they were dragged from their vehicles, their hands tied behind their backs.
"Secure the trucks," Cole ordered, his voice sharp. "Get everything loaded up and move out."
As the crew worked quickly to transfer the supplies, Lina kept watch, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of reinforcements. The operation had gone smoothly so far, but they couldn't afford to be complacent.
"We've got company," Maria's voice crackled through the radio from her sniper position. "Patrol heading our way."
Cole cursed under his breath. "How long?"
"Five minutes, maybe less."
"Zack, get the trucks moving!" Cole shouted. "We don't have time!"
The convoy rumbled to life, the trucks groaning under the weight of the supplies as they pulled away from the clearing. Cole and his crew moved quickly, covering their escape as the city's patrol grew closer. The sound of engines echoed in the distance, the telltale sign that they were running out of time.
"Move, move, move!" Cole shouted, urging his team forward.
As the trucks roared down the narrow streets of the slums, Cole could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. They had done it—they had struck another blow against the city, and this time, they had taken what they needed to keep fighting.
But as they reached the safety of the resistance's camp, Cole knew this victory was just a small one in the grand scheme of things. The city wasn't going to take these attacks lying down. They would retaliate, and when they did, it would be with a force even greater than before.
Still, as he looked around at his crew, at the people who had joined them in the fight, Cole felt a surge of determination. The revolution was growing. The people were rising. And as long as they had each other, they would keep pushing forward.
No matter the cost.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone