章節 143: Chapter 142: The Sparks That Ignite
Morning arrived with the rumble of distant thunder, though no storm clouds gathered in the sky. It was the sound of engines—military convoys once again moving toward the slums, this time in greater force. Cole could feel the vibration of the earth beneath his boots as he stood at the edge of the safe house, watching the skyline. The time for plans and words had passed. Now, all that remained was the fight.
The people of the slums were preparing, but there was an uneasy silence hanging over the air. Children peered out from broken windows, wide-eyed and afraid. Adults moved with hurried purpose, reinforcing barricades and setting traps. Even those who had grown used to hardship now wore fear on their faces—fear of what the city's retaliation might bring.
"They're sending more this time," Zack said, walking up beside Cole. His rifle hung at his side, but his grip was tight on the strap. "Tanks, heavy artillery, and a lot more soldiers."
"We knew they would," Cole replied, his voice cold and steady. "They can't afford to let this stand."
Zack sighed, his jaw clenched. "You think we're ready?"
Cole didn't answer immediately. Instead, he scanned the horizon, watching as the city's forces slowly crept closer. The slums had always been outmatched. This wasn't a fair fight—this was a rebellion of the weak against the powerful, of the forgotten against those who held the reins of the world. But Cole had something that the city's elite could never understand. He had people who were fighting not for power or wealth, but for survival, for freedom. And that made them dangerous.
"We're ready," Cole said, his voice low but certain.
---
Ty was already in position near the eastern barricades, a series of carefully placed explosives hidden beneath piles of rubble. He was crouched low, his fingers tracing the outline of a detonator in his pocket. His usual grin was gone, replaced by a rare expression of focus.
"Everything in place?" Cole asked, kneeling beside him.
Ty nodded, glancing up with a determined look. "Yeah, I've got enough to blow half their convoy to hell. Just waiting on your signal."
Cole gave a tight nod. "Wait until they're deep inside. We need to make sure they can't retreat."
Ty chuckled darkly. "Oh, they won't have a chance to run."
Satisfied, Cole moved on, making his way toward the front lines where Maria had set up her sniper position. She was lying prone on a rooftop, her rifle trained on the approaching vehicles. Her breath was calm, her heartbeat steady, even as the enemy drew closer.
"Anything unusual?" Cole asked as he climbed up beside her.
Maria didn't take her eyes off the scope. "They've got drones overhead. Looks like they're scanning the area for traps."
Cole cursed under his breath. "They're adapting."
"We'll have to adapt faster," Maria replied, her tone cool and collected. "I can take out the operators if I get a clear shot."
"Do it," Cole said, his mind already racing with new contingencies. "We can't let them get the upper hand before the fight even starts."
As Cole moved to leave, Maria stopped him with a quiet word. "Hey, Cole."
He turned back to face her.
"Whatever happens out there…" She hesitated, just for a second. "Just know we're with you. All of us."
Cole nodded, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders. "Same here, Maria."
With that, he moved on, continuing through the maze of alleyways and barricades. The slums were a patchwork of defenses, hastily built but fiercely guarded. People moved through the streets, preparing for the inevitable clash with the city's forces. Despite the fear, there was a sense of unity, a shared understanding that they were fighting for their very survival.
Lina was waiting for him near the center of the slums, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. She had a way of holding her emotions close, but Cole knew her well enough to see the tension in her posture.
"Everything's set," she said as he approached. "The people are in position, and we're ready to fight."
Cole glanced around at the makeshift fortifications, the fighters hidden behind walls and debris. "It's not enough."
Lina raised an eyebrow. "It's all we've got."
"I know," Cole replied, his voice quiet. "But they're coming with everything they've got this time. If we lose here…"
"We won't," Lina cut him off, her tone sharp. "We can't."
There was a brief silence between them, the gravity of the situation pressing down on them both. Cole had always known that this fight would come, but now that it was here, he could feel the weight of every life depending on him. It was suffocating, but he couldn't show that. Not now. Not when so many people were counting on him.
"We'll make it through this," Lina said, her voice softer now. "We've come too far to let them break us."
Cole looked at her, the fire in her eyes a mirror of his own. "I know."
---
The first explosion rocked the slums just as the sun reached its peak, a thunderous boom that echoed off the crumbling buildings and sent birds scattering into the sky. Ty's charges had detonated beneath the lead tank of the convoy, flipping the massive vehicle onto its side in a twisted heap of metal and fire. The soldiers behind it were thrown into chaos, scrambling for cover as debris rained down on them.
"Now!" Cole shouted into his radio, signaling the fighters to attack.
Gunfire erupted from every direction as the resistance fighters opened fire on the city's forces. The slums became a battlefield in an instant, bullets whizzing through the air and explosions shaking the ground. Cole moved with purpose, leading his crew through the chaos, using the narrow alleyways and familiar terrain to their advantage.
Lina was by his side, her movements quick and precise as she took down two soldiers with her pistol. "We've got them pinned, but they're sending reinforcements!" she shouted over the din of battle.
"Keep them off balance!" Cole replied, ducking behind a wall as a spray of bullets tore through the air above his head. "We can't let them regroup!"
Ty's voice crackled through the radio, filled with a mix of excitement and adrenaline. "That first hit was beautiful, but they're bringing in more armor! We need to take out those tanks before they roll over us!"
"Maria, can you get a shot on the tank commanders?" Cole called into his radio.
"Already on it," Maria replied, her voice calm despite the chaos around her. A moment later, the crack of her rifle echoed through the slums, followed by a cheer from one of the resistance fighters. "That's one down."
Cole pressed forward, weaving through the narrow streets as the sounds of battle raged around him. The city's forces were relentless, but they were disoriented, unprepared for the level of resistance they had encountered. Still, Cole knew they couldn't hold them off forever. The city had more soldiers, more firepower, and more resources. The slums had nothing but their will to fight.
And that would have to be enough.
---
As the hours dragged on, the battle showed no signs of slowing. The slums were a war zone, every street and alleyway a battlefield. Cole could feel the exhaustion creeping into his bones, but he couldn't stop. Not now. Not when they were so close.
"Cole!" Zack's voice came through the radio, breathless and panicked. "We're getting overrun on the west side! We need reinforcements!"
Cole cursed under his breath. "Lina, take a team and back up Zack. We can't let them break through."
Lina nodded and disappeared into the fray, her team following close behind. Cole watched her go, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. She was strong, but the city's forces were overwhelming, and every moment they held out felt like borrowed time.
As the battle raged on, Cole could feel the weight of the fight pressing down on him. The city's forces were relentless, their tanks and soldiers pushing deeper into the slums. The resistance was holding, but just barely. And every moment of delay only bought them a little more time.
But they had to keep going. They had to keep fighting. Because if they gave up now, there would be nothing left.
---
The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the slums in a blood-red glow. The fighting had slowed, but it wasn't over. The city's forces had been pushed back for now, but Cole knew they would come again, stronger and more determined. They always did.
As the smoke cleared and the gunfire died down, Cole stood at the edge of the battlefield, his heart heavy with exhaustion and grief. So many had died today, so many more would die in the days to come. But they had survived. For now, that was enough.
Lina appeared beside him, her face streaked with dirt and sweat, but her eyes still burning with determination.
"We held them off," she said quietly, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "For now."
Cole nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant city skyline. "They'll be back."
"I know," Lina replied. "But we'll be ready."
Cole looked at her, seeing the same fire that had kept him going all this time. The same fire that burned in every person who had risen up to fight for their freedom. They had come too far to turn back now.
"We keep fighting," Cole said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "No matter what."
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榜單 
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