Powers Against The World

The Appleridge dawn was truly a sight to see on this very day, as a thin haze of smoke covered the city as if it were polluted. It gave the sky a red look like it was through a filter and harder to see of course. The situation couldn't have been better for the Port-O-Bea forces though, as the southern attacks led by Jamal were finally prepared to attack after a day of rest and planning.

"So as we're all clear, we have to cross through the last two lines of trenches before we finally reach the edge of the suburbs of Appleridge. From there, we can expect the fighting to intensify with every mile until we'll have to have hopefully combined with the others. Near the city center, or beforehand preferably." Leon took into account of the simplified plan, "Don't forget, we need to prepare for whatever traps they've laid about or any more of their mobilization. We're already undermanned for this, but we'll have to rely on firepower if we want to win this."

"Good job." Jamal entered the small bunker that most of the soldiers were located in, stretching his arms out with a yawn, "You're getting better at this."

"When did you wake up?" Alice noticed his presence. 

"Just now, with only three hours of rest after being up for almost three days straight." Jamal gave a loose smile.

"Yeah, that's no good at all there." Brat scratched the back of his head in a state of worry.

"I'm good."

"As he says," Leon grunted to alert everyone to attention. "Now, everyone move towards your assigned squad leader and group. We move in about thirty minutes."

The remaining soldiers of the city understood their upcoming objectives, as they made their way outside and towards their assigned area. The only ones still inside the bunker were the Viligantes of Power who were doing the heavy lifting for their part of the operation. The ones that would pretty much decide how this entire thing was going to go down.

"Well, this is it y'all. The moment we've all been waiting for." Jamal looked them all in their eyes, no one breaking attention.

"I know we had always said that there was no going back a long time ago, but this is really it guys. It's either us controlling the city, or losing everything. The stakes couldn't be any higher." Brat added, with a bit of sadness.

"I wouldn't wish to do this without any one of you." Alice gave a small grin, "Except wherever Ryan is. He'll be okay."

Leon kept his mouth closed, deep in thought for the chaos that would ensue. The others couldn't really know what his body was going through, but the man could feel the pain and power start seeping through with each attack. It was at a stage where even increasing his power fivefold would result in aching throughout his arms. Pushing such limits was detrimental to everything that they were going for, but he could not stop. Not yet, until Youden was purged from the land, and he got his revenge.

"Yo, Leon!" he was alerted to Jamal standing by the doorway, watching him intensely while the others had already left. "I know what you're going through."

"No, you don't. I'm fine." Leon clenched his fists, although it forced him to take a quick breath. "Trust me."

"I want you to see one of the healers or medics in the area before you meet us by the front. Even if you're not one hundred percent, I want the best out of you. Don't use your fullest power, but just enough to get us by. We'll need you to break down their defenses."

With those words, the man could only watch as the leader of their group disappeared from his sight, leaving him all alone. Jamal wasn't wrong, with him straining to go further beyond each time he used these abilities. It would only be a matter of time before either he broke down, or getting the opportunity to kill Youden before that moment happens.

.....

Meanwhile, only several miles north of them, the rest of their team was prepared to finally advance out of their trenches, and towards their latest objective. Crossing through a few miles of field and fortifications would lead them to the Appleridge National Park. The cover of the trees and low clouds would give them the perfect cover to flank right past the suburbs and directly towards the road leading to the heart of the city. The only thing between the park and that goal were some of the city's apartments, which would require precise targeting and likely days of work to progress through.

"Okay guys, I'm getting word that the others are now moving ahead with their operation." Heskins peeked his head inside the trench entrance with the other Viligantes, carrying a rifle on his back, "It's time to go."

"Finally, I get out of this dump." Sera pushed off against the dirt, her sheath caked with it, "Hops, I know we both itching for this moment."

But the man couldn't help but have a mysterious grin on his face, which made everyone in the vicinity a bit paranoid. 

"Are you alright?" Fonda looked at him uneasily. 

"Oh yeah, I'm about to go all out on these fools," Hops said with an edge of excitement. 

"This isn't a game, man. It's an actual war, where people will literally die. Don't forget that." Heskins sighed in disappointment, "Anyway, I'll meet y'all by our starting point."

No one else waited to finally get a move outside of their trashy home, with Hops practically jumping his way out of the tight space. The clash of held-back powers would finally be released among the Reserve Guard and anyone who stood in their way. The true battle of Appleridge was now beginning.

.....

"Sir, our units are noticing the enemy has started advancing towards the city. I think this is really it." a Reserve Guard soldier was listening heavily to the reported news through their communication lines, as a large man stood behind him.

The command center was live with energy, as the many people inside were either directing commands or information to other units at a rapid pace. It appeared that Jamal had finally started the real assault for their city. The home that they've lived at for years. 

"Well, I'm glad that we can get a move on with our operations. Begin the 1st Plan. We'll make sure that they'll never take a step on our soil. But, in the case that things don't move in our favor, we already have two more operations and stages for that. They'll pay for each step," Hector Nerca grinned with such an opportunity, knowing that this would skyrocket him towards the power he'd been wishing to hold.