Heavy panting echoed throughout the bar, now riddled with holes from the battle. Thick smoke—a mix of dust, gunpowder, and debris—fogged the surroundings. As it slowly thinned, the heavy silence that followed the deafening gunfire stretched over everyone.
"Ransom," Florida called, stepping out from behind the shelf where he had taken cover. He took in the sight of the bar, the dust hanging in the air—disturbed remnants of what had just transpired.
Slowly, Ransom rose from cover as well, scanning the area to make sure every enemy inside had been taken down. The n from Gigante also began erging from behind the bar counter, where they had hidden whenever the rcenaries fired back.
For a mont, silence reigned until Florida caught movent outside.
Without thinking twice, he raised his rifle and aid at the broken window.
BANG!
"Don’t shoot!" the lackey outside shouted, ducking beneath the window. He barely avoided the bullet. "I’m not an enemy!"
Florida furrowed his brows but didn’t lower his guard. Although they had seen the people Lola had brought here—wherever she picked them from—he refused to underestimate the rcenaries. He had to be sure first.
The sa went for Ransom and the Gigante n. They were trying to fully secure the bar, and lowering their guard now could cost them their lives.
"Don’t shoot us!" the lackey repeated. "We’re with the Goddess!"
Those inside exchanged wary looks.
Goddess? Who is this Goddess?
Outside, the group glanced at one another, aware of the tension inside. One of the Bellemonte captives cleared his throat and slowly lowered his weapon.
"We’re with that woman!" he shouted. "Don’t shoot! We ca here to help!"
Still, no response ca from inside.
They didn’t rush it. In a place like this, anything could happen, and none of them would be surprised if the people inside refused to lower their weapons until they felt safe.
"I’ll drop my weapon!" another Bellemonte captive shouted. "I’ll raise my hands over this window—on this side! Please don’t shoot! We’re allies!"
Another voice followed.
"Don’t shoot! We’re also from Gigante!" a man shouted, introducing himself and giving his full na. "These guys are safe! They’re allies!"
The Gigante n inside frowned as they listened. Ransom and Florida darted their gazes between the n from the town until one of them suddenly perked up.
"Shari?!" a man inside the bar shouted. "Is that really you?!"
"It’s ! Yes, it’s ! Yoyo—it’s !"
The man nad Yoyo turned to Florida and Ransom, eyes shining with a mix of emotions.
"I know him," he said, panting. "He’s my neighbor—two blocks from my house. We worked in the sa mine."
Florida and Ransom exchanged looks as Yoyo continued, naming the others from Gigante who were with him, and then ntioning the so-called "Goddess."
"Are you sure you know him?" Ransom asked.
Yoyo nodded.
Ransom turned toward the entrance and motioned for Florida to approach before shouting, "Get in, but drop your weapons first!"
The mont those outside heard the order, they exchanged looks and nodded. They dropped their weapons, letting their rifles hang loose by their straps, and hurried toward the entrance. The first man to step inside raised his hands imdiately, freezing when he saw the Gigante n still aiming their rifles at him.
Those outside leaned against the wall, watching closely, ready in case the n inside opened fire.
"I know him!" a townsman inside yelled.
The man at the entrance turned toward him, relief flashing across his face—but he didn’t move until he looked back at Florida, who stood just beside the entrance, perfectly positioned to shoot.
Florida studied him carefully, then glanced at the man he had fought alongside earlier. After a brief pause, he nodded.
The man stepped inside.
Only then did Florida move closer to the entrance, peering at those still waiting outside.
"Get in," he said quietly.
That was enough.
Everyone rushed inside.
Once they were all in, Florida and Ransom assessed the group. So of the Gigante n imdiately went to their companions—hugging shoulders, pulling each other close. Relief and joy were evident on their faces.
"Are you with the Goddess?"
Two Bellemonte captives stepped forward toward Florida. At the sa ti, Ransom approached as well.
"Goddess?" Ransom asked, brows knitting. "Who are you two?"
They recognized so of the n from Gigante, but these two stood out. Along with the boss and his lackey lingering near Florida, these Bellemonte captives carried themselves differently.
Their posture. Their presence. Their composure.
They looked trained.
Florida and Ransom could tell imdiately.
"We are from the Bellemonte family," one of them said. "We assud both of you were with the Goddess—from the Order?"
Florida and Ransom raised their brows.
They had suspected these n were important, but not this.
"The two Bellemontes... who were trapped in Ravah?" Ransom asked in almost disbelief. "She... found you?"
They nodded.
"Thanks to the Goddess, she saved us from what would have been a horrible fate," the other Bellemonte said. "We’ve been with her since. She told us to bring the people of Gigante to the Five District."
"Yes!" another townsman added. "That woman... she’s like a goddess."
"She saved us! She saved all of us!"
One by one, the Gigante n spoke of Lola. They all rembered her standing on that rooftop—her words igniting their yearning for freedom. In their eyes, she was their savior, and everyone could tell just by seeing the looks on their faces.
The other Bellemonte nodded. He shared their gratitude. Lola might have been eccentric, but she had helped every single one of them.
Still, now wasn’t the ti for reflection.
He turned to Florida. "Where is the man called Long? She told us to find him."
"Uh... he’s underground—wait," Florida cleared his throat. "Take the people of Gigante in this district? What does that an?"
The question hung heavy in the air.
Those who had left Gigante earlier exchanged looks with the n who had co with Lola.
"What happened in Gigante?" Ransom asked quietly, noticing the grim expressions.
"It’s gone."
The Boss spoke up when no one answered. Everyone turned toward him as he shrugged.
"Long story short—Gigante is gone. Burned to the ground."
"What?!" the Gigante n who had left earlier gasped.
Those who had co with Lola exhaled and began explaining—quickly, but as clearly as they could. As they spoke, shock spread not only among the townsn but across Florida and Ransom’s faces as well.
Then, a voice cut through the room.
"What... did you say...?"
Everyone turned, and saw a familiar face. Long stood behind the bar counter, his face ashen.
"She... did what?"
The Boss clicked his tongue, though he understood the weight of it.
Burning Gigante—and the rcenaries within—sent a single ssage.
Rebellion.
Whether it had been Lola’s intention or the people’s, it would be seen that way.
"I’m saying the people of Gigante are..." the Boss trailed off as the walls suddenly trembled.
Everyone snapped out of their shock as the ground shook beneath their feet. Then, faint engines roared outside.
"What’s going on?" Florida muttered, exchanging looks with Ransom and the Bellemonte n.
Instinctively, the four of them rushed outside. The Boss followed, and imdiately froze, gasping as he took in the sight before them.
"Goddess?!" he yelled. "You an the Goddess of War?!"
In the distance, a truck tore down the road, followed by countless others.
Lola was bringing an entire horde straight toward them.
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