Consuming Fire

Chapter 11 - The Extinction of Executioners

The sound of gunshots and explosions echoed across Hunchback Island. The once formidable Private Executioners were now scattered, their numbers dwindling under the relentless assault of the Tarantula Hawk. The island, once a stronghold of terror, was now a battlefield where the remnants of the Private Executioners fought a losing battle.

Trucks and tanks of Tarantula Hawk rolled over the terrain, their heavy artillery firing in unison, cutting down any remaining opposition. The few Executioners who attempted to escape by swimming were met by patrol boats that blocked their path and gunned them down without mercy. The Tarantula Hawk were determined to ensure that no Executioner would survive, exacting a brutal justice for the atrocities they had committed.

On Golden Island, the situation was grim for the Private Executioners. Their outposts had been decimated, their forces scattered. The Tarantula Hawk's battleships, anchored off the coast, unleashed a barrage of missiles, reducing the island's defenses to rubble. Helicopters circled overhead, scanning for any signs of remaining resistance.

– – –

"Keep shooting them!" a desperate voice shouted amidst the chaos.

"We have no more ammo! We're dead!" another Executioner replied, panic evident in his voice.

"It is not the time to—" his words were cut off by a burst of gunfire.

The remaining Private Executioners, now down to a mere hundred soldiers, were vastly outnumbered by the Tarantula Hawk. Initially boasting a force of over a thousand strong, they were now a shadow of their former selves. In contrast, the Tarantula Hawk, though having lost some men, still retained over two thousand soldiers, their superior firepower and advanced weaponry giving them a decisive edge.

The battle raged on. In every corner of Hunchback Island, Tarantula Hawk soldiers advanced with methodical precision, clearing buildings, securing perimeters, and eliminating any remaining threats. The Private Executioners fought with the ferocity of cornered animals, but they were outmatched and outgunned.

A group of Executioners attempted a last-ditch effort to regroup and launch a counterattack. They took cover behind a dilapidated building, their faces grim with determination. One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, barked out orders. "We need to hold this position! If we can just hold them off long enough, we might have a chance!"

But their hopes were quickly dashed. A Tarantula Hawk tank rumbled into view, its cannon aimed directly at their position. With a deafening blast, the building was reduced to a pile of rubble, and the Executioners' last stand was snuffed out in an instant.

Across the island, similar scenes played out. Executioners who had once terrorized the land were now running for their lives. The Tarantula Hawk's relentless advance left no room for mercy. Patrol boats patrolled the waters, cutting off any means of escape. The Executioners' reign of terror was coming to a violent end.

– – –

The sound of gunfire and explosions was constant, a symphony of destruction. Tarantula Hawk soldiers moved through the war-torn streets with precision, engaging any Executioners they encountered. The once-defiant Private Executioners were now reduced to a desperate few, their morale shattered, and their numbers dwindling by the minute.

In the heart of Golden Island, Tarantula Hawk's forces advanced with unyielding determination. Helicopters roared overhead, dropping supplies and providing aerial support. The ground troops moved in coordinated units, sweeping through buildings and rooting out any hiding Executioners. The methodical nature of their assault left no room for escape or resistance.

One squad of Tarantula Hawk soldiers approached a fortified position held by a small group of Executioners. The Executioners, out of ammunition and hope, resorted to throwing rocks and debris in a futile attempt to fend off their attackers. The squad leader signaled his men to take cover and lobbed a grenade into the makeshift fortification. The explosion was followed by a deafening silence as the Executioners' last stand crumbled.

In another part of the island, a platoon of Tarantula Hawk infantry advanced through a narrow alleyway, their rifles at the ready. They encountered sporadic gunfire from a group of Executioners holed up in a nearby building. The Tarantula Hawk soldiers returned fire with precision, systematically taking down their adversaries. As they cleared the building, they found a handful of Executioners cowering in a corner, their weapons discarded. The soldiers showed no mercy, executing the Executioners swiftly and efficiently.

As the day wore on, the tide of battle turned decisively in favor of the Tarantula Hawk. The remaining Executioners, scattered and disorganized, were hunted down relentlessly. Patrol boats patrolled the coastline, ensuring no escape by sea. The helicopters continued their aerial assault, dropping bombs and strafing any remaining pockets of resistance.

The destruction was total. The once-feared Private Executioners were now nothing more than a memory, their forces decimated, and their strongholds reduced to rubble. The Tarantula Hawk's dominance was absolute, their victory complete.

In the aftermath of the battle, the Tarantula Hawk soldiers began the grim task of securing the islands and cleaning up the remnants of the conflict. Bodies were collected, weapons and ammunition were gathered, and the injured were tended to. The soldiers moved with a sense of purpose, knowing that their mission was nearly complete.

The battle between the Tarantula Hawk and the Private Executioners had reached its conclusion. The extinction of the Executioners was at hand, and the islands were now firmly under the control of the Tarantula Hawk. The sound of gunfire and explosions faded, replaced by the eerie silence of a battlefield in the aftermath of war. The reign of the Private Executioners was over, and the Tarantula Hawk stood victorious.

– – –

"Hunter, are you ready for this?" asked Durk.

"Yeah, I hope after this it's the end," Hunter replied.

County just smiled. "It will be the end of commotion. The island will be at peace in the hands of Tarantula Hawk," he thought.

When they reached Region 62, City of Region 62, they saw many people wrapped in fear. They thought the Tarantula Hawk would kill them, but County explained, "There will be no more war here as we have wiped out the ones who conquered this island." Then County looked at Hunter and explained the reason for their presence. "We're here for the leader of the Private Executioner Army. They are hiding somewhere here. Give us permission to enter the city."

The people in Region 62 allowed them to enter. The helicopters and trucks of Tarantula Hawk stopped outside the city to guard the entrance, and sixty soldiers followed County inside.

County opened his tracker and saw that Draven and Moore were in the smallest building at the back of the city. "They're in the building at the back," County said. "Let's go."

As they walked through the city with Tarantula Hawk, Draven and Moore were hiding in room 340. Draven said to Moore, "We have been defeated, Moore. The age of the Private Executioner Army has come to an end."

Moore replied, "Yeah," removing his commander's cap. "I'll no longer be a commander."

They peeked out a little from the window and saw people acting normally, unaware that Tarantula Hawk was coming to finish them. "I think the war is finished. I've heard no sounds of gunshots or explosions," Draven said.

"I think so," Moore agreed.

When Hunter and Durk reached the building where Draven and Moore were hiding, Hunter took out his Colt 45 pistol and prepared to enter alone. Before he proceeded, Durk said, "Good luck, and don't forget your rifle on your back." Hunter nodded and entered the building.

As Draven and Moore saw Hunter enter, Draven said to Moore, "Here's the gun. Make sure to kill Hunter."

"What about you?" Moore asked.

"I'll fight him knife to knife."

"Good luck!"

"You too."

As Moore approached Hunter in the hallway, Draven leaned against the wall in the room, gazing up at the ceiling. "The end? I think so," he said to himself.

When Moore met Hunter in the hallway, he said, "For now, it's just you and me." Hunter looked at him with murderous intent, his hand tightly gripping the pistol, ready to shoot Moore in the head.