The people living nearby fled in panic, scattering in every direction.
Lu Yuan led Brent and Mina toward the base at a rapid pace, watching the fleeing crowds. He knew that the Nightwatchers couldn't possibly settle everyone here in such a short time; it was clear they could only look out for themselves.
Along the way, he saw more than one scout flickering across rooftops and alleyway entrances, all moving in the same direction.
A faint fishy scent permeated the air, like the smell of seawater or rotting fish. This odor was extremely pungent, making Lu Yuan instinctively recall the scent that had emanated from Lawson when they first met.
As they continued forward, a greyish-white prompt quietly surfaced before Lu Yuan's eyes:
【Environmental Perception: Detected a continuous increase in the concentration of mutation in the surrounding environment. It is recommended to maintain distance or leave immediately.】
The closer they got to the base, the heavier that fishy stench became.
In the distance, the sounds of explosions and gunfire could already be heard.
The battle had begun.
Five minutes later, Lu Yuan led the two of them as they charged through the gates of the base.
Inside was already a scene of intense preparation for war.
Nightwatchers were quickly donning their gear, some checking weapons, while others distributed ammunition and firebombs.
Mary stood in the center of the hall, putting on a suit of enchanted armor.
The armor was covered in complex runes that shimmered with a faint blue light under the lamps.
Beside her, several team captains were already fully armed, their expressions solemn.
"Dr. Lu!" Mary called out upon seeing him, then glanced at Brent and Mina before pointing toward the back of the hall. "Take them to the safety room in the rear. There are other non-combatants there."
Lu Yuan turned to Brent. "Take Mina to the back and follow the instructions of the people there. Don't wander off. Ink stays with me for now."
Brent knew he couldn't help much and nodded. "Dr. Lu, be careful."
He then took Mina's hand and hurried toward the back.
Mina looked back at Lu Yuan, her eyes filled with worry, but she ultimately followed her brother obediently.
Lu Yuan turned his head to Mary. "What's the situation?"
Mary spoke quickly while buckling her bracers. "The scouts have already made contact with the enemy. There are at least sixty of them, all grey-cloaked figures."
"Mr. Morgan went to the Ascension Society to discuss a partnership and hasn't returned yet."
"Hans and Valentine are both recovering from injuries and cannot fight for the time being."
She took a deep breath. "Right now, those capable of fighting are only myself, a few team captains, and about twenty members."
Lu Yuan couldn't help but frown at this. "Sixty against twenty?"
"We are at a significant numerical disadvantage, but we have the equipment advantage." Mary picked up an enchanted longsword. "And..."
She paused, lowering her voice. "Mr. Morgan set up some things in the base using his mechanics. They can be activated at a critical moment, but the cost is high and must not be used unless absolutely necessary."
"This is one of our trump cards."
Lu Yuan nodded, not pressing for details on what that "cost" entailed.
Mary looked at him. "Dr. Lu, if the battle goes poorly, you and Ink will be one of the last lines of defense."
"I know you're not a combatant, but we really don't have enough hands right now."
"I understand." Lu Yuan tightened his grip on the enchanted standard revolver.
Mary nodded and turned to shout, "Everyone! Prepare to move out!"
"First and Second Teams, follow me to support the front line!"
"Third Team, hold the flanks! Fourth Team, stay and guard the hall!"
The Nightwatchers moved into action rapidly.
Mary led most of the personnel as they charged out of the base entrance.
Standing deep within the hall, Lu Yuan could see the combat situation at the entrance through the open doors.
The scouts had already engaged the enemy in a firefight.
Dozens of figures draped in grey cloaks were charging the defensive line, wielding various weapons—rusted iron swords, bone spears, and even fishing harpoons.
The scouts' alchemical muskets fired continuously, the gunshots echoing one after another.
Alchemical slugs tore through the air, only to be blocked by a layer of faint blue water screens in front of the grey-cloaked figures!
Those water screens condensed out of thin air, flowing like living things as they swallowed all the bullets.
A scout threw a firebomb; the glass shattered and flames surged—but the water screens immediately flooded over them, extinguishing the fire.
"Damn it! They have water-elementalists!"
A scout roared in fury.
Among the grey-cloaked figures, several individuals had hands that continuously emitted a faint blue glow; it was they who were controlling those water screens.
The scouts' firepower was suppressed, and the defensive line became precarious.
Just then, Mary arrived with the main force.
"Covering fire!"
At her command, the Nightwatchers opened fire simultaneously.
Muskets, firebombs, alchemical grenades—all sorts of weapons poured out.
One Nightwatcher took a silver glass bottle from their pack and hurled it into the densest cluster of grey-cloaked figures.
Mithril!
Silver-white flames suddenly erupted; it was an alchemical fire that burned Spirituality!
The water screens couldn't stop it at all. At least five grey-cloaked figures were consumed by the silver flames, turning to ash amid their screams.
The sudden, violent intensification of the Nightwatchers' offensive caused the grey-cloaked figures' formation to waver briefly.
But just then—
In the center of the enemy ranks, a hunched figure slowly raised his hands.
In his grasp, a swirling water sphere was condensing, radiating an eerie, ghost-blue light.
The man began to chant in a low voice, his tone bizarre and distorted, like whispers from the deep sea:
"Great Mother... grant your children protection..."
"Let the silence of the deep sea... shroud this land..."
As the incantation was completed, the water sphere abruptly exploded!
An invisible ripple expanded outward with him as the center, enveloping the entire battlefield.
Lu Yuan felt a wave of suffocating pressure wash over him.
【Sanity: 60/71 → 59/71】
Lu Yuan's Sanity, which hadn't fully recovered yet, dropped by another point.
Immediately after, something strange happened.
An alchemical grenade thrown by a Nightwatcher landed among the enemy but, unusually, failed to explode.
Then another firebomb smashed onto the ground—the flames had just surged up when they were snuffed out by an invisible force.
Even the rate of fire of the alchemical muskets became sluggish; the bullets seemed to be slowed by a layer of water after leaving the barrels.
"All explosives are failing!"
Someone shouted in terror.
This was a method of the Deep Sea Church—a bizarre barrier that suppressed fire and explosions!
Having lost their firepower advantage, the Nightwatchers' original upper hand vanished instantly.
The grey-cloaked figures gave the Nightwatchers no room to breathe, seizing the opportunity to launch a charge, snarling as they threw themselves at the defensive line.
The situation became completely one-sided in an instant!
"Do not panic!"
Seeing this, Mary let out a roar, and the enchanted longsword in her hand suddenly erupted with a piercing silver light.
The runes on her enchanted armor all lit up, and a faint silver halo expanded outward with her as the center.
The silver halo enveloped all the Nightwatchers.
Even Lu Yuan, staying behind in the hall, could feel a warm surge of power flowing into his body.
Was that Mary's transcendent ability?
"Muskets for cover, melee to the front!"
Mary was the first to charge into the enemy ranks, her longsword wrapped in silver light as it swept across. In a single instant, she sliced two grey-cloaked figures directly in half.
Rate on N.U.
