Captain Alice

"Strangely, the grey-cloaked figure who had been sliced in half did not scream, nor did they struggle; they simply fell straight to the ground."

"The Nightwatchers could not afford to worry about such details. Seeing Captain Mary leading the charge, their morale surged, and they began to fight back in earnest."

"Those wielding alchemical muskets began to adjust their firing rhythm. Although the bullet power was weakened by the water screens, the dense barrage still provided effective suppression."

"Melee combatants drew their enchanted longswords, clashing with the grey-cloaked figures under the enhancement of the silver light."

"However, the grey-cloaked figures made their own move."

"Another eerie chant echoed, and faint blue patterns began to surface on the bodies of the grey-cloaked figures. Simultaneously, their movements became faster and stronger."

"Blessing of the Deep Sea!"

"With both sides' enhancements clashing, the battlefield descended into a brutal melee."

"Blade light and battered weapons crossed paths. Although the weapons of the grey-cloaked figures were worn, they managed to withstand the Nightwatchers' assault through their fearless fighting style and sheer numbers, plunging the scene into a stalemate."

"Lu Yuan's brow furrowed tighter and tighter."

"If this continued, Mary wouldn't be able to hold out."

"Lu Yuan then looked toward Ink. 'I’m going out.'"

"Ink floated out from the notebook, unusually silent for a moment. '...Are you sure?'"

"'The one casting spells must die, otherwise our firepower won't be restored.'"

"Ink remained silent for a while, then let out a sigh."

"'I have to tell you something.'"

"Her tone held a hint of helplessness. 'I fought that priest before, and then I pulled you back from the Strange Dreams... I’m currently injured.'"

"'If you go out to fight, I might not be able to protect you.'"

"Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment."

"Ink was injured?"

"She had never mentioned it before."

"'Why didn't you say so earlier?'"

"'What would saying it achieve?' Ink rolled her eyes. 'You can't heal my injuries anyway.'"

"Lu Yuan looked at her and fell silent for a long time, knowing he had no way to treat Ink's wounds."

"【Witnessed Special Containment: Book Spirit (Knowledge Disruption in progress...)】"

"【Trait: Feeds on knowledge; can also serve as an index for knowledge.】"

"【Treatment Method: ...Insufficient knowledge... Pre-set plan failed...】"

"'Just stay here and guard the hall. Take care of Mina while you're at it. Besides, I don't like leaving my fate in the hands of others; I prefer taking the initiative.'"

"Ink stared at Lu Yuan for a few seconds. '...Don't die.'"

"'I'll try.'"

"Lu Yuan turned and charged toward the entrance."

"The battlefield was already a scene of total chaos."

"Lu Yuan rushed into the fray with a clear objective—the spellcaster who was still chanting continuously."

"He raised his enchanted standard revolver, aimed, and pulled the trigger."

"Bang!"

"The bullet passed through the chaotic crowd but was blocked by a grey-cloaked figure."

"This won't work, Lu Yuan judged. The next second, he activated Timekeeper."

"Click!"

"The world slowed down in his eyes."

"He darted quickly along the edge of the battlefield, using the acceleration of Timekeeper to dodge attacks as he drew closer and closer to the spellcaster."

"【Sanity: 59/71 → 56/71】"

"Mary noticed Lu Yuan moving through the battlefield at lightning speed. Seeing his flickering silhouette, she instantly understood his intent."

"She let out a thunderous roar, her momentum surging like a rainbow. The silver halo exploded with power, and the sharp edge of her silver longsword intensified. With a swing of her sword, she forcibly tore open a path for Lu Yuan."

"Lu Yuan seized the opportunity, his speed surging once more. Finally! The last protector in front of the grey-cloaked spellcaster was sliced in half, and Lu Yuan raised his gun."

"Bang!"

"The bullet traced an arc through the light screen."

"In the next instant, the head of the spellcaster hiding in the crowd exploded, and their body slumped to the ground."

"The deep sea barrier dissipated immediately!"

"'Firepower is restored!' a Nightwatcher shouted excitedly upon seeing this."

"But an ominous premonition surged in Lu Yuan's heart."

"It was too easy."

"That spellcaster had almost no protection, as if... they were meant to be killed."

"Just then, the corpse began to tremble violently."

"An eerie ripple erupted from the corpse, instantly enveloping all the grey-cloaked figures!"

"'Great Mother... accept the sacrifice of your people...'"

"'Grant us... our true form...'"

"It was a curse long ago inscribed upon the spellcaster—a group mutation triggered by death!"

"All the grey-cloaked figures showed looks of fanaticism while emitting agonizing roars."

"Their skin began to turn deep blue, and pungent scales grew at a visible rate. Their withered hands transformed into webbed claws, and their mouths split open to reveal rows of sharp, overlapping teeth."

"Almost all the grey-cloaked figures on the field transformed into half-human, half-fish monsters!"

"【Deep Sea Kin (Low-level): A creature mutated by touching the power of the deep sea.】"

"It was a trap!"

"That spellcaster had been bait from the very beginning, meant to drain the Nightwatchers' strength and then trigger a mass mutation!"

"'Damn it!' Mary clearly realized she had been played and let out a roar."

"Although firepower was restored, the mutated Deep Sea Kin were even more frenzied than before."

"They lunged at the Nightwatchers without regard for their lives, instantly tearing a gap in the defensive line with their claws and fangs."

"Lu Yuan fired frantically, but there were too many Deep Sea Kin."

"Before Lu Yuan could even reload his revolver, he saw a Nightwatcher tackled by the Deep Sea Kin, their throat bitten through and blood gushing out."

"His Sanity was dropping continuously."

"【Sanity: 56/71 → 52/71 → 48/71...】"

"Just as the defensive line was about to completely collapse—"

"A roar echoed from the distance."

"'Get the hell away from here!'"

"A figure descended from the sky."

"Boom!"

"A deep crater was smashed into the ground, sending debris flying in every direction."

"As the dust settled, a tall female figure was revealed."

"She was nearly two meters tall with well-defined muscle lines, wielding a massive war hammer. Lightning coiled around the head of the hammer, crackling and popping."

"Alice!"

"She scanned the battlefield, her eyes burning with fury."

"'I’ve only been gone for a few days, and some trash dares to attack the base?'"

"She snorted coldly and raised the war hammer."

"'Die!'"

"The lightning on the war hammer surged, forming an arc storm."

"She slammed it violently into the swarm of Deep Sea Kin."

"Rumble—"

"Lightning ravaged the Deep Sea Kin, and those nearby were instantly charred to a crisp!"

"The charge of the Deep Sea Kin was forcibly interrupted."

"With Alice joining the fray, the Nightwatchers finally stabilized their position."

"'The Captain is back!'"

"'Counter-attack!'"

"Mary endured the pain from her wounds and shouted, 'Open fire! Support Captain Alice!'"

"As Mary’s voice fell, the silver halo bloomed once more, but this time it was noticeably dimmer. It was clear Mary was reaching her limit."

"But it was enough. Supported by the halo, Alice—who was already terrifyingly strong—transformed into a human-shaped tyrannosaur."

"And the Nightwatchers, with their firepower restored, felt as though they had been reborn."

"Mithril, firebombs, alchemical grenades—all sorts of explosives were poured out once again."

"Combined with Alice’s thunder and Mary’s blade, the Nightwatchers began to push back."