Alice shouted into the voice pipe, her voice echoing through the tubes and spreading throughout the entire ship.
In less than two minutes, everyone capable of moving had assembled.
Philip's face was pale, his holy power nearly exhausted, but he managed to remain standing; the two deacons were in no better state.
Gray stood silently in the corner, while Ed and Leonard stood side by side.
The Descendant stood by the wheel, his mechanical joints making a rhythmic clicking sound.
Alice looked around at everyone and began to take stock of their combat strength.
"Over half the cannons are damaged, but the rest are still functional."
"The mithril hasn't been touched, and we still have quite a few alchemical grenades."
"The Arbiter is out of commission, and Marcus is still unconscious, so we can't count on them."
"There are still two Descendants left who can fight."
"Father Philip and the two deacons..."
"We can still recite prayers," Philip said with a forced effort.
Alice nodded, her gaze sweeping over the Nightwatchers.
"Gray, Ed, Leonard, and I are all fit to fight."
"Lu Yuan is heavily injured; let him rest for now."
She turned and pulled a wooden crate from the corner, opening it to reveal bottles of silver-white liquid.
This mithril had been completely useless on the previous island, but because of that, the ship's actual firepower was currently exceptionally high.
"Ed, Leonard, go to the cannon deck and stand by."
"If there's a problem with the cannons, adjust them manually."
"If you can't adjust them, use the mithril as cannonballs!"
Ed took the crate, weighed it in his hands, and nodded.
"Gray, keep an eye on Lu Yuan, Marcus, and the Arbiter."
"Make sure nothing sneaks in there."
Gray nodded in response.
Alice took one last look at everyone, her voice dropping lower.
"Gelimu Port is under attack."
"Every moment we delay, people are dying."
"So, full speed ahead!"
In the cabin, Lu Yuan leaned against the bedboards, his eyes closed as he adjusted his state.
Despite being here, he had heard Alice's shout just now.
Gelimu Port was under attack.
The Deep Sea Church was launching a full-scale offensive.
Those two sentences echoed continuously in his mind.
Mina... Ink...
They were both in Gelimu Port.
However, thinking of Ink's strength, Lu Yuan's heart steadied slightly.
That sharp-tongued book spirit was reliable when it mattered, and Old Morgan was there too.
At the edge of his vision, grey-white text slowly emerged:
【Sanity: 20→21/70】
The recovery speed of his Sanity had significantly improved now; Philip's holy light was indeed effective.
Just as Lu Yuan was lost in thought, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
Gray pushed the door open and entered, holding a small bottle.
"Philip told me to give this to you."
He handed the bottle over.
"It's the last bottle of intermediate holy water, so you won't be completely immobile when we dock."
Lu Yuan took the intermediate holy water but didn't drink it immediately.
"There's a silver-white cup in my bag; help me get it out."
Gray walked to the bedside, rummaged through Lu Yuan's backpack, and soon pulled out a small cup engraved with an angel emblem.
He took one look at it, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
"You actually have this thing?"
"I managed to get it from the Holy Church by chance."
"Help me convert three cups of holy water."
Gray looked at the Holy Water Cup in his hand but didn't ask further questions.
He filled a pitcher from the cabin's water storage area and then poured it into the cup.
In the next moment, a faint silver light glowed in the cup.
The clear water became crystal transparent, with subtle specks of light faintly circulating within it.
Lu Yuan took it and downed it in one gulp.
【Used basic holy water, Sanity +2】
Gray converted another cup and handed it over.
【Used basic holy water, Sanity +2】
Third cup.
【Used basic holy water, Sanity +1】
The effect had already begun to diminish.
Gray put the Holy Water Cup back into the backpack.
Lu Yuan picked up the bottle of intermediate holy water, pulled the stopper, tilted his head, and gulped it down.
The icy liquid slid down his throat, and a cooling sensation spread from his chest.
His clouded mind gradually became clear.
【Used intermediate holy water, Sanity +5, recovery speed increased】
【Sanity: 21→31/70】
The effectiveness of the intermediate holy water was also decreasing, but fortunately, thirty-one points of Sanity were barely enough.
At least when they returned to shore, he wouldn't have to worry about being unable to move.
However, the wound in his abdomen was still throbbing; combat was out of the question.
Lu Yuan let out a long breath.
"What are Alice's arrangements?" Lu Yuan asked.
"Ed and Leonard are heading to the cannon deck, and I'm watching you and Marcus."
Gray sat down on the chair by the bed.
"She said to let you rest first and not to push yourself."
Lu Yuan nodded, saying nothing more.
About another half-hour passed before Alice pushed the door open and walked in.
She then waved her hand at Gray, signaling for him to leave first.
Although Gray found it strange, he still stepped out of the room.
Alice's gaze fell on Lu Yuan, and she spoke directly.
"What happened in the cave?"
Lu Yuan had already anticipated she would ask.
"Marcus detonated the heart."
Lu Yuan, who was lying down, sat up slightly.
"We almost died inside."
"And then?"
"And then I fell into a bit of a coma."
Lu Yuan's voice was calm.
"By the time I regained consciousness, I was already on the ship."
Alice stared into Lu Yuan's eyes.
"Are you sure you didn't bring anything out?"
Silence.
Lu Yuan did not answer.
It wasn't that he couldn't lie; he simply didn't want to.
Silence itself was an attitude—I don't want to say.
Alice looked at him, her gaze becoming sharp.
She knew Lu Yuan was hiding something.
But she also knew that since he chose to hide it, he must have his reasons.
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
She turned toward the door.
As she reached the doorway, she stopped and said without turning around:
"Whatever you brought back, I hope it's worth it."
The door closed.
Lu Yuan instinctively touched his chest.
The cold sensation of the glass bottle came through his clothes.
【Blood of ██】
Was it worth it? Lu Yuan didn't know, but he would have definitely regretted not bringing it back.
Time passed minute by minute.
The sky over the sea gradually brightened.
The storm had completely dissipated, leaving only a grey layer of clouds and surging waves.
The Abyssal Hunter surged forward at full speed, its hull cutting a white wake across the sea surface.
Finally, the Descendant in the crow's nest sounded the alarm:
"Target sighted ahead—Gelimu Port."
Alice rushed onto the deck and raised her telescope.
The sight that met her eyes caused her pupils to contract violently.
Gelimu Port.
The port city she had lived in for over a decade was currently shrouded in thick smoke.
The dock area was ablaze, with orange-red flames soaring into the sky and billows of thick smoke obscuring half the horizon.
Scattered fires could also be seen in the inner city district; evidently, the fighting had spread there.
And on the sea surrounding the port...
Alice's face darkened completely.
Five or six ships were patrolling the waters, their sails tied with deep blue ribbons—the symbol of the Deep Sea Church.
Shadows also roamed beneath the surface.
Massive silhouettes glided under the water, clearly mutated sea beasts domesticated by the Deep Sea Church.
"They've blockaded the port."
Alice lowered her telescope, her voice ice-cold.
"They don't plan on letting anyone out, and they don't intend to let anyone back in!"
Philip also saw the ships and asked, "Do we fight our way in?"
"Gelimu Port is under attack."
Alice let out a cold laugh.
"Every moment we delay, people are dying."
She turned and shouted into the voice pipe:
"All batteries, prepare to fire!"
"Unrestricted fire! Our only goal is to fight our way in!"
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