As soon as he finished speaking, a golden figure dashed out from the base's side gate.
It was Alice.
She didn't plunge directly into the crowd of half-mermen; instead, using the gap created by Sivating drawing fire at the front, she circled around from the side, her Thunder Warhammer held high, her entire body radiating a violent aura as she headed straight for the distant warehouse.
Clearly, Old Morgan had already given her instructions.
The decapitation strike was the core of this battle.
"Boom!"
The warhammer fell, and thunderous light exploded.
The half-mermen blocking the way were blown into fragments; flesh flew, and limbs scattered.
Alice didn't pause, her warhammer swinging with each strike carrying a thunderous roar, tearing a path of blood through the crowd of monsters, pushing directly toward the warehouse.
At the same time, a silver halo spread out from the base's direction.
It was Mary.
She stood on high ground, with the silver halo centered on her, enveloping the Holy Armored Army and the Nightwatchers below.
Lu Yuan could feel the halo descending upon him; his fatigue faded, his strength grew, and his reaction speed sharpened.
【Received external buff: War Echo】
【Traits: Slight increase in strength, speed, and mental resistance】
Hans appeared on a high platform on the other side of the base.
His left arm was still wrapped in bandages, making him unable to swing that greatsword himself, but over a dozen scout team members stood beside him, each holding an alchemical heavy crossbow.
"Aim at those bastards!" Hans's voice was hoarse and powerful. "Don't let them get near Alice!"
As he spoke, a dozen crossbow bolts shot out simultaneously.
Unlike ordinary light crossbows, the moment these heavy bolts hit the half-mermen, the alchemical concoctions on the arrowheads exploded, and blue flames spread over the monsters, causing them to emit piercing shrieks.
Long-range fire suppression, coordinated with the Holy Armored Army's frontal advance, knocked down swathes of half-mermen trying to flank Alice.
The counterattack had fully begun.
Lu Yuan stood at the base entrance, watching the tide of battle gradually turn.
With Mary's support, Alice carved her way through, and the Nightwatchers who had been scattered outside also began to converge toward the distant warehouse.
That was the hidden stronghold of the Deep Sea Church.
Old Morgan did not join the fight.
He stood where he was, his eyes cold, his fingers slowly tracing patterns in the air.
Lu Yuan could feel a strange fluctuation radiating from him.
【Energy fluctuation detected, analyzing... Mechanics】
【Traits: Reorganize or strengthen substances by understanding their fundamental structure】
【Weaknesses: Long casting time, requires prior preparation】
In the next moment, the ground near the base suddenly cracked open.
Several dark cannon barrels rose slowly from underground.
They were pitch black, covered in dense runes, and radiated a dangerous aura.
Lu Yuan counted them.
Six.
Old Morgan turned to look at him, a sharp light flashing in his cloudy eyes.
"Using these requires great precision. You have 'Timekeeper', so you're a perfect fit."
Lu Yuan instinctively reached for the pocket watch in his coat.
"If the defensive line wavers, fire immediately."
Old Morgan pulled a crystal from his coat and handed it to Lu Yuan.
"This is for communicating with Sivating. If there's a need, he'll notify you."
"I'm not sure if those things from the Deep Sea Church have any hidden cards left. I'm worried the decapitation strike might run into trouble."
He patted the nearest cannon barrel, his tone carrying a rare hint of emotion.
"These cannons are the result of my work over many years. Don't waste them."
Lu Yuan took the crystal and nodded.
Old Morgan briefly taught him how to operate them; he just had to trigger the runes. The cannons would fire into the areas with the densest pollution. Eerie transcendents counted as pollution, so he had to be careful when using them.
Just then, another crystal in Old Morgan's pocket suddenly lit up.
A panicked voice came from the crystal:
"Nightwatchers! The inner city is under attack!"
It was the voice of the guard beside the viscount, urgent and frantic.
"Someone summoned a... a big guy in front of City Hall!"
"Requesting backup!"
Old Morgan's expression showed no surprise; if anything, a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes.
"What fools. They only know how to call for help when they can't handle it anymore."
Old Morgan glanced at the battlefield. Things here had barely stabilized, and the counterattack was underway.
He then looked at Lu Yuan.
"I have to go to the inner city."
He turned and shouted:
"Valentine! Take the team and follow me to the inner city."
At the edge of the battlefield, a black shadow broke away from the crowd of half-mermen.
Valentine's form was still in a semi-eerie state, his body covered in a black keratin layer, his signature green eyes flickering in the blood-red mist.
He licked the black blood from the corner of his mouth, revealing an elegant smile.
"Going to the inner city?"
His voice was hoarse and low, with a hint of playfulness.
"It seems that viscount fellow is paying the price for his own arrogance."
Old Morgan ignored his teasing and turned back to Lu Yuan.
"There's a watchtower next to the base. Get up there." He pointed to a stone tower not far away. "From there, you can see the whole warehouse area, which will make it easier for you to judge the situation."
Lu Yuan followed his gaze to the watchtower, which was about three stories high with a ring of stone battlements at the top—indeed an excellent vantage point.
"Remember to crush those rats. Don't let them escape again."
"Sivating and Alice will coordinate with you."
"Remember."
Old Morgan paused, his tone solemn.
"If you think the situation isn't right, you have the authority to fire immediately. This time, we absolutely cannot let the rats of the Deep Sea Church get away!"
"And I trust your judgment."
With that, Old Morgan took Valentine and a small squad and vanished into the night and rain.
Lu Yuan didn't delay and quickly climbed the watchtower.
The stone steps were a bit slippery, but he soon reached the top floor.
Standing on the watchtower, his field of vision suddenly broadened.
The entire battlefield was laid out before him: the Holy Armored Army's golden phalanx was pushing forward, Alice's lightning was flickering on the flank, and that dilapidated warehouse in the distance was now being surrounded by the Nightwatchers.
The six cannon barrels were right at the base of the watchtower, and the positions of the trigger runes had been clearly marked by Old Morgan.
Lu Yuan placed his hand on a rune, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
Roars and gunshots filled his ears.
Toward the inner city in the distance, a massive black shadow loomed in the rain, its height nearly level with the city walls.
The entirety of Gelimu Port was in chaos.
At the edge of his vision, greyish-white text flickered quietly:
【Gelimu Port Status: 41/50 → 43/50】
The experience bar for the status of Gelimu Port had actually increased?
Lu Yuan glanced at the giant figure that had vanished into the rain; it seemed the outcome would be decided in this battle.
The situation on the battlefield was changing rapidly.
Standing on the top of the watchtower, Lu Yuan took everything in.
The Holy Armored Army's golden phalanx pushed forward steadily, Alice's lightning flashed on the flank, and the scout team commanded by Hans provided long-range suppression with alchemical bolts.
The three parties coordinated seamlessly, and the half-mermen's assault was being dismantled bit by bit.
But what truly shocked Lu Yuan was Sivating.
Just as he was watching the battlefield, a change occurred in Sivating.
All the runes on the golden armor lit up, and the light from the hundred Holy Armored Army soldiers around him converged onto him like threads.
It was the power of the military formation.
Concentrated into one person.
Sivating grew half a head taller, golden light flowing around him, and the longsword in his hand transformed into a golden giant blade, even longer than he was tall.
【Observed legion secret technique: Holy Armor Condensation】
【Traits: Concentrates the strength and fighting spirit of all soldiers in the formation into the commander, providing several times the combat power for a short duration】
【Weaknesses: Soldiers' combat effectiveness drops significantly during concentration, the commander bears an immense burden, and duration is limited】
【Forbidden Lore - Seeker: +1, 4.3/50】
Appearing alongside the greyish-white prompts was the Forbidden Lore progress bar, which had been silent for a long time.
Lu Yuan realized that he needed to appropriately expand his knowledge base.
Rate on N.U.
