I can see experience bars after being transported to another world.

The residents in the vicinity fled in panic.

Lu Yuan led Brent and Mina quickly toward the base. Looking at the fleeing crowd around them, Lu Yuan knew that the Night Watch could not possibly settle everyone here in a short time. Obviously, they could only pray for the best.

Along the way, he saw more than one sentry's figure flash across rooftops and alleyways, all moving in the same direction.

A faint fishy smell permeated the air, like the scent of seawater or rotting fish. The smell was so pungent that it made Lu Yuan subconsciously recall the smell emanating from Lawson when they first met.

As Lu Yuan continued forward, a gray-white notification quietly appeared before his eyes:

[Environmental Awareness: A continuous increase in the concentration of anaerobic substances in the surrounding environment has been detected. It is recommended to keep your distance or move away immediately.]

The closer you get to the base, the stronger the fishy smell becomes.

Explosions and gunfire could already be heard in the distance.

The battle has begun.

Five minutes later, Lu Yuan led the two men through the base gate.

Inside, there was already a tense atmosphere of preparation for war.

The watchmen were quickly donning their gear; some were checking weapons, while others were distributing ammunition and Molotov cocktails.

Mary stood in the center of the hall, putting on an enchanted suit of armor.

The armor was covered with intricate runes that shimmered with a pale blue light under the lamp.

Beside her, several squad leaders were fully armed and looked solemn.

"Dr. Lu!" Mary saw him, glanced at Brent and Mina, and then pointed to the back of the hall: "Tell them to go to the safety room at the back, where there are other non-combat personnel."

Lu Yuan turned to Brent: "Take Mina to the back and listen to the instructions from the people there. Don't wander off. Leave the ink with me for now."

Knowing he couldn't be of much help, Brent nodded: "Dr. Lu, please be careful."

He then pulled Mina along and quickly walked to the back.

Mina glanced back at Lu Yuan, her eyes filled with worry, but in the end she obediently followed her brother.

Lu Yuan turned to Mary: "What's going on?"

As Mary fastened her arm guards, she quickly said, "The sentries have made contact with the enemy, numbering at least sixty, all of them grey-robed men."

"Mr. Morgan went to the Ascension Conference to discuss cooperation and hasn't returned yet."

"Hans and Valentine are both recovering from injuries and will be unable to fight for the time being."

She took a deep breath: "Right now, the only ones who can fight are me, a few squad leaders, and about twenty team members."

Lu Yuan frowned upon hearing this: "Sixty versus twenty-something?"

"We're outnumbered, but we have an equipment advantage." Mary picked up an enchanted longsword. "And..."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "Mr. Morgan has installed some things at the base; they're his structural engineering techniques. They can be activated in critical moments, but at a great cost, and should only be used as a last resort."

"This is one of our trump cards."

Lu Yuan nodded, without asking what the specific "price" was.

Mary looked at him: "Dr. Lu, if the situation turns unfavorable, you and Ink will be one of the last lines of defense."

"I know you're not a combatant, but we're really short-handed right now."

"I understand." Lu Yuan gripped the revolver in his hand.

Mary nodded, then turned and shouted, "Everyone! Prepare to attack!"

"Team One, Team Two, follow me to support the front lines!"

"Team Three, hold the flanks; Team Four, stay in the main hall!"

The watchmen sprang into action.

Mary led most of the people out of the base entrance.

Lu Yuan stood deep inside the hall, and through the open door, he could see the battle situation at the entrance.

The sentries have already engaged the enemy in firefight.

Dozens of figures clad in grey cloaks were charging the defensive line, armed with a variety of weapons—rusty iron swords, bone spears, and even harpoons.

The sentries' alchemical muskets fired continuously, the sound of gunfire rising and falling.

The alchemical bullet tore through the air, but was blocked by a layer of pale blue water in front of the gray-robed man!

The water curtain materialized out of thin air, flowing like a living thing, and swallowed up all the bullets.

A sentry threw a Molotov cocktail, the glass shattered, and flames shot up—but a curtain of water instantly surged up and extinguished the flames.

"Damn it! They have water-based ability users!"

A sentry roared angrily.

Among the gray-robed men, several people had their hands continuously emitting a pale blue light; they were the ones controlling the water curtains.

The sentries' firepower was suppressed, and the defensive line was in grave danger.

Just then, Mary arrived with the main force.

"Firepower coverage!"

At her command, the watchmen opened fire simultaneously.

Muskets, Molotov cocktails, alchemical grenades—all sorts of weapons poured out.

A watchman took a silver glass bottle from his backpack and hurled it at the densest area of ​​the grey-robed men.

Mithril!

A burst of silvery-white flames suddenly erupted—the alchemical fire that burned "spirituality"!

The water curtain was no match for them; at least five gray-robed figures were engulfed by the silver flames, screaming as they turned to ashes.

The Night's Watch's sudden and intensified offensive caused the Greys' formation to waver briefly.

But at that moment—

In the center of the gray-robed group, a hunched figure slowly raised his hands.

In his hand, a swirling ball of water was coalescing, emitting an eerie, ghostly blue light.

The person began to chant softly, the tone eerie and distorted, like a murmur from the deep sea:

"Great Mother... grants shelter to your people..."

"Let the silence of the deep sea...envelop this land..."

As the incantation was completed, the water sphere suddenly exploded!

An invisible ripple spread outward from him, enveloping the entire battlefield.

Lu Yuan felt a suffocating sense of oppression wash over him.

[Rationality: 60/71 → 59/71]

Lu Yuan's already irrational mind was further damaged.

Then, something strange happened.

A night watchman threw a pyrotechnic grenade that landed in the enemy ranks but, unusually, did not explode.

Then another Molotov cocktail was smashed on the ground—the flames were extinguished by an invisible force as soon as they rose.

Even the rate of fire of the alchemical musket became sluggish, with bullets slowed down as if enveloped in water after leaving the barrel.

"All the explosives have failed!"

Someone shouted in terror.

That's a technique of the Deep Sea Church—a strange barrier that suppresses flames and explosions!

Having lost their firepower advantage, the Night's Watch's original advantage vanished instantly.

The grey-robed man gave the Night's Watch no chance to catch their breath, launching a charge and roaring as he rushed toward the defensive line.

The situation instantly became one-sided!

"Don't panic!"

Upon seeing this, Mary roared in anger, and the enchanted longsword in her hand suddenly burst forth with a dazzling silver light.

All the runes on her enchanted armor lit up, and a pale silver halo radiated outwards from her.

A silver halo enveloped all the Night's Watchmen.

Even Lu Yuan, who remained in the hall, could feel a warm power flowing into his body.

Is that Mary's extraordinary ability?

"Musketeer cover, close combat at the top!"

Mary charged into the enemy ranks first, her longsword, gleaming with silver light, sweeping across and instantly slicing two gray-robed men in half at the waist.