Chapter 93: The Riddle Unfolding, the Answer on the Horizon

Dennis scrambled to evade, stunned by the panther's speed—it rivaled his own as a vampire. Yet the beast's agility far surpassed his, leaving him on the defensive. The two clashed, locked in a frenzied struggle.

Dennis looked disheveled, his leather jacket shredded in several places. Though his nails were sharp and deadly, they paled in comparison to the panther's natural weaponry. Each time the panther missed its target, it swiftly pounced again, its agile and explosive movements repeatedly putting Dennis in peril.

Meanwhile, the vampire who had been struck by the motorcycle moments earlier, Johnson, rose to his feet.

Seeing Dennis fumbling to dodge the panther's relentless attacks, Johnson let out a low growl and leapt into the fray.

By now, Anran was no longer shocked by Johnson's sudden recovery. Her attention was entirely focused on the chaotic battle between the two vampires and the panther. Despite her martial arts training, she realized there was nothing she could do to help—their movements were too fast, too fluid. At times, she couldn't even track them with her eyes.

Anran knew she should flee while she had the chance, but she couldn't bring herself to leave. Adam was fighting for her sake—how could she abandon it?

As she watched Dennis and Johnson's incredible speed, their crimson eyes, and the sharp fangs they bared in their roars, her mind raced through all the inexplicable events she'd witnessed since arriving in Rose Town.

Her thoughts spiraled uncontrollably. She recalled the girls' whispers about anemia, the vacant expression of Aixue and the red mark on her neck, the cryptic words of the boy in the purple uniform, the erratic behavior of Zhang Ning, and the conversation between Yelang and Elma…

Suddenly, an answer surfaced in her mind—one that belonged only in novels and movies. Her right hand instinctively tightened around the cross she held.

The answer was so close, yet it was something she could hardly believe. As someone who had been an atheist for years, that answer would completely shatter her worldview.

With Johnson joining the fight, Dennis' situation eased somewhat. However, the panther quickly noticed that the new vampire was slower and weaker than the first. It turned its focus to Johnson, seizing the moment when he let his guard down to pounce.

"Ahhh—"

A piercing scream erupted as the panther sank its teeth into Johnson's neck, blood spurting out.

The gruesome sight made Anran wince, but before she could react, Dennis swung his clawed hand toward the panther's head.

"Watch out!" Anran cried out in alarm.

The panther flung its prey aside and swiped its claws at Dennis.

At that moment, a sinister smile spread across Dennis' lips. He possessed a unique ability—one that wasn't particularly effective against powerful vampires but worked wonders on simpler minds, like those of animals. However, this panther was no ordinary beast, and he had hesitated to use it until now. With the panther momentarily distracted by Johnson, Dennis focused his mind and unleashed his power.

Suddenly, a blinding red light filled the air.

The panther's emerald eyes met Dennis' ever-deepening crimson gaze. In that instant, time seemed to freeze. The panther halted its attack, motionless.