"Richard…"
Dylan knew at a glance that Richard was on the verge of awakening a new power. But why now, of all times?
Anran was still missing, and Richard had fallen unconscious. Dylan understood that Richard's condition wasn't a normal awakening—his body was frighteningly hot, likely due to the intense emotional strain. It seemed the human girl had triggered the premature activation of his abilities.
Dylan moved Richard under a large tree, hoping it would shield him somewhat from the rain and provide some cover against potential dangers.
Dylan considered taking Richard away. After all, rain and water had similar effects on vampires—both weakened their powers. With the enemy lurking in the shadows, familiar with the terrain and possessing unknown abilities, the situation was far from ideal.
But if he left with Richard, what would become of the human girl?
After a moment of internal struggle, Dylan decided to stay.
---
In a hidden cave, Hank Hahn observed the unconscious human girl. Thanks to the drugs he had administered, she wouldn't wake anytime soon. In this state, she wouldn't emit her unique scent, so there was no risk of exposing their location.
Even Hank hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Earlier, he had rigged the stage with a simple mechanism, intending to use the fall and the water's buoyancy to remove the cross from her neck. He hadn't been entirely confident it would work, but when he realized she wasn't wearing the cross, he was ecstatic. He knew this was his chance, and he couldn't let it slip away. Even if the voting result hadn't chosen her, he would have declared her the winner anyway.
However, after successfully abducting the girl, Hank found himself unsure of how to use her. More precisely, he wasn't certain what method would deliver the most devastating blow to the Morris family. He even felt a pang of regret for the girl, whose unique scent had sparked his interest. Before his family's downfall, Hank had been an ordinary vampire, yearning for peace and happiness. But Jonathan Morris had destroyed everything.
Just as Hank debated whether to turn Anran into a vampire and become her mentor, fate granted him an even greater opportunity for revenge.
Given the location and timing, the vampire awakening their power was likely Jonathan Morris's son, Richard Morris!
Hank weighed his options. No matter how he used the girl, the only one who would suffer was Richard Morris. But if he seized this moment to eliminate the heir of the Morris family, the entire clan would be shaken to its core.
Moreover, unlike other vampires, the rainy forest was the perfect setting for maximizing his abilities—all thanks to the drugs developed by Dr. D.
Dr. D's formula could enhance human potential, and it could do the same for vampires—after all, one of the key ingredients was Hank's own blood! After a life-and-death struggle with Dr. D, who had turned into a revenant, Hank had been severely injured. In desperation, he had risked injecting himself with the formula. Not only did it restore his appearance, but it also granted him an ability perfectly suited to his needs—camouflage.
Removing his clown mask, Hank stepped out of the cave. As he walked into the rain, his form seemed to merge with the downpour, making him nearly invisible. When he entered the forest, his body took on the hues of the trees. Before long, he reached the source of the earlier roar.
As expected, he found Dylan leaning against a tree, holding the unconscious Richard.
Suppressing his excitement, Hank slowly approached, clutching a small silver dagger in his hand.