The vampire was very durable. It wasn't as durable as a ghoul but much more resilient than any human.

The vampire shouted random words in a panic and rolled around on the ground. The blue flame of Phosphorus ate into its skin and damaged its nerves. It was the most agonizing pain the vampire had experienced in a while.

"Phosphorus truly is a dangerous substance." Siderius grabbed a Pellets Bomb and threw it at the vampire.

He intended to end the fight right there. But the vampire wasn't a mindless beast.

It, ignoring the pain of the flame, ran straight through the thick foliage of the woods and disappeared.

The Pellets Bomb exploded and sent countless Brick Beans to the empty space around.

"Tch. Come back here, coward!" Siderius shouted. But the vampire already vanished.

Siderius took out a bottle of Flesh Restoration and chugged a little of it down. The wound on his stomach healed up instantly.

[TOXICITY + 10]

[TOXICITY LEVEL: 20/125]

The entire bottle cost 25 Toxicity. Because Siderius only drank less than half of it, only 10 points of Toxicity were added.

He rushed to Red and climbed upon it.

"Follow that fire, Red!"

The horse let out a long neigh. It rushed after the flaming figure.

The vampire was very fast. It ran at almost the max speed of an adult horse. Red was barely able to keep up with the vampire.

Siderius lowered his back and lay down on the horse, minimizing any air resistance. His hand clenched tight on the leash and precisely controlled Red through the layers of trees.

"Jump, boy!" Siderius pulled the leash upward and simultaneously tapped his feet lightly on the sides of the horse.

Red jumped over a stump, staying close to the vampire.

"Daddy! Daddy! Save me!" The vampire howled. It cried like a child in need of its parents.

"That direction?! It is heading to Pannitha!" Siderius' squinted his eyes.

Back in the town.

Xarles, Xeros, and Rea had gathered every single townsfolk into the church. They barred the front door with chairs and furniture. All the windows were closed shut with wooden planks nailing behind them.

All the entrances were blocked. No one could get in or out of the church.

Xarles bit his nails blindly. It was the only thing he could do to minimize the anxiety he had in him.

"Will this do? Will this protect us from the monster of the night?" Xarles tremblingly said.

Rea nodded. "If my lord has said so, then it must have worked."

Priest Xeros knelt in front of the statue of a tree with a lush canopy. He held the silver pendant in his hand and prayed non-stop.

"Mother Trees and Goddesses above! Please protect us from this evil. Mother Trees and Goddesses above..."

A tall townsman pushed the crowd away and approached Xarles.

"Bailiff! Where is my son?! You sent my son to Xonder to collect his herbs. But where is he now?!"

A few other townsfolk also stepped forward.

"Yeah, Bailiff! My brother also went. Where is he now?"

"Where is my husband, Xarles?"

"Why don't my father return, Lord Bailiff?"

They marched at Xarles and bombarded him with words and accusations. Xarles clenched his fits tight. He avoided the gaze of the people.

Priest Xeros stood up and blocked the people away from Xarles. "Everyone. Please calm down! There must be an explanation for everything."

Xarles bit his lips so hard blood came out.

"Lord Nyx came to me at dusk and said that Xonder might not be the creature. It is someone he knows.

He told me to gather everyone in the church and do not invite anyone into the building.

As for those poor men I sent. They...

If the monster is still out there, they are probably dead."

"How could you?!"

"Why you sent my boys to their death, Xarles?!"

"You monster!"

The people rushed at Xarles. He tried to maintain his composure but the scratches and punches quickly went out of control. Priest Xeros tried to help Xarles but he also got beat up.

Rea pulled out her short sword. The sound of metal scraping immediately stopped everyone.

"This is not a time for violence." Rea said. "Rather than fighting amongst yourselves. You should reserve your strength for when the monster comes."

A townsman stood up and approached Rea. "Small lady. Do you even know how to use that thing?"

Rea raised the short sword, aiming it directly at the townsman. "I might be a small girl. But I won't need that much strength to cut you down with this sharp blade. Try me if you dare!"

The man froze in place. Rea's fearless gaze told him that the woman would not hesitate in killing him.

The man gulped and backed off. Along with the other people that were stacking on Xarles and Xeros.

Bruises filled Xarles' face. His bloody mouth spat out a ball of blood.

"You ungrateful shit." Xarles said.

"What did you say?" A townsman said.

"I SAID. You ungrateful pieces of shit. I lead this town. I helped you all. I maintain the last symbol of order in Pannitha. And this is how you repay me?"

Xarles' tone went from a whisper to a roar. He pointed his hands at the townsfolk.

"You think I want to kill them? You think I want to do that? I told them to come to Xonder's house because I worry you might need his medicine.

I considered your well-being. And now! When everything crumbles down? You blame me?! What the fuck would you do then?"

Priest Xeros placed a hand on Xarles. "Calm down, Bailiff... They are just angry..."

Xarles pushed Xeros' hand out the way. "You know what. I'm tired. I'm tired of keeping this shithole together. Let's just all die! End this nightmare for good!"

"What are you even saying, Xarles? This isn't you." Xeros' voice softened. But his words couldn't move Xarles any more.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Let me in."

A rasp, low voice that was definitely not human.

Xarles' smile widened into a twisted curve.

"Xarles... You?!" Xeros blurted out.

"Come in. We welcome you to our home." Xarles said.

A hand punched through the wooden door and pushed away the barricades. With one kick, the door snapped open.

Under the bright moonlight of the night, Xonder stood there. His eyes shined a blood red color.

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