*** Tony ***

What is the difference between a vampire and a normal human? Some might think the answer is the immortality, or the fangs, or maybe even the eternal hunger for blood. In reality, those are nothing more than side effects.

The difference is actually the core. Every single being has a core, from the strongest dragon to the mosquito that failed to penetrate his scales. For humans, the core is in the centre of their chest. As they grow stronger, mana is absorbed by the core, which grows exponentially with the passing of time. At one point, it can even change, evolve into something else, but one rule is absolute: a core must exist for life to be possible.

So then how can vampires be alive, considering they don't have a core? The answer is their hearts, which take over that role. Taking this into consideration, it has been deduced that three things happen which explain everything about the vampire race.

First and foremost, it is well known that the heart pumps blood through the body. In the case of a vampire whose heart is also his core, said blood is slowly infused with mana. Then, as it circulates through the body, the cells are strengthened and revitalised, resulting in pseudo-immortality.

Unfortunately, this process puts a strain on the blood, which results in an irreversible degradation process. Therefore vampires have adapted to make other creature's blood their own. Since the fangs and the desire to drink blood.

The last thing that needs to be mentioned is that vampires can't procreate, which is another side effect from their blood constant degradation which prevents a fetus from reaching maturity before it starves. And this is where the equation is completed by adding in the existence of molochs.

Known in the past as half-vampires or fake-vampires, they are former mortals who had their cores changed to have blood pass through it.

That is an excruciating process that I really don't want to remember…

Anyway, this creates a situation where their blood is also corrupted, but to a far lesser degree than a pure-blooded vampire. As such, molochs need blood to survive while also being pseudo-immortals themselves.

As time passes, their hearts become their new cores. High-ranking vampire blood can speed up this process exponentially.

But… And this is a big 'BUT'… No living being can have two cores.

So the last step that allows a moloch to become a vampire is shattering their cores in a process known as the "Sanguine Awakening".

And this is exactly what I'm going through right now.

Submerged in a bath of blood, countless runes work together to destroy the feeble core that suppresses my heart, keeping me from reaching my true potential… Or at the very least, they are trying to.

My skin, flesh and bones prevent the energy from reaching my core, which is unexpected, to say the least.

Fortunately, there isn't only the Sanguine Matriarch working on the process but also a certain high-ranking priestess which was more than happy to help, although I have a feeling her reasons might have less to do with supporting me with my awakening and more with studying my body.

Being trapped in the pool of blood, with no sensory input except for the scorching pain coming from my chest, I can only endure and wait for it to be over.

*** April ***

"Can you stop casting barriers and help me out?" ignoring the annoying women that keeps pestering me, I cast the 27'th barrier around our current location.

With this, I will have used everything I know. Mana shields, aura suppressors, space-time lockdown areas, anti-elemental matrixes, consecrated ground supported by the Dawn Goddess, divine alteration runes, etc. And even with everything ready to be used at a moment’s notice, I am still slightly uneasy.

No matter what, I can't feel safe after almost dying by a residual trace of his berserk energy. If something goes wrong, the whole Dome might disappear from the face of Altena.

"You do your job and I shall do mine…" responding to the rude Sanguine Matriarch that does not know what kind of monster she is helping to awaken, I return to my work, doubling down on everything even if my mana is already dwindling. Now that I think about it, there's one more spell that I could cast, although it might be quite extreme, even for this situation.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I prepare to cast something usually used to suppress higher beings.

"You two, get by my side. If you are caught in this thing, you will be flattened like pancakes." Turning towards the two dumbfounded girls standing on the side witnessing the awakening ceremony, I start working on the countless runes.

"The hell are you doing now?" ignoring the bitch once more, I create a massive matrix on the ground. "Have you gone insane? Why are you preparing a Divine Descent Formation?"

Divine Descent Formation… As the name suggest it's a last resort method where a high priestess’s body is used to house, for a short period, the divine grace of Dawn herself. In that form, even someone like myself could fight on equal grounds with a Duke. Of course, the price I would have to pay would be quite extreme, but it would still be better than dying.

Directly using half of my mana pool, the divine matrix manifests itself on the ground, emanating the aura of Dawn. The matriarch can just ignore it, although it might be a bit tingly, and I doubt the monster even feels it, but the two little bunnies are already on their knees. Releasing my internal aura, I create a small bubble, allowing them to breathe normally once more.

In reality, I still don't understand why there are two molochs here… Well, that is wrong. I know that the matriarch did not know what she was dealing with and the idiot just wanted to have his prime candidates witness his awakening, but it was still a bad idea.

'Hmm?'

Among the countless defensive layers I set up, there was also a Tier 9: Aura Detection Formation. Its purpose was to detect if the awakening process was about to fail and his mana was to go berserk. But this is not what it's usually used for.

Instead, this kind of formations are used on the battlefield for detecting hidden enemies. Although I changed it to a certain degree, the primary function is still there. Of course, there is no one in this town that could pose a threat to me and no dragon or other being living in the Northern Desolate would dare to mess with a Dome under Lucy's protection. As such, I was quite surprised when a malicious aura was detected heading towards us.

Altering some runes in order to increase the formation's output, I try to pinpoint the source.

'Fuck!'

There are many words that could describe the current predicament, but there's no time. In those precious few seconds left, I alter most of the formations, turning them from sealing the inside to protecting against any outside threats.

"Whatever happens, you finish the ritual!" with those last words, a tremendous explosion occurs, destroying the ceiling and with it three of the defensive layers prepared.

Surprised at the sudden situation, the Matriarch falters for a second, before returning to her task. Fortunately it looks like, in this critical situation, she has listened to me.

Outside the barriers, a lonely figure is floating above us with multiple Pyro Blasts surrounding her, ready to be thrown at us.

'Archon… No, Paragon. Although a weak one.

Slightly injured.

Winning chances without the Divine Descent Formation: 0%.

Winning chances with the Divine Descent Formation: 3.2%'

Faced with a life-and-death situation, my mind honed by the abyssal battlefield for years while I was still part of the Dawn Church, analysis the situation and comes to a dreadful conclusion.

Taking everything into consideration, our current chances of survival are basically zero. Winning against a paragon is not something that can be done. Maybe only a monster like Lucy could do it, but he is not here now.

As for allowing the Goddesses grace to inhabit my form… Although that would increase my power exponentially, it would only last for a couple of seconds, a minute at most, before my body would collapse. This is the main reason such a tactic, on the battlefield, was used to suppress paragons for a short period of time while countless other fighters took them down. And even then, the success rate was less than 5%.

So I told the matriarch to keep working. If that monster awakens, even a Paragon might not be his match. Without him, we are dead.

"You two, listen carefully…" turning my gaze towards the two bunnies by my side, I make sure they are looking at me before continuing, "no matter what happens, stand right behind me. BUT. If at any moment you see dark smoke pouring from my body, run towards your Sanguine Matriarch."

After confirming they understood what I told them, I return my gaze towards the hooded Paragon and prepare for what might as well be the last fight of my life.