Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Asuna slowly pulled her legs back and landed, her toes barely touching the ground, light and silent.

There was no victor's elation, nor any contemptuous provocation; they simply stood firmly in place.

An eerie, deathly silence fell over the entire room.

All eyes were on her slender and graceful figure.

She stood there, and she was the perfect embodiment of the word "Valkyrie".

The cold, mechanical sound echoed throughout the venue:
"The victor is Effie, Asuna Iliad!"

A tidal wave of frenzied shouts and roars surged forth.

The nobles and commoners from Effie shouted themselves hoarse, waving banners emblazoned with dragons.

Audiences from other countries, regardless of any previous prejudices, were all awestruck by the pure power and beauty of the craft, bursting into heartfelt cheers and exclamations.

All eyes were focused on that stunningly beautiful figure, filled with undisguised fervor and admiration.

A stir also broke out in the VIP section, with various thoughts swirling in everyone's minds.

Another representative from Effie, another woman cultivated by Cohen Corleone.

Such a simple and direct victory.

Asuna didn't even summon the contracted dragon, yet she easily defeated a contestant from one of the five great empires.

The Noble Martial Arts Festival has progressed to this point, and too many things have happened that are beyond their control.

Cohen has already taken control of the top two spots in the Bronze Group. Could it be that he'll also dominate the Silver Group?

A chill ran down everyone's spine.

Prince Violet of the Northern Empire sighed:
"Mulan's physical strength is comparable to that of a golden body. This dragon-riding warrior can break through the opponent's defense and even knock him over with a single kick."

Needless to say, they must also possess the combat power of a Gold-rank character.

It's truly unbelievable that such a small, northwestern country could produce one monster after another.

Prince Heinz gave Asuna a deep look and said in a deep voice:

"It has been a long time since the 'Dragon Warrior' class, a superhuman profession, has appeared on the mainland."

Even much of the related heritage has been lost.

If I'm not mistaken, the other party should have completely shared life force and power with its contracted dragon.

In a pure strength contest, Mulan's loss was not unjust.

Prime Minister Winston asked in surprise:
"Does the prince mean that Asuna is now equivalent to a giant dragon?"
Why bother with the fighting? Let's just give out the awards!

Prince Heinz shook his head and said:
"It's not that exaggerated, it's just that she can unleash a level comparable to a dragon of the same rank in a short period of time."

It's impossible to maintain this for long; her body and mind can't withstand it.

You didn't notice? She's never shown this ability in previous matches.

This means that her ability can only be maintained for a very short time and cannot be exposed in advance so that others can prepare for it.

Mulan underestimated his opponent, being overconfident in his golden body and giving his opponent the opportunity to defeat him.

I believe that if she can maintain her momentum during her early bursts of performance, she still has a chance to win.

Everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Lord Langdon suddenly spoke up:
"Don't forget, she hasn't summoned the contracted dragon yet."

I heard that her contracted dragon is a red dragon.

In terms of combat power, the Red Dragon is no pushover!

Even without unleashing that power, how many people are confident they can withstand the onslaught of a giant dragon?

Everyone tensed up again, fearing that only a few top players like Jin Lunjia possessed such skills.

Regardless of the scheming and plans in the VIP seats, the competition continued on the ring.

The first round of eliminations was drawing to a close, and Cohen had just stepped into the ring.

His opponent was a mage from a small country.

Entering the knockout stage, no one would easily admit defeat. Although this mage knew he was being used as a scapegoat, he still suppressed his fear and stood opposite Cohen for the honor of his country.

The result was predictable; Cohen punched him from a distance.

However, Cohen didn't go all out this time; he simply threw him out of the ring, which was much more dignified than the tragic fates of Garth and Hrud.

Another instant sell-out!
A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience once again, and some people even started placing bets on who could withstand the first move from King Effie.

The first round of elimination matches has concluded, and twenty-five contestants have advanced to the second round.

From the second to the fourth round, one contestant must receive a bye in each of these three rounds.

Everyone gazed at the "Mirror of the Sky" suspended in mid-air, awaiting the result of who would receive the bye.

Soon, the name Cohen Corleone appeared prominently.

King Alfie was given a bye!
Strangely, compared to the previous envy of the contestants for the bye spot, this time, when everyone saw that it was Cohen who got the bye, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Cohen glanced in the direction of the House of Nobles, which was in charge of the lottery, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Does this mean they're not letting him fight?
Cohen suspected that he would receive a bye in the next few rounds.

Cohen was happy to have some free time and began to focus on Asuna's rivals.

There were 25 contestants, and apart from Cohen who received a bye, there were a total of 12 matches.

The Silver group doesn't have as much randomness as the Bronze group.

The top-tier training systems of the five great empires ensure that contestants from these countries possess the strength to crush contestants from other countries.

Therefore, apart from Effie, the oddball, the other twenty-three people all came from the five great empires.

So from this round onwards, apart from Asuna, it will be a competition between players from the five major empires.

The intensity and immediate combat level far exceeded any previous match.

Soon, through a draw, the matchups for each group were displayed on the "Mirror of the Sky".

The seeded players from the five great empires did not meet.

The only noteworthy point is that Hayden Costa, the "Trickster" and a seeded player from the Southern Empire, who also advanced from the group stage with a perfect record, was grouped with Asuna.

Needless to say, it must be those people from the House of Nobles who are up to their tricks again.

In order to eliminate another Effie contestant as soon as possible and avoid repeating the mistakes of the Bronze Group, the Noble Academy "carefully selected" another opponent for Asuna.

Since they couldn't outmatch Asuna, who possessed the power of a dragon, they arranged for a "Trickster" whose fighting style countered that of strength-based warriors.

Tricksters did not originate from a specific academy or country, but rather formed naturally among a group of gifted individuals exploring arcane and shadow magic.

They disdain straightforward clashes of strength and believe in the tenet that "wisdom and cunning are superior to brute force."

They excel at exploiting the weaknesses of rules, psychology, environment, and opponents to turn the impossible into possible, achieving maximum effect with minimal cost.

It is the best class to deal with "Dragon Warriors" who rely on "brute force".

Especially when facing Asuna's close-range pressure, the Trickster's spatial displacement ability can perfectly avoid her fatal slashes.

This makes it difficult for her powerful melee abilities to find physical targets.

The game officially begins.

First to appear was the host, Joren Wertheimer, the "Arcane Knight" of the Central Empire.

The opponent assigned to him was considered the weakest among the contestants from the five major empires.

Qiao Lun defeated his opponent without much effort, without even summoning his mount, becoming the first contestant to advance to the third round.

As the host, Joren's clean and decisive victory earned him cheers from the entire stadium.

The expressions on the faces of the members of the House of Nobles improved considerably.

They've been overshadowed by Effie's people for a long time, and they've been holding back for it.

Next up is "War Priest" Casimir August.

His opponent was a contestant from the Northern Empire. After a fight, Kazimir easily defeated his opponent without revealing much of his strength.

Next up is the undisputed favorite of this year's Noble Martial Arts Festival, the eldest prince of the Northern Empire, the "Frost Warrior" Kinlunga Cox, who has perfectly awakened the bloodline of the Frost Giants.

Facing a promising player from the Western Regions Empire, the two fought for more than ten minutes on the arena. In the end, the Western Regions Empire player could not withstand Jinlunga's frost magic and surrendered.

Then there's the Eastern Empire's top contender, "Dragon Knight" Mills Knight.

Although he's called a Dragon Knight, unlike Asuna who has a real contracted dragon, Mills's dragon is a hybrid sub-dragon, the Earth Lizard Dragon.

They are descendants of the earth dragon, dwelling deep within the earth's veins, adept at manipulating the power of rock and soil, and possessing defensive capabilities comparable to mountains.

With the help of the Earth Lizard Dragon, Mills easily defeated his opponent from the Southern Empire and successfully advanced to the third round.

The remaining matches were mostly evenly matched and much more exciting than the previous ones.

Finally, it was Asuna's turn to appear.

After whispering a few words in her ear, Cohen watched Asuna walk onto the ring.

The opponent has already entered the arena and is waiting.

Hayden Costa wore a form-fitting, deep purple lace suit, his face covered by a smiling silver mask, revealing only a pair of gleaming, cold silver eyes.

He carried no weapons, had long, slender fingers, and simply stood there, like a constantly twisting shadow, elusive and unpredictable.

Asuna stepped onto the ring, her breathtakingly beautiful face—perfectly sculpted cheeks, a straight, mountain-like nose, and slightly pursed lips—was still covered with a layer of focused frost.

It embodies the majesty and composure unique to the dragon bloodline.

Golden eyes calmly locked onto the elusive figure, while the longsword at his waist hummed softly.

On the arena, an invisible opposing aura clashed violently.

The final match of the second round was a highly anticipated showdown that drew countless eyes.

After her amazing performances in the previous matches, Asuna has already gained considerable popularity.

Asuna Iliad's name is no longer simply "the Red Dragon Duchess of Efein" or "King Cohen Corleone's lover".

With beauty that rivals Freya, the winner of the "Strongest Bronze" title, an awe-inspiring and unapproachable aura befitting a Valkyrie, and a powerful, mysterious strength akin to that of a dragon, Asuna captivated many neutral spectators. Her fiery presence as she entered the arena instantly ignited the fervent support of countless neutral fans.

The cheers were clearly directed toward the Effie stands.

What's even more intriguing is the ultimate power behind her, a power beyond mortal imagination that has yet to be revealed—the dragon.

Her opponent, Hayden Costa, is also a top-tier powerhouse who should not be underestimated.

The profession of Trickster is known for its unpredictability and difficulty in defending against attacks.

As a carefully selected seed player from the Southern Empire, Hayden demonstrated exquisite spatial manipulation and illusion-playing abilities in the group stage.

They also advanced with an overwhelming victory.

Both are among the best of the seeded players.

This match can be described as a clash of titans.

The embodiment of beauty and power confronts the messengers of shadow and space!
The entire Imperial Arena seemed to have been thrown into a giant furnace, and the heat in the stands rose steadily.

Viewers from all over the mainland had their eyes fixed on the two extraordinary individuals on the field, each representing the pinnacle of different powers.

In the VIP section, important figures from different empires also stopped talking, their expressions solemn.

This battle could very well reveal the true strength of a dragon-riding warrior.

Especially the members of the Central Empire's House of Nobles.

They knew that the main reason Cohen chose to participate in the Noble Martial Arts Festival in person was for his lover, the dragon-riding warrior—who was plotting to establish the first dragon legion on the continent, a legacy of the Noble Academy!
Finally, the cold, mechanical voice slowly rang out, and the competition officially began.

As the last syllable of the bell faded away.

Haydn silently and completely melted into the shadows and folds of space, disappearing without a trace.

Asuna's muscles tensed instantly, the power of the dragon vein surged within her, and her five senses were heightened to their limits.

Chi!
Without warning, a barely audible whooshing sound shot out from the shadows behind Asuna's left.

It was a prism spike, only the size of a fingernail, condensed from pure spatial energy.

Silent, swift, and aimed straight at Asuna's vitals.

Asuna's eyes narrowed suddenly, and her body instinctively swerved to the right, making a desperate dodge while brandishing her rapier.

The spatial prism grazed the rapier, making a screeching sound, and the intense energy shock caused her arm to go numb instantly.

A smiling masked figure emerged from the shadows to the left and behind.

Haydn's location has been revealed!

Just as Asuna locked onto the shadow to her left rear, an identical Hayden suddenly leaped down from directly in front of her as if teleporting.

With his right hand outstretched, he reached for her crown chakra.

Dual-space warp?

In a flash, Asuna's stunning face remained calm as she stomped her left foot on the ground, unleashing a sudden burst of dragon power flowing through her body.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, charging head-on towards Haydn as he lunged downwards.

At the same time, the rapier in his right hand transformed into a streak of crimson lightning, piercing straight for the opponent's heart.

puff!
The rapier pierced Hayden's body without any resistance—but his figure was distorted and shattered like the reflection of a stone thrown into a hole.

phantom!

Hayden, hidden in the shadows, curled his lips into a slight smile.

Whether it was the initial attack or the recent lunge, it was all a feint.

His real killing move comes the instant Asuna lunges forward with her sword and shifts her weight forward.

In an instant, the situation changed drastically.

The unremarkable ground beneath Asuna's feet suddenly sank, and a spatial rift trap, shimmering with a purple halo, silently opened, unleashing a powerful gravitational pull that threatened to drag her into it.

Space trap!

Once the opponent steps into the spatial trap I have carefully set, no matter what level of power they possess, they will be worn down and killed inside!
However, just when Hayden thought everything would happen as he expected, something unexpected happened!

Asuna showed no sign of panic. Her golden eyes shone brightly, and she suddenly let out a short, yet majestic, roar.

It was not a spell, but a dragon's mantra compressed to its extreme, carrying a spiritual shock.

boom!
An invisible, surging dragon's might, mixed with her explosive blood and qi power, exploded outwards from her body.

That wasn't magic; it was the impact of pure life force and will, instantly disrupting and tearing apart the gravitational field of the spatial trap.

In the brief moment of the tremor spreading, Asuna twisted her waist and pressed down sharply with her left palm.

A burst of scorching red light, like a small explosion, erupted from her palm.

Martial skill: Dragon Dance - Lotus of Karmic Fire!
The crimson flames were not used to attack a specific point, but rather they exploded outwards in a spherical shape centered on her left hand.

It wasn't large, but it swallowed up all the space within five meters of her body.

The air was instantly evaporated and annihilated, forming a near-vacuum zone of absolute high temperature.

The structures manipulated by Hayden to form traps, and the shadow magic particles hidden in the folds of space, were burned to ashes.

Haydn's meticulously crafted spatial trap was burned through by the opponent in the most direct and violent way.

"Ah……"

A soft laugh echoed at the edge of the flames.

The real Hayden Costa appeared ten meters to Asuna's right.

His smile beneath the mask deepened, and his deliberately drawn-out voice came through the mask:

"That's... a brutal yet effective way to deal with it."

Your Excellency, the temperature of this dragonfire is truly astonishing.

I just wonder... how many more times you can unleash an attack of that level!

As soon as he finished speaking, Hayden's hands moved rapidly, and the surrounding scenery instantly became bizarre and fantastical.

In Asuna's view, the entire arena began to twist and rotate.

Countless afterimages of Haydn rushed in from all directions.

Space began to refract like a mirror, trapping her in a constantly shifting labyrinth.

She could even see another, distorted version of herself, slashing at her.

Multiple Illusions: Phase Labyrinth!

One of the trickster's trump cards, a deadly cage that completely confuses perception and manipulates the rules of space.

Asuna remained focused and resolute.

Golden eyes continuously scanned the slightest ripples and fluctuations in space.

Soon, a tidal wave of trickery and traps swept towards Asuna.

Whether it's a dimensional rift that suddenly explodes around you, or a void force field that suddenly rises beneath your feet to restrain you.

Various tricks and traps emerged one after another.

She had just dodged an attacking phantom when a seemingly solid paving stone beneath her feet suddenly transformed into a void swamp that devoured everything.

The dragon power within her body erupted instantly, and Asuna's figure sprang up like a hawk.

call out!call out!call out!
Almost at the same moment she took to the air, three dimensional blades composed entirely of unstable spatial rifts exploded out of thin air in front of her, to her left, and behind her.

A dark purple crack silently tore through the air.

Asuna's body twisted in mid-air in an incredible manner, slashing at a dimensional blade in front of her with her rapier.

At the same time, using the edge of another spreading crack as leverage, he shifted several meters to the side, avoiding the deadly triangle.

Before she could land, a spatial chain suddenly wrapped around her waist.

Asuna took a deep breath and uttered a short incantation.

A concentrated dragon breath shockwave suddenly erupted, shattering the incoming spatial chains into pieces.

Asuna's breathing became clearer and clearer during the intense battle. In this endless, deceptive, and ever-changing tide of trickery and traps, her physical and mental strength was being rapidly depleted.

In the stands, the audience from the Southern Empire cheered excitedly. Anyone could see that Asuna was clearly relying on the "Dragon Warrior" class to tough it out.

If you keep it for a long time, you will lose it.

Sooner or later, they will fall victim to Haydn's trickery.

Tsk-!
With another burst of power, Asuna forcefully broke through the spatial quicksand trap that rose again beneath her feet, shattering a phantom rock in the process. Her body trembled slightly from the loss of balance.

For the first time, her eyes revealed an intense exhaustion that could not be concealed, and the Valkyrie's once upright figure now appeared somewhat shaky.

Hayden Costa's true form became fully visible on a suspended fragment of shattered space.

He looked down at his opponent, who was almost exhausted, and a clear, pleasant chuckle escaped from beneath his mask:

"Your stamina is truly amazing, Duchess!"

Haydn raised his voice, which pierced through the chaotic illusions and reached Asuna's ears clearly, with a hint of teasing like a cat playing with a mouse:
"However, judging from your appearance, it seems that even staying awake is quite difficult for you."
If you don't summon your contracted dragon now, you might miss your chance!

However, Asuna, who was struggling and looking somewhat disheveled in the maze, suddenly stopped after dodging a spatial rift.

Asuna raised her head, a captivating smile curving her lips that momentarily stunned Hayden, and said softly:

"How do you know I didn't summon a dragon?"

Hayden Costa's confident smile beneath his mask froze instantly.

A sudden chill shot up from his tailbone to the top of his head without warning, and he suddenly realized something.

Her disheveled appearance wasn't due to weakness, but rather a decoy.

Her persistence wasn't about fighting the maze, it was about finding her way!
That's right. If you summon a dragon from the beginning, it will be trapped in its own maze along with the host. The opponent has already planned everything from the moment they step onto the arena!
Hayden Costaton felt a chill run down his spine as he suddenly recalled the gesture of the king whispering words in Asuna's ear before she stepped into the ring!
Oh no!
Before he could make any move, the floating space beneath his feet cracked open without warning!
Without any prior energy fluctuations or a tremendous tearing sound in space, a narrow crack was violently ripped open!

Then, he witnessed a scene he would never forget—

A colossal, crimson dragon head, burning with a destructive light like molten lava, emerged from the crack, its deep red, vertical pupils staring at him with utter mockery! (End of Chapter)