Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

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The game officially begins!
Kona's overwhelming dragon wings instantly tore through the air, carrying Asuna upwards into the sky.

After climbing to a certain height, Asuna bent down, merging with the dragon, transforming into a blood-red rainbow that tore through the sky. Using potential energy and carrying unparalleled impact kinetic energy, she swooped down towards Reed Borg.

At the same time, the rapier in his hand was replaced by a dragon rider lance imbued with an ancient aura, the scorching tip of which almost ignited the surrounding air.

The frenzied shouts suddenly rose to a new extreme.

Reed Berger's eyes were calm as he slowly raised his right hand.

There were no incantations, no complicated gestures; the fingers made extremely precise virtual dots in the space in front of him.

First, the space rippled almost imperceptibly.

Secondly, it seems that some invisible node in the air has been illuminated.

Thirdly, its location forms a perfect equilateral triangle core with the first two points.

The fourth and fifth points extend perpendicularly outside the plane of the triangle, instantly establishing a three-dimensional force field base model.

hum-

As the fifth point was completed, at the very moment this lightning-fast series of void finger strikes ended.

The air in front of Reed suddenly froze, and a semi-transparent, angular, hexagonal honeycomb structure force field barrier, like an ultra-strong alloy armor plate that appeared out of thin air, stood fiercely in front of him.

Just as Reed's structural force field barrier was generated, the blood-red rainbow that tore through the sky, carrying the immense force of a dragon swooping down, crashed head-on into the honeycomb barrier that appeared out of nowhere.

boom--! ! !
The indescribable roar shook the entire audience.

It wasn't a collision of metal; it was more like a head-on collision of two invisible mountains.

The tip of the Dragon Rider Lance burst forth with dazzling light, and the contact point of the honeycomb barrier instantly lit up with incandescence.

The hexagonal structure deformed violently and dented inward, with countless fine, ice-blue energy filaments spreading out in all directions of the force field barrier, like circuits under extreme pressure.

After a brief standoff, a visible shockwave, a mixture of scorching golden light and icy blue light, violently spread out from the point of impact.

The shockwave, like a solid iron wall, swept across the entire arena in an instant, shattering the hard stone slabs laid on the arena inch by inch and being lifted up.

The dragon's roar mingled with the deep hum of the force field barrier, and Asuna's arm trembled violently from the immense reaction force of the high-speed impact.

The dragon flapped its wings, and a surge of violent power flowed continuously through the soul link into the dragon spear in her hand.

Reed was also in bad shape. The powerful impact transmitted through the force field barrier to his body. The ground beneath his feet shattered and sank like tofu. His body was pushed backward by the immense force that could not be completely dissipated, carving two deep furrows behind him.

Reed pushed his mental power to its limit to maintain the core structure of the force field barrier.

*Sizzle—Bang!*

With a deafening sonic boom as space was torn apart, the seemingly indestructible honeycomb barrier was pierced through by the terrifying power of the dragon spear, leaving a huge hole nearly a meter in diameter.

The honeycomb structure shattered like broken glass, the fragments flying like blades, only averting disaster thanks to the arena's light curtain.

However, the absolute impact energy of the dragon spear was completely neutralized the moment it pierced through this ultimate defense.

Asuna's charge came to an abrupt halt, and the giant dragon coiled up, raising clouds of dust.

The dragon lance in her hand had a slightly dim light at the tip, and cracks were faintly spreading from the tip. Due to the rules of the competition, the dragon lance in Asuna's hand was only a silver-tier magic weapon.

Reed was thrown back several meters by the final shockwave, half-kneeling on the ravaged arena, a trickle of crimson blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. In front of him, the barrier was reduced to a ring of flickering, unstable lightning-filled remnants.

The entire arena fell into a brief, vacuum-like silence.

This attack was earth-shattering, and the two were evenly matched.

Before everyone could catch their breath, the battle reignited, this time with Reed taking the initiative!
The opponent possesses a genuine dragon, and I cannot withstand such an onslaught for long; I must end this battle quickly.

His kneeling figure suddenly raised his head, and his right hand made several rapid grasping, pulling, and tapping motions toward the sky with the precise rhythm and amplitude of a pianist pressing down piano keys, as if plucking some invisible string.

As he completed the last two complex fingerprints, the air within a radius of tens of meters above his head suddenly lit up, and was then filled with ultra-high density ionized clouds.

Sizzle!

Dozens of extremely compressed, pale white, scorching plasma beams shot out from it, and as soon as they appeared, they caused the surrounding air to vaporize into a large amount of distorted white steam.

Each strike carried destructive energy capable of melting gold and severing iron, precisely enveloping Asuna suspended in mid-air.

Sunfire Ray!

One of the pinnacle applications of the fundamental principles of plasticity!

The beams of light intertwined in the air like self-aware serpents.

A three-dimensional electric grid cage made of pure destructive Yang Flame energy instantly formed, covering almost all the space in front of Asuna that could move forward, rise, or fall.

On the dragon's back, Asuna's cold eyes reflected the falling white light.

Without a word, only with his legs slightly clenched, he conveyed commands faster than lightning.

At this moment, the enormous dragon body unleashed astonishing agility and mobility.

Instead of avoiding the deadly electric net by diving upwards, the red dragon spread its wings to their maximum extent and, using the terrifying momentum of its dive, performed a side roll that almost folded its massive body over.

Its massive body and long tail twisted into a breathtaking arc.

The left dragon wing was pressed down to its limit, while the right dragon wing was raised to its extreme, the whole posture was twisted to almost vertical, as if it had completed a high-speed rolling blade tactical maneuver in the air.

The massive dragon body, accompanied by violent air currents, grazed past the electric grid through an extremely tiny, shifting gap behind it, like a blade, with incredible speed and danger.

However, a blazing white light still swept across the edge of a scale at the tip of the dragon's wing, leaving a faint scorch mark.

This seemingly insignificant scratch completely ignited the ferocity deep within the dragon's bloodline.

"Roar--!"

The ancient dragon's roar is no longer a deterrent, but a clarion call for counterattack!
The dragon raised its head high, its huge mouth opened wide, and deep in its throat, the primal fire forged in its blood was instantly ignited, compressed, and burst forth.

A thick, condensed crimson breath suddenly erupted.

It was no longer a scattered flame, but a giant axe forged from pure fire energy, powerful enough to split mountains and cleave the earth.

Boom——! ! !
The concentrated crimson breath collided violently with the overhead electric grid.

The cage formed by the solar rays suddenly brightened, and the energies clashed fiercely, emitting a continuous, ear-piercing shriek like metal tearing and glass shattering.

The stalemate lasted less than half a second before the meticulously constructed electric grid, like a fragile thread, snapped and disintegrated inch by inch under the chopping of the Dragon Flame Giant Axe.

He was once again pushed back two steps by the huge shockwave, the hem of his scholar's robe fluttering wildly, leaving a charred mark on his feet.

But Reed's eyes remained calm. Through the trembling force field and the leaping arcs of electricity, he stared intently at the dragon shadow that was once again coiling and rising from the flames. His focus flickered rapidly, as if he were calculating something at lightning speed.

After a moment, two points of eerie blue light suddenly shone from the depths of his left pupil, and his right hand suddenly spread its five fingers and clenched them in the void in front of him.

The range of motion suddenly increased, and the knuckles of the five fingers tensed and turned white due to the sudden burst of mental energy.

Asuna's pupils contracted sharply as an extremely dangerous, invisible yet real binding force materialized around her and her dragon.

The air instantly became viscous, and each flap of Kona's wings became ten times heavier, with the powerful resistance ruthlessly suppressing the dragon's ascent.

This is not over yet!

Almost at the same moment the spatial confinement was completed, Reed snapped his fingers and pulled sharply at a point about three meters above the ground directly below the red dragon's belly.

hum! ! !
The space at that point began to vibrate violently and at a high frequency, followed by the appearance of a terrifying gravitational vortex that seemed to distort and devour even light with brute force.

As soon as it appeared, the rubble, dust, and even the residual power of the disintegrating electric arc within several meters around it were all frantically dragged by an invisible giant hand, accelerating and spinning towards the collapse of the vortex.

The red dragon was struggling to break free of the invisible spatial cage. Its massive body was only a few feet away from the fatal gravitational point, and a powerful suction force began to forcibly drag its belly.

Asuna's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Without needing visual confirmation, she felt the immense force dragging her toward the abyss of hell the moment the gravitational vortex was generated, thanks to her deep connection with the dragon's soul.

She pointed her dragon lance diagonally downwards, and a core of unyielding will instantly erupted through the soul link.

The dragon beneath him let out an even more furious roar, mixed with the inherent arrogance of the dragon race.

Instead of continuing its futile upward struggle to break free from the viscous spatial confinement, it made an even wilder choice!

Those dragon wings, as thick as mountains, slammed downwards with maximum angle and force under Asuna's will.

boom!
The moment the wings flapped down, a violent shockwave exploded in a ring, and the air shattered like broken glass, producing a clearly audible cracking sound.

That viscous, solidified spatial cage, under the pure, extreme violence, shattered like ice being struck by a giant hammer.

As the spatial confinement shattered, the dragon's downward slamming force acted without hindrance.

With the force of its downward strike, the pair of ferocious giant claws, carrying terrifying kinetic energy, slashed fiercely at the dark gravitational point that emitted a deadly suction force.

laugh--! ! !
The trail of light left by the claws was intensely hot, and no sound could describe the scene at that moment.

The gravitational vortex that twisted the rules was like a viscous dark substance that had been cut off by an invisible blade; there was no explosion, no shockwave.

It only emitted a soul-piercing "sizzle" sound before suddenly dimming and dissipating.

Fragments of matter and energy that make up the gravitational core were ejected in a disorderly manner, forming a brief black star ring around the dragon claw before being completely annihilated.

The gusts of wind and streaks of energy struck the defensive force field that Reed had just raised. He was thrown back several steps again, and after regaining his footing, a clear expression appeared on his face for the first time—a mixture of surprise and a deeper, more focused look.

The gravitational and magnetic fields of the intermediate-level energy manipulation were actually broken through by extreme brute force?

Reed took a deep breath, his expression turning cold again.

He no longer looked at the roaring, demonstrating dragon. His right hand spread out with an extremely stable and chilling precision, as if each finger was connected to countless invisible energy threads.

The fingers and palms made an extremely subtle and complex movement in front of the body, just like a surgeon cutting open a patient's skin with a scalpel.

Buzz—! ! ! !

An invisible, incredibly sharp, tremoring force instantly pierced through the dragon scales, dragon armor, and even the soul link between the knight and the dragon, "stabbing" into it with absolute precision.

That wasn't a physical attack, nor was it magical damage; it directly affected the dragon's fiery energy core itself.

Asuna, who was controlling the dragon to raise its head again, preparing to launch a new offensive, suddenly froze.

A sense of emptiness and cold weakness, originating from the deepest part of life, suddenly and violently struck without warning.

The dragon beneath her feet let out a low growl of pain and astonishment. Its seemingly inexhaustible and surging energy core was gripped tightly by an invisible, cold hand of rules.

Disengage!

The advanced form of energy shaping in the School of Energy Shaping is no longer about borrowing power, but a more domineering forced stripping—the Magic Siphon.

The dragon's massive body swayed violently, and its flapping wings instantly lost some of their overwhelming power.

In the stands, the roar that was as loud as mountains and as vast as the sea froze for a moment. Countless eyes caught the sudden pause and slight tremor of the crimson shadow in the air, and a wave of astonishment began to replace the fervor.

Reed maintained that extremely precise and steady gesture, his eyes cold and expressionless.

He could feel the surging energy being drawn from the dragon along the "lines" in the void, and then rapidly flowing into his body.

Asuna is bound to the dragon. After the dragon's energy is extracted, it will be Asuna's turn next!

Asuna felt the excruciating pain and weakness caused by the forced extraction of the dragon's energy core. Instead of fear, a near-destructive madness burned deep within her eyes.

Just as that invisible force was about to touch the core of her life, she forcibly severed it.

Reed, who was receiving energy, showed visible astonishment.

Could it be that the other party has severed its soul link with the dragon?

Asuna's lips curled into a slight smile. This was not a break in the soul link, but rather an instantaneous compression and condensation of her energy core into a single point.

Deep within her soul, a command, more ancient and majestic than a dragon's roar, resounded—the will of the dragon race's progenitor.

Asuna possesses the bloodline and will of the progenitor of the dragon race!
This was something even Cohen hadn't expected.

Asuna's maternal grandfather's identity remains a mystery to this day. Even in the previous game, there was no conclusion as to who "harmed" Asuna's maternal grandmother.

However, what is certain is that after two generations, Asuna still possesses such a strong dragon bloodline, indicating that she must hold an extraordinary position within the dragon race.

"break!"

A thought burning with an intense white light exploded along the soul link.

Originating from the will of the dragon ancestor, Kona burst forth with dazzling golden light, which instantly overwhelmed the entire arena.

A mighty torrent of will, carrying a primal dignity that defied all constraints, erupted from the dragon's body.

Instantly, it surged against the current, impacting along that invisible energy extraction channel!
This is the pure will to live negating all the magic and techniques of those below.

A series of ear-piercing roars erupted in Reed's ears, and his soul suffered a violent backlash.

His eyes were filled with absolute astonishment and blankness. He let out a muffled groan, and his face instantly drained of all color, as if struck by lightning.

The siphon of magic abruptly stopped, and the rampaging energy, like countless scorching blades, slashed wildly through his meridians. He staggered back a step, his body under the black robe slightly hunched, and a thin line of bright red blood silently seeped from the corner of his tightly pursed lips.

This retreat created a fatal flaw in his defensive system.

This is a loophole that can change the outcome of a battle for a dragon knight who rides an ancient behemoth.

On the dragon's back, Asuna's waist and back were taut like a fully drawn bow.

He suddenly raised the dragon rider lance, which had been dormant in his hand for a long time. The runes on the lance body lit up like lava, and the tip of the lance shone with an extreme light that was too dazzling to look at directly.

The dragon swoops down!

Without any probing or hesitation, the massive crimson-gold shadow, at Asuna's command to raise her gun, transformed the accumulated anger, pain, and ancient power roaring within its bloodline into a pure and unstoppable charge.

The man and the dragon seemed to merge into one in an instant, and a scorching golden line pierced the sky and shot out.

That single point of golden light, concentrated to its limit, is an unimaginable speed.

In the instant that Reed was slowed by the backlash of the rules and the impact of his will, the golden line symbolizing destruction and end arrived in an instant.

The cold tip of the Dragon Rider Lance, carrying the extreme sharpness to scorch mountains and boil seas, hovered with perfect precision in front of Reed Berg's face, which was dazed by the backlash.

The terrifying heat emanating from it almost ignited the thin layer of air in front of Reed's nose.

The skin can feel a clear, needle-like burning pain.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The boiling arena, the shattered energy ripples—everything was like a scene paused on a paused screen, frozen in this breathtaking instant along with the hovering spear tip.

The referee, who was about to rush onto the field to help, suppressed his inner turmoil, glanced at Reed who was still in shock, and calmly pronounced the verdict:
"Effie, the 'Dragon Warrior' Asuna Iliad, wins!"

After a brief silence, like a punctured balloon, the silent arena was instantly replaced by a grander, more frenzied, and more fervent roar.

The entire stands erupted in cheers!

"Asuna!!!"

"Effie!!!"

"Dragon Rider! Valkyrie!!!"

The roars, applause, and stomping sounds were so loud they almost lifted the entire dome off the ground.

It was another undisputed and resounding victory.

The opponent is Reid Berg, the chief of the Western Empire's Source Material Research Institute, who possesses the pinnacle techniques of the Human Energy Shaping School.

The audience's cheers, while releasing their excitement, also carried an indescribable sense of shock and bewilderment.

The semifinals!

The eight strongest players at the Silver Arena have been battling it out for so long, and three semi-final spots have already been secured for the throne.

The result was so clear, yet so incredible—

The Principality of Effiin, a country that is not traditionally one of the five great empires and whose territory and resources are not top-notch, actually occupies two spots!

Asuna Iliad, the Dragon Warrior!

And the mysterious King Efein, who also made it to the semi-finals.

A group of prodigies from other top empires have already fallen.

The pride and dignity of the five great empires seemed to be ripped open at this moment by the name "Efein".

The top honor that had long been monopolized by the five great empires and taken for granted was now facing unprecedented challenges and impacts.

Through the "Mirror of the Sky," this scene was also broadcast to various countries across the mainland, including cities large and small throughout Effie.

In Florence, on the bustling streets, countless Effie flags wave wildly, forming a surging ocean.

The audience's faces were flushed and contorted with excitement as they witnessed this incredible victory.

Although Cohen's previous performances were also very impressive, they were all quick kills, and the matches were too short for the average person to notice.

The magnificent scene of Asuna riding a dragon and fighting against overwhelming magic is the truly epic scene that is etched deep into the soul and makes everyone's heart boil.

Prime Minister Angus and his cabinet ministers couldn't suppress their smiles. They all knew the significance of the Noble Martial Arts Festival and what it meant for Effie to have two contestants enter the top four!
……

It was already the second day since Asuna defeated Reid and advanced to the semifinals.

The entire arena was still immersed in the magnificent epic of Effie creating another miracle and Asuna riding the dragon.

Today, the final spot in the Silver Group semifinals will be decided between Mills Knight, the "Dragon Knight" of the Eastern Empire, and Joren Wertheimer, the "Arcane Knight" of the Central Empire.

The clamor subsided slightly, and an atmosphere unlike any other began to permeate the vast arena, with everyone's attention focused on the contestant entrances on either side of the ring.

The arena still had the largest audience of the host Central Empire. At this moment, as the host's last remaining seeded player, Joren was under great pressure.

The Bronze Group competition has concluded, and the results have left the entire Central Empire's leadership feeling immense pressure and an embarrassing silence. None of their proud young prodigies have made it into the top four.

The skepticism of domestic nobles, the subtle mocking glances from his imperial colleagues, and the expectant gazes of the entire empire all bound him like invisible chains.
If the Silver Group loses another spot in the top four... Joren dared not delve into the terrible consequences.

He took a deep breath and looked at his opponent, Mills Knight, the "Dragon Knight" from the Eastern Empire! (End of Chapter)