Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

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This sound was not a simple biological roar, but a rumble produced when the internal machinery of a super-heavy magical mechanism was activated, and the alloy structure was subjected to enormous stress.

The silver-white metallic mechanical dragon that had been lying in wait beside Wendina immediately received the order to act.

The massive alloy jaws at the dragon's head suddenly opened, and blinding white light gathered and compressed deep within its throat.

The spine, covered with layers of armor, instantly lit up with rings of blazing orange-red energy channels, looking from a distance like volcanic lava surging beneath rocks.

With a chilling, low hum, a cannon muzzle that seemed capable of swallowing light took shape deep within its throat.

The massive head of the mechanical dragon slowly turned, locking onto the black figure surrounded by shadow phantoms.

hum-

A heavy, heart-pounding sound of energy surged from the cannon muzzle, and a terrifying energy that caused space itself to distort and fold was rising at an alarming speed.

The color of the energy gradually collapsed inward from its incandescent white, revealing an annihilating blackness that seemed to devour everything.

The destructive magical energy contained within it is already approaching the threshold of the legendary rank.

This is Wendina's strongest ultimate weapon, and also the source of her true confidence.

The powerful figure from the Northern Region was only grazed by half of his body by this annihilation beam, and his body, which had reached the peak of the Golden Body, was instantly severely injured.

All the shadowy figures fluctuated violently under that powerful energy, like candles flickering in the wind.

Cohen slightly raised his head, his cold eyes reflecting the world-destroying light that was about to erupt.

The light was so immense that it seemed poised to engulf him and the entire arena at any moment.

Wendina's final blow finally erupted.

A pure black annihilation beam, over three meters in diameter and resembling a jet of light erupting from the depths of the ancient Earth's core, slammed into Cohen with destructive power capable of tearing through space and melting everything.

Wherever it passed, the densely packed shadowy figures were evaporated into nothingness before they even got close.

At the critical moment, Cohen did not retreat an inch; his body suddenly erupted with immense power.

His body shimmered with dragon energy, and a longsword appeared in each of his hands.

As he swung his longsword at high speed, a silver storm, as if it were a tangible waterfall, instantly spread across his body.

The storm did not spread outwards, but rather swirled rapidly within an arm's length radius around his body.

The instant the storm started, all the turbulent energy currents, explosive impacts, and even the destructive pressure of the impending annihilation beam on the entire arena seemed to be forcibly sucked up and frozen for a moment by this silver storm vortex!

Then, something happened that shocked everyone present.

Cohen actually charged straight at the annihilating pillar of light!

The black beam of light collided violently with the silver storm!
"Woo-- Clang clang clang clang clang!!!!!"

An indescribable explosion resounded in everyone's ears.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched at this moment.

The black beam of light, like an enraged black dragon, surged forward with frenzied fury.

Wherever it passed, even the high-magic alloy foundation of the arena turned to ashes without a sound.

However, the Silver Storm Barrier where Cohen was located stood like a mountain, right in the center of the destructive torrent.

The storm spun rapidly, each rotation precisely deflecting and refracting the most violent energy impacts from the black beam of light.

The outer edge of the storm exploded with endless fragments of energy and blinding lightning, the light so intense that most viewers had to close their eyes.

Professional Skills, Counterattack Storm!

Counterattack Storm: Level 7. Wields weapon and enters an absolute defensive stance for one minute. This skill can be activated at any time, stunning enemy units for ten seconds. (Absolute Defense: Immune to attacks of the same or lower tier, reduces higher-tier attacks by 80%)

Undina's ultimate move suffered 80% less impact damage from Cohen's counterattack storm.

The remaining 20% ​​impact penetration counterattack storm had no effect on Cohen, who was already at the peak of his Golden Body.

“This…this is impossible!!”

Undina cried out as she watched this scene unfold. She watched helplessly as her carefully prepared attack, which was meant to be decisive, was actually withstood head-on by a seventh-tier superhuman.

puff--!
The intense mental backlash struck her soul like an invisible hammer.

Her deep connection with "Silent Wrath" allowed her to instantly share the terrifying impact of that destructive energy being forcibly backfired.

The backlash caused her mental energy to fluctuate violently, and her blood and qi surged in her chest.

What horrified her even more was that at the critical moment when the black beam of light clashed with the silver storm, the energy surge was at its most chaotic, and visual perception was at its most blurred.

Cohen—the seventh-tier superhuman who should have been pinned to a defensive stance and struggling to hold on—actually moved.

Wendina couldn't understand why her opponent still had the strength to launch such an offensive attack.

Cohen is incredibly fast!

At the moment the storm's energy reached its peak, his eyes burst forth with dazzling light.

Just moments before, he was struggling to stay afloat in the eye of the storm.

In the next instant, his figure appeared like a ghost directly in front of the roaring, destructive beam of light of the "Silent Wrath" mechanical dragon—its huge, ferocious metal head.

They were less than three meters away from the cannon muzzle, which radiated heat and an aura of destruction.

Wendina felt as if an invisible, icy hand was gripping her heart tightly, and a feeling of suffocation instantly overwhelmed her.

"How...how could he possibly move in the center of that energy storm?"
Still...still enduring the aftershocks of the annihilation beam?

Fear, a fear stemming from unknown forces and the complete loss of control of the battle, coiled around the heart of this mechanical queen for the first time, like a cold, venomous snake.

In addition to [Absolute Defense], Counter Storm also has that deadly [Soul Stun]!
The energy accumulated by the counter-storm had reached a critical point, and Cohen's arms, which were supporting the storm, suddenly swung outward.

boom----! ! !
The silver storm barrier surrounding him did not dissipate, but rather burst forth like a dam that had held millions of tons of floodwater.

It poured deep into the throat of "Tranquil Wrath," which was spewing out beams of light at full power, and used the characteristics of "Counter-Strike Storm" to accumulate and rebound most of the impact energy it had previously received.

Buzz—! ! ! ! ! !

The mechanical dragon, "Tranquil Wrath," which was spewing beams of light at full power, suddenly trembled violently from its massive, mountain-like metal body!
The sound of the raging energy pump deep in his throat was abruptly cut off, instantly turning into a sharp, grating noise.

This is the sound of metal twisting and deforming, and the backlash from a blocked core energy circuit.

The previously shimmering orange-red lava energy spine suddenly went out, and the expanded cannon muzzle deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly extinguishing the beam of light that was spewing out and dissipating into a chaotic flow of energy.

Most fatally, its central core processor, nurtured by Wendina's soul and functioning like a brain, was also severely impacted by this counterattack.

Dizziness in ten seconds!

The cold, sharp tactical aiming light within the enormous alloy pupils instantly dissipated.

The massive body of "Silent Wrath" stood frozen in place, its front claws still deeply embedded in the torn ground, but it had completely lost all reflexes.

Without energy fluctuations or mechanical hum, it became a completely frozen metal ruin on the battlefield, radiating lingering warmth and the aura of death.

This is the first time Wendina has lost control of her innate mechanism since acquiring "Silent Wrath".

She felt a deep sense of fear.

An opportunity! A fleeting opportunity!

Without the slightest hesitation, Cohen unleashed a counterattack storm, instantly merging his body with the surrounding shadows.

Stunned, Wendina only saw a flash of black light before her eyes.

In the thicker smoke and shadows created by the energy explosion, a figure moved with the speed of the first ray of sunlight piercing the darkness, instantly closing the distance to her.

Before her mental strength could recover from the excruciating pain of the mechanical dragon's core circuit being severely damaged, the deadly sound of air being torn apart reached her ears.

The chill of death instantly crept up Wendina's spine!
"Undina!"

Exclamations erupted from the Taren Kingdom region.

Cohen's figure appeared clearly less than a meter behind Wendina, his longsword slashing precisely at the vital point behind her neck.

it's over!
Before Wendina could even activate the last automatic defense spell on her body, she only felt a chilling yet incredibly sharp touch on the back of her neck.

And the king's will that instantly locked her in, like a chilling prison descending upon her.

Her eyes widened suddenly, her body stiffened instantly, and her mind went blank.

Victory or defeat depends on a moment!

The referee's voice rang out at the opportune moment:

"Stop! The winner has been decided!"

A blinding light instantly separated the two of them.

Cohen's two-handed sword stopped less than a centimeter from the back of Wendina's smooth neck.

His figure was completely solidified.

The energy storm on the arena gradually subsided.

All that remained were the massive mechanical dragon, now paralyzed and without its control core, emitting its final, mournful cries of dissipating energy.

On top of the stands.

The expressions of hundreds of thousands of spectators froze in the same instant—mouths opened unconsciously, eyes widened to their limit, filled with unbelievable and utter shock.

The entire arena fell into an eerie, absolute silence once again!
Only Cohen's calm voice broke the silence:

“You’ve lost, Ms. Wendina.”

Cohen's voice lacked the arrogance of a victor, the relief of surviving a disaster, and even a hint of emotional turmoil.

There is only a certainty in stating the facts, as if the other party's failure is a matter of course.

Wendina Antalya's slender and graceful figure swayed slightly, almost imperceptibly, the moment she finished speaking, like a puppet whose last support had been removed.

He slowly turned his head, a strange expression on his face.

She stared intently at Cohen's handsome face, as if there was something on it.

The air was thick and suffocating under this silent scrutiny.

Cohen paused briefly, thought for a moment, and then broke the silence in a deep voice, carrying a hint of knowing confirmation:
“I did not tamper with your ‘Silent Wrath’. With your abilities, you can unlock the security lock and reactivate the core furnace, and it will soon be back to normal.”

He fully understands the importance a mechanical sorcerer places on their natal mechanism, and this explanation is necessary.

However, Wendina didn't seem to care about that. Her gaze remained fixed on Cohen's face, her voice slightly hoarse from the fierce battle and its aftereffects, yet carrying an indescribable anticipation:

"The bronze group champion, that little girl who's a mechanical sorcerer, was she someone you personally trained?"

Cohen's pupils contracted very slightly, and a knowing glint of "I knew it" flashed deep in his eyes.

He remained silent, which was tantamount to acquiescing.

Wendina's breathing quickened slightly, and her tone became sharper:

"She broke the soul load that a Bronze-rank mechanical sorcerer could withstand during the match."

This is clearly a secret technique recorded only in forbidden traditions from the ancient times of gods and demons.

She leaned forward slightly, her beautiful eyes almost touching hers:
"Did you teach her this lost art?"

Cohen slowly sheathed his two dragon-powered longswords, meeting Wendina's eyes burning with a thirst for knowledge. His tone remained calm, yet held an unfathomable depth:

"Are you trying to make a deal with me?"

Wendina's response was swift and decisive:

"This knowledge... or the means of accessing it, is of vital importance to me."

What price do I need to pay to get it?

Cohen's gaze swept over her calmly and without any ulterior motives.

The assessment focuses on the other person's value, not their appearance.

Wendina's very existence is a huge bargaining chip.

A young, promising ninth-tier peak "mechanical sorcerer" will become a national strategic deterrent force once he breaks through to the legendary tier.

More importantly, she comes from the Kingdom of Taren, from the Land of Dragons.

In the inevitable war that will break out in the future, in which Grace will need to completely eliminate the hidden danger of Shazo, the Kingdom of Taren may be able to come to her aid.

Cohen's eyes deepened as countless possible strategic ideas swirled, were analyzed, and integrated in his mind...

Cohen couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

However, this scene was viewed in a completely different light by tens of thousands of eyes in the audience and, more importantly, by the spectators.

After a brief silence, a buzzing whisper spread like a plague, followed by a suppressed excitement.

The audience stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding on the ring.

The legendary, unrestrained king, who had just defeated the powerful mechanical queen, not only did not retreat, but stood very close.

The two seemed to be talking in hushed tones.

The most damning thing is... what was that look in Cohen's eyes just now?
He scrutinized the defeated but still stunningly beautiful unmarried woman from head to toe—especially in the way her figure-hugging overalls accentuated her curves.
Countless viewers silently cried out in their hearts:
"Here it comes! Has the 'Lord of Amor' awakened his instincts?!"

But this happened in public!
You are now the fiancé of Her Majesty the Empress of the Central Empire. Her Majesty is watching from the stands. It's not appropriate for you to flirt with a woman right in front of her.

From Effie's direction, Windsordler said irritably:

"What is he doing? Isn't he afraid Adel will beat him up?"

Isabella, on the other hand, was much calmer. She picked up a cup of black tea and gently blew on it.

Windsor, calm down.

Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment.

Don't forget, the person in the arena is a "mechanical sorcerer" who has just been defeated.

And what Cohen possesses…

After speaking, she glanced almost imperceptibly at the blonde girl not far away, who had a complicated expression and was biting her lip—the Ceylon princess who had earned the title of "Strongest Bronze."

"It has extraordinary value for a mechanical sorcerer!"

Everyone then understood.

On the ring, Wendina clearly misunderstood as well; her back straightened instantly, and she subconsciously took a step back.

Not to brag, but Wendina is very confident in her looks and has never lacked suitors in China.

Although she was seven or eight years older than Cohen, she had heard that his queen was about the same age.

In addition, there's the other party's long-standing reputation...

The focused, inquisitive look on Wendina's face was instantly replaced by astonishment and a look of "I see" disgust. She said warily:

“Your Majesty Corleone, I think you have misunderstood me.”

She deliberately emphasized the words "Your Majesty":
"The 'cost' I'm referring to includes knowledge, resources, technology sharing, and even political and military commitments to a certain extent."

I am absolutely not involved in the transaction.

I have absolutely no interest in becoming yet another star in your legendary romantic saga.

And I don't want to be inexplicably thrown into the icy depths of the River Constantine by some angry empress!

Cohen snapped out of his complex and profound strategic deductions and realized something was wrong when he saw Wendina's wary, disdainful, and even somewhat frightened gaze.

His usually expressionless face twitched slightly, and even his voice became unnaturally dry.
"Ahem, Miss Wendina... please calm down."

This is a complete misunderstanding.

I have no intention of offending you.

Okay then...

He twitched his fingertips slightly, and a communication card engraved with special runes and made of neither gold nor jade appeared in his hand, which he then handed over.

"Let's exchange communication codes and discuss all the 'knowledge' and 'cost'."

"We can find a more suitable place later, one that won't evoke... well... strange associations, and then discuss it in more detail, how about that?"

Wendina took a deep look at the card, then subtly glanced towards the main stands. The invisible pressure from Her Majesty the Empress quickly restored her composure.

She took a deep breath and instantly transformed back into the cold, logic-driven queen who pursued truth.

She flicked a card from her fingertip, a card gleaming with a cold metallic sheen and engraved with a miniature alchemical array, and shot it toward Cohen.

"make a deal."

Wendina's voice returned to normal.

"I will contact you after I go back and repair 'Quiet Wrath'."

After saying that, she didn't linger for a moment, not even glancing at Cohen again, and resolutely turned around, striding towards the mechanical behemoth that had fallen unconscious.

Cohen looked at the metal card in his hand, then at the complex and indescribable gazes around him, especially at Her Majesty Shanes Klein's eyes, which, though separated by the curtains of the private room, seemed to penetrate everything.

He let out a helpless sigh.

This victory... was truly "wonderful"!

And finally, at this moment, the referee's voice slowly rang out, announcing victory:
"Eifine, 'Dragon Seal Weapon Master' Cohen Corleone wins, with 3 points."

With the referee's announcement, Cohen's first match in the Gold Group came to a complete end.

He also became the first superhuman in the history of the Demon Tide Continent to directly confront and defeat a ninth-tier being at the seventh tier.

This is enough to be recorded in the history of the Noble Martial Arts Festival and even in the history of all the strong people of humanity!

After a brief, magically frozen silence—

boom--!
A tsunami of sound, more violent, more frenzied, and more exhilarating than any previous cheer, swept across the entire arena, a testament to the extreme excitement of a worldview being overturned.

The sound was no longer pure surprise or praise, but a fanatical cry that was almost a collapse of faith followed by an instant reconstruction.

“We won! We really won!!”

"My God of Light! He has defeated Undina Antalya!"

The woman who used mechanical arts to crush 'Bear,' a seeded player of the Northern Empire!

"A seventh-tier cultivator completely defeats a peak ninth-tier cultivator! What does that mean?"
It's unbelievable; just two weeks ago, he was a Silver-tier Transcendent!

"Your Highness Corleone is invincible!!!"

After Cohen was declared His Highness the Emperor's consort, the Central Empire became his home turf.

On the fringes of this frenzied wave, in the corners surrounding the "Golden Eye," a series of even more naked human tragedies and comedies are unfolding.

The gamblers who had been betting wildly on "Cohen being eliminated in the first round" now had an indescribable fear in their eyes.

Looking at Cohen, who was surrounded by countless fervent gazes, a chill instantly surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Even a powerful ninth-tier "mechanical sorcerer" who had defeated five great empires was defeated by Cohen without any resistance.

For him, qualifying for the knockout stage in the first round doesn't seem like such a difficult thing to achieve.

Even more shockingly, a group of so-called "insider commentators" and "experts" who had made wild pronouncements after seeing Cohen's opponent and were certain of his defeat turned pale and then red-faced.

The louder they were talking just now, the more their faces are stinging now.

The atmosphere in the VIP section is more subtle and complex.

The shock was equally unparalleled, but it was mixed with too much embarrassment from being proven wrong and speechlessness after the shock.

The seats were from some old aristocratic families, including several powerful nobles and generals who had previously looked down on Cohen's risky participation in the Golden Group and even privately mocked him for being "overconfident" and "showy."

At this moment, the expression on his face was as stiff as a frozen wax figure.

They tried to maintain a calm facade, but the shock, embarrassment, and a hint of awe at the overwhelming power in their eyes were impossible to conceal.

Just then, Her Majesty Empress Sanes Klein of the Central Empire, dressed in a silver-purple gown, like a goddess surveying her territory, slowly left the private box, her gaze sweeping lightly over the VIPs.

"I heard from the Chief Scholar that some elders in the House of Nobles... have different opinions about my chosen fiancé?" (End of Chapter)