Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

This happened before the start of the Noble Martial Arts Festival, after Shanis announced Cohen as her royal consort in a way that shocked the continent.

During that period, after Cohen was announced as the Emperor's consort, countless turbulent undercurrents were stirred up beneath the seemingly calm surface of the Central Empire's court.

Various factions have long coveted the position of the future imperial consort who will share half of the central empire's power.

In the end, it so dramatically fell upon the head of the king of a small, remote northwestern country.

Shanis's autocratic rule drew criticism from many, especially from the House of Lords.

Heisenberg, that cunning old fox, would naturally not personally intervene to dictate the Empress's decisions.

He used a more sophisticated method, occasionally "casually" mentioning to Shanis the private discussions among certain elders of the House of Lords.

This is a reminder, a test, and a subtle form of pressure.

However, at the time, Shanis did not express any clear attitude.

Subsequently, as Cohen demonstrated absolute power throughout the Bronze and Silver groups, his qualifications as the Crown Prince of the Central Empire became increasingly unquestionable.

Heisenberg then stopped pressing the issue.

However, he never expected that Her Majesty the Empress had never forgotten this incident and even kept it firmly in her heart, just waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

She did not launch a strong counterattack when Cohen first showed his talent, because she knew that she would not act until Cohen produced absolute proof that could shatter all doubts.

Any forceful suppression will only provoke more subtle backlash and centrifugal forces.

She was waiting, waiting for a decisive moment that would crush any doubts into dust.

Now, the opportunity has come.

Cohen Corleone, a newly promoted Gold-rank powerhouse in his early twenties, is at the seventh rank in this arena where the continent's top powerhouses have gathered.

With overwhelming force, she confronted and defeated Wendina Antalya, the "Queen of Mechanisms" who possessed peak ninth-tier strength and was renowned throughout the continent.

No matter how powerful bronze or silver is, it can only indicate high potential and unlimited possibilities for the future.

But the Gold Group is different. Cohen has just entered the Gold Group and he can defeat a ninth-tier peak superhuman. What does this mean?
This means that what he possesses at this moment is genuine, top-tier combat power that is enough to make the kingdom tremble, the empire take it seriously, and even legendary powerhouses must take it seriously.

Throughout the entire continent, there are not many emperors or kings with the power that Cohen currently possesses.

This fighting strength, placed anywhere on the continent, would be enough to support the foundation of a powerful nation.

What's even more terrifying is that he's only twenty years old!
A twenty-year-old possessing terrifying combat power comparable to or even surpassing the peak of the ninth rank means that the legendary realm is not a bottleneck for him at all, but merely a stepping stone that requires time to cross.

Once he successfully steps into the legendary realm, with his demonstrated combat wisdom and limitless potential to comprehend the rules at the silver rank, he will immediately become the pinnacle of legends.

A young, high-potential superhuman who already possesses immense combat power.

This strategic value is so significant that it overshadows any political calculations.

There is absolutely no room for doubt.

Her Majesty Sunis chose a consort who is not a mere figurehead who will require the empire's resources to maintain his facade in the future.

He himself was already a national-level existence capable of severing all enemies of the empire and intimidating all disloyal subjects.

At this moment, no one would dare to question Her Majesty the Empress's choice.

Shanis seized this opportunity to launch her attack.

When Heisenberg's initial probing and pressure, conveyed through the "voice of the House of Peers," was met with Her Majesty the Empress's unequivocal response, and even with greater weight, the effect was obvious.

Those noble elders who had questioned the Empress in secret, at dinner parties, and even in semi-public settings, asking "why she chose a king of a declining small country, and a philanderer at that," "whether her strength was worthy of the title of royal consort," and "whether it would affect the authority of the empire."

At that moment, they felt as if their internal organs had been frozen solid, and they wished they could just disappear on the spot.

They knew perfectly well that Her Majesty the Empress was calling names, settling scores, and launching a counterattack.

Holding grudges is a woman's nature!
Several veteran nobles of the Central Empire, who had previously scoffed at Cohen's entry into the Golden Group and privately asserted that he had "brought shame upon himself" and was "unfit for important positions," suddenly sprang up from their seats as if struck by an invisible whip along their spines.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and the stiffness and embarrassment on their faces from shock and being proven wrong were quickly replaced by extreme enthusiasm, heartfelt admiration, and just the right amount of flattery.

One of the elderly men, with white hair and beard and dressed in a marquis's formal attire with gold trim, reacted the fastest.

A smile as bright as a blooming chrysanthemum spread across his face. He rushed to the front of the private room, bowed deeply in the direction of Her Majesty the Empress, and spoke in a loud voice, filled with heartfelt excitement:
"Holy Light above!"
This is simply... simply a miracle descending upon the mortal realm!

He pointed to the mess on the ring and the still-standing figure, his eyes gleaming with disbelief:
"With a seventh-tier body, he directly confronted and defeated a ninth-tier peak transcendent."

This power... this power is simply awe-inspiring, like that of an ancient dragon!

"It's truly a blessing from the gods that our Central Empire has such a Royal Consort!"

Before he could finish speaking, another burly general beside him, who had previously privately mocked Cohen as a "pretty boy," immediately chimed in, his voice booming with the straightforwardness characteristic of a soldier:
"In the name of the God of War, the old marquis has revealed the truth!"

His booming voice drowned out the clamor as he forcefully pounded his armored chest towards the high platform as a sign of respect:

"His Majesty!
His Highness the Emperor's victory will surely leave an indelible and glorious chapter in the imperial epic!

These words were like a fuse that ignited flattery.

The noble ministers who had previously been embarrassed, silent, or shocked speechless suddenly seemed to have been unleashed, rushing to the edge of the railing.

Facing the Empress, they used the most ornate language and exaggerated tone to express their admiration for Cohen's "unbeatable bravery" and their worship of the Empress's "keen insight."

Immediately, the VIP seats were flooded with compliments and flattery.

It was as if all the previous disdain, doubt, and even ridicule directed at Cohen had never existed.

Their faces beamed with an excited glow of pride, as if they were the ones who had orchestrated Cohen's victory.

The speed at which he changed his tune and the level of dedication he put into the performance were textbook examples of political survival skills.

Shanis's gaze swept calmly over the excited nobles and ministers below, their faces flushed and spittle flying, as if she were watching a group of clowns putting on a show on stage.

There was no approval in her eyes, no pleasure from being flattered, not even a ripple of emotion.

There was only a chilling, all-knowing coldness, and a faint, almost imperceptible mockery, as if looking down on ants.

She didn't utter a single word.

Her silence was more oppressive than any thunderous rebuke.

The voices of the noble ministers who were putting on their best performance gradually lowered involuntarily.

They felt the cold scrutiny in those eyes, like an invisible bucket of ice water poured over their heads, instantly sobering them up a bit.

The entire VIP seating area fell into an even more oppressive and awkward silence than before.

Only the Empress's silent, oppressive aura permeated the air as if it were a tangible force.

Her Majesty the Empress did not agree, which means that the controversy surrounding her choice of partner is far from over.

Simply put, they haven't passed the test yet!

This is by no means a trivial matter.

These undercurrents of doubt and slander are aimed directly at the future pillar of imperial power chosen by the Empress herself.

He will be another ruler of the empire who shares power with His Majesty and the fate of the empire!
This is tantamount to challenging the Queen's authority and is a desecration of sacred royal power!
This is a Damocles' sword hanging over everyone's heads; with just a single thought, it could strip them of everything they possess, including their lives and the honor of their families.

At this moment, the silence in Her Majesty Shanes's icy gaze was a signal far more terrifying than any direct rebuke:

She was waiting—waiting for her subjects to offer enough sincerity in exchange for forgiveness.

The sincerity they need to show is obvious.

Perhaps it involves ceding certain wealthy territories, opening up strategic resources monopolized by the family, or handing over the franchise rights to those magic workshops and adamantite mines that were once treasured to the royal family.

These treasures, once considered the foundation of the family, now, under the Empress's silent gaze, have become weights sufficient to measure the weight of life.

Only a sufficiently heavy sacrifice and a sufficiently painful concession can soothe the Queen's icy rage and remove the sword hanging overhead.

After a brief silence, people began to add their own weights to the other side of the scale...

……

Cohen was completely unaware of the silent power struggle unfolding in the VIP section, and had no idea that his earth-shattering victory had become a tool in Shanis's hands to reap the benefits of the old aristocracy.

He is currently explaining to some girls what happened after the match just ended.

"...Please believe me, I have no emotional entanglement with that mechanical sorcerer. This is our first meeting."

He wiped away non-existent cold sweat, trying his best to make his eyes appear sincere and innocent:
"I haven't exchanged a single word with that Ms. Wendina before!"

"What better alternative? Freya, what nonsense are you talking about?"

My relationship with her was purely transactional, a simple transaction…

What is traded in the flesh?
"Melantha, don't talk nonsense!" "Windsor, don't make things worse. I didn't hold back at all. If the referee hadn't intervened in time, she would have been dead!"

"You mentioned exchanging communication methods... I can't exactly discuss a deal with her in front of so many people, can I?"

Okay, if you're worried, you can come with me then..."

After a long and arduous effort that left him hoarse and nearly exhausted all his talent, Cohen finally managed to temporarily quell the doubts, jealousy, and "you just wait and see" glints in the eyes of every girl.

He felt utterly exhausted, ten times more tired than if he had fought a peak ninth-tier superhuman for three hundred rounds.

The competition continued, and soon, the name of the last contestant in the Gold Group who had not yet appeared—"Sword Singer" Sancho Copperfield—was called out.

Sancho's entrance exudes a calm and composed aura.

His opponent was a ninth-tier fire mage from the Kingdom of Windbreak.

As the mage raised his hand, blazing flames spread out, and fireballs shot out like a rain of arrows.

If it were Sancho a few months ago, this would undoubtedly have been a tough match.

However, after undergoing Cohen's "devilish" special training, he could easily handle these ordinary level nines.

When fireballs came from all directions, his movements were no longer simply fast or dodgeable, but rather he anticipated the trajectory of the fireballs with a peculiar rhythm.

He can always dodge with an extremely efficient and precise displacement point, and his footwork is a deep understanding of the essence of Cohen's combat awareness.

His sword was no longer a beautiful poem, but a series of swift and deadly thrusts after accurately judging the gaps in the spells.

The mage's eyes burned from the swift sword light.

Slowdown Technique!
A chilling voice accompanied a ghostly blue magical light that spread out towards Sancho like a spiderweb.

However, Sancho was faster.

His body seemed to anticipate the landing point of the slow net, and before the eerie blue light had fully enveloped the designated area, he had already taken a step.

It wasn't a brute-force sprint, but rather, as if infused with the whispers of a wind spirit, it glided away from the edge of the soon-to-be-forming stagnation field with a gliding step that defied common sense yet was exquisitely subtle.

An ancient swordsmanship legacy from the Winged Elf race!
The mage immediately gathered another ninth-tier spell, Blazing Fire Rain.

The instant the scorching rain of fire took shape, Sancho precisely located the most crucial point where the opponent's magic was concentrated, and a sword aura condensed to its maximum intensity blasted in first.

Rhythm, precision, judgment!

This is no longer a simple clash of ninth-tier strength, but a manifestation of integrating higher-level combat concepts into one's own skills. This is the core value of Korn's special training!
The battle didn't last long. When Sancho's sword tip came to a steady stop in front of the mage's Adam's apple, which was trembling slightly from the backlash of magic, the entire arena was once again engulfed by the wave of Effie's attack.

Five contestants, five wins in five battles!
Even more astonishing is that all of them won their first battle in the Gold Group, the most competitive group representing the mainland's top-tier fighting force!
The audience erupted in cheers!

This year's Noble Martial Arts Festival has so far completely belonged to Effie!

……

The competition continued until late at night, and finally, as the names on the screen flashed again, the results of the final round of the first day of competition were revealed.

[City One: Cohen Corleone (Efein) vs. Victor Reinhardt (Western Empire)]

The emergence of this pairing is like throwing a blazing spark into a boiling oil pan.

The entire arena was instantly ignited.

Cohen Corleone!
The legendary creator who defeated the ninth-tier peak mechanical queen with his seventh-tier body, the young king of Efein, and the future consort appointed by the Empress of the Central Empire.

Today, with just one match, he has already shocked the entire continent.

His opponent, Victor Reinhardt, a ninth-tier "Holy Warrior" from the Western Regions Empire, also displayed an extraordinary level of skill on the first day of the competition.

Like Ash Lancelot, the "Holy Lance," Reinhardt is also a member of the Church of Light, serving as the Chief Justice of the Inquisition of the Church of Light branch in the Western Regions Empire.

This was the last match of the first day of competition, and also the most anticipated match.

Cohen hasn't played a match since defeating Wendina.

Other contestants have already competed twice, but he has only competed once.

Cohen's gaze swept across the light screen, a knowing smile curving his lips.

He had a reasonable suspicion... no, he was almost certain.

The shrewd old foxes who run the event definitely arranged for him and this top fighter from the Western Regions Empire to be at this final moment.

They want to use this clash of titans to mark the legendary first day of the Gold Group competition with an explosive exclamation mark that will go down in history.

With the name confirmed on the screen, everyone's attention was once again focused on Cohen.

Victor Reinhardt, the agent of the Holy Light, has a power system that is completely different from Undina's mechanical magic.

He has no fancy skills; his strength is the purest, most solid, and most inviolable absolute power!
The Holy Light Shield is indestructible, the Holy Flame purifies all things, and the Holy Domain suppresses all heresy.

No amount of trickery or deception will work against him; only the purest and most powerful hard power can contend with him.

Before facing Cohen, Reinhardt had already played two matches, both of which were undisputed crushing victories.

One of the matches was between the Northern Empire player who had fought Wendina Antalya for nearly thirty minutes and ultimately lost.

Judging from their battle, Reinhardt's strength far surpasses that of Wendina.

Wendina ultimately prevailed after a grueling thirty-minute battle.

Against Victor, this contestant from the Northern Empire was defeated in less than 5 minutes.

Under the intense gazes of countless eyes, interwoven with fervor, awe, scrutiny, and anticipation, and in the beams of blazing white light projected with the precision of a spotlight on a stage by a magic search lamp.

Cohen and Reinhardt stepped onto the highly anticipated No. 1 ring.

Cohen remained upright, his face calm.

Victor Reinhardt was like a mobile holy fortress. His pure white holy armor was inscribed with holy runes that flowed like golden lava, exuding a reassuring yet unsettling pressure.

With the referee's whistle, the match officially began.

Victor Reinhardt is a paladin who believes in the "oath of vengeance".

When the referee's "start" shattered the silence, Reinhardt did not hesitate for a moment.

The will of judgment, like a blazing holy flame, instantly locked onto Cohen.

"In the name of the Holy Light! This body bears the 'oath of vengeance'!"

Professional skill – “Resilient Revenge”!
Reinhardt's deep and resounding vow echoed throughout the arena like a warhammer striking a sacred bell.

As he uttered the oath, a dazzling platinum-gold light erupted from his body.

The light was not an attack or defense skill, but rather like the purest holy water baptism, instantly washing away all the slight fatigue caused by continuous battles, any mental distractions, and even any potential fear of Cohen's strange power.

Purify all negative states!
His eyes became like the purest crystal, clear, cold, with only the purest focus on the target of "heresy" and absolute concentration on carrying out the trial.

Any feelings of fear, hesitation, or pity are completely purified.

At this moment, he is a perfect fighting machine that exists solely to carry out divine revenge. This is the true strength of the Judgement Warrior Chief from the Holy See's Inquisition!
"heresy!
"Present your judgment!"

Reinhardt let out a battle cry, and the massive tower shield "Dawn Guardian" slammed forward.

The holy runes engraved on the shield instantly lit up, forming a huge barrier of holy light flowing with golden radiance.

At the same time, the warhammer "Judgment of Justice" in his right hand, carrying the holy flames that purify all things, drew a blazing white trajectory, like a hammer of divine punishment, and smashed hard towards the place where Cohen stood.

Wherever the holy flames passed, the air hissed as if it were being scorched.

Faced with this powerful and all-encompassing charge of holy light, which combined offense and defense, Cohen's figure appeared exceptionally small in the destructive energy storm.

Normally, if Cohen were to use the terrifying rule skill "Gate of Babylon," which strips the opponent of their weapons and summons countless divine weapons, he could instantly turn the tide of battle.

However, he quickly ruled out this option.

The reason is simple: he understands this enemy in front of him and the true nature of the "Vow of Vengeance" paladins he represents far too well!

Deep within the bloodline of the Corleone family flows the ancient legacy of the "Oath of the Ancients," the holy knight tradition.

Although Cohen himself did not follow that path, the detailed records of the various schools of paladins in the family records, the experience of his ancestors in fighting against paladins of different schools, and his own profound understanding of the essence of paladins had long been engraved into his soul like a brand.

What is the core essence of the "Vengeance" style?
It is based on an absolutely firm will, igniting the holy flame of revenge, and in the name of sacred order, subjecting the identified "enemy" to the most thorough purification and judgment!
"Unwavering Revenge"—the core skill engraved deep within the soul of the Paladin at the Silver Rank—is the ultimate manifestation of their willpower!

With this skill, the paladin's willpower is as firm as a rock and unshakable.

Cohen clearly sensed that the dazzling platinum light that Reinhardt unleashed at the moment he activated "Resilience and Revenge" was not a simple burst of energy, but a sacred baptism and absolute focus that originated from the depths of his soul.

It washed away all of Reinhardt's weariness, distractions, fear, and pity... tempering his spirit and will into an impregnable fortress, unbreakable and impervious to all evil! (End of Chapter)