Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

A faint sense of familiarity flickered in Cohen's eyes.

It wasn't the familiar feeling of NPCs spawning in a game from a previous life, nor the familiar feeling of records in ancient books.

Rather, it is a familiarity imprinted deep in the soul, as if we had truly met face to face before.

As if a long-dormant switch had been flipped, Cohen's face showed a momentary struggle, as if he were trying to recall an extremely distant dream.

"Where did I see this fish..."

The feeling was so real and clear.

It was as if, in some forgotten era, he had stood at a supreme height, looking down upon this abyssal behemoth named Polyphemus.

The shattered images surged deep within my soul:

Boundless raging waves, a cold divine throne, roaring behemoths, and a trident gleaming with a chilling light...

The instinct to fight overwhelmed everything, and Cohen forcibly suppressed the excruciating pain in his soul and the surging fragments of memory.

His pupils cleared, and he would not underestimate the demonic whale that could rival the gods in ancient times, even if it was just a phantom.

A light flickered in his hand, and an extremely strange power condensed between his two fingers.

call out!
A faint, dark ray, carrying the corrosive power of laws, silently struck Greg.

Greg immediately felt as if an invisible shackle had been placed over the flow of magic power within his body, and his control over the phantom of the magic crystal was noticeably weakened.

Golden runes, shrinking rays!
Your attacks will reduce enemy damage by 20% for 3 seconds!

The effect is both direct and brutal!
For Greg, who was pushing his killing move to its limit, this 20% instantaneous reduction was like a piece of wood suddenly being stuck in the wheel of a horse speeding off a cliff.

Greg's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Maintaining the phantom of the demonic whale was already extremely taxing, and this sudden weakening made him feel as if his spine had been ripped out.

The solidity of the demonic whale phantom visibly fluctuated.

It's now!

Cohen moved.

His figure became incredibly blurry in an instant, as if it had merged into the light.

Enhanced Rune - Blade Waltz!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ...

fast!
It's so fast it defies description!
It surpasses the limits of visual capture!

Cohen's figure disappeared completely.

Instead, eight dark red streaks of light were frantically leaping and rushing through space.

Each streak of light trailed shadows and traces of frost, like the dance of death.

Each flash struck with pinpoint accuracy the massive tentacles of the demonic whale phantom that crashed down like mountains.

puff!puff!puff!

The sickening sound of cutting rang out in rapid succession.

The arrogant, chaotic energy-infused giant tentacles of the demonic whale were precisely sliced ​​and dismembered before this unselectable storm of blades.

But this is just the beginning.

Just as the eighth strike landed, the eight dark red streaks of light suddenly burst into flames.

The dark red dragon seal flames suddenly erupted!

It was scorching hot, violent, and carried an aura of destruction that could incinerate everything.

The flames were not attached to the blade's edge, but rather erupted violently from within the wounds created by each strike.

Gold-quality rune: Adding fuel to the fire!
The attack inflicts an infinitely stackable burning effect, causing continuous damage and adding fuel to the fire!

Boom! ! !

At the cut, ice and fire mingled, and the dark red demonic flames containing the power of the dragon seal instantly ignited the wound on the severed tentacle of the demonic whale with astonishing adhesion and explosiveness.

Just like lighting firewood splattered with oil, the entire arena was instantly engulfed in a raging storm of flames.

Woo——!
The ancient demonic whale phantom let out a agonizing roar that tore at its very soul.

Its enormous body was completely burned away by dark red dragon flames from the inside out.

The shattered, fiery remains crashed off the arena like a giant meteor, causing the arena's protective shield to teeter on the brink of collapse!
The massive backlash of magic instantly caused the precious ancient sea monster eye on Gregor's staff to crack and shatter with a loud bang.

After losing its core energy, the enormous phantom of the demonic whale quickly dimmed like a shattered mirror image, and then completely dissipated into the cold air.

The magical power surging within Gregor's body due to the forced summoning of the Demon Whale suddenly went out of control under the dual impact of the backlash, excruciating pain, and boundless humiliation.

puff--!
A large mouthful of dark golden blood gushed out from Greg Yalvis's mouth.

His tall body swayed violently, and his almost legendary aura deflated like a punctured balloon.

His body swayed, and he collapsed to his knees, utterly exhausted.

The arms supporting his body were trembling uncontrollably, not because of injury, but because of immense shame.

He lost; he lost to a twenty-year-old who had just broken through to the Gold level.

He lost to the same person who had kidnapped, extorted, set a trap, and severely humiliated him in the Northwest Continent last time.

twice!

Same person!
They inflicted upon him a humiliation he would never forget!

Greg's handsome face was contorted with extreme shame and anger, veins throbbing on his forehead, teeth grinding together, and a suppressed whimper escaping his throat like that of a dying beast.

He stared intently at the figure on the stage, the resentment in his eyes almost turning into a tangible poisonous fire that would burn everything to ashes!

It's fortunate that Greg didn't know that Pirate King Yann and King Cohen of Effie were the same person. Otherwise, if he had known that the Eastern Empire's Princess Grace, whom he was madly infatuated with, was also his fiancée, he would have been furious.

This prince of the Southern Empire will probably die of anger on the arena.

The smoke slowly dissipated.

Cohen Corleone's figure became clear again against the backdrop of the burning crimson flames of the Demon Whale's wreckage.

Beneath his cold, stern face, only the gentle rise and fall of his chest and the lingering magical aura around him spoke of the perilous and extreme nature of the battle just now.

A dead silence.

The once bustling arena fell into utter silence.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators, whether in VIP boxes or in the commoners' stands, felt as if an invisible giant hand was choking them.

The clamor, shouts, discussions... all sounds were drained away the moment the dark red dragon flame shattered the ancient demonic whale's phantom and the First Prince Greg knelt and coughed up blood.

Really did it!
Having just broken through to the Gold level, he was actually able to defeat Greg, who was displaying combat strength close to the legendary level.

This is no longer simply a battle against a higher level; it is a challenge to the entire understanding of the extraordinary system.

In the VIP section, Prince Xia Zuo, who had been closely watching the battle, also turned slightly pale.

The prince, known for his elegance and composure, was now unconsciously tightening his grip on his knees, and a rare loss of composure appeared on his face.

too frightening.

These four words echoed repeatedly in his mind.

He never expected that Cohen could take down Greg so decisively.

Having witnessed Cohen's incredible fighting prowess in his previous battles, Xia Zuo thought that Greg wouldn't be able to stop Cohen. He believed that the two sides would engage in a closely matched battle, fighting to the limit.

He could sit back and watch the two men play their cards.

But he couldn't figure out why Greg had lost so decisively, no matter how hard he tried.

Cohen, with an overwhelming force, completely crushed his opponent's trump card—a powerful ultimate move capable of destroying all superhumans below the legendary rank—in the most head-on confrontation, where there was no room for trickery!

Xia Zuo was quite certain that Gregor's final move, "Oceanic Calamity - Demon Whale Polyphemus," was prepared for him.

It was the Southern Empire's trump card move specifically designed to target him at the Noble Martial Arts Festival.

This is Greg's biggest advantage in winning the title of "Strongest Gold".

To comply with the competition rules, which prohibit carrying magical weapons exceeding one's own extraordinary level, Greg even downgraded the level of the staff he used to summon the phantom of the demonic whale by one level.

In the end, they still lost to Cohen!
Xia Zuo closed his eyes and quickly put himself in Cohen's shoes in his mind.

Face the devastating tentacles of the demonic whale, the terrifying force field that solidifies space, and Greg's near-legendary mastery of power.

He thought about it carefully: if he were facing Greg, could he do better than Cohen?
the answer is negative!

He might be able to withstand it using some trump card treasures or bloodline secret techniques, and might even severely injure Gregor, but he could never do what Cohen did—

In a head-on clash, he uses pure power, skill, and unbelievable combos of weakening, speed, and explosive abilities to shatter his opponent along with their ultimate trump card.

This requires the ability to seize the only fleeting opportunity in a desperate situation and to have the absolute execution power and terrifying explosive power to turn it into a devastating counterattack.

This fighting instinct and ability to find opportunities... Xia Zuo couldn't help but shudder.

He simply couldn't understand how a twenty-year-old could possess such extensive combat experience.

Doesn't that mean...

A chill ran down Xia Zuo's spine, and an uncontrollable thought arose within him.

Is he really going to lose to his greatest enemy on the stage of the Noble Martial Arts Festival?

A twenty-year-old young man at the seventh level?

The king of a small northwestern country.

A mortal enemy who has repeatedly thwarted his plans!

This is not only a personal failure for him, but it will also completely destroy the image of "the No. 1 Prince of the Mainland" that he has painstakingly cultivated for many years.

He will become a laughing stock of the entire Eastern Empire and even the entire continent.

How would his imperial uncle view an heir who had repeatedly lost to the imperial consort of the central empire?
And what about the hereditary nobles behind him? Will they waver in their confidence in him?
No, absolutely impossible!
This intense sense of humiliation and immense fear of the future, like molten lava, instantly dispelled the chill in Xia Zuo's heart, transforming it into an even more fervent and resolute belief.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all his fear and unease.

We can't lose, we absolutely can't lose!

Cohen's existence has become a mental obstacle and stumbling block on his path to becoming emperor.

We must crush them completely with absolute strength at the Noble Martial Arts Festival!
Otherwise, the consequences will be dire!
Xia Zuo clenched his fists tightly, his gaze sweeping over the storage ring on his hand, which contained a portion of Golden Dragon True Blood and Dragon Bone!
After a brief moment of surprise, the referee finally announced the winner:
"King Effie, Cohen Corleone, victorious!" The name sounded so jarring and resounding in the deathly silent arena.

Cohen slowly sheathed his sword, neither glancing at Greg, who was kneeling not far away, nor at Shazo, who was pale-faced in the VIP section.

His gaze pierced through the deathly silence before the clamor, as if landing on a very distant place.

Who am I, really?

……

Eastern Empire, Imperial Capital Dragon City, Imperial Council Hall.

A colossal "Mirror of the Sky" floated in the center of the council hall. Its smooth surface, constructed of pure energy, clearly reflected the breathtaking duel that had just ended in distant King's End.

The heart of the empire beats here.

Emperor Eberron sat on his golden dragon throne, his deep gaze piercing through the distance, scrutinizing the man who had abducted his daughter at some unknown time.

Surrounding the council table beneath the imperial throne were the pillars of the empire:

Marquis Tiberius Hawke, the Imperial Prime Minister known for his wisdom and prudence; Viscount Rondo Hades, the representative of the hawks in the Grand Council; and several other Grand Councilors and hereditary nobles who also bear heavy responsibilities and possess profound and unfathomable auras.

The mirror faithfully replicated the cataclysmic scene that had just occurred:
King Cohen Corleone of Efein, who was only at the seventh rank, used unpredictable and treacherous techniques.

It tore apart a sliver of the projection of the ancient demon whale Polyphemus summoned by Gregor Alvis.

That power, that unconventional fighting instinct, pierced the nerves of every bystander like a cold steel needle.

The expressions on everyone's faces became extremely solemn.

When the victorious verdict rang out shrilly from the projection booth in the council chamber, the silence at the council table was ignited.

"By the gods above..."

A low, suppressed gasp escaped from one of the lords.

"If I hadn't seen him win the Silver Group championship with my own eyes, I would have had serious doubts about this 'Lord of Shadows'."

Has he merely touched the threshold of the Gold rank...? This is simply too astonishing.

Prime Minister Tiberius slowly began to speak:
"Your Majesty, judging from this situation, Prince Xia Zuo..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the silent Emperor Eberron.

"I'm afraid we might not be able to suppress the momentum of this ferocious beast."

Moreover, among the remaining threatening opponents in the Gold Group, the two top female players are his wife.

In other words, it's entirely possible that he could single-handedly win both the silver and gold categories!

Viscount Rondo took a deep breath; his military instincts compelled him to strike at the heart of the matter:
"Your Majesty, given the current situation, shouldn't we reassess our strategy for dealing with King Alfiein?"

He looked around at the crowd, his voice growing increasingly heavy:

"Such a person, once he truly grows up..."

In addition, there was his already powerful orc legion, and the assistance of Queen Angraine, the youngest and most legendary woman on the continent, who was hailed as the 'most beautiful woman on the continent'.

Cohen Corleone and Effie, who is behind him, are destined to become the key fulcrum that can shift the balance of power across the entire continent.

And His Highness Xia Zuo..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood—the feud between Xia Zuo and Cohen was irreconcilable!
"Lord Rondo has hit the nail on the head!"

Another veteran Grand Councilor spoke up, his expression grave:

"We have no choice but to eliminate this huge hidden danger in advance!"

Several hawkish generals seconded the motion, and a chilling atmosphere of iron and blood instantly filled the council hall.

Of course, some people suggested that relations with Cohen could be eased—

"...The power and potential demonstrated by Cohen Corleone are enough to reshape the continent's landscape."

It would be a terrible thing if such a person turned into a mortal enemy of the empire simply because of a personal grudge.

For the sake of the empire's eternal foundation and the well-being of its hundreds of millions of people, is it... worth trying to find a sliver of room for maneuver?

Is there a possibility that could turn an enemy into a friend, or at least divert their attention?

Mrs. Rose's voice was clear and restrained; she was a female diplomat who had long represented the Empire in navigating complex international turmoil.

Even when raising topics that might violate taboos, she maintains just the right amount of elegance and caution.

However, this proposal was quickly rejected, not to mention how difficult it would be to persuade the proud Prince Xia Zuo to give up the enmity between them.

Cohen's very identity as the imperial consort of the Central Empire meant that he could not coexist with the Eastern Empire.

The Eastern Empire has always been the biggest challenger to the Central Empire, even though the Eastern Empire took the initiative to show goodwill to Cohen.

Would that empress allow any substantial rapprochement or even closeness with us—her number one enemy—to be her carefully chosen and deeply bound political marriage partner?
If you can't befriend them, then there's only one option left—

Eliminate potential hazards in advance!

All eyes, as if drawn by invisible threads, finally fell upon the silent emperor on the throne, holding their breath and awaiting his final verdict.

Eberron remained silent for a very long time, so long that the air in the council chamber almost froze, before slowly speaking, his voice deep and magnetic:
"Let's wait until he breaks through the threshold of legend before we talk about it."

The emperor's first words left all the hawks who advocated immediate action breathless.

"Given the current situation, it is not advisable to antagonize the Central Empire."

Furthermore, I do not believe that His Majesty Klein would not take any protective measures for Cohen, knowing that his consort has so many enemies.

I even suspect that they have already set a trap, just waiting for those hunters who can't contain their killing intent to fall into it.

Let others make the first move. The Southern Empire and the Black Tomb won't be able to wait.

Seeing that Emperor Eberron had set the tone, the others, though still harboring some doubts, had no choice but to hold back and say no more.

However, in this seemingly calm yet turbulent atmosphere, the heavy magic crystal door of the council hall slid open silently.

A secret envoy stepped forward silently and presented Prime Minister Tiberius with a magic crystal engraved with the emblem of the golden dragon of the Eastern Region.

After reading the information from the crystal, Prime Minister Tiberius, who was usually so mature and composed, showed an undisguised look of astonishment on his face and subconsciously looked at Emperor Eberon.

"What happened again?"

Prime Minister Tiberius replied in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, this is the latest message from Prince Xia Zuo in the Central Empire."

Tiberius's voice carried an unusual fluctuation:
"His Highness Xia Zuo requests permission to use the bottle of 'Immortal' quality Golden Dragon True Blood that he is in possession, as well as the ancient dragon finger bone that is paired with it!"

The dragon blood and dragon bones in Xia Zuo's possession are assets of the empire. Although he is in charge of them, he must obtain the empire's permission before using them.

The moment this news broke, the previously quiet council chamber was once again enveloped in astonishment.

Dragon blood and dragon bones of immortal quality.

This means that these things came from a giant dragon of saintly status!

That was a precious foundation that the empire had painstakingly prepared for Xia Zuo's future breakthrough to legendary status, at great expense and with considerable effort.

It is one of the core elements of the imperial power inheritance!

A Grand Councilor who had been responsible for acquiring the resource was almost speechless:

"Does Your Highness Xia Zuo intend to use dragon blood and dragon bones to perform a secret technique, forcibly communicate with the dragon's will within, and briefly enter the legendary realm?"
"So that we can defeat Cohen?"

The messenger nodded and said:

"That's the plan. His Highness Xia Zuo can use dragon blood and dragon bones to cast spells and temporarily unleash the power of a legendary rank."

Even if Cohen is incredibly powerful, he can't withstand a full-force attack from a legendary-level transcendent.

Prime Minister Tiberius frowned and said in a deep voice:
"This bottle of dragon blood and dragon bone is the empire's accumulation of countless resources, prepared to pry open the door to legend."

"These are imperial assets; how can they be used so rashly for personal grudges or the outcome of a duel?"

Another person spoke up:

"Prime Minister, this is not a simple competition, but a noble martial arts festival that will attract worldwide attention across the entire continent!"

If Prince Xia Zuo can use the power of dragon blood and dragon bones to defeat Cohen and ascend to the throne of the 'Strongest Gold'.

Completely washing away the previous humiliation and restoring the empire's prestige seems worthwhile.

Some people also expressed hesitation:
"In order to obtain this dragon bone and dragon blood, the empire spent countless precious resources, promises, and favors."

All that hard-earned foundation, built up at such a heavy price, was for a fleeting moment of personal glory...

This is wasteful spending! This is squandering the future of the empire!

With both sides sticking to their own versions of events, the debate resumed.

One side focuses on present glory and eliminating threats, while the other is mindful of the empire's foundation and long-term stability, making the atmosphere increasingly intense.

Emperor Eberon's gaze swept past the arguing ministers and returned to the Mirror of the Sky.

After a long while, he finally spoke again, his voice calm yet undeniably authoritative:

"Since he's already been given the item, let him decide what to do with it."

Finally, he added:
"An empire is never stingy in giving its successors the power to choose."

As long as... they can bear the cost of their choice!

Suddenly, someone blurted out:
"What if... I mean, what if..."

His voice stood out starkly in the silence, drawing everyone's attention:

"...What if Prince Xia Zuo...uses such an amazing trump card, yet still...cannot defeat that Cohen...?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it struck like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone in the council hall hard in the heart.

Immediately afterwards, someone let out a suppressed sneer:

"His Highness Xia Zuo is able to draw fragments of the ancient golden dragon's will into his body using a secret technique."

This means he can master the power of the legendary rank in a short period of time.

Even if it is only at the low level of the legendary rank, the essence of its power has already transcended the mortal realm.

"Are you trying to tell me that a seventh-tier transcendent can withstand the attack of a legendary-tier transcendent whose body and mind are completely solidified?"

...(End of chapter)