Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Chapter 444 "His Majesty Corleone's Harem Has Unfathomable Strength!"

In the "Final Arena," the Holy Flame Emblem, symbolizing the power of divine judgment, floated in mid-air and slowly dissipated, while the golden domain behind Joseph also dimmed.

He made an ancient and simple blessing gesture with one hand in front of his chest, and nodded slightly in the direction Tagus had left.

On the high platform, the voice of Archmage Victor Ereshkigal rang out at the opportune moment:

"The victor is Joseph Agatos, the Light Priest of the Western Regions Empire!"

Inside the main venue, the Western Regions Empire erupted in deafening cheers, a mixture of prayer and fervent worship.

The believers of light paid the highest tribute to their heroes.

After a magnificent and legendary duel ended, the roar of cheers from the audience lingered for a long time.

Unlike the previous Silver and Gold group matches that focused on dazzling skills and spell effects, the shock brought by the direct collision between realms and the contest of the fundamental rules just now was the power that truly touched the essence of the world, unfolding before our eyes like the oldest myth.

Not long after, the next match began.

……

"In the next match, Grand Duke of Effie, Belmod Vynyard, will face off against Pao Garrett, the 'Dragon Vein Sorcerer' of the Eastern Empire."

Victor Ereshkis's powerful voice, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a new and even more turbulent wave of sound in the main venue.

Effie!
Upon hearing the name of this country, the audience erupted in cheers once again.

Eifine, the birthplace of miracles!

It is no longer just the name of an ordinary country on a map, but has become a synonym for "miracle" and "suspense".

Viewers are eager to know whether Alfie, who shone brightly in the Bronze, Silver, and Gold groups, can continue his legendary run after moving to the Legends group.

When Belmod's stunning figure appeared on the "Mirror of the Sky," it immediately caused a series of exclamations.

A long, elegant, deep purple dress accentuated her breathtaking curves. Her skin was as white as snow, and her features, as perfect as if sculpted by a god, were adorned with a pair of deep purple eyes that seemed to plunge one into an abyss.

That face and demeanor, a blend of mature charm, cold nobility, and fatal attraction, was truly breathtaking.

This is hardly the majestic or eccentric legendary figure one might imagine! This is clearly a goddess of the abyss walking among mortals!

Besides being surprised by Belmody's mature and charming appearance, what surprised them even more was when such a beautiful legendary figure appeared in Effie.

However, some quick-thinking viewers soon remembered His Majesty Cohen Corleone, who had enjoyed immense success in the Silver and Gold groups.

And his famous nickname—"The Master of Romance".

A thought that sparked imagination and evoked deep envy instantly formed in many people's minds:
This stunningly beautiful Grand Duke Emerald, like the Viscount Rose who fought in the Gold Group, was likely one of His Majesty Corleone's confidantes.

Suddenly, discussions about "His Majesty Corleone's harem being unfathomably powerful" and "Effie being a place where beauties and heroes emerge" quietly spread.

Compared to Belmod's stunning good looks, her opponent, Pao Garrett, the "Dragon Vein Sorcerer" from the Eastern Empire, seemed rather ordinary.

Pao was robust and had a resolute face, the standard image of a powerful dragon vein sorcerer from the Eastern Empire.

Like most extraordinary individuals in the Eastern Empire, Pao was employed as a "Dragon Vein Sorcerer," the most popular and well-established profession in the region.

Moreover, like the legendary guard beside Grace who ambushed Chairman Fyodor before, the dragon vein within him also came from the Gem Dragon clan.

However, unlike the ruby ​​dragon inherited by Lady Wenna, the Pao Dragon is a diamond dragon, representing purity, indestructibility, and eternity.

The strength attribute also leans towards absolute defense, spatial stability, and purification.

Vermouth Vineyard, a stunningly beautiful woman from a mysterious little country, who may actually be a "womanizer," is the secret lover of His Majesty Corleone, who has been creating miracles.

Matchup -

Pao Garrett, the "Diamond Barrier," is a legitimate seed player of the Eastern Empire, one of the five great empires.

After Victor announced the match, the atmosphere in the arena reached another climax.

Belmod reported that his extraordinary profession was mage, a versatile profession in which almost any spellcaster could call himself a mage.

Her legendary domain, "The Abyss of the Underworld," leans towards darkness and corruption, so when assessing extraordinary professions, she was directly classified as a dark mage.

Ultimately, based on the class attributes of both sides, the arena setting was determined to be an icy plain that offered no combat bonuses to either side.

As the endless ice field came into view, Vermouth Vineyard's figure became the only striking focus.

The purity, stillness, and cold of the icy plains served as the perfect backdrop to her breathtaking beauty.

The contrast between this extreme "inanimate" and extreme "vivid" makes her flawless and stunning appearance even more breathtaking, almost eerie, and suffocating.

However, there was not a trace of leisurely enjoyment of the beautiful scenery in Pao's eyes.

He stared intently at the stunning beauty not far away. In this year's Noble Martial Arts Festival, no contestant dared to underestimate the contestant from Effie.

At this year's Noble Martial Arts Festival, the name "Efein" has been implicitly recognized by all participating nations as a mysterious entity on par with, or even surpassing, the five great empires.

Their players always seem to break the mold and defy expectations.

Therefore, when facing a legendary opponent like Belmod Vineyard, who was mysterious, had an enigmatic background, and whose power attributes were unknown, Pao Garrett felt only solemnity and a lingering unease.

He dared not slacken in the slightest, nor did he dare to have even the slightest thought of testing the waters.

All he could rely on was the diamond dragon bloodline flowing within him, symbolizing purity and eternity, and the defensive force field forged through countless trials.

We must build the most impregnable barrier at the very first moment!
With Victor's announcement, the match officially began.

Meanwhile, the members of the House of Nobles, especially Heisenberg and Fyodor, who had just been injured and recovered, were also watching Belmotti's first battle with great attention.

I want to see just how strong she really is.

……

The scene of the "Final Arena" begins to shift, and the grand arena transforms into a boundless, desolate, and desolate ice field.

The leaden sky hung low, and the biting wind, carrying tiny ice crystals, howled and wailed across the vast white wasteland.

Two legendary-level extraordinary beings stood facing each other.

In the East stands the glory of the Eastern Empire, Pao Garrett, known as the "Diamond Barrier."

Pao was a towering figure, clad in the magnificent sorcerer scale armor exclusive to the Eastern Empire, and his body radiated the pure glow unique to the "Gem Dragon" bloodline.

As his magical power surged, an aura of absolute resilience and stability emanated from his body.

Even the ice beneath their feet was imbued with this power, becoming even more crystal clear, as if covered by a thin layer of eternal crystal.

Those sharp, azure eyes burned with the majesty of a dragon.

He already knew the other party's information: a dark mage with curse skills.

Pao firmly believed that his "eternity" and "purity" were enough to ward off all the filth and curses of the world.

Once the indestructible diamond domain is unleashed and the phantom of the diamond dragon, protecting everything, is manifested, his defenses will be the most fortified fortress on this icy plain.

Pao Garrett, from the legendary realm of the "Diamond Realm," whose legendary embodiment is the "Diamond Dragon," comprehends a rule called "Resilience"!
Opposite to Pao, Belmody wore a deep, dark purple velvet dress, her skin as pale as snow, like frozen moonlight.

Her waist-length hair remained motionless in the cold wind, as if frozen in time. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, yet carried an indifference that could freeze one's soul.

She simply stood there quietly, but the ice beneath her feet seemed to come alive, silently melting and corroding.

It left behind a deep black mark that kept expanding.

The moment she looked up, an invisible wail seemed to rise in the air, and the howling wind around her seemed to freeze for a moment.

Benedict's cold, purple eyes seemed to hold an abyss of no return.

Vermodi Vineyard, a legendary figure from the realm of the underworld, possessing the legendary artifact "Eye of the Curse," and having comprehended a rule called "Curse"!
Pao Garrett clearly understood his advantages, and he did not hesitate at all.

His fighting instincts and absolute confidence in his own strength led him to choose the most direct and powerful opening move:

Before the opponent can establish effective suppression, build an unshakeable and eternal barrier.

Pao raised his arm, and the power of the Diamond Dragon Vein gathered in his palm.

Immediately afterwards, a dazzling brilliance suddenly erupted from him, not a scorching and blinding light, but a clear and pure diamond light.

Wherever the light touched, the howling wind, the drifting ice crystals, and even the leaden sky were instantly given a strange solid texture, as if the entire space had been frozen in the hardest transparent crystal.

The thick, millennia-old ice beneath his feet, bathed in the brilliance of diamonds, lost all its impurities, its surface covered with a crystal-clear shell, as clear as the facets of the finest diamond.

And this hardened crystal layer is spreading outwards at a visible speed.

Expanding the Domain – The Diamond Domain!
In the blink of an eye, a surreal space with a radius of over 100 meters, exuding an aura of solemnity, stability, and eternity, replaced a corner of the ice field.

As far as the eye can see, the earth has been completely transformed into a pure diamond-like surface, all of which are extremely perfect crystalline structures.

The air became extremely stable and clear, like flowing liquid crystal. The previously scattered ice crystal dust was completely broken down, and the air itself took on a transparent, iridescent crystal effect.

The entire space was stabilized to an outrageous degree; there was no doubt that any form of spatial fluctuation would be directly suppressed within the Diamond Realm.

Even Cohen's prized ability to escape into a sub-plane would be rendered useless in this terrifying diamond realm.

As the diamond formation was fully completed, Pao Garrett raised his arm as if to complete an ancient ritual.

Immediately afterwards, above the core of the domain, countless pure and dazzling diamond lights converged, accompanied by a majestic and awe-inspiring dragon roar that seemed to come from time immemorial. In an instant, a colossal, lifelike, and entirely diamond-dragon phantom appeared.

The diamond dragon coiled in mid-air, its body as large as a mountain, each scale seemingly carved from the finest diamonds, reflecting pure brilliance.

Its head was held high with pride, and its dragon eyes looked down indifferently at the chaotic and cold world outside the domain.

The phantom silently guarded behind Pao, its enormous wings slightly unfurled, and an invisible protective force field instantly enveloped the core area of ​​the entire domain.

Such a vast and magnificent scene undoubtedly shocked all the viewers.

The magnificent and dazzling legendary realm, coupled with the appearance of the dragon, instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire venue.

"My God! A dragon!"

"Too...too magnificent! Is this the power of the empire at its peak?"

"This is true legend! This is the symbol of indestructibility!"

Inside and outside the main venue, thousands of people who witnessed all of this through the "Mirror of the Sky" erupted in a deafening roar of amazement and cheers.

Pao Garrett's demeanor was like that of a mythical hero who descended to earth, riding a dragon and wielding purification.

The phantom of the giant dragon further ignited the deep-seated awe and longing for such a powerful being.

Against this vast, sacred backdrop, almost submerged in the pure brilliance of diamonds, Belmod Vineyard's figure appears so frail and insignificant on the other side of the icy plain.

Looking at Belmody, who was like an ant in front of the dragon, a strong sense of worry rose in the crowd, mixed with a trace of pity.

Even many Effie citizens couldn't help but secretly break out in a cold sweat.

Belmody's stunning face remained calm, and she made no move, but a chilling feeling suddenly rose in Pao's heart.

Without warning, a silent shriek, like the collective scream of millions of vengeful spirits, suddenly resounded throughout the entire final arena.

Almost instantly, the entire sub-plane was suddenly swallowed up by a pure, suffocating gray.

It's not just darkness, but despair, suffering, and the very essence of death itself!
The sky disappeared, and what came into view was a swirling, dark purple and leaden gray miasma cloud, like a heavy, filthy curtain of sky, exuding a strong sense of oppression.

The icy plain beneath their feet had transformed into a scorched, cracked abyss, where countless agonizing, wailing phantoms of the dead twisted and struggled, trying to drag the living down with them.

In just a few breaths, Pao's magnificent crystal domain, like a lonely island struggling to shine in the abyss, was completely surrounded by an endless, dark ocean.

The light emanating from the domain itself was forced to shrink drastically, as if it were in fear of something.

Even more chilling is that, in the center of this realm, completely shrouded in gloom and unfolding like a hellish painting in reality, a cold, eerie vertical pupil slowly rises before Vermouth Vineyard.

The vertical pupil was surrounded by a faint purple hue, and deep within the pupil, there was no eyeball structure, only a constantly rotating vortex that devoured light.

Just one glance is enough to completely captivate your heart and soul.

The VIP section fell into a deathly silence.

Those powerful and noble individuals of high status and extensive experience displayed utter shock and solemnity on their faces.

"It's...it's that aura...there's no mistake!"

"Gods above, this is the power of hell!"
Is she a demon?

"My God, this is exactly the same as the Abyss of the Underworld, one of the subsidiary planes of Hell!"
She actually managed to bring a corner of that place here?

"This is no longer an ordinary curse; it is the embodiment of the will of the underworld."

Are those eyes the 'gate' to the abyss of hell?

Shocked whispers quickly spread through the VIP seats, and even the Saint-level experts' faces turned extremely ugly.

They could clearly sense that it was not an illusion, but a genuine aura and rules of hell being forcibly projected and condensed here.

Lord Langdon of the Temple of Battle said in a deep voice:

"What grand ambition! This Jade Grand Duke has single-handedly transformed his legendary domain into the abyss of the underworld through his talent and comprehension."

She's aiming for godhood; her talent is no less than that of Queen Effie!
Pao is probably in trouble!

On the icy plains, Pao Garrett's situation was even more difficult.

With a mere wave of his hand, Belmody enveloped the dazzling light surrounding Pao in a thick, viscous, dark purple shadow.

Dozens of indistinct tombstones emerged from the shadows, and at the same time, the eerie "cursed eye" appeared without warning directly above Pao's head.

A cold gaze mercilessly locked onto his soul.

Pao Garrett's movements froze instantly, as if the blood in his body had solidified.

An indescribable chill and sluggishness eroded his proud diamond dragon bloodline.

Belmody's lips parted slightly, much less than when she was under Cohen.

Immediately afterwards, a deep syllable exploded in Pao's ears.

This is not chanting a spell, but a curse that manifests as a decree!

As the curse incantation resounded, the diamond scales on Pao's body visibly lost their luster.

The surging gem dragon blood within him let out a mournful cry. He attempted to initiate purification and defense, but this triggered even greater pain. The excruciating agony made his vision go black, and he could barely maintain his mental focus.

Even more terrifying was that the curse originating from his soul made him feel as if his consciousness had fallen into a cold abyss.

The dragons' pride and willpower are being dragged toward a dark hell by an invisible weight, their reaction speed is dropping drastically, and even their thinking is becoming sluggish.

Pao Garrett's heart was in turmoil.

He had never experienced such a bizarre and domineering power.

His Diamond Domain, at its peak, was trapped in the cursed cage of this strange domain without any resistance.

His prized defenses and purifications were utterly useless against this pure curse.

Pao desperately wanted to sacrifice his bloodline, gather his last bit of power, and forcefully unleash it to break free from this viscous, cursed prison.

But Belmody gave him no chance, slightly raising his right hand, and the abyssal aura emanating from his body suddenly intensified!

Click——!
A sharp, chilling cracking sound echoed clearly throughout the entire Imperial Arena via the Mirror of the Sky.

As if receiving some signal, the solidified dark purple shadow on Pao Garrett instantly boiled over.

At this moment, a deep crack appeared in the core of the diamond dragon vein within the body, which symbolized "purity," "indestructibility," and "eternity."

The cracks spread silently, linking with all the curses that had been placed upon him through a chain reaction of curses.

Pao's movements came to a complete halt.

He stared in horror at the grotesque, purplish-black cracks that were spreading at a visible speed across his once-proud, diamond-like skin.

A deep-seated, inescapable sense of weakness and a fear of self-collapse spread throughout my body like a deadly poison.

His once dazzling and all-encompassing diamond domain completely crumbled into fragments of light dust, which were then greedily devoured by the boundless shadows.

Boom!

Pao Garrett's imposing body could no longer support him; his knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily onto the cold ice, creating a shallow, cracked crater.

The diamond brilliance on its body completely disappeared, its scales became dull and covered with terrifying purplish-black cracks.

His eyes were glazed over, his body trembled violently, and all that remained were unconscious, instinctive spasms and heavy breathing. He didn't even have the strength to look up at Belmody.

On the icy plain, Belmod Vineyard slowly withdrew his gaze.

The dense abyss of the underworld surrounding her receded like a tide, returning into her body.

She still maintained that noble, aloof, and detached demeanor.

On the high platform, Victor gave Belmody a deep look, calmly pronounced the verdict, and brought this suffocating battle, where the odds were so heavily against each other, to a close:
"The Eastern Empire, 'Diamond Bulwark' Pao Garrett, is completely incapacitated. The victor—Grand Duke of Emerald, Belmod Vynyard!"

The main venue fell into a deathly silence, which was then followed by a huge uproar.

Everyone realized that this was not an evenly matched contest, but a complete and utter crushing defeat!

The Diamond Dragon's prized defense and purification abilities were utterly powerless against Belmody's cursed domain.

To outsiders, this match, which should have been like every legendary-level battle before—filled with mind-blowing clashes of domains and thrilling contests of rules—was strangely simple:

Both sides take the stage.

Pao unleashed his domain, creating a crystal-clear earth, prism-like air, a stable space, and a majestic, enormous diamond dragon phantom roaring with its head held high. Its magnificent aura ignited the entire arena, causing countless people to cheer and be captivated by Pao's power.

Pao, like a guardian of a mythical fortress, stands proudly on the icy plain, adorned with the brilliance of diamonds.

However, immediately afterward, Belmodi unfolded his domain, without any earth-shattering prelude to a collision, and without any tentative clash of rules.

Just as the light in the Pao Domain reached its peak, a deathly grayness, like thick ink dripped into clear water, silently yet domineeringly devoured everything.

Pao's legendary domain and legendary artifacts were shattered, his power collapsed, and he was severely injured, with no power to resist anymore!
(End of this chapter)