Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

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Eight supreme beings, representing the strongest authority in the divine realm and wielding boundless power, fell to the mortal world simultaneously, like ancient stars.

The projections varied in form, yet all exuded an unparalleled majesty capable of causing planes to tremble and laws to collapse.

Darkness, storm, fire, war, light, frost, order, destiny!
Material elements, core authority, final prophecy... these encompass almost all the ultimate forces that constitute the operation of the primary material world.

An absolute silence fell over the main venue.

Countless faces froze in utter horror, their mouths agape involuntarily, yet no sound came out.

Blood seemed to freeze at this moment, and even the souls of saints trembled and cowered under divine might.

Whether it's a seasoned general like Archduke Roland, a pillar of the empire skilled in political maneuvering like Heisenberg, or the heads of those reclusive families...

All those who prided themselves on being knowledgeable and having an unyielding will were utterly shocked by what they saw.

Unprecedented in history, a feat that will shake the world!
Words simply cannot describe the emotions everyone felt at that moment.

Is this the finale of the Age of Gods, or the prelude to Ragnarok?
no one knows.

All they knew was that this moment was destined to become an indelible mark on everyone present for the rest of their lives!

……

Just as everyone held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests, the being standing atop the brilliant starlight and the scales of law—Cavendish Scales, the god of contracts and fairness—took a step forward from among the eight divine figures.

Cavendish did not speak, yet her majestic divine will resonated clearly within the depths of every breath-holding soul, thus commencing this unprecedented blessing ceremony:

"According to the tradition of the noble martial arts festival, this time our eight gods will bestow blessings."

First up, Bronze Group Champion, Freya from the Kingdom of Ceylon, step forward.

Freya glanced at Cohen not far away, who gave her an encouraging look.

He then took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and pressure in his heart, and walked step by step toward the center of the high platform shrouded in divine power.

Upon arrival, they lowered their heads slightly to express the highest respect.

Cavendish's blurred face, formed of starlight, turned slightly toward the towering figures behind him.

Although there was no specific action, a clear divine influence was conveyed—who is blessing this child?
The gods were silent.

For a champion of the Bronze Division who is not from one of the five great empires, his potential and value are not enough to arouse the special interest of the gods in their long-term vision.

They came down here all for Cohen.

As for others, they are insignificant in their eyes.

Divine thoughts silently converge and weigh.
In that brief moment of silence, a gentle yet undeniably authoritative voice, like the dawn breaking through the clouds, rang out, shattering the stillness:

"You are a mechanical sorcerer, so I have a complete set of Saint-level Shadow Mechanical inheritance here, which I will hand over to you."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was the [Goddess of Light] Aetheril Dawn who spoke.

The peerless figure of the Goddess of Light, shrouded in holy light, leaned forward slightly, as if she could see through the essence of Freya's soul.

She didn't look at the other gods, clearly indicating that she had already made her decision.

With a slight lift of her slender hand, countless intricate and complex gears, bearings, and rune chains cast from light appeared out of thin air, transforming into a complex light-cast scroll formed from pure radiance, constantly disassembling and reassembling itself.

The light-forged scroll seemed to come alive, gently merging into Freya's brow.

The girl's body trembled violently, and countless intricate light and shadow symbols instantly burst forth in her eyes, as if countless complex mechanical structures were automatically building up deep within her consciousness.

Freya's face was filled with unbelievable ecstasy and shock.

This was not merely a gift of power, but a complete and extraordinary path that led directly to the Saint rank and perfectly suited her own talents.

Its value, for her personally, even surpasses that of many simple infusions of divine power.

The Goddess of Light bestowed not divine magic of light, but... the inheritance of shadow mechanisms?
This scene even overturned the gods' understanding.

But considering the rumors between the Goddess of Light and the God of Shadow, all of this seems both unexpected and reasonable.

The moment the Goddess of Light spoke to bestow her blessing, Cohen, who was in the core area below the stage, felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

A strange, subtle fluctuation stirred within him.

The voice seemed to have an innate sense of familiarity.

He looked toward the source of the sound, his gaze fixed on the figure of the Goddess of Light, Aetheril, enveloped in endless holy light.

This figure also evoked a sense of familiarity hidden deep within my memory.

Is it just my imagination? Why do I feel a sense of familiarity with the Goddess of Light? Even in the game of my previous life, I rarely interacted with the Goddess of Light.

He wanted to see more clearly, to penetrate that absolute radiance that represented divinity and separated the mortal from the mundane, to glimpse the true face that might exist beneath that radiance.

He almost subconsciously mobilized all his mental energy, trying to enhance his perception and break through that sacred barrier.

however--

Just as his gaze was about to touch the core edge of that ultimate light!
hum! ! !
An indescribable, vast, and majestic sacred force of repulsion rebounded back like an invisible barrier.

That was not an attack, but a rejection by the laws of nature caused by an absolute difference in the level of life.

Just as ants on the ground can never comprehend the workings of the galaxy, the souls and perceptions of mortals are utterly incapable of bearing the infinite information and sacred essence contained within the true form of the gods.

"Well!"

Cohen let out a very slight groan, his eyes feeling as if they had been pierced by the hottest needle, a sharp, burning pain that forced him to close them involuntarily.

He even took a slight half-step back, and a violent dizziness swept through his mind!

Cohen's presumptuous attempt to penetrate the barrier of holy light was imperceptible to the mortals present, but it was clearly visible in the dimension of the gods' perception.

On the high platform, the wills of the other seven supreme beings detected this faint yet extremely presumptuous fluctuation almost the instant that Cohen's mental power touched the edge of the holy light.

Apart from Madora, the goddess of prophecy, and Daphne, the goddess of ice, a strange, inexplicable feeling arose in the hearts of all the gods.

"It's him... he must be the king of Effie!"

"How dare a mere mortal spy on the Goddess of Light!"

Even for ancient deities who have existed for countless ages, this behavior is incredibly audacious.

Especially when one thinks of the "illustrious reputation" that is widely known in the realm of the goddess of light, Aetheril Dawn.

Her holy light is not merely about redemption and mercy, but also contains an absolute majesty that cannot be profaned.

The ancient event that shook the divine realm tens of thousands of years ago instantly surfaced in the depths of the gods' consciousness:
A newly ascended deity, who had just joined the ranks of powerful gods, was drawn to Aetheril's flawless divine body, which seemed to embody the ultimate beauty of the universe, thanks to his surge in power.

He made frivolous remarks at a religious feast, his words even carrying a hint of disrespect and blasphemy.

result?

There were no warnings, no reprimands.

The only response to that new god was a holy light of judgment, pure to the extreme, seemingly capable of purifying all defilement and arrogance.

That holy light ignored the barriers of time and space, ignored the walls of the divine realm, and directly pierced through the core of that new god's origin.

one strike!
Just one blow!
The new god, who had just stepped into the realm of powerful divine strength and should have had an infinite future, saw his divine kingdom crumble at its core, his divine status damaged, and his divine fire flickering and about to go out.

If it weren't for the timely intervention of several ancient deities, they would likely have fallen from their divine thrones and fallen into eternal slumber.

Since then, no one has dared to show the Goddess of Light the slightest disrespect.

That is an absolute existence that even powerful gods must look up to and cannot profane.

Over the years, the only person who could make the Goddess of Light set aside her reserve and pride was probably the God of Shadow, who had been dead for countless years.

At this moment, there is a mortal king as insignificant as dust, and a common being who has just broken through to the Gold rank.

How dare he use his weak spiritual power to try to spy on this goddess who is the most formidable in the divine realm, a goddess who possesses both holiness and majesty?
This goes beyond "courting death"; it's downright self-destruction.

The will of the gods fluctuated violently in silence, carrying a sense of inexplicable absurdity.

What makes this kid so confident? Is it just ignorance that breeds fearlessness?
Or is there anything else you can rely on?
A fleeting, elusive change crossed Daphne's flawless, ice-crystal-sculpted face.

Could it be that Cohen has also noticed his relationship with Aetheril?

This……

In the blink of an eye, several quick-thinking deities had already begun to rapidly weigh the pros and cons, considering whether to act before Aetheril's wrath, capable of purifying all things, fully erupted.

They preemptively spoke up for Cohen, saying a few good words—even if it was just a symbolic plea.

After all, this mortal king seems to be hiding many secrets. If we can make him owe us a favor, he could be an unexpected pawn in the great war between nations that will soon sweep across the continent.

However, just as the gods were having different thoughts, and even foresaw the impending arrival of that destructive holy light...

The actions of Aetherial Dawn, the goddess of light, completely overturned the understanding of all the gods.

The figure shrouded in endless holy light did not exude the slightest anger or aura of judgment. Instead, it raised its jade hand, and a gentle, pure holy light flowed from its fingertips.

It landed on the young king below the stage, who had just suffered the backlash for spying and was now closing his eyes and enduring the pain.

Instantly, it soothed the burning pain and mental shock he had suffered from forcibly peeking into the true face of the gods. Cohen's sore and stinging eyes regained their clarity, and his dizzy brain returned to calm.

Even their mental energy seemed to have been cleansed, becoming more refined and pure.

Instead of punishment, they actively healed themselves?
Ah this...

"Could it be that Lady Dawn, having endured countless millennia of loneliness, has finally fallen for mortal desires again?"

"Impossible! The Goddess of Light is an existence of immense power; how could she possibly be so indifferent to a mere mortal like an ant..."

"But how do you explain this?"

"Could this kid possess some earth-shattering secret that even we can't see through, a secret that would make Ms. Chenxi look at him differently?"

Divine thoughts communicated intensely and silently in the void.

Who exactly is he, and what gives him the right to do so?!

Meanwhile, Cohen, sitting in the audience, was completely unaware of this.

He felt a warm, pure light, carrying boundless compassion and comfort, flow into his body, instantly dispelling all discomfort and pain.

He slowly opened his eyes, a trace of fear and helplessness lingering deep within them, but more than that, a stirring of a deeper ambition and contemplation.

He looked at the holy light again, his gaze now calm, but he buried the inexplicable sense of familiarity and the lesson of his failed attempt to peek deep within his heart. The blessing ceremony continued in an extremely eerie, enigmatic silence.

But the minds of all the gods had been completely disturbed by that mortal king named Cohen Corleone.

After Freya received the inheritance, Cavendish's divine thoughts resounded in everyone's minds once again:
"Second place, Legends champion, Effie, Belmotti, come forward."

This divine thought descended, like a pebble thrown into everyone's hearts, stirring up even deeper ripples.

Korn skipped the Silver and Gold groups and went straight to the Legend group.

This unusual change in order silently confirmed the suspicion that had long lingered in everyone's minds—

The central focus of this collective descent of the gods is none other than King Effiin, Cohen Corleone, who created a sensation in the history of the gods during the Noble Martial Arts Festival!

Belmod's figure seemed to emerge from the deepest darkness of the night, silently stepping onto the high platform.

Her gaze was calm and unwavering; even when faced with the gaze of eight supreme deities, she showed no sign of awe or excitement.

Madora, the god of prophecy, glanced meaningfully back and forth between Belmody and Cohen.

The gaze seemed to pierce through the veil of time and space, revealing a connection that mortals could not comprehend, a connection buried deep within fate.

After a brief silence, before the other deities could respond, a faint divine thought from Madora, seemingly emanating from the very end of the river of time, echoed in everyone's minds:

"Is your legendary domain a replica of the Abyss of the Underworld, a subsidiary plane of the Hellish Plane?"

As the divine thoughts of the God of Prophecy surged.

The expressions on everyone's faces instantly turned into a mixture of shock and unbelievable envy.

It was Madora, the god of prophecy, who spoke up to ask the question.

It is one of the most mysterious and powerful beings in the divine realm.

His personal inquiry indicates that he has developed a strong interest in Belmody.

This in itself is an unparalleled honor. In the long history of the Martial Arts Festival, there has never been a precedent of the God of Prophecy personally asking, guiding, and blessing!

Belmody nodded slowly.

Madora's gaze seemed to pierce through Belmodi's soul, revealing a vision of a more distant future:
"So, the temple you plan to build in the future is meant to imitate the hellish plane itself, which contains all demons and bears endless sins and chaos?"

Belmod remained silent.

Madora did not ask any further questions.

The fog of fate swirled, seemingly foreshadowing her silence.

An invisible gaze once again swept over Cohen in the audience.

His gaze held an extremely complex meaning.

"Power is neither good nor evil."

The divine message of the prophet resonated deep within Belmod's soul and echoed in the hearts of all who listened.

"Like darkness, it can both devour light and shelter living beings in the long, silent night."

What truly distinguishes good from evil is the human heart, the will and choices of those who wield power.

Madora gently raised her arm, and a jet-black orb radiating pure, profound light, seemingly capable of absorbing all light, drifted slowly toward Belmody like a fragment peeled from nothingness.

The ball of light appeared calm, but its core emanated a chaotic energy that sent shivers down one's spine and distorted the laws of nature.

It even carried a terrifying aura of near immortality.

It seemed to be formed from the purest source of "evil" and "chaos," and its very existence caused a subtle sense of collapse in the surrounding space.

"This is a fragment of the shattered core of a hellish demon god who fell in an ancient war between gods and demons."

I hope you won't let down the people around you in the future.

Of course, those last words only echoed in Belmod's mind.

Belmody was startled; she knew all too well the importance of a fragment of divinity.

That was an existence that condensed the lifelong power, understanding of laws, and even a part of the origin of a demon god from hell.

Its value is enough to plunge the entire prime material plane into a bloody struggle.

This is the supreme key to the Saintly Rank, and even to peer into higher ranks.

It is the core and most fitting cornerstone of her idea to replicate the abyss of the underworld and even to imitate the temple of the hell plane in the future.

And judging from Madora's words, it seems it's because of someone close to her...

Belmod's first thought was Cohen.

Unconsciously, a tender feeling welled up in my heart.

Madora chose to bestow this invaluable fragment of divine power upon Belmody, with the core purpose, of course, being for Cohen.

This grants this legendary figure, whose power is inextricably linked to Cohen's fate, the decisive power to protect Effie and Cohen.

This would give her the resources to become Cohen's strongest support in the face of the terrifying storm that was destined to sweep across the continent in the future.

The divine blessings for the Bronze and Legendary groups have ended.

Next up is Cohen.

Two crowns won – an unprecedented honor!

This also means an unprecedented, possibly multi-faceted blessing from multiple deities!
Throughout the entire venue, everyone's eyes were fixed on the young figure who slowly rose to his feet, like a spotlight.

He straightened his spine, like a sword drawn from its sheath, his steps steady and firm, as he stepped onto the high platform shrouded in divine might.

His gaze calmly swept over the eight imposing figures that could dim the stars, and finally settled on Cavendish, the symbol of contract and fairness.

On the high platform, divine thoughts silently converged and collided.

However, to everyone's surprise, Cohen made the first move.

His gaze was precisely fixed on the core of the domain atop the high platform, a domain representing absolute light, redemption, and supreme majesty—

That place, shrouded in endless holy light, where even looking directly at it would be a desecration for mortals.

The Goddess of Light, Aetheril Dawn.

Immediately afterwards, a calm, clear voice shattered the deathly silence of the meeting room:

"I would like to speak with Ms. Chenxi alone."

Time seemed to stand still in the entire main venue.

A mortal takes the initiative to ask to speak privately with a supreme deity?
This goes beyond mere audacity; it is a complete and utter blasphemy against divine authority and the order of the universe.

Not only did the expressions of everyone present change drastically, but even the gods high above them were astonished.

Since the existence of the Demon Tide Continent, this is the first time a mortal has taken the initiative to speak with a deity, especially a goddess of unparalleled beauty and aloofness.

Daphne's eyes darkened slightly; Cohen's actions were completely unexpected.

Although it's confirmed that the other party doesn't possess divinity, they shouldn't be the reincarnation of Aetheril's old lover.

But Cohen's directness in speaking to Aether still made her feel uneasy.

Aetheril already suspected that Cohen was the reincarnation of her old lover, and Daphne's visit to the capital was not only to supervise the other gods who were messing up her plans.

More importantly, we must keep an eye on the Goddess of Light to prevent her from acting on her emotions.

Now, things have turned out quite differently. Aetheril hasn't made any move yet, but Cohen has taken the initiative to approach her.

Could this kid really be the reincarnation of the God of Shadows?
Daphne's thoughts raced for a moment; she wondered what Cohen was planning by meeting the Goddess of Light alone.

Before the gods could even recover from Cohen's audacious suggestion, a freezing will descended upon their hearts:

"Let me talk to you first, and then I'll go find the Goddess of Light!"

After she finished speaking, without waiting for Cohen's agreement or the other gods' opinions, an overwhelming and unstoppable force of the law of ice, like an invisible giant claw of frost, instantly pulled Cohen up from his spot and brought him within inches of her.

Immediately afterwards, a frosty barrier, completely isolating her and Cohen from all light, sound, energy, and even divine perception, completely sealed them inside.

The gods and everyone present were even more shocked.

What's happening here?
Two goddesses of the elements are vying for one man?
This is simply the most absurd, incomprehensible, and mind-blowing spectacle since the beginning of the Divine Realm.

Two goddesses who control the origin of the elements and sit atop the throne of gods are actually "fighting" over a mortal in public.
Upon seeing Cohen, Daphne even lost the composure and majesty befitting a deity. Her voice, tinged with barely perceptible urgency, abruptly demanded:

"What do you want? What is your relationship with Chenxi?"

Cohen looked completely bewildered.

"What relationship? I just want to make a deal with the Goddess of Light."

Cohen sought out the Goddess of Light because of the promise he had made to the first Elf Queen, Virekis, and the demon son, Gilworth.

A semi-divine artifact imbued with the will of the Goddess of Light is needed as a sacrifice to perform a ritual that can purify the divine will within them.

Daphne looked slightly taken aback; it turned out she had been overthinking things.

Cohen really had something to discuss with Atheriel.

She composed herself and said calmly:

"You've been making too much noise lately; even the Divine Realm knows you exist."

Don't be so high-profile in the future, or even I won't be able to protect you!

After saying that, he waved and let Cohen leave.

Cohen felt a blur before his eyes, and he was back below the platform.

However, before he could fully regain his footing, and before he could even process the meaning of Daphne's warning—

Om-! ! !
A warm, holy light, gentler and purer than before, yet possessing an irresistible guiding force, gently enveloped him like the first rays of dawn.

The Goddess of Light, Aetheril Dawn, has made her move!
An invisible portal quietly opened before Cohen.

Her private conversation with Cohen was about to begin! (End of Chapter)