Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Lava sea!
What you see before you is just a lake, but the entire core territory of the Ember Dragonborn is a lava ocean composed of countless lava lakes of all sizes.

The intense heat distorted the air, and the lava, shimmering with a dark red luster, resembled the inexhaustible blood of this land, beneath which surged an even more terrifying energy.

There are many dragon races in the Dragon Plane, and six major races occupy the dominant positions according to their size.

The three of them, Cohen, are currently in the Lava Dragonborn, one of the six major races, known as the "Rulers of the Lava Sea".

Their scales are mostly deep red or dark gold in luster, and they have an extreme worship of fire and forging.

The Lava Dragonborn's habitat is a series of floating volcanic rock islands, nesting in the depths of countless lava pools, lava lakes, and lava seas of varying sizes.

These lairs are typically expanded using natural lava conduits and cave networks, and are extremely hot inside, filled with enormous forges powered by geothermal energy and dragon magic.

They are skilled at extracting rare fire steel and other otherworldly minerals from lava, and the weapons and armor they forge not only have superior physical properties, but also often contain powerful fire energy.

In addition to the Molten Dragonborn, there is also the "Storm Peak Lord" Thunder Dragonborn.

The Thunder Dragonborn dwells in the shattered mountains and thundercloud palaces that float high in the sky amidst perpetual thunderstorms. Their scales are often blue, silver-white, or bronze, with tiny arcs of electricity dancing across them.

They wield the power of storms and electromagnetism, and their relationship with the Molten Dragonborn is tense due to the elemental conflict (lightning and earth fire), often resulting in clashes.

"Abyss Stalker" Shadow Dragonborn.

The Shadow Dragonborn dwell in the dark abysses, underground labyrinths, and shadowy rifts that connect the planes, where light cannot reach. Their scales are dark in color, blending perfectly into the shadows, and some even have parts of their bodies that appear as ethereal mist.

Mysterious and unpredictable, he is a master of assassination, mind magic, and the manipulation of shadow energy. He is a master of stealth and information trading, and other races both fear and depend on him.

The Witch King of the Bone Wasteland mourns the death of the dragon's offspring.

The Mourning Dragonborn rule a vast, desolate, pale wasteland filled with the skeletons of ancient behemoths and dragons, abandoned ancient ruins, and an ever-present aura of death.

With pale or bony scales, they are skilled in necromancy, curses, and the manipulation of negative energy, making them another major branch of the lich race.

Lord of the Rotten Swamp, the Poisonous Dragonborn.

The Corpse-Venom Dragonborn dwell in the vast, miasma-filled, swampy, and toxic lands. Their scales are mostly a dull mixture of purple, green, and brown, and they are adept at using toxins, diseases, and biological corrosion.

They are the most treacherous and cunning of the six major groups, often expanding their territory through erosion and assimilation.

Besides these five mutated races, there is also a true pure-blooded black dragon race.

After briefly introducing the interior of the Dragon Plane to the two, Cohen took out a detailed topographical map of the Dragon Plane that Kazimierz had obtained from the Noble Academy.

The information and detail of the document that Heisenberg gave him before he left were on completely different levels.

The map that Kazimierz brought from inside the House of Nobles clearly marked the terrain, lava rivers, dragonborn lair, and energy veins with different colors.

They even used intricate runes to mark the predicted patrol routes, danger levels, and conjectures about some unknown areas.

By observing his surroundings, Cohen quickly determined his location.

It is indeed the territory of the Ember Dragonborn, the Lava Sea.

However, it is not in the core area, but on the periphery.

Therefore, it was considered safe, and we didn't encounter any giant dragons as soon as we entered.

Belmody frowned as she carefully examined the dense dragon nest symbols marked on the map, especially the core areas that were deliberately bolded and painted dark red.

Asked in a low voice:

Now that we have such a detailed map, do you have a plan?
What should we do next? Should we go directly to their home and try to communicate with them?

Cohen shook his head and said:
"The Molten Dragonborn is not an option; direct communication with them carries extremely high risks."

According to the confidential records and casualty assessment reports of the House of Nobles, the Lava Sea was one of the areas with the highest loss rate and the most casualties among all the pioneering teams, far exceeding the level of conflict in other Dragonborn territories.

This tribe is extremely ancient, with a violent temperament, and harbors deep-seated hatred and extreme aggression towards intruders.

Compared to other dragonborn groups, I know relatively little about the internal social structure, power system, communication methods, and even their true needs and taboos of the Ember Dragonborn; I lack crucial information.

According to the strategy guide from the previous game, among the six major races, the one most suitable for players to conquer in the mid-game is the "Witch King of the Bone Wasteland," the Mourning Dragonborn.

It wasn't because these lich dragons were easier to talk to than normal dragons, but because not long after the prelude to the War of Nations began, the Boastful One, the Necromancer, the King of the Abandoned Tomb, and the Lich God Vesharun were completely wiped out.

As the first high-level deity to fall, the undead dragons of the Dragon Plane also lost their necromancy abilities.

At the game's core, the Vesalian faith system provides the power source for the necromancy of the Dragonborn, which is the very reason they are so fearsome.

Therefore, when the Visharen fell, the foundation that sustained their existence and power system collapsed.

This plunged them into an unprecedented crisis of survival and faith.

Players can use this to gain insight into the urgent inner needs of the Mourning Dragonborn, and thus reach an agreement with them, offering some kind of alternative in exchange for their support or specific resources.

In this timeline, the Lich God has not yet fallen, but signs of instability in his divine status and weakening of his divine power have already appeared.

These powerful undead dragons must feel this even more deeply.

As believers who directly rely on his divine power, every fluctuation of Vesalon's divine power directly reflects the tidal disruption of necromancy within their bodies.

This premonition of power gradually slipping out of control was far clearer and more terrifying than any external observation, and it inevitably fostered unease and an undercurrent of seeking a way out among them.

Cohen's original plan was to use his prophetic abilities to reveal the impending doom of Vesharen and expose the rifts and needs within the Mourning Dragonborn caused by the weakening of divine power, in order to reach an agreement with these lich dragons and use this as leverage to gain the greatest benefit for himself.

However, through the development of the Shadow Plane and the continuous improvement of the "Control the Shadow" rule technique, Cohen had a better plan.

"Abyss Stalker" Shadow Dragonborn!
After Cohen advanced to the Gold rank and successfully summoned the Gold rank Abyssal Shadow Beast, he clearly sensed that his connection with the Shadow Plane had reached a new level.

He not only commands more powerful shadow creatures, but his understanding of the nature of shadows also becomes increasingly profound.

Based on this situation, once he advances to the Legendary rank, he should be able to summon Legendary-rank Shadow creatures.

But this raises a problem.

All the shadow creatures he could summon before, whether they were bronze-tier Shadow Phantoms, silver-tier Shadow Hunters, or gold-tier Abyssal Shadow Beasts.

These shadow creatures are native to the Shadow Plane. As his authority in the Shadow Plane increases, he can forcibly form master-servant contracts with these native creatures.

They can be summoned to fight for you anytime, anywhere.

Kohn was quite certain that there were no legendary-level shadow creatures in the Shadow Plane.

There may be legendary or even more powerful creatures in the Shadow Plane, but there are definitely no Shadow-type creatures.

Because currently, the only known shadow creatures of legendary rank or higher in the multiverse are the Shadow Dragonborn, located in the Dragon Plane.

Legend has it that the Shadow Dragonborn ancestors of the Dragon Plane had a power source that was inextricably linked to the God of Shadows, and may even have received some of the god's blessings or essence.

Cohen's plan is to try to use this legendary connection to make contact with the Shadow Dragonborn.

He intends to establish communication with the Shadow Dragonborn as a "High-Ranking Agent of the Shadow Plane" to explore the possibility of reaching an alliance, or at least to open a channel for dialogue.

Once a preliminary relationship of trust or cooperation is established with the powerful Shadow Dragonborn, Cohen's next goals will become relatively more feasible.

The Shadow Dragonborn's reputation and strength will become an important diplomatic bargaining chip and backing for him, which is expected to help him gain a more favorable position in his contact with the Mourning Dragonborn and make it easier for him to reach the core of the Mourning Dragonborn.

Cohen explained his plan to his two female companions, detailing his goal of finding the Shadow Dragonborn, the potential challenges, and alternative plans.

The two naturally had no objections. Freya was eager to explore the unknown dragon territory, while Belmody's duty was to protect and carry it out.

With the matter settled, Cohen did not delay any longer.

He gazed at the dimensional map, his fingertips tracing a winding path that avoided several known danger zones.

He said in a deep voice:

"This is the safest route known to date to the Dark Rift."

Stay alert, and set off.

The initial journey went exceptionally smoothly, almost to the point of being misleading.

They walked along the scorching rock ridge, below which flowed a slowly rolling river of scarlet lava, the air thick with the smell of sulfur.

However, protected by the sacred artifact's shield, the harsh environment did not affect the three's mood.

Cohen would occasionally point to a peculiar landform or mineral deposit and give a brief explanation.

Freya would then excitedly chime in, sharing her speculations from the literature about possible mechanisms or energy nodes in the area.

At this moment, she did not appear to be a powerful Ceylon princess at all.

Although Belmody was taciturn, the icy aura that kept strangers at bay had softened considerably. She quietly followed behind Cohen, like a silent guardian.

To an unsuspecting person watching from afar, the scene would appear as if a composed husband, accompanied by a mature and elegant woman, and a "daughter" who, though young in appearance, seemed precocious in her eyes and mannerisms, were on an unusual family trip.

Freya's curiosity and excitement, and Vermouth's quiet protection, create a scene that seems harmonious yet contains a subtle relationship.

However, this seemingly relaxed atmosphere did not last long.

It's unclear when it started, but Belmod's seemingly casual gaze would occasionally sweep over a vast lava lake area to his side and behind, which appeared no different from the rest of the area and was slowly bubbling with lava.

Finally, after a brief rest, Vermoti raised his hand in a gesture of greeting, his voice calm:

"I noticed it just now; it seems like we've been being watched by some kind of entity all along."

"Now I'm certain, something has been following us all along, right beneath this lava!" He followed Belmody's direction, his sharp gaze sweeping across the seemingly calm, vast lava lake, his voice low:

"Interesting, it actually managed to escape my senses."

His brows furrowed slightly, not out of panic, but out of deep concentration as he fell into thought.

He quickly ruled out the most common possibilities in his mind.

Just as he had thought, the appearance of human expeditions in the Dragon Plane was nothing new.

With over a thousand years of experience, the Noble Academy has dispatched only the elite of the elite, and each arrival is accompanied by a tough stance and formidable strength.

Over time, on this cruel land, the label "human" itself has come to represent trouble, power, and something best not to be trifled with.

Even the Ember Dragonborn, who rule this sea of ​​lava, usually choose to ignore humans unless they voluntarily enter their core forbidden areas or show clear hostility.

Their focus is more on the internal struggles and competition with the other five major dragon races, and they lack the interest in actively eliminating outsiders who are usually just "passing by".

Moreover, Cohen's choice of landing point and route was extremely deliberate, deliberately avoiding the core activity area of ​​the Molten Dragonborn, and even moving towards the outer perimeter of their territory.

This behavior is more like a "harmless passage" statement, and generally it will not be attacked.

Cohen analyzed in a low voice, as if organizing his thoughts:

"The core of the Molten Dragonborn is unlikely to appear in such a peripheral area, and there is no need to follow them so furtively."

Other native creatures... intimidated by the power of the Molten Dragonborn and the strength humans have displayed in the past, usually retreat when they encounter us, seeking peace and quiet.

His gaze returned to the lava lake, and his expression turned serious.

"This method of hiding in the shadows and constantly spying is not their style, and it is completely unnecessary."

It feels more like waiting for something, or confirming something…

A fleeting glint of cold light flashed across Belmody's stunningly beautiful face.

Her fair, jade-like right hand casually swept towards the churning lava lake behind her.

"Pfft—!"

A muffled, agonizing wail suddenly erupted from the depths of that crimson lava.

With this wail, the once calm lava lake surface exploded as if a boulder had been thrown into the water.

The churning, viscous magma, carrying waves of scorching sulfurous gas, shot skyward.

Soon, a dark red shadow struggling violently was pulled free from the magma's restraints as if by an invisible giant hook, and forcibly ripped out by a chilling force from the deepest hell.

The magma on its body slid off like peeled armor, revealing a body covered in rough scales underneath.

The dark red figure was slammed hard onto the ground not far from Cohen and his two companions, hissing in fear.

His body, covered in thick lava scales, trembled incessantly from the excruciating pain and the hellish pressure that penetrated to his very bones; he seemed to have even forgotten how to struggle.

While protecting Freya, Cohen observed the dark red figure.

It was a lizard about the size of a calf, with thick limbs and a powerful tail.

It is not the "giant lizard" that people jokingly refer to when talking about dragons, but a real, cold-blooded reptile belonging to the lava ecosystem of the Dragon Plane.

Its back and sides are covered with thick, dark red scales, with sharp lava spikes protruding from its joints. Its claws are large, and there seems to be a membrane between its toes that can temporarily insulate it from the high temperature.

His eyes, amber-colored vertical pupils, were now unfocused and blurred due to extreme pain and fear.

Cohen instantly recognized the creature's identity—the Lava Scale Lizard, one of the lowest-ranking vassals of the Lava Dragonborn. It serves as both a low-level cannon fodder unit for the Dragonborn and a "miner" or "scavenger" who collects specific minerals and resources in dangerous lava environments.

They rely on the Dragonborn's power for protection and are completely subservient to the Dragonborn's will.

The one before us, judging from the thickness of its carapace, the condensation of its energy, and the extraordinary aura of an eighth-order being it exudes.

They should be the elite class of the Lava Scale Lizard clan, the Lava Scale Guards, who are the backbone of the upper-middle level.

They possess greater strength and a certain level of tactical intelligence, and are typically responsible for patrolling small areas or guarding important resource points.

A Lava Scale Guard with Gold-rank strength was specially dispatched to conduct this kind of long-term surveillance and monitoring.
Is this really the core idea of ​​the Lava Lizard clan?
Or was it directly authorized by its master, a monarch of the Molten Dragonborn?

Even though the beings of the Gold Rank cannot speak human languages, they already possess a high level of intelligence.

Cohen's lips moved slightly, uttering a strange language:

"Which ruler of the Molten Dragonborn sent you?"

The Lava Scale Guardian had just struggled to catch its breath from the terrifying hellish aura that had nearly frozen its soul, and was still in shock as it tried to lift its head.

At that very moment, a deep, majestic, and ancient language, filled with the heat of magma and the rhythm of the earth's pulse, penetrated directly into its not-so-developed auditory organs.

That voice! That rhythm! That majestic tone unique to the Molten Dragonborn!
The Lava Scale Guardian shuddered violently once more, and even the lava scales on its body seemed to rub together with a "click".

Its previously unfocused, amber-colored vertical pupils suddenly sharpened, filled with unbelievable horror.

It stared intently at the source of the sound—the human standing before it, who had only recently broken through to the Gold rank and whose aura it perceived should be "extremely weak."

This man could actually speak such pure, naturally imposing molten dragon language?
It then realized with absolute clarity that among the strange trio before it, the one who truly held the power was the human man who appeared to be the most "harmless."

His eyes, fixed on him, held a chilling insight beneath their calm surface.

The Lava Scale Guardian lowered its head slightly, a barely perceptible hint of awe flashing in its vertical pupils.

It didn't really resist much, because one of its core missions was to find an opportunity to make contact with this mysterious and powerful group of humans.

However, it did not expect the other party to be so perceptive, especially the legendary-rank woman who exuded an aura that made one's soul tremble, whose pressure far exceeded that of the lava lords in its race.

Not to mention the mysterious young man who could speak pure Ember Dragon language, which made it unable to muster the slightest thought of resistance or deception.

The Lava Scale Guardians also emitted hoarse and strange syllables:

Are you from the Central Empire?

This question caused a very subtle change in Cohen's eyes.

Central Empire?

It is highly unusual for such a title to come from the mouth of a creature native to the Dragon Plane.

This immediately reminded him of the House of Nobles.

His expression remained unchanged, his tone indifferent yet authoritative:
"You only have the right to answer questions."

The Lava Scale Guardian was taken aback by the cold tone, its massive body shrinking slightly as it hissed in response:
"No... I wasn't sent by any of the dragon kings."

This was our own plan, the Lava Scale Lizard's own.

really!

Cohen sneered inwardly, his mind racing as he instantly connected this clue with the possible schemes of the House of Nobles.

It is highly likely that the House of Nobles bypassed direct confrontation with the high-ranking members of the Molten Dragonborn and instead secretly contacted and turned these low-level vassals who had been enslaved by the Dragonborn for tens of thousands of years—the Lava Scale Lizards.

Using their pent-up resentment, they plotted to overthrow the rule of the Molten Dragonborn from within.

This is entirely in line with the consistent style of the House of Nobles: to leverage the greatest interests at the lowest cost!

It's important to know that the Lava Scale Lizard is a native creature of the Dragon Plane. They were living a good life until the Black Dragon Clan, who were exiled, took over their territory. The Lava Dragon Descendants, who branched out from the Lava Dragon Clan, enslaved them for tens of thousands of years.

It's impossible not to feel resentment.

He maintained that inscrutable, as if he had everything under control, and said calmly:

"Go on, what did you come here for?"

Lava Scale Guard asked:

"It's something we discussed with the adults before, and the clan has already made a decision."

Sure enough!

Cohen thought to himself that this was almost certainly a continuation of the secret contact between the Noble House and the Lava Scale Lizard clan.

The House of Nobles conducts a campaign every ten years, and it's not time yet, so the other side must have mistaken their group for the "adults" sent by the House of Nobles to make contact.

Cohen remained calm and asked:
"Where is your lord? Lead the way!"

Cohen was prepared to meet the Lava Scale Lizard Lord in person to see just how far the Noble Council had gone in their scheme.

This sudden turn of events, while disrupting his original plans, may also be a golden opportunity to infiltrate the core of the Molten Dragonborn forces and obtain crucial intelligence.

Perhaps they can even directly take over the House of Nobles' millennia-old plan!

Upon hearing this, the Lava Scale Guardian seemed to receive a clear command. Struggling to its feet, enduring the excruciating pain and fear inflicted by Belmody's attack, it respectfully lowered its head, emitting a submissive hiss:

Yes...yes!

"My lord, please follow me. The lord is waiting at the lair." (End of Chapter)