Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Dickinson froze on the spot, the two will-o'-the-wisps under her hood fixed intently on Cohen.

A boundless horror and a deep sense of fear welled up from the depths of my heart.

Upon hearing Cohen mention the eternal tombstone, Ferguson's expression changed slightly; he clearly knew what this meant.

When he looked at Dickinson again, his gaze had become much more intriguing. He realized that Cohen possessed far more leverage and secrets than he had imagined.

The Eternal Tombstone is said to be a genuine artifact containing the fundamental laws of death, obtained by the Dragonborn before their exile from the Boastful One, the Necromancer, the King of the Abandoned Tomb, and the Lich God Vesharun.

The progenitor of the Mourning Dragonborn, Valerius the Deceased, had a deep connection with the lich god Vesalon.

In the distant past, they were brothers who came from the same school and jointly created and deeply studied the mysteries of necromancy.

Together they explored the boundaries of life and death, and delved into the mysteries of the soul. It can be said that many of the core power systems of the Mourning Dragonborn are based on their joint research during that period.

However, Vesalius's depth of research into necromancy, his comprehension, and the extreme path he took ultimately surpassed Valerius's, and he was eventually deified for his necromancy and the lich race.

They became the racial deities of all liches and some who pursued the path of the undead, holding related divine positions.

Valerius, relying on the heritage of the dragon race and part of his own power system, was eventually deified as a dragon god.

Therefore, in terms of the source of their extraordinary power and their affinity with the laws of the undead, the lich god Vesharun is even more important to the dragonborn than their own progenitor dragon god Valerius.

The Eternal Tombstone, a divine artifact bestowed upon it by Vesalon, is not only a symbol of power but also a crucial channel for maintaining contact with this deity and receiving his divine blessing.

Especially after being banished to the Dragon Plane, a place with scarce resources, disordered laws, and an extremely harsh environment.

The Dragonborn were able to gradually establish themselves in this barren land by relying on the divine power of the Eternal Tombstone, transforming the Bone Wasteland into a death kingdom suitable for their existence.

The Eternal Tombstone continuously draws upon the sparse death energy from the Dragon Plane, purifying and amplifying it to nourish the entire race and sustain the activities of the undead army.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Eternal Tombstone is the foundation of the entire Mourning Dragonborn race's survival and power; it is their lifeblood.

However, not long ago, the power of the Eternal Tombstone began to dissipate outwards without warning.

It was as if the artifact itself had suffered irreparable damage, or as if the source of its power had been quietly severed.

No matter how the clan elders inspected or held any kind of reinforcement ceremony, they could not stop this decline.

At this rate, this precious artifact will eventually lose its spiritual essence, completely fall from its divine status, and become a mortal object.

When that day comes, it will be a devastating blow to the entire Mourning Dragonborn.

They will not only lose the core source of their power, but their undead army will also gradually disintegrate. The reproduction and advancement of their race will be severely affected, and they may even be removed from the six major races, becoming lambs to the slaughter.

What terrified them most was that, the moment they discovered the anomaly of the Eternal Tombstone, they immediately tried to contact the lich god Vesharun through various rituals, seeking divine guidance and oracle.

However, the ceremony, which had previously received some response, was like a stone sinking into the sea this time, receiving no reply for a long time.

The deity who held the secrets of death seemed to have completely severed all ties with this plane.

The double blow of the inexplicable decay of the sacred artifacts and the interruption of the faith connection shrouded the entire leadership of the Mourning Dragonborn in an atmosphere of impending doom.

This is the real reason why they have recently appeared somewhat powerless and even conservative in their conflict with the Corrupted Dragonborn.

Cohen's precise description of the "Eternal Tombstone" situation makes the underlying implications very clear.

He likely knew more than just that there was something wrong with the tombstone itself; he probably also knew the most closely guarded secret: the severed connection between the tombstone and the lich god Vesharun.

He might even know the reason, or it might be related to it at all!

If this vital connection to the gods, which sustains the survival of the race, truly suffers an irreparable problem, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster for the mourning dragon descendants.

This is why Dickinson lost her composure instantly.

The current situation has gone far beyond ordinary resource competition or territorial conflict; it directly concerns the most fundamental power base and survival of the ethnic group.

Now, this top secret, which could plunge the entire Mourning Dragonborn into chaos, has been revealed so casually by a young human who appears to be only at the Gold rank.

Moreover, standing beside him was Ferguson, a saint of unfathomable power and of another race... How could Dickinson not feel boundless fear?
If Ferguson's strength hadn't been so widely recognized throughout the Dragon Plane that Dickinson knew he was no match for him, he might have even incurred the full-scale retaliation of the Shadow Dragonborn.

At this moment, he even considered launching an immediate attack at all costs to kill and silence witnesses, in order to bury this terrible secret completely.

But now, he could only stand there, frozen in place, waiting for the other party to continue.

He knew that the Shadow Dragonborn saint had brought this mysterious human not simply to expose their wounds.

They must have some ulterior motive.

The upcoming dialogue between the two sides will likely determine the future fate of the mourning dragonborn.

Dickinson gave Cohen one last, deep look, her gaze seemingly trying to pierce through his skin and see into the very essence of his soul.

He forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves of emotion churning within him and the chilling killing intent that was almost impossible to contain. His voice remained hoarse and dry, yet it carried an unprecedented solemnity:
"who are you!"

Cohen smiled faintly, not directly answering the question about the other party's identity, but calmly saying:

"Before discussing who I am and more, shouldn't we find a quiet and safe place to have a proper talk?"

You don't really intend to discuss top-secret matters concerning the very survival of your fallen dragonborn here, do you?

Upon hearing this, Dickinson's body beneath his black robe seemed to tremble again. Without saying another word, he turned abruptly and headed silently toward the core of the Bone Wasteland.

Seeing this, Ferguson's expression relaxed considerably. He knew that the most difficult first step—getting the other party to sit down and talk—was already a success.

The group followed Dickinson's footsteps and officially entered the heavily guarded core territory of the Mourning Dragonborn.

The scenery along the way became increasingly bizarre, with massive skeletal structures standing in rows, and the patrolling undead creatures of a significantly higher level. Sensing the presence of Dickinson and Ferguson, they all gave way.

The three people and four dragons quickly arrived at a secluded area shrouded by a powerful barrier deep within the Bone Wasteland.

This place resembles a council chamber transformed from the skull of a gigantic mythical beast, filled with pure death energy and eerily silent.

Before this crucial conversation, Dickinson's gaze swept once more over Belmody and Freya beside Cohen, and the two shadow dragons in human form behind Ferguson.

His expression revealed obvious hesitation.

Clearly, he believed that the upcoming conversation involved a level of secrecy too high and that it was inappropriate for too many unrelated people to be present.

Ferguson pointed to the two adult dragons behind him and said with a faint smile:

"Sorengel, the chief steward of the Shadow Dragonborn, oversees the affairs of the entire race and is my right-hand man."

Kalandra, the arbitrator of the tribe, adjudicating disputes within the tribe and enforcing the law, is my student.

They are all my most trusted core members, and they know most of the clan's secrets, so there's no need to worry about leaks.

Cohen's answer was simpler:
"They are my family."

Upon hearing this answer, Dickinson's eerie blue flame flickered slightly beneath her hood, seemingly surprised yet somehow perfectly reasonable.

He gave Cohen a deep look, then glanced at Belmody's unfathomable figure and Freya's slightly immature face, but ultimately did not raise any objections.

Dickinson focused all her attention on Cohen and said in a deep voice:
"Alright, we've arrived at the place. Now, tell me your true identity."
And how did they know our clan's top secrets?

Cohen slowly raised his hand, causing a slight ripple in the space. Three items radiating strange light and a vast aura appeared out of thin air and hovered in front of him.

These three relics, symbolizing his status as the "Son of Prophecy," were given to him by Pope Atkinson of the Church of Prophecy.

Cohen's voice was calm and even:
"You should be able to sense something from these things, right?"

Dickinson's gaze was instantly drawn to the three sacred artifacts, and his azure soul flame trembled violently.

Although he couldn't immediately recognize the specific names and origins of the three items, he could clearly sense the powerful, pure, and rich divine aura surrounding them.

Moreover, this divine power is of an extremely high rank, definitely not that of an ordinary deity, but must be a great being at the level of a chief god.

What shocked him even more was that this divine power gave him an indescribable sense of familiarity.

He stared intently at the three sacred objects, especially the "eye" that seemed to see through all illusions and the white robe that contained endless wisdom, examining them for a long time.

Finally, he remembered where this sense of familiarity came from.

Madora the Prophet, the God of Prophecy!
The aura of His Majesty the Great Prophet!

A deep sense of astonishment appeared in Dickinson's eyes. This human was actually connected to the god of prophecy?
How can it be?

How could he possess a sacred object containing such pure divine power as Madora, the god of prophecy?

Moreover, it was clear at a glance that this was no ordinary blessing, but a sacred object carrying some kind of symbolic meaning and extremely high authority! Dickinson finally understood why a saint like Ferguson would be so respectful to him, even willing to serve as his mount.

I also vaguely believe that the other party may really have the ability to access the secrets of the "Eternal Tombstone" and even the level of the Lich God Vesharon!
Then, Cohen flipped his wrist, and another scroll, flowing with the radiance of the gods and exuding supreme imperial power and the oppressive force of the nation's destiny, slowly unfurled.

It was that marriage contract he made with Xenias, which was witnessed and blessed by many gods.

Cohen's voice slowly rang out:
"Of course, I have another identity, which may be more significant to you."

I am one of the rulers of the Central Empire, and the Imperial Consort.

Seeing the crystal-clear purple-gold imperial seal on the marriage contract, feeling the blessing aura of the powerful gods, and hearing the title of "Consort of the Central Empire"...

Dickinson completely abandoned the last trace of contempt, and a solemn and serious expression appeared on her stiff face.

Even though they had been banished to the Dragon Plane for ten thousand years, they knew perfectly well that...

Just how powerful and terrifying is this most powerful human empire, which is most closely connected with the Gods and even has many chief gods and powerful deities born and worshipped on its own soil?

The Noble Council, an institution under the empire, has been wreaking havoc on the Dragon Plane every ten years by simply extorting money from the land, making it a headache for the six great dragon descendants.

Then, what a terrifying concept it would be to imagine the resources, military, and divine support that the entire Central Empire could mobilize at full capacity.

No wonder the other party was favored by Madora, the god of prophecy.

As is widely known, the core pillar and primary source of faith for the Lawful Faction, represented by the prophetic god Madora, is the Central Empire.

The empire was well-ordered and its laws were strict, which was highly consistent with the divine duties of the Madora sect of gods.

Many of the deities in the Order faction have their faith foundations and important temples located within the Empire, their fates intertwined with the Empire's, sharing its glory and prosperity.

Imperial Consort!

This identity means that he is not only one of the supreme rulers of the empire, but also a key bridge connecting the empire with many deities of order. His power and influence far exceed those of the monarchs of ordinary countries.

After Cohen's series of shocking revelations about his identity, all of Dickinson's arrogance, doubt, and resistance were completely crushed.

He finally realized that the person in front of him was a super collaborator with real ability, resources, and background to change the landscape of the Dragon Plane.

Dialogue should always be conducted on the premise of equal strength, status, and position. Now that things have come to this point, Dickinson, recognizing reality and fully aware of the other party's formidable background, has softened his tone considerably:
"So, did His Highness Corleone foresee the anomalies that occurred at our Eternal Tombstone?"

Cohen's answer surprised him:

Yes, and not entirely.

I did not foretell an eternal tombstone, but based on the outcome I predicted...

I can clearly deduce from the opposite perspective that the closely related eternal tombstones will inevitably experience a corresponding, and extremely serious, condition.

Dickinson was initially confused by the roundabout answer, but soon he seemed to realize some extremely terrifying possibility.

A deep fear surfaced in his eyes, and he pressed on, asking:
"What...what are you predicting..."

A wildly absurd conjecture arose in Dickinson's mind.

He dared not utter that name, nor even dared to contemplate the possibility.

Cohen slowly nodded under his trembling gaze:

"Your Excellency Dickinson, just like the suspicion in your heart that you can neither believe nor shake off at this moment."

The object of my prophecy is none other than the giver of the eternal tombstone, the ultimate source of your mourning dragonborn's faith, the ancient deity Vesharun the Undead who holds the secrets of death!

Dickinson shuddered violently. A mere Gold-rank human dared to claim that he could prophesy about a genuine mid-level deity who led the lich race, had countless necromancers as followers, and possessed immense divine power!

Had the other party not just demonstrated his profound connection with the God of Prophecy and his undeniable noble status as the Crown Prince of the Central Empire, Dickinson would have absolutely thought he was a complete madman or a fraud.

However, Ferguson looked at Dickinson with an air of detachment and even a hint of pity.

In the eyes of this saint who knew part of the "insider information," what was there to be surprised about?

The man beside him had accurately predicted three hundred years in advance the earth-shattering secret that the three forces of the gods, demons, and Dragon Valley would join forces to banish the Black Dragon Clan.

Compared to that, what does it matter to prophesy about a mid-level deity?
Ferguson, looking at Dickinson who was almost delirious with confusion, lowered his voice:
"Dickinson, do you remember what I just told you?"

He was referring to the statement that Dickinson considered provocative at the time—"In a way, he should also be the benefactor of your entire race!"

Dickinson paused slightly upon hearing this.

Ferguson did say that earlier, but at the time he thought it was just some crazy talk from the other person trying to elevate this human being.

Could this human have another, even more shocking identity besides being the Child of Prophecy and the Imperial Consort?

Ferguson didn't let him continue guessing; his deep voice resonated directly in the depths of his soul, revealing a secret that was enough to overturn his understanding of the world:

"More than ten thousand years ago, the 'Heart of Time and Space' that the ancestor sealed within me was bestowed upon me by this great man!"

Dickinson was shocked; this news was even more impactful than hearing the other party's prediction of Vesalon.

Heart of Time and Space!

The supreme relic that sustains the entire exiled dragon race was actually bestowed upon them by this human ten thousand years ago?
Ten thousand years ago?
At that time, the person in front of me...

Dickinson looked up at Cohen with a start, her eyes no longer filled with shock, but with utter fear and awe.

All the previous doubts seemed to have been answered at this moment!

What kind of terrifying existence is hidden beneath the body of a golden-tier human?

A deity reincarnated?

Or is it an incarnation of some ancient deity walking among humans?

Either possibility is sufficient to explain all the inexplicable things.

Only someone of this caliber could possess the ability to plan across millennia, and only such a saint as Ferguson could willingly follow him!

All of Dickinson's previous disbelief, doubt, and arrogance were utterly crushed at this moment, and the way he looked at Cohen had completely changed.

Dickinson took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the intense turmoil deep within her soul, and when she looked at Cohen again, her voice involuntarily carried a hint of deep respect:

"Your Highness, what revelation did you derive from that great prophecy?"

Cohen said calmly:

"Veshalon is facing an extremely serious crisis that may even endanger the very origin of God."

To combat this crisis, he is being forced to draw heavily on the power of his followers, who are closely connected to his divine authority.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the void, revealing the horrific scene unfolding before him:
"The reason why you feel the power that the Eternal Tombstone could not stop dissipating is not because the tombstone itself is damaged, but because it is an important node and amplifier of the power of Vesalon in this plane."

Its power is being forcibly and continuously drained by Vesalon himself.

"Including those individuals within your clan whose strength has reached a certain level, and who have a deeper connection with the Eternal Tombstone or the divine power of Vesalon, such as certain saint-level beings, have they also vaguely sensed the abnormal loss of their own power?"

Dickinson's eyes widened in terror. Every word Cohen uttered pinpointed the terrifying reality that the Dragonborn had been deeply feeling but dared not admit recently.

The strongest elders in the clan have indeed shown signs of stagnant or even slight decline in their power recently. It was initially thought they had encountered a bottleneck in their cultivation, but now it seems…

His voice trembled involuntarily, a fear stemming from the erosion of his faith:
"So when will Your Majesty, the Great Undead, be able to overcome this crisis?"

In fact, deep down, there was an even more terrifying problem.

But he didn't dare ask, nor did he want to ask.

The question is whether Vesalon can overcome this crisis.
If we can weather this storm, then losing some strength and temporarily weakening the race is not entirely unacceptable; there will always be a chance to recover.

But what if... what if we can't get through it?
The moment the thought crossed Dickinson's mind, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair and dared not think any further.

However, Cohen directly exposed this bloody and cruel reality, shattering his last shred of hope:
"Although this may sound incredible, or even disrespectful to a deity, I must tell you this clearly based on the truth revealed by the prophecy."

The crisis facing the spirit of Vesalon is extremely perilous, and it seems unlikely that he will be able to overcome it.

These words tolled like a final death knell in Dickinson's soul!
Cohen's gaze became extremely serious, even carrying a hint of:
"Therefore, in my view, the only possible way out for the mourning dragonborn is not to pray that Vesalon can create a miracle, but to immediately and completely sever all divine ties with the lich god Vesalon."

Before he completely drains your strength and faith, and may even drag you into deeper destruction, sever this last bond.

This is your only option to avoid being buried alive with them! (End of Chapter)