Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Cohen's words nearly made Dickinson lose her footing.

Sever ties with a middling deity.

The very thought was a taboo that no one dared to touch, causing him to tremble instinctively.

Within the Mourning Dragonborn, not all members are devout followers of the Lich God (they worship their progenitor dragon god Valerius more).

However, their entire power system, the core of necromancy, and even the operation of the Eternal Tombstone all originate from the necromancy priesthood represented by Vesalon.

This is like asking a large tree to voluntarily cut off its deepest main root; the consequence could be instant withering and death.

Such a massive change, which affects the whole situation, will bring about chain reactions and backlashes that no one can predict.

Even though Dickinson was the chief of the mourning dragons and held great power, he would not dare to make such a decision that would shake the foundation of his clan.

The risks involved are simply too great.

Cohen saw the intense struggle and fear within him, and continued to point out, with a calm yet almost cruel tone, the various anomalies occurring within the mourning dragonblood clan, which were being deliberately concealed by the higher-ups:

"There's no need to hide it, Chief Dickinson. The success rate of converting new high-level undead in your clan is dropping sharply recently, and many senior mages have even suffered unprecedented backlash during the conversion ritual."

Furthermore, summoning the Shadow Elders and Spirit-Binding Dragons from the Lich Plane has become exceptionally difficult, requiring a significant increase in energy while maintaining their power for a shorter duration than before.

The ancient tombs and spirit mounds that rely on the energy of eternal tombstones are also losing their aura of death at an accelerated rate, and the ancient spirits sleeping inside risk waking up prematurely and going out of control.

Furthermore, my prophecy indicates that the advancement ceremonies of some senior powerhouses within your clan have repeatedly failed, their paths to higher levels being invisibly blocked!

With each item Cohen mentioned, Dickinson's expression grew increasingly grim.

Because these are all real events that are being kept secret from the outside world and are classified as top secret.

The clan's higher-ups were at their wits' end, but could not find the root cause, and could only attribute it to fluctuations in the dimensional environment or sabotage by other races.

The shock and fear brought about by Cohen's clear articulation of this statement are beyond measure.

This is almost tantamount to declaring that their current power system is collapsing from its very source.

Just as Dickinson was agonizing and unable to make a decision, Ferguson offered the final, most significant piece of the bargaining chip:

"Dickinson, it was this man who predicted the dire situation that our Black Dragon Clan would face more than three hundred years in advance."

Unfortunately, although Lord Zuzarhei received the warning, he did not fully heed it and failed to make the most thorough preparations in time.

Otherwise, our clan's migration here might have involved fewer unnecessary sacrifices, and we might even have been able to gain a more advantageous position.

Ferguson's voice struck Dickinson's last psychological defenses like a heavy hammer:
"A being capable of foreseeing the joint decision of the three forces has come in person to tell you that a deity is in an insurmountable crisis."

Dickinson, what are you still hesitating about?
Must we wait until the Eternal Tombstone is completely shattered, the clan's powerful members fall from their cultivation levels, and the undead army vanishes in droves before we regret it?

This esteemed person's predictions have never been wrong!

Dickinson was jolted awake, forced to force herself to believe this cruel and terrifying possibility.

The fall of the Lich God Vesharun!

This was an unbearable apocalyptic scene, like the sky falling and the earth collapsing, for all the undead creatures who relied on its divine power and believed in its path!

Fortunately, the Dragonborn did not devote their entire faith to Vesalon.

They possess their own racial deity—the progenitor dragon god Valerius the Descendant—which may be their last resort for surviving the upheaval in their pantheon.

Just as Dickinson was engulfed in despair, Cohen's voice rang out again:

"Visharun's fall may not necessarily be a bad thing for you."

After Vesalon's fall, the 'lich' divine office he held, as well as the related authority over the laws of death, naturally became vacant.

You mourn the fallen dragonborn, the dragonborn race most closely associated with the concept of 'lich,' with the dual blood of death and dragons flowing through your veins.

You could absolutely try to reach out to, or even take over, this vacant part of the divine authority and power, and reshape your own independent system of death beliefs!

Cohen's voice carried a stirring vision:

"In this way, you will no longer be completely dependent on an Outer God who may fall."

You will take control of your own destiny, and at that time, the overall power of the mourning dragonborn will surely experience a qualitative leap.

Dickinson's eyes suddenly lit up.

The prospect is too tempting: to break free from dependence on Vesalin, to establish one's own power, and perhaps even to achieve godhood.

This is practically the ultimate goal that all intelligent species dream of.

However, he quickly realized the most crucial, and also the most brutal, problem:
After Veshalun's fall, the vacant "Lich" divine office will surely become an invaluable treasure in the eyes of countless powerful beings in the multiverse.

Other deities of the necromancer order, powerful ancient liches, and even some deities from other pantheons who covet the laws of death... the forces vying for this divine position are definitely not limited to the Dragonborn of Mourning.

Their reliance on the deceased dragon descendants—the progenitor dragon god Valerius the Deceased—was powerful, but ultimately only a deity of high divine power.

In the chaotic and brutal struggle for divine office, in which both gods and demons might intervene, Valerius alone is not enough to guarantee victory, and may even put himself in danger.

unless……

Dickinson suddenly turned her gaze to Cohen, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Unless this mysterious and unpredictable Prince Consort, who can speak on equal terms with the God of Prophecy, controls the resources of the Empire, and may even have an even more unfathomable background, is willing to lend a helping hand!
Cohen nodded slowly under the expectant gaze of the other party:
“Indeed, I can help you, help your ancestor Valerius, and even your entire race, to seize the divine office of 'Lich' in this inevitable divine war!”

Helping Valerius the Demise, the progenitor of the Dragonborn, seize the "Lich" priesthood was not a spur-of-the-moment idea for Cohen, but a move he had planned long ago.

In his past life's game memories, the fall of the Lich God, Veshalun the Undead, has always been a famous unsolved mystery in the game's background story.

Until he transmigrated, the game's official team had not released any concrete information, quest lines, or intelligence that could clearly point out who the real culprit was behind the mysterious demise of this mid-level deity.

At the time, various gaming forums had related speculations. Some said it was an attack by void creatures, some said it was a brutal infighting within the demonic faction for power and resources, and some speculated that it was an ambush planned by the lawful gods against this chaotic evil deity.

However, all of these are just speculations by players, and the game's official team has remained silent, making the matter shrouded in mystery.

However, based on the principle of maximizing post-mortem gains, the one who murdered the Lich God was most likely Baal, the "King" level demon god ranked first among the seventy-two demon gods.

Because in a game update shortly after the Visharen incident, there were data mining and plot hints suggesting that...

Most of the fragments of the "lich" divine authority, the dissipated divine power, and the related death divinity left behind after Veshal's dissipation eventually flowed to Baal, where they were absorbed and fused, greatly enhancing the power of this demon king.

Therefore, within the player community, this event is generally viewed as a dark internal struggle and devouring among the demon gods.

Now that Cohen has foreseen this future and has become deeply involved in the workings of this world, he is now aware of it.

He would certainly not allow this divine office, which contained immense power, to fall easily into the hands of the demons, especially into the hands of King Baal, which would undoubtedly greatly enhance the strength of the opposing camp.

Supporting Valerius the Deceased, the progenitor of the Dragon Descendants, to seize this divine office and bring him under his sphere of influence would undoubtedly be an excellent choice that achieves multiple goals.

It can weaken the Demon God faction, strengthen the power of one's own allies, and further consolidate the alliance with the Mourning Dragonborn.

However, the Dragonborn could not so easily and for nothing receive this immense favor; they had to pay the corresponding price!
Both sides are well aware of the price!

This is far more than just verbal loyalty or limited resource support; it is a deeper and more solid bond, ensuring that this powerful undead dragonblood force can truly be used by Cohen and become an indispensable part of Cohen's future grand ambitions.

Dickinson the Descendant fell into deep thought. This matter was far too significant, directly involving the fall of a god and the struggle for divine office, which far exceeded his authority as the chief of his tribe.

Even though he was entrusted by the progenitor dragon god Valerius to manage the daily affairs of the entire mourning dragon lineage, he dared not easily make a decision on such a major matter concerning the survival of the race and the change of the pantheon.

After a long silence, Dickinson spoke:
"Your Highness, your suggestion is truly astonishing."

This matter has far exceeded the limits of my ability to make a decision.

Moreover, I am currently unable to contact the progenitor, so I cannot report this matter or seek divine guidance.

This is a decision I really can't make lightly.

Cohen didn't expect to succeed on the first try; he simply nodded calmly and said in a composed tone:

“This matter is of utmost importance, and I understand your difficulties.”

Moreover, Visharun's misfortune is not imminent; according to my prediction, it will take at least several more years before he is truly in trouble.

He offered a more conservative solution:
"Once I return to the Prime Material Plane, I will try to communicate with your progenitor dragon god, His Majesty Valerius the Deceased, through my own channels to discuss this matter in person. He will make the final decision then, but you must first give me a token."

This arrangement immediately relieved Dickinson; it was undoubtedly the best approach, neither forcing him to overstep his authority nor compromising the possibility of future cooperation.

He immediately and without hesitation replied:

"Yes, thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

Immediately, as Cohen requested, his hand flickered with necromancy, and a dragon horn, about half an arm's length long and entirely grayish-white, slowly condensed and appeared. This was his identity token, and it also contained a mark that allowed him to have a distant connection with the progenitor.

Cohen accepted the dragon horn, carefully stored it away, and continued:

"Let's set aside the matter of helping you seize the priesthood for now, but based on the trust we've already established, let's talk about some more practical collaborations that can better address your immediate problems."

For example, how to resolve the crisis of the 'Eternal Tombstone' constantly losing power and on the verge of collapse.

I believe Elder Dickinson, you have the authority and the will to make a decision on this matter immediately, don't you?"

Dickinson asked cautiously:

"What do you need me to do?"

Cohen's answer was clear and direct:
"Two things. First, form a solid alliance with the Shadow Dragonborn and jointly send troops to conquer the Molten Dragonborn." This is a clear requirement for military cooperation.

"Secondly, I am preparing to build a powerful dragon legion for one of my partners, and I need you, the mourning dragonborn, to also provide some of your own race to join."

This involves the output of the core power of the ethnic group.

Dickinson frowned slightly, caught in a rapid weighing of options.

The first thing, in his view, was relatively easy to accept.

If Cohen can truly help resolve the crisis of the "Eternal Tombstone" and restore the power of his race, then joining forces with the Shadow Dragonborn, with whom he has little enmity, to attack the Molten Dragonborn, who are mortal enemies of the Thunder Dragonborn, relatively weak, and have little connection with the Mourning Dragonborn, is not unacceptable.

This could even be seen as a strategic expansion from which one could gain benefits, such as certain resources of the lava sea.

The second thing, however, was the one that he found difficult to handle.

"Some ethnic groups should form a dragon legion"—how many "some" are there?

What level of dragon will appear?

Gold tier? Legendary tier?
Most importantly, will this severely weaken the overall strength of the mourning dragonborn, thereby affecting their status and influence among the six major races of the Dragon Plane?

With the conflict with the Corrupted Dragonborn still ongoing and the future uncertain, every piece of high-end combat power is crucial.

Instead of the usual roundabout and probing approach in negotiations, Dickinson directly stated her core concerns:
“Your Highness, I can represent the entire Lamented Dragonborn in our joint campaign against the Molten Dragonborn.”

But it provides opportunities for people of that ethnicity to travel to the Prime Material Plane and form dragon legions...

Forgive my bluntness, but our race is currently facing continuous pressure from the Corrupted Dragonborn, and our internal high-end combat strength is not abundant.

How much do you need, and what level?
Will it shake the foundation of our clan?

I cannot make a commitment without clarifying these points.

Cohen's answer was similar to his approach when he persuaded Ferguson, but he focused more on outlining a blueprint for a shared future.

He first emphasized that he would repair the "Eternal Tombstone" to ensure that the mourning dragonborn would regain or even enhance their power.

Next, he outlined his plans for the future of the Dragon Plane.

With the Shadow and Mourning Alliance at its core, it gradually integrates other Dragonborn forces, ultimately forming a new order capable of countering or even suppressing the Thunder Dragonborn and pure-blooded Black Dragons.

As for Dickinson's concerns, he indicated that the need for the dragon legion would be long-term but phased, with strict control over the initial numbers and ranks.

In return, Cohen will provide specific resources from the prime plane to help the Mourning Dragonborn accelerate the cultivation of the next generation of dragons, and may even provide treasures that help the strong break through, ensuring that their overall strength does not decrease but increases.

Cohen's plan was grand and clear, addressing Dickinson's concerns directly while offering seemingly feasible solutions and a bright future.

Dickinson was eventually persuaded.

But rather than completely believing in Cohen's seemingly perfect plan, he was more impressed by Cohen's amazing background, unfathomable depth, and ability to predict and control destiny.

A being who can be directly associated with the god of prophecy, who is the imperial consort, who was able to bestow the Heart of Time and Space ten thousand years ago, and who has now prophesied the fall of the gods... his promises themselves possess extraordinary weight and credibility.

Under the solemn and ancient ritual of the dead, Cohen and Dickinson, representing their respective sides, signed a friendly and mutually supportive agreement bound by the power of the soul.

It includes military alliances, resource exchanges, and, most importantly, details regarding the deployment of members of the Dragon Legion.

The number of gold-tier dragons to be sent to the main plane in the first batch, the selection criteria, the specific time of handover, and the secret location were clarified.

Cohen planned to hand over the coordination, reception, and follow-up work to Isabella after returning to the prime plane.

After completing all of this, Cohen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although his expression remained calm, a great sense of accomplishment and ease welled up inside him.

After more than twenty days of constant travel, negotiation, strategizing, and even adventure in the perilous Dragon Plane.

He finally succeeded in laying a solid foundation for the grand plan of "building a dragon legion".

According to the agreement, the Shadow Dragonborn will send out thirty selected dragons of Gold rank strength within the agreed timeframe.

The mourning dragon race will also send twenty gold-tier undead dragons or dragons proficient in death magic.

This means that Cohen will soon acquire a terrifying aerial force consisting of fifty gold-tier dragons.

Such a force, placed on any continent in the main plane, would be enough to sweep away the main legions of most countries, and would serve as Cohen's trump card.

Cohen remained in the Bone Wasteland for the rest of the time, and with the close cooperation of Dickinson and others, began to deal with the crisis of the continuous dissipation of the power of the "Eternal Tombstone".

The most fundamental and thorough way to effectively prevent the power of the "Eternal Tombstone" from being further drained is to forcibly sever the deep divine connection between this artifact and its source—the lich god Vesharun.

However, they were unable to contact the progenitor dragon god Valerius and obtain a clear divine message.

The high-ranking members of the mourning dragon lineage dared not act on their own initiative to sever their ties of faith and power with a mid-level deity.

The consequences of such behavior are unpredictable and may even trigger immediate divine punishment.

Therefore, the second-best solution was to temporarily "wrap" the Eternal Tombstone with a powerful external seal, forming a barrier that isolated the inside from the outside, preventing Vesalon from drawing power from the tombstone as easily and continuously as before.

This is like putting a temporary lid on a leaky container; it's not a permanent solution, but it buys valuable time.

But this is easier said than done.

To effectively isolate a mid-level deity from the perception and connection of their important artifacts through sealing, the required sealing power level must be extremely high.

Generally speaking, it would require the personal intervention of a powerful deity or higher, or the bestowal of a special sealing technique containing their primordial divine power, for this to be possible.

With Cohen's current strength, even with his extensive knowledge and possession of a semi-divine artifact, he absolutely would not be able to complete a seal of such scale on his own.

However, Cohen has an advantage that most people cannot match—he can "call in people"... or rather, "call in gods."

Cohen took out the communication stone and contacted Adel. He briefly explained the situation to his sister, the Queen, and asked her to contact the Ice Goddess Daphne and ask this powerful goddess to intervene.

Anyway, it's just a trip to a secondary dimension, and it doesn't violate the covenant of the gods.

After listening, Adele did not hesitate at all. She quickly used special means to convey her request and the situation described by Cohen to Daphne Hanbing, the "Goddess of Ice Element and Ice and Snow," who lived in the Ice and Snow Temple in the Kingdom of Gods.

After listening to Adele's request in her divine kingdom, the goddess Daphne couldn't help but show a hint of helplessness on her beautiful face.

Interfering in the affairs between another mid-level deity and his followers, especially by engaging in such an act that is almost "intercepting," is inherently tainted by karma, and she really didn't want to get involved.

But after all, it was Adele who spoke up herself.

Daphne always found it hard to refuse this human queen with whom she had a special relationship.

In order to maintain the delicate yet important connection with Adele, Daphne eventually agreed to the request, despite the trouble involved.

She stated that an avatar would descend to assist Cohen in completing the temporary sealing of the "Eternal Tombstone".

However, just as Daphne gathered her divine power and cast her avatar towards the Dragon Plane, an incomparably dazzling, pure light, containing boundless warmth and the power of order, suddenly descended! (End of Chapter)