Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

What's even more suffocating is that, in order to ensure the victory of this ambush...

Gaius had mobilized almost half of the royal guards in the capital, and now, these most loyal and powerful warriors had been wiped out along with Marshal Barrett's defeat.

At this moment, in Quesaon, the glorious capital city hailed as the "strongest kingdom on the continent."

It is facing the most serious crisis since the capital was established.

Although its city walls are still high, the garrison is more sparse than ever before.

Although its treasury remains full, the generals capable of commanding troops and defending against enemies have almost all died out.

What terrified the noble families of Quesaon even more was the terrifying strategic airlift capability that Effie displayed in this battle, a capability that was completely beyond comprehension.

An army of hundreds of thousands was able to silently traverse most of the kingdom's territory and appear wherever they wanted.

This capability completely overturned the traditional war model and shattered all sense of security regarding the "rear."

They feared that one morning when they woke up and opened their windows, they would not see the familiar street scene, but rather the ferocious orc soldiers of Effie and that terrifying eagle banner.

Despair permeated the entire capital region, and even the country's most renowned and capable Field Marshal Orfin Barrett suffered a humiliating defeat, escaping back alone with his entire army wiped out.

In the entire Kingdom of Ceylon, who can now stop the mighty army of the invincible "King of War," Cohen Corleone?

Gaius sank deep into the throne, his gaze vacant as he stared at the murals on the palace ceiling depicting the expansion of territories by past kings.

A series of chaotic thoughts surged uncontrollably into my mind.

This vast kingdom, which had risen to its zenith under his iron-fisted rule and was hailed as the "strongest nation on the continent," is now a powerful nation.

Why has it fallen into such a precarious state in just a few years?
Did it begin with hostility towards Effie?
Gaius frowned deeply.

No, he carefully traced the relationship between Ceylon and that small country in the northwest.

For a long time, Efion has been a rival that needs to be suppressed and weakened in Ceylon's strategic landscape.

Ceylon has never ceased its covetousness and infiltration of Jade Harbour.

It can be said that the initial acceptance of the Saxons' war plan against Alfein was not due to any irreconcilable hatred.

It stemmed more from the greed and strategic arrogance characteristic of established hegemons.

He believed that Ceylon's national strength was sufficient to crush Efin while also deterring other restless forces in the surrounding area.

Gaius thought a lot and even felt a little regretful. If Saxon hadn't had such a sharp conflict with Effie from the beginning, would there still be room for reconciliation between the two sides?

Wouldn't that have pushed Effie, who wasn't originally a mortal enemy, to the opposite side completely?
And he personally created Cohen Corleone, a terrifying enemy who now seems capable of shaking the balance of power on the continent.

However, it's too late to think about these things now.

The wheels of history will never turn back because of anyone's regret.

Gaius took a deep breath; the air seemed to be filled with the melancholy of the end of a dynasty.

Perhaps he really was getting old, Gaius chuckled self-deprecatingly.

The clamor outside the palace, like a rising tide, pierced through the heavy palace doors with increasing clarity.

The chaotic footsteps and suppressed murmurs wove together a web of panic, abruptly pulling Gaius out of his deep thoughts.

Gaius's face showed a hint of pity and mockery. These nobles and officials, who usually acted like respectable men, turned into dogs with their claws scrambling when trouble came up, revealing their true colors in the face of crisis.

Suppressing his inner emotions, he regained the dignity and composure of a ruler and said in a deep voice:

"Come in, everyone!"

squeak-

With a heavy thud, the palace doors were slowly pushed open by the servants.

A large, dark crowd rushed in from outside, making the once spacious hall feel somewhat crowded.

Without exception, they were all from the most powerful small group in Quessane.

Among them were representatives of prestigious families who had held high office for generations, and high-ranking officials in charge of key departments. They were all dressed in fine clothes, but they could not hide the unease and fear hidden on their faces.

The crowd naturally split into several circles.

The most eye-catching figures were the three young princes who were surrounded by a large group of established nobles in the center, like stars around the moon.

Gaius's three sons, Orlando, Charles, and Saxon.

Their arrival made the atmosphere in the hall even more subtle.

All eyes were subtly shifting between Gaius on the throne and the three princes.

It was as if they were examining the various possibilities for the future of this kingdom.

Gaius's gaze slowly swept over every bewildered and uneasy face in the hall, and he calmly said:
"The defeat in a single battle, or even the loss in a major campaign, cannot shake the foundations that the Kingdom of Ceylon has built over thousands of years."

We still firmly control the entire rich southeastern region and most of the vast central territory.

The land, resources, and population still far exceed those of the rebels who rely on trickery and raids to win.

As for Effie, although they were lucky to win this time, they also created a formidable enemy that they would fight to the death.

The Kingdom of Serene will never let this blood feud go unpunished, as even the late Marshal Zane Griffiths of Serene was killed by Effie.

From a broader strategic perspective, this defeat at Ash Plains has ironically forced us to forge a steadfast ally who shares our hatred of the enemy!

This calm and insightful analysis acted like a tranquilizer, calming the previously restless atmosphere in the hall somewhat.

The expressions of many nobles visibly softened.

However, the most critical issue at the moment is not the overall situation of the war, but the challenges that Quesaon is currently facing.

The capital lost half of its royal guard, and Effie also had the means to project troops over long distances.

Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. No matter how good Serene's allies are, if even his own capital is at risk of being attacked by the enemy at any moment.

All strategies would then become empty talk, which is what worries and frightens these nobles who have lived in the capital for generations.

The atmosphere in the hall became slightly tense. Urged on by the gazes of several senior nobles, Prince Orlando spoke first:
"Father, the defenses of Quesaon are indeed quite weak. To be on the safe side, could we consider transferring some elite troops from other fronts back to defend the capital?"

Gaius gave Orlando a deep look and slowly nodded:

"I have decided to transfer the 7th Infantry Division, the 9th Infantry Division, and the 13th Field Regiment back to Quesaon."

Upon hearing this, a series of suppressed gasps filled the hall. Many ministers wore expressions of disbelief.

These three units are all elite forces of the Kingdom of Ceylon, and they are currently deployed at the forefront of the confrontation with the Allied Forces of Guimian City.

Wouldn't suddenly withdrawing them mean handing over large swathes of strategic territory to the rebels?

This is simply...

However, before they could voice their shock, Gaius continued:

"I have already discussed this with the Prime Minister. All the main forces of the army will withdraw to the south of the Leon River, relying on natural defenses to carry out a strategic retreat and preserve our strength."

A temporary retreat is for a more powerful counterattack in the future.

As long as our 'ghost ship' fleet can successfully open up the situation at sea, the scales of victory will immediately tip in our favor.

We will surely reclaim those lands that we have temporarily lost.

The word "ghost ship" seemed to possess a certain magic, instantly igniting the previously somber atmosphere in the hall.

All the nobles and bureaucrats' eyes lit up suddenly, as if they had grasped a lifeline!
Yes, how could they forget that the Kingdom of Ceylon still has such a trump card hidden away!
They also have the powerful ally, the husband of the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire, the pirate king Yann Hughes, who roams the northwestern sea of ​​the Endless Sea.

Soon, a minister couldn't wait to ask:
"Your Majesty, has our ghost ship been completed?"

Gaius did not answer, but instead looked at Gaston Davenport, the vice admiral in charge of the entire ghost ship construction.

Gaston nodded slightly and addressed the crowd:

"The first batch of thirty ghost ships has been completed and is currently undergoing final adaptation training and tactical integration, which is expected to take another three months."

These thirty ghost ships, combined with our existing main fleet, are fully capable of launching a deadly surprise attack on Emerald Harbor, the lifeline of Alfein.

Completely blockade and cut off their maritime lifeline.

In addition, Pirate King Yann Hughes has also agreed to join forces with us.

He will personally lead his most elite 'Crimson Raider' fleet to cooperate with our forces in completely annihilating Efein's naval forces in the designated sea area.

Once we successfully open a second front in the direction of Emerald Harbor, Alfie will be caught between two difficult situations.

At that time, the pressure on our land will be greatly relieved.

Gaston's detailed and compelling report acted like a shot of adrenaline, completely dispelling the gloom that had permeated the hall.

After suffering a series of crushing defeats in the army, these Ceylon nobles have placed all their hopes on this mysterious ghost ship fleet and the world-renowned pirate king.

They now only hope that these weapons, which exist only in ancient epics, can truly restore the Ceylon Kingdom's lost advantage and dignity on land.

……

Just as the fighting subsided, an invisible and intangible energy began to converge on Cohen from every corner of the battlefield.

Experience points!
This is the purest power derived from the combat experience and life essence of hundreds of thousands of defeated and captured enemy soldiers.

The entire battlefield resembled a giant altar, and Cohen stood at the center of the energy vortex.

With his experience points skyrocketing, Cohen quickly reached the threshold for advancing to the eighth rank.

A surge of magical power emanated from his body. After completing the advancement, a series of sounds rang in his ears:
"Shadow Master", "Gate of the King", "Transform into a Thousand Soldiers", and "Counterattack Storm" have been upgraded.

"Mastering the Shadows": A rule-based skill, level six. Grants free access to the sub-plane "Shadow Plane" and grants control over it, with authority equivalent to that of a "Shadow Pope." ("Shadow Pope" authority: Can bring one thousand people into the "Shadow Plane"; summons Bronze-tier Shadow Creatures "Shadow Phantoms," Silver-tier Shadow Creatures "Shadow Hunters," and Gold-tier Shadow Creatures "Abyssal Shadow Beasts.")
Shadow Phantom: Bronze tier, resembling a fleeting humanoid shadow with no physical form. It can actively merge into the shadows and excels at ambushing from the shadows. Its attack method is relatively simple, typically using shadow tentacles to entangle enemies.

Shadow Hunter: Silver tier, a humanoid shadow creature. Capable of moving swiftly through the shadows, instantly appearing behind enemies. Can drain the life force of its enemies, converting it into its own energy.

Abyssal Shadow Beast: Gold Rank, the size of an ox, exuding a dense aura of shadow. Its skin is incredibly tough, making it difficult for ordinary weapons to harm it. The Abyssal Shadow Beast primarily attacks by charging at enemies with its sharp horns or stomping with its powerful limbs.

It can also unleash shadow waves, which deal continuous damage to surrounding enemies and weaken them.

"Gate of Babylon": Rule-based skill, level 5. Simultaneously performs a Willpower check on 10,000 enemies. If successful, the enemy's weapons are added to the "Gate of Babylon". The collected weapons can be used as arrows to unleash 100% of their power.

The power of the weapons that can be used in Gate of Babylon has finally reached 100%.

This means that Cohen can fully utilize any weapon he retrieves, especially since these 10,000 test subjects are an absolute trump card in large-scale battles.

Next are the standard skills:
"Transform into Ten Thousand Soldiers: Level 8. Provides ten thousand friendly units (including the host) with a magical weapon. The weapon's level is determined by the host's class level."

"Counterattack Storm: Level 8. Swing your weapon and enter a five-minute absolute defensive stance. This skill can be activated at any time, stunning enemy units for ten seconds. (Absolute Defense: Immune to attacks of the same or lower tier, reduces higher-tier attacks by 80%)"

Gain two free attribute points.

Now that his strength attribute had reached its peak, Cohen added two more points. A golden light flashed around his body, and a notification sound rang in his ears:
"The Golden Body Trial is complete. My physical strength has been solidified, and I can break through to the Legendary Rank at any time!"

After being strengthened, Cohen's physical body has reached the legendary level and he can break through to the legendary level at any time.

After the breakthrough was complete, the familiar attribute panel appeared:
Name: Cohen Corleone

[Race: Human]

【Age: 22】

[Attributes: Strength (MAX), Agility (14), Willpower (MAX), Intelligence (18), Charisma (MAX)]

[Talent: Child of the Mist]

[Exceptional Profession: Mystic, Dragon Seal Weapon Master.]

[Job Rank: Tier 8 (Mid-Gold), Experience Points: 0/20000000]

[Professional Skills: Transform into Ten Thousand Soldiers (Level 8), Counterattack Storm (Level 8)]

[Rule Skills: Mastery of Shadows (Level 5), Gate of Babylon (Level 5)]

[Passive Skill: Weapon Mastery]

[Runes: Add Fuel to the Fire, Might, Agility, Scope, Frozen Foundation, Banner of Command, Blade Waltz, Zhonya's Hourglass, Symphony of War, Shrink Ray]

[Equipment: Ghostcrab, Power Drink, Guardian Dagger]

Cohen slowly opened his eyes and clenched his fist.

Now, he could probably crush a half-step legendary-level superhuman with a single punch. In terms of physical strength alone, he was no less than a legendary superhuman.

Just as Cohen was getting used to his newly broken-through realm, he received a message from Quesaon.

The messenger was none other than Vice Admiral Gaston Davenport, who had just reported on the progress of the ghost ship's construction to the court! (End of Chapter)