Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

An eerie atmosphere descended upon the command center.

In fact, regarding the husband of this princess who suddenly appeared.

Most of the members of parliament present knew very little about it.

Information exchange between the Nine Hells Plane and the Main Plane has always been quite closed, except for the Third Layer Lord "Grand Duke of Greed" Mammon and his subordinates, who have the most trade relations and intelligence gathering with the Human Plane.

Aside from the powerful beings in the main plane, the demons in other realms, especially these military nobles who have been stationed on the front lines of Afonas for many years.

We don't know much about the human plane, especially about a particular powerful being.

In fact, these were the powerful members of the Afonas legislature present.

Perhaps you've vaguely heard the name of Cohen, the rising king of Effie in the main plane, from some interdimensional intelligence channels.

But they would never associate that name with the "princess husband" who is currently the focus of the discussion.

They wouldn't bother to find out such "trivial matters" as the princess of that human empire already having a fiancé.

Even if they knew, they wouldn't care at all.

Because in their deeply ingrained belief, Grace is ultimately a succubus.

For a succubus, having several, or even many, handsome male concubines is perfectly normal.

Based on their conventional thinking rooted in the concept of hell, this "human husband" was most likely just a favorite plaything that Princess Grace picked up on a whim during her travels in the main plane.

Or at best, he's just a pretty boy with some power; his status is nowhere near comparable to a formal political marriage within the Nine Prisons.

Only someone like Grand Duke Zariel, whose status and vision far surpass those of ordinary people, could achieve this.

Only then, through clandestine channels, could they gain a certain understanding of Cohen's true strength and influence in the main plane, and realize his extraordinary value.

Therefore, most of the councilors in the meeting room believed that Princess Grace had simply found a handsome human man she liked and brought him back as her lover.

Their use of this pretext was not actually intended to target Cohen, the "human male concubine," himself.

The real target has always been Grand Duke Zariel.

They wanted to use this "improper" incident as a perfect opening to challenge Zaril's authority.

They are trying to gain more benefits in the political game.

This is one of the reasons why the horned demon Knatu and the beard demon Aranie dared to launch such an attack with such impunity.

Deep in their subconscious, they simply did not believe that a human from the main plane could make any significant impact on Aphonas, a battlefield ruled by demons.

However, at this moment, when they heard with their own ears that Grand Duke Zariel had actually proposed that the princess's "husband" prove himself by obtaining a "Blood War Badge" in just ten days—an extremely difficult method.

When this was approved by parliament, all the members of parliament, including Knatto and Aranieu, were quite surprised.

Zariel's proposed condition was far too harsh, even unreasonable.

This was completely different from the way they had expected Zaril to try to maintain or downplay the situation.

Their carefully crafted script was not like that.

As expected, this war prince, who has always prioritized the interests of Afonas, reacted to such a sensitive political provocation.

The most reasonable response would be to compromise, as has been done in the past, by relinquishing some border patrol rights or material rations.

This is both a common occurrence in the political maneuvering within the Nine Prisons and one of the key objectives of their current attack.

The horned demon Knatu and the beard demon Aranie had the same idea before launching their attack.

But Zaril's tough stance at this moment completely disrupted their plans.

This doesn't seem like the commander who knew when to back down in political maneuvering; instead, it seems like a gambler who's going all in.

This idea secretly alarmed several members of parliament.

Could it be that this pretty boy who suddenly appeared out of nowhere has some extraordinary talent that they don't know about?
It wasn't that Zaril had suddenly changed his personality, but rather that he needed to witness it firsthand.

Does this human chosen by her own descendants truly possess the courage and strength to deserve Aphrodite's full support, as she claims?

Just then, a subtle fluctuation of soul energy emanated from the contract network.

Zariel received a soul communication from the ice demon he had sent to greet Grace.

Those two ice demons, Garr and Lavas, were Zariel's personal guards, bound by a soul contract with him.

It allows for long-distance communication at any time.

Zariel managed to dabble in the connection, but the information Garr reported almost made him lose control of his facial expression.

The human named Cohen, after hearing about the conditions for the "Blood War Badge," actually asked about the reward for obtaining the "Abyssal Essence."

Zariel immediately confirmed via soul link, and after receiving an affirmative reply from Gar, he gave a brief order:
"Take the princess back to the fortress; we'll discuss the details in person."

With communications cut off, Zariel's fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest of the throne.

The meeting continued, and the voices of the lawmakers were muffled as if through a veil of water.

His thoughts were completely occupied by this new situation—how dare a newcomer dare to peer into the "Abyssal Essence" that even the elite of the demon legion hesitated to approach?
Is it arrogance and ignorance, or...?

For the first time, the grand duke who had ruled Aphrodite for hundreds of years realized that perhaps his understanding of this "human son-in-law" was far from deep enough.

What alarmed him even more was that, upon hearing the news, he felt not anger, but an indescribable sense of anticipation.

In fact, he was a warlord who ruled Aphrodite for hundreds of years.

Zariel's intelligence network is far more extensive and sophisticated than anyone imagines; he has long since planted countless hidden informants throughout the human prime material plane.

Therefore, he had already heard of Cohen, a name that had risen rapidly in the prime plane.

They even knew long ago that Cohen and the Pirate King Yann were the same person.

While Emperor Eberron of the Eastern Empire was still deep in the palace, hesitatingly wondering whether the mysterious pirate king and the rising star Cohen were the same person.

Grand Duke Zariel, far away at the front lines of the Nine Hells, has already obtained a definitive conclusion through his intricate intelligence network.

The reason he was able to determine Cohen's true identity so quickly was due to a crucial secret.

Zariel knew from the beginning that Grace's publicly acknowledged fiancé—Yan Hughes, the Demon King and Pirate King—was a complete imposter.

Because of the son of the demon god who truly possesses the bloodline of the fifty-eighth demon god, Ami.

In fact, they had always been under the close surveillance of Grand Duke Zariel.

As the frontline commander of the Nine Hells in the fight against the Abyss Demons, Zariel's experience in fighting the demon legions far surpasses that of the Grand Dukes of other realms.

His intelligence network had already deeply penetrated the demon race.

He learned a crucial piece of information long ago through some extremely secretive channels.

The fifty-eighth pillar demon god, Ami, once secretly laid a contingency plan in the human main plane, leaving behind his bloodline in order to plot certain future schemes.

Therefore, Zariel has always paid close attention to this demon son who has fallen to earth.

In fact, from childhood, Gilworth Gian's every move was never truly out of Zariel's surveillance network.

Naturally, when Gilworth was later recruited by Cohen and became loyal to him, this important information reached Grand Duke Zariel immediately.

So when Cohen later operated in the Endless Sea as the "Pirate King" and "Son of the Demon God" Yann Hughes.

Grand Duke Zariel saw through the disguise almost immediately.

Because he knew perfectly well that the real son of the demon god, Gilworth, was in Cohen's camp, the true identity of this suddenly appearing "Yan Hughes" was self-evident.

All of this intelligence and deduction was finally confirmed when Grace formally introduced Cohen as her fiancé to Zariel.

Grand Duke Zaril conducted an investigation and assessment of Cohen that was far more thorough than most people could imagine.

As the war commander at the forefront of the Nine Hells, and the leader of the largest military group in Hell.

Zaril's ambitions never stopped at merely holding Afonas's defenses.

A far greater scheme burned within him—he longed to one day replace the current King of Hell, Asmodeus, and become the new ruler of the Nine Hells.

However, he was also keenly aware that it would be almost impossible to achieve this goal with the power and resources within the Nine Hells Plane alone.

Asmodeus, the king of the Nine Hells, held an unshakeable control over the Nine Hells.

He must look to a broader, more resource-rich plane of existence, where he can find opportunities and allies to disrupt the existing order.

Cohen's sudden emergence gave Zaril a glimpse of this possibility.

This young human king not only shocked all forces with his absolute strength in sweeping through the Silver and Gold groups in that world-renowned noble martial arts festival.

He has also subtly attracted the attention of the gods, and the potential and influence he has shown have far exceeded the scope of ordinary mortal powerhouses.

Not to mention the astonishing military strength he displayed in the Kingdom Wars, which even made Grand Duke Zariel, a master of warfare, secretly marvel at how formidable the younger generation was.

More importantly, there is the special relationship that Cohen has established with his direct descendant, Grace.

In Zariel's view, this was undoubtedly a generous gift from the god of fate.

A near-perfect partner thus appeared on his strategic chessboard.

It is precisely based on this intelligence advantage that far surpasses that of ordinary people and the potential understanding of Cohen's true strength.

That's why Grand Duke Zaril proposed this seemingly harsh "Blood War Badge" test at today's Supreme Military Conference. His true purpose was definitely not to make things difficult or obstruct.

Instead, he wanted to use Aphrodite, this testing ground of blood and fire, to witness and confirm the human chosen by his great-granddaughter.

What kind of dazzling brilliance can he unleash on the truly brutal battlefield, and where exactly are his limits?
At this moment, when he learned from the Ice Demon Garr, a member of the royal guards, through a soul link that Cohen had not backed down after hearing the conditions of the "Blood War Badge," but instead inquired further about the rewards for the higher-level "Abyssal Essence" badge.

Zariel's heart finally stirred with a ripple.

This almost arrogant confidence and ambition did not arouse his resentment.

Instead, it showed him a kind of courage that was exactly the same as his own when he was young.

Perhaps this time, it's worth betting even more!
Zariel gazed at the distant sky stained red by the flames of war and made a momentous decision.

He decided to take a real gamble, not as a cautious ruler.

Rather, as a gambler eager to break free from the shackles of fate, he wanted to see what kind of miracles this human being could create on this scorched earth!
After a long period of contemplation, Grand Duke Zariel's gaze swept over the councilors.

The moment the members of parliament met that gaze, they all involuntarily straightened their backs.

They sensed an unquestionable decisiveness beneath Zaril's calm and composed expression.

Seeing that Grand Duke Zariel had made such a clear concession.

It is agreed that the "Battle Badge," a highly significant and rigid standard within the Afonas military merit system, should be used as the threshold for recognition.

Even though the members of parliament present still had their own agendas, they couldn't say anything more at this moment.

After all, according to the ironclad military merit system of the Afonas Layer, only commanders who can obtain the "Blood Battle Badge" are truly qualified.

His own actions have already demonstrated his outstanding command ability and battlefield achievements, and he has also automatically qualified to become a candidate for senior officer in Afonas.

This is a rule written into the hierarchical code, and it cannot be questioned.

This naturally means that it has gained the approval of the Supreme Joint Military Council.

Therefore, after a brief exchange of glances and a moment of silent deliberation, the councilors finally expressed their agreement, thus acknowledging Grand Duke Zaril's proposal.

However, just when everyone thought the matter was about to be settled, Grand Duke Zariel, seated in the main seat, spoke again, saying slowly:

"In addition, if he can obtain military merits higher than the 'Battle Badge'."

What position do you, the members of parliament, think would be appropriate for him?

The entire command center fell silent once again.

All the councilors, including the horned demon Knatu and the beard demon Aranie, who had just been secretly pleased with themselves, suddenly raised their heads, their faces showing disbelief.

A military achievement higher than the "Battle Badge"?

In Avernas's military merit system, the Bloodbath Badge is topped with the "Abyssal Essence" medal, which symbolizes the legend of the hunt!
Could the Grand Duke be referring to the "Abyssal Essence," which exists almost exclusively in legends and is something even many commanders of demon legions dare not dream of?

Grand Duke Zariel's startling question plunged the entire strategic command hall into an almost frozen silence.

The lawmakers looked at each other, almost wondering if they had misheard.

If it weren't for the fact that they had already figured out Cohen's background through the intelligence channels of their respective backers.

Once they confirmed that his cultivation level was far below the legendary rank, they would probably really think that this human was a legendary superhuman who had hidden his strength.

Even if we take a step back and assume that Cohen is indeed a legendary powerhouse, obtaining the "Abyss Essence" medal, which symbolizes supreme glory and bloodthirsty strength, would be an absolute challenge!

The conditions for obtaining "Abyssal Essence" are outrageously demanding. It requires the holder to either hunt down a powerful demon in its mature stage, whose strength has steadily reached the legendary rank, either alone or leading an elite squad, on the battlefield.

A mature demon not only possesses terrifying strength comparable to a legendary powerhouse, but also often commands thousands upon thousands of low-level demons.

This forms a massive war cluster.

The difficulty of accurately hunting down a leader amidst a vast army is self-evident.

This requires not only absolute strength, but also extraordinary tactical vision and fearless courage.

In the midst of this oppressive silence, Grand Duke Zariel, seated in the main seat, let out a cold laugh tinged with obvious sarcasm.

His gaze swept across the faces of each member of parliament like a razor, and he spoke slowly:
"how?

Aren't you all always very familiar with the Legion's internal rules and regulations, the Nine Hells' ancient traditions, and the Supreme Council's charter?
Why have they all become mute now?

This merciless sarcasm caused some members of parliament to show expressions of embarrassment and anger, but no one dared to respond easily.

After a brief silence, a councilor sitting to the right of Grand Duke Zariel slowly stood up.

He is one of Zariel's staunch supporters, a seasoned infernal demon.

He first bowed slightly to Grand Duke Zariel, then turned to the entire audience and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:
"If this human can truly create a miracle and obtain the 'Abyss Essence' medal, which symbolizes supreme glory and military achievements."

Therefore, according to our Afonas Layer's ironclad system of military merit-based promotion and rewards, we should grant him the corresponding status and power!

He paused briefly, letting his words echo in the silent hall, before declaring firmly:

"I believe he should be granted command of a 'Heavenly Punishment Legion' at that time!"

"The Legion of Heavenly Punishment!"
The name resounded like a thunderclap in the hall!
As the front line of the Nine Hells' war, Afonas's internal legion organization and division are quite different from the "basic level", "regular level", "elite level", "king level" and "emperor level" divisions in the human main plane.

It is more brutal and more realistic, completely following the survival rules of bloody battles.

Here, the demon legion is strictly divided into four levels according to its combat power and scale.

Each level represents a different battlefield role and resource allocation.

The lowest rank is called "Blood Pact Servants," which are a veritable cannon fodder legion, consisting of hundreds of thousands of inferior demons and a small number of spiked demons, and are an endless supply of consumables.

Their equipment was extremely rudimentary, usually consisting of only crude cast iron weapons and tattered leather armor.

Their sole purpose is to use their own flesh and blood to deplete the enemy's strength and ammunition.

Overwhelming enemy lines with sheer numbers, they are the cheapest and most pathetic consumables in war.

The second tier is called the "Main Force," which represents the true backbone and core strength of the Afonas Legion.

Their size typically ranges from several thousand to tens of thousands of soldiers.

The soldiers who make up the "main battle group" are no longer those chaotic cannon fodder, but well-trained, disciplined, and elite devil soldiers.

It is mainly composed of the barbed ghosts who are good at close combat and the Os ghosts who are good at long-range projectiles.

In addition, each "main battle group" will be equipped with a certain number of chain magic police and bone magic officers.

They were responsible for maintaining military discipline, executing deserters, and ensuring the entire legion operated efficiently on the brutal battlefield.

The main battle group consists of standard devil's line infantry, who are extremely skilled in coordinated operations, able to quickly form an impenetrable shield wall, and also able to launch devastating attack formations under the command of their commander.

They were the cornerstone of the Afonas defense line, responsible for holding the main battlefront, launching decisive frontal offensives, and attacking and defending those vital fortresses and strongholds.

They are an indispensable backbone of the entire war machine.

The third level is what this councilor referred to as the "Divine Punishment Legion".

Unlike the main battle group, which is mainly composed of humanoid demons, the Heavenly Punishment Legion is a strategic force of a completely different nature.

It is not composed of soldiers of flesh and blood, but rather a heavy support unit consisting of all sorts of ferocious and terrifying war machines and behemoths from the abyss of hell.

Their numbers are not fixed and are often determined according to the needs of the battlefield.

But every tamed or modified hellish behemoth, every massive siege machine engraved with evil runes, is priceless.

It represents the pinnacle of alchemical techniques and soul-forging craftsmanship accumulated over countless centuries in the Nine Hells.

These terrifying war behemoths and destructive machines mainly originated from the steel and fire city of the Second Layer Domain Dis, renowned throughout the Nine Hells.

Meticulously crafted by the military-industrial complex under Grand Duke Dispart, it is the most valuable biological weaponry and strategic asset that Afonas has acquired through trade or political transactions.

The highest level is the legendary legion directly under Grand Duke Zariel.

There are only a handful of such legions in the entire Afonas.

It may not be large in scale, but it is composed entirely of top-tier ice demons, high-ranking contract demons, and other powerful mutated demons.

The Legendary Legion is Afonas's true strategic force.

Their very existence is enough to single-handedly turn the tide of a major battle.

Their fighting style has long since transcended simple sword and spear combat.

It involves advanced war magic, large-scale soul curses, and grand strategies capable of influencing the rules of local planes.

They are typically used to launch strategic cross-dimensional expeditions in response to the personal invasion of the Abyss Lord, or to carry out the supreme will of Asmodeus, the King of the Nine Hells.

This strict legion ranking system directly determines the priority and quality of logistical supplies that each legion can obtain.

As the pinnacle of legendary legions, they enjoy the highest priority in supply, equipped with the best magical equipment, the latest weapon prototypes, and the most abundant soul sustenance.

The lowest-ranking blood-pact slave cannon fodder legion can only obtain defective products to maintain basic combat needs and minimal energy supplies.

This is Avernus's cold yet efficient war logic: resources are always tilted towards the strongest.

Only by proving one's worth can one win the right to survival and power. (End of Chapter)