Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Under Cohen's unquestionable orders.

In less than a minute, the entire Ice Demon Guard, under the silent command of Gar and Lavas, quickly and orderly completed its assembly.

All the soldiers held their breath, awaiting Cohen's next instructions.

Cohen's gaze slowly swept over the army behind him, which exuded a chilling aura, as if confirming something.

Then he slowly raised his right hand, palm up.

An indescribable magical power, seemingly originating from the deepest, darkest source of the universe, began to surge from his body.

The surrounding light began to distort and dim, as if swallowed by some invisible force, and even the sounds became indistinct.

Gar, Lavas, and all the demon soldiers felt a strange sensation as if their very existence was about to be erased.

Rule-based technique, control the shadows, activate!

"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.")
In an instant, the space within a radius of several hundred meters centered on Cohen seemed to be forcibly "peeled" from the layers of reality by an invisible giant hand.

A darkness that seemed capable of swallowing everything instantly enveloped the entire guard.

It can only be said that the elite guard personally selected by Grand Duke Zariel did not panic even when faced with such a strange situation.

As darkness completely enveloped everything, not long after...

Cohen himself, the Ice Demon Garr and Lavas, along with the hundred elite demon soldiers, were dragged into a pure shadow plane where even the faintest light and the most subtle sound no longer existed.

The area around Shattered Skull Canyon, which was filled with a chilling atmosphere just a moment ago, suddenly became deathly silent.

It was as if no life had ever existed there.

Meanwhile, far away in the strategic command hall of the Bronze Fortress.

On the enormous magical projection screen, the red, blue, and white dots representing Cohen and his 103 soldiers vanished instantly without warning, all under the watchful eyes of the councilors.

The entire hall was initially deathly silent, then erupted into a cacophony of incredulous exclamations and skepticism.

A councilor from ChainMagic abruptly stood up from his seat, pointed at the screen, and his voice was filled with astonishment:
"What happened? How could they all suddenly disappear?"

"Could they have been wiped out instantly? How is that possible? There wasn't even a hint of warning!"

"wrong!
The human-shaped point of light disappeared for a moment, but then reappeared.

"Could it be that the entire unit has encountered the same situation this time?"

Just as chaos reigned in the hall and various speculations arose, the 103 points of light suddenly reappeared on the previously empty area of ​​the magic projection screen, as if by magic.

What surprised everyone even more was that their location had changed dramatically, and they had appeared directly in the deepest part of the Skullcrushing Canyon!

Before the councilors could recover from this second bizarre disappearance and reappearance, the magic screen began to flash a series of cold system notifications representing kill achievements:
[The First Special Operations Team members have killed a Tier 3 Berserker Demon.]

[The First Special Operations Team members have killed a Tier 4 Berserker Demon.]

[Gale, deputy commander of the First Special Operations Team, destroyed a basic firepower outpost of the Berserkers.]

[Lavas, deputy commander of the First Special Operations Team, has killed a Tier 6 Berserker.]

……

The cold kill messages on the magic projection screen flashed by like a flood breaking through a dam.

Each line of text was like a heavy hammer blow, striking the hearts of every member of parliament present.

The entire command hall fell into an extremely eerie silence once again.

All the councilors stared in disbelief at the constantly flashing messages of merit on the screen, and at the various colored dots of light that were rapidly moving through the canyon.

"Is there really a fully-organized demon army hidden in Skullcrushing Canyon?"

"The Berserker Tribe! It turns out this place has been occupied by a guard unit of the Berserker Tribe!"

"Damn it, that legendary Mind Flayer is gone, but how did this human know?"

Could it be that in those few short minutes at Festering Paradise, he actually obtained some top-secret information that none of us know about?

A cacophony of questions, exclamations, and discussions filled the hall, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

Without a doubt, at this point, no one would naively believe that Cohen's previous actions were reckless or meaningless.

His solo infiltration of "Festering Paradise" and his leading of troops to Skullcrushing Canyon both point to an undeniably clear fact:

In that corrupt land controlled by the "Plague Doctor" Salis, a place even high-ranking members of parliament found difficult to penetrate, he successfully obtained a crucial and accurate piece of core intelligence.

The value of this intelligence has been most powerfully demonstrated by the brilliant results achieved before us.

In an instant, the expressions of disdain, mockery, or schadenfreude that had appeared on the faces of many councilors in the hall gradually disappeared, replaced by a deep sense of solemnity and reverence.

They began to seriously reassess the true potential and value of this "pretty boy" human brought back by the princess.

The very fact that they were able to obtain crucial intelligence from a place like "Rotten Paradise," which even they could hardly access, was enough to warrant the serious attention of all the members of parliament present.

In this eternally burning battlefield, the most important resource has never been simply manpower and equipment, but intelligence!

When the two sides in a conflict are of equal strength, and when their logistical supplies and strategic resources are roughly the same.

Accurate and timely intelligence can often be the key to the outcome of a battle or even a war.

Some councilors who originally belonged to other factions and were not direct descendants of Grand Duke Zariel began to have doubts.

Their eyes flickered uncertainly, clearly indicating that they were undergoing intense internal deliberation.

Such a strategic talent with extraordinary intelligence-gathering abilities, if he were to be incorporated into Afonas's ruling class, it might not necessarily be a bad thing for them and the faction they represent.

After all, no matter which hell king stands behind them, and no matter what their political faction is, they are ultimately members of the Aphonas Layer.

The stronger Aphrodite's overall strength, the more victories this war fortress on the front line of the Nine Hells will achieve in the bloody battles.

Their personal influence and power will increase accordingly.

From this perspective, a talent who can bring victory to Avernus, regardless of his background, is worth recruiting and accepting.

The political climate in the hall seemed to be undergoing a subtle yet profound shift due to this sudden and brilliant victory.

Just as the political undercurrents within the hall were quietly stirring because of this sudden and brilliant victory.

A newly displayed message on the magic projection screen struck the eyes of all the councilors like a silent thunderclap, carrying a devastating impact.

The members of parliament who were still hesitating about whether to change their stance and support Grand Duke Zaril were completely stunned and their previous indecisiveness vanished.
The commander of the First Special Operations Team single-handedly killed a Tier 9 Berserker Lord.

[The First Special Operations Team has achieved its strategic objectives: annihilation of the Berserker Demon's 500-strong guard; successful killing of the ninth-tier Berserker Lord; and capture of the Berserker Demon Tribe's Armory Supply Depot No. 023 (medium-sized).]

[Commander has obtained the "Battle Badge"!]

The moment this message appeared, the entire noisy hall fell completely silent.

All sound disappeared.

Annihilate the entire 500-man guard? Slay a ninth-tier berserker lord? Capture a medium-sized supply depot?

Obtain the Bloodbath Badge?
And in such a short period of time?
How can this be?

Even the most elite of the Nine Hells, the Demon Legion composed of the Grand Duke's personal guards, would struggle to achieve such a result.

It would require meticulous pre-battle planning, heavy casualties, and a grueling, bloody battle to achieve this.

How could it possibly end so easily, like cutting melons and vegetables?
This has completely overturned their understanding of bloody battles and their comprehension of war!

No, the more important thing is the result of the battle itself!

How could that ninth-tier berserk demon lord have been killed by this human alone?
And within such a short period of time?

The councilors present knew perfectly well that the human brought back by Princess Grace was only at the eighth level of strength!

In the Nine Hells Plane, a realm dominated by demons and devils who naturally suppress all outsiders, how could an eighth-tier human kill a ninth-tier berserk demon lord known for its rage and vitality in such a short time of combat?

If it weren't for the magical projection system monitoring the battlefield, whose core was derived from a sacred artifact bestowed by the King of Nine Hells and possessing absolute authority, it wouldn't be possible to monitor it.

The merit information recorded above was absolutely correct; they almost all thought that there was some error in the system!
The entire hall fell silent once more. The notification, "Obtain the Bloodbath Badge," was like a resounding slap in the face to those councilors who had previously been convinced that Cohen had no chance of obtaining the Bloodbath Badge.

The system notification that "obtained the Bloodbath Badge" felt like an invisible yet incredibly loud slap, striking the faces of those councilors who had previously been convinced that Cohen had no chance of obtaining the badge.

Especially when some councilors subconsciously glanced at the magical hourglass on the side of the hall that recorded the start time of the test, an even more chilling fact was ruthlessly laid bare before them:

Less than twelve hours have passed since Cohen officially set foot on the battlefield and successfully obtained the "Bramble Badge"!
This will be the fastest record ever for obtaining the "Blood Battle Badge" in the history of Nine Hells!
A terrifying record that is unprecedented and will probably never be repeated!
Grand Duke Zariel remained expressionless, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome, seated in the main seat.

He didn't even look at the dazed-looking members of parliament, but simply instructed the recorder standing to the side in his deep, steady voice:

"Recorded and archived as top secret."

Then he turned his gaze back to the magic screen, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial matter.

However, the calmer and more unfathomable he appeared, the more a chilling feeling crept into the hearts of the other members of parliament present.

The power displayed by this human, combined with Grand Duke Zariel's understanding and composure, creates a chilling picture.

Many lawmakers' backs were already soaked with cold sweat, and they began to realize that perhaps they had misjudged many things from the very beginning.

This includes the true strength of this human, as well as the unfathomable schemes of Grand Duke Zariel.

The silence in the hall persisted, as if brewing an even bigger storm.

……

Time goes back to ten minutes ago.

When Cohen unleashed his mysterious power, dragging himself and the entire Ice Demon Guard into the Shadow Dimension.

The ice demons Gal and Lavas, who were forcibly caught up in it, experienced a moment of dizziness and sensory deprivation.

He immediately understood why Cohen had insisted on transferring their soul contract to Grace.

This ability allows them to forcefully enter a completely different dimension with hundreds of fully armed life forms, and to move freely and precisely within it.

This is completely beyond their understanding of conventional magic and supernatural power!
This is simply unbelievable!
As extraordinary demons with strength reaching the eighth rank, Garr and Lavas's knowledge and perception far surpassed those of ordinary low-rank demons.

Almost the instant they entered the Shadow Dimension, they vaguely realized that the power enveloping them had touched upon a more fundamental level.

rule!

That is a realm that only beings like Grand Duke Zariel, who have reached the Saint level and are almost godlike, can initially come into contact with and control!
That is the underlying logic that constitutes the operation of the world, the supreme authority that transcends all magical models and energy manipulation.

But how old is this human in front of me?
His strength level is clearly only at the eighth rank!
How could an eighth-order superhuman possibly touch the edge of the rules?

This completely violates the power system recognized by the Nine Hells and even the entire multiverse!
At this moment, even the demonic hearts of Gar and Lavas, encased in millennia of ice, were violently shaken, and a chilling thought arose within them:
Has the extraordinary power of the human superplane developed to such an advanced and unbelievable level?
How could an eighth-level mortal have mastered the power of rules that should belong to the realm of saints ahead of time?

The shock of this thought even temporarily overshadowed their discomfort of being in another dimension and their thoughts about the upcoming battle.

As they looked at the human figure calmly guiding their way ahead, their eyes revealed for the first time a mixture of awe and trepidation.

The secrets and energy hidden within this human being are probably far more astonishing than their boldest imaginations!
However, Gar and Lavas did not have much time to process the shock. Not long afterward...

The Ice Demon Guard had already silently arrived at the destination of this operation—the core and most heavily guarded area of ​​Skullcrushing Canyon—through the passage made of pure shadow.

When they followed the shadowy passage and saw the real world, even the battle-hardened Gar and Lavas couldn't help but gasp in shock.

They were currently in the heart of a canyon that seemed to have been torn apart by the claws of some giant creature, surrounded by towering, dark red rock walls riddled with jagged holes.

What terrified them even more was that, as far as the eye could see, the canyon was filled with monstrous, muscular, and ferocious demons.

They were either carrying heavy supply crates or roughly wiping their gleaming weapons; the entire camp was filled with a chaotic and busy atmosphere.

What's even more chilling is the location at those treacherous high points and key passes in the canyons.

Large magical weapons radiating dangerous energy were prominently displayed!
There were heavy ballistae engraved with hellfire runes, abyssal crystal cluster catapults that constantly absorbed free magic from the air, and even several hellfire jets with muzzles more than a man's width that required several strong demons to operate.

The crossfire network formed by these war machines was enough to tear any army that tried to storm the canyon from the front to pieces!

Upon witnessing this scene, Gar and Lavas' backs were instantly soaked with cold sweat!
Fortunately! Fortunately, the commander possesses this uncanny ability to bypass all outer defenses and sentry posts, silently sending the entire army into the heart of the enemy territory.

Otherwise, if we really follow the conventional tactics and launch a strong attack from the outside of the canyon...

Then these hundred people will probably suffer heavy losses under the dense magical firepower that is about to be unleashed before they even reach the entrance of the canyon, or they may even be completely annihilated on the outskirts!

What made everyone's expressions instantly turn extremely solemn was that on a high platform at the deepest part of the canyon, an exceptionally tall and powerful figure stood with his back to them.

Even just a glimpse of his back exuded a powerful aura that sent chills down one's spine, a pressure belonging to the peak of the ninth rank!

A lord of the Berserker Demon Tribe!
In the Berserker Demon tribe, a small to medium-sized demon tribe whose overall strength is not top-notch and whose highest level of transcendence is usually only legendary.

A level 9 peak berserker is enough to serve as a lord of a region, commanding hundreds or even thousands of people!

Ice Demon Gal immediately forced himself to calm down. He took a deep breath, turned to Cohen beside him, and said in a deep voice:
"My lord, with Lavas and I working together, we should be able to hold off that ninth-tier berserk lord for the time being."

You lead the remaining soldiers of your guard to take advantage of the chaos and wipe out the other demons in the canyon!

Garr's sharp gaze swept over the berserk demons, still dazed and completely unaware that death had arrived, and he added:

"We launched a surprise attack, and the enemy will inevitably be unable to organize an effective counterattack formation in such a short time."

"As long as we act swiftly and decisively enough, taking advantage of their disarray, the chances of winning this battle are still quite high!"

Cohen raised his hand to interrupt the other person and calmly said:
“Leave the Berserker Lord to me. You take your men and eliminate the rest of the soldiers.”

"I'll give you ten minutes, is that enough?"

Garr's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief and horror, and he almost cried out:

"My lord, this is a ninth-tier berserker demon, especially skilled in close combat. When it enters berserk mode, it can unleash twice the power."

Even if Lavas and I joined forces, along with the high-level magical weapons bestowed by the Grand Duke, we could only barely hold it off at best.

This is the Nine Hells Plane. As a human, your strength will be suppressed if you fight alone here. This is too dangerous!

The Grand Duke and Princess asked me to guarantee your safety before they arrived. Everything else is fine, but this is one thing I truly cannot allow you to face a ninth-tier demon alone.

Cohen chuckled and gently clenched his fist. The instant his five fingers closed, both the Ice Demon Garr and Lavas, who were standing in front of him, trembled violently!
The two men's tall and robust bodies convulsed uncontrollably, as if tightly bound by an invisible giant python.

An indescribable, terrifying force seemed to pierce through the barriers of space and directly affect the very essence of their lives.

This prevented them from even having the most basic thought of resistance.

That was an absolute, overwhelming force.

Cohen released his grip at the opportune moment and said calmly:

Am I qualified?

The suffocating force receded like the tide.

Gar and Lavas staggered back half a step, panting heavily.

Their eyes were filled with unprecedented fear and horror as they looked at Cohen.
Just a moment ago, they clearly felt an extremely pure and vast power, as vast as the starry sky!

That wasn't magic, it wasn't spells, but a pure, primal physical power!

They had only ever experienced this level of power in those extraordinary individuals who had reached the legendary realm.

But this human in front of me is clearly only at the eighth level of strength!

Why is he able to unleash such terrifying physical strength?

This is totally unreasonable!
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise and doubt on each other's faces. What kind of husband had their princess found?

However, what happened next left Gar and Lavas speechless, almost doubting whether they were dreaming.

Suddenly, an indescribable power, seemingly originating from the very source of rules, surged around Cohen, spreading outwards like a golden tide from his center, instantly enveloping the entire Ice Demon Guard.

A dazzling golden light shone on the armor of each demon soldier, as if draping them in a sacred battle robe.

Strengthen the runes, raise the banner of command! (End of Chapter)