Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Just as Sal was consumed by murderous intent and preparing to lead a group of legendary warriors to storm the command castle and tear "Cohen" to shreds, Cohen spoke up at the opportune moment:
"We must fight this battle, which concerns our very survival. We must act with overwhelming force and not allow any mishaps."

"Though my strength is meager, I am willing to follow you, my lord, and deliver a fatal blow to this legendary king!"

Sal was filled with fervor to kill Cohen and turn the tide, so he readily accepted the suggestion from his chief of staff, who was known for his exceptional wisdom and numerous good strategies.

He grinned menacingly and nodded, saying:
"Alright, this night, destined to be recorded in history, certainly wouldn't be complete without you!"

With Thrall's command, along with Korn, a total of seven figures (Thall, three Death Knight Lords, two Shadow Assassin Masters, and Korn disguised as Mayne) transformed into seven streams of light, each different in color but equally filled with murderous intent.

Like seven scythes of death, they slashed fiercely at the seemingly undefended command castle below.

Almost at the same time that the three tomb masters used their earth-shattering methods to forcibly seal off the space of the Bius city-state with the power of a hundred-star saint, that undisguised, vast, and abyss-like saintly aura, carrying a strong sense of death and spatial fluctuations, appeared.

Just like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, it instantly spread from the city-state of Bius to the entire northwest continent and even the entire Demon Tide Continent!
Saints, especially the Hundred-Star Saints, are extraordinary beings who stand at the pinnacle of the continent.

The energy fluctuations when it unleashes its full power are particularly striking given the imminent announcement of the Covenant of the Gods and the unprecedentedly sensitive atmosphere on the continent.

It was like lighting a beacon in the dead of night—bright, dazzling, and full of unsettling omens.

"Saint-level fluctuations, from the northwest continent."

Such a strong sense of death and spatial order... which tomb owner of the Black Tomb is this?

In the depths of the palace of King Tandin of the Central Empire, a certain saint, who had been in seclusion for cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze, sharp as lightning, pierced through the layers of palace walls and looked towards the northwest.

"A saint has violated the unspoken rules and directly intervened in secular wars?"

The target... is the Effie front!

In the Imperial Observatory of Dragon City, Eastern Empire, the astrologer responsible for observing the flow of energy across the continent turned pale with shock, almost dropping the crystal ball he was holding.

"How dare you! You are the tomb owner of Serene!"
How dare they break the Saints' Agreement like this, even ignoring Dean Dumbledore's warnings!

In the Western Regions Empire, a powerful figure who was discussing the details of an alliance with his allies slammed his fist on the table, furious. But then his expression turned extremely solemn; the distance was too great for him to intervene.

The Northern Empire, the Southern Empire, the Eastern Empire, and numerous other powers in the overseas archipelago...

All powerful beings on the continent who sensed this fluctuation, whether they were imperial guardians, reclusive experts, or leaders of various organizations, were alerted immediately.

After a brief period of shock and investigation, combined with frontline intelligence and energy signature analysis, the truth quickly came to light:
The actual controller of the Kingdom of Serene, one of the core high-ranking members of the Black Tomb, a veteran saint, a hundred-star saint—the Third Tomb Master—actually took action personally.

To carry out a sneak attack while basking in the glory of a saint.

Their target was none other than the front-line command headquarters of Cohen Corleone, the current most prominent figure in the Kingdom of Efein, who was regarded as a rising star on the continent!

Moreover, the appearance of the three tomb masters was accompanied by the energy reactions of the Demon Lord and several legendary-level powerhouses.

This was no ordinary display of divine intimidation, but a meticulously planned, naked "decapitation" operation aimed at instantly destroying the enemy's mind!
This earth-shattering news instantly swept through the upper echelons of the entire Demon Tide Continent.

All forces, regardless of their stance, were shocked by this sudden attack that violated the bottom line of the rules.

"The Black Tomb has gone mad, the three tomb masters have gone mad, how dare they?"
This is the Emperor Consort of the Central Empire, the son-in-law of the Golden Wing family, and the husband of the next Elf Queen!

Are they going to start a war between saints?

"A Hundred-Star Saint personally launched a sneak attack... Cohen Corleone is finished, Effie is finished!"

This is breaking the rules!
The saint directly attacked the secular monarch, and it was a sneak attack!
The rules established by Cobalt Soul Academy back then have been completely trampled upon!

"It's too late... The distance is too far. By the time we react, it's all over."

A meticulously planned sneak attack by a Hundred-Star Saint—who can withstand it?

"Alas, what a pity! Such a brilliant talent, must he perish like this?"

"Hehe, the tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

Effie's rapid rise to power has aroused jealousy.

The mainland was shocked, and public opinion was in an uproar.

There were those who gloated, those who lamented, and those who were angry at the rule being broken. But there was also a deep chill and a sense of powerlessness in the face of a Hundred-Star Saint who was willing to tear off all pretenses and personally intervene.

Any secular defense or legendary protection seems pale and powerless.

This is no longer a war, but a crushing defeat, a annihilation.

In an era where great power resides within oneself, no matter what kind of alliance or rules there are, they are all just a piece of paper that can be broken at any time in the face of supreme power!

The five great empires reacted the fastest, convening an emergency virtual joint meeting almost immediately after confirming the news through the highest-level magical communication network.

This contingency plan was originally intended to address the upcoming announcement of the Covenant of the Gods.

I never expected it would come in handy today.

There was nothing they could do; a hundred-star saint had to take action, and against a human monarch with considerable influence on the continent!
The atmosphere at the meeting was extremely tense.

Even through the magical light and shadow, the projection of Empress Shanis Klein of the Central Empire revealed the frost covering her stunningly beautiful face.

The expression on Shanies' face wasn't feigned.

Although Cohen had revealed some of the arrangements to her through clandestine channels before the plan began.

Knowing about the plan is one thing, but witnessing a hundred-star saint leading several legends to assassinate her fiancé is quite another.

That feeling of having your heart clenched, even with absolute faith in Cohen, could not be completely eliminated.

Her fingers tightened slightly, but her voice remained clear, cold, and firm:

"Therren and Black Tomb broke the rules first, and regardless of the outcome of this battle, the Central Empire reserves the right to take all necessary measures to respond to such despicable acts."

She was laying the groundwork for possible further intervention and putting pressure on the other major empires.

After all, if a human king were to be killed in such a way by a saint, what order would there be left in the human world?

Emperor Monroe of the Western Regions Empire also had a grim face:
"Utterly shameless! A saint's sneak attack! This is the biggest joke in the world!"

Effie is a staunch ally of the Western Regions. The actions of the Black Tomb and the Demon Gold Empire are a provocation against the order of the entire continent!
Unfortunately...and it's a pity that the distance is so great that our sages cannot arrive in an instant..."

His anger was filled with helplessness. Although the Western Regions Empire was also located on the Northwest Continent, even if they immediately sent a sage, it would be too late.

After all, with a Hundred-Star Saint making a move, unless prepared in advance, Cohen would have no chance of survival.

The expressions of Emperor Abraham of the Northern Empire and Emperor Wilson of the Southern Empire were far more complex.

They had no close relationship with Effie and were even wary of Effie's rapid rise.

At this moment, while shocked by the decisiveness and madness of the three tomb owners, deep down they couldn't help but harbor a dark thought of "sitting on the sidelines and watching the tigers fight" or even "being happy to see it happen."

After all, an excessively powerful and uncontrollable emerging force is itself a shock to the old imperial order.

Their statements consisted mostly of formulaic condemnations and concerns about rule violations, but not a single substantive rescue proposal was mentioned.

Meanwhile, the projection of Emperor Eberron Tang of the Eastern Empire had a somber expression and terrifyingly deep eyes.

He was just plotting in the court how to extort some betrothal gifts from Cohen when he suddenly learned that his son-in-law might be besieged and killed by an old saint and a group of legends.

The feeling is indescribable.

If it weren't for the fear of exposing Cohen's identity, he would have sent people to rescue him right now.

However, he quickly realized the problem.

If Cohen had really been ambushed, his daughter wouldn't have remained indifferent until now!
Could it be that……

Thinking back to how Cohen had repeatedly schemed against forces stronger than himself, Emperor Eberron gradually understood.

It's most likely another trap set by Cohen!

His mind raced, and finally he said in a deep voice:

"The saint's violation of regulations concerns the Continental Convention."

The Eastern Empire has instructed nearby Sages to monitor the situation closely and to intervene if necessary!

This statement is quite flexible, leaving ample room for maneuver, but it also demonstrates an attitude.

He thought to himself: Cohen, you better not really fall for this.

My "bride price" is still undecided!

The meeting was noisy, but everyone knew a harsh truth: distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

A surprise attack orchestrated by a Hundred-Star Saint, without any prior precautions from other experts of the same level, was almost an unsolvable dead end.

On the continent, countless gazes, some worried, some indifferent, and some gloating, were cast toward the northwest, toward the city-state of Bius, which was firmly sealed off by the golden spatial barrier.

Everyone believed that Cohen Corleone, this young king who rose like a comet, was likely to have his career come to an abrupt end at the height of his glory.

The personal intervention of a Hundred-Star Saint has, in the eyes of many, brought this sudden decapitation operation to an inevitable end.

No one knew that within the barrier, the positions of hunter and prey had long been reversed.

A bloody counterattack against the decapitator has only just begun.

Meanwhile, the young king, whom many forces on the mainland either worried about or sentenced to "death," was now acting as an "advisor" to the enemy.

Following leisurely behind the murderous Demon Lord Thrall, like a calm spectator, he awaited the climax of the show and prepared to personally deliver... the fatal finale!

……

The city-state of Bius, command center.

Sal and his group of seven broke through the hastily organized defenses around the command post with overwhelming force.

The elite guards proved utterly ineffective against the six legendary transcendents. Everything went so smoothly that even the last vestige of doubt in Sal's heart vanished, leaving only the bloodthirsty excitement of his prey about to be captured.

They advanced as if they were in an empty field, heading straight into the core of the command fortress—the strategic command hall.

Inside the hall, the huge magic sand table still shimmered with a faint light, depicting the situation on the northwestern battlefield. Beside the sand table, the familiar figure wearing a battle robe, with his back to them, seemed to be gazing at the table. Who else could it be but Cohen Corleone?

"Hahahaha!" Sal could no longer suppress his wild laughter. His legendary high-level aura surged out like a volcanic eruption, instantly dyeing the magnificent hall with a dark red hue.

"Cohen Corleone, you never thought you'd end up like this, did you!"
No matter how powerful your dragons may be, or how invincible your fanatical army may be, you are now alone here, with no way to escape!

He stepped forward and said loudly:
"If you're smart, order your troops to halt their attack and retreat across the board right now."

Perhaps, if I'm in a good mood, I might spare your life, making you a puppet king, barely clinging to life!

The Death Knight Lord and the Shadow Assassin Master who followed him also quickly dispersed, forming a swarm that blocked all escape routes, their intense killing intent almost tangible.

Korn, disguised as Mayne, "perfectly" lagged behind Thrall by half a step, appearing to be a loyal protector of his master.

However, faced with Sal's arrogant declaration and the encirclement of the powerful figures, "Cohen" showed no panic.

He didn't even turn around immediately; his shoulders seemed to shrug slightly, and then a soft laugh, tinged with obvious mockery and pity, echoed in the empty hall:
"Ah……"

Cohen slowly turned around.

However, what came into the view of Sal and the others was not the young yet dignified face they had expected, but a stunningly beautiful face that could topple kingdoms.

Her long, flowing hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her purple eyes held a hint of languor and playfulness, and the curve of her lips was alluring yet icy cold.

As she turned around, the magic that had been used to disguise her rippled away like water, revealing a curvaceous and fatally alluring body—it was none other than Melantha.

"you……"

Sal's sinister smile froze instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Cohen isn't there; he's a stand-in!

His heart sank, but his long-standing habit of holding a high position and having an inflated sense of self-importance prevented him from immediately considering the worst possibility. Instead, he was filled with a furious anger at being fooled.

After all, it's perfectly normal for someone in a high position to have several stand-ins.

Melantha calmly brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, her purple eyes gleaming as she sneered:

"Tsk tsk, it seems my husband was absolutely right."

Lord Sal, you are truly foolish; no wonder you were able to be completely fooled by him.

From the mighty ruler of the Demon Gold Empire to this pathetic state of a stray dog.

"You bitch! You're asking for it!"

Thrall was enraged, and the power of the abyss surged violently, causing the temperature in the hall to rise sharply and the air to distort.

But he suppressed the urge to tear the woman to pieces immediately, and sneered coldly:

"Well done, Cohen Corleone."

As cunning as a fox, he even dared to use a body double at the frontline command post.

"And such an alluring substitute... It seems his feelings for you aren't that deep after all, that he'd be willing to leave you here in this certain death zone?"

His bloodshot eyes swept fiercely over Melantha's exquisite face and body:

"Since that coward Cohen doesn't dare to show himself, then I'll take you down first!"

As he spoke, he gestured for his men to capture Melanie.

In his opinion, Cohen's use of a body double was unexpected, but also reasonable, since valuing one's life is a common problem among those in high positions.

If they can win over this woman who seems to be Cohen's confidante or even his lover, they still have a huge bargaining chip.

However, Sal's words had not yet completely faded—

"Ugh—!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream, a mixture of shock, agony, and disbelief, suddenly erupted from Thrall's mouth.

It did not come from Melantha in front, nor from the enemies waiting on all sides.

The attack came from behind him.

From his most trusted and relied-upon chief of staff, who had just loyally offered to follow him—Maine!
Just as Sal's attention was completely drawn to Melantha, and his mind relaxed for a fraction of a second because "Cohen is a substitute," Cohen, who had been standing quietly to his side and behind, moved.

"Pfft!"

The dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh was accompanied by the sizzling sound of abyssal demonic energy being forcibly torn apart.

Thrall's ferocious armor, crafted from abyssal iron and dragon scales, was pierced through like paper by this dark golden light.

A violent, holy power surged wildly into Thrall's body through the wound, instantly severely damaging his demonic soul essence.

Enhanced Runes, Blade Waltz!

Adding fuel to the fire!

"Maine!!! You—!"

Sal turned his head sharply, his face instantly replaced by boundless pain, astonishment, and overwhelming rage.

He stared intently at the calm, even indifferent face behind him, completely unable to comprehend this sudden betrayal.

Under his horrified gaze, "Maine" slowly raised his other hand and pressed it against his face.

A burst of magic flashed, revealing a young, handsome face with well-defined features, now bearing a cold, mocking smile.

His dark eyes were as deep as the night, seemingly capable of swallowing all light, reflecting Sal's face, contorted with pain and shock.

Cohen's voice rang out calmly, a stark contrast to the slightly obsequious tone of "Maine" before, carrying an air of composure and coldness as if he controlled everything:
"Your Majesty, the Cohen Corleone you're looking for... isn't he right here?"

The moment the words fell, the aura that Cohen had been deliberately suppressing erupted like a dormant volcano.

A surge of immense magical power, mixed with a higher-level, soul-chilling pressure, soared into the sky and instantly filled the entire command hall.

Although he was only at the ninth rank, his aura was so powerful that even the legendary death knight lords and shadow assassin masters who were eyeing him with predatory intent subconsciously took a half step back, their faces filled with horror.

"Mayne...it's Cohen?!"

"How is this possible?!"

"We've fallen for their trap!!!"

When Cohen ripped off his disguise and revealed his true self.

The familiar face that they both hated and feared slowly reappeared, and the air in the entire command hall seemed to freeze completely.

Not only was the Demon Lord Thrall himself struck dumb, but the five legendary-level powerhouses he brought with him—three Death Knight Lords and two Shadow Assassin Masters—were also horrified.

Alarm bells rang wildly in my mind, and a chilling fear shot straight from my tailbone to the top of my head!

The "insiders" they trusted and believed in, who guided them through the defenses, turned out to be the number one enemy they were determined to kill on this mission!
The shock of this unbelievable truth was even greater than when Melantha was disguised as Cohen!

what does this mean?
This means that their supposedly top-secret and meticulously planned "decapitation" operation was carried out entirely under the enemy's nose, and even guided and perfected by the enemy!
They stepped into a death trap tailor-made for them!
"puff--!"

Sal was so enraged that the wounds inflicted by Cohen's bizarre attack on his body reopened due to the intense emotional turmoil.

He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his breath instantly weakened considerably.

He stared intently at Cohen, his crimson eyes filled with endless resentment and rage, as well as a hint of fear that even he himself was unwilling to admit...

It's you, it's always been you!

Mayne... Cohen! Aaaaaah—!

Thrall let out a shrill roar that was not human, filled with the humiliation of being fooled to the extreme and the madness of his plans collapsing completely.

Cohen's appearance made him feel like a clown being manipulated.

Trust? Reliance? He actually treated his greatest enemy as his most trusted chief of staff!

This is simply the biggest stain and disgrace of his long career!

At the same time that Thrall's camp was shaken and thrown into chaos by this astonishing reversal—

Rumble! ...

Above the city of Bius, the three tomb masters were also shocked upon hearing the news.

He never expected that Mayne, whom he valued and admired so much and even wanted to recruit, was actually his mortal enemy Cohen in disguise!

However, he soon lost interest in all of that.

The golden spatial barrier he created trembled violently like never before.

The entire barrier of light was like a lake surface tossed with a giant rock, rippling wildly in terrifying waves.

Even the sealed-off space inside began to distort and vibrate unstablely, emitting a hum that seemed to be unable to bear the strain!
In his perception, four vast and boundless auras, like four burning stars, crashed into the outer edge of his barrier.

"A saint of the Starburst Clan! And... a lackey of the Church of Light!"

A furious and terrified scream emanated from the depths of the three tomb owners' souls.

He saw that outside the barrier, in the east and west directions, four towering figures appeared.

In the east, where stars shone brightly, three figures dressed in ancient robes with star patterns, their faces shrouded in starlight, stood side by side.

These are the three ancient saints of the Star Clan who have lived in seclusion!
Their auras merged into one, as if drawing upon the power of the stars in the heavens, transforming into a vast starry sea that rivaled the death space barrier of the three tomb masters.

In the West, holy light shone brightly, and an old man clad in a platinum robe and holding a radiant power stood in mid-air.

It was none other than Saint Emerson, the ascetic of the Holy See!
He radiated a pure and intense power of light, which was in stark contrast to the deathly aura of the three tomb masters.

The clash between light and darkness produced a hissing sound, putting immense additional pressure on the barrier of the three tomb masters.

The great battle of the saints is about to erupt! (End of Chapter)