Chapter 13: Advancing Beyond the Extraordinary

Late at night, in the secret chamber of the Earl of Middleton’s manor.

Cohen gazed at the vial of dragon’s blood before him, a strange feeling stirring within. His eyes shifted to Snape beside him.

“My apologies for the hardship, Your Earlship.”

Snape shook his head repeatedly.

“Your Majesty overestimates this old servant. I have failed to protect Your Majesty in place of the late king; the fault lies with me.”

The vial of dragon’s blood was from the royal treasury. Cohen had instructed Snape to request it from the Prime Minister.

Since taking it personally would be too conspicuous, only the Earl of Middleton could be entrusted with such a task.

Poor Earl Middleton—he had been at odds with the Prime Minister his entire life, and now he had to swallow his pride to ask for dragon’s blood. Cohen felt a pang of guilt.

“No suspicions were aroused, I hope?”

Snape shook his head.

“I told Angus that I needed dragon’s blood to temper my body. He knows I am a Totem Warrior, primarily focused on physical strength, so he didn’t question it further.”

Exchanging a vial of temporarily less useful dragon’s blood for the opposition faction’s compromise was an excellent deal for Angus.

Cohen nodded slightly. Besides the vial of dragon’s blood, a ninth-tier magical beast bone lay on the table, used for tracing the sigil.

Snape said, “The bone is the femur of a legendary ‘War Lizardman.’ Not sure if it will work.”

Cohen nodded. “It’s sufficient.”

He uncorked the vial, and an overwhelming aura of draconic power surged forth. Snape had prepared well; his peak Golden-tier presence immediately enveloped the chamber, ensuring not a trace of dragon energy escaped.

Picking up the bone, Cohen gently dipped it in the dragon’s blood and drew a stroke in the air. The thick dragon’s blood condensed in the void, refusing to dissipate.

Cohen exhaled in relief—it was truly genuine dragon’s blood. Steadying his mind, he began to trace the sigil as recalled from his deepest memory.

As time passed, the runes gradually took shape.

The draconic aura within the chamber intensified, while threads of radiant golden power flowed through the arcane runes, sweeping over Cohen’s body.

With the final heavy stroke, the entire chamber brightened as if it were daylight. A golden dragon-shaped sigil slowly materialized before them.

Cohen focused intently; the sigil’s energy flew toward his hand.

With a hum, it felt like a red-hot branding iron searing his palm—an intense pain nearly caused him to faint.

Then, a fierce and chaotic draconic power assaulted his flesh and soul. After hours of this baptism, all settled into calm.

Cohen suddenly opened his eyes; a glimmer of gold shone within his jet-black pupils. His muscular form exuded potent dragon might, causing even high-tier Golden Snape to feel a shiver of awe.

He extended his right hand, and the arcane dragon-shaped sigil slowly appeared—Dragon Seal: Master of Arms, advancement successful!

A series of electronic voices promptly sounded:

“Supernatural profession advancement successful. Gained professional skills: Disarm Barehanded (Level 1), Manifest Army (Level 1), Counterattack Storm (Level 1). Acquired passive skill: Weapon Mastery.”

“Disarm Barehanded: Level 1. Initiate a willpower contest against an enemy; success disarms them.”

“Manifest Army: Level 1. Provide a magical weapon to an allied unit (including the host); weapon tier scales with host’s profession level.”

“Counterattack Storm: Level 1. Wield a weapon to enter a two-second absolute defense stance; reactivating after two seconds stuns enemies for one second. (Absolute defense: immune to attacks of same or lower tier, 50% damage reduction against higher-tier attacks.)”

“Weapon Mastery: Proficient mastery of all weapon types.”

“Host advanced to Bronze tier; granted three random runes.”

As in the games of his past life, each major advancement (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Legendary, Saint…) granted rune choices, enhancing synergy with one’s supernatural profession.

Golden light flickered in Cohen’s eyes as two gold and one silver rune cards appeared before him:

Dexterity (Silver Quality): Grants 40% attack speed. (Cut through chaos swiftly!)

Universal Scope (Gold Quality): Ranged weapons gain 50% increased attack range. (Fast guns beyond seven steps; fast and accurate within!)

Adding Fuel to the Fire (Gold Quality): Attacks apply stackable burning damage, causing continuous harm. (Stacking is the mightiest!)

After a moment’s hesitation, Cohen chose Adding Fuel to the Fire.

This rune’s infinite stacking damage was an effective way to enhance single-target damage, fitting for Cohen’s still modest profession level.

The electronic voice continued:

“Detected host’s supernatural advancement; gained 2 attribute points.”

“Dragon’s blood body tempering: ‘Bronze Body’ refinement 50%.”

As the voice ceased, Cohen’s familiar attribute panel suddenly appeared:

Name: Cohen Corion

Race: Human

Age: 16

Attributes: Strength (11), Agility (10), Willpower (10), Intelligence (13), Charisma (18)

Talents: Shadow Meld (Level 1), Weapon Mastery

Supernatural Profession: Secret Profession, Dragon Seal: Master of Arms. Bronze Body: 50%

Profession Level: Stage 1 (Low Bronze), Experience: 0/300

Profession Skills: Disarm Barehanded (Level 1), Manifest Army (Level 1), Counterattack Storm (Level 1)

Passive Skills: Weapon Mastery

Runes: Adding Fuel to the Fire

Equipment: Ghost Crab

Staring at the familiar panel, Cohen’s heart stirred.

First was the Bronze Body refinement at 50%. Having just advanced, it should have started at zero, but dragon’s blood tempering had immediately propelled it to 50%.

This meant Cohen’s physical power rivaled that of a mid-Bronze-tier supernatural.

Then, the allocation of attribute points.

Cohen had invested all newly gained points into Willpower, as his skill Disarm Barehanded depended primarily on Willpower surpassing the opponent to succeed.

Seeing the “Experience” bar on the panel stirred his expression slightly. In the games of his past life, players could level up not by training but by continuously gaining experience through combat.

Now that the experience function was active on his panel, Cohen could rapidly advance through constant fighting—a boon given his pressing time constraints.

With all matters settled, Snape broke the silence.

“Has Your Majesty’s advancement succeeded?”

Though confident in his sovereign, the Earl of Middleton could not help but feel anxious. The Dragon Seal: Master of Arms was a profession known only through legend.

Cohen returned to his senses, a faint smile curling his lips. A golden radiance shimmered in his hand. As it faded, an archaic curved blade with a razor-sharp edge appeared.

The crimson blade bore mysterious dragon patterns, as if it could cleave heaven and earth with a single strike.

With a thought, the golden light enveloped the blade, transforming it into a round shield. At its center protruded a fierce dragon head, ready to devour its foes.

At will, manifesting a myriad of weapons!

Witnessing this miraculous sight, Snape’s doubts vanished. He bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty is truly a prodigy. To advance in such a legendary ‘Secret Profession’ is proof that Aefin will soon have its true king!”

Cohen waved his hand.

“The court has been turbulent these past days. What news from the southern territories?”

Snape composed himself.

“Not merely turbulent. The queen’s actions in her study are known to all. While the ministers are shocked by her power, many also criticize her methods. Alienating the most powerful noble in the realm is hardly wise in these precarious times.”

He paused, then continued.

“Strangely, the southern duke has done nothing but send a private letter to the Prime Minister. No other responses, not even verbal protests to the senate. It is quite puzzling.”

Cohen’s eyelid twitched.

“A biting dog does not bark. All the more reason not to let our guard down. Earl, keep a close watch on the south—they surely have allies within the capital.”

“Understood!”