Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby novel Chapter 298

Chapter 298: Kingdom’s Survival

Eleanor entered level eighty-three without guidance. There was no record of this stage in the academy library. From here onward, she knew she would be moving blind.

The light was blinding when she stepped through, forcing her to shield her eyes with her left hand. When her vision adjusted, she realised she was lying in a lavish bedroom. Four great pillars rose at each corner, supporting a high ceiling from which a golden chandelier hung in regal splendour. The whole place looked like a set pulled straight from a medieval castle.

Before she could make sense of anything, a knock sounded at the door. She hesitated, unsure how to respond, but the door opened on its own. A woman stepped inside... delicate, light blue hair cascading down her back, pointed wolf ears, golden eyes, and a lithe frame of about five foot eight. A rare beauty at first glance.

Then a familiar voice echoed in Eleanor’s mind... the Tower’s voice, calm and resonant. "As the first werewolf below Ascendant to reach this trial story of the Tower of Legends, you are granted permission to attempt the Trial Story: Kingdom’s Survival."

The voice paused, then continued. "You are the ruler of the Werewolf Kingdom of the East. The woman before you is your personal servant and friend, Neva Sterling. Forces are preparing to invade your kingdom, and you must save it from destruction."

Another short pause. "As always, death within the trial will not claim you. Upon death or surrender, your consciousness will be returned to your capsule. You must clear this trial within seven days, equivalent to ten minutes in Midgard time."

"Kingdom’s Survival?" Eleanor muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something, my Queen?" the woman named Neva asked, looking at her with polite concern.

"Ah, nothing," Eleanor replied quickly.

Her mind shifted into high gear. Any awkwardness or inconsistency now could fracture her credibility in this role.

Eleanor pushed herself upright on the bed, recognising instantly that the scene implied she had just woken from sleep... and that Neva had entered without needing any permission. That meant two things... this queen trusted Neva deeply, and Eleanor had no room for hesitation. She had to act like a monarch who owned the ground beneath her feet.

Remembering every queen she had seen in films, and the few she had met in person, she drew herself up, spine straight, chin lifted, expression firm. Confidence and authority... those were her armour now.

"Neva Sterling," Eleanor said, her voice sharp and steady, "report the current situation."

The sound of her own voice startled her. It was older, deeper, carrying a weight that didn’t belong to her. But Neva didn’t react. Either she didn’t notice the difference... or this was simply how her queen sounded.

Neva bowed her head respectfully. "My Queen, the Troll King approaches with an army of one hundred thousand... estimated to arrive in three days. The Spider Queen will follow, her two hundred thousand soldiers reaching us in four days. The Undead King will be watching for the outcomes of these battles. His undead legions number over a million, and once mobilised, they will need only a single day to reach the capital. The Ocean King’s forces have sealed off escape by sea."

Eleanor kept her expression impassive. "How many soldiers do we currently have?"

"We have one hundred thousand capable warriors, all willing to lay down their lives for the Wolf Kingdom," Neva answered.

"I see..." Eleanor murmured.

Inside, her mind raced. She desperately wanted to ask why these armies were converging on this kingdom, but as a queen, she should already know that. Asking would raise suspicion... or worse, expose her. And in the end, she only needed to keep this kingdom alive for seven days. Whatever the cause of this war was, she could survive without knowing... as long as she didn’t slip.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, "Tell me which direction each enemy is approaching from."

"The Troll King from the north. The Spider Queen from the east. The Undead King from the west. And the Ocean King from the south," Neva replied promptly.

Eleanor’s jaw tightened. "This situation is a total nightmare. To last seven days, I have to defend against the Troll King first... then the Spider Queen. Thankfully, the Undead King and the Ocean King won’t attack immediately. But the odds were crushing... outnumbered, surrounded, and without context."

She thought as her mind raced, "Not only must I defend this kingdom with fewer troops... I also need to learn why these kings are targeting it without exposing myself."

After clarifying her priorities, she chose to stay close to them, willing to let the order shift as needed. In any case, the seven-day countdown had begun. She had a grace period of at least two days to settle a few matters, as the first attack would reach them in three.

"Neva Sterling, why must they target my kingdom? Have I wronged them somehow? Or wronged anyone at all? Why can’t they leave us in peace to fend for ourselves?" Eleanor sighed with theatrical despair. With her freshly woken face, she looked pitiful and worried in equal measure. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"My Queen, the world is rarely fair. Although your people love and respect you as they did your father, this is not about the kingdom. It is about your inheritance. It has been one week since our beloved King passed away. You are the only Alpha left in the pack. With your mother gone these many years, there is no one to guide you as a new Queen. The other kingdoms believe this is the perfect time to seize our lands, enslave our people, and, most importantly, prevent anyone from claiming our Royal Inheritance." Neva spoke in a low voice, sorrow threading through her tone.

After a brief pause, she continued, "Although your subjects adore you and have regarded you as their Queen for years, without the inheritance you are not, in their eyes, a true Queen. Beyond the werewolf cities, the other races will never accept you fully. You have very little time left to attempt the inheritance trial. The days given to you after your father’s death... you spent them in grief. I know how deeply you loved him, but some have already begun to doubt your worthiness to rule. Forgive me if I speak too bluntly, but it is the truth. And as your personal maid, I am bound to speak truth when it is just you and me."

Eleanor fell silent at Neva’s recounting. Even without prompting, the pieces began to align in her mind. At last, she could see clearly how the events had unfolded.

A new question surfaced. "Why can’t I lead this kingdom without the inheritance? I should at least understand what it is."

Aloud, she said, "Neva Sterling, please bring all the books related to the inheritance to my room. I want to look through them once more. And bring a few history books connected to my family as well. My father once told me I could obtain the inheritance more swiftly if I understood my lineage clearly. I simply want to revisit my memory."

Neva blinked at her in surprise, but eventually replied, "You’ve read every book in our library. You’ve never forgotten anything in your life. But if you want them, I’ll bring them to your room."

She paused, then added, "But I advise you to have breakfast first, before you concern yourself with anything else."

Eleanor’s heart gave a sharp jolt at the reminder of her perfect memory. She had nearly exposed herself. Keeping her expression stony, she said, "I will have breakfast here. Please be quick. I have little time to spare."

Neva bowed slightly and left the room, murmuring, "As you wish, My Queen."

After Neva left the room, Eleanor finally had a moment of quiet to test her suspicion. She gave a mental command to open her status screen. A second later, the familiar translucent panel blinked into existence before her eyes.

Eye of Wisdom (Level 1) [Active] - When opened, it eliminates ignorance, illusion, and desire, leading to complete freedom from worldly attachment.

Combat Skills:

Tactical Foresight [Passive] – Battlefield analysed at a glance; enables optimal targeting and movement.

Killing Precision [Passive] – Strikes automatically direct themselves towards vital points.

Predator’s Awareness [Passive] – Senses minute shifts in an opponent’s intent or movement.

Voltaic Strikes [Active/Passive] – Imbues physical attacks with lightning damage. Damage output increased when active with extra armour penetration.

Overdrive Focus [Active] – Channels latent energy into heightened speed and reflexes for a brief duration. While using lightning attacks, speed and reflexes increased by an additional 50%.

Mind Arts:

Mental Lock [Active] – Locks onto a chosen target, suppressing all distractions until the kill is achieved.

Clarity Veil [Passive] – Immunity to illusions, mind-control, and memory tampering.

Memory Erasure [Active] – Erases selected memories from weaker beings for a limited span.

Thunderbolt Arts:

Bolt Step [Active] – Enables short-range, lightning-fast dashes that defy conventional movement.

Static Flash [Active] – Emits a blinding burst of light and electricity to disorient foes.

Lightning Touch [Active] – Channel energy through fingertips, releasing a concentrated surge of electricity upon contact. It can be used as a high-voltage cutting tool.

Lightning Projectile [Active] – A focused sphere of charged energy hurled from the palm. Simple but versatile, it provided excellent reach for early combat training. Can be overcharged for a larger, slower, area-of-impact blast.

Call Lightning [Active] – After a brief channelling time, calls down a devastating bolt of natural lightning from the sky upon a single target. Gains homing properties against targets marked by Electroreception.