Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby novel Chapter 301

Chapter 301: The Forbidden Land

After discussing the kingdom’s affairs and instructing Neva Sterling to placate the elders and prepare for battle, Eleanor resolved to enter the forbidden land and claim her inheritance. She was certain it was the only path forward.

Neva protested her sudden decision, but in the end she understood... without the sword, the kingdom stood no chance against the might arrayed at its borders. They might fend off one army, but doing so would expose the other fronts. And even if they repelled the Troll King, the others would strike the moment their forces weakened.

At last, with a heavy heart, Neva agreed to Eleanor’s plan. While Eleanor attempted to gain the inheritance, Neva would ready the armies for war. Whether Eleanor emerged from the forbidden land in time or not, the Wolf Kingdom would stand against the Troll King’s advance.

When Eleanor reached the land behind the castle, an ominous sight greeted her. No signboard was needed; the thick, unnatural mist was warning enough.

Leaving Neva standing at the edge, Eleanor stepped forward.

She walked into the forbidden land with steady confidence. Yet the moment she crossed into the mist, a cold tremor ran through her. She had not felt such a sensation for a long time... a primal fear curling around her from every direction.

Eleanor recognised it at once: this was the influence of the formation guarding the outer region. If she wished to pass through unscathed, she would have to rely on the Thunder Style Phantom Arts. As long as she executed the techniques correctly, she would be safe.

She suddenly felt a tingling prickle along her spine. She didn’t need to look... someone was behind her. Her body blurred into the mist, dissolving for a heartbeat before reappearing behind the attacker. Illusory Phantom. Her fist crashed into the back of the man’s skull, lightning sparking on impact. His solid form dissolved instantly, turning into mist that swirled back into the fog.

That was only the beginning.

The once-still fog grew restless, coiling and shifting like something breathing around her. Eleanor steadied herself, controlling each inhale and exhale. The fear in her gut hadn’t disappeared, but she let it sharpen her focus. This formation existed to kill anyone in its perimeter and she refused to be its prey.

A faint whisper of air brushed her left side. She didn’t look. Her footwork activated instinctively... Speed Phantom. In a flash she slid two steps forward, the air behind her splitting with the swing of a grey sword that would have taken her head. Even while moving, she spun sharply, lightning humming along her arm as she struck. Her fist pierced into the attacker’s chest using Internal Feasting Phantom, compressing all her power to a needle-like point. Lightning erupted from within him. He, too, dissolved into mist.

Before she fully exhaled, two more figures surged out of the fog, blades raised overhead in a heavy downward strike.

Eleanor dropped low and swept her leg, using Counterweight Phantom. She didn’t block the swords. She struck one attacker’s leg, destabilising him. His swing collapsed sideways and slammed into his partner instead.

While they staggered, Eleanor was already gone from their sight. Lightning coursed around her hands. She struck one in the head, the other in the chest... a fluid blend of Soul Stealing Phantom and Internal Feasting Phantom. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Both forms burst into pale mist and vanished.

She didn’t wait for the next wave. Step by step, she pushed forward. The fog pressed against her as though it had weight, slowing each movement. Every step felt harder than the last.

The next attacker didn’t simply appear... he flickered in and out of the mist, striking the instant he took shape. A sword flashed at her throat, but she was already gone. Illusory Phantom. Her afterimage took the blow while she slipped behind him... only to find the space empty. Pain lanced across her upper arm as a blade grazed her from nowhere. Lightning crackled over her skin to seal the cut. Gritting her teeth, she pressed on, deflecting and dodging every new threat.

Time lost meaning in the endless white shroud. Her muscles burned from constant shifts into the Speed Phantom. Her lightning was thinning; she had been forced to use the Soul Stealing Phantom several more times to break through the strongest mist-warriors.

Then four attackers emerged at once, forming a perfect square around her. They moved in unison, their blades weaving a cage of steel. No angle to redirect. No gap for a counter. They were a closing wall, intent on crushing her where she stood.

Eleanor walked up the hill. The colourful trees arched overhead, their leaves casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across the path. From here, she could see the whole breathtaking realm. A perfect, hidden heaven tucked inside the deadly forbidden land. The air was pure. The quiet was profound.

As she reached the top, a flat, grassy circle revealed itself. At its centre sat an elegant, green-skinned woman, her body draped in leaves and vines, seated cross-legged in serene stillness.

Her eyes were closed, yet Eleanor felt scrutinised... as if the spirit were peering straight through flesh and bone, seeing her soul laid bare. Instinct told her this was the spirit of the sword.

While Eleanor hesitated, unsure how to proceed, the spirit opened her eyes and said, "A Stormfang has come at last. I thought my land had passed into history with your predecessor."

Eleanor bowed quickly. "Greetings, spirit of the land. I am the new Queen of the Werewolf Kingdom."

The spirit rose with slow, graceful majesty. She was much taller than Eleanor, her feet uncoiling from the vines that had held her to the earth. With each step she took towards Eleanor, flowers burst into bloom beneath her.

Standing before her, the spirit placed a cool, gentle hand upon Eleanor’s head.

Eleanor’s vision shifted instantly. She saw a bird’s-eye view of the castle... its full grandeur revealed to her for the first time. The fortress stood atop a vast mountain, proud and ancient. Before she could fully admire the sight, the vision swept on. She saw bustling cities, dense forests, sprawling training barracks, and people of many races carrying out their daily tasks. Then she saw the armies gathered just beyond the kingdom’s boundary.

She saw the entirety of the Kingdom, and she understood exactly where the border lay.