Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby

Chapter 232: The Tower of Legends

In the Ascendance Academy of Midgard, combat instructors held the same prestige as professors of other departments. Arrichion’s presence there was both strange and remarkable. He had only returned to Midgard a few years earlier, after being gravely wounded in battle on Molgrath. The healers who saved him had prescribed ten years of rehabilitation before he could rejoin the frontlines. Restless and unwilling to waste time, he had accepted a post at the Academy. Though his cultivation was suppressed by Midgard’s thin energy, his skill remained unmatched.

When Eleanor appeared in his school, a cadet choosing Mixed Martial Arts as her major in her very first term, Arrichion’s interest was piqued. Few had done so in centuries. He had no idea of her Mind Reaver bloodline, her uncanny ability to grasp and retain knowledge instantly... but when he saw how quickly she absorbed every lesson, he pushed her further. By the time their first session ended, she had received more than just a welcome: she had been given private tutoring by one of history’s deadliest fighters.

He even sent her away with a stack of books, each a cornerstone of strategy and combat. "On Anatomical Vulnerabilities: A Treatise on Every Species" by Graham Valerius. "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. "Kinetic Principles: Force Redirection for Non-Humanoid Physiologies" by Grommash. "History of the Peloponnesian War" by Thucydides. "The Conquest of Gaul" by Julius Caesar. "Strategy: A History" by Lawrence Freedman. And "Lycanthropic Warfare" by Kaelen Volsung.

By the time Eleanor returned to the reception, it was already lunchtime, and others were gone. She was told Ophelia and Kiara had finished their enrolment and left for the shadow school. Her stomach growled, so she headed for the dining hall.

A crowd of cadets had gathered before the doors of the dining hall, which were still closed. Amidst the chatter, Eleanor spotted familiar faces... Ophelia, Kiara, and Maira, gossiping at a side.

Before she could join them, Ophelia saw and waved her over. "Ma’am! What happened in the combat department? We heard from the receptionist that you enrolled in Mixed Martial Arts and went to visit the school. Then you never came back. We waited, but you vanished. Where were you?"

Eleanor’s lips curved faintly. "I was the only cadet in three years to join Mixed Martial Arts in the primary term. The instructor for this term was Arrichion of Phigalia. He... gave me a long private lesson."

Ophelia tilted her head, puzzled. Before she could respond, Joshua Cordillera’s voice cut in from behind. He had overheard, and his eyes were wide with excitement. "No way! Arrichion of Phigalia? The ancient warrior? He must be over two thousand years old by now!"

"Who is this Arrichion of Phigalia?" Ophelia asked, blinking at Joshua’s reaction.

Eleanor turned her gaze toward her. "Official records say he was a champion of Mixed Martial Arts in the ancient Olympic Games. In truth, he was a war hero of Greece... his fame came not just from arenas, but from countless real battles. He was a legend in both war and sport. And his race..." She paused, letting the suspense hang. "...he’s a vampire."

Ophelia, Kiara, Joshua, and Maira all stared at her in shock. Their mouths moved, but no words came. Eleanor decided to press their disbelief further.

"Do you know who the head of the combat department is?" she asked.

"Who?"

"I don’t know."

"No."

"Who?"

four answered in

its usual deadpan. "Supreme Grandmaster

"The Witch of Dún

gave a single,

others joined him, exclamations

in the booklet the combat department gave me," Eleanor explained calmly.

Around them, cadets continued to gossip about rankings and courses, oblivious to the fact

***

and prepared to head toward the Department of Mental Arts to enrol in one of her optional

raised a hand to stop her. His aura crackled faintly, like distant thunder. "I am Raijin Stormrider of the dragon race.

gaze with polite calm. "Hello. I am Eleanor. How may I help

seen his type before... arrogant, spoiled, convinced the world owed them respect. In her short life she had already met

looking at you, anyone can see you’re

Her voice was flat, almost bored. "And if I

will duel me," Raijin declared. "But not in some trivial spar. We will settle it in

duel. She had already read about it in her guidebook... a hundred floors of escalating challenges meant to draw out a cadet’s full potential. In all the academy’s history, no one had passed the ninetieth floor. Students normally attempted the Tower at the end of a

wanted to use it now, as

if you win, I give you my position as third. What happens if I win? I want

a sharp laugh. "Hah! You can have those measly points. As if you’ll ever win! Remember who I am... I am a dragon.

of cadets had gathered, murmuring in excitement. A duel in the Tower of Legends was unheard

toward the Combat Department with arrogant confidence, Eleanor walking calmly beside him. The spectators followed, buzzing

robes looked up from her work, startled by the noise of so many cadets pressing into the lobby. Before she could ask, Raijin

will be challenging the Tower of Legends," he announced. "This will be a duel between us. The terms are set... when I win, this lowly wolf will surrender her third-place ranking to

tone even, "And if I win, I claim all of his

and the quiet werewolf. She raised a finger toward Raijin and asked Eleanor. "You...

Eleanor simply nodded.