Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby

Chapter 270: Aria Nightwind

Among Eleanor’s group, aside from herself, Ophelia Blanc, Maíra Arara Neblina, Marsha Kirana Tidebringer, Phoebe Juno Solstice, and Izumi Tsuki Kuroda had all made it to the final round.

They spent a long evening analysing the fights from the first two rounds after the videos were posted on the Academy forum. Many cadets had left comments on the threads... some insightful, some speculative... but they all helped the group to understand each finalist’s strengths and weaknesses better.

Jaciara Moara joined their discussions as well, despite having lost her match in the primary round to the top ranker of the initiation ceremony, Ignatius Aurelius Emberfall. Coincidentally, Phoebe had once been on Ignatius’s team when they had formed a temporary alliance to defeat the Troll King. At first, Jaciara had been disheartened by her defeat, but after hearing Phoebe describe Ignatius’s formidable combat prowess, she accepted her loss with a shrug and blamed it on bad luck.

Kiara also joined them later on. She was not so disheartened by her loss to a fire user, rather she spent some time on her own to identify her shortcomings of her fighting style.

From sunset until dinner, they gathered in Maíra’s room, the air filled with animated chatter and the faint hum of magical projectors displaying fight replays. Together, they dissected every move, counter, and ability of the remaining finalists.

After dinner, Eleanor returned to her room to prepare for her next match. Her first opponent was a werecat named Aria Nightwind. From the recordings of Aria’s previous battles, Eleanor concluded that she had an earth elemental bloodline and was also a sword user.

Eleanor had observed that most cadets relied heavily on their bloodline abilities... raw, innate powers rather than refined combat techniques. These were effective, but often predictable. Aria, for instance, could form stone armour over her body, raise the ground beneath her feet to gain elevation, unleash localized shockwaves, hurl stone shards, summon a massive earth fist, and erect defensive walls from the ground.

Having catalogued all of Aria’s known abilities, Eleanor crafted a strategy tailored to exploit her weaknesses... and even prepared contingency plans in case Aria revealed any hidden techniques.

She would have four more matches the following day, each demanding its own careful planning. By the time she finalised her battle strategies, the night had grown late and silent.

The next morning, Eleanor met Aria in the arena for their first match. Across the ring, Aria Nightwind stood poised in a battle stance, her sword gleaming under the lights. Her slitted eyes, sharp and golden, reflected a predator’s focus... and a flicker of curiosity towards the calm, unreadable girl facing her.

As soon as Eleanor stepped into the ring, Aria bowed slightly and said, "Miss Raynor, I’ve heard much about your clan... and about you. My elders say you are the wealthiest among the younger generation. I hope we might cooperate when we return."

"Thank you," Eleanor replied with a small bow of her own. "Please contact me when we’re back in the secular world. If fate permits, we may find a way to work together."

Aria smiled faintly. "I watched your fight on the forum. You surprised us all. We always thought the Raynor clan was non-elemental. You proved otherwise... and you fought beautifully."

could respond,

10... 9... 8...

3... 2... 1... Go!

circle Eleanor with a refined grace, her movements silent and precise. Her Feline Agility rendered

a statue awaiting the storm. Her Mind Acceleration was already active, the world slowing into a deliberate,

her wrist. A small pebble shot towards Eleanor’s knee with uncanny accuracy. Eleanor shifted her weight just enough to let

shockwave rippling through the ground. The arena floor buckled like disturbed water, trembling violently beneath Eleanor’s feet... a

feet adjusting in near imperceptible micro-movements. To an onlooker, it appeared as

surprise crossed Aria’s eyes. Her heightened senses told her Eleanor should have stumbled... but she stood utterly composed. Without hesitation, Aria raised her sword and brought it down in a sharp, precise

a slab of stone. From the fracture, shards erupted in

was forced into motion. She weaved between the shards, twisting her body with dancer-like precision, deflecting the larger ones with her forearms. The impacts thudded

a strike that could have shredded any armour. Eleanor ducked and pivoted, the claws slicing through

meeting bare fists. Aria’s onslaught was relentless, a storm of earth and precision. Eleanor countered with pure agility and disciplined technique, every movement calculated, efficient.

slow, Eleanor seized the moment. She knew that her mixed martial arts would be at a disadvantage against an earth user who could reinforce her

She slammed her foot down, sending a visible ripple of force coursing through

she launched upward, her muscles coiling and releasing in a single, explosive motion. She soared clear of the shockwave in a graceful vertical leap, her hair whipping through the air as the tremor rolled harmlessly beneath

descended, Aria was already ready... knees bent, sword raised, prepared

Eleanor had anticipated it. In mid-air, she twisted her body, electricity crackling faintly along her leg. She channelled her Bolt Step... not for speed, but to

Eleanor’s heel struck the ground where she had been standing, cracking the arena floor with a deep, thunderous boom that reverberated through

onto the floor, she summoned an Earthen Fist... a massive, sculpted hand of rock that erupted from

eyes narrowed. In the half-formed structure, her ability identified its weakest point in an instant. Her right fist flashed forward with precise, sharp, unstoppable force. The impact shattered the construct before it could close around

She thrust her hand toward

too fast for the eye to follow. Each rock that descended met a crushing blow, splintering into shards, dust, and grit before touching her. The air filled with the staccato

floor, Eleanor made her decision. The fight had dragged on long enough.

activated Mental Lock, Mind Acceleration, and Overdrive...