Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 121: The Level Between Ascendants

Chapter 121: The Level Between Ascendants

The news spread like wildfire to every corner of the Earth. Within just a couple of hours after the council meeting, the death of the werewolf king had reached the ears of almost every supernatural being... whether they lived in the high mountains, deep forests, or beneath the vast oceans.

It didn’t matter what species they were... werewolves, vampires, merfolk, fairies, or nagas... every supernatural community buzzed with the shocking announcement. The death of such a powerful figure, followed so swiftly by the appointment of a new king, stirred up speculation and gossip across the world.

Whether the rumors were grounded in truth or pure fiction, everyone seemed eager to add their own version to the tale. Wild stories circulated like a virus, each more dramatic than the last. However, among the higher-ups of the major clans, there was a noticeable air of restraint. They chose to act cautiously, quietly watching the developments unfold. Their primary concern wasn’t just the new king... it was the council. Could this newly crowned monarch maintain control over his council and ensure stability in a time of political transition?

Among all the supernatural beings, the dragons remained peculiarly silent. Their stillness didn’t come from ignorance or lack of interest. On the contrary, their silence was a calculated move. As the peacekeepers of the Earth, dragons bore a great responsibility. They chose to observe rather than engage, keeping a close eye on all supernatural factions. They were particularly wary of anyone who might exploit this moment of vulnerability to disrupt the fragile balance among species.

Far away from the center of political upheaval, Eleanor received the news through her shadow team. Her instincts kicked in immediately. Without hesitation, she called Fiona to verify the situation directly.

Fiona answered the call in a composed tone, "I just returned home from Brontes Island after the council meeting. Word is spreading faster than I expected. But you don’t need to worry."

Eleanor sighed in relief. "I’ve already heard a few ridiculous rumors. I wanted to check with you first before believing any of it."

"That’s wise. Ignore the nonsense. Erevan Brontes Lychos has effectively been acting as king for the past thirty years, even though he carried the title of prince. This change in title is symbolic more than anything. From now on, instead of calling him ’Your Highness,’ we’ll refer to him as ’Your Majesty.’ There won’t be any sudden policy shifts... not in the immediate future, at least."

"That’s good to hear," Eleanor replied. "Honestly, I never paid much attention to the political affairs of the council. I just wanted to make sure this change wouldn’t affect us directly."

Fiona chuckled softly. "You should start paying attention. One day, you’ll have to step into my shoes. The sooner you begin understanding council politics, the better prepared you’ll be. I had planned to take you to the funeral of our late king and introduce you to the other clan leaders. Unfortunately, His Majesty wanted to keep the number of attendees minimal. Only clan heads are permitted to attend. But be ready... I’ll definitely bring you to the next major event."

"Grandma," Eleanor said with a playful sigh, "I’m still too young to be dragged into politics. I’m completely focused on my businesses right now. Once I’ve solidified my foundations and created something sustainable, I’ll shift my energy to the political sphere. I’m not avoiding it. I just believe I should be strong enough to walk beside you as their equal."

"Business will always be in flux," Fiona replied matter-of-factly. "No matter how much you prepare, the market and economy will continue to evolve. There’s never truly a point where you can say a business is stable... not when global politics, technological advancements, and even spiritual energies affect everything. I taught you that, and now you’re trying to use it against me."

Eleanor grinned. "You’re right, Grandma. But remember, I’ve told you before... I’m working on building an AI assistant that can handle all the operational aspects of my businesses. I’m investing in infrastructure all over the world just to support this AI. Once the system is fully functional, my workload will drop significantly. All I’ll need to do is provide policy direction. The AI will take care of the rest."

"That sounds like a fairy tale to me," Fiona muttered. "I don’t know what you’re building, but just hurry up and finish it. Once you take over my responsibilities, I’ll retire and finally get some rest."

Eleanor laughed. "I even told you to study AI yourself. It’s only a few thousand books. With your super speed, you could learn it all in a month."

Fiona cut her off, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Don’t start lecturing me again. I told you, I’ll learn all that technical stuff after I retire. For now, I need to go into seclusion and focus on raising my cultivation level. If I don’t push forward soon, others will surpass me."

"Speaking of cultivation," Eleanor said, her tone turning curious, "why isn’t there any written information about it? I’ve gone through every book in our clan’s library and even combed through several secular ones. But there’s no proper documentation. Just a few fantasy novels that barely resemble what you’ve described to me."

Fiona nodded solemnly. "That’s because no written record is allowed. Those who ascended and entered the Other World form a soul contract with Yggdrasil when they take an oath not to reveal any details to the secular world. Writing about it is strictly forbidden. That’s why the knowledge is passed on orally, and only to those who either belong to the supernatural world or possess a special bloodline."

"I see," Eleanor murmured. "So what level are you at now?"

"I’m currently at Ascendant Level 4," Fiona replied. "That’s known as the Spirit Ascendant level. Each level has four tiers... low, intermediate, high, and pinnacle. I’m at the intermediate tier right now. Among the council members, only the King and the Warlord have reached the high Spirit Ascendant tier. The Judicator, the Watcher, and now the Matron are on the same level as me. The Lorekeeper and the Arbiter are still at the low tier. The Treasurer, Scholar, and Priest are all at Level 3, the Soul Ascendant stage. Can you imagine the pressure I’m under? The Warlord already surpassed me, and others might too if I let my guard down."

"Okay, Grandma. I understand. Can you tell me the levels again? From the beginning?"

"Of course," Fiona said. "It’s actually quite simple. First, all beings are considered mortals. Those who awaken their bloodline are called the Awakened. Awakened individuals can enter the Trial of Yggdrasil. If they succeed, they form a core within their body and become Level 1 Ascendants, known as Core Ascendants."

"After that," she continued, "they need to cultivate further by developing a Spirit Vein. This marks Level 2, known as the Energy Ascendant stage. Then comes Level 3, the Soul Ascendant. Level 4, where I currently am, is the Spirit Ascendant. Finally, Level 5 is called Perfect Harmonization. There are no sub-levels at that stage. Once you’ve perfectly synchronized your core, energy, soul, and spirit with your physical body, you achieve harmony and ascend to a higher existence."

"And what’s beyond that?" Eleanor asked, intrigued.

"That’s where things get mysterious," Fiona said with a hint of reverence. "Those who reach Perfect Harmonization are no longer bound to Earth. They become Saints. Saints are subject to strict limitations... they cannot return to the mortal world freely. There are rules in place to preserve balance."