I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 71: CP: I Want To Help

Alex woke to morning light filtering through the carved den’s entrance and the increasingly familiar sensation of babies doing synchronized acrobatics against his ribs.

[Good morning, Host! Ready for day two of "Help the Bears With Their Political Drama"?]

"Not really," Alex mumbled, but he was already sitting up carefully, one hand on his belly.

Naga was coiled near the entrance as usual, but Leo was absent—probably scouting again or ensuring last night’s revelations hadn’t turned the tribe against them overnight.

"How bad is it out there?" Alex asked.

"Surprisingly calm," Naga reported.

"Boulder stopped by earlier. Said Granite wants to meet with you this morning. Private audience. Just you and him."

[OH NO. OH NO NO NO. PRIVATE AUDIENCE. THAT’S NEVER GOOD.]

"It’s probably about the trade," Alex said, though he didn’t quite believe it himself.

"Probably," Naga agreed in a tone that said he didn’t believe it either. "But I’m coming with you. No arguments."

"I wasn’t going to argue," Alex said honestly.

They found breakfast waiting outside their den—fresh bread, honey (regular honey, not crystal), berries that must have been preserved from last season, and cold mountain water.

Leo returned as they were finishing, his expression thoughtful.

"The tribe’s buzzing," he reported. "Amber’s been stripped of her ceremonial duties temporarily.

" Granite’s advisors are in emergency session. And there’s a lot of talk about succession, leadership trials, strength contests..."

"Great," Alex said. "So we’re walking into tribal politics again."

"Your favorite," Leo said with a slight smile.

[Current Status Check:

Bronze Stone: Essentially secured (pending formal trade)

Amber: Disgraced but not powerless

Granite: Desperately needs help

Tribe: Anxious about leadership succession

Your Stress Level: ELEVATED]

They made their way to the main gathering area as the sun climbed higher.

The central fire had been banked low, and most of the tribe was going about their daily business—hunters preparing for the day, crafters working on tools, cubs playing under watchful supervision.

But there was an undercurrent of tension in the air.

Worried glances. Hushed conversations that stopped when Alex passed.

Boulder met them near the chief’s personal den—a larger cave carved into the mountainside, its entrance flanked by carved stone bears that looked almost alive.

"Chief Granite is expecting you," Boulder said. His expression was carefully neutral. "He’s... he’s asked to speak with you alone. Well, you and your mates if you prefer, but no other tribe members."

"What’s this about?" Naga asked directly.

Boulder hesitated. "He needs advice. Help. From someone who understands leadership but isn’t..."

He gestured vaguely. "Isn’t part of our internal politics. Someone who can see clearly."

[TRANSLATION: He wants you to solve his succession crisis. Oh boy.]

"I’ll do what I can," Alex said.

Granite’s den was warm and surprisingly comfortable—furs and woven blankets covering the stone floors, carved furniture that showed years of careful use, a small fire burning in a central pit. The walls were decorated with tribal history—carved scenes of hunts, ceremonies, victories.

And sitting in the center of it all, looking more exhausted than ever, was Chief Granite.

He stood when they entered—still massive, still powerful, but the weight on his shoulders was visible.

"Thank you for coming," he said quietly. "Please, sit. This may take some time."

They settled on the furs—Alex between his two mates, Granite across from them with the fire crackling between.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then Granite sighed—a sound like wind through caves.

"I don’t know how to fix this," he admitted.

"The succession problem. I’ve been chief for a hundred years. I’m strong enough to lead for maybe another fifty years or more. But without an heir, without a clear successor..."

He gestured helplessly. "The tribe fractures. Rival claimants fight. We weaken. Other territories move in."

" Did he just said he’s been chief for a hundred years? Just how long is their life span? " Alex subtly looked at Naga.

"Why don’t you just choose a successor?" Leo asked. "You’re chief. Your word is law."

"Because choosing without proper trial breeds resentment," Granite explained.

"The one I choose would be seen as favored, not proven. Others would challenge. It would be civil war in slow motion."

"And the traditional trial?" Alex asked.

"Combat," Granite said flatly. "Strength contest. The strongest warrior becomes successor. But our current strongest..."

He grimaced. "Is my nephew, Stone. Who is powerful but impulsive. Hot-headed. He’d lead us into conflicts we can’t afford."

[Yikes. So traditional succession = disaster. Got it.]

"What about wisdom trials?" Alex suggested. "Test judgment instead of just strength?"

"We have those," Granite said. "But they’re secondary. For bears, strength is everything. A weak chief—no matter how wise—won’t be respected. Won’t be followed."

He leaned forward, hazel eyes intense.

"That’s why I’ve been trying to find a mate," he continued. "If I produced an heir—a biological child raised to lead—the succession would be clear."

" Unquestioned. But I can’t just mate with anyone. I want a mate who understands me. Helps me carry the burden I shoulder. Someone who can tell me right when I’m wrong. "

"And Amber?" Naga asked.

Granite’s expression darkened. "Would have been a disaster. She wanted the position, not the partnership. Our bond would have been terrible."

He rubbed his temples.

"I need someone compatible. Someone who could bear strong heirs. Someone the tribe would accept. And I’m running out of time to find them."

[ He’s not really old if you look from human standards. ]

" Mind you, he’s 100+ years old. "

[ Oops. ]

[ He looks like a middle aged man so I

forgot.]

The unspoken implication hung in the air like smoke.

Alex felt both his mates tense.

[HOST. I THINK HE’S BUILDING UP TO—]

"I’m not asking you to be that person," Granite said quickly, apparently reading the sudden tension.

"I saw your mate marks yesterday. Five stars each. Perfect bonds. I would never ask you to leave that. I just want to retire peacefully after handing my title to a most capable one. "

The tension eased slightly.

"But," Granite continued, "you have abilities. Resources. Access to things beyond our understanding. Is there... is there anything in your spirit guide’s power that could help? Not a mate for me—I’ll handle that myself—but something to help stabilize the succession? To give the tribe security while I search?"

Alex blinked. That was... actually reasonable. Not a marriage proposal. Just a request for help.

[Oh! OH! He’s asking for ACTUAL assistance, not trying to collect you! This is refreshing!]

"Let me think," Alex said, pulling up his system interface mentally. "System, what do we have that could help with succession stability?"

[Checking shop options related to leadership, succession, tribal stability...]

[OH! OH I FOUND SOMETHING GOOD!]

[Leadership Trial Stone (150 SP): Creates a magical testing ground that evaluates candidates across multiple criteria—strength, wisdom, endurance, heart. Provides objective ranking that tribe members will accept as legitimate.]

[Heir Blessing Incense (200 SP): When burned during conception, increases the chance of producing strong, healthy offspring with high compatibility to both parents. Basically fertility enhancement but BETTER.]

[Succession Tablet (180 SP): Magical contract that designates a chosen successor and prevents challenges for a set period, giving them time to prove themselves without constant combat trials.]

[Any of these could work! The Leadership Trial Stone is probably the cleanest solution—takes the decision out of Granite’s hands entirely, makes it "the ancestors’ will" or whatever.]

"I might have something," Alex said slowly. "A way to conduct a proper succession trial. One that tests more than just strength—wisdom, endurance, judgment, heart. And one that the tribe would accept as legitimate because it’s magical, blessed, beyond personal bias."

Granite’s eyes widened. "You have such a thing?"

"I can acquire it," Alex confirmed. "It’s called a Leadership Trial Stone. You activate it, candidates enter the trial ground, and it evaluates them across multiple criteria. The results are objective. Undeniable."

"And the tribe would accept it?" Granite asked urgently. "They wouldn’t see it as... as cheating? Or foreign interference?"

"Not if you frame it correctly," Alex said. "Present it as a gift from me—a traveler blessed with ancient knowledge. A way to honor your ancestors’ traditions while ensuring the best possible leader emerges."

Granite was leaning forward now, hope lighting his tired features.

"Could you... could you create this stone? Now? Today?"

"I could," Alex said. "But it costs points. Significant points. And I was planning to save those for—"

"I’ll pay you," Granite interrupted. "Not just with the Bronze Stone. With anything we have. Territory access, trade rights, protection, supplies—name your price."

[HOST! This is PERFECT! You were going to give him the Bronze Stone anyway in trade, but now he’s offering ADDITIONAL compensation! You could ask for supplies for your sanctuary, safe passage through bear territory forever, alliance guarantees—]

Alex held up a hand.

"The Bronze Stone is enough," he said firmly. "You’re trading your most sacred artifact for help with succession. That’s already a fair exchange. I don’t need to extract more from a tribe that’s struggling."

Granite stared at him.

Then, to Alex’s complete shock, the massive bear chief’s eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"You’re..." He cleared his throat roughly. "You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met. Anyone else would have demanded everything. Bled us dry. But you just... you just want fairness."

"I want to help," Alex corrected gently. "And fairness is part of that."