The Spider Queen

Darkness.

Nothingness.

Sophie floated through the infinite void like a speck of dust.

It was a realm that was both familiar and strange.

A few minutes passed by uneventfully as Sophie just wanted to relax. The fight with that gigantic plant had left her exhausted both mentally and physically.

Inside this realm, her spiritual body had no injuries, so Sophie stretched out her arms and legs and stared at her intact body.

Just how long would it take for her limbs to regenerate?

It had not escaped Sophie's notice that her injuries were identical to the ones she had seen in the future vision.

This clearly meant that the showdown with the prey chosen by the goddess would happen soon.

But even with this knowledge, Sophie could not help but feel a bit hopeless.

She had no idea what the combat capability of her opponent was or even what his abilities were.

And it didn't help that being crippled before the fight was already a major disadvantage.

Time felt meaningless in this realm as Sophie could not tell how long she lay floating through the constant darkness.

"Why have you brought me here?" Sophie shouted loudly.

There was a brief silence and it seemed that she was yelling into the void like a madman.

Sophie was not discouraged and continued to speak with a mocking tone,

"I know you are watching me."

"Was it fun? Constantly seeing me risk my life?"

"Showing me the future where my little sister Lily is nothing more than a torn-up corpse and then making me fight her murderer instead of avoiding him."

All the anger and resentment bubbled up in Sophie's chest and she could not avoid saying the words that she had always wanted to say,

"Do you think I asked for these dangerous powers or to sell my soul to some goddess that I had never even heard of?"

"Every time I use your so-called 'gifts', I have to worry about hurting the people around me!"

"I HATE YOU!"

There was no reply.

The cold endless void appeared to be mocking Sophie with every second of quiet that passed.

Sophie's eyes gradually darkened as the hunter goddess had either heard her words and ignored them or wasn't even paying attention.

"You aren't the first vessel to ask those questions," a gentle voice echoed through the void.

Sophie's body was frozen in place as a white door appeared in the center of the space.

Stepping out of the door was a curvaceous figure that she vaguely recognised.

A gorgeous humanoid woman wearing a tribal outfit floated towards Sophie with a loving expression.

She bore an uncanny resemblance to members of the Arachnais race but there were a few noticeable differences.

Priestess Raphi'elle had similar features such as the six blade-like appendages, pointed ears and golden eyes seen in the typical Arachnais female.

What was unusual were her shorter teeth, eight eyes and greenish veins that covered her entire body.

In addition, her blade-like appendages had hollow stingers at the end rather than sharp edges and were a deep purple colour.

These features were typical of the ancient Arachnais ancestors from eons ago known then as the Ranzioere.

Still her appearance was nothing short of devilishly charming, but those golden eyes seemed to hold a vast sea of knowledge that would make anyone look away in fear.

Instead of the stereotypical image of a holy woman of the church, Priestess Raphi'elle more resembled a dangerous predator lurking just beneath thin layer of kindness.

However, the love in her eyes when she stared at Sophie's spiritual body did not seem to be fake.

"I truly understand your frustration," Priestess Raphi'elle stroked Sophie's hair gently as she cast a sorrowful look at the hybrid girl's left arm.

"Those chosen by the goddess… most ended up in ruin. The role of vessel is both a blessing and a curse."

"You will receive strength and power that others of the tribe cannot match but at a heavy price."

"But I don't want to be the vessel anymore," Sophie whispered softly in an almost pleading tone.

Priestess Raphi'elle continued to stroke Sophie's hair and the atmosphere slowly turned peaceful.

Being a high priestess for thousands of years, Priestess Raphi'elle had seen many different kinds of vessels.

Some were arrogant and used their powers to create vast empires and spend their days in the passionate arms of beauties.

Some became addicted to the killing and became known for causing rivers of blood whatever they went.

Others were cowardly and hid away as they never dared to use the goddess' gifts.

But on rare occasions, there would be vessels capable of wielding the powers without letting the gifts consume them.

As for the rest….

Most would eventually be driven mad.

Priestess Raphi'elle did not know which kind of vessel Sophie would become but she hoped that the hybrid girl would keep her kind heart.

There had never been a hybrid born with the special physique necessary to be chosen as a vessel.

Maybe it was Sophie's young age that had roused Priestess Raphi'elle's motherly instincts as she could not help but give some advice.

Priestess Raphi'elle turned Sophie's head to face her and spoke in a soothing tone,

"Unfortunately, the moment you were born with that physique…."

"You no longer had a choice."

"But then why not let me cultivate for a longer period of time before sending me on these hunts," Sophie asked curiously.

"Right now, I am a weak cultivator in the qi tide stage. Why not wait until I enter the void stage or god stage?"

"Because of the nature of the hunter goddess' powers," Priestess Raphi'elle explained.

"You will understand when you touch upon the higher mysteries in cultivation that even the gods themselves are bound by strict rules."

"These gifts and powers that the goddess shares with her vessels require a payment. Without it… you will eventually die from the backlash."

"But…" Sophie wanted to ask a few more questions but the space suddenly begun to violently shake.

White light poured in from the door and soon the endless darkness was illuminated by a harsh glare.

"Ah… I see we ran out of time," Priestess Raphi'elle said regretfully.

She planted a soft kiss on Sophie's forehead just before the hybrid girl's spiritual body vanished from the space.

"I wish you good fortune on your hunt."