Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Empress' Dilemma
The sound of rushing water echoes throughout the cave.
An underground waterfall fell into a large pond. The pond had large rocks sticking out of the ground that connected a beautiful white bridge that looked to be made out of translucent silk.
The bridge connected the various rocks leading up to a platform made out of the translucent silk like material in the center of the pond, where a large cushion-like throne had been erected. Sitting on this throne was the figure of the Empress Spider.
The Empress Spider had the lower body of a spider and the upper body of a gorgeous young human woman. Her upper body was covered in a strange silver pattern that protected all of her important parts. Her eyes were a deep violet color which stood out against her almost translucent skin. Long white hair fell behind her head reaching down all the way to her lower body. Her lower body was in the same silver color as the patterns that covered her upper body making it look as if it originated from her spider half.
At this moment the Empress was glaring at the figure of a large spider that was almost as twice as large as herself. The spider was currently bowing its head in front of the Empress Spider, not daring to meet the Empress's sharp eyes.
"What is there to report?" The Empress asked in a calm voice as she gazed at the Queen Spider of the first colony before her.
"R-Reporting to her majesty," The Queen Spider spoke in a shaky tone, "In the past two weeks, the general population of our kingdom has been reduced by approximately half. We have already lost over a tenth of the soldier population as well. My sisters and I have already placed the kingdom on lockdown to prevent any more deaths from occurring. We suspect that there is an unknown predator out there that has been picking off members of our kingdom."
"Predator? Are you sure it is not that those humans have entered our territory again?" The Empress spoke as she slightly raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"At first we also thought it to be another group of humans, but around three days ago the scouts from Third Sister's colony discovered the remains of a group of spiders. The corpses had been ripped and torn apart with most of the spider's body being destroyed, leaving only a few limbs and pieces of flesh behind. The scouting party described the scenery of the massacre to be one straight from hell. From what we know, humans don't tend to do that much destruction to the corpse nor are they fond of ripping and smashing their prey apart, so we assumed that this was done by an unknown predator instead of the humans. Furthermore, from what we have seen from the wounds of the various corpses, whatever the creature is, it is alone."
"Oh~ Are you saying that a single creature is responsible for the death of over half of my kingdom?" The Empress Spider still spoke in a calm tone but her facial expression had become extremely icy as she looked at the Spider Queen who began to tremble under her intense gaze.
Suddenly, the Empress Spider's facial expression changed as she sensed something.
"Continue to monitor the situation. Report to me as soon as you find out any information about the creature that has been attacking our people." The Empress quickly gave instructions before dismissing the Queen Spider with a wave of her hand.
After the Queen Spider had left, the Empress was once again left alone on the platform in the middle of the pond.
The Empress closed her eyes to rest as she waited. However, after a few seconds passed, she snorted as she spoke aloud, "Are you going to reveal yourself or will I have to tie your wings with my web and drag you down from the sky?"
Immediately after she spoke, the sound of wind being cut rang out as a soft screech sounded through the underground cave. With a quick flash, a small white bird flew through the cave before landing on top of one of the large rocks in the pond.
After the white bird landed on the rock, the Empress opened her eyes as she turned her sharp gaze to face the white bird.
Looking at the bird, the Empress couldn't help but frown as she spoke, "What does he want now?"
"Kekeke, how rude of you, Empress. I flew all this way into this deep underground cave and yet I don't even get a greeting?" The white bird spoke in an arrogant tone as it looked down on the Empress from atop the giant rock.
The Empress snorted in response as she spoke, "Don't waste time, speak."
"Kekeke," the white bird laughed in response but decided not to test the Empress's temper anymore.
"My King's patience is waning. Hurry up and accept his proposal before he completely loses his patience and brings his army here to destroy your little kingdom."
The Empress frowned in response to the white bird's words.
"Watch your tone. If I remember correctly, we agreed that I will only marry him after he had completed his rebirth. As far as I'm concerned, he is still in the early stages of the third realm and would have to reach at least the fourth stage before he could achieve his rebirth. Why is he all of a sudden in a rush now?"
"Kekeke, His Majesty has finally found the key to enter the central region. I don't think I need to say more after that."
Hearing the white bird's words, the Empress opened her eyes wide in shock.
Seeing the Empress's reaction, the white bird flapped its wings as it left a message before flying outside of the cave.
"His Majesty has given you three days to make a decision. If you don't give and answer by then, he will assume that you have rejected his proposal and lead his army here the following day to destroy your little nest."
Sensing that the bird's aura had completely disappeared from the area, the Empress gritted her teeth as she endured the anger that has been building up inside her all this time.
With clenched fists, she released a powerful aura that caused the water in the pond to fluctuate violently.
After a while, the Empress released a long sigh as she rubbed her head with her hand. Soon, she managed to calm herself and retracted the aura she had just released.
Closing her eyes once more, the Empress began to think about the message that the white bird had delivered. If what the white bird said about the Wolf King finding the key to the central region was true, then that means she didn't have long before that bastard managed to achieve his rebirth. Once that happens, she wouldn't even have the chance to resist the Wolf King with her current strength that stands at the peak of the second realm.
"He said I had three days… That must mean he hasn't opened the central region yet. There is still time for a counterattack. My spider army should be able to hold off against the majority of his army, however, he possesses commanders in the second realm. Although I can easily defeat them in battle, I will have my hands full just trying to deal with that false king bastard. That is of course under the assumption that I can even hold off against him as he has already reached the third realm while I'm still in the peak of the second realm."
Thinking of all this, the Empress released another sigh.
"If only that Wolf was a true king and not someone playing war, I would have willingly accepted his marriage for the betterment of the Spider Kingdom. However, it is also this false king that is threatening to destroy that very kingdom."
At that moment, a General Spider had rushed into the cave as it quickly crossed the silk bridge before bowing before the Empress.
"R-reporting to your Majesty, the predator has been found!"
"Hmm, oh? Where is it?" When the Empress spoke, she was reminded of the other threat that has recently been disturbing its Kingdom. This predator had already greatly weakened her Kingdom in just two weeks. Remembering that she is now under threat of a potential war with the Wolf King, her anger suddenly increased again after realizing how dangerous her situation had become.
"H-He…" The General Spider kept stuttering as he spoke, making the Empress frown even more.
The General Spider, sensing that the Empress was in a bad mood didn't dare to stutter again as it took a short moment to calm down before replying.
"He's rampaging inside the Kingdom!"
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