HollowShot - Hunter
The newly reborn goddess left the Black Egg, her new wings dragging on the floor with a quiet scraping sound. Finally, back in Hallownest! As she walked through the Infected Crossroads, the orange most of The Infection emanated from her body, the orange fog so thick it was almost impossible for most bugs to see, welts of orange and putrid yellow sprouted up from the earth, popping and spreading as if the very Earth were succumbing.
So she started to explore, to spread the infection further. None of the infected dared attack their queen, instead dropping to their knees and kneeling.
Oh, this feels good. She thought, leaning down and touching one of her new subjects, a short, round bug with a white face, welts of orange on its back and in its eyes.
“Kill… Hurt… Pain…” The voice echoed in her mind.
She recoiled. Such pain… she shook off the feeling. They were hers now. That was set in stone.
She looked around, seeing through the fog a pale blue light and walking towards it, the infected getting up and milling about as usual as she passed by.
To the left, she saw a pit with wood platforms. The large bugs, fat and round from the infection, dropped bloods of infection down, not paying her any mind as she dropped down into a murky yellow area, bringing her infection with her.
Mushrooms around her grew and deformed, orange bulbs erupting from them as she walked, dashed, and darted through tunnels, testing her new abilities. Using her light swords as platforms, she discovered, was quite useful for not hurting herself with every long drop, especially one that went down past some shop she didn't pay much time to. Must have been a simple rest spot, not worth her time.
Another tunnel to the left of that area smelled of rainwater and wet stone. Just where she wanted to go. Whispers in the infected’s minds spoke of a monument in the city that usurper built next to his capital. Perfect for her new palace. She could finally rule again!
“Ghost?” A voice behind her spoke, soft, confused, and… afraid? Radiance looked behind her.
Ah. The daughter of a Weaver and the Usurper. Cloaked in red and needle in had. Radiance reached out towards her mind. “I am not your sibling, strong-willed one.” She laughed to herself at the fear in Hornet's otherwise vacant eyes. “I've seen your fate in dreams, you know. It's not pretty, even if you survive this. Distant lands call for you-”
“SHUT UP!” Hornet interrupted, blocking the goddess’s voice with sheer force of will. “I will strike you down here and now, Light-Ghost!” With that, she lunged, silken threads swirling around her as Radiance was forced to dash back and draw her Nail.
As they fought, they went through tight, underground tunnels and up into Radiance’s destination, though fighting was an exaggeration. More like Hornet chased Radiance as the goddess flung swords of light to stall as she ran for somewhere more open.
Once they arrived, though, she spun around, glimpsing tall buildings with wood and stone bridges and metal balconies. She couldn't see the statue she was after yet, though. But that didn't matter.
She caught Hornet's slash with her Nail, pushing back into a hab and flowing into a dashing lunge. This body has quite the muscle memory. But Hornet was no slouch. She effortlessly dodged, pulling herself up on a thread and landing on Radiance Needle-point first, stabbing into her eye as threads flew around them. Radiance felt a bit of herself leave with the spider as she coated herself in light, teleporting up and dashing away. Hornet threw her needle towards the goddess, tied to an oddly bright strand of white. With a downward slash, however, the goddess used it to jump up higher, dashing up to a wall and jumping up to the roof to catch her breath where the spider couldn't reach her.
What did she do!? Was the only thing running through her mind, no longer eager to find that monument to her cage and evict a palace for herself there.
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Sorry about this AU being way more Hollow Knight than OneShot so far (mods, please don't kill me /j), we're getting to that point where we do get more towards OneShot's influence in a chapter or 3, it'll just take some time.
Also, for all you waiting for the next chapter of Cult of The Sun, I genuinely do not know myself when I'll get back on that. It will probably be next month when more if my writing team is free so they can help out, though.