After sneaking our of the library, we checked the dormitory. The rooms were larger and must have been for the inner circle members of the temple. Unfortunately, we found nothing interesting there. Next to it was another refectory with yet another nest but still no queen.

The last building before the cathedral was where I detected the largest hidden room. Large parts of the building were obscured from my vision. I wanted to know what was there. The building itself wasn't patrolled at all but the surroundings were.

Identify

[Alpha Taratect Warrior (Rank 5, Level 12)]

[Mature Taratect Warrior (Rank 4, Level 61)]

[Mature Taratect Warrior (Rank 4, Level 45)]

…

And by much higher level specimens. The rank three taratects were the size of a large dog, the rank four ones were horse sized and the single rank five I spotted was even bigger. I hadn't thought taratects could get that large.

This was also when things went wrong. One of the warriors decided that it was the best time to patrol the roof right where we were. Maybe their perception was much better than I had thought. Despite raising an illusion, it spotted us.

I deflected a string of web thrown our way with a shield. I tried to find a safer avenue for retreat than down but there didn't seem to be one. Fighting on the roof was impractical and flat ground would offer us more options. With magic projection, I cast an Elemental Explosion through the roof below us. The structure crumbled and we fell down. Vel managed to cushion her fall with her vines, I blinked down but misjudged it and clumsily tumbled to the ground.

The taratect was right behind us. It had not hesitated in jumping down the hole and landed on top of me. I managed to deflect the first stab of a leg with a barrier and dodge the second but it had eight of them, the third caught me and went straight through my stomach.

I cast the most powerful Elemental Strike I had at it, followed by two flame arrows. Fire engulfed the monster and it reeled back for a second. I threw myself towards Vel with Psychokinesis. With an ungainly roll, I managed to get to my feet. Vel had already opened the door to the building and we ran through like the devil was on our heels.

The door was too small for the spider but it apparently didn't care. The wall exploded in a shower of masonry and our pursuer was right behind us. The hallway between us had been transformed into a death trap, sharpened stakes coated with toxins were sprouting from every wall. Runic traps covered the floor. The alpha barreled through everything, explosions of fire, ice, and lightning covering it at every step.

It slowed it down enough for us to make some distance. I was frantically scanning around for an entrance to the sealed section. My instincts were screaming at me that it would be safe. The walls were so saturated by enchantments that I doubted even the massive spider would be able to punch through them.

I applied another regeneration spell and finally found our salvation. Vel had built a wall of wood several layers thick behind us that the spider was hacking at. She wouldn't hold forever but didn't need to. The door was only a dozen meters away. I slammed by hand on it and the enchantments flared to life.

"Open," I shouted.

I waited for Vel to cross the door before going in. I planned to close it behind us but the spider rammed its leg through the opening and threw me across the room. My entire body screamed in pain as I landed. But I felt relief. The alpha taratect couldn't come through.

"Lis," Vel ran towards me.

"Stop," I pleaded to her.

At my feet was the largest spell circle I had ever seen. And as soon as my blood had dripped on it, it had started to activate. Lines of purple were slowly etching themselves outwards from me. An invisible tether of magic had latched onto me when I had bled all over. I was stuck in there. Bad things happened to those who disrupted a ritual.

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"Lis, what's …"

"Don't step closer!" I shouted. "I'm in an active ritual circle."

She froze for an instant, a complex expression on her face. I saw the instant she decided to come to me. I slammed my hand on a rune cluster and fed it mana. A barrier sprung up around the circle, preventing Vel from entering.

"Why?" She banged on the barrier. "Lis!"

"I love you," I said.

The circle flared to life below me and I felt like my body was on fire. The outside of the circle faded away and I heard a voice.

"It seems you have a knack for trouble, my child," the voice was regal and melodic.

It took all the energy I had to turn my head towards her. Next to me was a Dark Elf woman. She was wearing a beautiful black dress with golden accents that showed off everything and nothing at the same time. Her face was as regal and beautiful as her voice.

I tried to speak but the pain was too much.

She knelt next to me and ran her fingers through my hair.

"It had been so little time but you have accomplished so much already," she said.

Who? Was this … Gaia?

"Yes, my child, though this temple was dedicated to another of my identities. One I have done my best to keep forgotten. But … maybe an exception is in order."

"This ritual was created by my followers to bring them closer to their goddess," she continued, "to ascend them to a new form. Most who attempted it perished. But you have the strength to overcome it."

I felt my clothes disappear from my body.

"No sense in ruining them," she said.

"Good luck, my child," she gave me one last caress, "I have a feeling you will go very far in this world."

The last thing I saw was her smile before I blacked out from the pain. In the back of my mind, I heard system notifications go off in rapid succession.

----------------------------------------

Velatha desperately punched the barrier around the ritual circle. Inside she could see Lis' body contort in pain. She was thankfully unconscious but seeing her like that reminded Velatha of the Ghost Fever. When she had been all but powerless to save the girl she loved.

She tore her eyes away from the scene.

She couldn't look at it.

Instead, she turned towards the door where the Alpha Taratect was still lurking. The spider was protecting its nest but Velatha didn't care. It had hurt Lis and it was the only thing on her mind. The all consuming anger.

She flared her mana and took control of all the remaining plants in the hallway outside. The remains of her protective wall. The mass shifted and moved towards the spider, growing long tendrils covered in adhesive sap. The wounded spider was too slow to react and was grabbed by multiple vines.

It did its best to cut them but Velatha could grow them faster. She had no thoughts about conserving mana anymore, only anger. Wood started to entomb the monster who frantically tried to resist but its demise was inevitable. The sound of the carapace cracking was music to her ears.

System Log

Your group has defeated [Alpha Taratect Warrior (Rank 5, Level 12)]

Experience gain reduced by 20% for fighting with a group

…

She ignored the message. She didn't care about it.

She didn't care about anything but Lis.

Velatha went back to the ritual circle. The fight had left her and she collapsed against the barrier. Her face pressed against it. Her tears were flowing freely. The barrier had stopped being fully transparent and had taken a frost-like appearance, she could only discern vague shapes inside. It was a blessing in a way. She wouldn't be able to see her girlfriend die in graphic details.

"Have faith my child," a hand suddenly caressed her face, "your love will not perish. Her strength will see her through this ordeal."

Velatha whirled around and found a woman next to her. She had a regal but motherly face framed by flowing silver hair. Her smile had a hint of regret but still gave Velatha hope.

"You are as precious to her as she is to you, never forget that," the woman said. "You should rest, she will need you when she wakes."

Suddenly, Velatha felt the exhaustion of the day catch up with her. She tried to resist and wobbled in place for a few seconds as she fought it but it won in the end. Her body slid down to the ground and she lost consciousness.

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Waking up felt like swimming counter current in a river of molasses. My entire body felt heavy and my mind sluggish. My thoughts were confined to a single stream, a state I hadn't experienced in a long time. I tried to open my eyes but my eyelids felt like they were cast in lead. Slowly, sensations and control came back. Cool air brushed over my skin, hard stone underneath. I was naked somewhere on the floor. Except for my head which was propped on a soft pillow.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Vel. A sleeping Vel. She had placed my head on her stomach and I could feel her holding my left hand tightly. I tried to move closer to her but my whole body felt … not wrong but different.

I tried to raise my right hand but when I did, two showed up.

I frowned.

A single left hand presented itself but I could still feel Vel holding it.

I tried moving my hands a few more times and it all slotted in my mind. My proprioception adjusted itself and I could feel my two sets of arms.

I tried to move my feet next but nothing happened. I pushed myself up slightly and looked at my feet. Or what used to be my feet in this case. I used one of my hands to confirm it and felt my smooth skin transition to a fluffy rubbery material near my waist.

Behind that was … a massive … fluffy … spider butt!

"What the fuck‽‽‽" I exclaimed. "Gaia you ass!"