Chapter 7: The Webs We Weave

GET OUT!

A vicious strike to the face. She sprawled to the floor, fresh blood mixed with tears staining the wooden surface.

WASTE OF LIFE!

The door was held opened. She looked up at them; pleading. They looked down in disgust.

NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

She was thrown out into the mud. Heavy rain poured down. Her notes fluttered to the ground afterwards, instantly ruined by the muck. The door slammed closed. She tried to get up, looking back, begging and reasoning with a shut door. Nothing. Her possessions all tarnished in mud, she lay before the place she used to call home, weeping.

Nowhere to go.

She had no fiends, no family, no one to accept her. A starless night befell on her. The rain never relented. No idea how long she lay in the mud.

Everything ruined.

All her notes, the scribbling of years about the Shadow Isles, forever lost in the muck. It sucked her arms and legs and body in, threatening to swallow her alive. Half her face had disappeared beneath the mud while her other half was blinded with tears. No idea how long she was drenched.

Alone.

Noxians would never aid someone as fragile and delusional as her. If she wouldn't get beaten, enslaved, murdered, or violated; she would certainly rot away from starvation or sickness. Everyone and every place – the library, the café, the underground shelters – had all pushed her away, telling her she would never be welcomed. No idea how long she wept.

The night was cruel. Her body soaked in rain and mud and filth, she crawled away. Away from the shut door. Away from the ones who, after hours of pleading with, would never speak to her again. They couldn't understand. Her passion. Her obsession. Nobody could. They treated her, feared for her, were disgusted by her.

A waste of beauty and intelligence, they said. They attempted everything; coaxing, bribing, schooling, hospitalization, torture. The Shadow Isles were her one desire though. And when nothing worked, it was easier to give up on and discard of her. She was clearly useless.

She dragged herself away, crawling through the slums. Even the abandoned animals she passed by hissed in revulsion at her. Everything dark. Everything wet. Everything cold. Collapsing in an alley way, curling up behind a dumpster. Not even a futile attempt to shield herself from the downpour.

Morning and still rain. A sleepless night. Hunger. Wasn't fed even before she was finally thrown out. Shivering. All wet. No light. Already dead.

Footsteps after an eternity. She tucked her head in, not wanting to see another look of revolt. That's if they didn't do something unspeakable to someone as vulnerable as her first. Footsteps stopped. She balled up tighter. Heavy rain came down harder. Her body not producing any form of relief. Just let her lie her and die.

A tap on the shoulder. Nothing.

Another tap. Still nothing.

Rustling and a third tap along with a new aroma. A delicious one.

She looked up. Someone crouched before her, one hand on her shoulder while the other held a freshly made breakfast roll. They held it out to her. She looked at it, hesitantly extending her hands. The hood pealed back as the figure took off their coat and wrapped it around her. A smile from the figure when she took a bite from the roll. Green eyes looked back with warmth.


She had just left the building, having skipping lunch today because the dining hall was more filled than usual for this hour. Elise felt a pang of hunger though. She walked across the yard, passing by Cho'Gath talking with Malzahar to which the latter gave her a glare again. Kog'Maw was curled up sleeping on a mat of grass, but awoke as soon as he heard her coming. "Hello spider lady!" he said. Elise looked down and smiled warmly. Kog'Maw's entire body was wagging around as he looked up at her mirthfully. With a wave of her hand she summoned a spiderling before him.

"Ooooohhhh," he gargled, inspecting it.

The spiderling chittered and ran towards him, crawling up his leg and around his body. Kog'Maw giggled, hopping around in circles with his companion. Elise continued on her way to the trees, now knowing by instinct which way to go to get to the river. When she got there, Kha'Zix was crouched on a set of rocks looking at the stream of water. As soon as she stepped into the clearing, his antennae flicked up and he looked around to her.

"Hello," she said, sitting down on a rock below him.

He purred. The two stayed by the river for several minutes when her stomach growled. Maybe she should've eaten something before. Kha'Zix looked at her and tilted his head. "Have you consumed anything yet?"

Elise shook her head. "No, I didn't feel like eating anything today," she said, though another growl from her stomach immediately refuted that statement. Her face grew red as she touched her abdomen.

"I will go hunt for sustenance," he said, leaping off the rocks and heading towards the woods. She looked after him.

"Wait," she said. The Voidreaver turned, antennae perking up. She stood up and walked towards him. "I'll join you. If you're getting food for us, I should be helping you out since I'm here."

He hissed in what sounded like compliance and the two walked into the foliage together. Kha'Zix's antennae stood erect, listening to every sound around them. Elise turned into her spider form for a body more adept at hunting, to which the Voidreaver looked at her in approval. While he stalked on the ground, she crawled up a tree and moved silently through the canopy. She didn't know exactly what they were looking for, though taking into account what Kha'Zix brought for food in the previous meetings, she kept her eyes opened for anything ranging from rabbits to deer.

The two moved through the woods together for several minutes when Kha'Zix paused, baring his teeth. Elise froze and listened. Aside from the occasional buzzing of insects and breeze through the leaves, there was another sound. A grinding sort of noise. The Voidreaver slowly moved forward with her following carefully from above. Silently they approached the source of the sound, a sight that Elise didn't even know the Institute's yards held. A wild boar, a large black-furred tusked creature, digging near the roots of a tree. It snorted as it dug through the dirt with hooved feet, looking for food of its own. Kha'Zix looked up at Elise in the trees. This was their target. She gave a sign of affirmation and tensed her legs, ready to pounce. The boar, though nowhere near as intimidating as the ones she had seen from the more wild parts of Valoran, still looked like a formidable creature. It was easily the size of the large wolves on Summoners Rift, though with much more mass and muscle.

The Voidreaver bended forward, wings unfolding, as he prepared to lunge. Elise crouched in the braches as well. She was hoping his hunting style would be similar to his fighting style on the Fields so she could match with him. The boar continued to dig, unaware of their presences. Several seconds of silence passed before, without warning, Kha'Zix leapt towards the creature. Though he was fast, the boar's reaction was instant, for as soon as the Void-being left the ground it turned and started running. It squealed and fled into the bushes just as Kha'Zix landed where it was. The Voidreaver hissed, firing a spine at it. It sliced through the boar's hide, but the attack didn't slow it. Elise tracked the boar's path and lunged from the trees, legs outstretched. She was just about to land on the animal, and her fangs jutted out, prepared to pierce flesh. However, this creature had impeccable reaction times. Right when it seemed it would fall to her grasp, it sharply turned and headed in a new direction. Elise instead landed on the ground, her foreleg just brushing against the creature's thick fur.

It disappeared into the foliage. She cursed while Kha'Zix hissed. The two stood there, listening to the squealing grow distant. Both knew a chase would be fruitless. After the sound dissipated, Elise turned to her companion. "Sorry," she said, "We can go find something else to eat."

He lowered his antennae. "That is the most substantial prey we will be able to locate for miles," he said, "Its flesh is coursing with the most optimal nutrition of any creature we will find in the area at this time. It is a delicacy you must sample." There was passion in his voice. Kha'Zix wanted this meat for her. He growled and stalked towards the boar's location. Elise followed, heading to the trees again. It was cute, she thought, that he would continue to pursue this troublesome thing for her.

After several more minutes, the Void-being picked up the boar's scent again. They came across it, where it was continuing to dig near the trees, pulling out and chewing on the roots. Kha'Zix made a low hiss, inching forward. Elise watched from above. A direct ambush didn't lead to success; this animal was much too feisty. She could already sense the boar's muscles tense and it stopped digging. Kha'Zix sensed this as well and paused. Seconds went by in silence, and when nothing stirred, the animal resumed its foraging. Jumping out of the shadows wasn't going to work, she thought. Her companion must've been thinking the same thing as well, because he stopped his advance and crouched in the bushes, antennae twitching.

She watched the creature. It was ready to run at the slightest disturbance and strong enough to take a glancing blow. It would be nearly impossible to catch it by claw, and even if Kha'Zix was willing to keep firing spines at it, it would take a while before it went down. As they sat there, Elise couldn't help but feel they were targeting an enemy on the Fields that was fighting too timidly. If the prey was too easily startled, too fast to catch, and too tough to fall to flesh wounds; then why not punish it for its feistiness? Elise would've smiled if she could in this form.

She crept down the tree to Kha'Zix. "I have an idea," she whispered. She conveyed the plan quietly and quickly, but the Voidreaver fully understood. He had done the same more often than not as well, both in hunts and fights. He hissed in compliance. The Spider Queen crawled back up the tree and backed off, circling the area and leaving a strand of silk behind. With the help of some spiderlings, she silently created large webs between the trees partially surrounding the area, making as many as she could in the minute or two they had before the animal decided to wander off. The Voidreaver kept an eye on the creature, making sure it didn't leave too soon. Like she and Kha'Zix had been a part of before on the Fields, they were going to lead the target into a deadlock.

Her companion brushed the webbing she trailed behind, informing her that the creature was moving. Elise quickly finished the web she was working on and trekked back towards them. Hopefully she made enough. She shook the line back, telling him she was ready. A moment of silent passed. Her legs tensed. The next moment a squeal was heard and the boar was running in her direction. Kha'Zix followed, leaping between the trees and swiping at the animal, which evaded every shot. She waved her forelegs, alerting the Voidreaver of her position, and started jumping between the branches. He looked up at her and the large webs in the area, chasing the boar towards them.

The animal swiftly turned away every time Kha'Zix appeared to its side or in its path. Elise followed from above, tracking the creature's movements. After a while, the Voidreaver stopped and stared after it, baring his teeth. The boar ran forward, squealing madly. Somewhere in its mind, it might've thought itself clever at having finally evaded its predator, assuming it could form thoughts like that at all. But suddenly it hit an invisible wall. It cried out in surprise and panic, trying to turn but found its head and forelegs stuck to fine but durable strands of silk. The creature thrashed around, trying desperately to get free, but the more it struggled the more caught up in the web it became. From above where she had been waiting, Elise descended, weaving silk with her forelegs to encase the creature in a cocoon. Though it continued to struggle, this was nothing new to her. She easily wrapped the squirming animal in layers of silk, and in just a few seconds the boar was fully cocooned. Elise rolled the creature around and sunk her long fangs into its neck, careful not to inject the paralyzing poison she usually had so as not to contaminate the meat. The boar quickly stopped moving.

Kha'Zix approached and gave a satisfying hiss, which Elise emulated. "Clever," he said, looking up at her.

She dropped down, landing back in her human form. "Indeed," she said, grinning and looking at their catch. They both admired the cocooned boar for a minute. After that, Elise turned to the Voidreaver. "Well, we didn't do all this just to make a piece of art in these woods. Shall we eat?"

His antennae moved up and down, and he sliced the strands holding the cocoon to the web, making it fall to the ground before him. Elise moved to pick it up but Kha'Zix stopped her. Picking up one of the strands in his jaw, he looked at his companion before dragging it back towards the river. She lightly smiled and walked beside him. The two hadn't gone too far and made it back to their meeting spot in just a few minutes. Once they settled down, they sliced open the cocoon, making a mat out of the webbing for the body of the large animal. Kha'Zix cut through the flesh, giving the most tender parts to his companion. Unlike most humans, she could, and more often than not had, eaten freshly killed raw animal flesh. The two enjoyed a nice meal by the river.

When the two were done, they settled down. Elise washed her hands and mouth in the river before lying down while Kha'Zix groomed himself. She put a hand over her stomach, satisfyingly full from the meat.

"Delicious," she said.

"Yes," her companion responded, finishing his cleaning and crouching beside her.

She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. The two remained there for several moments, listening to the sounds of the river and the breeze through the trees. After a while Kha'Zix spoke up again. "I acquired another trait from you."

Elise opened her eyes. "Hm? What did you acquire?"

Kha'Zix turned to face her and started rubbing his claws together. He did this for several seconds, rustling his wings as his antennae twitched furiously. Elise watched, just noticing something on the sides of his wrists. He then spread his claws and, between them, wispy strands of silk hung. Her mouth opened a little. Webbing. She reached her hand up to them, but the webbing was weak and delicate, blowing apart in just a slight breeze. The things on his wrist were glands; silk glands similar to those on the abdomen of her spiderlings and spider form.

"I feared to tell you. I thought if you knew I acquired more traits from you other than desire, you would not want to see me anymore," he said, drawing in his claws, "Do you still desire to see me now that you know?" He looked her in the eyes, antennae lowered.

She let out a breath. She rubbed her fingers and produced her own silk from them, stronger and more refined then his. He looked at it and brought his claw up to meet her held up hand. Upon touching, Elise slid her fingers down his bladed arm, the strands of Kha'Zix's webbing now sticking to hers. She pulled back her hand, a web suspended between her fingers and his claw. "Why would I not desire to see you any more if I found out about this?" she said softly, "I don't mind." She touched his head with her other hand and he purred, moving closer as he did.

Elise sat up and leaned her back on his leg. He looked down at her, antennae standing straight up. She smiled, gently moving the hand touching his head down. He complied, bending lower. When he did, she leaned onto his side, one hand now on his chest. The Void-being really liked this and leaned in, bringing an arm down over her shoulder, the blade facing away. He curled around her, using his body to shield hers. The carapace against her soft skin was…different, but she loved the sensation it produced. She leaned her head on his chest. His purr echoed in her ear, reverberating around in her skull. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling.


Elise sat on her bed with her book, half-reading and half-thinking. She had a small smile on her face as she thought of her meeting. The rest of it was simple, with her just leaning on Kha'Zix until he had to go. She never felt the same type of comfort before from a human or yordle, alive or dead. They were too soft. Too easy to break. Too easy to lose.

She exhaled, touching her belly. Several hours had passed, during which she wanted nothing more than to let the day settle. However, no sooner had she closed her book and leaned back when a blue light surrounded her. She pulled back a corner of her mouth. "Let's just get this over with," she sighed.

In the next few seconds she was on the blue team's platform. Around her, her allies stretched and readied themselves. Draven, Zyra, Vladimir, and Trundle.

This is just a practice match.

She looked up in recognition at the voice of her Summoner. Arcaia?

Yes, Spider Queen. Now get your items; you'll be going mid this game.

Her brow furrowed. "I didn't even say anything yet," Vladimir said. Elise realized he had been looking right at him.

"Not you," she said. The Crimson Reaper grinned before heading up to the top lane. Everyone else had also gotten their items and was heading to their respective locations. Elise stood frozen for a second before doing the same. Even as she walked down the middle lane to meet with Trundle and Vladimir at the ancient golem camp, her expression didn't change.

Why did you summon me again?

You are a powerful Champion. I tried to tell you last time, but you kept on interrupting me: I want to become affiliated with you.

Elise knew what Arcaia was trying to do. Some Summoners decided to stick primarily to certain Champions. As they worked solely together, they established a bond and in battle they could perform well beyond the capabilities than if they were just connected to a routine Summoner. They called it "maining" someone. But this was a harmonization; both parties had to be agreeable to this, and Elise still harbored a dislike for Arcaia for what she did to her in the last battle.

If you try to force this, it won't work. You do realize that, right?

Silence.

Elise's eyebrow twitched. Summoner Arcaia, if you wish to main with me, you cannot force this bond. You may want to use me, but that does not mean I am willing to work with you.

She felt the Summoner brush off the statement, ignoring it. Elise's eyebrow twitched some more. She sighed and continued. I will perform to the best of my abilities in this match. But the next time you summon me, I may not be so cooperative. Now, like I told you in the last match, stay quiet unless I address you or there is an incoming gank.

Of course, Spider Queen. Lead the way.

Elise huffed.

"Pay attention, will ya?"

She looked up at Trundle glaring at her. "Oh relax, it's not like this is a real match," Elise replied, firing a dose of Neurotoxin at the golem. Vladimir chuckled at the remark. The troll sneered, but quickly beat the surprised creature down.

As Elise headed back to mid, she opened the mental link with Arcaia again. Who are our enemies today, Summoner?

At bot it is Sivir and Nami. Jungling is Nautilus. Top is Rengar. You'll be facing Kassadin at mid.

Elise's eyes narrowed at the mention of Rengar's name. And also Kassadin's. Kha'Zix had talked about the Void Walker, and though he didn't have nearly as much of an aggression towards him as he did with the Pridestalker, he still perceived Kassadin as an enemy of the Void and thus needed to be eliminated. Elise felt a rush of excitement. She was thirsty for both their blood. When she arrived in lane, she stared right into his eyes.

She smirked. "Void Walker, allow me to help guide you to your death."

"You are null and void, Spider Queen!" he retorted.

The first few minutes were aggressive for her. She didn't hesitate to exploit any vulnerability the Void Walker showed, spitting a dose of Neurotoxin or conjuring a Volatile Spiderling at him whenever she could. But for each blow she made, he made sure to return it.

Kassadin was fairly zealous this match. He moved forward to strike down a caster minion. Elise built up her venom, but before she could launch it she was struck in the chest by a sphere of energy. Though it didn't have much force, she felt her venom recede and she couldn't speak. Elise glared and flung webbing at him, but it hit pathetically against his armor. After killing the caster minion he blasted a Force Pulse at her, causing her to reel at the concussive energy. By the time she recovered and looked up, he was heading back behind his minions. And she still couldn't make a sound!

Several more minutes dragged by. Though Elise was able to out-damage Kassadin and even managed to kill him once, several ganks by Nautilus after that forced her to retreat. She had lost track of how many times a giant anchor came shooting out of the bushes. She swore that the Titan of the Depths was just sitting in them the entire time. The battle was long, but Elise eventually lost her turret under the pressure of Kassadin and his minions.

A voice entered her head as soon as her turret collapsed. Do you need assistance?

Elise's eyes narrowed before she realized it wasn't Arcaia's. She glanced over to the ramp by the wraith camp and saw Zyra. Why aren't you at bot?

We've made Nami retreat and Draven just killed Sivir for the second time. He'll be fine for a minute or two longer. Plus, his bragging is becoming insufferable.

Elise grinned. Help me push back to Kassadin's turret.

The two women managed to beat back another minion wave and were now wearing down the purple turret. Elise turned into her spider form and picked away while Zyra kept an eye out for enemies and shot vines. She had been silent during the push, but as the turret began to crumble, her voice came through again.

Are you feeling okay?

Elise didn't pause but she turned an eye toward the Rise of the Thorns. What do you mean?

The Pridestalker. Does his presence bother you?

The two backed up to let their minions take care of the turret. I'm fine. However, I am anticipating when I can meet him in battle. I think I owe him for some wounds and fractured bones.

Zyra nodded and started recalling. Just before she left, she verbally said, "If the Voidreaver were watching this, I think he would appreciate your actions."

Elise blinked. She wanted to question what Zyra meant by that, but another voice entered her head. Trundle's.

Spider Queen, come get your blue buff already. I think we can steal the enemy's one.

Elise started crawling towards the bottom. However, as soon as she passed in front of the dragon's pit, Trundle sent out a distress beacon. Draven had just recalled and Vladimir was still all the way top.

I've been ambushed! Three of them! Nautilus, Kassadin, and Ren –

"An ally has been slain!"

Elise's eyes widened and she immediately rounded back. But no sooner had she turned around when her spiderlings hissed in anger and an anchor hooked onto her abdomen. She was dragged back, turning just to see Nautilus heading towards her as well. Elise had never been hit by a train, nor was she ever on planning to, but she could guess it was about the same as when she collided with the armored titan.

The breath was knocked out of her and a colossal shock went through her body when the two met, making her black out for a second. If that was with a protective exoskeleton, she didn't want to know what would've happened if she was in her human form. The next thing she knew, she was on her back in the water, her legs curling up in front of her. Her spiderlings nipped feebly at the living diving suit, unable to stop him from raising his massive anchor over his head. "Drown," he said, bringing his weapon down. Elise would've screamed in excruciation had she still had breath in her lungs. The anchor smashed her into the ground; she lay there unable to move from the pain, curling into herself.

Arcaia, get me out of here!

Are you sure you want to use your flash so soon? Elise detected smugness in the Summoner's voice.

Don't screw around; flash me out!

In a burst of light, Elise barely avoided the Titan of the Depth's swinging anchor again. She was flashed into the brush in the middle of the river. Nautilus looked around, trying to figure out where she was. That's when she realized that he was fairly damaged.

Elise called to Draven as she got back up. Executioner, use your ult on Nautilus now!

So, wanna piece of the Draaaaaaveeeeeen, huh legsy? Well, one Whirling Death coming right up!

A second went by before Elise heard the blades coming. Two giant axes spun through the trees and cut right through Nautilus. He staggered back as they collided and Elise quickly came out of hiding with her spiderlings. He turned to face her, about to lift his anchor when the axes came back around, causing him to stumble into the river again. Elise's adrenaline flared as she activated Skittering Frenzy and lunged in. She tackled the Titan of the Depths, pinning him down as she stabbed him with her legs. Then, with a Venomous Bite, he fell limp into the water.

"You have slain an enemy!"

Hey, you stole my kill!

Elise would've rolled her eyes if she had pupils to roll at the time. Nevertheless, as she walked away, she sent him a message. Thank you, Executioner.

Hey, no problem, legsy. Always willing to add style to a kill, especially to one of your tastelessness.

She already regretted voicing her gratitude. She was making her way towards the tribush behind the dragon's pit, her abdomen still in pain from the Titan's anchor, when Arcaia's voice entered her mind. Was Nautilus alone?

Elise was about to retort when she realized it was a rhetorical question. The Spider Queen started running now, but was cut off by a gruff voice behind her. "Not so fast!"

Her eight legs were snared by a bola, tripping her to her side. She turned and saw Rengar leaping over his fallen ally as he charged towards her. Her spiderlings lunged at him, but he easily swatted them aside or cut them in half. Elise quickly changed to her human form, using her now-free back appendages to undo the bola tangled around her wrists and ankles. She got up just as Rengar approached the base of the ramp and was about to spit a dose of Neurotoxin at him. However, a purple flash from behind tore through her, causing her to miss the shot. She turned and a Force Pulse knocked her down the ramp.

"You are powerless!" Kassadin said, raising his glowing blade. Blue runes floated around him.

Elise snarled, but a large claw wrapped around her head. "As I said, I never forget a face," the Pridestalker growled. He turned and threw her to the other side of the river. She crashed into the water, groaning in pain. Rengar ran at her while Kassadin behind him Riftwalked, thrusting his blade forward as soon as he teleported in front of her. She moved out of the way, but the blade still skinned her right side. She cried out as the energy sliced through her flesh. She clutched her side, blood leaking through her fingers.

She stumbled up the ramp into the purple side's jungle trying to get away from the two. She heard her allies saying they were coming, but she already knew they were too far to do anything. She whipped around, firing a glob of webbing. Rengar ducked, barely avoiding the shot, and sprinted up the ramp to land a savage uppercut to Elise. She felt herself being lifted into the air and crashed into the jungle wall that used to be the purple golem's home, collapsing in the dirt. Rengar growled as he approached her and with a swing of his leg smashed her against the trees. She coughed up blood as she lay on her side. But despite the pain she felt, she glared up at the two. The Pridestalker grabbed her by the two upper appendages on her back and lifted her up, snarling in her face.

"No one here to save you now," he said.

Elise opened her mouth, but no words came out. Rengar grinned before realizing that she wasn't trying to speak. He moved to the side and her Neurotoxin shot forward, hitting Kassadin instead. The venom burned through his chest and he brought a hand up to it, doubling over. Elise felt herself being flipped. Rengar threw her into the wall that separated this area from bot lane. She coughed up more blood. She remembered how bad Kha'Zix looked after his last encounter with Rengar, and now as pain wracked her own body, she intended to make sure to repay him in full. But first, she needed to get rid of the Void Walker. She turned to him and saw a purple sphere of energy be shot at her. She ducked, letting the Null Sphere burn the tree.

Kassadin Riftwalked toward her again, slashing his blade, but a quick cocoon stopped him. Elise followed with another Neurotoxin shot along with a Volatile Spiderling. The Void Walker yelled. A roar and she saw Rengar leaping at her. Taking advantage of Kassadin's distressed state; she grabbed his arm and swung his body to block the Pridestalker. He went over them and as soon as he touched the ground she launched a searing shot of Neruotixin at him. He yelled and kneeled. She pushed Kassadin back and spat another dose of Neurotoxin. Then with a yell, Elise plunged one of her back appendages into Kassadin's chest through the hole burning through it. He screamed, dropping to his knees.

"You have slain an enemy!"

She turned around to look at Rengar, but he was nowhere to be seen. Elise knew better than to think he was gone though. She scanned the jungle and walked into the tribush leading to the bottom lane, ignoring the pain tearing through her body. She moved through the bush, looking for any sign of where he was. However, she heard a loud roar and looked up behind her, seeing Rengar coming out of his invisibility and leaping at her. He came crashing down on her, plunging his large hunting axe into her right shoulder. She cried in pain, turning when he lifted it out intending to spit a dose of Neurotoxin in his face. However, the blade came down on her again, this time on her left side opposite of where Kassadin got her. She cried out again. Blood spurted out as agony erupted all around her. Her vision was going dark. Rengar closed a paw around her throat and picked her up, slamming her against the jungle wall.

"I'm going to savor this kill," he growled, bringing his blade up to her face, "I'll make you what I would've made out of that beast!"

She clenched her jaw together, trying to stifle the impulse to scream further and clutching his paw with her one good arm. The one that was attached to the shoulder he cut hung loosely at her side. He tightened his grip, causing blood to leak out of her mouth. Make it quick, she thought. At least if he killed her now, she could resurrect to get her vengeance sooner. Rengar snarled as he pressed the large blade under her chin. Her eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth. He slowly moved the blade in, steadily making a cut on her throat.

"Scream, you bitch," he growled. Elise continued to grit her teeth, blood leaking through them.

The grip around her throat was replaced by the flat of his hunting axe. The next instant he plunged his wrist-mounted knives into her waist. An unfathomable amount of excruciation tore through her. She didn't know if she did scream; all of her senses except for the feeling of agony went numb. The world went red before black as Rengar meticulously slid his hunting axe into her throat.


Elise was now floating, painless. She could hear the sounds of battle, though they were distant. Everything seemed hazy, although she was never really sure whether it was her own mind or the contents of whatever nether realm she was taken to when she died on the Fields. Her senses were too distorted here to ever try to figure it out.

A voice came through from her memories. If the Voidreaver were watching this, I think he would appreciate your actions. Would he? Through the shadows and sounds, she recalled Rengar's face just an inch from hers. At his mercy for several long seconds. The blade against her throat. The knives in her waist. The excruciation that consumed her entire body. I'll make you what I would've made out of that beast! She felt anger boil in her.

A series of lights surrounded her. The next thing she knew was that she was back on the blue team's platform. She shook her head.

"Excellent, you're back. You never cease to amaze me, Spider Queen. That was quite the show you put on back there, even if you did meet a grizzly demise."

She turned behind her to see Vladimir having recalled back. "Where's Rengar now?" she asked immediately.

"Feeling vengeful today, huh? This isn't a serious match; didn't you say that at the beginning of this battle?"

Elise ignored him and left the platform, expanding her senses over what her team saw. Rengar was nowhere to be spotted. She was now sprinting through the base. When she reached the stairs going down she leaped up and turned into her spider form in midair, landing with a hiss.