u/KeoIgnotiusKurzMC

Just think about during Prehistoric time Arthropleura, Meganeura and Jaekelopterus were really huge thanks to the fact the Oxygen level were as high as 35%. They were literally about 8.5 feet, 8 feet and 2.5-2.8 feet respectively. What if these guys an oxygen level were at most as high as 45% allowing them to be big and strong. For example Hornet throwing her needle at 30 yards.

But then how does this explain giant Wyrm? Well my theory is that they mostly live near the True Surface and might be able to go on for long periods of time without or with low oxygen when going down into the regions where Hallownest and Pharloom exists. For example Bumblebees can hold their breath for as long as a week if needed. But this would also mean they would need to deal with ROS(Reactive Oxygen Species). After all Oxygen slowly kills living beings by oxidizing them. This would mean our bug friends must have the capable need to produce or have food that are extremely rich in antioxidant to combat such possibility. But again this is also a magical world. Higher Beings like Unn, Wyrm, and Radiance just need followers to exist. Effectively a giant gap between mortals and gods.

But I'm here to talk about MORTALS specifically. So yes Hornet strength would highly be related to her godlike physique but how does mortals like Shakra and Garmond match up to Hornet to a point of knockout?
After all deaths ain't really canon and according to my headcanon the death are nothing more than Foresight from Hornet and Knight and the Cocoon and Shade respecitvely are form due to fear/regret/disappointment of them dying or their tactics not working. But that's for another story.
After all when Hornet wakes up even in Steel Soul for it is not a true death but just a knockout. Shakra would say "You recover quickly. Already, my ring-marks have faded from your shell. If you are prepared, let us duel again." This shows that Hornet lost and fainted and not back to bench she is. All Shakra did use were her rings and speed yet no magic.(Unless the Ring Burst Attack is counted as Magic and not the shockwave caused due to her speed and strength. After all she's so fast that she practically teleports and it is stated that her clan is all about strength(Viltrumites and Saiyans type shit) but strength may also be both in a magical sense and physical sense, but I believe that she meant physical strength.) If a mortal is strong enough to match against a demi-god.

But if they're bugs that would make Shakra underwhelming or overwhelming and kinda break how she was able to best Shakra. After all Hornet can throw her needle her needle up to 30 yards and if a bug throw that. That wouldn't make sense. Unless she use a lot of magic and silk to reach that. This would means Shakra is insanely fucking strong if she is only using physical strength like I believe. Making her strong enough to take down a fucking demi-god with straight up hands. But if it's both? Yeah wouldn't that mean she needs to constantly spam her magic to speed herself up and teleporting all the time and using Ring Burst nearly all the time? Wouldn't that also tire her out and put a big strain on her body? And also most common bugs can't wield magic. Unless it's stolen or learnt like Groal the Great and Soul Master or the Snail Shamans respectively. Most of them rely on ingenuity and physical ability.

Btw, I adding all things related that Team Cherry has stated about Hollow Knight. Including that Old post that Team Cherry tweeted but still I don't think City of Tears bridge is 30 yards it still could be shorter. Tell me your thoughts about it! I GENUIENLY WANT TO KNOW AND DESPERATELY NEED SOMEBODY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH!