The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 758: Step 3: Kaboom

Scaling two additional walls effortlessly, we arrived at the summit of the last one, where a stunning view awaited us atop the parapet.

"Hey, you slowpokes. Enjoyed your little sightseeing tour?"

Grinning at Onyx's cheekiness, I held off on flirting—that could wait—and dove into the specifics while assisting Tamara to her feet. "What's the situation, babe?"

Onyx jerked her thumb backward. "Roughly twenty Drakoshi hanging around the big weapon's entrance. Plus a pair of mechanical foes and at least thirty more within. Figured I'd hold off on entering till you arrived. They're all unarmored, somewhat larger than the others. Probably count as 'elites.'"

Tamara gripped Zircon hard. "Should we charge in? All this stealth is making me crave blood." Her voice carried a near-growl from deep in her throat, yet I shook my head no.

"No way. This mission holds total strategic importance. Destroying it is key. We can't get stuck here. Wait for our allies to kick off their fight. Onyx, is the spot safe?"

She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "Can't say for sure, but I've lingered here ten minutes without hiding. I'd call it secure enough."

I let out a sigh and shook my head. With the College moon behind us, Onyx could tap her Psionics once more, and though I avoided fixed points, vague info like this... worked fine.

I sighed again, realizing Onyx smirked at me smugly, obviously scanning my thoughts. She was toying with me... that little rascal.

…

Ten minutes passed as we hunkered down low, and suddenly crackling sounds erupted. Peering over the wall, muzzle flashes and laser beams lit up the scene. The Kill team was in combat. Our moment to advance had come.

"Melee weapons only, minimize attention. Willow, you good in close quarters?" I inquired, receiving a firm nod as she drew a hilt from her belt and activated a green laser falchion—clearly not standard Spartari gear...

"I've restrained myself for my squad's sake, but now I'll reveal my true skills, Apollo. For you." A spark gleamed in her eyes as she spoke.

I gave her a nod, then faced Tamara, who still clutched Zircon before tossing my sword back. She'd manage fine. Her talent with improvised arms was lethal.

"Got it. Onyx, handle one mech; I'll claim the other. You three, cull the numbers and breach that structure." Helmets donned by all, I announced once prepared.

"We do not fail."

…

These mechs weren't as massive as the one that almost squashed me. They served more like powered armor for Drakoshi, boosting the 10ft Warlads to Warlord scale.

Yet we caught them off-guard. Gunfire noises pulled their focus elsewhere, and only one Drakoshi's yell alerted them as we charged, right when I leaped airborne at mine.

Hitting the mech's faceplate, it clawed to dislodge me with its hands. I released Zircon to guard my side briefly while hammering the helmet viewport with full force punches.

After several mighty blows, the glass cracked apart. I unleashed a blast of unstable Pyrokinesis straight into the pilot's face. Ignoring its howls, I descended onto a foe flanking Willow, amped by extra gravity.

A gruesome crack echoed as the Drakoshi crumpled in two. I smashed another flying backward before Zircon rejoined my grip. Then a blue beast materialized behind a flamethrower-wielding Drakoshi; Sapphire tore out its neck and dashed into the building.

Serving as both delay tactic and shield against the indoor Drakoshi mobilizing at the sounds of their comrades' demise outside.

Deflecting a strike aimed at Tamara, I seized a Drakoshi's throat with Gyrokinesis, hoisting it aloft, then blocked another assault from my right. Tamara impaled the suspended one through the hearts with a scavenged metal pole, and I let the corpse slump before pressing toward the next foe.

The ambush succeeded brilliantly, Onyx downing her mech too. Outdoor Drakoshi eliminated, we surged inward.

Floors above held Drakoshi firing down, with Sapphire piling up bodies. Swift action was essential. Willow's aura alone caused their shots to veer wild...

Shattering the quiet—like the Drakoshi themselves—I raised my Minigun, unleashing Pyrokinetic rounds. Not targeting specifics, but igniting nearby flammables, smoke rapidly filled the air.

No issue for us in helmets; Onyx's lungs endured better anyway, and Sithrik shrugged off fumes. The Drakoshi's small eyes teared up, hacking violently.

Fire would attract notice, but we dispatched the survivors effortlessly after that—I ceased caring. Climbing to the summit where the gun loomed, its scale awed. Forget Thermobaric rounds; anything from this beast spelled doom for nearly all...

It had to be obliterated.

"Spread out! Rig explosives on the weapon's supports!" I barked at Willow and Tamara.

"Apollo! More grey ssskins incoming!" Sithrik shouted upward. "Onyx, stall them! Keep them outside!"

Onyx leaped from beside me two stories down, landing by Sapphire. "Come on, roomie, time to slaughter!"

Sapphire unleashed a mighty roar. Bullet wounds pained her, but surrender wasn't an option. Shrinking for speed, she trailed Onyx to slay in her master's honor.

..

As flames raged through the structure while we set charges, concern for my team gnawed post-placement. "Status report!" I called.

"Apollo! Not enough bombs for every support!" Tamara hollered.

'Damn.' My miscalculation. "Screw it! Pray it's sufficient. Pull back! Link up with the rest!" I commanded.

They bolted immediately. From the top beside the cannon, I plunged through floors, crashing to ground level with a boom. Exiting, the outlook soured. Onyx and Sapphire battled, but Drakoshi awareness surged, reinforcements pouring fire. Armored, I absorbed hits aimed my way, then unleashed suppressive barrages from my limb.

"Tamara! Willow, move! I'll cover the rear!"

Firing once more, they slipped from the building toward our entry route. "Zircon, go!" My sword zipped to Tamara. Willow clambered onto her back; they slid rapidly down the wall.

Intently signaling, "Recall!" Sapphire and Onyx retreated to my Mindspace. Onyx bore damage but held; Sapphire teetered on the brink.

Fury simmered within, yet I stayed composed. Gazing at the structure amid Drakoshi barrages on my shelter, I grinned.

From a pouch, I drew the detonator. 'Fire in the hole.' A instant later.

*KABOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

Flames briefly banished night to day across the area. The blast scorched fiercer than anticipated; so near, I erected a Thermokinetic shield.

Once cleared, ash coated me. I eyed the weapon, anticipating its collapse.

I lingered.

Drakoshi rallied, resuming fire, but I watched upward.

Nothing happened.

Smoke fully cleared; my eyes widened. Foolish error—those ammo dump bombs were squandered.

The building lay in ruins. Twisted, glowing beams remained, framework intact enough. Acceptable.

But the Boomstick endured atop it. Repairable before Phalanx arrival tomorrow. A cold void sank in my gut.

I had failed...