The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 784: What Did It Mean?

Nerissa shot a glance at her sister. A silent exchange passed between the two before she turned back to me.

"Indeed, there is a final reason we requested your presence here, Apollo. I was contemplating if you would accompany us on a mission with a select group of Praetorians? Two types of crystals are found on this world. Redoxuite, as you are aware, but there is another. It is far rarer, so much so that nearly all Spartari are unaware of its existence: Praedoxite. This crystal is crucial for maintaining the power within Praetorian armor and weaponry. Should it fall into enemy hands or be utilized against us, the consequences could be dire. Currently, the sole known deposit of Praedoxite on this continent lies within Drakoshi territory. Our objective is to infiltrate, extract, and exfiltrate. This is contingent on your participation, of course?"

"Are you jesting?" I inquired with palpable excitement. "I would be immensely honored to join you Praetorians on a mission. Just ensure that I am not subjected to anti-psionic weaponry again when encountering them, and we shall achieve a resounding victory!"

"T-They would never dare!!!" Rhapso exclaimed, quickly stifling herself with an embarrassed cough. "I-I mean, we shall vouch for you, Apollo. We cannot permit our... associate, to be mistreated."

A chuckle escaped me as I gently took hold of Rhapso’s chin once more. "You are quite endearing," I commented innocently before releasing her and commencing my stretches. "Right then, shall we don our armor and commence our journey?"

I observed Nerissa’s gentle smile, which I returned in kind. She then employed her abilities to clad herself in her skinsuit before proceeding to her armor. Once she was encased, Rhapso and I followed suit shortly thereafter, entering our own respective armors.

Mere moments later, the clearing around us vanished without any discernible movement. In its stead, the distinct red-leafed flora indigenous to this world materialized.

Nerissa then spoke, her voice carrying clearly. "We are not far from the rendezvous point with the other Praetorians. It should be approximately a forty-minute walk. Are you prepared to depart?"

"Mhm, one moment, if you please." I responded, scanning my surroundings for a particular item. After a brief search, I spotted it skittering towards me. Striding to meet it, I bent down and retrieved the stick. "Apologies for the delay. They were impeding my transformation into a tree, a situation I trust you comprehend?"

I then rejoined Nerissa and Rhapso, the stick still in my grasp. Both Praetorians averted their gazes, a clear sense of discomfort emanating from them.

"Ugh! I had forgotten the sheer unpleasantness. Apollo, would you be so kind as to put it away?" Rhapso pleaded. Witnessing the Praetorian's evident disquiet ignited my playful inclination. "What, this ancient relic? It is merely a stick. Here, catch!"

I feigned tossing the stick, and for the first time in an immeasurable span of time, a human caused a Nymph to shriek in genuine terror.

"Ahhh!" Rhapso recoiled, her eyes squeezed shut against the perceived threat. Feeling no impact of the repulsive object, she cautiously opened her eyes. A sigh of relief escaped her as she confirmed the abhorrent item remained firmly within Apollo’s possession.

"T-That was hardly amusing, Apollo. I genuinely believed I was facing my demise."

"Actually, it was somewhat amusing," Nerissa conceded, finding her sister’s reaction endearingly comical.

*Boop*

"Hey! Cease poking my nose! This is hardly the time for such antics!" Rhapso admonished Nerissa, who remained placidly still.

*Boop*

"Stop it!"

*Boop*

"Ness!"

*Boop*

I observed their playful exchange with a contented smile. The events that had transpired in the glade still felt surreal. I had somehow managed to persuade the pair that I was one of their deities? Granted, with my Origin, the potential for such power existed, but still...

I had also gleaned some fascinating information. Firstly, Artemis was alive? This explained Skaja’s occasional use of 'we' instead of 'I'. It was truly astonishing! If I could gain her favor, I might be able to acquire details about past events... However, considering my knowledge of the Artemis from my previous universe's mythology, such a prospect seemed highly improbable.

Furthermore, I had uncovered another significant piece of information. This mysterious 'spark' might perhaps be the crucial element for achieving godhood, or perhaps it represented merely one possible pathway? I intended to consult with Jewel upon my return, perhaps between our intimate encounters.

Yet, as I watched the two Nymphs engage in their 'boop off,' a pang of guilt surfaced regarding my deception. Nerissa was my friend, and I had perceived the earnestness in her gaze. The notion of me being, in a technically accurate sense, one of her gods reborn in this era—given my reincarnation—was a belief I could not bring myself to shatter. The narrative about my forgotten past was also truthful; I had no recollection of my former name or my past deeds. All that remained were fleeting, obscure memories that surfaced sporadically.

Concurrently with this feeling of remorse, a sense of pride swelled within me concerning the potential opportunities this situation presented. I had already attained the status of a sentinel, an achievement representing the pinnacle of respect within Spartari society. Now, I had secured the allegiance of two Praetorians—one a close confidante, and the other who had recently dedicated an entire day to my pleasure... Both appeared to be genuinely loyal to me, although Rhapso remained under careful observation.

Regardless of the specifics, the advantages gained from this situation overshadowed any drawbacks. The primary concern, of course, was my inability to reveal my true origin.

Deciding that ponderous contemplation could wait, I returned the artifact to my Mindspace and, after readjusting to its familiar weight, stepped forward, halting the quarrel between the two individuals.

"Alright, shall we proceed?"

...

As we journeyed, I gradually learned more about Rhapso. It transpired that she was among the youngest Nymphs, her existence predating the 'incident' by mere years.

Leveraging my newly acquired, albeit fabricated, elevated status among them, I attempted to probe the nature of this 'incident.' However, it was as if a mental barrier obstructed their direct communication on the matter, leaving me to postpone the inquiry.

My understanding of Rhapso's abilities also deepened. While physically less imposing than other Praetorians, her innate connection to nature was profound, granting her the power to manipulate terrain and flora at her will.

She demonstrated this by orchestrating a whimsical dance of the surrounding trees, their branches swaying and contorting in defiance of their natural rigidity.

Furthermore, she explained her capacity to accelerate the growth of non-Psionic plant life, making it exceptionally potent and perilous.

To illustrate, a sharp spike erupted from the ground beneath Nerissa. Though Nerissa managed to evade it, the mere necessity of dodging underscored the attack's lethal potential.

"That's truly remarkable, Rhapso. I can only imagine how many Drakoshi have been caught off guard on their dark side of the moon," I remarked, eliciting a giggle from Rhapso.

"Hehe, indeed. Drakoshi are also unable to detect Psionics, so it often goes right up their... well, you know. Brutal, but effective. Those aliens don't deserve any better. Hahaha!"

I joined her laughter, though a sliver of apprehension now lingered, wondering if I too might face an unexpected spike.

Then, I noticed Nerissa observing me. Despite her helmet obscuring her features, I sensed a smile. A recollection surfaced, prompting a question to Rhapso.

"Rhapso, would you mind scouting just a little ahead? I need a private word with Nerissa."

Rhapso simply nodded and moved to the front.

Turning to Nerissa, whose expression now held confusion, I spoke. "So, I just realized you never answered my earlier question. You were sidetracked by the whole 'you know who I am' revelation. Let me ask again: Did our intimate encounter in the glade hold any significance for you? Or was it merely a means to heal me and curry favor? Please know, your answer won't impact our friendship; I simply wish to know if I should allow myself to develop deeper feelings for you, much like how things began with Hailey and me."

A moment of silence passed between us. Nerissa appeared momentarily speechless, leading me to interpret her silence as a negative response. "No problem. We'll consider it a one-time occurrence. It's not as though I'm desperately seeking to amass a collection of women, after all. I'm perfectly content with our friendship remaining as it is. Now, come on, let's catch up to Rhapso."

As I began to walk away, a hand firmly grasped my arm, the pressure causing my armor to creak. I glanced at the hand, then at the Nymph, who murmured something I couldn't quite discern.

"What was that, Ness? I didn't quite catch that."

Nerissa then removed her helmet. Her violet eyes glistened as she met my gaze, an uncharacteristic nervousness apparent in her usually composed demeanor. She opened her mouth again, speaking so softly that only my enhanced hearing could pick up the words.

"I... I want to do it again."