The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 788: Steamrolled

The world still vibrated from the nuclear blast's aftermath as Phoebe released me and retracted the protective dome. She then helped us to our feet before moving swiftly ahead.

Despite the chaotic turn of events, a lingering shock held me captive, but I followed her lead.

Down in the gorge, inexplicably, some Drakoshi forces survived. While none of the armored ones remained and the entire depot lay in ruins, the survivors were in dire straits. Limbs were gone, severe burns marred their bodies, and many were succumbing to their wounds, though a few still clung to life with a flicker of defiance.

It made no difference to the outcome.

Grasping the weapon I'd been given, I ran, aiming and unleashing a barrage upon the remaining enemy.

*THUNK THUNK THUNK*

Grenades rained down upon the Drakoshi ranks, plunging them into panicked disarray as the explosives claimed more lives. After expending approximately fifty grenades, I emptied the weapon and let it fall from my grasp.

My next action was to summon Zircon and initiate a charge towards one of the silver-armored Drakoshi. It was missing an arm and appeared unsteady, a seemingly easy target to fell.

Yet, as I closed the distance, a streak of motion flashed past me. The next instant, a spear pierced the Drakoshi's head.

I had barely a moment to witness Marnes' decisive kill before he vanished, intent on dispatching another foe.

The Praetorians were a force of nature, each acting as a miniature army, carving through the remnants of the Drakoshi lines as effortlessly as a hot blade through butter. Only Rhapso remained somewhat detached, employing her unique abilities to impale hundreds of fallen Drakoshi through the heart, ensuring their demise. It was an extra measure, so to speak.

"Raaaaaaggghhhh!"

A guttural roar suddenly echoed across the 'battlefield.' Turning towards the cave entrance, a fourteen-foot Drakoshi emerged, wielding two massive axes and escorted by a hundred other Drakoshi, each standing ten feet tall.

"It appears there were more within the mines than initially anticipated. Is that our designated target?" Aeteos inquired.

"Indeed, it seems so. Observe, he bears a distinctive skull adorning his waist," Marnes added.

"Regroup!" Phoebe's voice commanded sharply, and the Praetorians instantly formed a defensive skein formation.

"Apollo, take the left flank, positioned behind Nerissa," Phoebe directed from the vanguard of the Skein, a position I readily accepted.

"Are you activating it, Pheebs?" Rhapso's voice carried from the opposite flank.

"Affirmative. The target's defenses are weaker than anticipated. I possess sufficient energy to achieve the objective without undue strain," Phoebe replied calmly, raising her spear before her.

The instant she did, my Psionic senses registered an imminent, grave danger emanating directly from Phoebe.

The tip of her spear became engulfed in an impenetrable darkness, rendering her weapon seemingly two-dimensional.

This void then began to shimmer, speckled with countless white points of light that illuminated the abyss.

All the while, the Drakoshi resumed their charge. Some drew firearms and began to shoot, but the Praetorian armor proved impervious to their attacks.

Phoebe continued to channel this power, which I presumed to be an attack, for several more moments. Just as the Drakoshi were about to engage in close combat, she unleashed her power.

A profound silence descended. There was no satisfying 'boom' as the 'laser' erupted from her spear, a beam as wide as a man that cascaded forward. A chasm, large enough for me to walk through, sliced cleanly through the lead Drakoshi and dozens more behind it before its energy dissipated.

By that point, Phoebe had already adopted a defensive stance as the remaining Drakoshi entered melee range.

Witnessing the five Praetorians in action made me feel profoundly inadequate, though in a constructive way.

Following the last major engagement, my ego had inflated somewhat, having fought for an entire day as the primary force without sustaining any injuries.

It was beneficial to be humbled. A crucial reminder that beings far more powerful than myself exist.

*Fwoosh!*

I evaded a strike aimed at my neck and countered with a kick, sending the Drakoshi tumbling backward into its own formation, disrupting their advance.

Nerissa, positioned just ahead of me, then impaled a Drakoshi through the throat with her spear, leaving it embedded before manifesting her colossal Psionic axe. With a mighty swing, she cleaved through several of the disrupted enemies before reclaiming her spear.

Seizing the brief opening this created, I raised my arm. Within half a second, my minigun materialized on my forearm. Aiming was unnecessary; I simply fired.

*Brrrrt!*

And I did not cease. Although the skein consisted of only six individuals, the five Praetorians operated as a cohesive army, allowing me to peel off and reinforce the flank, decimating the dwindling Drakoshi numbers.

The conflict concluded within mere minutes. Some Drakoshi attempted to flee, but Marnes and Aeteos pursued them relentlessly. It was a brutal slaughter, yet Phoebe, at the forefront of the formation, remained untouched by even a speck of blood on her armor.

This starkly contrasted with my own blood-soaked state from the previous day. My journey was far from over. The thought brought a smile to my lips.

"Well, they were thoroughly defeated." My voice cut through the quiet aftermath on the battlefield.

Nerissa then turned her gaze toward me, and I could hear the smile evident in her words. "You performed admirably. I had concerns you might struggle surrounded by so many of them, yet your support far exceeded expectations. I am genuinely proud."

My arm was then grasped from the side. "Indeed, but you should have been fighting alongside me, Apollo. Pheebs made a tactical error placing you with Nerissa. As the weaker flank, your position should have been with me. The two of us. Imagine the spectacle of defeating the Drakoshi using combined tactics... A sight to behold..."

My gaze drifted to what was considered the 'weaker' side of our formation. Spikes, an abundance of them. Rhapso, while perhaps not the most physically imposing, wielded Psionics that were undeniably perilous. And the fact that she could expend such immense power without succumbing to fatigue? Truly formidable.

*SLAP*

Nerissa’s hand swatted away Rhapso’s arm, positioning herself between Rhapso and me. "Maintain focus. We are still engaged in our mission. Apollo, you and I will advance to scout ahead, ensuring no Drakoshi remain lurking in the tunnels. Our combat synergy is the most profound among all present, making us the logical choice for this reconnaissance."

Nerissa then took my hand, initiating my movement forward, while Rhapso simply crossed her arms. "Very well! I shall ensure all the fallen are confirmed deceased then!" she declared, striding off in the opposite direction.

Phoebe observed this exchange, her eyebrows lifting imperiously beneath her helmet, and a thought surfaced in her mind.

’Most intriguing.’

...

Zircon pierced the midsection of a Drakoshi. I surged forward, driving it until it impacted the wall behind it. Reaching for its throat above me, I applied my Pyrokinesis and pulled. Moments later, the Drakoshi’s throat was clutched in my hand as I stepped back, witnessing its final moments as it choked on its own blood.

Once it had expired, I withdrew Zircon from its abdomen and remarked, "You certainly wear red quite stylishly, but I must confess a preference for your blue hue." It had been feeding ravenously. I doubted it was sufficient to fully restore her, but I held out hope for a more vibrant shimmer in her shadow form the next time we met.

I then returned Zircon to my Mindspace and surveyed our surroundings. Only a dozen Drakoshi remained within the tunnels, and I had just dispatched the last visible one... for the time being, at least. However, judging by the absence of any lights further ahead, I harbored little expectation that they had ventured deeper.

As if sensing my thoughts, Nerissa materialized behind me, her hand gently touching my back. "We should proceed with scouting ahead. Phoebe and the others will be deploying counter-reconnaissance equipment."

I offered a shrug. "No objections here. Oh, do you require a light source? I can see perfectly well ahead." I inquired.

"My armor is equipped with night vision, but I would appreciate a source of illumination nonetheless," Nerissa stated.

I nodded, subsequently conjuring a fireball into my palm. Extending my hand toward her, I asked, "Would you care to hold it?"

"I do not possess Pyrokinesis, Apollo. You are aware of this," she responded, though I couldn't help but smirk beneath my helmet.

"Simply attempt to grasp it. Employ a minor application of your Psionics as a protective barrier for your hand."

Nerissa appeared skeptical but ultimately complied with my request. As she extended her hand, I lowered the fireball from above my palm towards her. I observed her momentary flinch, a natural instinct to recoil, but her hesitation ceased as she realized the ball had ceased its descent.

Raising her hand closer to her face, she gazed at the fireball suspended above her palm and murmured, "This is… fascinating. Apollo, how did you achieve this? I can perceive my own Psionics subtly influencing the flames, maintaining its position."

"Ah, it’s merely something I’ve been developing during my spare moments. My line of thinking was along these lines: While Psionics may bend reality for convenience, they can still be subject to the fundamental laws of existence. What you hold is simply fire in its purest form. Thermal energy requiring sustenance. It isn’t inherently powerful, but I conceived it might prove useful in precisely such a situation as we find ourselves in.

Besides, I suspect children without Psionics might find the notion of holding a fireball appealing as a party trick. Without Psionics like yours to anchor it, it would still hover for a few minutes before dissipating. Rather ingenious, wouldn’t you agree?"

Nerissa contemplated the fireball in her hands for an extended period. For so long, Psionics had represented nothing but conflict and devastation to her. She frequently overlooked the potential for Psionics to manifest in ways that were charming and innovative, suitable for mere party tricks or minor conveniences.

Her gaze lingered on the fireball for another moment before shifting to Apollo. The inferno’s luminescence cast a glow upon his armor, and for a fleeting instant, she perceived her heartbeat quicken in her ears before she regained her composure, responding with,

"Quite ingenious."