The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 795: Data Gathering
Previously on The hivemind is conquering for me?...
Skaja’s gentle smile vanished instantly. "What are you talking about?" she inquired, her expression shifting dramatically. Her hair suddenly flared a vibrant amber, and her eyes glowed an intense psionic green.
The very air around Skaja transformed as she scrutinized me. "Nymphs... Such incessant chatter. Do not fret, for I am aware of the Woad situation. It is fortunate they managed to cure you. The toxin they consume certainly invigorates them; I am certain they did not intend to reveal our secret. Now then, 'Apollo.' What is your intention with this knowledge?"
Artemis then unleashed a surge of power, my eyes widening in surprise. She possessed formidable strength, not quite Jewel-level, but I believed she could certainly challenge other deities I knew.
A low hum emanated from Artemis as she appraised me once more, before retracting her overwhelming aura. "You remain standing? I must admit, that is quite impressive. Now, let us be serious, as my time controlling Skaja’s body is limited after such an exertion. What do you plan to do with the information you have acquired?"
I ran a hand through the back of my head, feeling a bit awkward. "Oh, um. Nothing, really? As I mentioned, I came to offer an apology for the Nymphs' actions. I don't particularly care that you are a god. I mean, you seem quite cool, and— OHHH! Is that why holding the spear felt like it wounded my soul? You're Artemis. Artemis despises men! OH! That explains so much! That whole thing about 'How is a man holding that spear?' Oh, that's a huge weight lifted from my mind."
I continued, having gotten sidetracked, which seemed to leave Artemis momentarily speechless.
"That is all? You have no desire to gain leverage over a deity concealing her identity? You simply wished to apologize? Forgive my nature, but I find that rather difficult to believe."
I offered a shrug. "I dislike having my own secrets known. And I certainly don't appreciate others revealing my friends' secrets without their permission... By the way, I'm considering you and Skaja as a single entity in the friend category. Rest assured, your secret is safe with me."
"..." Artemis opened her mouth as if to speak, but faltered. She tried again, then succeeded.
"Very well. I appreciate your uprightness. I now understand why Skaja holds you in such high regard. In exchange for your discretion regarding my secret, I shall also forgive the incident involving you... kissing me. However, do not dare attempt such a thing again. Next time, I will not restrain my divinity."
I let out a chuckle and raised my hand in a gesture of surrender. "I promise. I've already faced the threat of becoming a tree man; I'd rather not be turned into a deer anytime soon."
Artemis’ eyes suddenly widened in alarm. "What! How-" she began, before her hair instantaneously reverted to its golden hue and her eyes shifted back to blue.
"Uugghhh..." Skaja groaned, clutching her head. "I thought you were supposed to give me a warning when that happens?" she mumbled, likely addressing Artemis.
"Are you alright, Skaja?" I asked, hurrying to her side to steady her wobbling frame. She leaned heavily against me, her weight pressing into mine, before nodding slowly.
"Y-Yeah... Having someone as powerful as her residing within my Mindspace... it certainly takes a toll when she fully possesses my body. I'll be fine, though. But thank you. Not just for being a solid support right now, but for Artemis. We're practically family, and her secret is deeply guarded. If word were to get out... Thank you, truly."
As I rubbed Skaja’s back to help her recover, my thoughts drifted momentarily. ’So, Athena, Ares, and Artemis are all somehow still existing... Athena can reincarnate through her bloodline, Ares is a robot, and Artemis is a spear spirit that can possess Skaja? Thus, aside from Ares, who is an exile, Artemis and Athena both relinquished their physical forms to survive whatever this 'incident' was? Intriguing...’
This realization filled me with hope for my friend. I hoped my namesake was still alive in some capacity; it would bring her immense joy. I now also knew someone connected to this mysterious incident and planned to inquire about it once our rapport deepened.
For the time being, however, I gently lifted Skaja onto the table. My action must have startled her, as she gasped and looked up at me. I then patted her leg with a reassuring smile.
"Wait here a moment and recover. I'm going to handle the welcoming outside so I don't accidentally break anything."
...
Artemis observed Apollo turn and depart, seemingly oblivious to Skaja's elevated heart rate. Apollo had just mentioned something to her with remarkable casualness, something she hadn't even expected him to know.
This presented a critical dilemma. Only a select few of her former companions were privy to the story of her transformation of that lecherous man, who had dared to spy on her while she bathed, into a deer before she unleashed her hounds upon him.
She knew with certainty that not even the Nymphs were aware of this particular tale. None of them had been present then...
’But there’s no spark?!?’ She couldn’t believe it! Artemis’s mind raced. Artemis wasn’t complete, with segments of her memories still absent. Could a deity exist without a spark? It was true, she herself hadn’t possessed one until her father bestowed it, yet even in her current state, it remained. It hadn’t simply vanished. Or could Apollo have lost his spark and potentially regained it? Perhaps? For the moment, her logic insisted it was impossible. What she could ascertain with absolute certainty was that Apollo was aware of her condition. He could withstand the full might of her concentrated domain against his psyche without breaking a sweat, and he knew things he had absolutely no right to know. Considering all this, the resolution to her present predicament was straightforward. She required additional information. There was nothing else to be done, and she was an immortal being. Time was on her side. If he perished, her assumptions would be validated. If he persisted for centuries, millennia even, she would have ample time to gather data. She had to admit, Apollo possessed strength. Strength equates to prominence. He would undoubtedly forge a renowned name for himself. That much she knew. All that remained was to observe the unfolding events. She would soon possess more fragments of herself, thanks to the Nymphs. Her sense of self would grow, perhaps leading to a shift in her perspective? However, unlike them, she wasn’t desperate for answers. Their existence was one of servitude. She was a god. She didn’t feel the need to seek affirmation or validation. To her, Apollo was simply… a Friend. Time would reveal all else. ... Emerging from the tent, I took two steps before turning left, bracing myself for an imminent collision. A colossal blue creature slammed into me, sending me tumbling backward several meters. It then leaped upon me, proceeding to cover me in repeated licks with its enormous tongue. "Hey there, big girl, did you miss me? I missed you. I- Ouch! Sapphire, you’re going to lick my bones clean! Stop, ah! Hahaha!" I remained still as Sapphire pinned me down, utterly dominating me for several minutes... Naturally, I reciprocated with numerous scritches, but once she was sated, I suddenly sensed her presence within my Mindspace. She had already fallen asleep beneath my Origin, emitting adorable little noises. I then stood up, brushed myself off, and noticed Onyx standing nearby, a pout gracing her features. "What’s with that look, love?" I inquired, prompting her to murmur. "If I tried to pin you down and lick you like that in public, I’d be hit with a stick..." Her feigned pout was utterly captivating, so I drew her close, despite her pretense of resistance, and whispered in her ear. "Then how about I let you do that to me in private? Perhaps I’ll even return the favor… Lick you clean from head to toe. Stopping along the way at some of your favorite places…" "Apollo…" Onyx whispered sultrily in my ear before abruptly altering her tone. "You’ve said that now. That is a fixed point; it is happening. I’ve seen it. Thank you~ Hehe~". I wasn’t even annoyed. It sounded like quite an enjoyable night, to be honest… Plus, the fact that her lips then met mine made it even better. It felt like their rightful place. After parting after only a few moments, Onyx leaned up and whispered in my ear. "Oh, by the way. Just to remind you. We won’t count what you did with the Nymphs. We don’t consider a tree to be offspring… But if you ever find out where that tree is going to be planted. We need to know… We need it." Onyx then pecked my lips one more time before looking over her shoulder. I followed her gaze, seeing the others I had summoned beginning to arrive. I smiled at them before looking back at Onyx, but she had vanished. Peering into my Mindspace, there she was. In her chains. She had reverted to her stalker form, a look of contentment spreading across her face as her mandibles hung freely. The sight of her and Sapphire sitting side-by-side beneath my Origin brought a smile to my face. The war could resume, with everything back in its proper place.