The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 801: Phase Two: Then The W- Tanks Arrived!

"I'm running low! I need more ammo!"

"I need power cells! Hold! Get down!"

One Phalanx soldier dove aside, simultaneously pulling his comrade down with him. Seconds later, a Drakoshi Grenade detonated where they had been standing, extinguishing the lives of half a dozen soldiers.

The two Phalanx soldiers scrambled back to their feet. "Thanks. I would have been a goner," the saved soldier expressed to his rescuer, who responded with a simple nod.

The pair then prepared their weapons, rising above the trench once more to recommence their firing.

The Phalanx soldier continued to fire his laser rifle until the power cell ejected, a safety precaution. He glanced to his right, intending to ask the man he just saved for another cell, but the man remained motionless.

Hastily dragging the man back behind the cover of the trench, he then noticed the left side of his face was gone. 'Damn it.'

With no time for contemplation, the Phalanx soldier gathered his fallen comrade's weapon and ammunition, immediately returning to the fray. The first two lines of trenches had already been breached. His position was next. He had to fight. He had to sacrifice his life for those behind him.

There was no other recourse.

Taking a few deep breaths, he steeled himself and adopted a firing stance once more.

His eyes widened in shock.

A group of Drakoshi. Three of them, distinguished by silver pauldrons, had penetrated the trench line. One was charging directly at him.

Fight or flight had been trained out of him. Only one option remained. Raising his weapon, he unleashed a barrage of fire at the approaching Drakoshi. The laser rounds failed to even scorch its hide. The silver-armored Drakoshi were some of the most formidable foes the Phalanx encountered, and the one before him had locked onto his position...

Still, he persisted in firing. There was no alternative. No other path to survival. Either he or the monstrous creature before him would perish. No other outcome was possible.

So he fired, and fired, as the Silver pauldron drew nearer. The 12-foot-tall behemoth even began to evade shots from heavy weapon emplacements as it advanced, its reflexes astounding the soldier, yet he had to keep firing. Even as it loomed over him.

He watched as the beast grinned, exposing its horrifyingly sharp teeth. It raised its mace high. He continued firing. If he was to be crushed into oblivion, he would go down fighting with everything he had.

He resumed firing, just as he had been doing this entire time, but then something shifted. The Silver pauldron suddenly began to spew blood from its gaping maw.

He couldn't distinguish one Drakoshi's face from another's, but he swore he detected a flicker of fear in the creature's eyes. The Drakoshi commenced twitching violently as heavy weapon fire started to inflict considerable damage upon its form, yet then, something extraordinary occurred.

Without warning, the Drakoshi's body was violently ripped open from shoulder to hip, exploding in a gruesome shower of gore.

The stench was noxious, but he barely registered it. Standing before him, holding the upper torso of the Drakoshi Silver pauldron, was a dark-skinned woman adorned in peculiar attire. She hoisted the corpse above her head, allowing the blood to cascade down and drench her entire body.

Afterward, the only features visible were her glowing green eyes.

A shiver coursed down his spine. It was one of the Psionic elites. He instinctively gripped his weapon tighter. Drakoshi were one thing – known enemies, vanquishable. Psionic elites, however, were enigmas, capable of unimaginable feats.

Such as tearing a Drakoshi Silver pauldron asunder with their bare hands.

His heart pounded as the elite tossed the Drakoshi's upper half aside and surveyed her surroundings.

A thought surfaced in his mind. 'Are they all this formidable?' He recalled Sentinel Lambdason, a warrior powerful enough to effortlessly contend with both his Praetorian guards simultaneously, thanks to his advanced alien armor. Lambdason was the reason this battle was being won; his inspiring leadership from the front fostered unwavering loyalty.

But the others? Were they all possessed of such might?

His contemplation was abruptly cut short as, even amidst the cacophony, he heard the woman speak. "And that's another elite. That adds another second to the deal... Hehe~ Silly Apollo paying me with love... I'd do anything for you anyway~ hehehe~"

The elite then sprinted away, heading towards the nearest silver pauldron, disregarding the other Drakoshi in her path.

As the immediate danger receded, he felt himself regain his focus. Thanks to that elite, he had a chance to continue the fight.

He repositioned himself and resumed firing just as a shout erupted to his right.

"I need cells! Hold! Get down!"

Suddenly, he was tackled from the side by one of his comrades. A second later, a grenade detonated nearby, eliminating at least half a dozen soldiers who had just advanced from the rear towards the trench.

Getting to his feet, he nodded at his brother-in-arms. "Thanks. I would have been a goner..." His comrade nodded back, and the two rose to the trench's edge to resume their firing...

...

"Die, Drakoshi! Yum!" I yelled, kicking a downed Drakoshi square in the face with all my might.

A moment passed as I surveyed the surroundings. The front line had crumbled, allowing the Drakoshi to advance once more. What made matters worse, their elite forces had joined the fray, drawing the attention of our heavy weaponry.

I nonchalantly leaned back, evading a strike from an armored Drakoshi while continuing my observation. My minigun, mounted on my left pauldron, unleashed a barrage of rounds into the creature's face.

'This is not good. Despite everything, their numbers exceed our expectations... Casualties are going to be devastating at this pace.' With that grim realization, I summoned Sapphire to provide temporary protection.

A drastic course of action was necessary.

Having experienced temporary blindness before, I now understood the immense power of my inner suns. Even 1% of my strength produced an intensely blinding flash. I intended to unleash my remaining power to disorient the Drakoshi still on the field, hoping I could somehow control the light's direction.

Tuning into the flow, I allowed Sapphire to shield me. A miniature sun began to form between my hands, which I proceeded to amplify with my Psionics.

My instructions were then conveyed to Sapphire. Once unleashed, I would be mentally depleted and require immediate withdrawal for recovery. I just needed to buy enough time until-

"Sentinel." The voice, familiar as Cockburn's, crackled through my communication array. "Our mixed units have broken through. Expect heavy armor on your Southern flank."

Almost immediately, another transmission arrived.

"Sentinel Lambdason, Captain Tessa Rook reporting. We've carved a path through the Drakoshi to the north and are en route to your position. Reinforcements ETA: thirty seconds."

A smile touched my lips. My gambit had paid off. By creating a seemingly vulnerable center, the Drakoshi's lack of heavy armor likely lured them in, explaining their concentrated attack.

Meanwhile, their forces to the north and south were engaged with our heavy armored vehicles and a substantial number of Phalanx units.

Content with the success of my plan, I smiled, but then-

'Oh shit!' The sudden realization hit me as I remembered the miniature sun I was holding. A flicker of panic crossed my face as I scanned my surroundings, only to recall that I had only utilized a fraction of my power so far.

Still, the consequences for me would be severe, but those behind me would fare better. With my communications open to all frequencies, I bellowed, "Fuck it! Close your eyes now if you value your retinas!"

...

The agonized howls of the Drakoshi echoed around me as Sapphire nudged my arm, helping me to my feet. Visionless, I clambered onto her back and instructed her to find Francesca, retreating from the front lines. Sapphire absorbed a few incoming shots, but the Phalanx units must have recognized me on her back, halting their assault.

Moments later, the sounds of weapons fire erupted from the north and south. The Drakoshi, now encircled, were in an even more precarious position. With only one escape route, they were trapped in a kill zone.

Upon reaching the rear lines, it wasn't long before I heard a familiar call. "Apollo!"

Sapphire immediately veered towards the voice, and as she came to a stop, I dismounted. A pair of hands urged me forward.

"Hurry and take off that helmet, you idiot. The second I heard your voice, I knew what you'd done. Why did you create a sun again?"

"I didn't intend to," I replied, removing my helmet as Francesca began examining my eyes. "It was meant as a distraction, but then the tanks arrived, and I no longer needed it. Yet, I had already conjured it and continued to power it subconsciously, and yeah. My mistake. Still, it could be worse. How severe is the damage?"

I heard Francesca sigh at my words before she tilted my head in various directions.

"Not too bad, actually. Thanks to your helmet and the sun being less potent than last time, you've only suffered minor burns. I can heal you in fifteen minutes, but you must remain perfectly still throughout the process, no matter the discomfort."