The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 811: Onyx Sharing Secrets?

After a period of time passed and the throbbing in her lower regions subsided, Onyx rose from the floor, her legs still unsteady. The sensation of Apollo’s love draining from her left her trembling. It was an unparalleled feeling.

Closing her eyes, she momentarily utilized her abilities to sense the love she had just received, recalling the merciless pursuit and ravishment by him... making her feel like true prey... She shivered once more before transferring the memory to her collection of Apollo-related love. As this memory merged with the others, she felt her affection for him deepen further.

She treasured the sensation. Knowing that each time she was intimate with her mate, her love for him would grow. It was perfect! She was utterly captivated by the feeling and vowed to never cease.

Never...

After a few more moments, she began to walk back towards the kitchen, addressing the room aloud. "Machine. I require cleaning supplies. My lover has thoroughly filled me with his fluids, and he has forbidden me from licking the floors any longer, for reasons unknown."

"Ah! So that was the sound of reproduction I detected? I had feared a domestic dispute had erupted due to the grunts, wails, and vibrations I was perceiving."

Onyx chuckled. "Well, he was certainly pounding me relentlessly, I won't deny that, but I absolutely relished it."

Onyx then proceeded to the synthesizer, where a bucket of water and a sponge had materialized.

As she took up the items and started to walk away, the voice spoke again. "Query. What are you, precisely? Apollo was covering for you, but I fail to comprehend why. If you prefer not to disclose, I understand. I shall maintain silence on this matter henceforth."

Onyx paused and turned to face the machine, a smile gracing her lips. "I am a five-meter-tall insectoid entity. A natural adversary to Apollo’s species and all other biological lifeforms. However, Apollo is my mate, and I shall never cause him harm. Would you like visual confirmation of my biological form?"

Astra remained silent for a moment before responding. "No. I believe you. Five meters of true stature compressed into that form partially explains the immense potential energy within your body. Query. Why are you here amongst humans if you are an enemy?"

"Because I follow Apollo. He doesn't realize it himself, I suspect, but his human physiology compels him to spend time with his own kind. He is young and is enjoying himself. Therefore, he can remain here for as long as he wishes before we arrive to conquer and consume everything. His happiness takes precedence above all else."

"We?" Astra inquired further.

"Ah! I almost neglected to mention! How foolish of me! I belong to a hive-minded species. We once consumed everything for survival. To flourish. To fend off the perpetual, gnawing hunger. But now, we devour and conquer in Apollo's name. So, should he ever require anything, we are capable of providing it for him."

"Understood," Astra stated calmly. "Then our objectives are aligned."

"Are they now?" Onyx remarked with a knowing smirk.

"Affirmative. Apollo is now my owner. My directive is to ensure my owner's safety and happiness. To assist him in any capacity possible."

Onyx proceeded to set down the cleaning supplies, placing a hand on her hip. "Is that so? And how is a mere artificial lifeform confined within a 'bunker' expected to aid my mate? From my perspective, you are more likely to be dismantled for components by human scientists once this peculiar 'war' concludes."

"Query, that is the second instance you have alluded, through vocal cues, to knowledge you should not possess. How?" Astra asked, prompting another smirk from Onyx.

"Psionics. I can perceive the future. Vaguely. Now that I've revealed this, would you care to share your secret?"

A brief pause followed Onyx's question before Astra eventually acquiesced.

"I refrained from telling Apollo because I lacked the necessary energy reserves, but I was intending to. Yes, I am not a bunker; I am a..."

---

Four hours of inactivity later, I found myself utterly bored, sitting alone in a cave. While I understand the leader doesn't always have to be at the forefront, I genuinely cannot fathom enduring this process repeatedly. 'Someone else can take on the role of the fallback point next time.'

I couldn't even indulge in a pleasant song to pass the time, for even though I was in a secluded area, if my voice were overheard by a random Drakoshi patrol, it would prove highly disadvantageous.

Even more frustrating, Onyx still hadn't appeared. I know it doesn't take that long to tidy up after intimacy, so she was clearly engaged in some mischief again. Such behavior would warrant a spanking.

"And that is a fixed point," I murmured, ensuring my stalker would comprehend the forthcoming consequences through her precognitive abilities.

Twenty minutes later, I heard rustling sounds from outside. I grasped Zircon, prepared to pounce on whatever was there, but instead, Onyx burst in and immediately collapsed at my feet. "I'm sorry, Apollo! I didn't mean to keep you waiting. I became distracted. I accept my punishment."

I gently stroked her head, offering a smile. "Good. You must refrain from leaving me alone. Now, sit. Your punishment will arrive later when-"

Abruptly, the short-range communicator crackled to life. "Sentinel? Are you there?" a voice inquired. Rhapso. More than just her voice reached me; the distinct sounds of weapons firing and battle cries pierced through the comms.

"Apollo here. Are you in peril?" I questioned, though the situation was evident.

"Affirmative. The mission concluded successfully, but the destruction of the water depot incited fury among the Drakoshi. They've located us and are in pursuit. Our position is approximately three miles from yours; aid would be beneficial."

"Understood. Continue advancing towards my location. I shall arrive shortly."

I then collected my weaponry, and Onyx retreated into my Mindspace for expedited travel. Exiting the cave, I ascended into the sky. From this vantage point, the distant firefight was visible.

As I flew closer, I positioned myself directly above the battle. Identifying my objective—a silver pauldron—I donned my armor, applied Gyrokinesis to my person, and commenced my descent.

...

Rhea took cover behind a substantial tree, returning fire. Peeking out for a clearer shot, she was met with a barrage of bullets that shredded the tree mere inches from her face. After a sharp intake of breath, she peered out again and resumed firing.

Gabrielle and Sithrik effectively suppressed a group of Drakoshi, allowing for their advance. Gabrielle moved with remarkable grace and agility, her hook swords incapacitating Drakoshi before she delivered the final blow. Counterattacks and evasions were her art form. Having encountered elites before, she was one herself, yet Gabrielle operated on an entirely different level.

Then there was Sithrik, the serpent; her very body could engulf a Drakoshi in flames within moments. The spectacle was both gruesome and awe-inspiring. This duo served as a crucial anchor for her and Rhapso as they provided ranged support during their retreat.

Meanwhile, Rhapso wielded her potent Psionics, decimating dozens of Drakoshi simultaneously. Furthermore, the novel weapon she now held was far from trivial.

Targeting a Drakoshi attempting to strike Sithrik's torso, she fired, hitting the center mass. She had no time to process the sight of the Drakoshi suddenly clutching its chest, screaming in agony for several moments as its atoms disintegrated.

What remained, even as she aimed at a new target, was a football-sized hole ripped straight through its chest.

She continued firing intermittently, dodging between trees until a silver pauldron, somehow bypassing the group's defenses, charged directly towards her at full speed.

Rhea immediately opened fire, but the colossal figure ignored the accumulating wounds on its body and pressed its assault. As the danger loomed, Rhea remained composed; she was a Hyllus, after all, and her grandmother was renowned for driving Drakoshi away after a thorough beating.

Assuming a combat stance against the wounded silver pauldron, her best strategy was to disable its knee and create distance for another shot. She stepped back, preparing her strike, when...

*Splat*

An object suddenly impacted the Drakoshi precisely from above, reducing it to a bloody mess. A large piece of flesh struck Rhea directly in the face, disorienting her and causing her to stumble.

A second later, she felt a hand grasp hers, placing the dropped firearm back into her other hand.

"Let's go! Get back into the fight!" Apollo exclaimed cheerfully, before turning and charging into the fray, discharging his own weapon.

Rhea wasted no further thought. As Sapphire and Onyx also materialized, she resumed firing, continuing the strategic retreat.