The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 812: ’Totally surrounded’

My continuing presence barely shifted the tide of the battle. That wasn't our objective anyway; we were still retreating, though a significant number of Drakoshi were falling. The Gauss weapons, it must be said, were incredibly potent. Most shots resulted in a kill, rivaling the effectiveness of Deimos rifles. However, unlike the Deimos' singular beam, the Gauss fires a concentrated burst of blue energy. Still, a sidearm would have suited me better than this rifle, given that I was using Zircon in my right hand and the gun in my left, with a minigun mounted on my left shoulder, throwing off my balance.

Yet, we found ourselves behind enemy lines. The longer we engaged, the more precarious our situation would become. So, as I disemboweled a Drakoshi and shot its head as it slumped, I began issuing commands. "One by one, start breaking off and find cover. Once the fighting subsides, make your way back to base. Rhea, you go first!" I could afford to make such pronouncements because, firstly, Drakoshi communicate in an entirely different language, and secondly, any who had acquired a grasp of Spartari would likely be eliminated moments later anyway. As the words left my lips, I observed from my peripheral vision as Rhea darted behind a tree.

I refocused on the battle, pushing Rhea's escape from my mind. We were fortunate that the majority of our adversaries were the armored Drakoshi. These posed quick and easy targets for enhanced individuals like ourselves. However, complacency would be my undoing, so I engaged each opponent with my full concentration, refusing to underestimate even a single one.

As I retreated, a quick glance confirmed I had moved past the tree where Rhea had vanished. She was no longer there. 'Good,' I thought briefly before rejoining the fray. Sithrik departed next. She didn't exactly hide, instead slithering away, which proved surprisingly effective considering her ability to become invisible.

After approximately ten minutes, no one else had made a move to leave. I therefore addressed the woman to my left. "Gabrielle. It is your turn." I saw her hesitate for a moment after she hooked her swords around the neck of a Drakoshi and kicked with enough force to decapitate the brute. She appeared reluctant to abandon me, a sentiment that brought a faint smile to my face, but she eventually composed herself and began to flee.

A few minutes later, I informed Rhapso that it was her turn. "Ok! See you back at base," she exclaimed, waving, before creating a wall of spikes between us and the Drakoshi, holding them back momentarily. Then, defying my expectations, she literally merged with the ground, vanishing completely.

I was momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered as Drakoshi managed to circumvent the makeshift barrier and resumed their assault with gunfire and charges. At this juncture, I commanded Onyx and Sapphire to return to my Mindspace and began my own retreat.

My superior speed allowed me to maintain a running gun battle for a considerable duration, ensuring my allies had ample opportunity to reach safety. After an hour, my armor began sustaining more damage than anticipated. The enemy, in their frustration, had started utilizing heavier caliber weaponry, and a growing number of reinforcements began appearing, effectively blocking my escape routes.

Eventually, the inevitable occurred. I found myself completely surrounded. Drakoshi to my right, Drakoshi to my left, and Drakoshi directly ahead. Volleys rained down upon me as they stormed and fired from all directions, their charges relentless. I kept my shield retracted within my armor, protecting my vital organs as I absorbed the onslaught.

My armor started to fragment, chipping away bit by bit, piece by piece, as they swarmed me. I could hear their guttural roars and taunts in their own tongue. They were gloating, yelling that they would kill me, butcher me, eviscerate me, and inflict unimaginable pain.

...

Or so they believed. The moment they closed within mere meters, some already raising their weapons for the final strike, I simply commanded gravity to obey and began to ascend. "Later, haters," I quipped with a casual salute as they opened fire, then propelled myself eastward at top speed.

After twenty minutes, I swallowed hard. We had truly stirred up a hornet's nest. I could still discern thousands of Drakoshi assembling and heading towards my last known position. None of them bothered to look up and spot me. I was positioned too high for them to see without actively searching, and too low for their anti-air emplacements to acquire a lock – though I wasn't entirely sure about that last part, and certainly didn't wish to test it.

I continued my flight for another forty minutes before touching down once more. I am certain that whatever scouting technology they employ must have detected me at some point during my eastward trajectory. Hopefully, this will serve to confuse them enough to waste resources investigating 'their' own territory. Removing my armor, I released a sigh of relief as the accumulated sweat finally had a chance to escape. Flying encased in the armor had been far more taxing than carrying it within my arm, exhausting me utterly. I was now running on empty.

A conveniently located, smooth flat rock nearby presented itself as an ideal resting spot. Setting my rifle down and letting Zircon hover beside me, I proceeded to remove my shirt. I then moved towards the rock and deactivated my Thermokinesis, permitting it to absorb all of my body heat.

"Ah, that feels absolutely wonderful."

I reclined there for a brief period, allowing both my mind and body to recover while I analyzed the recent conflict.

The lesser Drakoshi creatures presented little challenge, as I now firmly understand. I could easily fend off a swarm of armored Drakoshi indefinitely if necessary. The newly unarmored ones were similarly manageable, and despite their vast numbers, some managed to endure injuries long enough to pose a threat with a final, desperate attack. This indeed happened on a few occasions.

The more formidable Drakoshi, such as those adorned with silver pauldrons, proved to be complex adversaries. Engaging them was feasible, and if I managed to gain the element of surprise, I could eliminate them instantly. However, their speed and sheer power were on par with my own. Yet, with the utilization of Psionics and my diverse arsenal, their demise was assured. The challenge lay in confronting multiple such beings simultaneously, which significantly accelerated the potential for me to sustain damage. Therefore, utmost caution was imperative.

I had not yet personally encountered a leader-class entity, akin to the one Phoebe vanquished with her energy beam, nor had I faced a Warlord beyond Grimshank. This fact caused me a degree of unease. The need for comprehensive battle data was paramount. I had been informed that Grimshank himself was in a weakened state, implying that the powerful figure within that particular confinement was far from the true might of an actual battlefield Warlord.

This realization weighed heavily on my mind.

Resolving not to descend into a negative spiral, I sought counsel. "Onyx, what are your thoughts on this?"

Onyx materialized without delay, settling herself upon my abdomen. Her hands immediately began to explore the muscles of my chest as if it were the most natural action in the world.

After indulging in the moment for a beat, she spoke with utmost earnestness. "Apollo, can you defeat me in combat? Remember, my stalker form stands at a formidable five meters in height, which is slightly larger than those warlords. I possess great speed, agility, and incredible power. So, tell me, can you overcome me?"

I responded with complete honesty, feeling no trace of embarrassment. "No, if you were my adversary, I would undoubtedly become Onyx's meal."

She then leaned in, gently brushing her nose against mine. "Precisely. *Mwah!* My towering stature and robust physique grant me a significant advantage over you. Until you possess all available data, you must operate under the assumption that these warlords can overpower you in single combat and plan your strategies accordingly." She then shifted her position, ensuring her breathtaking emerald eyes were locked directly with mine.

"However, my universe, you are already aware of this – so why are you posing the question to me?"

Placing my hands upon her waist, I looked up at her and smiled. "Who can say? Perhaps I simply desired a second perspective? To confirm that my own thoughts held logical consistency. Or maybe, I merely wished for my adorable darling to articulate my own thoughts, thereby enabling me to believe them more readily. Everything sounds more convincing when spoken by the most alluring hivemind in existence."

As these words left my lips, Zircon abruptly began to vibrate beside me, her blade emitting a sound of discontent.

I turned my attention to my sword and let out a soft chuckle. "My apologies, but at this present moment, you are a singular entity, not a collective. Once you acquire a suitable physical form and I can fulfill my dream of having two hiveminds as my devoted harem, we can certainly revisit this discussion. However, as matters stand, you are my cherished sword. Do we have an understanding?"

Zircon ceased her vibrations, appearing content with my explanation. She then embedded herself into the rock adjacent to my head. My focus on Zircon was short-lived as Onyx suddenly grasped my head, compelling me to meet her gaze. Her eyes widened, commencing to glow with a Psionic green luminescence, and an intense possessiveness began to build, consuming her emotions entirely.

"W-What did you mean by that, Apollo? When you suggested you might find another hive more appealing than us? You understand I cannot permit such a thing. We are your mates. Is that clear? Apollo-love? Do you comprehend? Apollo-love? It is absolutely essential that you confirm this now, Apollo-love. Before I am compelled to take drastic measures to ensure your affection remains exclusively ours, for all eternity. Apollo-love."

I found myself utterly immobilized, pinned beneath Onyx's full weight. Her intense emotions combined with her physical presence created an inescapable trap. My thoughts faltered, and I could only manage to articulate the raw, unfiltered thoughts surfacing in my mind.

"I am experiencing 'scareous'."