The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 827: A Conversation With Death

"Wow! Am I actually in there? What do you know about me?" Thanatos exclaimed, his voice sounded like an echo’s echo. Chilly and distant, yet present. As he spoke, the hollow sockets in his skull suddenly filled up with two heterochromatic eyes. One fully purple, the other blue.

I frowned, not in the mood. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

Thanatos tilted his head one direction almost 180 degrees before snapping back in place.

"Ah yes. How could I forget my manners? I am here to meet you, Apollo."

Thanatos suddenly disappeared from where he was kneeling and placed a hand on my shoulder from behind.

I felt a chill go down my spine, a familiar feeling. Death. But I also felt no hostile intent from him.

"Ah, Very clever. Your mind is very sharp for one so young. Though how young are you actually? Do you remember the sensation of being bodiless? Your soul not being what it is now? How I envy the fact you have experienced death in a way I have not.

Forgive my rambling, I can sense your frustration growing. I have just been watching you for close to two decades now. Much like your Sol has. Only I am not the big boss concept. Only a lackey. I have rules I have to follow before I could finally get to meet you."

I stood up in anger, trying to swat his hand off me, or I tried to, but I felt drained, powerless. More so than even ever.

"W-what are you doing to me?" I asked groggily, but surprisingly, I heard a faint trace of worry in Thanatos’ voice.

"Careful! Do not move. You aren’t supposed to be here. Your life is toxic in this place. Let us just speak. As long as you do not move, you shall be safe. Now, I can feel all your thoughts, you are within my domain. So I will answer."

Thanatos then proceeded to move my body back to my original position before he began to pace back and forth.

"I am here for multiple reasons. As I said I previously wanted to meet you. But that is more of a personal curiosity of mine. The actual reason I am able to be here, the reason I can bring you into my domain where with the thousands you have killed before I could not is because you have brought the near death of someone you consider close to you. This phenomenon has parted the veil allowing me a brief moment to speak with you."

"Why?" I asked after a laboured breath.

"Because you are now finally walking down a path that you have influenced all by yourself. The death of the Galaxy by your Hivemind lover was one possibility that could have occurred without your intervention. But the decision you have just made. The path you have decided for yourself. Fate has been set in motion and more death will occur because of you and you alone."

I frowned upon hearing that. "And what? Are you here to stop me?"

After I said that, Thanatos began to tap the circlet on his head multiple times, like a stim, and shook his head in frustration. "Apollo, look. I know I look like a ’death knight’ or whatever that thing in your head is, but I have told you, I am not here to harm you. When I died... For the first time. I was remoulded thanks to this universe’s concept of death taking a shine to me and my studies. I am completely impartial to the fate of the universe. I am just here to make sure everything that dies. Moves on in the way it is supposed to. Me coming to tell you all of this, consider it a vestige of my self interest taking an interest in a celebrity. Because that is what you are to me. You are literally out of this universe!

I thought I would just let you know and come to terms with the fact that your actions, if you choose the path of godhood, will lead to the deaths of many. Perhaps even people you know. But I am not here to stop you. Death is natural. It happens to us all... Some of us more than others. Heeeh heeh~

But just know while Fate might spin for you, it also spins for others. The universe, while it clearly likes you, bringing you here, does not play favourites. It is fair. Be prepared for tribulation. Be prepared for loss. Be prepared for death."

I said nothing as he said that. Even breathing was a labour at this moment. I just looked down at the hazy body of Rhapso for a few moments before something suddenly flipped in my brain.

"Wait... Near death?" I struggled to get out and Thanatos also then proceeded to look down at Rhapso.

"Indeed. The universe punished her gravely for breaking her oaths. But her tribulation is over and her willpower remains intact. Honestly, your ability to invoke powerful feelings of loyalty and love in people is extraordinary. And it’s not even your boon you got from those mysterious caretakers... Honestly, I am scared to call my Nymphs over to check on Rhapso fully, as if I touch her, she will die."

"Nonesense master. We all died for you. Nothing shall ever overcome our oaths to you and your mission." An ethereal voice suddenly proclaimed and joined us.

The figure was cloaked from head to toe, but the pale grey skin of her hand was the only thing I could see as it touched Rhapso’s head.

"Apollo, Orphne, Orphne, Apollo. He is the one I told you about."

"Yes, I know, master... Forgive him Apollo, he was what you would call a ’shut in neet’ as a living god. It is only recently we became his servants and being alone for so long degraded his social skills considerably. He does mean well though."

"... Wow I wish I could die again, that was embarrassing." Thanatos muttered scratching his chin before Orphne spoke again.

"She still fights. We will not be claiming this sister. It is as you said master, her willpower is amazing for such a young Nymph..." Her cloaked face then turned to me." Do not squander this opportunity, Apollo. Such loyalty is rare to come by. I bid you not good luck, for a part of me is still loyal to Spartari, but a fair chance in your endeavours to come."

The Nymph then disappeared in a cloud of smoke and I turned my attention back to Thanatos whose eyes were burning brightly with Psionics.

"Well, looks like our time is running short. If you linger here for much longer I will accidentally kill you and then I would get really told off. Take care Apollo. Think of me on occasion when you take a life maybe? You might feel a little chill when you do. That will be me saying hello. Oh, and don’t tell the other Nymphs about our interaction. They know I am still out and about, but they don’t know I’ve... Stolen the Lampades for my own benefit... I fear they would try and find a way to take them back and I do not desire that, even if they are very rude at times... Farewell and good luck."

...

All of a sudden I felt the ability to breathe again as life quickly entered my being. ’Fuck, I was legitimately powerless. That was terrifying. I am just glad he was friendly...’

My thoughts instantly emptied though as I looked down towards Rhapso and spotted something.

All over her body, roots began to pour out of her at an accelerated speed, embedding themselves into the ground.

My heart literally began pounding. Thanatos wasn’t lying. She still lived.

Still though, we weren’t safe and I couldn’t move her until I knew she was fine. "Onyx, Sapphire." I spoke with urgency and the two materialised behind me.

"Set up a perimeter in our surroundings and do not let anything cross until I say so. Go!" I commanded and Sapphire began to speed off into the distance.

Onyx lingered for a moment as I knew she was passively reading my mind, but wanted verbal clarification, so I gave it to her.

"Not Sapphire, she can be easily spotted and identified after all. But I meant what I said. Nothing gets to us. Even our ’allies.’ Understood?"

"Yes, My king." Onyx spoke with what I knew was delight before running off herself.

A few hours passed in the rain. I just knelt by Rhapso’s side. Watching as her body began to slowly heal itself while the surroundings began to wither and die.

Eventually, her charred skin was gone, her green hue had returned and she just lay there. I finally felt relief though as I watched her chest begin to move up and down and became even more relieved as her eyes began to slowly open.

Her eyes looked dazed for a moment before snapping to me as I watched her red lips then form into a smile.

Tears began to pour from her eyes before she whispered to me.

"I did it. I broke my oaths and survived..." She then took a deep breath and spoke once more, her eyes filled with a myriad of emotions.

"For you."