The hivemind is conquering for me?

Chapter 854: Blinding Slash

I instantly had to lock in as the Drakoshi approached. It was fast. Uncannily fast for something so large.

It closed the gap between us in mere moments and was swinging its unique axe horizontally, in an attempt to cleave me in two. I went to dodge to attack, but as I did so, the javelin in his off hand suddenly thrust towards me.

Using my Hoplon, I blocked the blow of the axe, not having a moment to be shocked that the Damatrium barely absorbed the blow, my armour was impaled at the shoulder by the Javelin.

I grit my teeth and lashed out with Zircon at the Drakoshi’s left wrist, forcing it to step back, without its impaled weapon. It then positioned itself for another swing and this time I was able to dodge back in time as the weapon passed where my head just was.

I took the moment to yank the javelin out of my shoulder before throwing it with all the force I could muster. The Drakoshi managed to dodge it, but it also got the weapon away from it.

A back and forth of clashes then resumed for a few minutes. Each of us inflicted damage upon the other. We were both quick, both powerful. Both strong. It had the melee range advantage due to its height, but I had Psionics. I could fire at it when it was off guard and during my attacks.

But the being was just taking too much damage and resuming. In fact, as I slashed out at its thigh while throwing a fireball at its face, I spotted a large gash I inflicted a few moments ago had vanished?

Making some distance between us with a feint, I took a pause and looked at the Drakoshi from head to toe. Its wounds were regenerating. All except my fire.

’Not ideal.’ I thought to myself, but was interrupted as the Drakoshi suddenly took a casual stance and pointed its axe towards me. "Purple Reaper. I will not deny it. You are a good enemy. Even with your disgusting words. But it is time we end this. It is clear to you I have the upper hand. You cannot win."

I brought Zircon up and positioned myself in the wrath guard. "Yeah big talk coming from a coward. I’ve been fighting for hours, exhausting myself against your underlings, leading from the front and where were you Jizz licker? In the back of all those thousands of braver, weaker Drakoshi, cowering by your clone vats. Pathetic."

The Drakoshi didn’t fall for the bait this time, merely brandishing its teeth as it took its axe into both of its hands. "I am going to eat you, Purple Reaper. And I am going to eat you alive."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah Yeah, heard it all before dumbass, come at me. It will be the last thing you do."

The bison looking dumbass then blew out a large exhale through its nose before charging again.

Not bothering to use my body to beat the creature, I tried, but I couldn’t do it. I turned my head slightly and thanks to a slight adjustment to my armour, covered my eye slits with some plating and activated my power using a fair deal of my Psionics.

Using my hearing alone, I jumped up into the air and cut horizontally with Zircon. I was then bodychecked by the Drakoshi’s shoulder and got sent flying.

Landing on my back I swiftly got back to my feet, but instantly allowed myself to relax as I heard a large thud. Removing the plate from my vision, I spotted the Drakoshi on the floor. Its body sprawled out. I then looked a few meters behind it and spotted its head. its beady little eyes bleeding from taking a sun’s light directly to the face.

After checking quickly that no Drakoshi were danger close, I removed my helmet and spat out a heap of blood. The charge might not have been its full power, but it was a lot and had cracked a few ribs and a few organs had been a little bit squished.

Still, pain was an old friend at this point so after taking a few sharp breaths I spat out the rest of the blood from my mouth before speaking, "You could have helped. It’s a war, not a duelling arena. I am not honourable, sneak attack the bastard while it’s attacking me."

Suddenly a set of arms wrapped around me and a wait appeared against my back. "You said you wanted battle data against the leader caste. I gave it to you. Besides, My universe, you handled yourself very well. That creature was stronger and faster than you, but you still killed it."

Onyx then scuttled around me and took my head into her palms. "Plus I would never actually allow you to take more harm then you can take. You know this."

She then got up on her tip toes in an attempt to kiss me, but I pushed her back down and turned her head towards the still ongoing conflict. "Flirting later. We still have a battle that needs winning."

Onyx pouted, but understood. "Fine. And I will pick up the axe and keep it so Zircon can devour it after the battle. Don’t worry."

Smiling at my adorable little mind reader, I couldn’t help thinking. ’Mmhh, I can’t wait to give her another pounding after we finish killing all these Drakoshi. Just think, the faster we kill them all, the quicker we can- And there she goes.’

"Man, I love her so much." I spoke to myself as I put back on my helmet. A certain sword suddenly got a case of the vibrations after I said that. "Yes, I love you too, little sword of mine. Now come on, let’s go and kill more Drakoshi."

Zircon then ceased vibrating, getting ready for more murder, but as I took a step, I spoke up again. "Fuck that." I was knackered. "Chonktimus prime. It’s time to mount up. I’m done using my legs."

...

After getting back into the battle, using Sapphire in brutally effective hammer and anvil charges against the Drakoshi backlines, I once more lost myself in the blood and gore. I wasn’t sure how long it had been, but I only came back to aware thinking when I suddenly realised I was being looked at from all sides and none of the sides were with hostility.

Wheeling around on Sapphire. The Phalanx were all staring at me for as far as I could see and as far as they could see me. I was in a field of humans atop my blue chonk. And I could feel something.

Not something obvious, but something subtle, barely recognisable. It was not coming from them all, but a very very select few. Some more than others. Turning once more to the greatest of them all, Rhapso was looking at me, Ignoring the fact I had not even registered that She and Nerissa had regrouped with me at some point, I recognised the emotion, the intensity. I felt it much more intensely when she prayed to me.

It was worship.

’They worship me?’ I thought to myself as I looked around again, stunned. It was not exactly the same as how Rhapso did, but the minute feeling was still there. It was similar, yet different.

The concept was baffling to me. I don’t know how, but I could sense that they saw me as their saviour. That they were beyond grateful that they had not fallen today, where so many others had. They lived because I was here...

I gulped. I knew I was going down this path, but I did not expect it so soon. I didn’t expect to be able to feel people’s devotion with a bizarre sixth sense.

For now though, I did my best to ignore it and simply raised Zircon up above my head.

Triumph. Victory. Success.

My action was like a tidal wave as the Phalanx roared to life, cheering. This had been a decisive battleground that had been waxing and waning since the start of the war and now it was won. A hole was punched in the Emoth line. And because of it the Drakoshi were in for a well deserved surprise.

...

The celebration wasn’t long lived. Barely five minutes later, commanders began to scurry out of their hidey holes, ordering their brave troops, mustering and preparing them for the next conflict.

As I began to roam idly with Sapphire, I suddenly saw a familiar face approach. Serena had a diagonal large gash on her head from hairline to chin, but she was smiling wickedly. "What a fight! Apollo watching you was like looking death straight in the face. Your battle IQ and determination to fight for two days straight was incredible. Praetorians the same praise falls to both of you. Without your Valliant tirelessness. We would not have broken through, seeing our intel was somehow wrong..." Serena suddenly squinted, curious if it was a mistake or an assassination attempt against her.

"Oh is that why it went dark? I was wondering about that. No wonder I’m so fucked... Aunt. Can you do me a favour?" I asked, prompting Serena to nod.

"Of course, Apollo. Anything."

I smiled at her warmly as my eyes became as heavy as a planet.

"Find me a bed."