The hivemind is conquering for me? - Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Voice
As I made my way through the scythes, I eventually made it to Bertram and Ernie. Ernie was currently getting his shoulder bandaged up by his brother. “Hey guys, were you Injured?” I asked.

“Aye I did. Though it would have been a lot worse if that cannon blast you deflected had hit us.” Ernie said. “Yea, the blast hit the ceiling behind us and a big chunk of rock impaled itself into dumbasses shoulder here. Luckily it was just a flesh wound and can continue to kick his ass going forward.” Bertram followed up.

“Well I am glad you are ok.” I replied honestly. “Yeah…” The two of them replied slowly in unison as they looked at each other. “Um Apollo, You have a little something here.” Bertram said as he pointed to his own chest as reference. “Yea I know, just ignore her, her arms will get tired eventually.

Below my line of sight, I heard a challenging scoff as if to say. ‘Yeah right.’ “Ok guys see you in a few, when we enter the temple.” I said and walked away. “Janine can you please get off me, I am staring to feel embarrassed for you.” I said to the lamprey on my chest.

As if by provocation, Janine actually began to grip tighter in case I attempt to force her off. As I continued to walk through the crowd, my saving grace came in the form of a man with a severe case of potty mouth.

“AHHAHAHA! Fucking hell cunt! You have a little cunt growing on your chest now! Janine you daft cunt, you finally found a dick worth riding? I thought you were a muffer? Oh well, it takes two to tango, and both genders can give a good tongue tickle below right?”

After Willy’s short barrage of nonsense, Janine decided now would be a good time to remove herself from my chest. “Oh no, poor cunt must have ate too much hahaha!” Willy continued to laugh at himself, until he felt a fist on his nose.

He stumbled back and brought his hand to his now bleeding nose while looking at Janine in disbelief. “OWIE! Why did you do that? I was only having a little joke.” He expressed his first full sentence without cursing in it since I have met him. “Because you have a punchable face.” Janine simply replied. Before walking back to me and only holding my arm this time.

“You get it all out of your system?” I asked. “Almost.” She replied as she tuck my arm in between breasts without thinking. “You know, If you keep my arm there, you may hear a ping in my armour, fair warning.” Janine then raised both her arms into the air on reflex. “Don’t be gross!” She chastised. “It’s not gross, I am telling the truth. Men become super fixated when there body parts are near that part of yours. Its like our brain senses the cleavage and our neurons activate. It is only instinct.” “Ugh, whatever.” Janine said as she finally returned to normal.

A short while later, the mercenaries were organised in front of the temple, ready to begin exploring again. Caleb gave the order to not touch anything without a higher ups permission. After a few more orders and instructions, The mercenaries began to make their way through the temple entrance.

I decided to take up the rear of the troops this time, Mindy and Janine decided to follow suit. As I took my first step through the doorway, I heard a whisper. “You.” The voice was cold and calculated. It held no malice or warmth. Just a simple word. Yet the power behind the word made me shiver slightly. “Did you guys hear that?” “Hear what? Mindy asked.” ” A voice. It spoke just now. I feel it was Psionic in nature.” I felt it better to inform my allies instead of keeping the voice to myself, in case something bad happens.

“No I did not hear anything, but I will go and relay to Caleb real quick.” Janine said as she took off. As we explored deeper into the temple, I was awed by the architecture. Every detail, every floor, wall, pillar and ceiling seemed to be engraved with beautiful patterns and tapestries. The most prevalent and most common picture amongst the tapestries was a man 3 times larger than the men around him fighting different aliens in each tapestry.

As we ventured deeper, the tapestries changed. Men were no more present in the pictures and instead were replaced by machines, similar to the ones we had just been fighting. As I was admiring the intricate artworks, The voice returned. “You, Apollo, who share my brothers name.”

The voice was louder this time and made me verbally grunt. “I heard the voice again.” I said to my companions. “It was louder this time, and it knows my name.” Mindy went to inform Caleb, who came back with her this time.

“What’s wrong pal, this is the second time.” Caleb asked. “There is something down here that has a powerful Psionic presence. It does not seem hostile, nor does it seem to possess combat capabilities from what I have felt. Just be extremely cautious going forward.”

Caleb did not fully understand Psionics, but if Apollo said something strong was down here, he would take his word on it. “Maybe it can only affect those with strong Psionic abilities like yourself? Since non of us can hear these voices. Don’t get me wrong we believe you, Just trying to root out the problem.”

After telling Caleb to carry on, I also informed him I will continue to inform them about the voice. It was not to long later that there was a commotion up front. Telling Mindy to keep the rear, I rush forward to check it out.

Before me were twenty mercenaries pushing heavily against a large green barrier that had erected itself in front of a large room entrance. looking through the barrier, atop a pedestal at the far end of the room, A sphere, roughly the size of Dolan’s head, was floating in place.

As I placed my gauntlet on the barrier, I felt a familiar tingle followed by the voice again. “Enter, please. We must talk.” The voice was even louder this time. I checked my Mindspace for damage or infiltration and found nothing which meant the being was talking to me, not through telepathy, but something else.

“Caleb!” I called for him. “Your men aren’t going to get through this. I don’t know how, but this is a Mindspace defence barrier. Stand down and keep guard. I’ll enter on my own.” Caleb did not protest to my decision. He and the other leaders were out of their field when It came to Psionics and left the task to me.

Covering myself with energy, I made my way to the barrier once more. Upon contact, the barrier offered no resistance and allowed me passage through. “Good. You are strong. Come, place your hand on the orb and we may speak freely without my projection causing you anguish.”

I was worried, and cautious, but I had faith in my lifetimes training with Jewel and if this was a trap, I could defend myself. As I strode to the orb, I felt an unease at how still the room was. No noise, no smell, no airflow. All that there was, was myself and the orb now situated in front of me.

I checked my defences for the 5th time since entering the room and proceed to place my hand on the orb. As soon as my hand touched the orb, I was rendered unconscious standing while my conscious was immediately placed back into my Mindspace avatar. I was confused for a moment at the sudden change of environment, before I felt something looming over me in the Psionic plane. As I turned, a gigantic Orb was floating above me. “Greetings Apollo, Slayer of my children and warrior of great renown. I am a fragment of the Psionic Existence known as Ares. I know you have questions and I would ask you to remain silent as they will be answered. We do not have a lot of time as my awakening is causing my soul to burn out.”

I widened my eyes upon realising that this was not Ares soul, but a fragment like what I used to create sapphire. ‘If this is a fraction, Then Ares would be close to godlike power like my beloved.’

“I know not who your beloved is, you protect your memories frighteningly well for someone so young. Forgive me, Its been millennia since I have last spoken, even one as powerful as I forgets their manners.”

I did not like that I could not understand this beings way of reading my mind and decided to speak up. “Hey, I dont care who you are buddy, Stay out of my head. Now you said you were burning up and I could guess why. A soul with no body will return to the universe. So like you said, hurry up and tell me what you want to tell me.”