The hivemind is conquering for me?

The two women looked between one another before Elizabeth asked Tamara. ”You know about pylons? Aren’t you a little young?”

”Actually yes, but desperate times called for desperate measures and we barely survived our mission, only surviving thanks to the pylons we found.” Tamara said, prompting my curiosity, but her past could wait for now, as I needed to know this first.

”So... What exactly are these Pylons?” I asked, turning to Fergus, but the man just shrugged his shoulders, also having no clue. My question was also heard by the other two and Tamara actually explained.

”So, they are this really old Spartari tech right? You put the pylon into the ground and imbue it with the Psionic property of your attack or defence and then the pylon can take the burden of the Psionic attack or defence off your mental load and can be activated with a simple thought as its your Psionics in the pylon. Apparently they are just not worth making anymore as they broke after one use and were used more defensively and Spartari have better Defensive tech nowadays.”

Beth then looked at Tamara. ”That’s... A crude way to explain them, but ultimately correct. I think I know where some Pylons are if you want to try them out Apollo?”

This was perfect and I readily agreed.” Yes, please go and get them. And hurry, time is of the essence here.” Beth immediately disappeared from the vicinity after I requested that from her. I still wasn’t sure what I did to make her like me so much, but hey. I liked being liked so there was no issue there.

Fergus then patted me on the shoulder and gestured behind him with his thumb. ”I am going to fetch some medics. Judging from that glint in your eye, I have a feeling they are going to be needed.”

”That’s... Probably for the best.” I admitted and let the man run away. I was attempting to commit overkill, without the kill part after all for this test as I couldn’t be arsed waiting a whole second day in that jungle.

While waiting for the two helpers to come back, Tamara asked me. ”So, other than wailing on people, is there anything else you need from me? I feel like you are doing all the heavy lifting on this.”

I observed Tamara’s hands as she said this and asked. ”Are you adept with weapons? Or do you just use your fists?”

Tamara looked at her fists confused for a moment as to why I would ask, but replied honestly. ”I am trained in sword, spear and gun, but I have a tendency to break the weapons I use so I stick with my fists. Why?”

I reached to my side and Zircon materialised in my hand. ”In that case, I will let you borrow my sword, she will be able to withstand you. Give her a try.” I then floated Zircon over to Tamara.

Upon wielding my weapon, Tamara’s eyes widened in surprise. ”Surprisingly light for something so durable. I can tell already that I cannot break this.”

I smiled. ”Thats because she is allowing you to wield her, if I didn’t give you permission, even with your strength, you would struggle to pick her up.”

Tamara admired the sword after I said that and began to perform a practice routine. Her sword style was completely unlike mine. My technique was just that. Technique, I followed what I had been taught, improvising where needed. Tamara however, it was like her body had become Zircon, allowing the blade to dance in a frenzy of motions, unpredictable yet there was a sense of coordination in the madness of flurries. I was mesmerised.

Twenty minutes later, Beth had come back with a big bundle of sticks with a blue crystal atop each one. ”Hmm, they look like a wizard staff.” I couldn’t help chuckle as I picked one up. They were all four feet tall and the aforementioned blue crystal was dim in colour.

”Ok Apollo, channel the Psionic energy you want to use into the crystal until you feel it filled up. It is quite intuitive once you begin.” Beth explained.

Planting the Pylon into the ground I then imbued it with the neutral Psionic energy I use to create my original bullets, not my fire ones. ’Hmm, it feels like when Hecate sucks me dry, but not as intensely. Interesting.’ A moment later I felt the crystal fill up and once I retreated my energy, the blue crystal thrummed with power and a second later, Seven Psionic bullets began floating above the crystal. I could feel the slightest link to the crystal itself, which also fascinated me as it was not telepathy, it was almost similar, almost, to how it felt being connected into the hive link.

I then focused up and decided to have some target practice. I couldn’t aim these bullets individually, but I could send them off in a certain direction. I chose the trees in the distance. With a simple thought command, the connection between myself and the Pylon broke off, the crystal atop the Pylon disintegrated and the bullets whizzed away much louder than when I deploy them myself, it sounded like they were actually being fired from a gun.

A smile immediately crept upon my face at the result. ”Oh, yes. This will do nicely... How many Pylons did you bring with you Beth?” I asked, looking at the large pile almost as tall as the woman.

”Um, not many. I couldn’t carry them all from storage, only a couple hundred. Will that be enough or should I get more?”

I looked down at Beth, slightly wide eyed. I was going for shock and awe, I didn’t actually want to kill them. ”N-No that’s alright Beth, a couple hundred is fine, I appreciate all your help, though I suggest you go and sit with Valerica if you want to stay around and watch, I don’t want you getting hurt after all.”

Beth giggled at my comment. ”Oh Apollo, it is very sweet of you to take my well being into consideration, but if you think this level of Psionics can hurt me well... Looks like you will have to continue to come to my class to learn about all the benefits of Aura projection, but I will take your advice for now and allow you to continue your ambush. Good luck!”

In the theme of everyone’s safety I began setting up the Pylons with a slight tweak in the programming. If the bullet was to hit a vital organ in flight, head, heart etcetera, the bullet would fizzle out. This minor tweak did result in the Psionic bullet count to go from seven to five, but with the amount of Pylons I had, I was perfectly fine with the loss.

The set up took about an hour and a half and by the time I was done, the field was completely covered in these Pylons. The sun also was just beginning to rise in the distance, making me smile as a battle at dawn would be awesome.

In the distance a small crowd had also formed, this was a training field after all, but everyone was told to hang back as a battle was going to occur.

I had no problem with people watching and simply began meditating, waiting for the prey to fall into my trap.

Thirty minutes of waiting later, I felt a Psionic disruption from my target location. My hypothesis of where they would come from was correct. Turning to my partner, I signalled. ”They are here. Get ready.”

Tamara got into a sprinters stance, getting as low to the ground as possible so the Pylons behind us didn’t accidentally snag her and I manifested another forty of my Pyrokinetic bullets, ready to greet our guests.

Things remained tense for a moment as I waited for someone to come out and when the leader poked her head out, she looked around for a second, realisation dawning on her face at what she was seeing was humorous to me, so when she looked in my direction and the realistation of the realistation dawned, I simply smiled and waved and.

...

”SHIELDS!”

Skaja cried out in warning as thousands of bullets began pouring into their direction.

Her wings had already been pierced countless times and many of her troops were instantly riddled with holes. Fortunately a lot of her troops reacted instantly and dropped to the ground while four of her group activated their specific defensive abilities. The base tent was mercilessly destroyed as everyone watched on as the Psionic bullets continued to fire at them, shields weakening with each strike while all that could be heard before it a pounding against the defences was.

Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka Dakka