The hivemind is conquering for me?

Wasting no more time, I walked towards the tower. The first block was always easy to remove so I did just that. I took a centre block from the middle of the tower with triviality and placed it on top.

As I stepped back I spoke. ”So as the game goes on and the tower gets wobbly. Your turn ends ten seconds after you place your piece on the top, or if the next player touches the tower.”

”Ok, Ness. Your turn.” I smiled at her and Nerissa looked around the tower. She ended up taking a piece from the third from the bottom, the edge piece before stacking it on the top.

Rhapso went next and took the opposite piece, making the tower stand on just one block now.

”Wow... You two are evil.” I murmured as Janine walked up. Her eyes glanced around the tower, she was easily able to find a block that didn’t ruin the tower’s integrity.

Hecate and Millie then went in quick fashion, each pulling a stable tile without issue.

Sithrik slunk towards the tower. She attempted to choose a block from the same row I chose earlier. Her hands were shaking slightly as she pulled out the block. She had gotten right up to the edge of the block when her hand shook a bit too much, knocking into the block above and the tower collapsed.

”Oh no! I broke it.” Sithrik exclaimed. ”Apollo, I am sorry.”

”Don’t apologise. It’s a part of the game. You lost this round, that’s all. Also, you have a disadvantage. We have had decades to get used to having arms. You have barely had time to get used to them yet. Don’t sweat it.”

”So we rebuild and go again?” Hecate asked.

I nodded and replied, ”Yes. Though I have had an idea. Lets make this more of a competition? So Sithrik lost the first round. Lets say we all have three lives, she has just lost one and if someone loses all their lives they are out till it’s the last person standing?”

”That sounds fun, Apollo. Good thinking.” Valerica said.

”What does the winner get as a reward? Millie asked.

”How about we play it so losers have to remove their clothes? Make this more interesting?” Serena suggested, prompting an angry glare from Valerica.

Before a war of words erupted from the two of them again, I shot that down.

”I don’t think that is a good idea, Serena. At least not today. Sithrik is already naked as is and the Praetorians can’t take their armour off. Let’s keep it simple. The winner can ask for anything from anyone in the room with little to no restrictions? Seems to me like it could lead to some funny shenanigans.”

’Hehe. I could ask one of the Praetorians to do a silly dance or ask Millie to bake me another pie... Oohhh, that’s an even better idea. Now I have to win!’

Looking around the room, everyone seemed to have the same thought as I did that this was a great idea. Each individual had a smirk on their faces, well except Rhapso and Nerissa, but I could feel their excitement from their body language.

Serena then let out a soft giggle before asking, ”So Apollo. To clarify. Let’s say if I won this little elimination game and I asked to do something... Scandelous~ You would do it?”

”Serena...” Valerica growled, but I replied at the same time.

”Sure. I see no problem doing something scandalous. As I don’t think you would make me do anything that would cause me duress or have me commit a serious crime.”

”Oh not at all, I would never do that to you... Let’s just say if I win... I have thought of something deliciously fun that will make my evening~”

”Ok great!” I said, excited that she was getting into the spirit of things. ”So we are all in agreement to these rules?”

Everyone nodded. ”Sweet, now then, let’s set up the tower again and we can continue.”

”I have this.” Hecate declared before swishing her hand in a carefree manner. In a few moments the tower had finished erecting itself

”So do I go first since I built the tower?”

I nodded my head. ”You can. Or you can let the person who just got eliminated go first. Your call.”

Hecate turned towards Sithrik and smiled. ”I’ll let our new Psionic friend have redemption. Why not?”

Sithrik turned to Hecate and smiled. ”Thank you. I shall defeat the shakiness in these appendages or die trying! Figuratively speaking, as I am functionally immortal now thanks to Apollo.”

She then proceeded to flash me an adorable smile before focusing her entire existence towards the tower.

Her concentration was really attractive to me for a moment as her eyes locked on to the tower like it was the only thing in existence.

She ended up copying my first round move without any issue and placed the block on top.

”Well done, dear.” Millie said, stroking Sithrik’s back.

”Thank you!” Sithrik smiled before my view of her got obstructed by Serena as she hastily took a block from the tower and placed it on top.

”Easy.”

Valerica then walked up, picked up a block.

”Super easy.” She said with a smirk and then it was my turn. Then Ness’ Then Rhapso, then in moments it was back to Serena after making an entire round.

Serena frowned as she took in the structural integrity of the tower. Choices were running thin so quickly. She had to take into account balancing. Integrity and her own ability to keep the block she was removing as still as possibly while she did so.

’This is actually surprisingly tough, I wouldn’t have thought as much before playing. How fun.’ She thought before glancing in Apollo’s direction. Smart, funny, handsome and innovative. Is there anything this man couldn’t do?

She focused up. She knew what she wanted to do. Pulling the centre block out of a part that had already had one of the sides removed she pulled back and the block came out with no issue.

She then carefully placed it back on top and the whole tower wobbled for a moment. In reflex, she put her hands in the air, as far away from the tower as possible and counted down ten seconds.

The moment those ten seconds were up. Janine suddenly yelled in excitement. ”What! How is that tower still standing!?!”

Serena giggled smugly. ”Why, I simply took all the factors into account. There is just enough weight distribution above that the tower would still be able to withstand this risky play, but now I have also guaranteed two things. First. Any piece removed from the top will now cause a collapse. Second, if Valerica manages to find a solid piece from below to collect afterwards, no matter what Apollo does, the tower will fall in his turn. There are no other outcomes.”

”You deviant!” I declared in fake anger, prompting Serena to giggle and Valerica to yell.

”No distractions! I must concentrate...”

She then proceeded to take a deep breath and looked at the tower carefully. She would not lose to the smug slut...

She looked at the top half, not taking Serena’s words at face value, but as she observed, she realised she was right. The top looked like it could have one more block added, but nothing else could be taken or the tower would collapse.

Looking at the bottom she had her eye on a risky block. It was a middle piece, but with the distributed weight, it looked difficult to take out... But that was the only option.

’Fuck it.’

Valerica then proceeded to take two minutes slowly shuffling the block out. millimetre by millimetre before it fell to the floor.

’YES!’ She thought excitedly before picking it up and carefully placing the block on top of the tower.

The whole tower swayed as it was placed, she found herself holding her breath in anticipation. But as the ten seconds finally passed, she let out a breath of relief.

”Ok, are you both cheating? How is that thing still standing? Apollo, you are fucked! Hahahahaha!” Janine began to laugh at my misfortune and I put on a pout.

”I can’t believe my own mother would throw me under the bus so early into the game... Is this what great betrayal feels like? I could cry.”

”Apollo...” Valerica turned to me and I looked at her.

”Yes Betrayer?”

”Nice try, but I will be winning this game, your fake sadness will not sway me. Now play your turn.”

I snapped my fingers.

”Drats! No sympathy at all? I forgot how ruthless you Hyllus women can be at times. I also forgot we were playing with one of the top tactical geniuses in the Spartari Military. This should be more fun than I originally thought.” I said before smirking evilly

”However, you don’t know about my secret technique!” I said, lining up my finger with the block that was balancing the top half.

I barely grazed it with my atoms before the whole tower collapsed...

”Well... Shit.”