The hivemind is conquering for me?

The game continued for a while round after round, each individual losing at least once before the first ultimate loser of the night was eliminated.

”This is actual bullying.” I grumbled, crossing my arms. They had actively been strategizing against me this whole time. Everyone! Just so I would be eliminated first.

”Stop being a sore loser and enjoy watching from the side-lines.” Janine teased. I decided the best course of action was to give everyone the cold shoulder.

Until the next person was eliminated of course.

”Unlucky Sithrik. Even with your new arms, you were still better than Apollo. Take some pride in that.” Millie said, prompting me to ask,

”Wow. So I really am just taking strays from everyone? Ok, I see how it is. Apollo will remember this...”

That got a laugh from the group and Sithrik made her way over to me, wrapping her lower body around my legs. She pushed up against me with her upper body while I was sitting on the couch and simply smiled at me.

I smiled back at her. She was so cute it instantly removed the bitter taste from my mouth. Wrapping my arm around her we watched together as the game continued.

Janine went out next, at which point she knew what was coming and tactically rushed out of the room before I had a chance to tease her.

Next came Hecate who only had good things to say about the experience before resuming her role as tower builder.

Then Nerissa was eliminated. She said nothing, simply coming to my side and standing next to me.

Then Millie finally went out and she clapped her hands excitedly at her loss. ”Wow. That was so much fun! Who knew doing something so simple could be so enjoyable?”

”I’m glad you enjoyed yourself Millie.” I said honestly before she came and sat on the couch with Sithrik and I.

With her elimination there were only three left. Rhapso, Valerica and Serena. Rhapso had lost twice already and was down to her last life while Valerica and Serena still had two lives left. Though not for long.

”SHIT!” Valerica yelled in frustration as she lost two games back to back and was eliminated.

She wasn’t angry about the fact she lost. But the stakes... Right now Serena had the most chance to win and with the stakes at play, if she won...

”Unlucky sis. I wonder what you had planned for the prize if you are this upset?” Serena asked with a teasing smirk.

”Eat me.”

”Oh my~ Did that kiss I gave you earlier awaken something in you? I hope not. That would be quite something wouldn’t it- Oh take a joke, don’t give me that look.” Serena rolled her eyes. Valerica was taking their cat fight earlier too far. There was no reason to be a bitch still.

Seeing Valerica upset, I whispered to Sithrik. ”Switch out.”

Sithrik said nothing. Simply switching into her nope rope form before sliding onto Millie’s leg before coiling up and falling asleep instantly.

”Valerica, come sit with me. Do you want some cuddles?” I asked, rhetorically as the woman was already squeezing me tight before I finished my sentence.

I began to stroke my hands through her hair in a comforting manner as I watched the last two duke it out.

Rhapso and Serena were both very good at the game. Right from the start of the round, neither were just picking a block randomly. It was like they were playing vertical chess. Picking their pieces with ten steps ahead already thought of.

However the tower was doomed to collapse eventually and as Serena removed a block she thought safe, human error kicked in, perhaps her grip was a bit too tight, or she miscalculated her pull speed, but whatever it was the tower collapsed.

”Darn. Well played Rhapso.” Serena said with a smile.

”Likewise. It appears we are about to enter a sudden death. Hecate, if you would be so kind as to set us up for the final round for us?”

...

As Hecate began to do just that, Rhapso smirked under her armour. One more round.

One more round and the prize was hers...

She could ask the entire room to do something, though she only wanted something from one person though.

One entity.

One god.

Her lips began to curve. The possibilities were endless, though one thought was on her mind. She wanted to taste him in the back of her throat again. The last time she wasn’t devoted to him like now. This time would not only satisfy her physically, but spiritually.

To please her god with an act of service so intimate...

She shuddered.

...

Serena smirked, this was it. With this victory she could enact a cunning scheme. Her eyes glanced towards Apollo for a moment. He was stroking Valerica’s hair affectionately. She smirked at the sight.

Her sister looked serene. Her eyes were fighting the urge to roll into the back of her head due to the pleasure she was getting from the simple act.

When she won. Those eyes will be telling a new story. She couldn’t wait to see Valerica squirm in embarrassment. This was going to be so deliciously fun!

...

I narrowed my eyes at Rhapso and Serena. For some reason, though I could guess from context, the stick was going crazy in my Mindspace as the two prepared for the final round.

”Who do you think is going to win?” Millie asked the room.

”Serena. For sure. Both are good, but Serena’s plays have caused the most round losses and eliminations.” Janine spoke.

”Pfft. Please. She is just lucky. The Praetorian has this in the bag.” Valerica declared.

”I will root for Rhapso. The order sticks together.” Nerissa stated.

”Hmm~ I’ll go Serena too. She has a serious game face on... Though I cannot see Rhapso’s face so it’s hard to see how serious she is.” Hecate spoke floating above the tower.

”Sithrik, who do you think will win?” Millie asked, waking up the snake.

Sithrik opened her eyes and looked between the two. ”I’ve shared more battles with Rhapso. She will have my vote.” She then closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.

Millie began stroking Sithrik again as she looked between the two. ”I will go with Serena then, to add more competition. What about you Apollo?”

Once I was asked, Rhapso and Serena both turned towards me simultaneously. Serena had a neutral expression on her face and I assumed Rhapso was the same.

”Hmmm, that is a tough one. I think I will abstain from giving an answer, that way both of them have equal supporters.” I stated.

”Ha! You just don’t want to say in case you lose... Again~” Janine commented, prompting me to point at her.

”Let’s see if you can keep up that cheek when we are in bed later. In fact, I dare you to try.”

Janine sat down and crossed her legs instantly, a healthy blush appearing on her face as she refused to speak further.

’Heh, she won’t even look at me. Horny Sepiida. I know your games....’

”Ok, let’s start.” Serena said and with her losing the last round, she went first.

Block by block the tower both grew and shrunk.

The game was intense. The tower tilted and wobbled multiple times. For a static game of removing blocks and placing them on top of other blocks, it was a cutthroat one.

However, there could only be one winner and as the tower inevitably collapsed, the room went silent.

”I... Lost?”

There was a sense of loss in their voice. The prize, so close to there grasp, snatched from them like that.

Rhapso and Serena looked between each other.

”Good game.”

”Good game.”

They spoke in unison followed by a nod.

The loser then got up and walked away to the rest of the spectators while the winner stood there for a moment, looking amongst all the losers, an evil smile crept onto her lips.

”Well, well, well...” Serena said cockily as she began to walk back and forth with the strut of a victor.

”What to do, what to do with this little collectively agreed prize I have won?”

Valerica rolled her eyes. ’Here comes the gloating.’

”So many options. So little time. Perhaps I should have my sister kiss my feet and apologise for all the fighting we have had today? She certainly deserves that treatment.”

Valerica scoffed.

”Or perhaps I should ask the Sepiida to give us all an exotic dance? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind after all, it would please Apollo too.”

”Or maybe I ask Millie to resume our night from all those years ago?” She said with a playful wink, prompting Millie to giggle at the obvious joke.”

Serena pretended to ponder over something before shaking her head. ”No... No that won’t do. All those are quite singular. The way I see it. All of you lost to my tactical brilliance, all of you should be involved in the challenge. After all the prize was the winner could ask anyone in the room to do anything. There was no one person limit. So I have an idea.”

She then turned to me. ”Apollo.”

”Yes?” I asked, awaiting whatever was in store for me.

”Go find something you can use as a blindfold and then return to the room... Take your time, I need to have a talk with the rest of the girls about their part to play in my victory...”