Shadow Walk

Several weeks have passed since the Protoss Fleets that pursued Tassadar withdrew from the Altera system, Oasis Town has entered the increasingly hot late March.

Like this sweltering planet, devoid of any real interest and shrouded in green mist, Oasis Town was once nothing more than a gray town of modular houses and crisscrossing alleyways. Criminals and pirates roamed freely here, and nine out of ten people were wanted criminals, drug addicts, parts thieves, smugglers, and armed thugs.

Everyone harbors ill intentions, because innocent and pure people Reagan cannot survive in this dark world.

The Revolutionary Army has controlled and managed Oasis Town for nearly a month, and its strict and effective administrative measures have gradually brought the town back on track. For the people of Oasis Town, who are used to crime and fierce armed conflict, the Revolutionary Army's management is more akin to a harsh and oppressive rule.

Even though Revolutionary Army Marshal Augustus Mengsk declared that he had pardoned those who should have been detained for "insignificant" crimes, approximately 20,000 people were still arrested for a variety of horrific offenses, with about a third of them charged with murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and assault. Within two weeks, thousands of lawsuits were filed in the Oasis Town court.

The people of Oasis Town have become accustomed to a life of deceit and treachery. Many cunning criminals have even been hiding here for more than a decade, and the evidence that would convict them may be light-years away in Confederacy territory or have already been destroyed.

Augustus ordered all Revolutionary Army Psionics to participate in the investigation of criminal cases, so even long-buried crimes could not escape scrutiny by high-level Psionics in one-on-one, long-term investigations.

After the Nova Squadron, with its numerous Ghost operative, defected to Augustus, the Revolutionary Army now has nearly ninety Ghost operative. These former Confederacy Ghost operative, sworn to fight for Augustus Mengsk and the New Order, are all exceptional assassins and telepathic prodigies, and mind-reading is an ability that terrifies all Confederacy politicians.

Even drug lords and pirate captains with extraordinary mental fortitude cannot endure the gaze of a human Psionics for long, and will eventually break down under the pressure of one question after another. This is because criminals concealing their crimes do not know how much of their crimes the Psionics opposite them has read, and every contradictory statement may expose them.

Apart from the Revolutionary Army, neither the Terran Confederacy nor the Umojan Republic would waste their precious Psionics on solving criminal cases, as that would be a waste of talent. Even in courts that handle political cases, Psionics would not be allowed to get involved.

The mind-reading abilities of Psionics are clearly underestimated, firstly because their numbers are so few, and secondly because the Psionics do not trust them.

According to the laws of the planet under the Revolutionary Army's rule, these heinous criminals should be immediately executed or imprisoned in Antiga Prison for decades, but they can choose to atone for their sins by working in the mines.

At this moment, Augustus was atop a ridge north of Oasis Town, directly below a rugged rift valley. This rift valley stretched across a sparse forest of deciduous trees and open-field natural crystal veins that shimmered with a deep blue light in the sunlight, eventually disappearing into a treacherous mountain range dotted with high-energy gas vents.

From Augustus's vantage point, the vast rift valley stretched out before him. Geothermal Fountain and gushing high-energy gas springs dotted the distant mountains, shrouded in a green mist. The sun appeared to be setting, its afterglow burning away the clouds on the horizon.

"Is the ceremony about to begin?" Augustus, dressed in a long, dark blue coat with a square collar, held a pair of binoculars and occasionally looked down at the rift valley.

"According to Tassadar, it should be at Sunset." He continued, without waiting for anyone around him to answer, "Tassadar must pass through this canyon, which hides more than a hundred Dark Templar masters, at the moment of daybreak. The most powerful Dark Templar among them is none other than the Dark Prelate Zeratul himself."

"It's unbelievable that Tassadar, a Templar Knights, would accept the Dark Templar's trials. He really mastered the power of the Void in such a short time—the last Psionics to simultaneously wield both Khala and Void Psionics was the ancient Protoss Protoss Adun."

After Tassadar became acquainted with Augustus and Zeratul, the Protoss Empire Templar Knights, the Dark Templar of Shakuras, and the leaders of the Human Revolutionary Army often sat together to discuss their views on the nature of warfare. Later, they even talked about the human history and culture of the Protoss and humans, discussing everything under the sun.

In many ways, Tassadar and Zeratul could definitely be considered Augustus's teachers, and a mentor-student relationship gradually developed between them.

Augustus also witnessed Tassadar seeking Zeratul's guidance on mastering the power of the Void. Tassadar did not consider ignorance or seeking knowledge shameful or worthy of embarrassment; as long as the power of the Void could help his people, he was willing to humbly learn like a student.

It was at this time that Tassadar discovered that combining the pure blue Psionics of the Khala with the green void energy of the Dark Templar could unleash a supernova-like power. He had said more than once that using this might be able to completely kill the Swarm Overmind, permanently eliminate the Zerg threat, and ensure the safety of the Protoss Empire.

Although Augustus attended Zeratul's classes with Tassadar, he was still confused. Only Kerrigan, who was allowed to come aboard the Star Shuttle with Augustus, was able to learn from them.

"That sounds impressive." Raynor stood to Augustus's right. "Shadow Walk ... it sounds like some ancient tribal custom. The Protoss have incredibly advanced technology, yet their customs are so primitive and ancient."

The ancient Shakuras ritual of Shadow Walk Protoss a necessary step for a young Shadow Apprentice to become Dark Templar. They must Shakuras deep into the starless valleys and canyons of Sargeras, undergo trials by other Dark Templar, until they defeat all or prove their worthiness to become a warrior.

Undoubtedly, such trials are extremely difficult, requiring Dark Templar to undergo rigorous training for centuries. As a result, every Dark Templar is an unparalleled warrior.

"The Protoss are a civilization that was forcibly elevated from the tribal era to the interstellar era by the Xel'Naga; this is all too common among them." Augustus's understanding of the Protoss's history was also different from before.

"That's the Protoss. They could blast you to smithereens from miles away, but they still choose to use knives." Kerrigan was to Augustus's left. She was wearing a ghost bodysuit with densely woven circuitry, but the shapely curves between her slender waist and hips were hidden under a long-hemmed gray Revolutionary Army overcoat.

"Jimmy, where's Tychus?" Augustus stared intently at the rift below through his telescope, searching for Tassadar and Zeratul.

This desolate canyon is not entirely deserted. Beyond the Great Rift lies a mine established by the Kel-Morian people, with rows of factory sheds covered in red dust standing silently in the wind. In the center of the rift is a Revolutionary Army geological research station, next to a blue Pylon several tens of feet high.

"Sheriff Tychus is busy hunting down criminals and cracking down on the sex industry in Oasis Town," Raynor chuckled. "That old bastard Tychus has been having a field day these past few days. Never let a devil do the work of an angel."

"Tassadar has appeared," Kerrigan reminded Augustus.

Augustus looked in the direction of the sound and saw Tassadar and his Templar Knights standing at the foot of the ridge. The Dark Templar undergoing the trial had already disappeared into the shadows, waiting for Tassadar to cross the perilous canyon on foot.

Tassadar was a powerful High Templar, so the Dark Templar he faced were many times stronger than the average Shadow Walk.

"What's going on? Tassadar is only wrapped in a blanket. What kind of strange Protoss custom is this?" Raynor exclaimed in surprise, holding up his telescope. "He's practically naked."

"I have to say, this outfit is pretty cool, isn't it?"

In Raynor's view, Tassadar wasn't actually completely naked, but unlike other Templar Knights, he wasn't wearing shiny gold and blue alloy armor. Instead, he had a gray belt in the style of a Dark Templar slung across his right shoulder and hip.

Moreover, Tassadar didn't even wear wrist blades that could unleash Psionics.

This means that Tassadar will pass the trials of the Dark Templar solely through his own strength, rather than through weapons or armor.

Augustus noticed this, but thought to himself that this was not spying, but rather a pre-arranged observation.

"Tassadar's power is far greater than before. In the past, Zeratul could have the upper hand in a fight against him, but now," Kerrigan said.

"Jimmy, how far do you think you could go if you participated in the Dark Templar's Shadow Walk Trial?" Augustus joked.

"You want me to wear open-crotch pants and fight bare-handed against over a hundred world-renowned swordsmen? Augustus, you bastard, you'll definitely see my shiny backside when I'm running away." Raynor laughed heartily.

At this moment, without the leader's order, the Templar Knights had all retreated to one side of the rift, while Tassadar strode nimbly into its depths. For the Protoss, Tassadar was not yet an old man; he was physically strong, and even in terms of combat skills alone, few among the Templar Knights and Dark Templar could rival him.

However, in Shadow Walk, the trial seeker needs not only immense strength but also the wisdom to overcome crises. A powerful Dark Templar is not merely a brute who knows only how to use brute force; he should be better at winning through intelligence.

"Guys, do you want to give it a try?"

Kerrigan tossed her long red hair and turned to look behind her.

Originally, they only had about a platoon of Faraday's Marshal Guard soldiers, led by Corporal Faraday, but now more than twenty Revolutionary Army Ghost operative suddenly appeared.

Among them were men and women, most of whom wore helmets or masks, so no one could see their expressions. At the front was a well-built, black-haired female ghost wearing a matte black Umojan mask that covered her forehead, eyes, and nose, leaving only her purple lips exposed.

Charming, mysterious, and dangerous, she is the only Level 8 Psionics in Nova Squadron, a powerful Psionics, Lagdamen (instructor at the Ghost Academy of the Terran Empire). She has never tasted defeat since graduating from the Ghost Academy in Tarsonis.

Removing the Psionics inhibitor from Lagdamen's brain was an extremely dangerous operation; if it had gone out of control, there would have been no chance of survival in the operating room. Fortunately, the surgery was ultimately completed without further incident.

Lagdamen, the dark-haired beauty with an Asian face, quickly accepted her new identity—in fact, according to Kerrigan, Lagdamen was almost grateful to Augustus.

For Augustus, this was a dangerous statement. It must be said, however, that the ghostly female agent was both captivating and dangerous.

Almost all the Ghost operative harbored intense hatred for the Terran Confederacy and the Ghost Academy, and this hatred inevitably transformed into a sense of identification with the Revolutionary Army and a shared hatred of their common enemy.

"Dark Prelate Zeratul once taught us Dark Templar how to fight," Lagdamen said coolly. "This includes, but is not limited to, disrupting the enemy's vision and using the terrain to sneak up behind them."

Then he pulled out a light blade.

"You must humbly learn, Lagdamen." Augustus hoped that his Psionics could learn useful knowledge and skills from Zeratul, which would be passed on to future generations of human Psionics to prevent the tragedy from happening again.

"Zeratul is the most outstanding master of shadow, and there is much more he can teach you," Augustus. "You would never imagine how much I had to plead with Zeratul to give you a lesson."

"Yes, Marshal," Lagdamen immediately saluted Augustus.

"Perhaps we cannot yet wield the Protoss's Psionics blades, but we can equip each of you with two ancient Earth-era longswords," Augustus. "The best among you will be permitted to wear the Mengsk Family crest and serve on my left and right."

"There are always 'ghostly figures' around you," Lagdamen said metaphorically.

As Augustus spoke, the sky gradually darkened. However, even with night vision goggles, Augustus could not possibly see everything that was happening in the canyon.

Occasionally, flashes of green light appear in the canyon, accompanied by hissing and burning sounds, like two swordsmen clashing in the darkness, their blades meeting briefly before retreating, the outcome already decided.

The clash of swords faded into the distance, but Tassadar continued his advance, without stopping.

"What can we learn from this?" Augustus asked his loyal followers, gazing into the distance.

"We are stronger than ever before," Lagdamen replied.

The Revolutionary Army Ghost operative, led by Lagdamen, all wore cloaks and hoods made of a light-like material over their combat uniforms. Almost every one of them carried ancient cold weapons such as sickles and long knives, and carried C-10 rifles on their shoulders.

Under the guidance of the Dark Templar masters, the Revolutionary Army Ghost operative made significant progress in their use of melee weapons, while the Templar Knights taught them the art of controlling Psionics through meditation and restraint. This made the Ghost operative under Augustus even more proficient in Psionics manipulation and mind control.

The most significant change is that what they learn is not something that the Confederacy Ghost Academy can teach.

The Ghosts of Augustus will fight in a style more akin to the Protoss. With greater control over their psionic Psionics, they will be able to unleash even more powerful psychic abilities and, with the help of the Protoss, discover many previously undiscovered new powers.

Happy New Year