Blade King

"It's a long story."

Zeratul still looked travel-worn, wearing a purple cloak wrapped in dark brown leather, his dark, sharply defined face seemingly frozen in ice. In the swirling sandstorm, the green light in Zeratul's eyes shone like a new star.

"To make a long story short," Augustus glanced around, "everyone here is trustworthy; my men would never 'reveal secrets.'"

"Haha." Raynor chuckled.

"..." A sound similar to a human elder's chuckle came from the voice that Zeratul transmitted to Augustus and the others. It was a kind of goodwill expression that he had learned from humans, and it was also a manifestation of the race's humor.

"There are Zerg here." The wise Protoss's gaze swept across the room, and when he saw the Kel-Morian man encased in Zerg carapaces and appendages, the distance between his eyes narrowed slightly. Clearly, this was unexpected.

"I suspect that some of the Zerg survived the attack by the Tassadar Fleets, or that the Swarm deployed a hive force here before we arrived," Augustus replied to Zeratul.

"There is a high possibility that a group of Zerg that have broken away from their own kind are still lurking in Ma Sara, and they are a potential threat that could erupt at any time."

"My Dark Templar will assist your warriors in hunting down the Zerg on Sara. The hunters of the Zeratai Tribe are most skilled at hunting prey on planets like Shakuras."

"Ugh--This is never going to end!" At this moment, Kerrigan covered her forehead again, making Augustus realize that the so-called Psionics shriek from Char was not over yet.

"Guys, is there any way to stop that damn screaming? It's like a thousand people are yelling in my ear."

"I think the best way is to deal with the guy who's screaming." Augustus Kerrigan into his arms, and although it might not be of much use, he covered her ears with both hands.

"Zeratul, if you know anything, perhaps you can tell us about Char."

"He was still screaming—a mixture of fear and joy, like a newborn experiencing the warmth of the sun and the biting cold of the night for the first time." Zeratul suddenly turned his head to look up at the sky, as if he could see through the rooftops to the planet Char, covered in lava and volcanoes.

"That human from Haji Tosh, underwent transformation by Abathur, the Swarm Evolution Master, in the Overmind's Hive. He has shed his human weakness and frailty, and has been truly reborn," he said.

"Just now, Gabriel Tosh emerged from the cocoon that nurtured him, reborn. He proudly accepted the new name bestowed upon him by the Swarm and proclaimed his existence throughout the universe—the Overlord of the Swarm, the Son of the Overmind, the Prince of the Blades."

"This is a Hybrid of Zerg and human, an unprecedentedly powerful Psionics. His Psionics shrieks echo among the stars, and only those associated with him and powerful Psionics can hear his voice."

"Prince Blade— the Zerg is really suffering from a lack of education," Raynor quipped. "He's the Psionics we lost track of in Haj? You mean the Overmind turned him into Zerg?"

"How do you know so much? What is this Abathur? An Evolution Master? That sounds impressive."

"The scream contained a strange dream, containing Gabriel Tosh's memories of the past and his longing for his grandmother," Zeratul said. "I also learned about his Zerg modification at Char. Abathur is one of the Overmind's creations, different from the Cerebrate, and has the mission of absorbing and reconstructing new genetic essence to join the Swarm."

"Abathur is the mastermind behind the Swarm's continuous evolution, the key to the Swarm's near-perfection, and the steward of its vast gene pool."

"I saw that vision. Tosh transformed from a human into a monster with insect-like limbs, his dreadlocks turned into poisonous spikes, and he had a pair of forked bone wings with membranous flaps on his back." Kerrigan finally broke free from the screams. "He has awakened and proudly proclaimed his existence to all."

Tosh harbored deep hatred for the Terran Confederacy Terran Confederacy because he believed it was they who killed his grandmother and left him to the Zerg.

"Is he still screaming?" Augustus asked Kerrigan.

"He's feeling a bit better. I think he's probably just tired." Kerrigan held Augustus's shoulder, but seemed reluctant to break free from his embrace.

"So, it's true," Augustus said, looking at Zeratul.

"A new Swarm agent has emerged—he will exact revenge on the Terran Confederacy," he said. "Thankfully, we're not on his revenge list. But will the Swarm even care about the difference between the Revolutionary Army and the Confederacy Army?"

In an instant, the image of Gabriel Tosh flashed through Augustus's mind—his dark skin, thick lips, and milky-white complexion overlapped with that of Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades Swarm.

"Does it make you feel strange to be holding me?" Kerrigan suddenly broke free from Augustus's embrace.

"No, of course not." Augustus shook his head and looked at Zeratul again. "Tassadar should have heard what he thinks about this."

"In fact, almost all the Protoss heard it," Zeratul said. "The Protoss's keen perception of Psionics makes it much easier for us to sense the Psionics waves that travel through the universe."

"That's why I've come to find you," Zeratul said. "We had already decided to set off for Aiur, but Tassadar and I both believed that this newly emerged creature was extremely dangerous."

"He possesses both human Psionics and strategic thinking, along with the Zerg's immortal body and ability to constantly evolve," he said. "He is a formidable foe for us and for everyone who opposes the Swarm."

"Prepare a shuttle; I need to get to Tassadar's flagship Star Shuttle, immediately," Augustus said to Faraday, the captain of his guard.

"No need," Zeratul said, stopping Faraday, who was about to make the arrangements. "If you want to go see Tassadar, you don't have to make the trip yourself."

"He should have arrived in Mar- Sara by now."

As Zeratul was speaking, a cylindrical Protoss ship gleaming with a golden-blue luster came to a stop on the docking platform of the Kel-Morian mining camp. Tassadar and several High Templar dressed in blue robes emerged from the ship's iris exit.

Augustus's Protoss friends can sense his presence through their powerful Psionics abilities and their connection with each other, which is why Tassadar and Zeratul always know where he is.

Upon arriving, Tassadar was also surprised by the appearance of the Zerg. He immediately announced that his Templar Knights would assist Augustus. This meant that the Protoss Templar Knights and Dark Templar would also set up an outpost in Mar-a- Sara, garrisoning a few hundred or fewer warriors.

On a planet controlled by the Revolutionary Army, Antiga has a force of two hundred Dark Templar who are single-handedly wiping out the Zerg that have escaped the purge. Their stronghold and base remain unknown, with only Augustus and Antiga's new governor and general knowing their exact locations.

"High Templar Al-Rion will help you clear the Zerg from Mar-Sala," Tassadar said, looking at the twisted corpses of infected in the camp.

Tassadar's care for Augustus and the other humans was meticulous; in his heart, supporting the weak was always the Protoss's responsibility. However, this could also be attributed to Augustus's influence.

"Zeratul has already told you about the changes in Char," Tassadar continued to Augustus. "That newly created monster by the Overmind is extremely terrifying and cannot be ignored."

"Gabriel Tosh's screams serve as a constant reminder that the nascent Swarm Lord is not to be underestimated. His spirit will only grow stronger over time, and such a threat cannot be ignored."

"To be honest, I don't really understand what you're talking about." Raynor took off his hat and stroked his recently shaved head.

After marrying because of pregnancy, Raynor became less concerned about his hair, preferring a cooler hairstyle. During wartime, a shiny bald head was always easy to manage.

"Alright, alright, a terrifying, dangerous being has appeared in Char. He's incredibly frightening; his screams can be heard throughout the entire universe," Raynor mimicked the Protoss's tone.

"I can probably understand how terrifying he is. If a tone-deaf guy started singing in the bathroom and the whole universe could hear him, that would be a really, really scary thing."

"So what exactly is he?" Raynor's tone returned to normal. "Is the person infected by the Zerg capable of destroying an army single-handedly, or is he like the Cerebrate, able to command an endless Swarm?"

"What you've said is exactly what we should be worried about," Zeratul, picking up where Raynor left off. "The Xel'Naga mentioned some unseen variables, but his words, like in the past, are vague and ambiguous. The gods must be unable to tell the truth of events directly, and therefore can only express them through fragmented pieces of information."

"I still don't know what abilities Gabriel Tosh possesses," Tassadar said. "That's exactly what I need to figure out now. I must assess him and determine the extent of the threat he poses to my people before deciding what action to take."

"In any case, if an enemy poses a threat to us, then we cannot let it go unchecked," Augustus nodded.

"Kill the newly born Swarm Lord, eliminate the threat while he is still weak." Kerrigan could still occasionally hear the unspeakable screams, but now they no longer had much effect on her.

"But what will the price be? How many more soldiers must we sacrifice for this?"

"Let my Dark Templar secretly eliminate this threat. If we can kill the Cerebrate, then we can do the same with this newly emerged monster," Zeratul offered his solution.

"Even Dark Templar might not be a match for him. The modified Gabriel Tosh is not Cerebrate those Zerg that have no ability to defend themselves," Tassadar said.

"You're saying this monster hates the Terran Confederacy?" Raynor suddenly remembered something. "Then we don't need to make an enemy of him; we can just let him deal with the Terran Confederacy's Fleets."

"We have to see him with our own eyes to confirm whether he is a cold-blooded Zerg or a pitiful human who still retains a shred of humanity," Tassadar said.

"It's time to return to Aiur. And our concerns don't stop there," he said. "The Swarm Overmind has left Char's lair, and nobody knows where it is now. All we know is that Aiur is under increasing Zerg attack."

"Until then, we must remain in Char. If this is indeed a formidable opponent, then we must remain vigilant for the years to come."

In human terms, Tassadar's subtext was to test Gabriel Tosh's mettle. If Tosh was indeed powerful, then next time he would bring enough men; if Tosh was easily defeated, then he could simply be eliminated to prevent future trouble.

"I have no objection," Augustus. "During this time, you have been helping us reclaim our homes occupied by the Zerg and rescuing refugees. Now, it's our turn to help you."

"Even if you might face accusations and arrest from the Conclave, are you still going to return to Aiur?"

In the past six months, Augustus's Revolutionary Army has traveled to many of the Edge World of the Terran Confederacy and established sufficient prestige there. The planets under the Revolutionary Army's control have also begun to flourish.

The Confederacy army was in a state of utter disarray, and the revival of the Terrans could only be achieved through the Revolutionary Army.

"My gratitude is beyond words. The Zerg are about to destroy our sacred homeland, and I can't believe the High Conclave still wants to deal with the Sons of Aiur have returned home without hesitation." Tassadar didn't quite believe what Augustus. He didn't think the Conclave was that incompetent.

"They've sent their new executive officers and arbitrators all this way to arrest you, how can you still have any illusions about the Conclave?" Zeratul pointed out sharply.

"If that's the case," Tassadar said sadly, "Then we will have to engage in a brutal civil war with our people on our return to Aiur."

"Fratricide? I simply can't believe it."

"You have no choice but to believe it, Tassadar," Raynor shrugged. "If the Confederate Congress of the Terran Confederacy were willing to sit down and reason things out, the Revolutionary Army wouldn't be fighting them in a hail of bullets."

"Pass down the order: the entire Fleets will depart Mar- Sara for Char in two standard Earth days," Augustus said, nodding in agreement.

"From now on, Agria will take on the responsibility of supplying Ma Sara."

Just then, the commander of a Firebat squad that was cleaning up Infested Terran in the mine approached Augustus and handed him a four-sided prism-shaped crystal that had been found in the mine. This crystal, which had been heated to a scorching heat by plasma flames, shone with a golden light in the sunlight; it had another name—Ghost Gold.