Eldritch

"The Cusinis Family?"

Upon hearing the name, Augustus immediately became wary. "I've met their Heir, Milo Kucinis, who has perfectly inherited the family's stinginess and greed. Jimmy and I both think he's extremely dangerous."

"I was referring to his sisters." Kerrigan didn't want to discuss this topic further.

"Then you've misunderstood. Lockham Kucinis is a man, and the twin sisters are just a rumor." Augustus began to seriously recall the members of the Old Families he had seen at the banquet in Tarsonis, which inevitably reminded him of the young Nova Terra and the beautiful Antonio Tagore.

"Are you talking about the Old Families starting to unite? The Cusinis Family has always wanted to annex the Terra Family, and the first step is a marriage alliance. The Terra Family only has one daughter to marry, and that is Clara Terra."

"She declared she would only ever marry you, and Tarsonis nearly went crazy over it," Kerrigan gritted teeth.

"Impossible." Augustus shook his head. "Although we've only met once, I think Clara Terra is a woman who pursues power and money. She will only marry a man who stands at the top of the world, not for love."

"Isn't it you?" Faraday's words drew angry glares from Augustus and Kerrigan.

"I am just a traitor," Augustus, shaking his head.

"Alright, that's enough for now. We'll deal with Tarsonis when we get back there." His expression hardened as he felt Kerrigan's grey-green eyes staring at him. "Now, soldiers, move out. We're racing against time."

As Augustus waved, the recruits standing on the open platform of Eldritch Airport immediately ran toward the buses parked beside the runway.

"I hope that when I see you again, soldiers, you will be excellent warriors and revolutionary fighters," Augustus said to the departing soldiers.

"Marshal, I will not let you down," Carolina Davis Augustus as she left with the team.

"I am witnessing the rise of a new star." Augustus watched the soldiers leave to carry out their mission, then turned and walked with Kerrigan toward the command center at Eldritch Lake.

"Sarah, I thought you didn't care about the past anymore," he said.

"I don't care," Kerrigan said. "But you know I've never gotten along with bitches."

"Logically speaking, I wouldn't advise someone to be magnanimous," Augustus moment's thought. Kerrigan was very wary of beautiful women who approached him, but considering that she had never loved anyone since she was five years old and had lived her entire life in intrigue and killing, Augustus no longer complained about her excessive caution.

The Revolutionary Army's command center was located on the western outskirts of Eldritch, nestled among the magnificent Protoss buildings. Now, these once exquisite structures have either collapsed or been burned black by the overload or backlash of the Crystal Matrix, leaving only scattered crystal fragments like jewels.

The road to the command center crosses a primeval forest preserved during the city's construction. It is home to an endangered species of Aiur tree, towering into the clouds, which was once used by the Protoss during the tribal era to build arks to escape the flood. Now, only withered, shrunken, massive trunks remain.

Next is a light bridge spanning a tributary of Eldritch Lake (a map of Aiur released in StarCraft I in 1999, whose name literally means "Strange Lake").

This magical blue light bridge is powered by a giant Kydarin Crystal. It can automatically project a solid energy bridge that spans the river like a rainbow, and the river water, shimmering with a bright white light under the moonlight, flows calmly beneath it.

Before the Zerg invasion of Aiur, Eldritch City was situated on three islands in the center of a lake, connected by a wide bridge of light. Among the groves of Aiur's Joyful Trees were striking towering golden buildings. Winding paths led through the islands' lush vegetation and trees, blue streams and tranquil trails connecting to pure, clear blue crystals and shimmering rivers. Even the floating platforms were shaded by trees, and birds and animals roamed among the cascading waterfalls.

It is these magnificent bridges that once connected all the buildings in the city and even the sky, and the platforms and beams that wove the city's sky, that made the Protoss city shine with dazzling lights and extraordinary beauty at night.

After paying his respects to the Revolutionary Army Sentinel guarding the entrance to the Bridge of Light, Augustus ascended a spiral staircase of great artistic tension. The upward curve of the staircase had only been seen in the wildly imaginative designs of those hailed as genius architects, but no one had ever actually built one.

Whenever Augustus saw these exquisitely crafted Protoss buildings, seemingly formed naturally without any trace of human intervention, he couldn't help but wonder how the Protoss's Khalai Caste engineers had managed to build these works of art and even natural wonders with their masterful hands.

The command center is located next to a collapsed Protoss complex tower, which, according to some Protoss survivors rescued by the Revolutionary Army soldiers, was Fortress of Adun. Fortress of Adun was a sacred place where High Templar studied and debated the Way of the Khala.

Named after Adun, the greatest Templar in the history of the Protoss Empire, this place is a sacred site for the Templar class, and together with the Templar Archives, it serves as a hall where Templars continuously ascend as they delve into the Khala.

Fortress of Adun in Eldritch is the most famous in all of Aiur, almost on par with the Templar Knights Academy in Velari. The magnificent Fortress of Adun overlooks Eldritch Lake below, its wide surface as calm as a mirror. The tranquility and serenity here can dispel the restlessness in the hearts of those who come here, allowing them to focus wholeheartedly on the Path of the Khala.

Throughout history, the High Templar of Eldritch have produced many masters. They are as reserved as the all-encompassing Eldritch Lake, yet in battle they are like Hurricane that emerge during Aiur's convective weather.

But when Augustus arrived, Eldritch, once a picturesque paradise and a haven for the gods, was now a ruin, and the Templar Knights were nowhere to be found. These beautiful things were like shattered porcelain; each piece picked up only deepened the sorrow.

The scorched earth stretched for dozens of miles, and the pristine, jewel-like lake was covered with a layer of aquatic Zerg- like Creep. A quarter of the lake and its basin were nearly dry, and the lakebed, exposed to the scorching sun of Aiur, held the remains of countless animals.

Ancient relics buried by time have also been brought back to light, with obelisks resembling black crosses appearing after the water level receded.

The Zerg destroyed all that was beautiful and devoured everything. Civilization perished, and nothing remained.

Augustus Protoss; he just felt a pang of regret. Those beautiful and enchanting planets— Korhal IV, Cha Sara, and Aiur— were ultimately reduced to ruins, with only lamentations and sighs remaining on the rubble.

Passing a collapsed Pylon, Augustus and Kerrigan encountered Tychus Finley, who had just returned from the front lines. His custom-made Power Armor was covered in Zerg fangs and claws, as well as marks left by friendly ricochets; blood had almost stained the shell, which was forged from a new type of titanium alloy steel.

Behind Tychus followed several Revolutionary Army soldiers who had just been withdrawn from the front lines. Their gray armor and cloud-shaped wolf heads indicated that they were Sterling Wolf Hunters from Korhal. These bloodthirsty warriors had lived alongside wolves for generations, guarding the vast hunting grounds of the Mengsk Family.

As an elite unit, they would be transferred back to the rear, either because the losses were too severe to be withdrawn from the battlefield, or to carry out more important missions.

"Good evening, Augustus. What brings you here?" Tychus Finley was carrying a massive skull from Hydralisk, clearly a trophy from the battlefield. The grey-armored Revolutionary Army soldiers behind him stood ramrod straight, not daring to be as casual as Tychus.

"In short, I didn't invite you back for tea." Augustus walked over to Tychus and noticed the marks on his armor.

"As more and more troops and soldiers are being transferred to the front lines, I have to move Zander and you back to the rear to strengthen the defenses in the heartland." He said to Tychus, "You are the most capable general under my command, and this task must be entrusted to you."

"Indeed, to paraphrase Jimmy: who else but me?" Tychus knew that Augustus said the same thing to everyone, even the arsonist Harnack Hank would get the compliment of being good at playing with fire, but he didn't think it was a bad thing.

Augustus always a radiant figure; no one could ignore his charisma, and he could inspire people with just a few words.

"I heard the bugs have reappeared in the areas we reclaimed," Tychus said, rubbing his backside. "I thought those beasts had burned everything to the ground."

"It turns out that the fire wasn't clean enough," Augustus. "The Zerg likely appeared behind us through their underground tunnels that are spread throughout Aiur, and the Cerebrate aren't just stupid creatures that blindly charge into the strong defenses of the humans and Protoss."

"Right now, hundreds to a thousand Zerg from the Fenris and Baelrog Brood in the rear are infiltrating our supply lines and mining areas, either via underground tunnels or aerial routes."

"At the same time, these Zerg are also proficient in decapitation tactics, and even know how to strike and retreat, keeping our soldiers in a constant state of tension, and launching a fatal attack when the soldiers are most exhausted."

"Never underestimate the intelligence of the Zerg; they are clever and cunning enough to learn tactics from both humans and Protoss," Kerrigan added.

"An aerial route? Don't tell me about insects and paratroopers." Tychus lowered his helmet, raising an eyebrow. "That's not fair!"

"The flying Overlord are Zerg transport aircraft. You've seen Prince Gabriel Tosh of the Blades riding an Mutalisk." Augustus shrugged and said, "Zerg are insects, but it would be a big mistake to think of them only as insects."

"Well, that just so happens I don't have enough cigars and whiskey." Tychus yawned, his scarred face contorted in pain, his eyes bloodshot, his fierce gaze resembling that of a wild beast.

"What the hell is this? The Raynor's Raiders Raynor sent poured all my whiskey into the Vulture to use as fuel! Those bastards, if it weren't for their superior, I'd have slammed their asses against rocks to start those crappy engines."

"How did I get the report that you hid several cases of wine in the fuel to get away with it? If those cars hadn't been able to run, you really don't know how many people you would have killed." Augustus furious. This shameless bastard dared to accuse others first.

"Oh ho, even the drinks those little Terrans have can set those Vulture on fire." Tychus chuckled, preparing to leave with his men.

"Wait a minute, go to the armory and get some equipment. You might have to deal with the Protoss later," Augustus called out to him.

"Protoss? Goodness, what kind of trouble are they up to now?" Tychus chuckled. "The Conclave is thinking of targeting us?"

"They're a complete mess when it comes to external affairs, but they're quite adept at handling internal matters."

"No major problems, but constant minor conflicts. The Protoss Conclave still has the resources to keep an eye on whether we're disturbing their ruins while they're fighting." Augustus was also getting annoyed by the Conclave's petty actions.

The Conclave has its reasons: you humans may admire the ruins and relics, but you must never touch them, much less destroy them. This is indeed because the Revolutionary Army sometimes excavates ruins on Aiur in search of usable weapons and shelters, so it's no wonder that the conservative faction on the Protoss side is furious.

While it's certainly something the Conclave would do, it's somewhat understandable that they would be punished simply for humans damaging the ruins of Aiur.

In any case, it's absolutely impossible to get these arrogant Protoss to speak to humans calmly or even as equals; every three sentences will inevitably contain a disparaging remark about inferior races. And Protoss like Tassadar and Fenix, who can understand and respect humans, are, after all, a minority.

After the last conflict between the Revolutionary Army and the Conclave, Augustus and Tassadar discussed the issue of joint operations with the Conclave again. The council members reluctantly agreed to no longer engage in conflict with humans, but also demanded that humans not enter the temple.

As for the Xel'Naga ships in Eldritch Lake, the Conclave only allowed them to be used after Augustus promised to use them to save the Protoss. The Conclave's thought process was very peculiar; they did not believe that humans came to help them, and they doubted that all the dedication and courage came from outside the Protoss.

"In any case, it's always better to be careful," Augustus instructed Tychus. "Don't worry about diplomacy. If you notice anything amiss with any of the Protoss approaching you, eliminate them immediately."

"If we can hold out for these next few days, we'll soon take over the Sain Province. Then we'll seize the Zerg's main hive area in one fell swoop, and victory will be within our grasp."

"Even if something does happen, I won't care." Tychus smiled. "Anyway, I fight wars all for you."

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