Shadow Hunter

January 23, north of the Sain Province, in the Swarm- occupied territory.

Seven days ago, the allied forces captured the Midrin Peaks, which they had been besieging for a long time.

Medlin Peak was leveled by the Protoss Fleets's firepower, and most of the towering mountains were sheared away. The once majestic mountain range, towering high above the world, was once steep and magnificent, but now it is riddled with holes, like torn pieces of paper leaning obliquely in a puddle of wrinkled mud.

The war in Aiur has lasted a long summer, and the destruction it has brought has repeatedly devastated the war zone, burning everything to ashes.

Aiur, once revered as the Protoss's sacred planet and eternal home, was ravaged by the Swarm invasion. During this time Protoss Empire lost so many glorious cities, ancestral legacies, and precious populations that, regardless of their victory or defeat, it marked the end of the once mighty Protoss Empire.

After that, the Protoss Empire's assembled Fleets was still strong enough to stand at the pinnacle of the Milky Way Galaxy, but it was nothing more than a faint remnant and the afterglow of the once invincible Fleets.

Rick Kydd, commander of the Revolutionary Army 1st Airborne Division, descended from the gangway of an APOD transport ship, his heavy alloy steel protective boots making a dull thud as he stepped down. Behind him, Revolutionary Army paratroopers in black and gray Power Armor filed down.

The soldiers lined up behind Rick, ready to rush to the front lines at any moment. Their matte orange masks were painted with a gray-white skull, a semi-circular upper jawbone with two empty eyes. It was the emblem of the former Heaven's Devils 'Heaven's Devils, a unit famous for its airborne warfare.

The 1st Airborne Division is the only unit that still uses the Heaven's Devils insignia. In this elite airborne division, soldiers who have earned merit and honor will have a Heaven's Devils skull tattooed on their bodies.

In this campaign, the 1st Airborne Division was one of the few units that was not deployed to the battlefield at the beginning. They were an elite force, and Augustus used his elite troops when they were most needed.

In the war against the Zerg, sending airborne troops deep into their lair is a difficult, even extremely foolish, strategy. This is because the Zerg's main lair is often guarded by a large number of elite individuals, and the Spore Crawler can shoot them down before the paratroopers even land.

Therefore, the 1st Airborne Division was deployed to the front lines between critical moments to bolster the offensive in the final stages of the attack. This also indicates that the coalition forces are about to launch an attack on the location of the Zerg Overmind's lair after more than ten days of fighting.

In the span of ten days or so, the allied forces crossed the two major provinces of Antioch and Thane, killing hundreds of millions of Zerg. The heroic sacrifices they made were enough to bring tears to the eyes of anyone who had seen those cold, hard numbers.

This war will end with the Allied forces' attack on the Overmind's lair area.

"You will face the Belrog Brood and the Gorander Brood, one of the two Swarm Overmind the Overmind. Warriors, keep going, keep your momentum going, for the second attempt will be less effective and the third will be less effective." The voice of the Adjutant in the rear command center came through the communication device inside Rick Kydd's helmet. She was responsible for transcribing the orders and information from the Marshal's command into speech.

"Colonel Ward's 11th Division and Colonel Rhine's 17th Panzer Brigade are advancing north of the Torrent Valley; they are the closest friendly forces to the 1st Airborne Division. Kulovsky's 5th Division, the 2nd Antiga Militia Brigade, two Resocialized Battalion of the Nova Squadron, and the 1st Panzer Division are 40 miles behind your position."

"Forward, warriors! We will fight the Overmind of the Swarm to the death here. All sacrifices and bloodshed are for this day."

"Towards victory, towards the end of the Battle of Aiur."

"Received," Rick replied. These were all renowned units within the Revolutionary Army. Even Antiga's militia were not merely militiamen; their combat effectiveness far surpassed that of the Confederacy's regular army.

The remaining troops were either elite units formed in the early stages of the Korhal uprising or units that had proven their loyalty in various wars. Of the soldiers who originally followed Augustus, only one in ten remained, but they were all key officers and generals in the Revolutionary Army.

Rick Kydd's former colleagues from Heaven's Devils all held important positions in the military, at the very least being the head of the hospital. It's no exaggeration to say that they were all Augustus's confidants.

But the days when the Heaven's Devils Augustus and drink and make merry are long gone. Even Rick hasn't seen Augustus for over a month. Only Lisa Cassidy, whom they secretly call "the healing girl," is still trying to find a way to see Augustus.

Typically, Augustus invite former generals from the Heaven's Devils to a small gathering or a private meeting after a period of time. But each time, the Heaven's Devils would find that Augustus had changed since his time at the Turaxis recruit training camp—he had become more outstanding and extraordinary, but he also had more capable people around him.

The Heaven's Devils were not particularly outstanding generals; they were barely competent for their current positions and ranks, and could hardly be considered excellent. Many people knew that they were not cut out for leading troops into battle; all they could do was help Augustus firm control over the army.

For Rick Kydd, military life and war only taught him how to kill. Now, through numerous battles and experiences, Rick has become a competent commander, but he hasn't shown any outstanding qualities.

If he could, Rick would still prefer to serve as Augustus's bodyguard; that would be enough. Unlike many others, Rick, born into the Bennett Family, the Old Families of the Confederacy, didn't even crave wealth and status, because that was precisely the kind of life he had fled from the Bennett family to escape.

Rick is still serving as commander only because Augustus needs someone he can trust to fill the position. In a future era where many capable people emerge, those who are competent will take over their roles.

At that time, the Heaven's Devils will either return to Augustus's side or retire to their hometowns. Those generals who remain with Augustus will continue their past duties, obeying the orders of the demon king and protecting the sole leader to whom they have sworn allegiance.

Directly in front of him lay a desolate world of numerous dark gray hills and deep ravines, the wind howling mournfully amidst the rising red embers. The weather was perfectly clear, but Aiur's usually azure sky was now gloomy and lifeless, piled high with gray-brown clouds.

But they were nothing more than a swarm of Zerg, numbering in the thousands, beyond counting. The deafening buzzing of the Swarm blotted out the sky, as if a single flap of their wings could unleash Hurricane, and their collective hissing could foretell the end of the world.

In the farthest reaches, beyond the reach of the eye, towering mountains pierce the clouds, shrouded in vast swirling clouds. Countless Zerg, tower-shaped organic structures appear as dense, shadowy figures, resembling a living organism stretching for hundreds of square miles or a distorted, deformed city.

But Rick knew perfectly well that there had never been any mountains or hills here before, but rather a strange grassland. Only the perennial berry bushes that always bore pink and white flowers, the hazel shrubs that bore abundant fruit in autumn, and the tall Aiur's Joy trees were long gone.

The mountain before him was a truly terrifying creature that could shake Aiur, the great Overmind of the Swarm.

The Overmind's body was far larger than the Xel'Naga Temple. Its unparalleled form slammed into the surface of Aiur, creating a deep abyss. Even a single tentacle that snaked out was comparable to a warship.

On the Overmind's exoskeleton, which is as hard as alloy steel, countless spikes, like the sharp ribs and spines of Hydralisk, extend into the air. It is the core of the Swarm hive's mind, the ruler of all Zerg.

Killing the Overmind is beyond human capability. The Allied command has already held detailed discussions on how to kill the Overmind, and even if the entire Fleets is concentrated to bombard the Overmind, it will still be immortal.

"The Protoss are here, sir." Rick turned his head and looked in the direction his adjutant had pointed.

That was the road they had come from. In that direction, the Midrin Peaks, which had blocked the Allied forces for many days, were now just a black dot, indicating that the soldiers were approaching the depths of the insect hive.

Several hundred Protoss Templar Knights, clad in gold and blue armor, were running briskly to the left of the 1st Airborne Division's landing site. Their long nerve bundles were wrapped with silver metal plates, indicating that these Templar Knights were Protoss warriors from the Fannatir Tribe.

Behind these Protoss were the rapidly moving Dragoon forces, and a towering Colossus was advancing on its seemingly slender insect-like appendages. It resembled a moving skyscraper, and the 1st Airborne Division's landing transport planes appeared tiny as they flew past Colossus.

If it weren't for these terrifying Protoss ancient war machines, the Protoss -human alliance would have paid a heavy price even if they had managed to set foot here.

In numerous battles, due to a series of strategic errors by the Protoss Empire Conclave, such as transferring Executor Artanis to arrest Tassadar at crucial moments and ordering the Templar Knights army to engage the Zerg head-on on the front lines, the Protoss army was forced to retreat south of Antioch.

Cracks have also appeared within the Empire. The arbitrators of the Conclave believe that the Templar Knights are no longer trustworthy, and the Templar Knights themselves are plunged into grief and anger due to their heavy losses. The newly appointed Executor Artanis is a natural-born commander, but he still lacks experience and prestige.

After Tassadar and his human allies returned to Aiur, the Templar Knights order immediately rallied under his command.

Tassadar's call to arms ultimately brought about a dramatic change; he led the last Templar Knights to defeat at least five Zerg hives, including the Tiamat and Jormungand Brood.

The Protoss's greatest High Templar, the Khala, and even the Preservers participated in this battle. If the commoner Khalai Caste of the Protoss Empire hadn't never received training as warriors, Tassadar would have been able to rally half of the Protoss Empire's Protoss to fight for him.

Even though Tassadar was condemned to corruption and betrayed the Protoss Empire, his reputation among his people was not significantly damaged. This was not because the Protoss were able to tolerate Tassadar's betrayal, but because the Conclave kept this secret from the beginning and did not let ordinary Protoss know about it.

This was not due to the Conclave's leniency, but rather because they believed Tassadar's crimes were far too "unspeakable" to be true and would inevitably damage the reputation of the ruling class. Tassadar was indeed a stain, but the Protoss Empire would not tolerate any blemishes.

This is extremely rare in human struggles, because as soon as the Conclave declares that Tassadar has colluded with the evil Dark Templar, those Protoss who once supported Tassadar will immediately turn against him.

"We don't know which Protoss Protoss to," Rick's adjutant said at this moment. "Perhaps they are the troops of Protoss Fenix."

The experience of fighting alongside Aiur also gave the human Revolutionary Army fighters a better understanding of the Protoss army's composition. Generally speaking, the Protoss Templar Knights only make up a small portion of the Protoss population, and they only form legions according to region, tribal name, and the title of the executor in the most critical moments.

The governor, Fenix, earned a reputation within the human Revolutionary Army for his courageous and leading-by-the-leader style, which was extremely rare for a non-human race.

"That's Fenix, I have no mistake for his Dragoon armor," a soldier whispered into the communications channel.

Under the soldiers' gaze, Fenix's troops marched straight toward Rick. Even though they acknowledged humanity as allies, most Protoss were quite indifferent to humans and would not speak to beings who lacked even telepathic abilities, but Fenix was always an exception.

"Homage to Adun, great Consul Fenix." Rick was a well-mannered nobleman, and among the Heaven's Devils, apart from Augustus, he was either a peasant or a commoner.

When facing the Protoss, Rick is able to appreciate the natural elegance of their culture, which is why he can usually get along with Protoss.

"Yaco Bennett, it's a pleasure to meet you." Fenix's enormous Dragoon, "I'm sorry I have no hands to embrace you."

"Ha ha ha ha--"

The governor, who was respected by both the Protoss and humans, let out a hearty laugh, his admirable spirit inspiring all the humans present.

Rick and Fenix didn't meet often, but his colleagues and their troops had fought alongside him to varying degrees. Whenever the Revolutionary Army was surrounded, Protoss was always the first Zerg and come Fenix the rescue. His bravery was unmatched, and his noble character inspired admiration in everyone.

"Behold, Yaco, my blade will set the Overmind and his abominable servants ablaze," Fenix continued.

"I have returned to the battlefield once again, for this day."

"We can't get close to the Overmind's lair." Rick knew that humans have their limits.

The Zerg killed by the Allied forces could fill the trench, but it was still less than one-thousandth of the entire Swarm.

"But while we were attacking, Zeratul and the Dark Templar were also on the move." Fenix's words were tinged with joy, which was why he had laughed earlier.

"I just learned that the Dark Templar have killed the Gorandell Brood's Cerebrate."