Protoss Civil War

"He must have been deceived." Augustus had been listening to the conversation between Orega and Zeratul, their words that struck straight to the heart were completely unaffected by distance and the great battle.

"Someone found Orega and exploited his hatred for Aiur Protoss."

"You suspect that person is Arbitrator Duran?" Kerrigan hadn't been able to bring her C-10 canister rifle in, but she was equally lethal when using an electromagnetic pistol and a dagger.

"It's pretty much a done deal." Augustus said, while keeping a close eye on the battle in the courtroom. In less than half a minute, two more members of the Conclave had been brutally murdered.

All around were Templar Knights and Dark Templar tearing each other apart, their fighting as agile as felines, their top-tier swordsmanship unparalleled.

Augustus noticed that the passageways and doors leading to the outside world from the Arbitrators' Court had long been closed, and even the warp platform had stopped operating, which prevented the council guards stationed outside from arriving to provide support as quickly as possible.

Without inside support, it would be virtually impossible for Orega to cripple the Court of Arbitrators' internal defenses while launching the attack.

"Orega has a boss? From what you're saying, it's that Protoss arbitrator named Duran who's behind this," Raynor said. "That explains why Orega would show up just when the deal was about to be finalized."

"It seems Orega isn't a fool."

"If Orega isn't a fool, then the person who tricked him is too clever." Augustus looked in the direction Tassadar had left, seeing him sweeping away the attacking Dark Templar with an invincible air. The council guards and Templar Knights in the court were forming a battle line at his call. Orega's Dark Templar had gained an advantage with a sneak attack, but they were outnumbered.

Among the Dark Templar, many were the strongest of their younger generation, but they were still no match for Tassadar, who had simultaneously mastered the powers of the Khala and the Void. Fenix and the other governors and executives had not forgotten their combat skills either; they were the cream of the crop in the Protoss Empire, an era teeming with brilliant generals.

It now seems only a matter of time before Tassadar repels the invading Dark Templar, and how many of the Arbitrators will survive before then remains to be seen.

"You forced me to do this." Once again, Orega's explosive roar drew Augustus's attention, and he became increasingly hysterical and frantic.

"Now, I regret not doing it sooner. Feeling the Templar Knights' agony as they died brought me such pleasure. Can you hear them? They're screaming, wailing for the sins of their ancestors. If the Templar Knights were gone, the world would be spared so much strife and annihilation."

"You have fallen so low! Slaughter only brings eternal sorrow and pain, and revenge only brings more revenge." Hearing this, Zeratul once again became enraged.

"Treating evil with kindness is your style, Zeratul, but I am not you," Orega said. "If we don't instill fear in the Templar Knights, they will think the Dark Templar weak and easily bullied!"

"Let the rulers of Aiur taste what it feels like to be hunted and driven out of their own homeland, let them experience the pain that the Dark Templar once felt!"

"You have betrayed your vow." Zeratul stretched out his right hand and ignited the meticulously forged Master-grade Warp Blade, the green Psionic Blade burning brightly in an instant.

"I did everything for Shakuras." Orega looked up at the sky.

In the blink of an eye, Zeratul flashed into Orega's presence amidst the moving black mist, and the latter met him with a cold smile, thus beginning a master-level clash.

"There must be a resolution between them," Augustus said, looking at Artanis and pointing to a corridor in the arbitrators' court.

"Executive, we should establish contact with the outside world as soon as possible. If necessary, we can blow open the entrance gate."

"This area is under the control of the Conclave, and I cannot command the Council's guards here," Artanis replied. "If we were to summon the Templar Knights and Fleets from the border between Antioch and Kor-shakal Province, it would only escalate tensions between us and the Council, potentially triggering a civil war."

"So here's the question: with such a commotion, where are the guards outside?" Raynor asked.

"..." Artanis paused for a moment before saying, "I cannot sense the thoughts of the nearby Conclave Guard members within the Khala —except for the Arbitrators, anyone attempting to conceal their thoughts within the Khala would be considered to have ulterior motives."

"I suspect they have been transferred away from here, and only the esteemed Arbitrators have always been able to command the Council's guards," he said. "I have already sent distress signals to the Templar Knights forces loyal to the Council in the surrounding area, and they must have received the message long ago and are on their way."

"In that case, we can only hope that Tassadar will deal with the Dark Templar here." Augustus spoke, a Dark Templar Fist of Ulrezaj, wearing a long veil, stepped out of the shadows and walked towards them.

This is an extremely powerful Dark Templar of the Zeratai Tribe. His deep purple robe, brown fur shawl, and shoulder armor are all inlaid with the Hydralisk and sharp teeth of hydras. He walks with the swiftness of a hunter in the jungle. His weapon is a Warp Blade with a double-headed scythe, which spins like a windmill when he turns his wrist.

"In the name of Orega, we are darkness."

Raynor raised his Colt revolver and fired several shots at the Dark Templar, but the Templar moved with the speed of thought, even managing to dodge the bullets aimed at him.

Cursing and swearing, Raynor threw an Electromagnetic Grenade at the Dark Templar was advancing at an incredible speed, but it was immediately cleaved in two by the opponent's swift Warp Blade. Each Dark Templar was an extremely terrifying warrior; they could approach and destroy an entire human force silently.

"Oh, damn it."

Artanis's subordinate Selendis, ignited her Psionics and charged forward. Her armor was far more magnificent than that of the ordinary Templar Knights of the Zealot Order. The robe beneath her shimmering gold and blue armor flowed like a floor-length gown, like a moving curtain of night, studded with indigo crystals and gems. The headdress on her helmet and nerve bundle, along with the psychic crystal pendant hanging from it, rang out with a clear, melodious sound.

The clothing of Protoss women is closely related to their aesthetic sense. As a rare woman of high rank among the Templar Knights, Selendis's clothing undoubtedly reflects her status.

Selendis's well-defined, slender, and elegant figure is a symbol of beauty among the Protoss. She is calm and composed, possessing both the strength of a warrior and the gentleness and tolerance of a woman.

"Templar Knights, you cannot face the unpredictable darkness." The Dark Templar let out a chilling laugh, "The void is calling, the scroll of prophecy has been revealed. Only the Fist of Ulrezaj can save the world."

"The Firstborn fears no enemy." Selendis's Psionics blades clashed with the Dark Templar's, unleashing blue and green sword light. Her power far surpassed his, but she lacked his agility.

"We are the saviors," said the Dark Templar.

"You are butchers." Selendis repelled him with a beautiful spinning backhand slash.

In an instant, the other three Fist of Ulrezaj emerged from the shadows, Artanis's eyes narrowed as he activated his Psionics and rushed towards them.

A Dark Templar straight at Augustus, arriving before him in a few flashes, a pungent smell of blood filling the air.

"Get out of my way." In an instant, golden light flashed in Kerrigan's green pupils, and a terrifying Psionics power appeared out of thin air, immobilizing the Dark Templar. The Dark Templar cried out in disbelief, unable to comprehend that such a weak human could possess such power.

Augustus then began firing relentlessly at the immobilized Dark Templar, bullets striking the Psionics shield that had materialized on the enemy.

With a Kerrigan, the Psionics around her continued to surge with flashing blue arcs of electricity, and her fiery red hair swayed due to the psychic power and ions attached to it. Blood even seemed to seep from the Dark Templar's eyes.

Kerrigan then used her mind control ability to lift the Dark Templar into the air and place him below the Arbiter Tribunal. The Psionics power she displayed made Augustus dizzy.

"When I first met you, you weren't this powerful, Sarah." Augustus flicked the pistol in his hand, knowing that he would surely die if he faced the Dark Templar alone without protection. This only strengthened his resolve to establish the Psionics Guard and the Ghost Shadow.

"The Protoss have taught me many things, especially when I saw you in danger, my heart was filled with..." Kerrigan used her Psionics power to force back another Dark Templar as she turned her head.

"Out of respect for you, the Protoss gave me a Khaydarin Crystal pendant to amplify my Psionics, which has given me a sense of boundless power."

As the most powerful Psionics among humans, Kerrigan's power has surpassed the limit of the highest Psionics Level (PSI) of 10. Even the High Templar are amazed that a race with such short lifespans and low talent can display such immense power.

Kerrigan possesses supernatural powers; she can see into people's hearts with just a glance, and by igniting their anger, she can blow up their heads. All humans who suffer this mental shock die bleeding from all seven orifices.

Aside from Kerrigan, even ordinary human Psionics would be no match for the Protoss.

"Augustus, stand behind me, and no one can hurt you." Artanis had already severed the wrist of a Dark Templar with his Psionics blade, causing the warrior to retreat back into the shadows with a wail.

"Don't worry, Artanis, I'm perfectly fine, as safe as if I were in a crib." Augustus said, glancing again at Zeratul and Orega. He could barely make out the figures of the two Dark Templar as they clashed; they were like constantly colliding green lightning bolts and ghostly phantoms.

"Orega, do you think you can get away with this?" Zeratul said as he attacked.

"I will establish my own laws, and in them I will be like a king." Orega dealt with Zeratul's attacks with ease.

"You have become stronger than before, Zeratul brother, but I am no longer the same."

"You prayed to the darkness for power." Zeratul could hardly believe that Orega had been nothing more than a devout apprentice centuries ago.

"Then what will be the price?" he shouted.

"What have you given to the devil?"

"I am the devil." Orega let out a sinister laugh and withdrew from his confrontation with Zeratul.

"Return to your people, Orega." Zeratul still hadn't abandoned Orega: "Think of your teacher."

"I never left!" Orega roared. "You understand nothing. If you had seen what I saw, you would understand that everything I did was for Nerazim."

With Orega's piercing roar, a cry that seemed to echo from within, the Dark Templar withdrew from the Council Guards and Templar Knights, retreating into the shadows. The Templar Knights sheathed their blades and huddled together to prepare for any ensuing attack.

Gradually, even Orega's figure slowly dissipated. Zeratul tried to grab him, but he only touched a phantom. Orega's abilities came from forbidden powers that were forbidden for the Dark Templar to learn, which made him increasingly powerful and evil.

Zeratul was simply heartbroken that his former brother had fallen so low.

"The Templar Knights want peace? That's just wishful thinking," Orega said before leaving.

"Aiur, the flames of war will be reignited, and the battle flag will be raised once more."

"This is probably bad," Raynor Augustus. "The men of Orega have gone on a killing spree, and most of the dead are the Arbitrators' men."

"It's all over."

When Augustus looked toward the seats of the members of the Conclave, he found that all the arbitrators, except for Aldaris and another younger arbitrator, were dead.

Tassadar was helping an injured arbitrator, while Aldaris unabashedly vented his anger. "Where are the guards of the Council? The ancestors of the Ara Tribe are disgraced by your folly!"

"There is still a chance to salvage the situation. If the arbitrators of the Conclave can view this massacre rationally, they will not blame the teacher," Artanis said.

"And who can prove that Orega wasn't brought in by Zeratul?" Kaldalis clutched the robe of a Dark Templar tightly in his hand.

"Gods!" Selendis approached Artanis: "Just now, the Conclave's army crossed Kor-shakal and launched an attack on our Revan's Fortress of Adun."

"What? If the leaders of the Conclave are all here, then who issued this order?" Artanis exclaimed in surprise.

"In any case, once the war starts, it won't stop," Augustus sighed.

"Every time I'm about to go back to my hometown for vacation, something bad always happens." Raynor put the pistol back into the holster on his vest.

"Good things come to those who wait." Augustus shrugged, having also received a message from the Revolutionary Army headquarters.

"The Conclave has declared war."