Duran

The Protoss Empire Nessun's Memory, lies buried beneath a once-glorious Protoss city, on a continental shelf far beyond Aiur.

Augustus pulled his heavy alloy boots out of the muddy ground, which was covered with decaying leaves and muddy water, and looked ahead. There were large, flat swamps made up of puddles, small ponds and streams, with iron-black tree trunks and branches lying on the muddy ground everywhere, like the rotten black skeleton of a giant beast.

The swamp stretches northwards, seemingly without end.

A red sun is rising on the horizon, turning the horizon into a scarlet straight line. Thousands of red rays illuminate a solitary city with towering buildings, and shattered crystal fragments reflect a dazzling red light.

The castle, like something out of a fairy tale, had countless spires shrouded in crimson light, and the mist and condensed water vapor made the scattered light seem dreamlike and enchanting.

A team of engineers consisting of cranes, hovercraft trucks, and small spaceships roared past Augustus, while several Goliath Combat Robot with red flags stood on either side, their anti-aircraft missile launchers rotating to lock onto any hostile targets that might appear in the air.

A few miles ahead lay a wide river, and the engineering team was constructing a pontoon bridge across it, wide enough for four-wheeled vehicles to cross. Many planks made from felled trees were laid across the muddy swamp to prevent vehicles and people from getting stuck.

Not far ahead of Augustus stands an ancient Xel'Naga watchtower and two energy spires built by the Protoss Empire to power the Aiur Warp Network. Both are damaged to varying degrees, and several Khalai phase technicians who are working with the Revolutionary Army Engineering Corps are attempting to repair them.

Once repaired, these spires will deploy a warp network, capable of summoning Protoss Templar Knights forces from the other side of the planet.

Each spire soars into the clouds, with shimmering blue crystals floating within elegant conical metal frames. The crystals are pure and radiant, as beautiful as gemstones, their facets nearly perfect, as if composed of countless mirrors. Blue energy vortices flow around the crystals like a rushing river, their immense energy enough to alter the weather, thus ensuring that dark clouds always surround the spires.

"Before the Zerg invasion, this place was a grassland and woodland full of flowers, with pristine rivers and towering trees, where the breeze and flowing water sang in harmony." Protoss Khalai Phase Technician Karax stretched out his large feet to measure the land beneath his feet.

"The Nassin's Memory lies buried beneath Alado. In Protoss, Alado means perfection and the golden ratio. It is the city of perfection and the city of gold, a teardrop on the shore of the mirror-like lake of Aiur," he said.

"Now all that remains are drying-up lakes and barren hills; the empire's legacy is buried."

The city of Alado, as described by Karax, is embraced by a wide, blue lake, its bays stretching out like two arms. The lake reflects the sky and a shattered city, with wispy clouds overhead like mournful crows.

"It was the Zerg invasion that destroyed this place, but after the Overmind died, they have clearly retreated to the vicinity of its corpse," Augustus lamented. "We are like standing on a beach after a tsunami has receded, surrounded by ruins and corpses left behind after the destruction."

"That's how they are, like a bad-tempered child who smashes precious things, and all you can do is spank the brat's bottom—but it's all irreversible. Poets and opera singers call that a tragedy." Rory Swann, the chief engineer of the Revolutionary Army, stepped out of a truck with white steam rising from its hood, followed by a group of engineers in brown overalls and sun hats.

Swann's engineering team included many Meinhoff, most of whom were his cousins. Mrs. Meinhoff was short but sturdy and was known as the "Mule of the Mine." The rest of the team came from various planets, most of them leaving their home planets for the first time to travel to other planets.

Regardless of their different appearances, their skin had all been tanned dark brown by the scorching sun of Aiur. Due to their busy work schedules, either constructing new bases or repairing damaged weapons and equipment, the Revolutionary Army engineers had no time to groom themselves; they were either unshaven or covered in dust, but their eyes remained bright and piercing.

"Swann, you've come." Augustus noticed that Swann's beard had grown considerably longer since the last time they met, and his voice had become deeper.

"As usual, the hero makes his entrance," Swann replied with a chuckle.

"We heard you wanted your engineering team to excavate an ark, so we came immediately. This is a technical job. Anyway, hopefully the crane we brought will be able to lift it," he said.

"During these past few days of fighting, we've been so busy we're practically glued the cracks in our Power Armor shut with chewing gum. Everyone's working like crazy, all because you gave them this opportunity."

"Our cranes can't handle these behemoths." Jim Raynor nudged Swann on the shoulder. "The Protoss ark is like a strait, and the steel she used is enough for us to forge a hundred Fleets. What a valuable legacy."

"Is that true? As soon as I heard about digging up the grave, I rushed over without stopping." Tychus emerged from behind the back of a truck, his massive Power Armor reeking of mosquito repellent and whiskey.

"Protoss artifacts are highly sought after by the wealthy and powerful in Umojan — the Protoss don't care about making dirty money, but I care a lot about it."

"The world of Umojan is generally wealthy and has a very high level of education; it is a paradise for art and literature. And I, I have always been a staunch supporter of science and art."

"You opportunist! We're making a revolution, not tomb raiders stealing artifacts," Augustus reprimanded Tychus.

"Got it, I'll take the blame, and we'll split the profits." Tychus grinned.

"Augustus, one of my reconnaissance battalions has approached the ruins of Alado and has not yet detected any signs of Zerg or Protoss activity." At this moment, Pulaier Prier's voice came through Augustus's communication channel.

"The roads in this area are wet and muddy, and there are rivers everywhere, making it difficult for heavy machinery to enter. We can only use weapons such as the Diamondback for fire support," Pulaier Player said.

"Scouts discovered a large number of damaged Protoss Matrix crystals, which seems to explain why the Protoss are unable to contact this area or warp in reinforcements."

"The Protoss have already landed on the opposite side, and once they repair the warp matrix, reinforcements will arrive in droves," Augustus to Pulaier Player. "And your mission is to try to figure out why the Ark hasn't started up as the Conclave predicted."

"Be careful, Colonel. Both the Protoss executive officer Tassadar and I believe that the Nessun's Memory is not simply unable to launch due to some unforeseen circumstance."

After giving the order, Augustus walked toward the two spires of the matrix network in the distance. The closer he got to the spires, the stronger the raging winds caused by the surge of energy became.

"Karax, how long will it take to repair these two spires?" Augustus asked the phase engineer beside him, a diligent Protoss engineer with whom Augustus got along well.

At this moment, Augustus was still quite anxious. With the outbreak of the Protoss civil war, the situation on Aiur was becoming increasingly perilous.

While the Protoss were fighting amongst themselves, the Swarm, led by the Jormungand and Baelrog Brood, launched an attack on the provinces of Antioch and Kor-shakal Province. Billions of enraged Zerg regrouped under the command of the Cerebrate Yack, which, filled with hatred for the Cerebrate Protoss, had become the de facto ruler of the Aiur Swarm.

After the Conclave's Fleets departed, a quarter of the Aiur Protoss survivors sailed away aboard the Pride of Otaris, following the Arbitrators into the distance. Tassadar's Templar Knights forces were left to face the Swarm alone, and even with the help of the Dark Templar and the Revolutionary Army, they were outnumbered and outmatched.

Thanks to the powerful orbital firepower of the Spear of Adun, the Protoss were spared annihilation in this civil war.

And so, after discussing with Augustus and Zeratul, Tassadar decided to lead the Protoss to retreat to the Xel'Naga Gateway, temporarily avoiding the Zerg's advance, and rebuilding their Fleets to retake Aiur after a period of recuperation.

If they can activate the other Nessun's Memory, their strength will increase exponentially.

"It will take at least two solar cycles," Karax replied to Augustus. "Normally, we prefer to warp directly to a new building rather than repairing a damaged structure or machine."

"But things are different now. Many parts of the Aiur Matrix network have been severely damaged, and repairing them will save more time and resources. Through these Matrix Spires, we can warp the useful resources we find in Alado to a safe location."

"I know that's a saying. People who are used to a life of luxury find it hard to accept a life of frugality all at once." Raynor nodded. "If you'd seen our beat-up cars that have been patched up for three years, you'd know how poor people live."

"Karax, you'll soon love this life. What I love most is fixing those smoking bad boys and bad girls." Despite having spent a long time together, Swann's peculiar metaphors were still beyond Karax's comprehension; for example, he would call anti-aircraft missile turrets "spinning boys."

Compared to other rebel groups, the Revolutionary Army is relatively wealthy. They own planets, mining areas, and complete military production lines to save money on purchasing military supplies, as well as mines owned by the Mengsk Family on multiple planets and grants from the Umojan Council and Committee.

However, Augustus nearly several million Revolutionary Army and government personnel to support, as well as to subsidize those who had become refugees due to the Zerg invasion, and to purchase basic agricultural production equipment or distribute relief supplies for them. This brought prestige to the Revolutionary Army government, but it also meant that they always had to tighten their belts.

Just then, a thunderous roar made Augustus quickly turn his gaze to the distant city of Alado. In the city center, the shockwave from the explosion lashed out like a whip, snapping several towering buildings in half, and the earth trembled.

"What's going on?" Raynor looked over as well. "Have our men already gone in?"

"This is Pulaier's assault division. We're in trouble." Pulaier's image and voice appeared simultaneously on the HUD display panel of Augustus's helmet.

"The reconnaissance force was attacked by an unknown psychic force upon entering Alado. Footage transmitted back shows that multiple Protoss forces with differing allegiances are engaged in a fierce battle underground within the city."

"Turn around," Augustus after a breath.

Augustus's helmet was playing footage recorded by a Revolutionary Army scout's tracking device. He had apparently passed through a pit, seemingly dug by the Zerg, and arrived at the giant underground cavern containing the Nessun's Memory, and had already entered the launch pad below it.

Initially, the underground cavern was very quiet, but as the scouts got closer to the Ark, they began to be troubled by a sudden mental scream that appeared in their minds, clearly Protoss roar during battle.

As they ventured deeper, the scouts grew increasingly uneasy, but their commander remained determined to complete his mission. This loyalty ultimately ensured that this brave and devoted unit would remain forever beneath the city of Alado.

The attack happened in an instant; it was a devastating blow to the soul. The helmets and even the Power Armor of all the Revolutionary Army soldiers shattered under unimaginable pressure, as if the ocean and a thousand pounds of weight had crushed them. Blood gushed from the edges of their eyes, like bloody tears.

In the final scene, a blurry figure appeared in the recorded footage and was automatically calibrated until it became clear.

It was a Protoss dressed in a long golden robe, his attire almost extravagantly ornate. Although Augustus often couldn't distinguish the obvious differences between Protoss, he recognized him almost instantly.

It was Duran, the Protoss arbitrator who had appeared at the peace conference. His molten gold eyes slanted upwards like snakes, shining as brightly as the sun.

Duran.

The Conclave leader, Kotanul, claims that no such person exists in the council, so how did he infiltrate the suspicious Conclave, which has Khala mind network link?

Duran is an enigma; he has appeared near the Nessun's Memory, and no one knows what his purpose is.

Given that Duran is exceptionally cunning and usually manipulates people with schemes, promises, and lies, he would undoubtedly be accompanied by thugs who would serve him and kill indiscriminately whenever he appeared. It is very likely that the Dark Templar of Orega are also working for him.

"Duran must be trying to seize this Ark, which has provoked resistance from the Templar Knights inside." Augustus ordered in the command channel, "All troops, attack! Even if it means destroying the Nassin's Memory, we cannot let it fall into Duran's hands."