Jade and Stone Burn Together

"What happened?" Tychus Finley, who was bragging to Marshal Faraday, the Marshal Guard, noticed the grim expression on Augustus's face.

"The Nassin's Memory is under attack." Augustus had already listed all the troops he could currently mobilize in his mind; he would never stand idly by and watch an Arkship fall into Duran's hands.

"The reconnaissance squad of the Pulaier Assault Division encountered the Protoss Arbitrator Duran, whom we met at the peace conference. That monster killed them in just milliseconds."

This is unimaginable; one of only three Arkships in the world will become a breeding ground for hybrid monsters, and even a dark flagship used by the corrupted Xel'Naga Amon to destroy the world.

"Duran, that old man who trips every two steps? I can't believe it. I doubt even a five-year-old like Mar- Sara could take him down." Raynor recalled the Protoss Arbitrator who walked with a shaky gait, as if he were afraid he would collapse at any moment.

"He disguised himself very well," Augustus, "But he couldn't escape my eyes."

At this moment, a violent roar once again came from the distant city of Alado, and plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky above the city. Many Revolutionary Army APOD-33 transport ships were circling and landing in the city, appearing as tiny black dots from a distance.

Augustus looked at Kerrigan: "I have already begun deploying reinforcements to the Alado region, sending as many capital ships as possible."

Where are the Protoss?

"Numerous warp signals have been detected in multiple locations across the Alado region. Protoss reinforcements are arriving at top speed, and their vanguard has likely already entered the Nassin's Memory," Kerrigan replied.

"My biggest worry is whether it's already too late." Augustus looked at the smoke-filled city of Alado in the distance, a bad feeling rising in his heart. If Duran had been planning to seize the Nassin's Memory long before the Protoss civil war broke out, the battle inside this Ark ship might have already been going on for many days.

Inside the stasis chambers of each Ark ship lie dormant several Zealot legions from the golden age of the Protoss Empire. They were the most loyal, bravest, and most powerful Templar Knights of that era, and guarding the Ark should not be a problem.

However, if the Protoss warriors are not awakened through normal means, they may remain dormant and be slaughtered while they are asleep.

At this moment, the rising sun climbed higher and higher, gradually reaching an unattainable height. Bright sunlight enveloped the earth, and the entire silent, dying world seemed to be inhaling its last breath of air.

In most latitudes of Aiur, the hours of sunshine are very long, and the abundant sunlight is gradually drying up the puddles in the swamp, making the stench of decaying corpses even stronger.

The sky was incredibly blue, a deep, clear blue, like a calm sea, and the city of Alado was its reflection. The Golden City was a fitting name, both apt and evocative, for every brick and tile that built it truly seemed to be crafted from gold.

The scenery of Aiur is always magnificent; the clear skies and enchanting fields are among the few fondest memories the Revolutionary Army soldiers have of this planet.

At this moment, however, this beautiful scenery offered Augustus no solace whatsoever. Once Duran's minions seized control of the Nassin's Memory and launched it into the sky, no warship would be able to catch up with her.

It was a super ark that was completely self-sufficient and capable of waging a war all by itself. If Augustus such an ark, he could have carried out the final step of the uprising: a full-scale assault on Tarsonis.

"Marshal Augustus, please immediately order all human Revolutionary Army soldiers to evacuate from the city of Alado." At this moment, Karax, the Protoss Empire's Khalai phase engineer who had been following the Revolutionary Army's movements, hurriedly ran towards Augustus, while extending his right arm to activate the crystal Holographic Projection device on his forearm.

"The Nassin's Memory is about to fall. In order to prevent the Protoss Empire's Ark from falling into enemy hands, Lady Orlana, the supreme Preservers of the Nassin's Memory, has decided to detonate the Ark Matrix, sacrificing herself to destroy the enemy."

Augustus stared intently into Karax's eyes for less than a second before immediately issuing a retreat order over the command channel. This completely contradicted previous orders, but it was resolutely carried out by the frontline commanders.

"Just now, Lady Orlana sent us a final message through Khala and the communication device." Karax showed Augustus the holographic image on his right arm.

A Protoss Preservers clad in magnificent golden armor and a flowing brocade scarf appeared on the screen; she looked almost identical to her sister, Rohana, the High Preservers of the Spear of Adun.

Behind this Protoss Supreme Preservers lay a blood-soaked battlefield, with several Templar Knights clad in golden heavy armor surrounding her. Around them stood numerous Dark Templar wielding Warp Blade, like shadowy figures lingering in the surroundings.

These Dark Templar are dressed exactly like Zeratul's warriors, making it difficult to tell whether they are members of the Fist of Ulrezaj.

"I am Orlana, the Supreme Preservers —I awoke to the sobs of Khala, and when I opened my eyes I saw the traitor's blade," Orlana said.

"Few warriors awoke, and the Templar Knights had no choice but to fight and retreat."

"The enemy outnumbers us."

"The bridge and the Solar Core have fallen into enemy hands, and the Nassin's Memory is about to launch. I have no choice but to detonate the Ark's matrix circuits. If the Ark doesn't belong to the Protoss, then it can't belong to anyone else."

"Rohana and Shantira have awakened; they are our last hope." She concluded, "We will all eventually return to the Khala; death is the fate of all warriors."

"May the eldest son live forever."

As the video abruptly ended, a brief silence sent chills down the spines of Augustus and the others.

A few minutes later, Augustus suddenly heard a thunderous roar, and a gleaming golden ark was rising from the ruins of Alado, like a rising dragon.

In a short period of time, it has risen to an altitude of tens of thousands of feet, but the vast majority of the ark remains underground.

For a fleeting moment, Augustus almost thought that the Nassin's Memory would soar into the sky, but the next moment, the explosion from its center nearly split the entire ark in two, and the flames from the explosion of the Solarite instantly ignited the sky.

Amidst the earth-shattering roar, the entire city of Alado seemed to tremble. The flash of light produced in that instant was a thousand times brighter than the sun, and the city's central tower melted like a candle.

A sudden Hurricane swept across the land, blowing away the tree trunks, bushes, and rocks that still stood. Even with the electroplated coating of his Power Armor helmet protecting him, Augustus could not look directly at the flash.

Augustus heard shouts in the communication channel. Because the main force had not penetrated deep into the city of Alado, the timely withdrawal and the protection of the bunkers meant that the Revolutionary Army did not suffer many casualties, and the brief interruption in communication was quickly restored.

When the light faded, Augustus noticed that almost all the towering structures in the city of Alado had collapsed, with only a crumbling Pylon still standing.

The bow of the Nassin's Memory lay across the very center of the city ruins, burning with blue Psionics flames that occasionally emitted violent explosions. The ark's structural stability was unparalleled, which was why it had not completely disintegrated.

"This old ship is probably beyond saving. We need to hurry up and collect all the scrap metal; maybe we can still sell it for a good price." Since arriving in Aiur, Tychus has become accustomed to the massive explosions and still has the leisure to smoke.

"We need to hurry and rescue them; there might still be survivors inside," Raynor said.

"Dispatch search and rescue teams to salvage as many people and vital Ark equipment as possible." Augustus instructed Pulaier's assault division to form a search and rescue force over the command channel, "Do your best; the Ark is still in great danger."

In the distance, Augustus could see the Protoss ships arriving late. The standoff with the Conclave Fleets caused Tassadar to miss the best opportunity to rescue the Nassin's Memory, but their arrival also forced the Dark Templar inside to retreat quickly.

At this moment, all Augustus wanted to know was whether Duran was currently trapped in the Nassin's Memory.

Two days later.

The explosion caused by the Nassin's Memory had subsided long ago, but as darkness fell, the entire city of Alado was also shrouded in a bright flash.

The section of the Ark located in the center of Alado was brightly lit, surrounded by countless cables and gas engines, and filled with the sounds of laser drills and laser cutters.

The entire sculpted hull and crystal inlays of the Ark ship have been shattered, leaving only a metal frame composed of a golden dome, beams, and hull, resembling the skeleton of a whale.

Augustus, Raynor, Tassadar, Artanis, and Fenix stood beneath the distorted bridge deck of the Nassin's Memory, watching several Protoss Khalai engineers dismantle the Ark's control consoles alongside Swann's engineering team.

The main framework of the Nassin's Memory is still quite intact. Even though it would require a considerable amount of resources and time, the Protoss Empire, in its golden age, could have easily repaired the ark. However, the Aiur Protoss are now in decline, Jormungand Brood's attacks have made Protoss progress extremely difficult, making it impossible for them to rebuild it.

Now, all we can do is preserve the remnants of the Nassin's Memory as much as possible. Relying on the last legacy of this Ark, we can still build a large Fleets.

"The Supreme Preservers Orlana has returned to Aiur, and the sobs of Rohana and Shantira can be heard throughout Khala," Tassadar said with profound sorrow. "We have come too late."

"Fortunately, many stasis pods survived the disaster, and the ancient heroes within have awakened. Phase engineers are attempting to excavate and repair the military industrial arrays, space furnaces, and star forges of the Nassin's Memory, to provide weapons and shields for our warriors on the front lines." Artanis's gaze pierced through a section of the Nassin's Memory shrouded in light, and he saw several ships carrying the legacy of the Nassin's Memory passing by.

Multiple stargates stand tall, connecting Antioch, the Kor-shakal Province, the Temple of the Preservers, and the Xel'Naga Gateway. Some ark decks, comparable to battlecruisers, are transported directly to their destinations via teleportation matrices.

The land beneath their feet was desolate, littered with withered branches, wild grass, and shattered crystals. The crater created by the fall of the Nassin's Memory was filled with murky rainwater, and copper-red moss and newly sprouted herbs were gradually revealing hints of green.

"This is the best possible outcome. I can't even imagine what would happen if this ark fell into the hands of Duran and Orega." Augustus shook his head. "They would march back to Shakuras and seize the rule of Chieftain Raszagal."

"The Dark Templar will never cease their hunt for Orega until he is brought to justice," Zeratul said. "But who exactly is this arbitrator named Duran? He played a crucial role in our conflict with the Conclave, and in the end, neither side knew anything about him."

"Is that Luria's voice?"

"A hidden hand," Augustus, "Is manipulating our destiny."

"How come you've picked up Zeratul's tune too?" Raynor asked, rubbing his forehead.

"That's what the prophecy meant." Zeratul agreed with Augustus: "If Duran and Orega are connected to the Hybrid creations of Luria, then they must be plotting an evil scheme to destroy the Protoss and humanity."

"I already have enough enemies, a few more won't make a difference," Augustus, looking at Tassadar.

"Jormungand Brood not stopped attacking yet?"

"They are becoming increasingly frenzied and powerful. It seems that the super Psionics vortex that appeared on the Overmind's corpse is still subtly influencing the surviving Cerebrate," Tassadar replied. "Continuing the war of attrition against the Zerg will only weaken our warriors. We must withdraw from Aiur and regroup."

"We should also return to the Koprulu Sector," Augustus said.

"Hmm? The phase engineers say they've found the Solar Core of the Nassin's Memory. Thanks to Adun, that scorching miniature star hasn't detached from the Ark's hull, otherwise it would have been enough to erode Aiur's crust." Tassadar received the report from his engineers at this moment.

"Let's go, let's see that 'sun'," he said.

"Swann has a message for you," Kerrigan as she approached.

He said he wanted to show you a big treasure.

"Our news is always a step behind," Augustus shrugged. "Unfortunately, apart from the Protoss and Xel'Naga ships, our warships are completely useless with these things."

"In fact, Augustus, our current warships have no use for this miniature star," Artanis said.

"The Ark uses ancient technology. The Solar Core that powers the entire Ark requires Solarite as fuel, and the Firstborn has not used this energy source for decades."

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