The Glory of Daelaam

"This is the kind of welcome one would give to the great hero who saved the Protoss, but it's still missing pretty girls in low-cut dresses, endless fine wine, and a wad of cash to fill my empty pockets, just enough to soothe the empty souls of revolutionaries."

Tychus Finley, dressed in a grey vest and hiking boots, climbed a long, black corridor with fan-shaped steps, occasionally glancing at the Protoss Dark Templar of Shakuras standing on either side, uneasy at the legendary Dark Templar's cold silence.

The architecture of the Protoss Dark Templar perfectly blends the spiral and vortex patterns and angles of the Xel'Naga, their innate pursuit of freedom and independence, and their quest for the void and truth.

Even the high-rise buildings, with their pure and vibrant curves, are exposed to the hazy fog and sweeping gales of Tamateros.

This upward-reaching corridor has no escalators; below it are the fierce winds insulated by the protective force field and the bright green light bridges that stretch into the distance, making the entire magnificent city seem to be crawling at people's feet.

Tamateros is a monument to the Dark Templar standing in the eternal twilight land of Shakuras. Even the most ambitious Khalai, the master architect of the Aiur Protoss, was captivated by the city's thousands of black spires rising from the ground, their storm-like spirals and multi-winged angles.

She was a beautiful, whimsical city, like a forest crafted from exposed gold and purple metal, dotted with emerald-like dark void crystals and geometric crystals suspended high above the city. The crystals shimmered and sparkled, bringing one of the few rays of light in the eternal twilight to the entire city.

The circular platforms suspended high in the air resemble lily petals on a black spire, while the spiral light bridge ramps and the unique curves of the spire are impressive.

"Don't expect to get steak, shrimp, or anything like that at the Protoss's table—if they even have a table." Jim Raynor's attire was identical to Tychus's; this free-spirited cowboy, like Tychus, disliked always wearing military uniform.

"When we get back to the core world, we'll visit the holiday villa of that little Old Families. They have everything, and a whole choir to bake bread for the nobles," Tychus said.

"You want to rob someone?" Kerrigan tossed her beautiful, flowing red hair.

"We didn't come here for that," said Faraday, who stood warily behind Augustus. "Neither for a good meal nor for some entertainment."

"A new Protoss government that maintains a friendly relationship with us is about to be established. Executive Tassadar and his supporters believe this is an opportunity for the Protoss to rise from the ashes and be reborn. If possible, I hope this diplomatic friendship, and even the deeper camaraderie between our two races, can continue."

"Tychus, we will only be in Shakuras for a day at most. Revolutions are raging on the Edge World of the Terran Confederacy, and while Horace Warfield is capable of handling it all, the people there still need me."

"I like making friends with aliens." Tychus stared into a pair of eerie green eyes that were looking at him and shivered. The Dark Templar were ruthless and deadly killers, but fortunately, they were not enemies of the human Revolutionary Army.

Augustus stepped onto the steps, their bases carved with swirling patterns, feeling the chill emanating from the surrounding green void Pylon. All the Dark Templar who met Augustus's gaze either bowed in respect or greeted him with their distinctive body language.

Such respect is rare among the Protoss, especially among the Shakuras Protoss who haven't had much interaction with Augustus's Revolutionary Army.

As the Dark Templar followed Zeratul to Aiur returned to Shakuras, the story of humans and Protoss fighting side by side on Aiur spread among the Nerazim. The Dark Templar, who valued tradition and brotherhood, regarded Augustus a legend among humans, a hero and champion who, like the Dark Templar, strived to liberate his people from the shackles of tyranny.

The path that Augustus walked was known as the Path of Trials. Every Dark Templar Master or Xel'Naga Scholar summoned by Chieftain Raszagal measured the path with their own feet as a sign of respect.

After walking for about twenty minutes, Augustus, who never slacked off in his training, had not yet felt any fatigue when he saw a hunched Dark Templar walking towards him with a long staff, followed by another young female Dark Templar, Vorazun.

"Augustus Mengsk, distinguished guest from afar, you did not need to travel this long road yourself. The flying discs that provide transportation can take you to the highest level in an instant." He was Mohandar, an elder among the Dark Templar, also known as the Dark Prelate.

"You are not just a human, but a distinguished guest of all Protoss."

"Greetings to Adun, Dark Prelate Mohandar. You are a truly admirable elder," Augustus explained.

"I just heard that I still have time to wander around Tamateros, and I want to use this time to hone my will and body in the way of the Dark Templar."

"You can tell he's got a lot of free time," Tychus teased. He was still thinking about the uniquely charming Miss Haj 'd spent a fortune on, but when Augustus asked Tychus if he wanted to come with him to Shakuras, the guy came running.

"This is a historic road, symbolizing the feat of warriors from Nerazim who traversed the Shadow Path to become Dark Templar," Mohandar told Augustus.

"Humanity's Marshal, when you traverse a path strewn with thorns and shadows, you will be called Dark Templar."

"Humans can become Dark Templar?" Augustus couldn't help but laugh.

"As long as you have the heart of a warrior who is not afraid of the shadows, everyone can be Dark Templar," Mohandar said.

"Oh—that old charlatan is fooling people again," Tychus muttered.

Augustus and Mohandar crossed the steps where the Protoss hero Adun stood, and ascended to the foyer at the top of the tower, surrounded by clusters of Void Crystals.

By this time, Augustus could already see the Templar Knights. These Aiur Protoss warriors, clad in gold and blue armor and robes, never spoke to the Dark Templar around them, and the atmosphere between the two sides remained tense.

"As you can see, we will all witness the moment when Aiur and Shakuras unite once more, and all the Protoss will be reforged into a strong and powerful whole." Mohandar's voice, reflected in Augustus's mind, showed no excitement; his emotions were not even turbulent.

"This is something to celebrate." Vorazun's voice betrayed no hint of a desire to celebrate.

Under the call of the tolerant matriarch Raszagal, the Protoss of Shakuras are willing to accept their former kin and form a temporary united government to unify the power of all Protoss on Shakuras.

Most of the Shakuras Protoss don't exactly hate their people, they're just indifferent. The Aiur Protoss aren't much better off. Millennia of separation and estrangement have widened the rift between the two races to an irreparable degree.

"Indeed." Augustus nodded, indicating that he was just as happy as Mohandar and Vorazun.

The fact that the Protoss could unite was also a good thing for Augustus and his followers. If humanity wanted to survive in this dark universe for a long time, the help from allies and friends would be indispensable.

Two weeks ago, the Protoss of the Protoss Empire had already reached Shakuras or Haj through the Xel'Naga Gateway in Aiur. Because they still possessed sufficient military strength to resist further Zerg pursuit, the Xel'Naga Gateway remained under the Protoss ' control, preventing the Zerg Aiur flooding through Gateway and bringing devastating destruction to the world beyond.

Augustus didn't know exactly how Tassadar had persuaded Raszagal, but the speed at which the Daelaam United Government was formed was unimaginably fast. Pride was deeply rooted in the hearts of every Protoss race, and even when severely wounded, they would not admit that they actually needed the help of other Protoss.

This can only be explained by the fact that Raszagal, as a leader of the Dark Templar has lived for over a thousand years, must have learned of the prophecy about the endless darkness of the future from the void. She had already seen through everything, and her wisdom was unmatched.

"Zeratul, didn't he come at a time like this?" Augustus asked.

"Zeratul, my friend, only the Void knows where he is now." Mohandar's hand, which was resting on his cane, trembled slightly.

"Not long ago, the Dark Prelate Zeratul announced that he would no longer fulfill his duty of leading the Dark Templar Expeditionary Force in continued combat, and ordered them all to return to Shakuras," Vorazun told Augustus.

"The last time I saw Zeratul, I could tell he was in great pain. Zeratul left us, vowing never to return until Orega was captured," she said.

"Zeratul's Xel'Naga ship, the Void Seeker, is currently in the frigid Void, searching for Orega's trail amidst the gravitational pull of billions of celestial bodies and the raging stellar winds."

Orega "Augustus remembered the Dark Templar filled with rage.

"He was once the administrator of the Dark Templar Temple of Knowledge, and one of the best among us. Only a master like Zeratul could stop Orega and prevent him from sinking any deeper," Mohandar said.

"The children of Raszagal should not abandon reason and be driven by anger. Even in the most perilous times, our people have not been enslaved by the desire for revenge."

"I'm only worried that the Orega might do something evil to harm my people." Augustus then shook his head. "I just hope I'm overthinking it, and that the Orega doesn't care about humanity at all."

"Augustus Mengsk! It's a pleasure to see you here." At that moment, a young and powerful telepathic voice made Augustus turn around, and he saw the Protoss executive Artanis and his student Selendis walking towards him.

Artanis held a blue banner in his hand, adorned with four overlapping circles embroidered in gold thread, which looked quite magnificent.

"It feels like three autumns have passed since we last met," Augustus said with a smile.

"That's the flag of the United Government," Artanis said happily, showing the flag to Augustus.

"This government will be called Daelaam, and all Protoss will unite under this banner to resist the threats from the Zerg and even darker forces. In time, we will surely be able to reclaim the glory that belongs to the Protoss!" he said.

"For the glory of Daelaam." Augustus shrugged, thinking to himself that Daelaam's glory was actually achieved in Shakuras.

"In the near future, the Firstborn and the Nerazim will surely be able to shed their past identities and become the Daelaam!" Artanis said.

"The Nerazim won't abandon the past, Artanis, you should realize that." Vorazun watched coldly.

"Dark Templar, you must show respect to the Executor." Selendis, standing behind Artanis, stepped forward. Her robes, spread out like night sky, were adorned with blue crystals, far more magnificent than Vorazun's traditional Nerazim attire.

"This is a matter of etiquette."

"The barbaric Protoss of Shakuras know no manners, sister of Aiur," Vorazun retorted.

"Vorazun, step back." Mohandar waved his hand at Vorazun: "This is a critical moment for the survival of our race. The Protoss must unite to overcome this difficulty."

"They have a really good relationship," Augustus.

"Are you blind?" Kerrigan commented.

"His eyes are very bright," Raynor remarked.

"Artanis, how are your people doing now?" Augustus asked Artanis as he approached Selendis.

"Oh, Augustus, they're living very well in Shakuras." Artanis wasn't angered by the minor squabble between Selendis and Vorazun; in fact, such things were quite common between the Shakuras Protoss and the Aiur Protoss.

Extreme racists like Orega are very rare among Protoss who pursue glory, but if Aiur hadn't already fallen, Shakuras and the Protoss of Aiur would rather never have anything to do with each other again.

"Under the leadership of my mentor, the great Protoss High Executor Tassadar, we have established a new city in Shakuras," Artanis said.

"The city was named New Antioch in honor of our former home."

Artanis's eyes, blazing with blue Psionics flames, gleamed with hope for the future and a grand ambition to restore the Protoss's glory. "The Protoss Empire's most outstanding Khalai engineers have built a magnificent Fleets beacon in Shakuras, guiding our Great Fleet and expeditionary forces scattered throughout the universe back home."

"By reuniting these returning warships and the new flagship built in Shakuras, Tassadar can build a new Fleets to reclaim our sacred homeland, Aiur."

"I bet this Fleets will be called the Golden Armada," Augustus remarked.

"It's a good name." Artanis immediately agreed with the name, finding it so appealing that he had the illusion that he should have been named that.

"The teacher will definitely like this name," he Augustus.

"Come, my friend, step with me into the newly built Daelaam Conference Room to witness this momentous occasion. We will witness the establishment of a new Protoss United Government, the birth of the Council of Light and Shadow, and you will be its creator."

"Yes, Augustus Mengsk, the Dark Templar have all heard of the human battle on Aiur, and this is an honor you deserve," Mohandar added.

"A human?" Augustus smiled.

"A human." Artanis grasped Augustus's hand.

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