Witchcraft Swarm

Gabriel Tosh, the former human, raised his hideous face covered in spiky whiskers. Several Zergling around him in the soft hollows of Leviathan's central nervous system, trying to please their master like docile pets.

These grotesque monsters, covered in sharp teeth, carapaces, and claws, glowed with an eerie red light. Their heavy carapaces bore numerous totems and tattoos bearing distinct characteristics of the Haj Voodoo Cult. These strange and twisted patterns were clearly not acquired later, but rather added to the Swarm's gene pool long before they hatched from their eggs.

In the deep darkness of Leviathan's organic walls, many large snakes with scarlet eyes writhe and intertwine, the throbbing of their enormous hearts sounding like distant thunder.

Augustus observed these newly born Zerg, unique to Tosh, but could not yet figure out the purpose of the magical totems on their bodies—perhaps they were of no use to begin with.

"As you said, the Protoss can kill that nascent Overmind even without an alliance with me." Tosh was speaking directly in telepathy, but he still habitually opened and closed his mouth.

"But how many Dark Templar lives would that cost? Heh."

"Chieftain, you surely don't want your people to die in a cruel world of ashes like Char, do you?"

"The Protoss never fear sacrifice," Tassadar proclaimed. "Don't try to manipulate the Protoss with fear!"

"If my help can reduce unnecessary sacrifices, would you be interested?" Tosh was confident of victory.

"I know the terrain of Char like the back of my hand. I know that all those intricate tunnels eventually lead to the hatchery, the burrow, or the main nest. I can hear the Cerebrate whispering through a special network of telepathic links, so I know all their plans," he said.

"I know you will not stand idly by and watch a newly born Overmind rise again in Char! On this matter, we are of one mind."

"Mother, the Dark Templar can kill the Overmind even without this monster's help. Dark death and phantoms are originally a test of the Dark Templar's will," Vorazun said, standing beside his mother.

"Chieftain, perhaps we do need an ally familiar with Char and the Zerg, but I do not trust this human who has been completely corrupted by Zerg genes." Some of Tosh's words swayed Tassadar, but the latter remained cautious about allying with the Zerg.

"I know the Blade Prince's former identity and have witnessed the impact of the Zerg infection on humanity," Augustus said as he walked between Chieftain Raszagal and Vorazun, both Dark Templar turning to look at him.

They all knew this human leader, who was already widely known among the Protoss, and had no intention of looking down on him.

"I don't know. I don't know how much human emotion and reason still remain in Tosh. I think there must still be some, but probably very little," he said.

"To ally with Tosh is tantamount to walking with the devil. In any case, Chieftain, even if we need to rely on Tosh's power, we must never trust him."

Augustus wasn't afraid of Tosh hearing his voice. "As far as I know, Prince Tosh of the Blades may possess some kind of infectious ability that can distort the will of others, allowing him to manipulate their minds and turn them into his slaves."

"Tell your soldiers to be extremely careful and maintain their composure when making contact with Tosh."

"Thank you for reminding me, Augustus Mengsk. You are also a friend of the Nerazim." The crystal headdresses and swaying pendants on Raszagal's cheeks gently clinked together, and her beautiful and melodious mature voice gave Augustus the illusion that she was still very young.

"Mother's power is far less than it was when I was still ignorant and naive. Dark Templar, we must not allow the Zerg's Blade Prince to get close to the Chieftain," Vorazun said to the Dark Templar Dark Templar who were standing guard around him.

The Protoss were skeptical of Tosh's words, but had few doubts about Augustus.

"I swear in the name of God, I have never lied." Tosh also heard what Augustus said. Regardless of whether he had previously planned to secretly approach and control the matriarch Raszagal, he no longer had the chance.

"If you still don't trust me, then there's no point in us talking anymore."

"I hope you will keep your word, Prince of Blades." As the Archbishop of the Daelaam, Raszagal's words carried immense weight and were unshakeable.

"I will send an expeditionary force of Templar Knights and Dark Templar to land on Char and kill the Zerg Overmind," she warned Tosh sternly.

"Don't try to deceive my children with sweet words. We will scrutinize every word you've uttered. Now, take your Swarm and leave Shakuras immediately."

"How wise," Tosh chuckled softly.

"Chief, I am your 'humble seeker.' I await you in Char."

"Oh--uh--" Vorazun shook his head in disgust, and saw Tosh's image disappear from the Psionics projection screen.

"Executor, the Swarm is leaving Shakuras ' orbit. The Fleets is asking if we should pursue them?" A Templar Knights reported after a moment.

"No need. Order the Fleets to expand its patrol range and be ready to attack at any time. Shakuras's location is no longer a secret," Tassadar said.

"Don't you find it strange?" he then asked.

"Gabriel Tosh knew the chieftain's status and position as soon as he arrived in Char. Moreover, how did he know the coordinates of Shakuras?"

"The Zerg must know Aiur's coordinates, but it's impossible for them to know Shakuras ' location in such a short time," Artanis explained on behalf of his teacher. "The Gateway connecting Aiur to Shakuras is guarded by an entire Zealot legion; even a lizard couldn't possibly get past the Templar Knights guarding it."

"Over the years, numerous expeditions traversing the universe have searched for the Dark Templar's homeland but have always failed to find it, proving that Shakuras ' coordinates have always been extremely well-hidden."

"What do you want with Shakuras? Hmph—" Vorazun sneered.

"Templar Knights, despicable and shameless."

Artanis's pale blue face visibly flushed, and he stammered, unable to speak. He couldn't very well say that these expeditionary forces had left Aiur with the sole purpose of annihilating the Dark Templar.

These expeditions have been at least decades since they set sail for Aiur, while others set sail in ancient times, their history even dating back to the golden age of the Protoss Empire.

Even now, ordering the Protoss Empire Expeditionary Forces and colonies from across the universe to gather in Shakuras carries a certain degree of danger. This is because some Protoss Expeditionary Force include Arbitrator crews who oversee the Executives, and there's no guarantee they won't impulsively order the destruction of this "dirty little planet."

"Someone must have leaked the coordinates to Tosh," Augustus said, stroking a non-existent beard on his chin.

"That must have been done by the Templar Knights." The Dark Prelate Zoraya had been protecting her like Raszagal's shadow, so much so that few people had noticed his presence before.

"Impossible," Tassadar immediately rejected.

"It's Orega, isn't it?" Augustus guessed.

"Orega, how could he tell this secret to the enemy?" Raszagal knew all her children. "But that was the Orega of the past. Orega would never betray his people, he must have been used."

"Orega is one of the most ruthless and intelligent Dark Templar I have ever met. He may also be using the power of dark beings unknown to us, but I fear that will only backfire," Tassadar said.

"Regardless of who leaked Shakuras ' coordinates, no enemy will dare to target Shakuras for the time being. The Swarm is busy guarding its newborn Overmind, and our enemies are also recuperating."

"Tell all the Daelaam that I need to expedite the process of electing bishops for the Council of Light and Shadow, and pass a vote to send an expeditionary force to Char as quickly as possible." Raszagal did not discuss the leak or the Orega issue any further.

"We must not allow that Zerg Overmind, still in the process of fusion, to mature and become yet another terrifying enemy!"

"As you said." Dark Prelate Zoraya left the Daelaam government's meeting hall like a moving shadow.

"Zeratul, where Zeratul?" Raszagal suddenly asked.

"Zeratul is hunting Orega, but they have both disappeared," Vorazun cautiously reminded his mother.

"He's only been back a short time. Is Shakuras's land burning him?" Raszagal sat back down at the head of the conference table like an angry old mother.

"It seems we need a new Dark Prelate to lead the Dark Templar." She glanced at the Dark Prelate beside her and her daughter, feeling a sense of helplessness.

Mohandar is too old to wield the Warp Blade again, and Vorazun is too young. The other Dark Prelate are all tied up with important duties and unable to leave their posts.

"Chief, let me lead this expeditionary force," Tassadar said to Raszagal at that moment.

"I have prior experience fighting in Char, and I also know how to use the power of the Dark Templar."

"You are indeed the most suitable candidate." Raszagal looked at Tassadar: "Nothing could be more reassuring than entrusting my children to you."

"It seems it's time for me to leave as well," Augustus said at that moment.

"I too must return to Haj to begin assembling and dispatching a new Fleets on another expedition to Char. This is a threat that humanity must address; once the newborn Overmind awakens, it will inevitably destroy the human world."

"Augustus, I am delighted to once again join your warriors in Char to fight against the Zerg!" Artanis Augustus.

"I will send my most capable general to Char." Augustus had not yet decided on the leader of this human expeditionary force.

Horace Warfield and Jim Raynor are both capable leaders in the Revolutionary Army, able to command the Revolutionary Army forces independently even when Augustus absent. Augustus have been very confident in entrusting either of them with his command.

Edmond Duke is best left unmentioned; he always manages to mess things up, except for reckless actions. Duke has improved in recent years, but he's still not up to the task. As for new commanders like Pulaier, they lack experience leading a Fleets independently.

"Augustus Mengsk, you will always be our friend. In every corner of the universe, wherever the Dark Templar set foot, the warriors of the Revolutionary Army will never be alone." Raszagal also looked at Augustus.

"Praise be to your kindness and love." Augustus greeted Raszagal with the aristocratic etiquette he had learned in Korhal.

"Goodbye, Augustus." Tassadar clearly wanted to say a few more words to Augustus.

"Get out of the way!"

"Make way, friends, I'm Jim Raynor, and we have urgent business with that guy Augustus."

"What do you have to worry about? Do you think someone without a gun can kill a Protoss?"

Augustus looked in the direction of the sound and saw Kerrigan and the others being blocked outside the conference room by the Dark Templar.

"Let them in. The integrity and reliability of these humans have been proven by the Void." Raszagal gestured to the Dark Templar at the door to let the humans in.

"Wait a minute, that human named Tychus Finley can't come in yet," Vorazun then emphasized.

"Hey, what the hell do you damned Protoss have to do with old Tychus? Even the strongest bank in the galaxy can't stop me!" Tychus was furious. Just as he was about to explode, a powerful Dark Templar used the power of Void Imprisonment to hold him in place. Tychus had just had a little wine, suddenly had nowhere to use his brute strength.

"Ignore that guy," Augustus said, hands behind his back. "He's not just spouting nonsense—my old friend of mine has always been all bark and no bite."

"Just teach Tychus a lesson, don't hurt him."

"The differences between humans are truly vast." Vorazun glanced at Augustus and then at Tychus.

"Sarah, what happened?" Augustus knew that only the most urgent situations he had warned him about could force Kerrigan to force her way in.

"Greetings, Patriarch, Executor. Please forgive my rudeness, but I have urgent business to report to Marshal Augustus." Kerrigan apologized to Raszagal and the others before handing Augustus a document printed using a miniature printer.

"Augustus the leader of the Human Revolutionary Army. What urgent matter requires immediate reporting to him?" Tassadar asked, speculating.

"Are those Confederacy humans causing you trouble again?"

"You told me that I must inform you immediately of any news about Braxis," Kerrigan into Augustus's eyes. "Whether you're dining or flirting with a woman I don't know about?"

"Marshal, our investigation team, which we sent to the Edge World Braxis of the Terran Confederacy two weeks ago, has reported back that a powerful, unidentified military force occupied the planet's capital city in a very short time on May 19th."

"The United Earth Directorate dispatched an expeditionary force, declaring that they had conquered the entire Braxis in the name of humanity, and that the iron fist of the UED would sweep across the Koprulu Sector to ensure..." She paused here.

"Make sure that it is humanity, not the Zerg or the Protoss, that continues to Overmind the galaxy."

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