The Void's Legacy Was Not Fought in Vain

Augustus did not have to wait long before he was connected directly to Tassadar himself. Clearly, any communication request from the Emperor of the Terran Empire was treated by the Daelaam as top priority.

The holographic image outlined Tassadar and the temple ruins behind him. Among the massive stone pillars blackened by fire, the Templar Knights standing with cloaks fluttering and swords drawn could not help but evoke the famed ancient heroes of Protoss history.

Artanis—who still insisted on calling himself High Executor rather than Hierarch of the Daelaam even while Tassadar's fate remained uncertain—was issuing orders in Tassadar's stead elsewhere.

Now that the Khala no longer existed, the Protoss had to return to the more ancient Khalani. It was as difficult and awkward as a whale that had evolved fins learning to walk again. Fortunately, Artanis was among the first Protoss to adapt to all of it, and he could handle the aggressive Taldarim with ease.

Yet everything looked calm. Augustus could even glimpse the Xel'Naga artifact in the corner, radiating cobalt-blue flashes. Though it had once been used to bind a god's will—a purpose far beyond its original design and well beyond its limits—it was still functioning normally for now.

"Tassadar," Augustus said at once. "You have to be careful. I suspect Amon is about to launch an assault on the temple."

"If that is so, then his first target will be the Xel'Naga artifact. Seize the artifact, or at least interrupt its charging process, in order to—"

"Prevent the release of Nova Impact." Tassadar spoke the words Augustus had been about to say, as though he could read the other man's mind through the screen. "In that case, we will be unable to slaughter the Zerg throughout the Aiur system on a massive scale in a short