The Tal'darim returned in earnest, but alongside their warriors and machines came the Hybrid in great numbers as Talis spoke to Zeratul, Val'Lorna, and the small force that went with Zeratul into the temple. "Zeratul, Val'Lorna. The Tal'darim are retaliating. Hybrid are assaulting our forces. Have you make it into the temple safety?" Zeratul spoke as the way back activated in cutting them off back outside.
"Indeed. but the access way has been sealed. The Tal'daraim likely suspect an intrusion." Val'Lorna pulled the 'chain' tight as she spoke her piece.
"They won't be around long."
"My templar are engaged with the enemy, you will have to continue on alone for now. I will do my best to monitor your movements." Zeratul nodded before turning his attention to those that came to fight alongside him, especially Val'Lorna.
"Warriors, we must press on. The fate of our galaxy depends on it." Theyn odded as they pushed in as the Tal'darim took to fighting back as a Zealot shouted in crossing the path of the Nerazim that entered.
"Deliver these unbelievers unto the Void!" The Stalkers struck from the distance with their disruptors, but Zeratul and Val'Lorna made a careful difference in stabbing the foes and keeping space for their mended brethern before Zeratul turned to the path being blocked by clear domes as he spoke.
"Force fields. We will have to blink through." They blinked through as a readied Warp Prism started to warp in Tal'darim, but they warped in on the wrong foes.
"These Tal'darim think they can run. Not for long." Channleing the Void, she lashed out a hand and ripped back, the Zealots had a moment before getting physically hurled forward and into Zeratul and Val'Lorna's weapons while the Stalkers riddled the fallen foes before destroying the Prism and heading on before Zeratul spotted a problem.
"That photon cannon will reveal our presence, but if I enshroud us in Void armor, we will be protected from its assault." They nodded as Zeratul channeled the Void and a shroud fell over all of them, like a layer of protection before they blinked, the Cannon firing, but the shroud preserved them as they destroyed both it and its Pylon source. The way forward, however, was closed so they had to subvert to another route before Zeratul found heavy weapons lethal to the Stalkers.
"An Immortal! A single shadow strike should eliminate it."
"Slay it quickly, before it tears through your Stalkers." Zeratul charged in the shadows cloaking him, but his blade ablazed a brilliant green aura before he leapt and dove his blade through the hull of the Tal'darim Immortal, killing it as the Warp Prism quickly tried to warp in aid, but fell to Stalkers while the Dark Templar made quick work of the few that got in before Talis alerted the band to something that was causing trouble.
"The Tal'darim have constructed anti-air cannon on the temple ramparts. Destroy them, Zeratul, and I can send reinforcements." Reinforcements was not what the Nerazim needed in the temple, they would be better suited in fighting against the foes outside and destroying the guns would cease the pressure on the air force, but Zeratul didn't deny that having more would help out in this fight as they took to clearing out the defenses and destroying the cannon as Talis thanked them for one of three cannons destroyed. "Well done. I am sending reinforcements now." A Warp Prism came in with warping in three additional Stalkers before heading back into the fray as the force pressed on through the temple as they even encountered the Hybrid inside, but they struck the vile creation down and slipped past the Void Ray whose eye was aided by an Tal'darim Observer.
They still handled the vessels once the two of Dark Templar were spotted, but it was of no trouble once the Stalkers come in close to riddle the vessels as Val'Lorna took a moment on another Hybrid in their path.
"Another Hybrid. Let me deal with this one." She focused into her blade of a kunai before sweeping in, ripping through the Hybrid to its surprise as the band pressed on and found another cannon. Destroying it eased the burden even more, but the force inside got the greater benefit as High Templar were deplayed alongside a pair of Stalkers, an Archon possible, but Zeratul told them not to do so, there may be foes to use the feedback upon and lighten the burden upon them soon as they pushed in and came to an alcove as Zeratul mused.
"This above overlooks the central chamber, that must be where Ma'lash is hidden." Across the gap of Vespene and distance, the Highlord Ma'lash stood, but he channeled his powers into a vault-like device that opened with a hiss and a surge of crimson red surge, its feeling that of the Void, but darker and more filled... in malice as Ma'lash bowed before the energies.
"Truth-bringer, the Terrans have failed and led these intruders here. The great work is in jeopardy." Then came his voice, the voice that Zeratul had heard from the vision of the end times that the Zerg Overmind had witnessed.
"Abandoned your fear, Ma'lash. Redemption is at hand. Your universe will be freed of its suffering. Ready your people for war, and await my command."
"It will be done." Zeratul knew the danger and grimaced as he returned ot the forces.
"The Tal'darim follow Amon to war! We are too late."
"There is still hope, Zeratul. That device... the Tal'darim are using it to communicate with Amon."
"Yes, and if we destroy it, we can delay Amon's forces long enough to warn Artanis. I will see it done." The door into the chamber opened as members of Ma'lash coven, High Templar who go by the name of Ascendants, entered with an Observer and Zealots with them as one spoke.
"The Dark Prelate is nearby... Find him!" They were found, but the High Templar were grateful for not fusing together as their feedback severed the Psionic Storms that could have come while the rest killed off the attackers as they pushed on as the Tal'darim threw themselves to end them.
"Our lives for the Master!"
"Eradicate them!"
"Allow me." The small position didn't see it coming as Val'Lorna focused like taking a breath before unleashing a maelstrom of Void energy on the position, ripping through the shields and armor like they were mere pieces of parchment as they moved on, destroying the last of the cannons and clearing the way and keeping the forces outside a bit safer in their fight as Zeratul reached the central chamber and felt the energies to be indeed like the Void itself for some reason.
"A great power flows through here. It is as if the temple is linked directly to the Void itself." Had the Tal'darim chosen this place on account of that idea, that a planet in its dying throes would have a stronger connection ot the Void than most?
Such thoughts left them as Ma'lash taunted. "You're finally cornered, Nerazim! Tal'darim, the true god demands their death. Do not fail him." But though Warp Prisms and Pylons provided ample chance to warp in, the forces cleared them out just as well before Ma'lash somehow summoned a Hybrid to fight for him as he warped out of the temple in taunting. "Face the harbinger of the Dark God's wrath!" The creature was strong, stronger than an Archon in an uneasy standoff of force, but Zeratul and Val'Lorna used that to sever its joints and allow their Archon brother, fused from the first two running low on strong, to vaporize the creature and they went about destroying the device as Zeratul spoke to the Void Catalyst's destruction.
"It is done. The Tal'darim are severed from Amon's guidance..." But Talis was not so sure as she spoke.
"Something's happening! I'm detecting a powerful fluctuation of Void energies." From the device surged a stream of white, Zeratul having felt it once before, on Aiur, as another voice spoke, the voice of the one who tossed customs away and looked to the true foe at that time.
"Zeratul, the Keystone shall usher you onto hope."
"Tassadar! Can it be?" Zeratul quickly informed Talis of what had just happened. "Talis, I have granted a vision from beyond, the answer to our salvation!" But Amon was not done with them yet as the energies surged in his power and barraged the forces, ripping through Stalkers, Archon, and High Templar with ease, leaving only a small force to fight with as he spoke.
"Your salvation shall come by my hand alone. Let your suffering come to its end." The temple shook once more, like the other times, but Zeratul knew just as swift that it was different as he spoke in urgency.
"Amon is collapsing the temple... We must leave now!" Val'Lorna understood and shouted for the remaining Stalkers to follow.
"Warriors, hurry!" They rushed their way back as Talis quickly informed them of their new position among Talis' forces
"My warriors and I have made our way inside and are holding back the Tal'darim, Make your way to us, now!"
"We're on my way." Time was not on their side and they could fight through the foes, they had to run, run from the void giving life to shadow creations, run from the Tal'darim barring their way, and run from the Hybrid that now join in trying to slay them, as Amon voiced his desires as clear as the solar stars.
"Cease your pointless crusade to prolong the suffering of existence. Give in, let me free you." But that would not turn them as Zeratul found a clear pathway for them.
"Thank the gods, this pathway is clear. Talis, We are nearly upon you."
" Move quickly, Zeratul and Val'Lorna! I am detecting your signal now." They arrived to the forces of Talis holding the ground for them as Val'Lorna exclaimed, rushing to grab Talis' arm to get them out of there.
"We're here, get everyone out of here!" But Talis threw off the hand as she spoke in shoving Val'Lorna toward Zeratul.
"There is no time, you two. Make your escape. I shall deal with the Tal'darim." The remaining Stalkers joined the fray in preserving the way out as Val'Lorna shouted.
"No!... There must be another way." But Talis shook her head as she spoke.
"No... there is not." She shoved harder as she shouted. "Go. Now! And tell our Hierarch what has occurred this day." Zeratul grimaced before he spoke in acceptance of what was to come.
"Talis, our people owe you a debt we can never repay." The Void Seeker warped them out as Talis shouted with all her power.
"For Aiur!" Fallen Protoss and Hybrid alike fell to their defense, keeping the Tal'darim at bay, but the line would not hold as a Hybrid Dominator emerged and blasted through the line, Talis taking up the fight in igniting her right psi blade while her weapon of a Glaive Cannon hummed with life as the two clashed, blast for blast before the Hybrid struck hard and pierced Talis' torso, a fatal wound as she growled back. "Khassar de templari!" She plunged her weapon into the skull of the creature through its eye while her psi blade cleaved a portion of the Hybrid's hand off as it howled in pain, her body fading as the temple collapses on all of them, Val'Lorna looked back and screaming as the temple below fell apart and she felt the loss of her other half.
"TALIS!" With regret, Zeratul focused his efforts to taking them back, to find the Hierarch of the Protoss and warn him of what is to come as he thought to himself.
"At last, the prophecy has been fully realized. And through a great sacrifice, we have been given hope: a vision from the Xel'naga that may aid us in averting eternal desolation. Now, I must return to my people. They will not understand my actions, but I will face their judgement - make them understand. For only Artanis, young Hierarch of the Protoss, can unite our scattered factions as one... before Amon's wrath engulfs the galaxy." The Void Seeker took to the stars once more as Zeratul left Val'Lorna to grieve, but she didn't take long.
He felt her anger shift toward him before focusing on the Tal'darim, servants to Amon, the Hybrid, creations of the Dark God, and the Fallen Xel'naga himself before she partook in an ancient rite of the Nerazim, a vow of vengeance that marked the vow holder with the energies of the Dark Archon, smothering her right eye in that energy that glowed green in the darkness, a vow to see those who had slain Talis brought to death as she voiced a final phrase before the Void Seeker jumped away form the dying world.
"O beru Zerashk..."