mikenghmThe Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg all gathered around Ulnar. Artanis, Selendis, Jim, and Kerrigan met in the War Council of the Spear of Adun. The Queen of Blades said that a voice was calling her and there was a gateway to the Void within Ulnar. Kerrigan enlisted the help of Jim and Artanis to purge Amon once and for all. Somehow a portal was opened for the Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg to enter into the Void. Jim said that something was tearing the ships and Artanis sent a handful of forces to investigate.
A squad of Purifier sentinels, Nerazim stalkers, and Nerazim annihilators was sent to destroy the first Void Corruption Structure. There was a familiar voice, "Go forth … purge the corruption."
"That voice … It is my former master, Tassadar," Artanis recognized the voice.
Amon had opened Void Rifts so that void entities of Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss could come through to the fight. The small Protoss squad destroyed the first Corruption Structure and one of the Void Rifts.
"I called to you in dire need. Now you have come to this realm. Here, I am a prisoner. You must free me from his grasp …," there was Tassadar's voice.
"Whose grasp?" Kerrigan asked.
"Ah, the Queen of Blades … What a pleasant surprise," a familiar voice came from a stationary creature at the far end of the area.
"Narud. I thought you were dead," Kerrigan recognized the creature from his voice.
"Without form, we, the Xel'Naga, return to the Void. Here, I live on, but you will not be so fortunate. It takes more to achieve peace throughout the sector and Middle-earth than killing our Mordor small-time subordinate," said Narud.
"You're small time, Narud," the Queen of Blades said to the sinister Xel'Naga.
The combined forces assaulted Narud's forces as well as destroying all the corruption structures and voids. By doing so, Admiral Horner's Dominion forces could establish forward positions. Narud sent void thrashers against the main encampments of Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg.
"I hope you're not forgetting this, Raynor," said Narud.
"He summoned a dragon against us," said Jim.
"Hold on, Jim. We're coming," Kerrigan sent some of her ultralisks to aid him.
The dragon that Narud called upon was similar to the ones in Middle-earth but it was in fact the most powerful of all the Void entities. Artanis sent some of his carriers to swarm the void dragon with robotic interceptors. The void dragon's fire breathe was able to kill a group of marines, zerglings, roaches, and hydralisks. Despite the ultralisks took damage from the void dragon's fire breathe, the combined forces slew the void dragon.
"We did it. The void dragon is down for the count," said Jim.
"How are you holding up?" Kerrigan asked.
"Don't worry about me. We're all in this together."
Stukov participated in the fight and helped established hive clusters in forward positions. During the assault, Tassadar's voice continued to call upon the combined forces. Eventually, the combined forces were able to deal sufficient damage on Narud. "Hello, Duran. Do you remember what you did to me?" Stukov confronted the creature.
"Stukov … You've come to gloat, haven't you," Narud said his last words.
"No. I've come to say goodnight, you son of a bitch," Stukov finished off the sinister Xel'Naga once and for all.
"Artanis, you must come to me," Tassadar's voice called upon the Protoss hierarch.
Jim, Artanis, and Kerrigan met up with Tassadar's spirit. "It is Tassadar! My mentor … How can this be? Honored one. To see you brings such joy to my …" said the Protoss hierarch.
However, Tassadar's spirit hovered away and disappeared. To the leader's surprise, a Xel'Naga appeared.
"Tassadar, a form I chose to inspire action in the one called Zeratul. In you. The prophecies Zeratul followed – the result of my psionic extension into the minds of primitive beings," said the Xel'Naga.
"You are a Xel'Naga … The one who called to me? Who are you?" Kerrigan asked.
"Ouros. Last shepherd of the cycle. Enemy of Amon. He is one with the Void. It is an extension of his will, binding me as prisoner," the Xel'Naga introduced himself. "We, the Xel'Naga, had been aware of a planet in the edge of the sector. We attempted to give life to that planet; however it was populated with primitive beings that named the planet Middle-earth. The primitives called themselves the elves, dwarves, men, and hobbits."
"All of you know about Middle-earth before I went there for the first time?" Jim spoke in a surprised tone.
"We were aware that Lord Sauron of Mordor forged the One Ring to dominate all life including the purity of form and the purity of essence possibly. After witnessing Sauron's defeat in the hands of Isildur, Amon became in league with the lord of Mordor and began helping him. The fallen one also intended to use Middle-earth as a staging point for his backup plan. All of you have to put an end to that plan by helping the hobbit called Frodo to destroy the One Ring," Ouros continued explaining.
"Why have you summoned us here?" Kerrigan asked.
"The cycle must not broken. The merging of purity of essence and purity of form must continue. You, the one called Kerrigan, can merge with my essence. Now fulfill your destiny. Ascend as Xel'Naga. Continue the Infinite Cycle," Ouros said to Kerrigan.
"Xel'Naga? You want to change her into one of you? No, damn it! Sarah, no," Jim protested.
"Only a Xel'Naga can defeat the fallen one," Ouros made it clear.
"Sarah, you don't gonna do this. You don't have to let yourself be mutilated again … Together we'll …" Jim attempted to dissuade her.
"No, Jim. With all I've done – the lives ruined … worlds destroyed … There's blood on my hands. I need to cleanse it. This is my destiny. Lady Galadriel said that there are opportunities to do more good and this is one of them," said Kerrigan.
Jim reluctantly agreed to support her decision and allowed her to merge with Ouros' essence. "Amon's shadows will devour all. Kerrigan, may the last of my essence give you the power you need," Ouros began transferring his essence to her.
"The power … it … it's so much," said Kerrigan.
"You must channel it. Use it against these dark servants."
Several void thrashers appeared around Kerrigan and attempted to attack. She used Celestial Beam as part of the powers given by Ouros to destroy the thrashers. After she did so; Jim, Artanis, and Zagara established defenses around her.
"The Swarm will aid its queen unto death!" Zagara was present leading the defenses of the hive cluster.
"And the might of the Firstborn stands with you," Artanis personally led the defense of his nexus point.
The combined forces held off Amon's Void entities so that the transfer of essence could be completed. However, Kerrigan delayed the transfer by using Celestial Beam on other Void thrashers that attacked her directly before allowing the transfer resume.
Eventually, Ouros' transfer of essence completed at the time Amon sent an overwhelming force against the Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg. "That's it … I have all of the Xel'Naga's essence," said Kerrigan.
"I have been honored to serve you, my queen," said Zagara.
"The Swarm is yours, Zagara. Remember our lessons."
"I shall."
Artanis and Jim gathered around Kerrigan.
"With the last of our essence, a new eternity dawns. The Infinite Cycles have come to their end," Ouros said his last words before he died.
"She is … Xel'Naga," Artanis bowed.
Jim watched the person he loved became a flaming angel-like Xel'Naga and she sent him a vision. "These moments together, they will always be with me. I did get a chance to see Middle-earth and save the planet together before this," Kerrigan in the vision said to Jim kissing him and embracing him. "We have to go now, Jim."
In the present, Jim said, "End this thing … Once and for all."
Kerrigan went ahead clearing the landing zone of Void entities and confronted Amon directly. "Your newfound strength give you no advantage here. I have fought and killed Xel'Naga before," the fallen Xel'Naga boasted.
"You have never faced anything like me," said Kerrigan.
"Sarah, Artanis and I are in position and we're not leaving, so don't even say it … Now, what the plan?" Jim asked as he and Artanis gave her support in the final battle.
"Amon is enveloped within a barrier of energy. His Void crystals make him nearly invincible. But they are also his weakness. When they leave him to recharge their energy, they became vulnerable to attack," Kerrigan informed her allies.
"We cannot take them alone. His strength is too great in this realm!" said Artanis.
"You have yet to see my power. We will bring his barrier down. Then, I will finish it," said Kerrigan.
"Looks like this is our last dance, darlin'. Let's get going," said Jim.
Kerrigan led the Zerg Swarm one last for the final battle against Amon. Void entities were not the only problem; Amon also placed his own constructs to slow down the combined forces. The fallen Xel'Naga even destroyed the command centers, nexi, and hives as well as altering the terrain. Eventually the combined forces destroyed all seven void crystals.
"Finally … the barrier has fallen. It is over, Amon," Kerrigan confronted Amon.
"You are but a product of the flawed cycle. Manipulated for the entirety of your existence," Amon said his last words.
"You know nothing about me! I care little for the Xel'Naga's Infinite Cycle or your twisted lies. No. I choose something different. I choose freedom … for all of us and for the Free Peoples of Middle-earth," Kerrigan then unleashed a blast that vaporized Amon for once and for all. "Go, Jim … Go," she said to the man she loved as he was enveloped in a white light.
Much had happened since Amon's death, Zagara became the new queen of the Zerg Swarm that forcibly laid claim to the systems surrounding Char.
Highlord Alarak declined a permanent alliance with the unified Protoss and his people left Aiur to establish their own home world. Any Tal'darim who opposed his decision were given the one only chance to join the Templar.
Jim realized the secret of Middle-earth was no more and had "Devils and Dwarves" formally published first. He wrote the sequel called "War of the Ring" that was formally published and planned his final visit to the Middle-earth.
Author's Note
Here's a list of soundtracks I listened to when I was writing this chapter.
Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
- Spreading Hope
- Men of the West
StarCraft:
- Protoss Three
- Terran One
- Terran Two
- Terran Three
StarCraft II:
- Heaven's Devils
- Terran 04
- Rhythm Tension