Chapter 9: To Slay the Beast
The volcanic surface of Char stirred as lava spewed out from beneath the ground and plumes of smoke filled the sky. It was almost as though it was a reflection of the growing strife spreading across the surface of the planet. Scores of zerg creatures were gathered together, fighting amongst themselves along with another alien race. And yet more zerg stirred from all corners of the planet, heading toward the epicenter of the activity, the battle around the Overmind.
"The other broods are mobilizing," Kaloth said. "More and more zerg are coming from across Char. We must win swiftly if there is any chance for us to prevail against these odds."
"Then we have to bet everything on one last attack to kill the Overmind before it can bring its overwhelming numbers to bear upon us," Kerrigan said. "Once it dies, the other broods will be thrown into disarray. Then victory will be in our grasp."
"The protoss are the key here, they are the only ones who can slay the Overmind. You must convince them to commit their forces fully for one final assault," Kaloth said. "I shall hold back the enemy reinforcements and launch a diversionary attack to give you an opening."
"I'll tell the protoss the plan then. You just focus on your part." Kerrigan departed from her side of the battlefield, soon arriving at the protoss encampment. When she arrived, Artanis immediately spotted her.
"Kerrigan, I suppose that you are aware of the imminent arrival of enemy reinforcements," Artanis said.
"I know Artanis, that is why we have to attack quickly." She turned toward Zeratul. "Are you ready to launch one final attack on the Overmind?"
"Slaying the Overmind will be no easy feat," Zeratul said. "But we have gone too far to give up now with the objective so close to falling into our grasp. The dark templar stand ready to give our lives to ensure the creature's destruction."
"Excellent. Now, I can't send my forces with yours in a direct assault because it will be difficult for your forces to distinguish the enemy in a tense battle," Kerrigan said. "However, we will launch a diversionary attack in order to relieve pressure from the main attack force. I will also be joining you in the attack."
Zeratul nodded. "Then our fates shall be tied. We shall launch the assault at once. Artanis, protect our rear so that we may fight unimpeded."
"Our victory shall rest on you then," Artanis said. "Adun Toridas."
The cliffs lit up with bright flashes of color as the energy weapons of the protoss fleet bombarded the zerg positions atop the plateau. The attack stirred up the hornets nest and zerg fliers emerged to engage the fleet. Meanwhile, the strike force advanced up the rocky terrain. Atop the cliffs, they could see the numerous zerg arrayed before them dotting the surface of the plateau. The Overmind loomed in the center, casting its shadow upon the ground.
They could spot signs of battle taking place far off on the other side of the plateau. Kaloth was employing the entirety of his forces, sending them in attacks all around the perimeter of the enemy defenses. Each group was meticulously managed, attacking just enough to force a response before retreating to preserve its strength.
Even with the plateau under siege from all sides, there were still many zerg blocking their path forward. Ultralisks emerged from within their dens and the spawning pools disgorged countless zerglings. The screeches of the zerg filled the air as they charged forward.
The protoss braced themselves for the clash as the reavers began opening fire. Multiple psionic storms descended upon the battlefield, breaking up the clumps of zerg. When the surviving zerg approached, the protoss jumped into action and began slashing their way through the incoming zerg without hesitation.
One ultralisk broke through the line of zealots, bowling over the protoss warriors before it. With each swing of its blades it knocked aside several protoss. Just as it let out a roar, it stumbled as Zeratul appeared beneath it and sliced through its front legs. It collapsed to the ground and Zeratul's blade moved upwards, cutting through the creature's skull.
The protoss advance was swift, crossing the blasted landscape and leaving a trail of zerg corpses in their wake. Suddenly, the ground rumbled. The protoss paused and looked around for enemies. Then, a concealing shroud enveloped their backlines as the defilers emerged from the burrows, followed by zerglings crawling out of the dirt.
The protoss reacted quickly, fighting off the attackers emerging next to them. But within the dark swarm, the chaos was only beginning. Even as more of the protoss warriors entered into the haze, they found zerg hiding behind every rock jumping out to attack. There were even lurkers buried there, attacking the protoss with impunity.
Zeratul led a team of dark templar into the fog, killing any zerg they came upon and rallying the scattered groups of protoss. The defilers were soon rooted out and destroyed, leading to the dark swarm beginning to dissipate. When the haze finally cleared, the zerg ambush had been defeated. However, they extracted a heavy toll and succeeded in destroying much of the heavy equipment such as the reavers.
Though this was a serious blow, the protoss had no choice but to continue their attack even as more and more zerg began attacking them. They struck with increased vigor, forcing their way through the enemies blocking their path. The high templars redoubled their efforts to thin the zerg ranks while Zeratul and the other dark templar picked off the dangerous strains. Meanwhile, the rest of the protoss simply engaged the zerg directly.
While Kerrigan had just got done killing a group of hydralisks, she noticed a flock of enemy queens approaching from the air. As they took a familiar stance, Kerrigan realized the danger and called out to Zeratul.
"Zeratul, the enemy may be planning on using ensnare to cover the battlefield. You and your comrades may end up revealed and trapped by the enemy," Kerrigan said.
"I see," Zeratul replied. "I shall call for a retreat."
It wasn't a moment too soon. Even though a few of the dark templar were caught at the outskirts of the zerg army, by and large they had managed to evade the ensnaring webs. Soon, the corsairs arrived to chase off the queens before returning to fight the approaching mutalisks.
They had carved their way through many enemies but still the zerg continued to pile in. In all directions, all that could be seen were hordes of zerg. There was no path of retreat, not that the protoss would have taken it anyways. The massive form of the Overmind towered before them, but surrounding it was many layers of sunken colonies and yet more zerg minions.
"Forward warriors," Zeratul called out. "Today we shall slay the Overmind. Hold nothing back."
The high templars used the last of their energy on whittling away the zerg with psionic storms. Still, there were many zerg left.
One of the high templar began speaking to the others. It was clear that he was somewhat of a respected figure. Kerrigan had a spark of recognition. That was Kalrak, the protoss that had come down on the ship with her.
"My brethren, this battle will be the one that decides the fate of our people," he said. "There is no time for hesitation or weakness. We are Templar. Not even death can faze us. It is time for us to make the ultimate sacrifice. En Taro Adun! En Taro Tassadar!"
The stoic templar nodded. Coming together, bright orbs of energy formed on the battlefield.
"THE MERGING IS COMPLETE."
One by one, archons emerged from what had once been high templar. Waves of psionic energy washed over the battlefield, frying the zerg to a crisp. The archons moved forward and began smashing through the sunken colonies surrounding the Overmind while tearing apart any enemy that crossed their path. In their wake, the protoss charged ahead and cleaned up the remnants of the zerg.
Ultralisks emerged from beside the Overmind, clashing with the approaching archons. A blinding display of light and rampaging energy followed and anything near them was obliterated, zerg and protoss alike. When the dust cleared, the zerg around the Overmind were destroyed and the archons were fading away as the uncontrolled psionic energy consumed them.
The path to the Overmind lay bare.
The protoss focused their firepower on the Overmind, burning through its armored shell. However, the zerg redoubled their attack as the Overmind called all of the zerg back to defend it. The protoss held the line, barely.
"The Overmind's core has been exposed," Zeratul said. "The dark templar must handle this from here. None must be allowed to disturb us."
Kerrigan turned away from the Overmind once Zeratul entered. It was all coming to a head now, and even if she wasn't able to kill the Overmind, she sure wouldn't let this all fall apart from her own inadequacy. She looked out at the tide of zerg and at the protoss struggling to hold them back. Kerrigan focused her attention on the approaching zerg and unleashed a psionic storm from her fingertips.
The approaching zerg burned away, allowing the protoss to reorganize their lines and take back lost ground. But soon a flock of mutalisks began descending from the sky. Once more, Kerrigan focused her power and filled the skies with another raging psionic storm. As the pieces of mutalisks fell to the ground in pieces, Kerrigan dropped to one knee and let out a gasp of exhaustion from the exertion.
The momentary lull soon ended as the battle resumed in earnest with the protoss pitting their blades against the zerglings while the dragoons exchanged fire with hydralisks. It was a few against the many, and not a single one could afford to falter. Even Kerrigan had picked herself back up and gone back into the fray, engaging in melee combat alongside the other protoss.
Then, a heavy pressure fell on the battlefield; the Overmind's presence became suffocating as it saw its death approaching. The dark templar stood poised to strike, but the sudden psionic attack born of desperation forced them to the ground.
The other protoss fighting felt weighed down as they struggled against this invisible pressure, the Overmind's fury made manifest. The connection of the zerg hivemind made this affect Kerrigan even more, especially as the Overmind's anger was directed at her more than any other. She fell to the ground and the hydralisk she was fighting struck, only missing when the zealot next to her spotted this and pulled Kerrigan out of the way.
All attention was now focused on the Overmind and those on the ground before it. Then, one stood up, breaking free of the Overmind's suppression. Zeratul took one step forward and plunged his warp blade into the creature. Instantly, the hold on everyone lifted. Zeratul dug in deeper, tearing through the very essence of the Overmind. In a few agonizingly long seconds, the world stood still. Finally, the Overmind was no more.
Around them, the zerg descended into chaos, flailing about and attacking the protoss and each other equally. As the protoss withdrew to the shadow of the Overmind's corpse, they laid their eyes on the devastation before them. For as far as the eye could see, corpses of zerg littered the blackened ground.
Artanis message came through the communicator. "The zerg broods attacking us have lost cohesion."
"The backlash from the Overmind's death must have thrown the other cerebrates into a daze," Kerrigan noted. "This is it then. The Overmind is dead. We've won."
"I must admit, when I set out from Shakuras I did not expect this to be the outcome," Zeratul said. "You have indeed been a worthy ally."
"You too," Kerrigan said. "I can't say it was unpleasant working with you. I see that protoss valor is as impressive as it is said to be. The area around the Khalis has been cleared and you may claim it whenever you wish."
"Very well. It seems it is time for us to part ways. It is imperative for us to return to Shakuras as soon as possible. Even now my brethren must still be fighting against the zerg there," Zeratul said.
"Of course, we all have more battles ahead of us," Kerrigan said.
As the protoss began departing, Kerrigan looked out over the volcanic surface of Char, gazing upon the remains of armies and the scars of the devastation wrought on this day. This was just the first step. Soon, Char would be hers. And since the cerebrates on Shakuras would soon be destroyed, securing Char would mean controlling the swarm.
"Kaloth, prepare to go on the attack," Kerrigan said. "Every cerebrate must submit, or they will die. With the enemy reeling and disorganized, there is no better time than now. Do you understand?"
"We can hardly back out now Kerrigan. When you said you were intent on going through with this, I had already begun preparing," Kaloth said. "Take a rest from your battle. I shall handle this."