Chapter 384: Templar Warriors! Handcrafted Thunderbolts! The Daelamm Protoss!
"Alright, enough jokes—what's going on here?"
To Jim Raynor, Ariel was like a younger sister—he often indulged her, unaware of the feelings she harbored for him.
But Paul, with his keen instincts, quickly picked up on something unusual. He noticed the way Ariel looked at Raynor—eyes practically glued to him—and immediately realized how she felt.
Taking a subtle step back, Paul struck a casual pose, looking like a bystander about to enjoy the drama unfold.
"As you can see, the second Keystone fragment that Tychus brought back is right here. Based on the faint radiation it's emitting, it's definitely part of the same set."
Ariel gave a brief summary of her analysis.
"Good work. Any new findings so far?" Raynor asked.
Shaking her head, Ariel replied, "According to my scans, the fragment shows no signs of activity. It seems we'll only uncover its true function once all the pieces are collected."
"One thing I can say for sure is that these fragments contain energy far beyond our comprehension."
"This fragment will soon be transferred to the corporate flagship—perhaps their research team can uncover more clues."
Since the Raiders allied with Universal Megacorp, Ariel Hanson had been invited to join their research division. There, she would have greater opportunities to pursue her scientific goals.
But at this point, driven more by her feelings than ambition, she chose to stay aboard the Hyperion, guarding this small laboratory—hoping to remain by Raynor's side.
"Let's hope they really can make use of it," Raynor muttered, his gaze fixed on the Keystone fragment, a heavy weight pressing on his heart. When your heart belongs to someone else, you fail to notice the one standing right before you.
At this moment, Raynor had only one goal: to gather all the fragments and save the infected Kerrigan.
"Don't worry, we'll make this work. I give you my word." Paul gave Raynor a firm pat on the shoulder.
Over the following month, everything proceeded smoothly.
On Bysel, Universal Megacorp's engineering division rapidly constructed multiple terazine processing plants. In addition, they unearthed a number of Protoss machines from Taldarim sanctuaries, which proved immensely helpful in reverse-engineering Protoss technology.
But the biggest surprise came when one such sanctuary was found to house a Taldarim-built prison. Inside it were several imprisoned Templar warriors—left behind in the Taldarim retreat.
Upon hearing the news, Paul and Raynor rushed over together.
It was a transparent pyramid-like structure, sealed off by a pale green psionic barrier. Trapped inside were a dozen or so Templar warriors.
When they saw Jim Raynor approach, one of the Templars rushed to the edge of the prison and shouted:
"Raynor! I can't believe we're seeing you here! Are these people your Raiders?"
Raynor had once led the Raiders in joint battles alongside Protoss forces against the Zerg, so many Templars recognized him. Among the Protoss, Raynor and his crew were one of the few human groups deemed trustworthy. It was no wonder they were so thrilled to see a familiar face.
"Talis? So it's you. How did you end up imprisoned by the Taldarim? What happened?"
Raynor's tone was probing. Templar warriors weren't the type to be captured easily. For a split second, he wondered if this could be a trap.
"Those damn Taldarim are the disgrace of the Protoss!"
Talis was visibly furious at the mention of them. He quickly recounted what happened.
"The Taldarim have always strengthened themselves by stealing from other Protoss factions. Our fleet was ambushed by theirs. Then, to force us into joining their ranks, Naeon used terazine to control our minds. Most gave in—but we resisted!"
Paul nodded slowly, deep in thought.
So terazine was also a brainwashing agent used by the Taldarim to convert other Protoss. No wonder they prized it so highly—it allowed them to bolster their numbers by kidnapping and converting others.
After thoroughly confirming the prisoners' identities, Raynor turned to Paul. "No doubt about it. These are Aiur Templar. They're not with the Taldarim."
"What do you plan to do with them?"
Raynor clearly hoped Universal Megacorp would spare them. These Templars had once fought beside him, comrades forged in battle.
Paul knew these Templars were part of the Daelamm Protoss, the mainstream faction of the Protoss species. The Golden Armada, for instance, was the pride of this faction.
Unlike the brutal Taldarim, the Daelamm Protoss had a well-structured society composed of Judicators, Templar warriors, Khalai engineers, and scientists. Their goal was truth and order, a stark contrast to the savage Taldarim.
From a strategic standpoint, there was no reason for Universal Megacorp to antagonize the Daelamm. At least, not when there were no conflicting core interests.
"If they're your old friends, I'll leave them to you," Paul offered, doing Raynor a solid.
"Thanks." Raynor gave him a grateful look.
"So how do I break you out of here? There's no lock I can see."
Raynor studied the psionic prison but couldn't make sense of it.
"This barrier suppresses our psionic power. You just need to punch a hole in it, and we'll be able to regain our strength and break free," Talis explained.
For some reason, the scene gave Paul major Journey to the West vibes—like freeing Sun Wukong from the Star-Spangled Golden Bowl.
If you're going to be the good guy, might as well go all the way.
"I'll handle it," Paul offered.
He stepped back and signaled everyone to clear the area. Then he activated the ball lightning module on his wrist and conjured a Thunder Orb out of thin air.
"What kind of technique is that?!"
The Templar warriors instinctively stepped back when they saw Paul forge a crackling ball of thunder with his bare hands.
None of them had seen anything like it—what kind of human could create lightning like this?
The power reactor in Paul's armor roared to life as the orb in his palm compressed into a dense, unstable sphere—brimming with destructive potential.
Talis began to panic. "That's enough! You don't need that much power! Keep going and the whole prison will collapse!"
Of course Paul knew what he was doing. He was intentionally showing off in front of the Templars—projecting Universal Megacorp's strength.
With a swift motion, he launched the orb.
Thanks to the Megacorp's tech upgrades, Paul could now fire the sphere like a Spirit Bomb from Dragon Ball Z—not very practical, but damn stylish.
Sparks snapped through the air as the orb hurtled forward, dragging a blazing tail, and slammed into the psionic shield.
The moment it touched the barrier, a surge of electricity exploded outward. Arcs of energy twisted across the pyramid like writhing serpents.
The Templars were terrified, certain they were about to be fried alive.
But Paul had no intention of harming them—just wanted to give them a little show.
After all, the Protoss had always regarded humans with disdain. Even the seemingly refined Daelamm Protoss looked down on humanity from a moral high ground.
That's why they had no qualms about deploying planetary purification protocols on Zerg-infested worlds—no warning, no negotiation.
In the whole multiverse, only Universal Megacorp gave the weak dignity and opportunity—letting them prove their worth.
Every other species treated "might makes right" as a biological instinct.
That's why Paul made a point of showing the Templars that humans, too, could wield power.
Under the unrelenting assault of the thunder orb, the psionic shield overloaded and shattered.
The Templars, stunned by the spectacle, could hardly believe the precision and control Paul had displayed. Their perception of humanity shifted instantly.
Just as Paul expected, after witnessing his power, their attitude became far more respectful.
Talis stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Thank you for saving us. May I ask your name, and which human faction you belong to?"
The Protoss had studied human factions—knowing them to be divided into groups like the Dominion, Terran Confederacy, and the Umojan Protectorate.
"Paul Atreides. Universal Megacorp, Pioner Division, Multiverse Advance Squad—Operations Chief."
Talis was visibly surprised. He hadn't expected the human side to have such a powerful corporate force—one that could go toe-to-toe with the Taldarim.
Had the Dominion become a corporate oligarchy now?
"Thank you, Paul."
"We will sing of your valor in the Khala," Talis promised.
The Khala was the spiritual doctrine of the Daelamm Protoss—a vast neural link that connected all of their minds into one shared consciousness.
If one Templar remembered Paul, then through the Khala, they all would.
This highly efficient form of information transfer was precisely why Daelamm Protoss society was known for its cohesion and solidarity—after all, with minds interconnected, everyone could understand each other's thoughts on a deep, spiritual level.
Paul nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "So what's your plan now? Do you need us to escort you back?"
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Talis replied. "Once we re-establish our connection to the Khala, we can summon our fleet to extract us."
"Besides, we still have unfinished business. The Taldarim have seized control of an abandoned Xel'Naga worldship. Many of our kin are still imprisoned there—we need to rescue them!"
Worldships were massive spacecraft capable of housing entire populations, and were equipped for research, combat, and habitation. The Protoss' supercarrier Spear of Adun was a worldship of this caliber—designed to ferry the Daelamm Protoss through their "Heavenly Tribulation."
The worldship now in Taldarim hands had once belonged to the ancient Xel'Naga, used for observing the Protoss civilization.
Paul's expression sharpened. He immediately followed up: "You know where these Taldarim are?"
Talis nodded. "We were imprisoned on that worldship. Naeon moved us here only to saturate us with terazine and try to corrupt us."
"Is there a Keystone fragment on that worldship as well?" Paul asked without hesitation.
If the Taldarim revered the fragments as sacred relics, it was logical to assume they had more than one. And given their nature—pillaging and plundering wherever they went—it wouldn't be surprising if they hoarded more pieces.
"I can't say for sure," Talis admitted, "but I do know that ship has a treasure vault. If the Taldarim collected anything valuable, it's probably stored there."
That was all Paul needed to hear.
With that piece of intel, their next destination was set: the derelict Xel'Naga worldship.
Not only would they seize another possible fragment, but Universal Megacorp would also finish what it started—completely eradicating the Taldarim under Naeon's rule. Either they surrendered to the Megacorp… or they could go meet their god Amon in the Void.
After all, the moment the Megacorp made an enemy of the Taldarim, they had no choice but to see it through. Leaving a threat like that half-dead would only plant seeds for future disaster.
More importantly, this mission had unearthed an unexpected boon: a potential ally in the Templar warriors. Once they returned and reported what happened, the Daelamm Protoss were highly likely to respond—and with force.
That would mean they could share the offensive burden, and with a three-faction coalition, Universal Megacorp would enjoy a dramatic reduction in operational costs.
This was shaping up to be a dream start.
Paul quickly began outlining his report to headquarters, detailing the situation and outlining future action plans.
Meanwhile, the freed Templar warriors successfully reconnected with their command and opted to stay on Bysel for the time being, awaiting the arrival of the Golden Armada.
Universal Megacorp's expeditionary forces, for their part, swept the ruins and sanctuaries across the planet, securing another substantial haul of materials and technology.
Back at the Multiverse Headquarters, Director Li Ang received Paul's report, which summarized the loot, key resources, and most crucially—this promising diplomatic bridge to the Daelamm Protoss.
This wasn't just a military win—it was political gold.
Gaining the Daelamm Protoss as allies would massively enhance Universal Megacorp's influence in the StarCraft universe, opening doors that had previously been sealed to humanity.
For the Protoss, their primary focus remained fending off the Zerg and upholding their divine legacy as the next Xel'Naga.
"Boss… are you really sure the Protoss can be counted on as allies?" Morgan Blackhand voiced his concern after hearing Paul's proposal.
"The idea of forming a shared-interest alliance with them seems… overly optimistic."
The age-old adage "Those not of our kin will always have divided hearts" still rang true.
The Protoss species, to Morgan, saw humanity the way humans might see monkeys. And let's be real—monkeys don't get invited to join strategic alliances.
Back in the 004 [Halo] universe, humans had been handpicked by the Forerunners to inherit their legacy—destined to become the next dominant race.
That was how Universal Megacorp was able to unify the Covenant so cheaply—through divine legitimacy.
But in the StarCraft universe, humanity wasn't nearly as fortunate.
"I agree with Morgan," Johnny Silverhand chimed in. "Who knows what the Protoss are really thinking?"
Alt and Lucy remained silent. They didn't know enough about the Protoss to weigh in—so staying quiet was the smart play.
"Sometimes, it's easier to deal with outsiders than your own kind. At least here, the Protoss are more trustworthy than the Terran Dominion or the UED," Li Ang replied coolly.
Given the current situation, the Protoss were undeniably the dominant force in this universe.
Both in status and in technology, they completely outclassed humanity.
They were the chosen successors of the previous Xel'Naga, blessed with psionic gifts and an unshakable destiny. Even though they stumbled—through the Aeon of Strife and countless civil wars—they still had the potential to ascend and become gods.
It was like a straight-A student falling into a slump, gaming their days away, then rebounding in half a semester to top the class again. Talent doesn't vanish.
And now, having corrected course, the Daelamm Protoss—unified by Khalai and Nerazim traditions—were walking a path toward spiritual ascension.
With the Khala as their foundation, they had begun harmonizing their minds and reestablishing discipline and growth.
They were back on track. And if they stayed the course, they'd eventually become the next Xel'Naga—the divine rulers of the StarCraft universe.
But fate threw a wrench in the works.
Amon had returned, leading his corrupted Zerg into the physical realm—hell-bent on obliterating everything.
It was like a top scholar finishing the imperial exam and preparing to receive honors—only to have the capital city sacked by rebels before results were posted.
With the Zerg threat looming from without and Taldarim traitors sowing chaos from within, the Daelamm Protoss urgently needed allies.
Humanity—growing stronger with each passing day—offered them a solution.
While the Protoss still viewed humanity as primitive monkeys, those monkeys had potential.
Whether they would become enlightened sages like Sun Wukong or remain ignorant beasts was yet to be determined.
Among all human factions, Raynor's Raiders had the best shot at leading humanity toward legitimacy.
The Daelamm Protoss would only work with those they could respect—and they needed reliable partners now more than ever.
Universal Megacorp had both the strength and the willingness to cooperate. If the Protoss were rational, they'd seize the opportunity, even if it was only temporary.
Li Ang had long since seen the logic behind such a partnership—that's why he didn't stop Paul from making contact with the Templar.
After Li Ang's thorough analysis, realization dawned across the leadership team.
Now it made perfect sense why Paul was sent to lead this mission—because that kid had a knack for building alliances.
Every Pioner Team leader had their own approach.
V was the perfectionist, always executing Li Ang's instructions flawlessly and adapting smoothly to chaos. If missions were scored out of 100, V consistently hit the mark.
David Martinez was like a precision scalpel—sharp, clean, and meticulous. He also scored high—about a 99.
But Paul Atreides? He was different.
His thought process always echoed Li Ang's true intent: maximize efficiency, minimize cost.
Every boss dreams of cost-effective operations—but achieving that requires mutual understanding between leader and employee.
Li Ang needed vision and restraint. Paul needed insight and initiative. Together, they formed the optimal synergy.
Paul's style was simple: recruit anyone who could get the job done. Race, history, morality—none of it mattered. If you could contribute, you were in.
That was the ultimate path to efficiency and scalability.
And let's face it—he was good-looking, too.
In an age where first impressions mattered, Paul's clean, approachable presence helped him build trust immediately.
That was the unspoken reason he had such success building alliances.
In Li Ang's mind, Paul didn't just score a perfect 100—he was already past 120.
At that moment, every senior executive in the room knew one thing for certain:
Paul Atreides would be the first Pioner ever to surpass even V.
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