Alexei's previous anxiety vanished, replaced by intense excitement. He hadn't expected that the key to unlocking the Protoss was to banish Warp demons and collect their "Soul Shards."
He quickly scanned the summoning mechanics for the Protoss. Unlike the Zerg, which required Hatcheries and genetic templates, the Protoss could be warped directly onto the battlefield from a higher dimension. However, their presence was temporary; every second they remained active consumed a specific amount of Soul Shards.
If the Zerg were his long-term investment that required careful nurturing and expansion, the Protoss were his elite mercenaries. On a battlefield teeming with Warp demons, the strength of the summoned Protoss units depended entirely on the intensity and duration of the conflict.
Watching the demons clash with his Swarm, Alexei waited, his eyes fixed on the rapidly ticking values on his panel.
Good. Now is the time. Templars, life for Aiur!
Dozens of pillars of light, appearing from nowhere, suddenly lanced down into the center of the battlefield. The brilliance drew the gaze of every living being present.
A group of curious Horrors swarmed toward the light, only to be sliced into ribbons by psionic blades emerging from the radiance.
Dozens of golden-armored xenos stepped out of the pillars. They were significantly taller and more muscular than humans, with neural cords extending from their backs that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow.
A dozen warriors wielding massive energy axes (Centurions/Zealots) turned toward the altar. Then, with a speed that exceeded the visual perception of anyone present, they blurred forward.
They moved like golden whirlwinds. Any enemy daring to block their path was pulverized; no demon could halt their relentless advance.
The remaining golden warriors joined the charge, instantly tearing a jagged rift through the demonic tide. Every attack launched at the golden warriors was either evaded with supernatural agility or absorbed by their shimmering plasma shields.
The morale of the surviving humans soared. To them, these xenos appeared like descending gods; the lesser demons of the Warp were utterly helpless before them.
The remaining Enforcers watched in shock, some even forgetting to fire their weapons. "Emperor above... what kind of... what kind of..."
"Don't just stand there, keep firing! For the Emperor! For Mankind!" Commander Lutheca's roar snapped them back to reality.
They realized the goal of these golden warriors was the altar. They would provide cover, using their firepower to relieve the pressure on these warriors. At least for this moment, they were allies.
A slight smile played on Alexei's lips. Protoss units didn't need to overwhelm enemies with sheer numbers like the Swarm. Every single one of them was the elite of the elite. Centuries of refining their combat arts made these warriors capable of handling any foe. Their advanced technology ensured they feared no danger, and the Holy Khala connected them as one.
The Zealots poured their fury into the enemy with seamless coordination. Within moments, they reached the altar. The dawn of victory was within reach.
However, a deafening roar erupted from the Warp rift. Alexei's brow furrowed again as a massive entity stepped through.
Its colossal body was covered in blue feathers, and its giant wings beat unconsciously. Deformed, bird-like claws gripped a massive staff. Brilliant white light pulsed from the staff, and several bolts of psionic lightning shot forth. With a series of sharp crackles, the Zealots struck by the lightning dissolved into bursts of white light.
"Dammit, a Greater Demon has arrived." Alexei grew tense once more. These fluctuating tides of battle were harrowing.
After a moment's thought, he ordered the Zealots to fall back and clear the endless stream of lesser demons, while commanding the Swarm to stall the Greater Demon. He needed more Soul Shards. Alexei watched the invincible Lord of Change; every one of its psychic attacks blasted a hole through the Swarm.
Alexei squinted at the numbers on the panel. Almost... almost there... just a few more kills.
As the last required Soul Shard flowed into his system, several pillars of light—far larger than the previous ones—appeared at the edge of the battlefield.
When the light faded, several terrifying war machines stood before the crowd. Their high-arching armor was covered in dark gold metal plating, and their reverse-jointed quadrupedal legs crushed the ground with every step. Two pairs of thick Phase Cannons sat atop the golden chassis, their muzzles glowing with the dangerous, incandescent light of Khaydarin Crystals.
BOOM!
Several thunderous reports echoed as plasma shells wrapped in dark matter shattered the Lord of Change's psychic barrier, blowing several jagged holes through its wings.
A massive surge of psionic lightning, accompanied by a roar of fury, shot toward the Immortals. However, light flickered across the surface of the machines as their Hardened Shields perfectly intercepted the attack.
The Immortals marched forward with heavy, rhythmic steps. Their muzzles flashed continuously, raining down attacks like heavenly retribution upon the Greater Demon. Zealots gathered around them, clearing away the lesser demons that tried to swarm the machines.
"Protoss technology, kid," Alexei muttered, watching the battered Lord of Change. The weight on his heart finally lifted. It was time to end this farce.
With a final, mournful shriek, the Lord of Change's body dissolved into fragments under the continuous bombardment of the Phase Cannons. Banishment successful.
Immediately after, the Immortals pivoted their cannons toward the altar. BOOM! A flash of white light erupted, and the Warp rift gradually vanished amidst the sound of the altar shattering.
The remaining demons were little more than lambs to the slaughter. Under the combined assault of the Zerg, the humans, and the Protoss, they were banished back to the Warp one by one.
"It's over! We survived!" The humans burst into cheers of excitement.
Suddenly, the realization of their situation set in. The cheering stopped abruptly, and nervous gazes turned toward the xenos still on the field. The Enforcers gripped their guns tightly, even though most were out of ammunition.
They didn't dare strike first. Lutheca stood with every nerve taut, staring fixedly at the Swarm and the Protoss. If they made a single move, he would prove his loyalty to the Emperor with his life.
But from beginning to end, the xenos paid no mind to the remnants of humanity at the edge of the battlefield.
After the Swarm finished devouring every corpse on the field, they retreated into the shadows of the abandoned alleys like a receding tide. Meanwhile, the golden warriors and the war machines dissolved into streaks of white light, vanishing from the spot.
Lutheca exhaled deeply, suddenly feeling dizzy. Having faced the demons of the Warp directly, their spirits were fragile, now more susceptible than ever to the whispers of the abyss.
I'll likely face the Inquisition's interrogation when I return, he thought with a bitter smile before ordering an immediate retreat.