”My master!” After a while of ravaging and twelve unfortunate victims, Amon had finally calmed down enough for Selendis to approach. “We await your command.” The khalai knelt down obediently. Unlike the tal’darim, who were exchanging meaningful looks with each other, the Daelaam couldn’t be turned by the weakness Amon showed and the seriousness of the situation.

“Command...command?” Amon whispered, half mad. “Ah yes, command! Tell me, Selendis!” Selendis choked and was lifted into the air by Amon’s void energy. “What can you do? What can I do? They have a fleet! And I’m stuck here with half my body intact!”

“Nevertheless, my master, we cannot give up.” Selendis said slowly. “If that fleet up there want to destroy you, my brothers and sisters will make it as difficult for them as possible. Their road to victory will be paved with blood and bones of their people.” She spoke with full determination.

“Very well.” Amon recovered a bit. Indeed. If he was to be stuck in a world of nothing, then he would want his end to be as flashy as possible. His enemies might be able to defeat him, but he would be damn sure they wouldn’t be smiling after that. “Go. Go and make them pay.”

As a god, Amon had some tricks up his sleeves. He was trapped and at a terrible position, but he wasn’t completely defenseless against the fleet up there. A thousand ships and one god. Who would win?

All across the planet void energy converged. These energies took the form of units in the material world of all three units, forming an army literally made up of darkness. From the basic zealots and marines to top tier carriers and battlecruisers, Amon just created an army.

Unfortunately even so the void shade units were relatively few comparing to the combined fleet. Forming units took void energy, and apart from protecting himself and maintaining the void shards Amon could only spare so much energy.

Selendis stood back up and turned to the rest of Amon’s units, whether it was Daelaam, tal’darim, feral zerg, or void shades. “Construct defensive positions around void shards. Spread out your forces to minimize enemy bombardment. When the enemy strike unleash everything you have at them and hold your ground until the end. Fight to death for our god. Adept, lead a garrison of templar and execute anyone that falls back. For Amon!”

“For Amon!”

“Commander, scans show enemy forces preparing for battle.” On the purifier flagship a Warden AI reported.

“They want to fight.” Nova stated the obvious.

Jean nodded. “Nova, do me a favor and analyze the battlefield.”

“My pleasure.” Nova’s eyes turned yellow as she connected the purifier data web, granting her knowledge of the entire purifier fleet. “Opposing forces are spread across the planet. Our orbital bombardment will be inefficient. It is advised to deploy ground forces to exterminate enemy ground forces.”

“And Amon?”

“Four void shards are generating a layer of defenses over Amon’s host. They must be destroyed for our fleet to do significant damage to Amon.”

“Don’t worry. We have nothing but time.” Jean stretched her arms and felt the strength within her body. The amount of essence she was forced to ingest, the essence Amon was supposed to take from her, was now truly hers. The amount of benefit it did to her was amazing. She felt like she was at least three times as strong as she was before Zerus. After all at first she was infested as a commander, not a warrior. Perhaps she still wasn’t as strong as the queen of blades, but she wasn’t that far behind. At least now if Kerrigan wanted to kill her she would need a while.

What made her even more satisfied was that she permanently delayed Amon’s plan. She could imagine the look on Amon’s face. It felt bad, really bad, to sacrifice your own interest for the sake of your greatest enemy. Good. The more emotional Amon was, the better.

“Deploy purifier units onto the planet below.” Jean tapped her chin, deep in thought. “There are only so many enemy forces, and the purifiers are endless. Meanwhile, send smaller fleets across the sector. Drop probes on any planet you come across and warp in nexus and more probes. Turn those planets into mining bases and manufacturing facilities of purifier units.” If things go right, as the battle continues there would be more and more purifiers and less and less Amon’s forces. Victory was just a matter of time.

Nova had no problem with sending purifier units onto the hostile planet below. Almost all of the purifiers below were AIs. They were expendable and, literally, just numbers. She was slightly concerned with something else. “And if we meet other factions?”

“If it’s the swarm then back off. If it’s anyone else then warp in units and terminate the other factions to take over the planet. We no longer need to play nicely.” A thousand capital ships were more than enough to defeat most power in the sector. From Jean’s perspective she no longer needed any ally besides from the swarm. Other factions in the sector, again except the swarm, like the Terran Dominion and the other terran factions, were worthless to her. In that case why not destroy them and take over their planets for the purifiers? At least that would help her. Cold calculating as always.

Nova smiled proudly. She wasn’t concerned of how many people would die at the girl’s single order. She wasn’t worried of how many families would be set aflame as the mindless AI forces sweep through the sector. Her mind was focused on the girl and the girl alone.

“I love it when you’re so...confident.” The ghost whispered sweetly before closing her eyes and passing down the deadly order.

Just seconds later, several smaller purifier fleets left the main horde. The majority of the combined fleet started to approach Aiur. Dozens of purifier warp prisms were deployed and sent flying toward the planet.

Let the battle begin.