If Aiur was heaven before the zerg and hell after Amon, then now it was purgatory.

The surface of the planet was covered by the evidence of battle. The ground stinked of dead zerg. Protoss and hybrids vanish when they die, but not the zerg. Pieces of destroyed purifier shells and parts of ownerless weapons and armors dotted the floor.

It had been a week since the battle began. Massive losses on both sides, but more and more purifiers were being warped onto the planet. Freshly coming off the production line from newly conquered planets and made up of resources from those exact planets, these mechanical warriors charged into battle with no fear.

The defenders were exhausted. To the Daelaam, their faith was no longer able to sustain their lack of resources, reinforcements, hope, and almost everything an army needed to win. The feral were down to one tenth of their former number. The tal’darim were starting to doubt whether or not Amon could truly lead them to ascension. Even the hybrids, with their minds consumed by hatred and the desire to kill, were doubtful of their chances.

Selendis stood before Amon. Even the brainwashing she received couldn’t convince her there was any chance of victory.

“My master.” The templar said quietly. Amon didn’t respond, and Selendis proceeded. “Another void shard is destroyed. There’s...there’s only one void shard left. Once that’s down...”

Amon didn’t answer. Selendis knelt there for a few seconds. Finally Amon spoke.

“Is there...is there a chance for peace?” The dark god that dedicated his life to the destruction of all life in the sector was nearly broken. It was one thing to send his own forces to die. It was another to be banished into the endless void for an eternity. At the start he was determined to just fight until the end, but seven days of listening to enemies approaching, seven days of feeling himself on the edge of failure, changed him. These days of isolation and potential destruction had taught Amon perhaps he could take a step back. Perhaps he could sign a truce. Maybe his mission would be lost, maybe he would be forced to submit to Jean, but at least he would stay in the material world. Even a prison in the material world was better than roaming freely in the void.

If Selendis wasn’t mind controlled she would be swearing to Amon’s face. Her people fought and died for Amon, and now he wanted to surrender? Yet in this case she could only carry out Amon’s will.

“I can send a communication to the combined fleet above, but…” The last part didn’t need to be said. Whether or not Jean would accept Amon’s surrender was a real problem.

“Do it.” Amon said decisively. He had no choice.

The comm was opened via one of the Daelaam devices.

“State your request.” A Warden AI demanded. It’s mechanical voice didn’t show any respect to the god.

“I want to speak to your commander. I want to speak to Jean Turner.” Amon seemed a bit... polite?

The Warden AI sent the request to Jean. The girl patched Amon through.

“Amon.” She stated. “Here to say your last words?” She played the part of a proud victor.

“This is pointless.” Amon argued. He knew he had no convince the girl before him to have a chance of staying here. For a moment he was impressed by how the positions changed. A week ago he was one the road to success. He was about to become an invincible god. At that time the girl was just a container. Now he needed to beg the girl for mercy. “You can’t kill me. Not really.”

“I can’t?” Jean tilted her head, as if hearing the news for the first time.

“Even if I am destroyed here I will just return to the void. Give me ten thousand years and I will return again. Who will stop me then? You will be long gone.” Amon threatened.

“You are threatening me.” Jean noted. “Oh how the mighty have fallen. A dark god that’s attempting to use words and threats to defeat his enemies. ” She mocked.

Amon groaned and wanted to rip the girl apart, but he controlled himself. “Let me live, and I promise I will serve your cause. I will kill anyone you want me to kill and protect anyone you want me to protect. I will be your blade.”

“Interesting suggestion.” Jean smiled. “But unfortunately I must kill you. I don’t have a choice.” She really didn’t. Her mission was to terminate Amon.

Amon didn’t give up. “Let me go, and I can help you with whatever is wrong with your mind. I can’t promise to change it, but I can certainly help.” He was almost confident it would work. No one would ignore a problem with their mind. He could sense something was very wrong with Jean, and he knew Jean knew it as well. Of course she would care. He could use this as a bargain.

“Change? Why would I want to change?” Jean asked strangely. She was fine. She was more than fine. In fact, she was doing great. She was efficient.

Amon rose his nonexistent eyebrows.

Seeing Amon had nothing else to say, Jean turned off the comm and turned to the figure beside her.

“Now, Kerrigan, what do you say on our deal?” Kerrigan had been observing the conversation between Amon and Jean. The weakness of the dark one shocked her. It was amazing how much the girl before her had grown. A while ago she was still using her knowledge and tactical awareness as a bargain. Now she was denying the surrender of a xel’naga.

The queen of blades have came over to Jean after realizing Jean was literally conquering the world and slaughtering anyone and everyone in her way, no matter if they opposed her or not. The swarm territory was left untouched, but Kerrigan wasn’t convinced. This was certainly not a coincidence, and Jean spared the swarm for a reason. Kerrigan wanted to find out why. This was why she went to Jean’s flagship, looking for an answer.

Yes. Spare. With her renewed fleet Jean had enough to take down the swarm. As most of the sector fell under Jean’s grasp even Kerrigan wouldn’t put Jean’s determination and power to question.

“The swarm will join forces with you. We will be allies.” Kerrigan promised. “Of course, I don’t believe you need any help to defeat Amon.” She glanced at the now dark comm, wondering why Jean needed her. She was already winning the war.

“Defeat, no, I don’t need you. But I will need your help to kill him.” Jean emphasised on the “kill”.

“But, just as Amon said, destroying him here will only banish him into the void. in order to kill a xel’naga you must find a way to enter the void. How are you planning to do that?” Kerrigan was doubtful. She still didn’t know about Ulnar.

“I have a way.” Jean answered, but she kept it a secret for now. “I will call you when I am done here. Return to Char and prep your forces.” It was a semi-order, but Kerrigan accepted it nonetheless. As the leader of a race that emphasised on Darwinism, survival of the fittest/strongest, she had no trouble following the order of the strongest. For now, Jean was the strongest.

Watching Kerrigan leaving, Jean grinned with a sense of accomplishment. She was telling the truth. She did need Kerrigan to kill Amon. Only a xel’naga could kill Amon, and Jean had no intention of becoming a god. It was too...flashy.

“Nova, do me a favor and keep the attack up. The last void shard should fall soon. When that happens destroy Amon’s body by bombardment.”

Nova nodded. “Sounds like you’re going somewhere.”

Jean smiled. “Keen as always. Yes, I will be going to Zerus.”

“For what?” Nova couldn’t help but be surprised. “We are winning this war. It is only a matter of time before Amon dies. And then we can go to a brand new world with an entire fleet with us. Why are you still fighting your heart out for more power?”

She just couldn’t understand why Jean was so urgent. In fact, Nova hadn’t really seen Jean taking a break. Even in the last seven days she was perfecting the second type of purifier personalities. And now that that was done she was going to somewhere else? Couldn’t she at least stay here and observe Amon’s defeat in satisfaction?

Jean merely shook her head. She didn’t know why, but something inside her was screaming for her to keep on fighting for more strength, more power. It was as if it was her instinct to get stronger. It felt strange, but she didn’t think much about it. She was going to Zerus for the local primal essence, and after that she would be going for the void and for Amon’s head. When that was done, she would likely be summoned back by the one that sent here, the Supreme One. For a second she wondered where she would be going next.

All the while, across most of the sector, thousands of purifier outposts were set. Probes turned minerals to units and sent them to the purifier fleet on Aiur. Jean's power was growing by the minutes.