Chapter 130: East, South, West, North

Having obtained Heimdall's information regarding Odin's whereabouts and the major events unfolding on Midgard, Artanis immediately summoned Praetor Mohandris and Executor Selendis. After bidding farewell to Queen Frigg, they returned to the fleet's flagship.

"Executor Artanis, there are currently at least three demigod-level entities engaged in combat on Midgard. Should we request assistance from the Light and Shadow Council?" Praetor Mohandris looked deeply troubled after learning the specific intelligence.

The strength of their single fleet was simply no match for demigods. According to the Protoss Empire's classification of fleets, only warships of conventional carrier rank or higher stood a chance against a demigod.

Mohandris's flagship was merely a conventional carrier, making any intervention in the battles among the three demigods utterly impossible.

"Requesting reinforcements from the Council is necessary, but we do not need to intervene in the combat between demigods." Artanis gazed at the endless streams of light outside the bridge; through the warp lane, they would soon arrive at Midgard.

"Vorazun, how is your research on the Dark Templar technology progressing—or rather, the Dark Elves?" Artanis turned to look at Vorazun standing nearby. Though their time in the God's Domain had been brief, the flagship was equipped with temporal dilation devices, facilitating the Khalai technicians' research.

"The stealth technology of the Dark Elves fundamentally relies on the power of Aether particles. Therefore, I have upgraded our detectors to enable them to track devices containing high concentrations of Aether particles." Vorazun brought up a holographic projection panel and tapped it a few times to showcase her research findings to the others.

"I never imagined you possessed such expertise." Selendis expressed some surprise. As a Daelaam Templar, she had never engaged in engineering research, nor did she expect Vorazun, the heir to the Dark Prelate, to master such knowledge.

"Among the Nerazim, we do not rigidly compartmentalize our roles into distinct professions as you do, so it is hardly surprising that I acquired these skills." Vorazun withdrew the projection panel. Although so many years had passed, the customs of the Dark Templar and the High Templar still differed significantly.

"Is it not better for everyone to stick to their respective duties and specialize in one field? You cannot expect a scientist to possess the discipline of a warrior, nor can you ask a warrior to master the scholarly knowledge of a scientist." Selendis had always been a firm believer in hyper-specialization. Although some voices within the High Templar ranks had recently suggested adopting cross-functional roles, most Protoss viewed such notions as meaningless and entirely redundant.

"That is precisely why your scientists are left standing with their eyes closed awaiting death when they are cornered, whereas our scientists can turn the tables and eliminate the enemy." Vorazun had not intended to argue with Selendis, but she felt no obligation to restrain herself either.

"Our scientists are naturally protected by warriors; they would never be reduced to the point of closing their eyes to await death." Selendis retorted, while Artanis stood quietly to the side, deep in thought.

"Can you guarantee that accidents will never happen? This is both a mathematical coincidence and a mathematical certainty." Vorazun's mention of "certainty" completely silenced Selendis's counterargument. Although nothing of the sort had occurred within the Protoss Empire thus far—or rather, no, it had already happened, the Khala-related incident...

Just as Selendis was left speechless, Artanis spoke up to interrupt their exchange: "We have arrived at Midgard."

Above the azure planet, the Seventh Fleet of the Fourth Expeditionary Army of the Protoss Empire materialized in high orbit. The flagship's cloaking field shrouded the entire fleet, rendering their arrival completely undetectable to anyone below.

"Beep! High concentration of Aether particles detected!" No sooner had the fleet reached orbit than the sensor array upgraded by Vorazun sounded an alarm. Artanis swept his right hand, and a map of Midgard instantly materialized before everyone's eyes, displaying two flashing red points.

"Two locations?" Artanis looked surprised, but the ship's artificial intelligence quickly filtered out one of the coordinates, leaving only a single flashing red point.

Simultaneously, a second alarm rang out: "Warning! Level 10 dark energy fluctuations detected!" A second holographic display automatically appeared, marking a location that precisely matched the first projection—the City of Sylvan.

"Could this be... a Dark Young of the Black Goat?! If so, the evil entity within must be the Black Goat of the Woods!" Artanis tapped the red dot, causing the image to automatically magnify, revealing the moving Dark Young.

"Lord Artanis, please allow me to lead the warriors down to provide support. That is the capital of the human empire; the fleet cannot simply open fire indiscriminately." Gazing at the Dark Young in the projection, Selendis immediately volunteered. Although she had never encountered such dark creatures as the Dark Young, the Khala contained the pooled experiences of their ancestors for reference.

To deal with these extra-dimensional evil entities, engaging in close combat using psionic blades was the most reliable approach. These extra-dimensional monstrosities possessed tough hides and immunity to various elemental damages, yet they could not withstand psionic blades.

However, if it were in an unpopulated wasteland, simply reducing it to ashes with the fleet's main batteries would naturally be the most straightforward method. The main cannons of the Protoss Empire's fleet also utilized psionic power generation, enabling them to effectively inflict damage upon these dark creatures.

Since a total of four Dark Young had emerged, the projection before them was divided into four feeds. As Artanis pondered how best to counter them, the Dark Young located in the northern sector was suddenly struck by a massive bolt of lightning.

The Dark Young, reputed to be immune to lightning damage, was actually injured by this bolt. The sensors immediately zoomed in on the feed: it was Thor, the God of Thunder from Asgard.

Thor's lightning was not mere electricity, but lightning imbued with the divine power of the Aesir, much like the lightning commanded by Artanis which was imbued with psionic might.

Therefore, what truly injured the Dark Young was Thor's divine power; only such higher-tier energies could inflict harm upon a Dark Young.

However, the Dark Young was, after all, a Tier 10 entity. Recovering quickly from Thor's attack, it dodged the lightning descending from the sky and charged rapidly toward the human settlements in the north.

Though the Dark Young could not fly and lacked ranged attacks, it was notorious for its thick hide and swift agility, as well as its ability to undergo self-division by consuming lifeforms. Once it broke through into a crowd of people, more Dark Young would rapidly multiply.

Consequently, individuals who held the advantage in the air were often forced into ground-based melee combat against the Dark Young. Yet, the Dark Young held a massive advantage on the ground, and those who descended to fight it were rarely its match.

Thor naturally noticed the Dark Young's movements, but possessing Mjolnir and brimming with supreme confidence, he descended directly to the ground and sent the Dark Young flying several meters with a single hammer strike.

Checking the other locations, Artanis quickly spotted the movements of the Avengers, who had split into two pairs to intercept the Dark Young in the western and southern sectors.

"In that case, Selendis, you shall be responsible for holding back the eastern Dark Young. I will transmit this intelligence to the Avengers to avoid any conflict with the human nation." Artanis issued his command, and Selendis, accompanied by a contingent of Templar, vanished in the flash of warp light toward the eastern outskirts of the City of Sylvan.