---------------------Kerrigan POV-----------------
On the edge of the sol system.
Kerrigan who surrounded by her inner circle was looking in awe at the gathering of zerg in front of her.
She had led the swarm before, but not in those numbers so it was humbling to see the difference between her and the Overmind.
And the breeds she never saw or heard were floating peacefully around the various planet.
But what made her and her advisor speechless was the planet size zerg ships orbiting next to mars.
Abathur was rambling about he needed samples, and whatever those things were it was biologically impossible to exist, whoever created those breeds was better than good.
Dehaka was salivating at the essence he could collect.
Zagara was impressed saying she needed more « vision » to be able to understand what was before her.
Izsha was smiling saying that the overmind power was impressive to have gathered so many under his control.
‘And not one of them had any clue on how to force the Overmind to obey me. His power was radiating from one of the worldships, so much power that my own was dwarfed by it.
Hell, I was afraid that my zerg instinct would recognize it as my leader.’
‘Zeratul during his stay had told me of his visit to the Overmind and I did not believe a haft of it at the time.
He had described many things, of possible futures and prophecy, to the many structures inside the worldship he had visited, or the literal monsters that were sleeping inside large cocoons, and the thing I was most interested in the pool of power, if it was like the one on Zerus, my power would rise much much more.’
Using what Zeratul told her, she had an idea on how to proceed, but there are many things outside of her control and could crush her plan, the first amongst them was the Overmind.
Any normal assault would result in immediate failure since her fleet was severely outnumbered and outclassed by a huge margin, it was rare for any Zerg to be the one in this situation. The only way to be able to be victorious would be going after the leadership, the Overmind.
With him gone Kerrigan could assume command, worse case scenario the Second brood war would begin.
Thought before being the queen of blades, she was a ghost trained in assassination which in this case was the best way of reaching her objective.
But In case her plan doesn't work she will have to fight with all she has just to survive.
The first step was to open dialogue and enter the worldship, let hope that it doesn't know her reputation for betrayal, yet.
‘I will make this overmind kneel to me, and then I will unleash all of the swarm on Mensk precious dominion.
Nothing will stop my revenge.’
————Overmind POV———-
I should have seen this coming. Since I pretty much had the largest amount of zerg unit in recorded history, and Kerrigan would want to keep her place as the leader, that or with the broodmother that left the sector she doesn't have the number to invade Korhal.
My avatar body had both hands on his face, I had a bad premonition and considering the original Overmind was pre-coq, a bad feeling was something I needed to take note.
So I had the main target from my official job right in front of me, I had enough firepower to blow up planet, an army so numerous that it could block the light from a stars, and yet something in the back of my head telling me I should not use those, that I needed to fight personally.
Fighting personally, I haven’t done that since high school.
Hell, considering other universe power level so fighting Kerrigan would be a good way to measure myself for stronger opponents, like the many gods like entities from a multitude of universes.
Plus with the amount of energy, I can release on wimp is ridiculous so I should be able to fight. I do possess the combat memory of millions of infested, that should count for something.
Right?
first let open dialogue, after all, she is zerg so I could try the civilized way for once, and I know she will not scream in terror.
I let my awareness spread covering Kerrigan fleet, sensing the mind of each of the individual, but I find that the mind of their leadership was closed to my mind reading, quite weird since no zerg is able to deny me from doing that, I expected that from Kerrigan but Zagara and Abathur?. They are born as zerg, so all of them should be under my command, normally a zerg don't care if another zerg take a look at their memory, knowledge is to be shared in order to improve the swarm and hoarding it is not an instinct a zerg would allow to evolve.
For Kerrigan, I understand she was infested and she holds her individuality and memory dearly.
I decide to work around this and I peep into the mind of a zergling with a broken tusk. It would probably refuse to betray his brood but his memory was something he was used to sharing so he did not mind.
...
Wow Kerrigan have a nice ass, the little zergling had been following Kerrigan for a while now but with the lower position of its head, her ass was the thing that covers most of his memory of her. No wonder Raynor keeps looking at it.
He also was there for some of the meetings where he was listening. I had a clue on why she was here, almost all of the zerg force in the Koprulu sector was either under assault, had already sworn loyalty to Kerrigan or vanished without a trace.
The results were simple, she needed reinforcement badly, and I possessed the number for her to win the war.
Which involving me in her revenge plan was the fastest way to reach it.
Also, she was afraid of becoming a slave to my will. By the look of it, she rather dies than becoming a tool for someone else again.
From the collected memory it seemed that Mensgk had not told Raynor fate yet, so I should secure some of my plan and other sensitive information just in case, she was after all a spy before her infestation.
Well on the side note she is a primal so she must went to Zerus, that mean….
Yay!!!!!!!!! Happy dance for swarm host, I so want to play with them. Abathur really lack imagination when it comes to making a nightmarish monster, instead of one large Locust why not make a thousand small that eat everything. Good luck stopping those with a bullet, only a firebat could stop those, and then evolving fire resistance was possible.
Looking into the common phobia is always such a rich ground for inspiration.
Or better rip off the Tyranid and have them make ripper swarm. They have quite the reputation to make the rank and file of the Imperium, the guardsman, shit their pants.
But first I need to deal with Kerrigan, so as the gracious host that I am. I invite them in.
The Maw open it massive mouth letting a psionic roar, intimidation tactics are important in a negotiation you know.
And I send the zerg signals equivalent of “get your ass here, I ain't leaving my chair”.
With that out of the way I need to prepare myself, I feel like a school girl before her first date.
Should I go full demonic king or present myself on a more beautiful form?
In the pleasure palace, I created for the sake of receiving guests or in my throne room where I am currently?
More importantly, what should I do! Well, I can just talk to her but afterward, there are things I still want to be here as I need to collect Xel'naga essence. Who knows what will happen when she will die.
…
Fuck it, let go with the demon lord look and let’s do this inside of the pleasure palace, it been a while since I went there.
...
Wait I haven’t had the opportunity to go there before, I literally build a place to gather a harem and I did nothing with it, the shame.
I open a small wormhole just big enough to allow myself to travel, and I exit inside of the palace.
I see the old minor incarnation that I created early in this universe, basically a male version of a broodmothers.
I remove it by way of liberal use of psionic power, and by that I mean lifting and throwing it by the window.
I had no use for it anymore, just sit where it used to and…. Waiting for my guest to arrive, while I wait I have some drone dragging that punching bag who was Aojoss to me.
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if I need to unleash my power, let have a convenient target nearby. I have cut any psi connection it may have before so no possible leak of information to Amon.
2 hours later
The leviathan of Kerrigan was slowly moving towards the inside of the Maw.
Kerrigan had yet to make any communication towards me, I was wondering if they were stalling for time.
While waiting I took a peek to the memory of the two little spy that I gave Zeratul.
Looking for what he may have said to her, but no luck since it seems that he left them on board his ship during the event of Zerus.
God damn plot armor.
I haven’t found anything that I could not be deduced myself.
------3 POV------
While the Overmind was killing time, the leviathan of Kerrigan had entered the Maw and was navigating towards the palace.
The flagship of Kerrigan swarm was small when you compared to the maw. But even with its modest size, it holds a full brood filled with everything Kerrigan could possibly need.
The leviathan flew quietly inside the large chasm that was the throats of the maw.
As it entered the inside of the beast, Kerrigan began to see the cavernous deep of incredible size, on the other side of the large dome, gigantic organic door open letting them move further inside.
This game of following the leader was played for a while until it arrived in front of the palace. Made of bone and flesh at the base it would be one of largest structure made by the zerg if the maw was counted out.
A stone small path had been recently added made from one stone of each world the Overmind had conquered. At the moment it was not impressive but in time it would tell the story of the overmind wars.
Seeing this structure inside if the zerg planet had an effect on Kerrigan. While Zeratul had told her of the structure, seeing it was something else.
The leviathan hovered in front of the palace and released a drop pod.
From it Kerrigan emerged, walking towards the palace at a normal pace, the way she was walking was projecting confidence and deadliest.
Kerrigan reached the palace, she keeps walking and follows the obvious path towards the throne. A grand hall decorated with beautiful art with a red carpet look-alike that went from the entrance to deep inside.
As she walked she took a moment to look at the sculpture and painting adorning the hall. As she walked she recognized some famous pieces like the Mona Lisa.
Kerrigan finally enters the throne room, her gaze immediately was cast upon the being sitting on the throne.
Subtitle signs of confusion made a brief appearance on her face.
For each description of the Overmind, someone made, none matched the appearance of what was before her.
Her memory of it was the old Overmind with a gigantic immobile eye. Zeratul description was a purple archon and finally the tentacles monster that announced its presence to every mind in the galaxy.
Now it was something similar to the old religious text, a Demon.
(Vasto Lorde Ichigo)
The mask that covered the totality of the head had an expression carved into it, making it look like it can look deep into your soul with burning hatred.
After a brief moment that has been an eternity for the two, the Overmind spoke in a tone filled with authority. At the same time releasing a large amount of psionic energy to create a pressure on Kerrigan.
(Overmind) Kerrigan, the queen of blades, why have you come before me?
Kerrigan snorted like she had heard a joke only she could understand, before responding with the same commanding tone.
(Kerrigan) For the swarm of course.
(Overmind) Oh, in that case, I repeat the question since I Am The Swarm. Why are you here?
(Overmind) Is it the revenge you swore to accomplish?
Kerrigan took a step back but clenched her fist so tight that her claw pierced the skin of her palm.
(Overmind) Don't look so surprised, Zeratul must have told you of some of my ability. That and your hatred for Mensgk is rather well known.
Kerrigan took a moment of silence before speaking.
(Kerrigan) … Yes, I want him dead so badly. Every breath he takes is an insult to me, every time his rotten black heart make a beat is like having a knife stabbed me in mine, Every word uttered by him add fuel to the burning hatred I have of him. All my precious thing were taken by him. No more, he will die and everything that put themselves between my vengeance and him will be destroyed.
After Kerrigan speech to Overmind tool a moment to think about her words. Before answering in a calm and peaceful tone.
(Overmind) Well, you are in luck, I plan to make way to the Koprulu sector soon. My vanguard is already on the way to the old capital world of Tarsonis looking for some old thing that the Confederacy had stashed away.
Kerrigan was confused, what could possibly be on Tarsonis that could interest a Zerg.
But finding that out could wait, she needed him to submit and there were still thing she needed an answer for, some subtle question could answer some of them.
(Kerrigan) Tarsonis? Have you forgotten something last time you were there?
The Overmind began to look at Kerrigan like she said something rather stupid. Much to the annoyance of Kerrigan.
(Overmind) The old Overmind, our father for lack of better term, was a slave to Amon. Its will was bound to Amon at the moment of its conception.
(Overmind) His dream for the moment he was made aware was its freedom so he created a plan within the limit Amon had set while doing everything to put an obstacle in Amon plan. You and I were some of those plans and obstacle.
(Overmind) In short, it is the first time we met, I have nothing to do with the old overmind, unless you count our mutual hatred for a certain Xel Naga, if that answer your true question.
Kerrigan Immediately took a second to inspect her mental shield looking for a potential breach and found nothing out of the ordinary.
The Overmind began to laugh at her antics and when he finally calms down he spoke with an almost teasing tone one reserved for a younger family member.
(Overmind) No, I did not look in your mind, I did the second best thing I read your body language. You will be surprised by the weird thing one learn by looking at the memory of the infested.
Kerrigan now aware and took a moment to take full control of her body the way only way a ghost could possibly do. Every action and word would need to consider beforehand.
The atmosphere around Overmind suddenly changed to an impressive royal presence. One of commanding authority, no trace of the jovial tone he had before. Only important business would be discussed from this moment.
(Overmind) Now, Kerrigan, you have seen my power and my swarm o will you join me or will you something stupid?
(Kerrigan) There is room for only one ruler in the swarm and it shall be me. One will be consumed by the other and become greater than either, this is the way of the Zerg.
And just like that, hell broke loose, Kerrigan leviathan released the totality of its content, even creature that was considered noncombatants meaning Abathur, Izsha(who just been disconnected from the Leviathan) and Zagara.
Dehaka and its pack went hunting for essence, Abathur sneaked away, Izsha and Zagara took command of Kerrigan brood taking defense position.
Spine crawler and other defensive oriented breeds rushed towards the giant entrance, the Leviathan took position over the new hive Zagara created.
----Back to the duel---
Kerrigan had rushed the Overmind immediately in the hope of eliminating her opponents in a quick and brutal fashion.
The Overmind surprised, took a moment to react to the aggressive tactics employed by Kerrigan.
Mere millimeter before Kerrigan claw could reach the throats of her opponent, a blinding light emerged from the body of the Overmind, generating a powerful pulse sending the queen flying backward.
Kerrigan quickly took control of her fall and with a move that would put an Olympic athlete to shame reached the ground with both feet.
She was about to resume her attack but stopped immediately when she saw the overmind pointing his right-hand palm in her direction. Following her battle experience and instinct, she quickly leaped to her right.
Her decision was wise since mere seconds later a stream of volatile psionic energy passed right next to her. Her left bone wing caught in the blast, vaporized instantaneously.
Kerrigan already aware of the power difference between the two and knew that a single hit would kill her, but she knew there was a way to win so she only needs to have patience.
The Overmind not stopping at a single blast so he raised his left hand and released another blast aimed at her.
Kerrigan following her instincts jumped above the blast dogging the attack then closing the distance between the two again.
This time Kerrigan did manage to reach the Overmind, using her right-hand claw she made a large wound on his chest. Starting from the left shoulder to just above his right leg a large gaping wound appeared.
Just as Kerrigan allowed herself to make a small victory smile the wound immediately closed itself.
Going for a second strike her face met the closed fists of the Overmind, punching her and making her fly into a wall on the other side of the rooms.
As Kerrigan recovered from the brutal punch she saw once again the open palm of the Overmind in her direction, she immediately dodged by rolling to the side.
This deadly dance of Kerrigan dodging and near-miss keep on going for a while until she managed to land a second hit, then a third. But each time any wound made by Kerrigan was temporary at best as any damage done was regenerated instantly.
Even Kerrigan with her innate regeneration only makes her earlier wound healed.
The fight quickly becoming a draw by having each participant lacking the skill or the power to permanently injure the other.
As the fight progressed the Overmind seeing Kerrigan dancing around his simple attack decided to make a strategy from a type of video game he was never good with, the bullet hell genre.
Hoping this was a good strategy, he made tiny balls of energy all around him and made them rotate with him at the center. After that he did the totality of the what remembered from those game beam, randomly generated attack, omnidirectional attack, basically redecorated the entire throne room in energy attack.
Kerrigan was surprised seeing this, she remembered the game in the bar of the Hyperion The Lost Viking, a game she actually holds the best score after crushing the old score of Jim.
Now after 10 minutes Kerrigan had learned the various pattern in those attack, she even let some of them touch the tip of her wing to learn how much damage those attack could do.
She began to shoot psi attack in the form of lightning at the Overmind every minute or so for 15 minutes with each strike infuriating her opponent.
The Overmind becoming more and more enraged by this fight made of the flying ball of energy so he stops them for a second.
Kerrigan who was about to launch another blast also stopped to see the floating ball all around the room. They were kinda beautiful in a deadly way.
But after the second passed all of those floating balls of energy flew in the direction of Kerrigan at high speed, and since they were coming from every direction she would be definitively hit by many whatever direction she tries to dodge.
Kerrigan took a quick look all around her and then chose the direction with the least amount of attack coming for her, and she jumped letting so of the blast hit her.
As she jumped she made sure none of those balls hit her head since everything else would regenerate with time but having her own brain roasted was something zerg regeneration couldn't fix, yet.
She managed to leave the death trap relatively in one piece if you don't count the missing arm but that would fix itself. She could still move and she was not dead for a zerg that means ready to fight.
But she was not out of her pain yet, all of the attack she dodged was had not self-destructed when they hit each other but formed a large ball.
The ball which was floating where she stood not long ago, started to move in her direction at high speed.
Seeing this Kerrigan began to look for cover.
With her luck she found some beautiful statue of various zerg breed. She used her own power to lift those statues and throw them at the death ball following her. The ball vanished just as the last statue lay on the ground shattered.
Not realizing those statues were made by the Overmind after some great pain and time, to say he value them greatly was not making it justice.
The Overmind decided to change tactic, so instead of throwing energy attack, he chose to psionically push all the air in the room generating incredible powerful wind. With nothing left to lose in the room, the Overmind went full AOE on her.
Kerrigan stabbed the ground with her bone wing trying to hold her position, but the Overmind who was definitely frustrated decided to increase the power up a to another level.
Now cyclones strength wind was pushing everything away from the throne room, Kerrigan managed to hold for a while until she could not hold anymore and was sent flying out of the palace.
Now outside of the palace, Kerrigan body was seen rolling until she reached the hive cluster Zagara had created.
When she managed to rise on her feet, Kerrigan was surrounded by her troop putting themselves between her and the entrance of the palace.
the overmind quietly walked out of the palace and stood before the entrance and let an inhuman roar as if daring anything to defy him.
Kerrigan not willing to admit that she had lost her bet, ordered her force to charge.
The opening act of her attack was the leviathan shootings a ball of bioplasma straight at the figure.
The being at the entrance merely waves it hand to change the direction of the ball of plasma back at the hive cluster, straight into the hatcheries which cutting the flow of reinforcements to Kerrigan force, Barely hitting Kerrigan at the same time.
the second movement was the charge of every zerg that was not currently defending the entrance, who was currently under heavy assault from everywhere.
The overmind psionic emission show he was getting annoyed and frustrated. He bent forward orienting his horn in the general direction of the rushing zerg wave.
Something in the back of Kerrigan's head told to run as fast as she could.
Energy began to gather between the horn of the overmind forming a ball.
Just as the first zergling reached clawing distance, the energy was released in a wide and large wave of the same energy the Overmind was throwing around.
the charging zerg were obliterated in a single moment, but the energy wave did not stop there, it going and going, it engulfed the hive cluster and it did not stop.
Kerrigan running for her life using her power to propel herself faster, but the wave caught up to her as it finally ceased.
Mere moments later the overmind walked to the charred body of Kerrigan.
Moving closer to the body checking for a sign of life, he found none but still aimed his palm to the head of Kerrigan really hoped that she would not make a miraculous comeback.
But as he about to launch his attack, multiple roars that shook the bone and flesh of the worldship.
The overmind stopped moving for a second to let his mind roaming to figure what was that.
What he found was cause for worry.
The members of Kerrigan broods had infiltrated various sector and was raising a hell.
‘Originally I did not add too much defense in this sector since it was created to receive guess.
I had no intention of this place becoming a war zone, so I was quite surprised seeing my force being blocked when I called them.
Kerrigan brood managed to hold million of zerg rushing by holding the main entrance long enough for some of the more specialized breed to dig themselves into the bloody river the Maw called it vein.
This allowed them to infiltrate the place I wanted to be guarded and secret.’
The Overmind decided to add parasite and other evil creature inside of the blood flow as a defense once this mess was cleaned.
Abathur had infiltrated his lab and released all of his experiments including his prototype bio-titans.
Zagara had found the zerg that was cocooned and had rebuilt herself a massive brood with them.
Izsha made herself quite comfortable inside the sea of larvae making for herself a small force.
Dekara, well the primal pack leader found the essence bank and went into an evolution frenzy, though he only found a backup bank, it still contained a lot of different essences and a lot of powerful one too.
The overmind avatar was angry at the situation and honestly worried, his experiments were put on the shelves for good reason, that was not counting a primal having the feast of it live.
whatever would come out from the bank will be beyond dangerous.
A rogue Brood would be easier to deal with once he will have time to deal with the rest.
He soon jumped horizontally allowing him to move faster.
Leaving behind the body of Kerrigan forgotten along with the Overmind earlier worry.
Too bad that he missed seeing the finger moving a little.