Two minutes and forty-five seconds later, the flames covered the entire visible face of the planet.
Seen from space, Mar Sara was now a uniformly burning orange sphere, its surface churning with massive waves of fire and vortices. There were no clouds, no topographical features—only pure fire.
The atmospheric combustion did not just release immense heat; it also triggered complex chemical reactions. The extreme temperature broke down some of the hydrocarbon gases into carbon black and hydrogen, and the hydrogen subsequently joined the combustion to generate water vapor. The original atmospheric composition was completely restructured.
"Surface temperature monitoring: average temperature in the equatorial region has risen to 820 degrees Celsius and is still climbing," the Tech-Priest continued to report. "Polar region temperature: 600 degrees Celsius. All surface water has completely evaporated. Silicate-based rocks are beginning to soften."
Osiris pulled up thermal imaging of several key areas.
The plain that had once been the Swarm's primary incubation zone was now a white-hot molten landscape. The remnants of the creep, the sludge of the Swarm units, and the organic matter within the soil had all carbonized and vaporized under the extreme heat. The chitinous structures of the Swarm buildings rapidly broke down under the high temperatures, releasing pungent gases, which then also joined the combustion.
The underground structures fared no better.
The extreme heat penetrated deep into the subterranean levels through thermal conduction and radiation, roasting many hives directly into charcoal. Some of the deeper nests might have temporarily survived, but their internal temperatures would also rise to lethal thresholds, and their oxygen was completely depleted.
The burning sustained itself.
Nine minutes later, the concentration of flammable gases in the global atmosphere began to drop significantly. The brightness and temperature of the flames began to wane, though they persisted. Carbon black particles produced by incomplete combustion remained suspended in the air, creating a global shroud of black clouds that absorbed further heat.
"Real-time atmospheric composition changes: oxygen content dropped by thirty-eight percent, carbon dioxide content increased by 280 percent, and water vapor content increased drastically. The nitrogen ratio is relatively stable, but a portion of the nitrogen reacted with oxygen under the high temperatures to form nitrogen oxides."
Fifteen minutes later, the flames weakened noticeably.
The majority of the flammable gases had been consumed. The planet's surface was now shrouded in the dim red glow of embers, interspersed with billowing black smoke. The surface temperature remained extremely high, but the rising trend halted.
Twenty-one minutes later, the large-scale combustion ground to a fundamental end.
Only sporadic, smaller-scale fires triggered by localized gas pockets or combustible materials remained. The atmosphere was thick with smoke and ash, reducing visibility to a absolute minimum.
"Atmospheric combustion phase concluded," the Tech-Priest summarized. "Duration: twenty-one minutes and forty-two seconds. Estimated total energy release: nine point eight times ten to the twenty-third power Joules, approximately 234 trillion tons of TNT equivalent. This corresponds to one point one percent of the total solar energy the planet receives annually."
Osiris recorded these figures.
A highly efficient, planetary-scale cleansing. The energy release was primarily concentrated within a brief window, making the destruction of the surface absolute.
"Initiate follow-up scans to evaluate the cleansing effectiveness," he commanded.
The observation satellites adjusted their sensor modes, beginning to pierce the gradually settling smoke layer to scan the planet's surface.
The results of the first round of scans were quickly transmitted back.
Optical imagery revealed that Mar Sara's surface had been utterly transformed. All vegetation and Swarm creep had vanished without a trace. The soil presented a vitrified, scorched black. The silhouettes of mountains and hills remained, but their surfaces were covered in a molten, re-solidified rock crust. The plains featured massive tracts of fractures, with a dull red afterglow bleeding out from the fissures. Lakes and oceans had completely evaporated or boiled dry, leaving behind arid basins blanketed in salt frost and vitrified crusts.
Thermal imaging indicated that the surface temperature remained above 380 degrees Celsius, though it was slowly declining. The temperature within some of the deeper fissures or caverns was higher, where residual fires might still be burning.
The bio-signal scan registered at zero. No form of life activity was detected, whether Swarm, indigenous fauna, or potential human survivors. The dual impact of viral decomposition and atmospheric burning ensured the absolute thoroughness of the extinction.
Atmospheric scans showed that the airspace had become exceptionally hostile: carbon dioxide concentrations were extremely high, oxygen levels were bottom-of-the-barrel low, and it was choked with toxic nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, and suspended carbon black particles. Such an atmosphere could not support carbon-based life for the foreseeable future.
"Cleansing effectiveness evaluation: Absolute," the Tech-Priest reported. "The clearance rate of surface organic matter is estimated to exceed ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent. Any minute trace remnants that might exist are located beneath deep geological structures or polar ice caps, but they no longer possess biological activity and cannot pose any form of threat. The planet has entered a 'Dead World' state, and under natural conditions, it will require millions of years to potentially recover life."
Osiris reviewed the complete test report.
From the virus deployment to the atmospheric ignition, the entire process took forty-six hours and fifteen minutes. The Swarm—this massive biological collective that had once covered most of the planet's surface—had been thoroughly erased. The cost was the complete destruction of the planet's ecosphere.
The test was a success.
The virus bomb was proven to be an effective weapon against the Swarm. Its mechanism of action precisely targeted the Swarm's weaknesses: its reliance on a massive biomass foundation, its lack of defenses against microscopic biochemical threats, and a collective network that ironically accelerated the spread of the infection.
"Record the full data chain of the test. Archive it into the 'Xenos Threat Response Protocols—Swarm' database," Osiris ordered. "Weapon efficacy rating: Excellent. Recommended as one of the preferred Exterminatus solutions against large-scale Swarm invasions."
He paused slightly, adding: "Simultaneously record the limitations: the virus bomb requires a certain amount of time to complete its dispersion and decomposition processes, making it unsuitable for urgent scenarios requiring immediate results. Furthermore, it is ineffective against entirely non-biological targets (such as mechanical civilizations). Its effectiveness may decrease against targets with high biochemical protection or closed ecosystems."
The data was encrypted and stored. This test would serve as a vital reference for future confrontations with the Swarm.
Right at that moment, an encrypted communication request from Valerie chimed in, flagged with "Medium" priority. Osiris patched it through.
"The Agria evacuation operation is complete." Valerie's image appeared in the holographic projection, with the corridors of the Hyperion as her background. "Raynor's team successfully rescued most of the civilians, and Dr. Hanson has boarded the ship. The Raiders are about to depart the system. No losses on our side, and data collection is complete. Requesting directions for our next move."
Osiris made a rapid assessment. Although the Swarm's scale on Agria was vast, it had not yet reached the level of fall seen on Mar Sara. Perhaps a comparative test could be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different weapons at different stages of invasion.
"Continue to shadow Raynor's team and maintain observation," Osiris replied. "Your primary objective is to ascertain the next target locations and specific coordinates where Raynor and Tychus seek to locate the artifact fragments. Obtain precise positioning information before they take substantial excavation actions."
He paused briefly, adding: "Upon confirming the coordinates, do not alert them; report immediately. I will evaluate whether it is possible to complete the recovery ahead of them."
"Understood," Valerie confirmed. "I will integrate myself into their inner decision-making circle to acquire intelligence on the next excavation site."
The communication cut connection.
Osiris shifted his gaze away from the dead scenery of Mar Sara and turned toward the star map.
Artifact fragments—ancient constructs possessing unique energy signatures—likely held a value far exceeding mere "research." If they could be grasped and acquired ahead of time, it would possess strategic significance whether used to dissect their technical principles or used as bargaining chips with Raynor or other factions.
And on a broader scale, the threat of the Swarm, the turmoil of the Terran Dominion, the presence of the Protoss—this sector was rife with variables and opportunities. The Eternal Seeker needed more precise intelligence to chart its next method of intervention and resource allocation.
His logical core began a preliminary projection for the potential "preemptive recovery operation," while simultaneously instructing the Tech-Priests to begin routine preparations for testing the Nova Cannon, though no specific target or timeframe was explicitly designated.
The Eternal Seeker began adjusting its attitude, entering a standby and continuous observation state.
Meanwhile, in the distant orbit of Agria, the Raiders' Hyperion carried its survivors, sailing toward an unknown voyage.
Intelligence gathering and operational planning advanced in lockstep.