The journey back to Orton felt like an eternity compressed into mere moments. As Oliver, Nyxara, and Ray hurtled through the cosmic pathways, the young prince's mind raced with a tumult of emotions—grief, anger, and a gnawing sense of guilt that threatened to overwhelm him.
When they finally emerged from the portal, the sight that greeted them was beyond Oliver's worst nightmares. Where once the majestic planet Orton had hung in space, a jewel of divine creation, there was now only a scattered field of debris. Fragments of the world's crust drifted aimlessly, some still glowing with the heat of the catastrophic explosion that had torn the planet apart.
"No," Oliver whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "This can't be..."
Beside him, Nyxara let out a soft gasp, her Fay sensibilities overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction. Even Ray, the God of Samsara himself, seemed shaken by the sight.
"Thalrix's power has grown beyond our wildest fears," Ray said, his voice heavy with regret. "He has tapped into energies that should have remained dormant since the dawn of creation."
As they floated amidst the remnants of their world, a shimmering distortion caught Oliver's eye. At first, he thought it might be a trick of the light playing across the debris field, but as he focused, he realized it was something more.
"Father," he said, pointing towards the anomaly. "What is that?"
Ray's eyes narrowed as he studied the phenomenon. "Portum," he breathed, a hint of hope entering his voice. "The sanctuary created by Orton herself. It seems some of our people made it to safety after all."
They made their way towards the shimmering barrier that separated Portum from the rest of space. As they drew closer, Oliver could make out structures within—towers of impossible geometry, gardens that seemed to exist in multiple dimensions at once, and at the center of it all, a pulsing core of pure energy that could only be the essence of Orton herself.
"Can we enter?" Oliver asked, reaching out towards the barrier.
Ray shook his head. "Not yet. Portum is sealed against all intrusion, even from beings like myself. It will only open when the threat has truly passed."
A wave of frustration washed over Oliver. "But our people are in there! We can't just leave them!"
"They're safe for now," Ray assured him. "Safer than they would be out here. Our task now is to deal with Thalrix and ensure that when Portum does open, our people will have a future to return to."
As if summoned by the mention of his name, a dark presence made itself known. The very fabric of space seemed to warp and tear as Thalrix materialized before them, his form a writhing mass of shadows and stolen power.
"Nephew," Thalrix's voice oozed malice. "How kind of you to return. I was beginning to think you'd miss the grand finale."
Oliver's hand went to his sword, but Ray held him back. "Oliver, no. He's too powerful. We need to retreat and regroup."
But retreat was not an option. In the blink of an eye, Thalrix lashed out, tendrils of dark energy snaking towards them with terrifying speed.
What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Oliver saw the attack coming, saw it aiming not for him or his father, but for Nyxara. In that moment, all of his training, all of his dual heritage, coalesced into a single, desperate act.
Oliver threw himself in front of Nyxara, his body becoming a shield against Thalrix's assault. The dark energy struck him full force, and Oliver felt his very essence begin to unravel.
"Oliver, no!" Nyxara's scream echoed through the void.
As his consciousness began to fade, Oliver saw his father engaging Thalrix, saw the fury on Ray's face as he unleashed his full divine might. He saw Nyxara, tears streaming down her face as she tried in vain to hold onto him.
With the last of his strength, Oliver turned to his friend, his loyal Red Knight. "Nyxara," he managed to whisper. "Tell our people... I'm sorry I couldn't save them all."
And then, in a final burst of light, Oliver's physical form dissolved, scattered across the cosmic winds.
The battle raged on, Ray and Thalrix locked in a struggle that threatened to tear apart the very fabric of reality. Nyxara, protected by Oliver's sacrifice, could only watch in horror as the two godlike beings clashed.
In the end, it was Ray who emerged victorious, but at a terrible cost. Thalrix was banished, cast into a prison dimension from which there could be no escape, but the power required to do so had left Ray drained and weakened.
As the dust of battle settled, Ray turned to Nyxara, his eyes filled with a grief beyond measure. "My son," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "My brave, foolish boy."
Nyxara, still reeling from the loss, found her voice. "What... what do we do now?"
Ray's gaze turned distant, as if seeing beyond the boundaries of their shattered reality. "Oliver's essence... it's not gone. Scattered, yes, but not destroyed. There may yet be a way..."
With a wave of his hand, Ray opened a portal, different from any Nyxara had seen before. Through it, she could see a world—a planet teeming with life, but primitive compared to Orton.
"This world," Ray explained, "is one under my dominion, but far removed from the cosmic conflicts that destroyed our home. It is here that we shall plant the seed of hope."
As Nyxara watched, Ray gathered the scattered motes of Oliver's essence, condensing them into a small, glowing sphere. "My son will live again," he declared. "But he must be reborn, grow anew in a world far from the dangers that claimed him here."
With that, Ray stepped through the portal, Nyxara following close behind. They had a mission now—to ensure that Oliver, the last scion of Orton, would have a chance at a new life. And perhaps, someday, a chance to reclaim his destiny.