"Well, you see, Paltio..." Avocios began, his tone measured but brimming with meaning. "During the war, one of your ancestors stood by my side. He fought alongside my warriors and, over time, even became one of my guardians. Long ago, I told him that if he ever needed anything, he could turn to this sphere, and in a moment of dire need, it would grant him a wish... any wish, without restriction. He could have asked for eternal youth, infinite life, his own realm, or a lifetime filled with adventure. But no... He chose to save it for when the emergency was truly grave. The sphere passed from generation to generation until it reached your grandfather's hands.
That is also one of the reasons I entrusted your family with the ability to wield my power. The blood of one of my guardians flows through your veins."
"So that's why we're attuned to your weapons… How awesome!" Paltio interrupted, a mix of awe and excitement coloring his voice as he rapidly processed the revelation.
Avocios continued without pause:
"When your father met your mother, they faced a challenge: they couldn't have children. It was a devastating situation for them, the thought of not having an heir. One day, after many attempts, a miracle seemed to be granted… and you were born. But you only remained in this world for a few seconds. Your grandfather, seeing what was happening and unwilling to lose you—just like your parents—decided to use the sphere I had given them. He integrated that sphere into your essence, pleading with all his strength for you to survive… and asking me to let you live. And so it was that, connected to me, I felt your presence reborn in this world. When I saw that all hope was lost, I decided to place my loyal companion and guardian, Golden, within you, so that one day he could teach you and help you unlock your power. Why do you think you can wield Golden's power and make it your own? Not even he understands that… Which is why I'm telling you this now, in this place."
"That means…" Paltio reflected, his voice tinged with surprise and dawning comprehension, "you decided I would be the next creator. You were preparing for your death and shaping me into a vessel… This is something everyone should know… I am truly an extension of you. If it weren't for that sphere, I'd be dead… I owe you everything," Paltio said, his gratitude raw and unfiltered.
"No, my child… I do not wish to abuse my power and leave all this trouble to you. It is a twist of fate that you ended up entangled in the predicament you now face," Avocios replied calmly, though his tone carried an undercurrent of sadness. "Besides, no one must know that you are an extension of me— not yet. You are unique, someone who has lived among the beings of this world, sharing their lives. Something I could never do, for they see me as a whole… as their god and nothing more."
"I will place a restriction so that not even Golden can read this information in your mind."
"But thanks to that, I've been able to meet people… Well, I'm still meeting more people and exploring the world," Paltio reflected with a sincere smile spreading across his face. "I was just in Avocadolia, unaware of the rest of the world, or of other races like those from Lukeandria or Paris, who's with us now, or even of the guardians. I'm grateful for that."
"Wow… You are a better version of me than I expected," Avocios responded warmly, with a note of pride in his voice. "One who is generous and unbothered by adversity; you'll always step forward to support others, no matter what. You are truly admirable, my little Paltio."
Avocios paused before continuing:
"Well, return to your friends and continue the journey that lies ahead."
The Creator whispered words that echoed in Paltio's mind, bringing him back to where his companions waited. But before he fully returned, Avocios added something in that whisper that struck the boy deeply.
"Hey, sir… What happened? You went silent for a moment," Golden asked, glancing toward where Avocios' eyes had once projected.
"No, it was nothing," Avocios replied calmly, though a faint ripple seemed to disturb the endless image of his eyes.
Suddenly, a wall began to rise before them, revealing a brilliant light at the end of the tunnel.
"Sir, please let me go after you!" Golden pleaded, stepping forward urgently.
"No, you cannot," Avocios responded firmly, though his voice betrayed a trace of sorrow.
The image of his eyes began to distort, as if something were interfering. Finally, Avocios said:
"I'm sorry, everyone, but my time has run out."
"We'll find you, Lord Avocios! You'll see! We'll save this world and cleanse it of the shadow's evil!" Paltio declared with determination, though deep down he knew many questions remained unanswered.
And with those final words, Avocios vanished.
Paltio stood in silence for a moment, lost in thought. "We should have asked him who—or what—Urugas is," he mentally reproached himself. With a heavy heart and countless thoughts swirling in his mind, he decided to leave and reunite with his friends.
As they followed the path Avocios had opened for them. Once outside, the tunnel sealed itself behind them, collapsing back into earth. Just at that moment, Paltio heard a loud alarm blaring across the realm:
"Alert! Alert! We are under threat. They're attacking!"
"Who could possibly be attacking us?" Kilibur asked, still disguised as Mok, his eyes scanning their surroundings with growing concern.
"We should head back to the house where we were and meet up with Mok and the others. Let's use this chaotic event as cover to leave this realm," Golden suggested, quickly assessing the situation.
Everyone agreed to return to the meeting point. Meanwhile, explosions thundered throughout the realm, lighting up the dark sky with bursts of fire and smoke.
"It's time to move fast!" Paris exclaimed urgently as the sound of the blasts drew closer and closer.
The group sprinted toward the agreed-upon location, dodging attacks and navigating the chaos erupting around them. Finally, they arrived and flung open the door. Inside, they found Mok, Lukeandria, Nakia, and Toco-Toco, their faces shadowed with grief, heavy with sorrow.
Paltio entered enthusiastically, not immediately noticing the oppressive atmosphere hanging thick in the air.
"Guys, guys! We met Avocios and got the piece!" he announced with a radiant smile. "Where are Ron and Alita? We need to tell them everything Avocios revealed to us; I'm sure they'll love it."
But as he spoke, Paltio began to sense something was off—there was no sign of his friends anywhere. He started frantically searching every corner of the room, calling out insistently.
"Where are they, everyone? This is serious… We need to get out of here! Stop hiding; I know Mok brought them here safely along with Alita. This isn't the time for jokes, guys… Where are they? Mok, Lukeandria, my friends!"
Lukeandria tried to speak but seemed choked by her words. Her gaze remained lowered, unable to meet Paltio's eyes directly.
"Master Paltio…" Mok began, his voice carrying an unusual weight. "You'd better sit down."
Paltio froze, startled by the solemn and grave tone in Mok's voice—something he had never heard or seen from him before.
"What's wrong, Mok?" Paltio asked, now visibly worried, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach.
Mok took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say what came next. Then, with firmness and evident pain in his voice, he declared:
"Young Master… I'm so sorry, but your friends… they're dead!"