James let out a massive sigh of relief. It was finally over! Kazav would no longer be a threat.
Still swirling overhead was the energy comprised of the Nexus Orbs' power. He reached for it and condensed it into a ball, holding onto it firmly in his hands.
Sparrow had been watching all along and ran out to be by his side. In her excitement, she jumped out to hug him, almost tackling him down to the ground.
"I'm so glad you're ok!" She cried out.
"Me too Sparrow," He replied softly.
She looked over at the glowing red ball he was holding. "What's that?"
James held it up. "This is part of the Nexus Orb."
"Incredible!" She cooed. "So that monster tried to steal it? That would explain why everyone lost their powers," she remarked while looking at her hands.
James asked him if she knew how to return the Orb to its original state.
"No idea."
"I know how," A voice shouted from behind.
They turned to see Jeremy swaying around as he walked through the torn-up landscape. Sparrow got in a defensive position and warned him not to try anything.
"You know how to fix the Orb and give the heroes their power back?" James asked.
Jeremy nodded his head. "The Orb is not unlimited in its power but it can regenerate. That's why it was housed in the planet's core. In there it can utilize the planet's rotational energy and provide a limitless supply of power to every hero in the world."
"Wait," Sparrow interrupted. "You're saying that the Orb has to be put back in the planet's core?
"That is correct."
"There is no way you are going back down there!" she chided. "It's way too dangerous!"
James tenderly caressed her cheek with his hand and brought her eyes to his. "The Orb will keep me safe until I put it back in the core. Then, once it's in place, I will just head to the surface and everything will be fine."
"No!" she shouted. "There has to be a better way!"
"I'm the only one who can do this Sparrow. No other hero has their abilities besides me."
She nodded and said, "I love you."
James kissed her and replied, "I love you too."
With that he flew off into the sky, heading for the hole Jeremy had previously blasted into the ground. He reached the tube and bolted down as fast as he could. Tears began to fly off his face and out into the air as he descended. The truth was he had no idea if he was coming back. Once the Orb was back in place he would need to give back the energy residing in his body.
The tube was now glowing red hot and in no time he reached the fluid-like mantel. With no hesitation, he dove straight in and began to swim toward the core. It was hot, so very hot, but he kept pushing. His hair began to burn off the deeper into the magma he sank. Pressure built to almost unbearable levels as the weight of the planet was now pushing on him in all directions.
Eventually, he reached the core. The thick swirling ball of liquid iron stood in sharp contrast with the molten rock surrounding it. Wading through the viscus metal he headed deeper still and began to hold out his hand, releasing the power of the Orb.
It began to float out of its own volition and took its place back in the very center of the planet. He expected some grand display now that it had returned but nothing happened. The glowing red ball just floated there in the middle of the burning ocean.
James then remembered he would need to return the energy still contained within his own body so he moved in closer and held out his arms. Once the ball rested back in his hands he began to give it all the juice he had left. His life began to play out before him from the start of it up to this moment. A deep, ponderous nostalgia grew in his heart as the entirety of his existence was laid bare. It felt like comfort, like bliss, like how a child feels when it's safe in its mother's arms.
Despite being surrounded by liquid rock he began to grow colder, his limbs began to tingle and lose their feeling. As the last remaining ounces of the Orbs power drained out from his body the cascade of mental images slowed until it came to a stop. With the power of the Orb now fully restored it began to rotate just like before and heroes around the world cried out with joy as their powers returned. James drifted out into the sea of magma, a smile adorning his face.
With his final thought being of Sparrow's warm loving embrace, James closed his eyes and let the darkness overtake him.
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