Oryx. The Vex fought Oryx before through Quria, Blade Transform; a Vex Axis Mind designed to emulate the Hive "Sword-Logic". They figured out that "they could not emulate [Oryx]". Quria's attempt to do so created an "Auresh" personality; a weaker, far less powerful version of Oryx, more in line with his younger, mortal self. Unfortunately for Oryx, Quria transmitted information on the Hive through a Vex timegate to the Vex Network Intelligence. Thus, all Vex know of the Hive and, more specifically, Oryx's "Throne World" (they got in there because Crota created a "Wound" in space, trying to open a hole to what would become his own Throne World and instead finding the Vex). The Vault of Glass is a Vex emulation of the "Throne Worlds" of the Hive. Luke Smith recently revealed in a Podcast with Planet Destiny that the original name for the Vault was the "Glass Throne". Throne is the keyword there, as Oryx said in the Book of Sorrows that he'd "create [his] throne out of Osmium", which is hinted in the Crux of Crota description; [i]"Obtained only by defeating the son of Oryx and heir to the Osmium Throne in the Raid's most difficult mode"[/i]. Atheon is essentially their version of one of the Hive "God-Knights"; an individual who holds immense power within its own realm (Hive manipulate darkness and the laws of reality, Vex manipulate time and space). Atheon, as such, is simply an attempt to emulate a being that the Vex cannot emulate. Therefore, it is weaker by very nature. Skolas? Skolas is just another Archon-class Fallen with big ambitions and strong gun. The Fallen fell to the "Whirlwind" when the Traveler was theirs and, through the Book of Sorrows, it's all but canon that the Hive are responsible for wiping out every single race that the Traveler ever uplifted. It's highly probable that the Fallen... fell... because the Hive struck them down... but I have no idea why they'd still be around if that were the case. It's speculated that the Traveler itself causes disasters wherever it goes. Crota is Oryx's son, one who tithed up to Oryx. I somehow doubt Oryx would become weaker than one who passed leftover "wormfood" up to him, since the worm's hunger becomes more ravenous the stronger the individual becomes. It's also noteworthy that Crota failed to, or rather was unable to, defeat Quria, Blade Transform. Oryx, as I mentioned at the start, wrecked Quria by "Taking" the Vex and defying their logic. Oh, and as one who knows the secrets of "The Deep" (The Darkness), Oryx can quite literally call upon it to destroy any living creature. The Doxology wipe mechanic in the raid? It's a word that refers to a "hymn of praises to God". The Worms are the Hive gods, and they are synonymous with the darkness. They answer Oryx's will. That should say a lot, considering they go by a "give nothing, take everything" philosophy. [spoiler]Holy crap, I wrote a bit of a novel[/spoiler] Edit: Well, people appreciate the lore more than I expected. Glad I can be of service. Edit 2 (Bonus): Guardians were created as a last-ditch effort by the Traveler to stop the Hive, once and for all. Hive that have established a Throne World are immortal and can come back to life infinitely so long as they are not killed in their realm. Guardians are immortal and can come back to life infinitely so long as their Ghosts are not irreparably damaged. Hive "Gods" kill each other to hone their skills and abuse their immortality. Guardians kill each other to hone their skills and abuse their immortality.

Easy. Crota would win and here's why: Crota is emotionally traumatized from his encounter with us Guardians. He'd prematurely activate his over soul and wipe the map. While doing so, he'd scream: "Screw you, dad! You didn't help bail me out!" Skolas would be busy trying to fight his chronic bronchitis that is exasperated during the fight. Atheon would stomp back and forth and continue being glitchy. And Oryx, well, he'd just stomp his fist on one of the oracles of light, but fail to fist bump the other remaining 5. UNTIL... A team of 6 Guardians would appear, look up at the 4 bosses and say, "Didn't we kick all your collective ásses enough times to learn?" Meanwhile, the Titan of the group holds up an Internet box and the Hunter would be twirling the Ethernet cord. The Warlock would stand there defiantly with his trench coat flapping in the breeze. All 4 bosses would collectively freeze with horror.

As soon as Atheon,Crota,and Oryx hear "dismantle mines,yessssssss?" they'll all spontaneously combust due to rage. So Skolas

Crota kills Oryx bc fxck you dad, which causes oversoul to spawn, to which skolas uses his almighty ground pound to slam the ground with such force that it sends a sonic wave of energy to kill the oversoul and crota and then atheon sends skolas back in time where he runs out of ether to win the match, but then the mines spawn, and atheon, without the guidance of variks, and being to tall to stand under the mines is killed [spoiler]and then out from the shadows, comes variks, who gorges on skolas' ether, growing to skolas size forges a scorch cannon with an underbarrel full auto atheon torch hammer and a sword of crota bayonet and with armor made of oryx's body parts, and two atheon arms to replace his two tiny robot arms, takes the blight from Oryx and inserts it into atheons time core\juice box, which allows him to take things from any place or time[/spoiler] and with this new technology, variks decided to make a profittable inter-planetary shipping company and through the glories of capitalism, raises enough money to hire a speech therapist and learns proper english, and they all lived happily ever after, basking in the light of the free market

I'll just leave the old comment here: Oryx about to wipe out humanity forever Variks whispers in his ear [spoiler]Dismantle mines, yesss?[/spoiler]

Well atheon would die first because he's been known To be dead after two solar grenades in front of him ;)

Xylar [spoiler]jk..dissmaannttle mines? Yeeeeesssss?[/spoiler] [spoiler]variks wins [/spoiler]